CLUB WORLD CUP
Flamengo won’t take Ighalo’ Al Hilal lightly in Club World Cup semis
Flamengo will not make the mistake of looking past Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal in their Club World Cup semi-final on Tuesday and will give the challenge the attention it deserves, manager Vitor Pereira said on Monday.
Since FIFA changed the Intercontinental Cup, a competition played by the winners of the European Cup and Copa Libertadores, to a new format including clubs from other continents, the South American sides have lost five times in the semis.
“We will not fall into the trap of thinking it will be an easy match against Al Hilal,” Pereira told a news conference.
“They are a good team that have already a tradition to make it tough for opponents in the Club World Cup so we will not take them lightly.
“We are motivated because we can bring great joy to our fans. We represent millions of supporters, and we also represent an entire continent.”
Pereira acknowledged the pressure not to disappoint the Brazilians, who see the Club World Cup as the most important title a South American club can win, but said that works as an incentive rather than an extra challenge.
“Having the pressure to win a title is great. Bad pressure is when you are fighting against relegation,” Pereira said.
“The pressure that we are feeling today is a pressure that sparks you from inside, that excites, because it’s a unique opportunity.
“We are two games away from the most incredible moment of our career.”
Defender David Luiz, who lost a Club World Cup final with Chelsea in 2012, agreed with his coach and insisted the players were not even thinking about a possible clash against Real Madrid in Saturday’s showpiece.
Real face Egypt’s Al Ahly in the second semi-final on Wednesday.
“Our final is against Al Hilal on Tuesday,” David Luiz told a news conference.
“The dream of winning the Club World Cup started in our first Copa Libertadores game last year. That’s why we should think exclusively about the semi-final.
“This is our final at the moment, it’s going to be very difficult. We know we are going to face a qualified opponent.”
Al-Hilal coach Ramon Diaz said he understood that Flamengo were the favourites to win but that his side will try to shock the South American giants.
“We have to be ready and focused the entire match so we don’t waste an opportunity when it comes,” Diaz told a news conference.
“Our team are coming from winning two Asian Champions League (titles) in three years. We have 12 players from the Saudi Arabia team, so we will compete.”
CLUB WORLD CUP
Referees’ body cameras will provide fans with unprecedented views of on-field action, says FIFA
FIFA unveiled its team of 117 match officials, opens new tab on Monday for the inaugural Club World Cup and said referees would wear body cameras and enforce stricter goalkeeper time-wasting rules at the tournament to be staged across the United States.
The FIFA Referees Committee appointed the officials from 41 member associations – 35 referees, 58 assistant referees and 24 video match officials – for the June 14 to July 13 event.
Body cameras will provide fans with unprecedented views of on-field action, FIFA said, while goalkeepers who hold the ball beyond eight seconds will now see opponents awarded corner kicks rather than indirect free kicks.
“We think that it is a good chance to offer the viewers a new experience, in terms of images taken from a perspective, from an angle of vision, which was never offered before,” said Pierluigi Collina, chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee.
“It also has a purpose in terms of referee coaching because, of course, having the possibility to see what the referee sees is important in the debriefing.”
Collina highlighted the historic nature of the appointments for the expanded tournament featuring 32 teams from all six FIFA confederations and spanning 12 stadiums in 11 U.S. host cities.
“The selected referees are among those who have the privilege to be part of this for the first time, so I’m sure that all the match officials will be thrilled,” he said.
“We are coming from high-standard performances delivered during the last FIFA tournaments. So the bar is higher and when you set the bar higher it’s more difficult to keep the standard. But we are working very hard and ‘Team One’ will make a solid contribution to the success of this exciting competition.”
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
The expanded Club World Cup holding in the US has brought another innovation to football.
Referees at the championship holding from June 14 to July 13 will be equipped with body cameras and will implement a new rule to combat goalkeeper time-wasting.
Game directors will wear “body cameras as part of an experimental phase, the tests having been approved by IFAB ,” the body that oversees the rules of the game, the International Football Federation explained in a statement.
“We believe this is a good opportunity to offer viewers a new experience, with images taken from a perspective that has never been offered before,” explained FIFA Referees Committee chairman Pierluigi Collina.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
The change in football rules that allows goalkeepers to be punished with corner kicks will be implemented at the Club World Cup holding in June in the US.
The revelation was made by FIFA Referees Committee chairman Pierluigi Collina after the announcement that referees will wear body cameras.
This initiative is “both innovative for broadcasters and for referee training,” added the Italian, “because it is important to be able to put yourself in the referee’s shoes during the debriefing, to evaluate how the referee made his decisions, his point of view, etc. “
The competition will implement the new rule approved by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) on March 1, aimed at reducing time wastage by goalkeepers.
“If they hold the ball for more than eight seconds, the referee will award a corner. Previously, an indirect free kick could be awarded after six seconds.
Seminars for referees have been held recently. The one for UEFA referees was held at FIFA headquarters from March 31 to April 4. Another seminar was held in Dubai for referees from the AFC (Asia), CAF (Africa), and OFC (Oceania) from February 2 to 4, and a third for referees from CONMEBOL (South America) and CONCACAF (Central America and the Caribbean) took place in Buenos Aires from February 24 to 28.
“We need to see the game and the goals, not the refereeing,” said refereeing director Massimo Busacca. “The referee is the protagonist who should not be noticed during the match. A good referee doesn’t need to be seen or known. But he must be prepared. “
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Remo Stars are Nigeria’s 21st League Champions
AMAC Crowned Inaugural Champions of FCT FA Women’s Inter-Area Councils Football Tournament
Ayanwale, Aiyelabegan set to defend titles at 2025 National Table Tennis Championships in Osun
- WOMEN'S FOOTBALL1 week ago
Naira rain falls on Nigeria’s Flamingos after a 4-0 defeat of Algeria
- Nigerian Football4 days ago
Financial rainfall awaits Nigeria’s Flamingos for every goal scored in Algeria
- OBITUARY5 days ago
NFF mourns the demise of former FIFA referee, Bosede Momoh
- U-17 AFCON1 week ago
Morocco crowned CAF U-17 AFCON champions after dramatic penalty shootout win over Mali
- U-20 FOOTBALL1 week ago
Nigeria begin CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations title chase with Tunisian clash
- Nigerian Football1 week ago
Remo Stars maintain ‘7Up’ lead over Rivers United
- feature6 days ago
Ghana’s Cardinal, Appiah Turkson, listed as a possible Pope
- Nigerian Football4 days ago
Former WAFU President, Ogufere mourns Christian Chukwu