SPORTS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2013 FIFA expresses confidence Martino rotations will prevent in security for World Cup another Barca flop RIO DE JANEIRO: Jerome Valcke, FIFA’s MADRID: Gerardo Martino’s policy of alternately resting key top official overseeing World Cup prepa- Barcelona players will help prevent the team suffering a similar rations, is confident Brazilian police can slump to the one that wrecked last season’s Champions League control any protests next year during campaign, according to midfielder Cesc Fabregas. Under football’s marquee event. Violent Martino’s predecessor as coach, Tito Vilanova, Barca struggled demonstrations surrounded the past AC Milan and Paris St Germain into the last four of Confederations Cup in June, with one Europe’s elite club competition last term before they were million eventually taking to the streets trounced by eventual winners Bayern Munich. at the height of the turmoil during what The German side swept Barca aside with a combination of was essentially a warm-up tournament physical intimidation and lethal finishing to inflict a 7-0 aggre- for the World Cup. Protesters ques- gate defeat on their Spanish rivals, by far Barca’s worst reverse tioned why Brazil is spending billions to in Europe. Since taking over from the ailing Vilanova, Martino organize the World Cup - and the Rio de has implemented a policy of resting some of his top performers Janeiro Olympics in 2016 - in a country for La Liga games, including Fabregas and fellow Spain mid- with high taxes and poor public services. fielders Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets. “What hap- pened last year was a lesson,” Fabregas said in an interview Six deaths were reported during with Spanish sports daily Marca published yesterday. “We were Confederations Cup demonstrations, in a mess and really weak towards the end of the season,” including four people who were run added the former Arsenal captain, who is preparing for Spain’s over by vehicles, one who died in a fall World Cup qualifier at home to Belarus later. from an overpass and another from “From February on we were having to force things. We were inhaling tear gas. “What has happened lacking in bite at the time when everything was decided. “Tata at the Confederations Cup and the way is calculating the playing time really well. That will help on a the authorities reacted was definitely PORTO ALEGRE: FIFA’s secretary-general, Jerome Valcke (right) visits the Beira Rio stadium, in Porto Alegre, Brazil. — AFP physical level and in terms of competition in the squad because very good and gave confidence to all nobody knows who will play or who will be rested.” Unbeaten the teams, commercial partners and all Rebelo, sitting alongside Valcke, criti- the World Cup to be handed over to FIFA Barca have started this season in impressive form, winning all of us on the capacity to control such sit- cized reporters for focusing on the neg- by a Dec 31 deadline. Six other stadiums eight of their domestic league outings and both Champions uations,” Valcke said Thursday in Rio. ative and for “almost rooting things for the World Cup were used for the League games and beating Atletico Madrid over two legs to Weekly protests have continued don’t go right.” Demonstrations “might Confederations Cup and are mostly ready win the Spanish Super Cup. The players return from interna- across Brazil since June, the latest on happen,” Rebelo said. “Yes, it’s possible. to go. tional duty next week and Barca’s next match is a La Liga clash Monday when police used rubber bul- But they might not happen also. ... Brazil, “The question is not about being at Osasuna on Oct 19 before they play at Milan the following lets, tear gas and shock grenades to even having to deal with the problems ready for the World Cup,” Valcke said. Tuesday and host bitter rivals Real Madrid for Spain’s ‘Clasico’ break up protests in Rio and Sao Paulo. of the demonstrations - like what hap- “That’s not the point. The stadiums will on Oct 26. — Reuters The protests were initially organized by pened in June - I think Brazil can have a be ready for the World Cup.” Brazil is striking teachers. World Cup in a peaceful environment.” spending about $3.5 billion for new and FIFA to use German goalline Valcke was met by 50 protesters on Former World Cup winner Ronaldo, refurbished stadiums. There are concerns Monday when he toured a stadium in who has been living in London for sever- that at least four of the stadiums could technology at 2014 WCup Cuiaba in west-central Brazil. Protesters al months, said non-Brazilians seemed become white elephants. A judge in the scribbled protests slogans on freshly more enthused about the World Cup