The Malaysian Insider :: Sports
The Malaysian Insider :: Sports |
| Platini calls for sin bins to replace yellow cards Posted: 05 Dec 2013 08:33 AM PST Platini, the president of governing body UEFA, said on Thursday he would also like the winner of national cup competitions to be rewarded with a place in the Champions League. "I would change the system of cautions," Platini told Spanish newspaper AS. "I would do it like in rugby, where the perpetrator would be punished by being off the pitch for 10 or 15 minutes of the game. "That means the team they are facing would benefit in the same match and it would be instead of a ban for accumulation of cards against another side later in the season. "It is an idea which needs to be developed and to see if it is something that would be good for the game." Under the current system, players are suspended when they accumulate a certain number of yellow cards over a period of the season. FIFA president Sepp Blatter poured cold water on Platini's idea later on Thursday. "I cannot see why we should change something in match control when we have established all the regulations," Blatter told a news conference in Costa do Sauipe, Brazil, where the world's governing body is meeting ahead of Friday's draw for the 2014 World Cup finals. Platini, the former France captain, said there was not enough support for the idea of giving national cup winners a place in the following season's Champions League. At present, teams gain qualification to the Champions League via their position in domestic league competitions. "It is something we have debated a lot, but when it comes to voting the countries in the majority are those which don't want to lose a place in the league for the cup winner," he said. "In Spain the cup has tradition like in other important countries, but it's not the case in all and in some there isn't even a cup." Platini agreed that the punishment handed down when a goalkeeper concedes a penalty - a spot-kick, the sending off of the keeper, and a subsequent suspension - are too harsh. "It is excessive," he said. "The penalty is enough. I think it is something that all in Fifa and Uefa agree, but there are one or two countries that are in the International Board that don't want to change it." Platini said he had improved the game in Europe since taking over as UEFA president in 2007. "I have worked to improve the game by asking for three changes: the pass-back rule, the red card for the last defender, and the introduction of goal-line officials," he said. "I have done plenty to improve the game with these rule changes." - Reuters, December 5, 2013. |
| Carlos Alberto warns Brazil singing the national anthem won’t win the World Cup Posted: 05 Dec 2013 08:23 AM PST Carlos Alberto Torres, the captain of arguably Brazil's greatest side, fears the current crop are worse than previous World Cup failures and the soccer-mad nation is overcooking expectations. Favourites Brazil are bidding to win a record sixth trophy on home soil in June and July next year, but misplaced confidence could be their biggest threat. "You have to keep your feet on the ground. You can't say six or seven months before the World Cup that we are champions. I don't think that is the right approach," the captain of the victorious 1970 side told reporters on the eve of Friday's draw for the finals. "We've had national teams better than the current one and we didn't win the World Cup. "We have the support and we are at home, but that doesn't mean we will win." Brazil established themselves as favourites after demolishing world and European champions Spain 3-0 in the Confederations Cup final at home last June. Backed by a raucous support and with outstanding performances from players such as Neymar, Paulinho and Fred, Brazil were surprisingly dominant over a side which had ruled the soccer landscape for five years. That boosted their confidence and manager Luiz Felipe Scolari last month ramped up expectation by declaring: "Brazil will be World Cup winners in 2014". Carlos Alberto travelled with the Brazil squad for friendly wins against Honduras and Chile last month and said he was impressed with their professionalism and preparation, but there was still a lot of work to be done. "My level of optimism has gone up, but when I see them play I must say it hasn't reached 100%," he told hundreds of journalists gathered in the media hall at the resort chosen for the draw. "We need to be realistic and bear in mind that there is a lot to be done before we are 100% ready and before we can make a bet and say we will be world champions." Fans enthusiastically singing the national anthem was cited as inspirational by many players at the Confederations Cup, but Carlos Alberto dismissed comments from other former winners such as Ronaldo that the crowd would play a crucial role. "We can't declare that we will win just because fans will sing the national anthem," he said. His comments came just days after another member of the 1970 team gave similar warnings about over-confidence. Tostao said Brazil's players, many of whom are playing in their first World Cup, must respect their opponents. "I fear that the euphoria over the national team will go beyond the limits of good sense, as if it were impossible for us to lose the World Cup at home," Tostao wrote in a column for the Folha de SP newspaper in Sao Paulo. "To win, you need to fear your major opponents. Fear is the security and pressure necessary to help you play better. "Spain, Germany and Argentina have the same or almost the same chances that Brazil do." - Reuters, December 5, 2013. |
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