Thursday, 5 December 2013
SPORT NEWS World Cup stadium in Curitiba is in 'a mess', warn Fifa sources
An aerial view of the Arena da Baixada stadium in Curitiba, taken in October. Photograph: Ale Carnieri/AP
Concern over the readiness of some World Cup stadiums has intensified on the eve of the finals draw. While Brazil's
deputy sports minister Luis Fernandes attempted to quell mounting
concerns by announcing that four of the six stadiums still unfinished
would be ready to hand over to Fifa in January, there is a question mark
over the Arena da Baixada in Curitiba.
Jérôme Valcke, Fifa's secretary general who is responsible for delivering the World Cup, said on Tuesday that three stadiums – in Curitiba, São Paulo and Cuiabá – would miss the deadline of being finished by the end of the year.
The Corinthians Arena in São Paulo has been delayed by the accident last week in which two construction workers were while the Arena Pantanal in Cuiabá has also been a longstanding concern.
Fifa sources said the situation in Curitiba was "a mess" and suggested that it could be March or later before the stadium, which is due to stage four matches and will seat 41,456, will be ready.
That will leave organisers with little time to install facilities and could force them to put in temporary toilets and food outlets. With the draw on Friday and tickets on sale, insiders admit there is "no plan B" but insist they will not compromise on security.
Fifa and the Brazilian authorities are awaiting a report on the situation in São Paulo but remain confident the stadium will be finished in time to host the World Cup's opening match on 12 June.
Aldo Rebelo, Brazil's sports minister, gave a long and rambling speech in which he appeared to make light of the delays. "There is always a bride and a groom at a wedding and 100% of the time the bride is always late but I have never known a wedding not to happen because of it," he said.
Fernandes was forced to clarify Rebelo's comments and insisted stadiums in Natal, Manaus, Porto Alegre and Cuiabá were ready or almost ready. "Because of the Christmas and New Year holidays, the stadiums will be opened in January," he said. "In all, 10 of the stadiums are now ready, leaving just Curitiba and São Paulo which won't be ready much before February."
Rebelo also admitted to safety concerns but said transport hubs would be safer for fans than anywhere in Europe or the US. "The issue of violence, we know it exists. We do not have the same safety conditions on the streets as in European cities," he said, "but the airports, bus stations and subways will be safer than any other environment in the US or Europe."
He said there were specific risks in cities such as Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Salvador. "We do have cases of violence in our cities, violence with social origins, common crime, robberies. This is something we are trying to fight against," he said. "Nobody will feel comfortable with this violence, with the massed robberies, the rapes, that happen but this is a horrible fact. We are trying to contain this violence. We know our country may be harmed when this violence is seen by the world, as would any country where violence exists."
He added: "We want to be scrutinised and are sure that this will show more positives than negatives. We are a country of joy and tolerance, proud of our mixed-race heritage."
Providing an update on ticket sales, Fifa's marketing director Thierry Weil confirmed each country would receive an allocation of 8% of the tickets for every match they are involved in.
The allocation is in addition to tickets bought through Fifa's central ticketing process and in the Football Association's case the tickets will be distributed through the England fans club.
Jérôme Valcke, Fifa's secretary general who is responsible for delivering the World Cup, said on Tuesday that three stadiums – in Curitiba, São Paulo and Cuiabá – would miss the deadline of being finished by the end of the year.
The Corinthians Arena in São Paulo has been delayed by the accident last week in which two construction workers were while the Arena Pantanal in Cuiabá has also been a longstanding concern.
Fifa sources said the situation in Curitiba was "a mess" and suggested that it could be March or later before the stadium, which is due to stage four matches and will seat 41,456, will be ready.
That will leave organisers with little time to install facilities and could force them to put in temporary toilets and food outlets. With the draw on Friday and tickets on sale, insiders admit there is "no plan B" but insist they will not compromise on security.
Fifa and the Brazilian authorities are awaiting a report on the situation in São Paulo but remain confident the stadium will be finished in time to host the World Cup's opening match on 12 June.
Aldo Rebelo, Brazil's sports minister, gave a long and rambling speech in which he appeared to make light of the delays. "There is always a bride and a groom at a wedding and 100% of the time the bride is always late but I have never known a wedding not to happen because of it," he said.
