12 Wednesday, March 21, 2018 SPORTS CHINA DAILY HONG KONG EDITION Time to show FIFA a red card t’s bad enough that soccer is already the only major sport that produces “highlight” reels showing what almost Ihappened during 90 minutes of non­action. Now FIFA, in its infinite wisdom, has ordained that video assistant referee technology (VAR) will be used at this summer’s World Cup finals in Russia, further stultifying a game that’s desperately in need of more pace. FIFA president Gianni Infantino sugar­coated last week’s announce­ ment in Zurich, saying all the right things about building “a more transparent and fairer sport” and giving the living, breathing game officials “much­ needed help” — but it was a hollow endorsement. The landmark decision to use VAR Murray at the World Cup Greig came two weeks aft­ er FIFA’s rules panel voted to write video technology into the laws of soccer, and Infanti­ no has pledged improved commu­ nication with officials and fans to make the system work. World Cup referees will be empowered to call on VAR to review and overturn “clear and From left: Wales’ Gareth Bale, Uruguay duo Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani, and China hotshot Wu Lei are some of the big stars expected to light up the second edition of the China Cup International obvious errors,” as well as “serious Football Championship, which opens on Thursday in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. REUTERS AND XINHUA missed incidents” involving goals, penalties, red cards, and mistaken SOCCER identity on sanctions. Sounds good in theory, right? But in the real world, it sucks. VAR’s biggest impact will be to prolong games and subject soccer fans to CHINA AIMS TO SLAY DRAGONS the same momentum­killing stop­ pages that infuriate aficionados of the NBA, NHL and NFL. Formidable obstacle of Gareth Bale’s Wales stand in host’s way as China Cup kicks off in Nanning There are now 14 — count ’em, 14! — on­court incidents that quali­ By SHI FUTIAN against Guangzhou R&F last Sun­ ter they go back, they will go back Uruguay, the only one of the four fy for review in the NBA, all of in Nanning, Guangxi day to take his tally to seven in just Tune in early. There are players for who this teams that will play at the World which are painstakingly analyzed [email protected] three matches. is an ideal trip for them to get Cup in Russia, must be considered by a “war room” video crew in New Much has been made of the CSL’s SCHEDULE OF CHINA CUP games and minutes under their belt the favorite to lift the China Cup. Jersey. The NHL is even worse. As China’s national team faces a new under­23 player quotas this (ALL BEIJING TIME) — and it is for Gareth.” Coach Oscar Tabarez is blessed of last weekend, there had been 237 stern test of its credentials when it season, and Lippi has selected four * Thursday, March 22, 19:35 pm Giggs, though, is without influen­ with the superstar firepower of Bar­ reviews of a single call — offside — faces Gareth Bale’s Wales in Thurs­ players in that age bracket — Ever­ China vs Wales tial Arsenal playmaker Aaron Ram­ celona’s Luis Suarez and Paris so far this season, all relayed to day’s opening match of the China grande’s Deng Hanwen, Liu Yiming (on CCTV5, Shanghai Sports, sey, who requires “a small Saint­Germain’s Edinson Cavani in Toronto for a second (and third, Cup International Football Cham­ of Tianjin Quanjian, Guo’an’s Wei PPTV) procedure” to heal a nagging injury, attack, while the Serie A class of and fourth) look. And don’t get me pionship in Nanning, Guangxi Zhu­ Shihao and He Chao of Changchun * Friday, March 23, 19:35 pm and West Bromwich Albion striker Sampdoria’s Lucas Torreira and started on the lunacy of NFL video ang autonomous region. Yatai. Uruguay vs Czech Republic Hal Robson­Kanu. And one of the Gaston Ramirez, Matias Vecino stoppages. Real Madrid superstar Bale The only big surprise in Lippi’s (on Shanghai Sports) heroes of the Dragons’ run to the (Inter Milan) and Rodrigo Betan­ Now soccer is headed down the strikes fear in any opponent, so lineup is the absence of 38­year­old * Monday, March 26, 15:35 pm Euro 2016 semifinals, Reading mid­ cur (Juventus) anchors his mid­ same pernicious path. stopping the marauding Welsh wiz­ captain Zheng Zhi, who, according Third­place playoff fielder Dave Edwards, has field. In 18 months of worldwide trials ard will be key to China’s chances of to Tencent Sports, is being rested * Monday, March 26, 19:35 pm announced