Al-Ahram Weekly | Sports

		20 - 26 June 2002 Issue No. 591 Sports	Current issue Previous issue Site map
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Cameras catch punch
PORTUGAL forward Joao Pinto could face a serious sanction from football's world governing body FIFA which has television evidence that he punched Argentine referee Angel Sanchez after being sent off in Friday's clash with South Korea.
FIFA communications director Keith Cooper said a report on the incident had been submitted to the body's disciplinary committee. Cooper declined to say whether the report included allegations of punching. But FIFA sources said the ruling body had television pictures of the incident on the pitch and photographs were taken of the bruise on Sanchez's body which the referee alleges was caused by Joao Pinto's punch.
"He punched me on the left, in the ribs," Sanchez told Portuguese state radio on Saturday in an interview. Joao Pinto was sent off in the 27th minute of the 1-0 group D defeat by South Korea that put Portugal out of the tournament. He was shown dismissed after a tackle from behind on Park Ji-sung.
Portugal's captain and defender Fernando Couto also held Sanchez by the face as the Portuguese players argued with the referee over the decision. Portugal also had Beto Severo sent off after a second yellow card following a late challenge.
Cooper declined to speculate on what action the disciplinary committee would take. But Portugal defender Abel Xavier was banned for nine months for manhandling a referee in protest after his side went out of the European championships at the hands of France two years ago after a golden goal. The ban was later reduced on appeal. "The general rule is that the referee should not be touched," Cooper said. "Players always run the risk by laying hands on the referee. The wisest thing is: 'Hands Off'."
Getting better
THE CONDITION of the British man who fractured his skull when he fell from the upper tier of a World Cup stadium in Seoul is improving. "His condition is rapidly getting well. He can say a few words and is talking over the phone with his mother," said spokesman of the Korean organising committee, Chemin Rim.
The man was running in front of spectator seats in the rain last week at Jeonju Stadium when he slipped and fell over a barrier and into a moat. He was in a coma when he arrived at a local hospital.
The man's name and identity have been withheld, and his age was not known. Jeonju World Cup stadium spokesman Mun Nam-seob said the man was Scottish, while FIFA spokesman Keith Cooper has confirmed that he was British.
FIFA had said the man was not in an off- limits area and that nobody else was involved. Jeonju Stadium met all safety standards, FIFA said.
Riots after victory
RIOT police restored peace in an English town on Saturday after more than 100 people went on a violent rampage following England's 3-0 victory over Denmark at the World Cup.
Sixteen people who hurled bottles and beer glasses at police were arrested in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, 145 miles north of London.
Inspector Andrew Briggs said Staffordshire police called in 120 officers trained to deal with riots. The trouble spread from a town square to surrounding streets and lasted for two hours.
Briggs said an elderly man who was punched to the ground was taken to a hospital for treatment and later released.
"It is extremely disappointing that yet again, this minority of people cannot celebrate England's victory without resorting to violence, aggression and confronting police officers," Superintendent Ian Ackerley said.
Jackson correct
POP LEGEND Michael Jackson backed England's football team to beat Denmark in its second round World Cup match -- and it did. "England is going to win," he told fans, giving a double thumbs-up a day before England breezed past Denmark 3-0. However, the singer admitted to the crowd: "I know nothing about sport. But I believe you." Jackson, who has appeared on some of the biggest stages in the world, made his comments after appearing at a charity event in Exeter, England, on the grounds of the city's third division side.
Toilet graph
MANY Japanese soccer fans, glued to television screens when their national team plays, do not take toilet breaks during the game, then rush to the bathroom during half-time.
The amount of water supply falls significantly when Japan is playing and surges during half-time, compared to a day earlier, according to a newspaper Saturday and the city waterworks bureau in Yokohama.
When Japan played Russia Sunday night at Yokohama Stadium, the amount of water supply jumped from 33,000 tons to about 85,000 tons just before the first half ended, the bureau said in a release published on its Web site earlier this week.
Overall, the amount of water used in the 15-minute break was 8,000 tons more than that of the day earlier and was equivalent to about 800,000 toilet flushings. It means one in four Yokohama citizens rushed to the bathroom during half-time, the bureau said.
The water supply dived as the second half began, falling to as low as just over 30,000 tons -- nearly half the amount used in the same time frame the previous day -- when the game ended.
Use of water Sunday evening was larger than the previous day probably because many soccer fans tried to finish house chores and shower before the game began, the bureau said.
On Friday, when Japan played Tunisia, there was a 4,000-ton increase during half- time although it was during office hours, the national newspaper Asahi reported Saturday in a regional edition.