Fernandes was forced to clarify Rebelo's comments and insisted stadiums in Natal, Manaus, Porto Alegre and Cuiabá were ready or almost ready. "Because of the Christmas and New Year holidays, the stadiums will be opened in January," he said. "In all, 10 of the stadiums are now ready, leaving just Curitiba and São Paulo which won't be ready much before February."
Rebelo also admitted to safety concerns but said transport hubs would be safer for fans than anywhere in Europe or the US. "The issue of violence, we know it exists. We do not have the same safety conditions on the streets as in European cities," he said, "but the airports, bus stations and subways will be safer than any other environment in the US or Europe."
He said there were specific risks in cities such as Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Salvador. "We do have cases of violence in our cities, violence with social origins, common crime, robberies. This is something we are trying to fight against," he said. "Nobody will feel comfortable with this violence, with the massed robberies, the rapes, that happen but this is a horrible fact. We are trying to contain this violence. We know our country may be harmed when this violence is seen by the world, as would any country where violence exists."
He added: "We want to be scrutinised and are sure that this will show more positives than negatives. We are a country of joy and tolerance, proud of our mixed-race heritage."
Providing an update on ticket sales, Fifa's marketing director Thierry Weil confirmed each country would receive an allocation of 8% of the tickets for every match they are involved in.
The allocation is in addition to tickets bought through Fifa's central ticketing process and in the Football Association's case the tickets will be distributed through the England fans club.
SPORT NEWS Manchester United: five things to do to get David Moyes' reign back on track
Van Persie's absence is proving costly and with no early return Moyes faces pressure to buy well in the January transfer window
• Manchester United to go back in for Bilbao's Ander Herrera
• Manchester United to go back in for Bilbao's Ander Herrera
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Robin van Persie has
scored eight goals in only 13 appearances for Manchester United so far
this season. Photograph: Matthew Ashton/AMA/Corbis
1) Get Robin van Persie fit
Both David Moyes and Ryan Giggs bemoaned the wasted chances following Wednesday evening's 1-0 defeat to Everton. The one man even more clinical than the 10-goal Wayne Rooney is Robin van Persie. The Dutchman has managed eight strikes so far in a season limited to 13 Manchester United appearances due to the toe and groin injuries that have already impacted on the champions' hopes of defending their title. Van Persie last played in the 1-0 win over Arsenal at Old Trafford on 10 November. The 30-year-old scored the winner that day to lift United to fifth and a manageable five points from the leaders. In his absence since, United have failed to win. There have been a pair of draws, at Cardiff City and Tottenham Hotspur, plus the reverse to Everton: forget trying to compete for a 21st crown, two points from nine is hardly Champions League qualification form.On Wednesday, after his old club had beaten his new one, Moyes said: "We had some chances and, if we took them, then the game could have changed dramatically. We didn't take them and in the end we lost the game. There were a couple of big moments for us to score, one or two opportunities. Everton were always a threat on the break, they broke very quickly against us but I always felt we could just about nick it. But in the end, we didn't do so."
The sooner the Scot can again name Van Persie in the starting XI the better the side's chances of edging any close match. However the prognosis does not sound good: "I don't know [when Robin will return]," Moyes said. "We've been trying to get him back for a few weeks. But he is not ready yet. It's his groin. It's a sore groin injury and nothing desperately serious."
2) Solve the Marouane Fellaini conundrum
There is still serious head scratching among the United congregation regarding precisely why the Belgian has been bought. For those in the sceptic camp the charges against Fellaini consist of the "can't-pass, can't-create, can't-read-the-game" nature that are damning for a player who is supposed to be a central midfielder. Those less harsh believe that given the time to settle some require at United the 26-year-old can be the hard-tackling, controlling force in the centre of the park the club has required for some seasons.Fellaini (as well as Moyes) believes his best position is alongside Michael Carrick yet he has struggled there since making his full league debut in the 4-1 hammering Manchester City handed United in September.
Moyes has spoken of having to throw him in earlier than he wished due to injuries but this only shines a light on the paucity of midfield options and the failure in the last transfer window (see below) to recruit properly for the department.
The word is that the Fellaini is playing in discomfort that hampers his movement due to the wrist injury that requires surgery some time over the next three weeks. For a £27.5m signing this is far from the ideal scenario but given Michael Carrick's absence due to an achilles problem Moyes may have to continue to ask Fellaini to soldier on.
