A great Milan derby but what about that red card?

January 25, 2010


Sunday’s Milan derby had just about everything.

Red cards, controversies, a missed penalty, great play, Jose Mourinho his usual outlandish self and a another stunning Inter Milan performance (plus unused Inter substitute Marco Materazzi bizarrely walking around at full-time wearing a face mask of Silvio Berlusconi.)

For the leaders to beat their main title rivals 2-0 with nine men is just another example of the remarkable grit of Mourinho’s side.

How many other teams in world football would have folded against an AC Milan team who did not play all that badly?

Inter should be on cloud nine (well, they are now nine points clear) but instead there is a ’strange taste, strange smell’ about the win, according to Mourinho.

Wesley Sneijder’s 26th minute dismissal for ironically applauding the referee was harsh to say the least.

It was the first time I can remember seeing someone sent off for an act like that, usually it is only a yellow card.

Looking at the laws, the referee it seems was within his rights to brandish red.

Law 12 says a player can be dismissed for “using offensive, insulting or abusive language AND OR GESTURES.”

What do you reckon?

PHOTO: Inter Milan’s Goran Pandev (C) celebrates after scoring with team mate Esteban Cambiasso as AC Milan’s Ronaldinho look on during their Italian Serie A soccer match at the San Siro stadium in Milan January 24, 2010. REUTERS/Max Rossi
Source

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Blatter hints at opening on video replays

January 24, 2010


World football chief Sepp Blatter said in a newspaper interview on Sunday that he might consider video assistance for referees in the future.

The president of world football’s governing body FIFA has staunchly opposed the use of video replays as a refereeing aid because they would interrupt the flow of the game.

But he told the Swiss newspaper Sonntagsblick that he might consider them after other technology has been approved.

“I’m not completely against it. But only when goal line technology is ready to be introduced, only then,” he said.

The guardian of football’s rules, the International Football Association Board, is due to discuss electronic goal line technology, including computer chips in balls and goalmouth cameras, at its meeting in March.

Blatter again ruled out the introduction of such aids in South Africa this summer.

“We won’t carry out any experiments there, not even with two extra referees,” he added.

Two additional assistant referees are being lined up in Europa League matches this season in a trial aimed at improving surveillance of incidents in penalty box.

In December, FIFA’s executive committee also ruled out the introduction of video technology to assist referees similar to the system used in rugby, cricket and tennis.

Pressure for refereeing aids surged again with the furore that followed Thierry Henry’s blatant handball in a World Cup playoff against Ireland in November that saw France qualify for the finals.

GENEVA (AFP)

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Barcelona´s Messi named World Player of the Year

December 22, 2009


Barcelona and Argentina striker Lionel Messi was crowned World Player of the Year by world football’s ruling body FIFA on Monday.

Messi, whose goals this year helped Barcelona win the Champions League final and World Club Cup final, thus succeeds Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo as the world’s top player, as voted by national team captains and coaches.

Messi has played a huge role in the recent success of Spanish giants Barcelona, who have won a total of six trophies in the past season including the Champions League title and the World Club Cup trophy last week.

The Argentine forward’s talents were given the ultimate thumbs-up earlier this month when he was voted the winner of the Ballon d’Or for the European Footballer of the Year.

On Monday Messi, 22, had been in contention with Barcelona teammates Andres Iniesta and Xavi, both from Spain, Brazilian striker Kaka of Real Madrid, the winner in 2007, and last year’s winner Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ronaldo also won both trophies last season.

While Ronaldo won the Ferenc Puskas award for goal of the season while playing with former club Manchester United, one of Messi’s goals was among the highlights.

Messi profile

Despite his diminutive stature Messi, who stands 1.69 metres or five feet seven inches tall, rose above United’s defence in the Champions League final in Rome to head the second of Barcelona’s goals in their 2-0 victory.

The Argentine is also known for his superb dribbling and fast, mazy runs that leave opposition defences in tatters, and on Monday he was just as quick to share out the plaudits.

“I want to thank my teammates, notably those who are present here tonight, without whom none of my achievements would have been possible,” said Messi.

“2009 has been a wonderful year for Barcelona and also for me.”

Messi’s goal against United in last season’s final was his ninth of the 2009 Champions League campaign and left him as the competition’s top scorer.