insolated Brazilian state of Amazonas has LONDON: Referees at next year’s World Cup will use goalline tech- poured concrete - just feet (meters) than locals. “What I have seen and heard suggested a stadium being built in the nology for the first time to settle some of the disputes that have from where the pitch will be. abroad is a lot of enthusiasm from peo- city of Manaus could be used afterward marred past tournaments. Germany company GoalControl will “World Cup. Why?” was one message. ple,” he said. “What I see abroad is very as a prisoner processing center. supply the camera-based technology, FIFA said, following a suc- cessful trial during the Confederations Cup in Brazil earlier this Another read: “Less Cup, More Health different from what I see here inside Valcke said the stadiums needed to be year. GoalControl uses 14 cameras around the pitch to monitor and Education.” A banner paraded Brazil and what is being shown in the delivered well before the World Cup around the stadium read: “FIFA, Go whether the ball has crossed the line, sending a signal to the refer- media. ... Of course the population opens on June 12, giving organizers time ee’s watch within a second to confirm that a goal has been scored. Home.” Valcke defended the right of wants other things like education, and to test technology, install seats, ready Brazilians to protest, even during the FIFA noted there were no close calls on goalline incidents during security. But people also want to see the lucrative hospitality areas and prepare the Confederations Cup but added that the technology had func- World Cup, but only if they are peaceful. World Cup. This is a difficult moment television facilities. He said a stadium tioned well. “What do you want us to do? What do with people going to the streets being built in Curitiba in southern Brazil FIFA decided to adopt technology after England were denied a you want me to say about it? It is hap- demanding their rights.” was under “permanent monitoring” by goal when Frank Lampard’s shot hit the bar and bounced over the pening. Will it happen at the World Cup? World Cup organizers said almost 6.2 the organizing committee. He added that line during a 4-1 defeat by Germany in the 2010 World Cup. I hope not, but potentially it could hap- million ticket requests had been made in grass at the stadium in Brasilia had to be For the Germans, it was a fitting revenge for the most famous pen,” Valcke said. “There could be the first phase of sales. Officials said 70 improved. “The quality of the pitch in disputed goal of all time - Geoff Hurst’s shot against the bar that demonstrations during the World Cup.” percent were from Brazil. “There’s a wish Brasilia is not what you are expecting,” formed part of his hat-trick in England’s 1966 World Cup final win He said FIFA had not requested any for the world to attend this World Cup,” Valcke said. “We have more than enough at Wembley. The English Premier League is using goalline technol- added security arrangements from Brazil Valcke said. Valcke reiterated that he time to make sure the pitches will be ogy supplied by British-based company Hawk-Eye from this sea- for the World Cup. Sports Minister Aldo expected six stadiums being readied for good.” — AP son.— Reuters England’s lack of diversity slammed LONDON: Sol Campbell said yesterday he was unhappy with said Campbell, who won 73 England caps before retiring last only reached the semi-finals of two major tournaments and the lack of black football figures on a commission set-up to year. “It seems like that’s overlooked all the time. I don’t know the commission will investigate the reasons for their recent look into the state of the English game. The eight-strong panel who’s whispering in their ears but it seems the same situation failings. Clubs in England’s top-flight Premier League-who’ve named by Football Association chairman Greg Dyke earlier keeps cropping up,” the 39-year-old added. declined the chance to have a representative on the commis- this week are all white and for black former England defender “The FA has got to start opening up, spreading its wings sion but who have said they will assist it’s work-have been crit- Campbell that was a worrying sign. and looking at different people from different backgrounds icized for relying too heavily on foreign talent. But Everton “I wouldn’t mind if they had some black players in there, who have done great things for club and country to get the chief executive Robert Elstone said Friday that English players black players who have actually done something for club and views they need to move on,” the former Tottenham, Arsenal who made it into Premier League side would benefit from the country,” Campbell told the BBC.