3) Have a productive January transfer window
The fallout from the blundering in the close season has come home to roost painfully for everyone connected with the club. Moyes had the chance to sign Thiago Alcântara, who is four years younger than Fellaini, a bespoke central operator, and who would have cost up to £10m less. While that deal is now dead after Alcântara moved from Barcelona to Bayern Munich, the dithering has to stop in January. What has become clear in this opening part of the season is why Moyes wants Everton's Leighton Baines: the left-back carries an attacking threat - from open and dead-ball play - that Patrice Evra does not. The manager remains keen on the Liverpudlian who turns 29 next week yet can he be signed in the winter window? Roberto Martínez says no, with the Everton boss reiterating the club's summer stance last week. If Baines is to be prised from Goodison Park then the cost may well be north of £20m, but given Everton's determination not to sell plus the general difficultly of buying in January the deal appears difficult. Beyond Baines, Moyes continues to need at least one more midfielder, so might he return to Athletic Bilbao for Ander Herrera? If so, then, again, United need no repeat of the dilly-dallying that saw the deal fall down on the final day of the previous window when Moyes and Ed Woodward, the executive vice-chairman, refused to pay the ¤36m (£30m) buyout clause for the 24-year-old.4) Go on a run of wins to ensure Champions League qualification
To wake to a Premier League table that shows United in ninth place, as many points - 12 - after 15 games from the leaders, Arsenal, as from Fulham in the third relegation spot asks serious questions of United.Now, Moyes and his squad need to forget the campaign so far, remember why they are the champions, and go on one of those irresistible runs that has helped claim the club so much silverware.
As, post-Everton, Ryan Giggs said: "We cannot feel sorry for ourselves for too long. We need to get on a run, before this we were on a 12-game unbeaten run. We have to get over this disappointment now. We'll get a better idea in the New Year, and hopefully we can start picking up points again."
This was always going to be a season of transition following the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson. Failure to secure participation in next term's European Cup, though, was not on the agenda of the club or its owners.
5) Less caution, more carpe diem
While United had a difficult start that included Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City in their opening five games a case can be made for Moyes falling back on pragmatism rather than a searing desire to live or die by seizing the day. A fine 4-1 win at Swansea City in the Scot's league bow as manager was followed by the 0-0 draw with Chelsea in front of the United crowd. Where comparisons between Ferguson and (the man he anointed) Moyes seem to end is that the former Old Trafford manager was a gambler by nature. In that goalless result with José Mourinho's side Moyes left Shinji Kagawa on the bench despite him being, along with Van Persie and Rooney, a one-off of a talent whose brightest asset is to slide in on defences at unorthodox angles while unlocking them to create for others. At Old Trafford on a Monday evening under the lights with Chelsea before him, the picture forms easily of Ferguson throwing Kagawa on after informing the Japanese he is about to be the game-winner. Another question is posed by Adnan Januzaj not starting against Everton, with Antonio Valencia being picked instead. At 18 the forward's match time has to be managed but if he was fit enough to come on after 58 minutes, as he did, might he have started? And, when, Januzaj did enter it was for Kagawa, rather than Valencia, a more belts-and-braces footballer.SPORT NEWS Tottenham combatting fan group trying to improve atmosphere
The Tottenham manager,
André Villas-Boas, said this season that the White Hart Lane crowd has
been 'anxious and negataive'. Photograph: Ian Kington/AFP/Getty Images
Tottenham Hotspur
are actively taking steps to try to combat the "unacceptable" behaviour
of a supporters' group set up to improve the much-criticised atmosphere
at White Hart Lane, according to documents seen by the Guardian.
The latest minutes of the Tottenham Safety and Advisory Group (SAG) reveal the club are concerned about an organisation of supporters who want to bring the noise back to the stadium on the back of André Villas-Boas's comments that it is too "anxious and negative".
The 1882 movement, set up by the Fighting Cock fanzine and podcast, encourages supporters "to sing as loud and as long as our lungs will let us". However, the minutes reveal there are moves being made behind the scenes to try to prevent the people behind it gathering in a designated area of the ground.
Bob McIver, head of building control at Haringey council, has written to Darren Eales, the Spurs director of football administration, to put the club "on warning" about this group. According to the documents, the club have decided they will not be allowed to go into J block, as they did for the recent Capital One Cup tie against Hull City. McIver's view is that "this group have to be monitored at future fixtures" and, since that meeting, the relevant supporters have been moved to another area behind one of the goals.
Tottenham have been speaking to their Supporters' Trust about the problem with the atmosphere and the club say they want to work closely with 1882 group. McIver is "aware it is hard to stop this group getting seats together as they arrange this among themselves via social media".