Last week Messi also proved decisive in the World Club Cup final. He scored Barcelona’s second goal in the 2-1 victory over South American champions Estudiantes of Argentina.

In 2009 Barcelona also won the league title, the King’s (Spanish) Cup, the Spanish Super Cup and the European Super Cup.

ZURICH, Switzerland (AFP)

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Britain backs England World Cup bid with guarantees

December 15, 2009


The British government confirmed Tuesday that it had signed off on financial guarantees of 300 million pounds (487 million dollars) required for FIFA to accept England’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup.

Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe also confirmed that other requisite commitments regarding security, visas and tax had been made, ahead of the May deadline set by world football’s governing body.

Sutcliffe said the move reflected the government’s desire to see the bid succeed — which had been questioned following a decision to provide only loan rather than grant finance for the bid itself.

“The Government is completely behind England’s bid to host the World Cup and getting these guarantees signed off well in advance underlines that continuing commitment, as does the availability of a loan to support the bid itself,” Sutcliffe said.

“A World Cup in England would be a fantastic event embraced by football fans from across the globe. We would deliver a superb legacy from the tournament to football worldwide.

“It would, of course, also bring huge economic benefits to this country.”

England 2018 is due to announce on Wednesday which cities will be put forward as potential match hosts as part of the bid.

FIFA will decide on the 2018 and 2022 hosts in December of next year. England is the favourite for the 2018 tournament but faces competition from Australia, Indonesia, Japan and Russia as well as from joint bids from Belgium and the Netherlands and Spain and Portugal.

LONDON (AFP)

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FIFA call crisis talks after qualifiers, betting scandal

November 24, 2009


FIFA president Sepp Blatter has called an extraordinary general meeting for December 2 following the Thierry Henry handball incident and an ongoing investigation into match-fixing in Europe.

A FIFA statement released by world football’s ruling body said Monday: “Due to recent events in the world of football, namely incidents at the play-offs for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa, match control (refereeing) and irregularities in the football betting market, the FIFA President has called an extraordinary meeting of the Executive Committee.

“The extraordinary meeting of the Executive Committee will take place in Cape Town on 2 December 2009, starting at 15.00.”

The Henry handball incident left football’s reputation – at least as regards the standards of refereeing – in tatters after it effectively cheated the Republic of Ireland out of a possible place at the World Cup.

France beat the Republic of Ireland 2-1 on aggregate over two legs of a qualifying playoff last Wednesday however Henry’s blatant double handball, which led to their equaliser on the night, proved decisive for France.

Since then the use of video technology at football matches, which FIFA is fundamentally against, is an issue which appears to be gaining support throughout the game.

FIFA last week however ruled they would not bow to the Republic’s formal request for a replay of the second leg.

The cash-rich world of European football meanwhile is reportedly harbouring an organised criminal gang that has made millions of euros by betting in Asian markets on the outcomes of matches they helped to decide.

On Thursday, police raided addresses across Europe, smashing what they believe is a 200-strong band that has bribed players, referees and coaches in nine countries.

The German Football Federation (DFB) and the German Football League (DFL) announced on Monday the creation of a task force to probe the betting scandal, which has rocked European football.

European football’s governing body UEFA called a crisis meeting at their base in Nyon, Switzerland, for this Wednesday and the DFB and DFL will join forces to probe 32 German games out of some 200 which are under suspicion.

Around 200 games played this season in Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Croatia, Slovenia, Turkey, Hungary, Bosnia-Hercegovina and Austria are now under suspicion.

None of the 200 suspected matches were in top flight European leagues like England’s Premier League, Italy’s Serie A, Spain’s La Liga or Germany’s Bundesliga.

In Italy on Monday police said they had arrested nine people whom they suspect of illegal betting in Italian football.

Amongst those arrested was the president of third division team Potenza, Giuseppe Postiglione and Pro Vastese sports director Luca Evangelista.

They are accused of being involved in organised crime and of sporting fraud relating to a number of bets placed on matches in the second and third divisions from 2007 to 2009.

One match under investigation is the Serie B encounter between Ravenna and Lecce on April 26, 2008, won 3-1 by the away side, on which Postiglione allegedly placed a bet that won him 86,000 euros.

Giovanni Colangelo, the public prosecutor in Potenza, claimed match-fixing had been taking place.