his international retire­ Tabarez is likely to give some less­ — including in the Bundesliga, Ser­ overcoming the Dragons and with next year’s Asian Cup in mind. Final (broadcasters to be decided) ment. er lights a chance to win recogni­ ie A and at the 2017 Confederations reaching Monday’s final of the four­ Crystal Palace goalkeeper Wayne tion ahead of settling his World Cup Cup in Russia — VAR reviews have team, FIFA­sanctioned tourna­ Giggs confident Hennessey, Everton’s Ashley Willi­ roster. proven to be much slower than ment. With Bale in tow, new Wales ams, Tottenham’s Ben Davies, “We don’t rule out any player,” anticipated and communication in After failing to qualify for this manager Ryan Giggs is confident of Stoke’s Joe Allen, Swansea’s Andy Tabarez said on Saturday. the stadiums has been hit­and­ summer’s World Cup finals, China getting his tenure off to a flying King and Liverpool duo Ben Wood­ “I have to take players to China miss, at best. has now turned its attentions to start. burn and Harry Wilson (on loan at who I have a chance of seeing. “Obviously, it is not a perfect sys­ preparing for the 2019 AFC Asian Bale, 28, has struggled for game There are players for Championship side Hull) make up Those players are a priority, ahead tem and we are not going to reach Cup in the United Arab Emirates. time at Madrid this season but Giggs’ English Premier League con­ of those who I already know.” 100 percent perfection,” Infantino Thirteen players from Chinese came off the bench to hit the net in a who this is an ideal tingent. The Czech Republic, meanwhile, said in making the announcement. Super League champion 6­3 league victory over Girona on Centerback Williams, 33, retains has been struggling in recent years. “What we definitely want to do is Guangzhou Evergrande and this Sunday. trip for them to get the Welsh captaincy despite his The Czechs finished third behind help.” year’s early CSL pacesetter Shang­ With teams guaranteed two indifferent form for Everton. Germany and Northern Ireland in FIFA should be shown a red card, hai SIPG make up the bulk of Mar­ games in Nanning (the semifinal games and minutes “There’s no reason to change,” 2018 World Cup qualifying Group because a recent British survey cello Lippi’s 27­man squad, which losers will play a third­place playoff, under their belt — said Giggs of Williams. “He’s getting C, the country’s third straight fail­ indicated that even the most expe­ includes such familiar faces as also on Monday), Giggs is planning to the end of his career so it’s some­ ure to reach the finals. rienced VAR officials — several of SIPG’s Wu Lei, Yu Dabao of Bei­ to use Bale in both matches. and it is for Gareth.” thing will have to look at in the Coach Karel Jarolim has decided whom have handled many more jing Guo’an and Evergrande’s Gao “All players that go out are pre­ future, but he’s been a brilliant cap­ against experimenting with any matches than most referees who Lin. paring to play both games,’’ the Ryan Giggs, Wales manager tain on and off the pitch.” rookies in China, while Matej Vydra will work at the 64­game World China will look to SIPG’s Wu to former Manchester United great is perhaps the Czechs’ most potent Cup — aren’t sold on it. breach the Welsh defense, with the said last week. Uruguay faves attacking threat, having bagged 17 FIFA’s solution is to ignore the 26­year­old starting the CSL season “But you have to be sensible as On Friday, Uruguay and the goals for promotion­chasing Derby experienced guys and train a new in prolific form — firing four goals, well. If players get a knock when Czech Republic square off in the County in England’s Championship batch of 36 refs, plus their teams of including a 12­minute hat­trick, they are on tour and we feel it’s bet­ second semifinal. this season. assistants, for duty in Russia. And most of them are from countries and regions that don’t use VAR in their domestic leagues. Until video reviews came into Hulk suitably wowed by Wu’s scoring explosion vogue, much of the lure and lore of every major sport was the random impact of human error. In soccer, SHANGHAI — Brazil interna­ er in 12 years to score a “big four” in was “very proud of the team and the for better or worse, that’s what cre­ tional Hulk offered warm praise the nation’s top tier, following player”, as Chinese fans hailed ated the legends surrounding Geoff after his Shanghai SIPG teammate Shandong Luneng’s Li Jinyu in “Rocket king Wu Lei”.