Sue Tilling, Tottenham's safety officer, depicts the 1882 movement as "a group of supporters aged 15 to 25 who are trying to improve the atmosphere at White Hart Lane". The SAG is "fully aware this fixture [against Hull] came just after AVB's interview regarding the lack of atmosphere at the stadium". However, there were reports of people standing, against stewards' instructions, and they "will therefore not be allowed to buy seats in this area". The group "stood and migrated [and] this is not acceptable".
The 1882 group was set up in the 2011-12 season, originally for youth-team and under-21 fixtures. According to its website, "the aim of the 1882 movement is to support our team and the shirt they play in and to sing as loud and as long as our lungs will let us. We want to hark back to the days before the Premier League, when how loud you sang and how passionate you became wasn't dependent on how well Tottenham were playing. We simply want to make noise and get behind the team, which hopefully creates a more enjoyable match-day experience."
The SAG meeting took place on 5 November, including representatives from Metropolitan police, the ambulance and fire services and the Sports Ground Safety Authority. West Ham's supporters were identified as having caused the most issues at White Hart Lane this season because of "increased, organised problematic fans". Their followers were "not the best to deal with and had ignited a smoke bomb".
The latest minutes of the Tottenham Safety and Advisory Group (SAG) reveal the club are concerned about an organisation of supporters who want to bring the noise back to the stadium on the back of André Villas-Boas's comments that it is too "anxious and negative".
The 1882 movement, set up by the Fighting Cock fanzine and podcast, encourages supporters "to sing as loud and as long as our lungs will let us". However, the minutes reveal there are moves being made behind the scenes to try to prevent the people behind it gathering in a designated area of the ground.
Bob McIver, head of building control at Haringey council, has written to Darren Eales, the Spurs director of football administration, to put the club "on warning" about this group. According to the documents, the club have decided they will not be allowed to go into J block, as they did for the recent Capital One Cup tie against Hull City. McIver's view is that "this group have to be monitored at future fixtures" and, since that meeting, the relevant supporters have been moved to another area behind one of the goals.
Tottenham have been speaking to their Supporters' Trust about the problem with the atmosphere and the club say they want to work closely with 1882 group. McIver is "aware it is hard to stop this group getting seats together as they arrange this among themselves via social media".
Sue Tilling, Tottenham's safety officer, depicts the 1882 movement as "a group of supporters aged 15 to 25 who are trying to improve the atmosphere at White Hart Lane". The SAG is "fully aware this fixture [against Hull] came just after AVB's interview regarding the lack of atmosphere at the stadium". However, there were reports of people standing, against stewards' instructions, and they "will therefore not be allowed to buy seats in this area". The group "stood and migrated [and] this is not acceptable".
The 1882 group was set up in the 2011-12 season, originally for youth-team and under-21 fixtures. According to its website, "the aim of the 1882 movement is to support our team and the shirt they play in and to sing as loud and as long as our lungs will let us. We want to hark back to the days before the Premier League, when how loud you sang and how passionate you became wasn't dependent on how well Tottenham were playing. We simply want to make noise and get behind the team, which hopefully creates a more enjoyable match-day experience."
The SAG meeting took place on 5 November, including representatives from Metropolitan police, the ambulance and fire services and the Sports Ground Safety Authority. West Ham's supporters were identified as having caused the most issues at White Hart Lane this season because of "increased, organised problematic fans". Their followers were "not the best to deal with and had ignited a smoke bomb".
Wednesday, 4 December 2013
NEWS Afghanistan embarrass India's
In the context of the ACC Emerging Teams Cup currently being played in Singapore, Afghanistan's 28-run win over the India Under-23 team was insignificant. The Indians still topped the group to move into the semi-final, where they will take on United Arab Emirates on Friday. But for Afghanistan, despite the fact that the result didn't help them from exiting the event, the victory was perhaps their most important.
For the first time in their short cricketing history, Afghanistan had recorded a win over a Test-playing nation, albeit an age-group side of it, in any format.
The fact that Afghanistan was allowed to enter their main side for the tournament while the Indians obeyed the age restriction was a footnote in fine print that in no way took away the shine from this emerging Asian cricketing nation.
