Football Media

The FIFA Disciplinary Committee, chaired by Marcel Mathier, decided today, 18 May, in Zurich to impose a ban on the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) whereby the “A” representative team of Egypt will play the first two home matches of the preliminary competition for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ at a location at least 100 kilometres away from Cairo.

In addition, the EFA will have to pay a fine of CHF 100,000. The FIFA Disciplinary Committee took this decision after determining that the EFA had failed to take all the necessary security precautions to ensure the safety of the Algerian delegation, as well as security and order in the Cairo International Stadium for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ qualifier between Egypt and Algeria held on 14 November 2009.

The FIFA Disciplinary Committee noted in particular that the Egyptian FA had not adopted the necessary measures to prevent the assault on the bus of the Algerian delegation on the way from the airport to the hotel on 12 November 2009. In addition, the bus windows were smashed and four members of the Algerian delegation, including three players, were injured.

It was equally noted that security and order in the stadium were not guaranteed, as an excessive number of spectators were granted access to the stadium and the entrances and stairways were obstructed. Furthermore, at the end of the match, the bus of the Algerian delegation was detained for over 45 minutes.

With regard to the play-off match between Algeria and Egypt held in Sudan on 18 November 2009, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee determined that the conditions for opening disciplinary proceedings had not been met and therefore decided to close this matter.

EMB research shows top stars are more likely to fall prey to long-term injuries in coming season

English Premier League clubs are likely to find themselves GBP15-20 million out-of-pocket in lost wages due to the extra injuries suffered by their players in the 2010/11 season after taking part in this summer’s World Cup.

Actuarial consultancy, EMB, has found that players selected for their national squads in South Africa are likely to receive 32% more long-term injuries* than those who watch the tournament from a sun lounger. This is based on analysis of six seasons, including those immediately before and after the last two World Cups.

The vast majority of the cost will be borne by the “big” six clubs. Chelsea alone has 16 players in the provisional squads and given the club’s high wage bill, extra injuries could cost the club around GBP4 million. However, 117 Premier League players are included in the initial selections of 27 of the 32 teams, with over 100 expected to make it on to the planes bound for South Africa.

By comparison, the numbers involved mean the cost will be less significant for the other major leagues. The Bundesliga in Germany has the next highest number of players in the provisional squads with 93. In addition, Bundesliga players benefit from a long winter break giving them the rest needed to avoid fatigue and therefore injuries later in the league season.

EMB director, Paul Murray, said: “The results highlight the true cost of World Cup finals to Premier League clubs, with players who don’t get much rest over the summer becoming more susceptible to injury in the following season.”

He added that the financial impact could be much higher than the pure cost in wages. “If injuries to key players early in the season were to affect qualification for the knockout stages of the Champions League, clubs could lose up to GBP25 million in prize money plus the commercial spin-offs from winning trophies.”

While personal accident sports cover is available, typically kicking in 30 days after the injury, there is disagreement on who should pay the premiums. A number of English clubs do purchase cover, but are increasingly demanding that national associations should pick up the cost for injuries incurred on international duty. After Michael Owen suffered a knee injury minutes into the 2006 World Cup, Newcastle successfully recouped close to GBP10 million from the Football Association and FIFA, the international governing body, but not without a battle.

Paul Murray said, “In reality, many national associations, particularly those in Africa, would struggle to meet the cost of covering the wages of the likes of Michael Essien, Didier Drogba and Kolo Toure.”

One solution to the competing demands of club and international football could be for continental football federations such as UEFA to buy cover and recover costs from all member nations in an equitable manner. However some poorer federations would still struggle to afford cover for their top stars on very high wages at clubs like Chelsea and Manchester City. Unless FIFA offers to cover the clubs’ insurance costs for injuries while with their national teams, disputes will continue.

Regardless of progress in this area, clubs like Chelsea will lose out from the extra injuries caused by the wear and tear of a World Cup tournament. Since the extra injuries noted by EMB will occur when players have returned to their clubs, there will be no redress from FIFA or other bodies anyway.

* Where a player is away from full training for at least 30 days.

A Special Meeting of the International Football Association Board (IFAB), chaired by FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter, was held at the Home of FIFA in Zurich to discuss outstanding proposals regarding the Laws of the Game that were carried over from the 124th Annual General Meeting in March.

A presentation was provided on the experiment with additional assistant referees in the 2009/10 UEFA Europa League, following the conclusion of 144 league stage matches and 61 knockout phase fixtures. It was agreed that for a period of two years, FIFA’s six Confederations and 208 Member Associations, subject to agreement from the IFAB, will be able to experiment using Additional Assistant Referees.

FIFA will outline the protocol for this non-compulsory trial in a Circular to the six FIFA Confederations and 208 Member Associations shortly. Authorisation will be given by an IFAB Sub-Committee by the end of July 2010.

The Board approved an amendment proposed by the Scottish Football Association concerning the role of the Fourth Official. The amendment extends the scope of the Fourth Official’s duty to “assist the referee to control the match in accordance with the Laws of the Game. The referee however, retains the authority to decide on all points connected with play.”

The Board also approved an amendment in the wording of Law 14 (The Penalty Kick). “Feinting in the run-up to take a penalty kick to confuse opponents is permitted, however feinting to kick the ball once the player has completed his run-up is now considered an infringement of Law 14 and an act of unsporting behaviour for which the player must be cautioned.“

Finally it was agreed that the IFAB will seek the views of players, coaches and match officials following the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ to discuss Law 12 – Fouls and Misconduct, which relates to sending-off offences; the so-called “triple sanction”.

The decisions concerning the Laws of the Game taken today by the International Football Association Board will come into effect on 1 June 2010.

The 125th Annual General Meeting will take place at Celtic Manor, Newport, Wales between 4 and 6 March 2011.

Carlsberg becomes the fifth UEFA EURO 2012 global partner

UEFA and Carlsberg announced an extension of their long term sponsorship agreement for UEFA’s flagship national team competition, a relationship which began in 1988 at the UEFA European Championship in the former West Germany.

Carlsberg therefore becomes the fifth global partner for UEFA EURO 2012 following on from the previous announcement of the adidas, Castrol, Coca-Cola and Hyundai-Kia agreements.

As part of this sponsorship agreement, Carlsberg will benefit from  exclusive marketing rights for alcoholic beverages within official premises of the competitions. Carlsberg will also continue to offer European football fans sole and exclusive programmes such as the opportunity to present the “Carlsberg Man of the Match Awards”.

In addition to the partnership of UEFA EURO 2012 Carlsberg will also benefit from global marketing rights for the UEFA European Under-21 Championship 2011 to be held in Denmark.

”With EURO 2012 we cement our many years of  loyalty to and enthusiasm for premium European football,” said Jørgen Buhl Rasmussen, CEO of Carlsberg Group. “EURO 2012 is not only a milestone for Carlsberg, being an official sponsor for almost a quarter of a century, but excitingly it is also the first ever UEFA EURO to be hosted in Eastern Europe.”

“The interest and tradition for football in the host countries, with a total of over 80 million inhabitants, is enormous and therefore we are thrilled to be part of this exciting tournament, We are creating history together with UEFA and all our employees in Poland and Ukraine,” he added.

Commenting on the signing, David Taylor, CEO of UEFA Events SA, said:

“The UEFA European Championship has benefitted from the partnership with Carlsberg for more than two decades, and we are proud to extend this relationship with such a recognised and dedicated brand.

“The imagery behind the UEFA EURO 2012 logo represents a plant that grows and grows – the same goes for the relationship between Carlsberg and UEFA European Championship.”