TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015 SPORTS Blatter faces harshest critics at UEFA Congress VIENNA: FIFA president Sepp Blatter will come face to face with some of his harshest critics yesterday, most of whom will be voting to remove him from office when the Swiss stands for re-election in May. The 79-year-old is to address the 54-member nations of UEFA at their annual Congress knowing most of the delegates are backing the other three candidates: Jordanian Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein, Dutchman Michael van Praag and Luis Figo of Portugal. Blatter will make a speech at the start of Congress in his role as FIFA chief but has rejected Thiago Silva an offer to address delegates as a presidential hopeful. He said he had no need to campaign as French stress his 40-year record at soccer’s governing body spoke for itself. Blatter may be right because, despite his organisation facing one crisis or anoth- er, he is the overwhelming favourite to win a fifth test for Brazil term of office in the election at the FIFA Congress in Zurich on May 29. But he will be under no illu- RIO DE JANEIRO: Nine months on from Tardelli had been earmarked as centre for- sions when he faces his fellow Europeans on their World Cup drubbing by Germany, ward despite his move to Chinese outfit Tuesday that not all of them believe he is fit to car- Dunga’s new look Brazil team remains a Shandong Luneng but injury means a call ry on as president. work in progress but a Thursday test at for Shakhtar Donetsk striker Luiz Adriano, “It will be very bad indeed if he continues,” Van the Stade de France may give an indica- top Champions League marksman this Praag told reporters on Monday. “I believe that if tion of how far they have moved on. season with nine goals. the present president of FIFA goes on we will keep If understandably Dunga has made the One face missing for now is young on having these things again and again and again. next World Cup in Russia his priority the attacking midfielder Felipe Anderson, “I’m of the opinion Mr Blatter is responsible for Selecao have two tests over the coming despite good form for Lazio. this and he will never be accepted by anyone in the SWITZERLAND: FIFA president Sepp Blatter holds a press conference at the FIFA headquarters months to build a platform in the shape Dunga has made Barcelona star world as the person to turn FIFA around,” added the in this file photo. — AFP of the Copa America in June and next Neymar skipper in place of Thiago Silva, 67-year-old chairman of the Dutch FA. body does not support extending video technolo- clear about that,” he said. summer’s Olympic Games in Rio. indicating that “we need new leaders and Although attention is to focus on Blatter at the gy to catch mistakes made by referees, he added. “We also have to protect the referees and “The World Cup qualifiers are our prior- he loves challenges. The more responsibil- start of Congress, UEFA will also be re-electing UEFA’s refereeing officer Pierluigi Collina respect the referees,” added the UEFA official. “It ity. Before then, we have two friendly ity he gets the more he will evolve.” Michel Platini as president for a third term. warned Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, must be something that lives in the actions of the matches to look forward to and then the Dunga has a lingering unhappy mem- The former France international was once an Juventus, Monaco, Paris Saint Germain, Porto and players. Copa America” starting June 11 in Chile, a ory of the Stade de France as Brazil head ally of the FIFA leader but the pair have drifted Real Madrid at a meeting on Friday. “We understand that there are tensions around country the Brazilians will face three days to the City of Light. He hoped to lift the apart and Platini is now endorsing Blatter’s oppo- The meeting at the UEFA headquarters at Nyon matches,” said Infantino. “But the respect for the after the French match at the Emirates World Cup there but instead Brazil nents. Among other elections on Tuesday is one for in Switzerland came the day after the ruling body referee is the basis for playing.” The English Premier Stadium in London. slumped to a Zinedine Zidane-inspired three UEFA representatives on FIFA’s executive banned Paris St-Germain’s Ivorian defender Serge League has been rocked by controversy over the The Copa will be Dunga’s first competi- France in the 1998 final. committee that will almost certainly see two critics Aurier for three European matches for “insulting mistaken sending-off of West Brom defender tive games since taking the helm of the Nine of the Brazilians likely to feature