The 2006 ‘Calciopoli’ match-fixing scandal involved high-profile Serie A teams and resulted in Juventus being relegated to Serie B and stripped of their last two league titles.

AC Milan, Lazio, Fiorentina and Reggina were also punished for their roles in the match-fixing.

PARIS (AFP)

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Fergie backs video scheme after Henry handball row

November 20, 2009


Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson admits he would like to see video technology used to clear up controversial decisions — but cannot see the sport’s governing bodies adopting any new schemes in the near future.

The issue over whether football should embrace the technology available was re-ignited on Wednesday night when France’s Thierry Henry used his hand to control the ball before crossing for William Gallas to score the goal that ended Ireland’s chances of going to the World Cup.

There have been calls for the match to be replayed while others believe referees need to be able to rely on video evidence to ensure they get such key decisions right.

It is a point Ferguson agrees with. But the Scot fears that all discussion on the issue is futile because world football’s governing body, FIFA, are simply not interested in revolutionising the role of the referee.

He said: “The stance is that they prefer human decision-making rather than technology decision-making and until they change their mind there is nothing you can do about it – you have to convince them, nobody else.

“It is not a matter of asking every player and manager in the world their opinion because they will all share the same one, as I do myself, that technology can play a part and can help referees in a situation like the other night.”

Gallas?s goal sent France to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa with a 2-1 aggregate victory while Ireland have been left counting the cost of some extreme misfortune.

Ferguson added: “My thoughts were with (Ireland coach) Giovanni Trapattoni. He prepared a team that put in an absolutely magnificent performance. You couldn’t ask for better from a coach but it was taken away from him.

“It happens and it’s denied a couple of our players the great experience of playing in the World Cup finals and you’ll never get a better experience than that.”

MANCHESTER, England (AFP)

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FIFA opens disciplinary action against Egypt

November 20, 2009


FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Egypt following the violence before their World Cup qualifier with Algeria in Cairo last week, world football’s governing body said.

“According to the official reports received by FIFA, on 12 November, there were incidents affecting the Algerian team on its way from the airport to the hotel,” a statement posted on FIFA’s website said.

“Consequently, disciplinary proceedings have been opened against the Egyptian Football Association. The FIFA Disciplinary Committee will decide on the case,” it added.

FIFA officials had already acknowledged that three Algerian players and the goalkeeping coach suffered injuries that “weren’t superficial” when their coach was attacked.

Egypt later won that match, leading to a tie in their group and a play-off in Sudan on Wednesday that Algeria won 1-0 to secure a berth in the World Cup finals.

The incidents and subsequent row over the play-off have triggered a diplomatic spat between the two countries.

Egypt also announced it was suspending its membership of the Union of North African Football Federations, complaining that Algerian fans had thrown stones at its fans in Sudan.

The Egyptian Football Federation wrote to its counterparts in Algeria, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia charging that its fans had come under sustained assault during the make-or-break qualification play-off on Wednesday, the state MENA news agency reported.

ZURICH (AFP)

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Egypt quits N. Africa league after Algeria defeat

November 20, 2009


Egypt suspended its membership of the Union of North African Football Federations on Thursday, complaining that Algerian fans had thrown stones at their supporters during the country’s World Cup exit.

The Egyptian Football Federation wrote to its counterparts in Algeria, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia charging that its fans had come under sustained assault during the make-or-break qualification play-off in Khartoum on Wednesday, the state MENA news agency reported.

Egypt had already called in the Algerian ambassador and recalled its own envoy from Algiers for consultations in protest.

The game’s Sudanese hosts strongly contested Egypt’s version of events insisting just four Egyptian fans had sustained minor injuries and calling in the Egyptian ambassador in Khartoum in its own protest.

By contrast, world football’s governing body FIFA said that three Algerian players and the goalkeeping coach suffered injuries that “weren’t superficial” ahead of Egypt’s 2-0 victory in Cairo on Saturday that forced the play-off.

A number of Algerian fans were also injured after the game, triggering attacks against Egyptians and Egyptian interests in Algeria.

CAIRO (AFP)

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Khartoum clamps down for Algeria-Egypt showdown

November 18, 2009


Sudan’s security forces threw a tight security cordon around Khartoum to prevent violence between fans of Algeria and Egypt, who clash on Wednesday for a place at the World Cup football finals.

