The Malaysian Insider :: Sports
The Malaysian Insider :: Sports |
| Referees not always aware of racist incidents, says Webb Posted: 06 May 2013 08:48 AM PDT ZURICH, May 6 – Referees are on the front line in the fight against racism but cannot always be expected to be aware of what is going on off the field, English referee Howard Webb said today. Webb took part in the first meeting of FIFA's anti-racism task force and said that one suggestion was the use of off-pitch officials to help referees identify serious incidents. "We are very much in the front line, we are the first port of call for the players," Webb said after the meeting which he described as a "brainstorming" session. "If we become aware of anything from the players or officials which they deem to be racist or discriminatory, then we've got an obligation to respond and referees will do that." But he said that, ideally, referees needed help to take the pressure off them. "We talked about the limitations because you are not always aware of what's happening in the stands," he said. "Bear in mind that what we do as match officials is to shut the crowd out really, because we're trying to concentrate on the game itself, we are trying to focus on our job and not get distracted. "Therefore, it's a fair comment to stay it's not easy to know what's happened." He added: "The point was made this morning and... there was a discussion about maybe someone having a specific role of just identifying those types of behaviour, (someone) who has a good understanding of what constitutes a discriminatory act within the stadium, and can therefore guide the match official. "It could be something like a venue co-ordinator, (it) could be someone in the stand, who could take the best position to get a feel for what's going on. "It could be they have to move around the stadium to get a feel for what's happened, but it would take some of the pressure off the match officials." THREE-STEP PROCEDURE European soccer's governing body UEFA issued guidelines four years ago outlining a three-step procedure of what to do in case of racist incidents during matches, putting the onus heavily on referees. It said that the referee should first stop the match and ask for announcements to be made over the public address system. The second step would be to suspend the match for a given period of time and, finally, abandon it. So far, those rules have not been invoked in European club competition and in March, UEFA said it would "fully support" referees who enforced them. "Why that procedure has not been invoked, I don't know," said Webb, adding he had not been involved in a match where he felt it necessary to stop play. "Maybe (it's) because there's an educational requirement needed for referees to make them aware it does exist. "We need key indications to the officials of what they can do and can't do, and what they need to do should something come to their attention." Webb was involved in an English Premier League match at Swansea City in December where Norwich City's Sebastien Bassong complained to him about racist abuse from a man in the crowd. The man was arrested and later charged. "It worked really well on that occasion," said Webb. "It might be that racial gestures in the crowd are brought to the attention of the referee by the players, but it's possible that we wouldn't identify it when we're concentrating on the job that we're there to do." – Reuters |
| Team Sky choose Froome over Wiggins to lead Tour bid Posted: 06 May 2013 07:04 AM PDT  PARIS, May 6 – Chris Froome, and not last year's winner Bradley Wiggins, will be Team Sky's leader on the Tour de France, the British team's head Dave Brailsford said today in ending months of speculation. "As always, the team selection is a management decision and it will be evidence-based. However, it is crucial there is clarity of purpose and, for that reason, we will go to the Tour with one leader," Brailsford said on Team Sky's website (http://www.teamsky.com). "Taking that into consideration and given Chris's step up in performances this year, our plan, as it has been since January, is to have him lead the Tour de France team." Wiggins, whose primary target this season is the Giro d'Italia, won the Tour last year after it had been made clear by Sky's management that he, and not fellow Briton Froome, was the sole leader on the race. Froome (picture) expressed frustration on the bike as he at times looked capable of beating his leader, finishing second overall, but after the race Wiggins said he would repay his lieutenant in 2013. Last week, Wiggins fuelled the speculation again by saying that he was considering a Giro/Tour double. It prompted Froome to issue a personal statement in which he said he was to lead Team Sky on the Tour, which starts on June 29 in Corsica. Froome has enjoyed a solid start to the season, winning the Tour of Oman, The Criterium International and the Tour de Romandie. Wiggins has been less dominant than last year. However, the time trial Olympic world champion sits in second place overall on the Giro after Team Sky won the second stage, a team time trial on Sunday. Brailsford said Team Sky should be focusing on the Giro bid for now. "We're in a fantastic position – we have two of the best GC (general classification) riders in the world and they are both great racers with a competitive will to win," he said. "Since the start of season, Bradley's performance plan has focused around training specifically to try and win the Giro and then ride the Tour, whilst Chris's has been focused on attempting to win the Tour. "Now we're here – the Giro has started and Bradley has done a brilliant job of getting in the best possible condition for his assault on the race." – Reuters |
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