The hero of the day for the Afghanistan was their skipper Mohammad Nabi, who scored 25 runs with the bat and finished with figures of 3/32 in a low scoring game. Batting first, Afghanistan scored 184 with Samiullah Shenwari scoring 43 off 44 balls. In reply, the Indians succumbed to Nabi's off-spin. India were 156/9 at the end of 50 overs.
At the end of group games; India, Pakistan and Afghanistan all finished with four points. But Afghanistan's poor run rate got them eliminated.
Assessing potential
Speaking to The Indian Express after the win, Nabi said, "For us it is a big win, beating India can only be a moral booster." Though, there were no international players in the Indian side, Nabi and his men were in awe of their young rivals. With most of the India under-23 players playing in the Indian Premier League, the Afghanistan players had seen them on television and thus were keen to match their skills against them.
For the first time in their short cricketing history, Afghanistan had recorded a win over a Test-playing nation, albeit an age-group side of it, in any format.
The fact that Afghanistan was allowed to enter their main side for the tournament while the Indians obeyed the age restriction was a footnote in fine print that in no way took away the shine from this emerging Asian cricketing nation.
The hero of the day for the Afghanistan was their skipper Mohammad Nabi, who scored 25 runs with the bat and finished with figures of 3/32 in a low scoring game. Batting first, Afghanistan scored 184 with Samiullah Shenwari scoring 43 off 44 balls. In reply, the Indians succumbed to Nabi's off-spin. India were 156/9 at the end of 50 overs.
At the end of group games; India, Pakistan and Afghanistan all finished with four points. But Afghanistan's poor run rate got them eliminated.
Assessing potential
Speaking to The Indian Express after the win, Nabi said, "For us it is a big win, beating India can only be a moral booster." Though, there were no international players in the Indian side, Nabi and his men were in awe of their young rivals. With most of the India under-23 players playing in the Indian Premier League, the Afghanistan players had seen them on television and thus were keen to match their skills against them.
In the context of the ACC Emerging Teams Cup currently being played in Singapore, Afghanistan's 28-run win over the India Under-23 team was insignificant. The Indians still topped the group to move into the semi-final, where they will take on United Arab Emirates on Friday. But for Afghanistan, despite the fact that the result didn't help them from exiting the event, the victory was perhaps their most important.
For the first time in their short cricketing history, Afghanistan had recorded a win over a Test-playing nation, albeit an age-group side of it, in any format.
The fact that Afghanistan was allowed to enter their main side for the tournament while the Indians obeyed the age restriction was a footnote in fine print that in no way took away the shine from this emerging Asian cricketing nation.
The hero of the day for the Afghanistan was their skipper Mohammad Nabi, who scored 25 runs with the bat and finished with figures of 3/32 in a low scoring game. Batting first, Afghanistan scored 184 with Samiullah Shenwari scoring 43 off 44 balls. In reply, the Indians succumbed to Nabi's off-spin. India were 156/9 at the end of 50 overs.
At the end of group games; India, Pakistan and Afghanistan all finished with four points. But Afghanistan's poor run rate got them eliminated.
Assessing potential
Speaking to The Indian Express after the win, Nabi said, "For us it is a big win, beating India can only be a moral booster." Though, there were no international players in the Indian side, Nabi and his men were in awe of their young rivals. With most of the India under-23 players playing in the Indian Premier League, the Afghanistan players had seen them on television and thus were keen to match their skills against them.
For the first time in their short cricketing history, Afghanistan had recorded a win over a Test-playing nation, albeit an age-group side of it, in any format.
The fact that Afghanistan was allowed to enter their main side for the tournament while the Indians obeyed the age restriction was a footnote in fine print that in no way took away the shine from this emerging Asian cricketing nation.
The hero of the day for the Afghanistan was their skipper Mohammad Nabi, who scored 25 runs with the bat and finished with figures of 3/32 in a low scoring game. Batting first, Afghanistan scored 184 with Samiullah Shenwari scoring 43 off 44 balls. In reply, the Indians succumbed to Nabi's off-spin. India were 156/9 at the end of 50 overs.
At the end of group games; India, Pakistan and Afghanistan all finished with four points. But Afghanistan's poor run rate got them eliminated.
Assessing potential
Speaking to The Indian Express after the win, Nabi said, "For us it is a big win, beating India can only be a moral booster." Though, there were no international players in the Indian side, Nabi and his men were in awe of their young rivals. With most of the India under-23 players playing in the Indian Premier League, the Afghanistan players had seen them on television and thus were keen to match their skills against them.
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