Thousands of rival supporters from Cairo and Algiers have invaded Khartoum, a rare venue for such a showdown in international football.

On Tuesday night, Algerian fans with their country’s flag draped over cars cruised through the streets, while groups of Egyptians gathered to dance, sing and chant slogans.

The authorities have deployed 15,000 police to segregate fans in a bid to prevent clashes before, during or after the match, which follows an inconclusive play-off in Cairo last Saturday.

With the North African rivals contesting Africa’s last place in next year’s finals in South Africa, Egyptian supporters stoned the Algeria squad’s bus last week, injuring three players, as it made its way to the team’s Cairo hotel.

Away fans were also hurt after Saturday’s match, prompting revenge attacks on Egyptian companies based in Algeria.

On the eve of Wednesday’s decider, the head of the Algerian football federation told reporters in Khartoum that his Egyptian counterpart Samir Zaher was to blame for the violence.

“He is the origin of all the events that have occurred, including the barbaric aggression that injured … our players, shocked them and put them under extremely unfavourable conditions,” Mohammed Raouraoua said.

World football’s governing body FIFA arranged the play-off in neutral territory after Egypt’s 2-0 home win over Algeria left the teams deadlocked.

Algeria and Egypt have each been allocated 9,000 seats for the game at Al-Merreikh stadium in Khartoum’s twin city of Omdurman. The normal capacity of 41,000 has been cut to 35,000 to allow for strict segregation of the fans.

Both the Algerian and Egyptian embassies have been handing out their match ticket allocations, with many supporters also having been offered free or low-price air tickets.

The gates are to open at 3:30 pm (1230 GMT) and close two hours before the 8:30 kick-off, with fans kept apart at different ends of the stadium and due to be channelled out by different routes.

A 400-member medical team, with 120 ambulances on standby, are to be on duty at the stadium, said Hassan Abdelaziz, head of a medical committee set up for the match.

Schools and offices are to close early, at 1 pm, to clear the streets and allow easier access to the stadium in the city on the Nile of almost five million people.

Several foreign embassies have urged their nationals to stay at home.

A senior Muslim cleric, Sheikh Yussef Qardawi, who is of Egyptian origin, has issued an appeal for calm and urged Arab fans not to wreck their countries’ ties over what was “only a game” after all.

Meanwhile, authorities have also gone on alert in Egypt and Algeria, as well as in France, which is home to large North African communities.

The two North African rivals have a history of bad blood in footballing terms, with riots breaking out after Egypt defeated Algeria in a 1989 match in Cairo. Egypt last qualified for the World Cup in 1990, and Algeria in 1986.

KHARTOUM (AFP)

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Maradona in Zurich for FIFA hearing

November 15, 2009


Argentina coach Diego Maradona arrived Sunday at the headquarters of world football’s governing body FIFA for a disciplinary hearing over his sexually-explicit rant after his team’s World Cup qualification.

The former star player was facing a possible fine and suspension from international matches after he rounded on critics during a press conference after Argentina qualified for next year’s World Cup finals in South Africa.

Maradona flew into the Swiss city from Madrid where Argentina lost 2-1 against Spain in a friendly late Saturday.

Wearing sunglasses and tracksuit, a demonstrably impassive looking Maradona kept silent as he was escorted through Zurich airport into a nearby hotel complex by an Argentine football official and bodyguards.

He later arrived in a convoy of limousines at FIFA headquarters about 50 minutes after the originally scheduled time for the hearing.

He was to face a disciplinary hearing here scheduled to start at 2.00 pm (1300 GMT) behind closed doors. FIFA have declined to give details although they said they would release a statement afterwards.

Maradona’s public outburst came after Argentina’s 1-0 win over Uruguay in October, which allowed the two-time world champions to squeeze narrowly into next year’s finals in South Africa after a lowly and tense qualifying round.

At the time, the 48-year-old, a sporting icon in Argentina after skippering the 1986 World Cup winning team, lashed out at journalists.

FIFA chief Sepp Blatter has said Maradona may have flouted regulations which could result in a fine of up to 29,400 dollars and/or suspension.

“According to article 58.a anyone who harms the dignity of a person through acts or words can be punished,” he added.

Maradona later sought to make amends and admitted that if Argentina had failed to qualify he “would have taken myself off to Haiti.”

ZURICH (AFP)

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