of Blatter voted on to the most powerful group in acts” towards the referee of the Champions League Gareth McAuley after just 89 seconds of their 1-0 five-time world champions for a second Thursday were in the squad humiliated by world football. match against Chelsea. Premier League defeat at Manchester City. His time following six friendly match victories. Germany in July. German FA chairman Wolfgang Niersbach will Aurier did not play in the March 11 match which teammate Matt Dawson committed the foul. His first spell ended with a 2010 World But “there is no point in embarking on be elected unopposed while England’s David Gill is ended in a 2-2 draw, but made disparaging com- Infantino said more technology was not the Cup quarter-final elimination to the wholesale changes-we have quality play- expected to win a seat reserved for the British vice- ments on Facebook about referee Bjorn Kuipers answer, although he felt there had to be more Netherlands but before that he did steer ers,” Dunga insists. He himself retains a presidency in a two-way battle against Trefor Lloyd over his dismissal of Zlatan Ibrahimovic. debate on the issue. “There would be no mistaken the squad to a Copa win in 2007 and the love-hate relationship with Brazilian Hughes of Wales. Incumbent Angel Maria Villar UEFA is concerned about the growing tendency identity if you had the additional assistant referees, Confederations Cup two years later. observers who regarded him as a player Llona of Spain will also be re-elected unopposed. of groups of players to surround referees after because they will see immediately what happens Against France, Dunga’s mean-looking and as a coach as more about functionali- Meanwhile, UEFA has warned all the Champions every controversial call. Infantino slammed what and can rectify all decisions,” he said. “But, for every- defence was to have had a decidedly ty than flair. League quarter-final teams to stop their players he called the “aggressive stance” of some players thing else, it’s very much a judgement question for Gallic flavour but Paris Saint-Germain “People talk to me about football-as- harassing referees, secretary general Gianni toward referees. “This is something that we don’t the referee - and has to remain with the referee as stars David Luiz and Marquinhos have art. But what does that mean? A great Infantino said yesterday. And Europe’s governing accept, that we cannot accept and we are very well in the future.— AFP both withdrawn through injury although save by a keeper is art. Winning posses- clubmate Thiago Silva and Monaco’s sion is also an art. “You won’t find a Pele Fabinho are included. on every street corner.” Corinthians centre back Gil and With seven goals in six games for Mancini reignites row over Arsenal’s central defender Gabriel Paulista Dunga, Neymar is the sole true standout meanwhile come into the squad. Paulista’s in the current squad. “Today, nobody call-up is his first and he will hope to fea- really stands out-Neymar excepted. It non-Italian born players ture in particular at his Emirates club disturbs people to see that happen with ground against the Chileans. Brazilian football,” Dunga conceded ear- MILAN: A debate over the eligibility of players born to While looking to bring on new names lier this month, aware the fans crave Italians living outside the country has been reignited Dunga has an evident soft spot for striker success delivered by artistes. The gener- after criticism of coach Antonio Conte’s decision to Robinho, 31 and now enjoying himself ation behind the current one does not draft South American-born players into the national once again at Santos after a loan move yet augur for greater things with the side. Palermo’s Argentinian-born midfielder Franco from AC Milan. under-20 side having missed a South Vazquez and Brazilian-born Sampdoria striker Eder Dunga maintains that “you have to American championships podium finish were among three new faces named by Conte in a 26- blend youth and experience.” Diego earlier this year. — AFP man squad for upcoming games against Bulgaria, and England. Their call-ups come as Italy look to rebuild after their disastrous exit from the first round of the World Cup for the second successive edition. Four sent off in But the choices did not sit well with everyone. Inter Milan coach Mancini told reporters in Rome on Monday: “If you play for Italy you should be Italian.” rain-hit Rio derby When reminded that Germany won the World Cup with players born to immigrant families, Mancini RIO DE JANEIRO: Torrential rain in Rio de minutes left on the clock, Paulinho replied: “But their players were born in Germany.