Japan advanced to the World Cup second round for the first time after defeating Tunisia 2-0 in its last group match.
Belqola dies
MOROCCAN Said Belqola, who refereed the final of the 1998 World Cup, died on Saturday after a long battle with cancer. Belqola, 45, became the first Arab to officiate a World Cup final when hosts France beat Brazil 3-0. His international career spanned 10 years.
Zagallo picks Brazil
FORMER Brazil coach Mario Zagallo says the four-time champions will beat England if they meet in the World Cup quarter-finals, and then go on to win a fifth title. The Old Wolf, who won the World Cup as a player in 1958 and 1962 and as coach in 1970, said England were Brazil's "lucky opponents".
"I was fortunate to face them three times," said Zagallo. "As a player, we drew (0-0) in 1958 and beat them (3-1) in 1962. As a coach, a 1-0 win in 1970. In each of the three cups, we were champions," he wrote in his column in the Rio de Janeiro daily O Globo. "England are our lucky opponents... Brazil will win their fifth world title."
Zagallo, who ended his coaching career late last year at the age of 70, said Brazil must improve their defence. "We have entered that period of the cup when any mistake could be fatal," he said. "And defensively, Brazil made a lot of mistakes in the first stage. We must not repeat them now. It will be very important for our team not to leave the strikers too far from the defence. The team needs to be more compact. It will be very difficult and the experience of Roberto Carlos, Cafu, Ronaldo and Rivaldo, the only ones who have been through this before, will be very important."
Beckham's final stop
ENGLAND captain David Beckham has hinted he might end his career in Japan and then open soccer schools for children, according to a report in Monday's Independent newspaper.
The midfielder has received the sort of adulation normally reserved for pop stars during his time in Japan for the World Cup finals.
"The reception I've had here has been amazing. I expected something from being here in the past with Manchester United. It was manic then but I've never experienced anything like this anywhere," Beckham said.
Beckham said he had been told not to leave his team hotel except when on England duties because the adulation from Japanese fans was so overwhelming. "It's unfortunate as I like to experience these things but you never know, I might play here at one point."
He said he would like to establish similar soccer schools to those set up by 1966 England World Cup winner Bobby Charlton. "When I've finished playing I'd like to set up some soccer schools because I liked going to them when I was younger. It's an option here because my popularity is amazing."
Tofting and Larsson retire
DANISH midfielder Stig Tofting announced on Sunday he was retiring from international football in the wake of his country's 3-0 defeat by England in the second round of the World Cup. Tofting, who plays for English Premiership side Bolton, said he had decided that Saturday's match in Niigata would be his last for his country. "I wanted to make the decision myself and not let the coach make it for me," said the shaven-headed 32-year-old.
Tofting played a leading role as Denmark beat France 2-0 in the first phase to eliminate the World Cup holders from the competition. He joins 38-year-old Jan Heintze, Brian Steen Nielsen and reserve goalkeeper Peter Kjaer to announce their retirement from the national side.
Sweden striker Henrik Larsson also announced his retirement from international football after his country's 2-1 World Cup second round defeat to Senegal on Sunday. "I'm finished, there will be no more," the 30-year-old, who has scored 24 goals in 72 appearances, told reporters. "I've been thinking about it for a while and now my family must come first."
Larsson, who will continue to play club football with Scottish champions Celtic, revealed his decision to his teammates and coaches Lars Lagerback and Tommy Soderberg amid emotional dressing room scenes after the match in Oita, won by Senegal with a 104th minute golden goal.
As he shook hands with each squad member, he explained he did not want to stay on for the European championship in 2004.
"It's too far away to the next big event," said Larsson, who has two young children. "It's hard to leave the family at home for long periods, and the travelling is tough."
Larsson scored Sweden's 11th-minute opener against Senegal before the Scandinavian team were knocked out of the tournament by Henri Camara's extra-time winner.
Larsson, who won his first cap in 1993, was a member of the Sweden squad which finished third at the World Cup finals in the United States eight years ago.
More than luck
SENEGAL's victory over Sweden showed it was not just luck that took them through the first round of the World Cup finals, President Abdoulaye Wade has said.
Senegal beat Sweden 2-1 with a golden goal in extra time in the second round to advance to the quarter-finals.
"Until now people were asking if it was just luck. We saw today that it was not luck," Wade told reporters. "It was the art of football they showed today. We are now one of the great teams of the world."
Senegal beat defending champions France in the first game of the tournament and drew with Denmark and Uruguay to get into the second round.
Interested seals
EVERYBODY wants to watch the World Cup, apparently, even the animals. Staff at a sea life park in southern England installed a television set so their three seals, Starburst, Edgeley and Webb, could watch the matches. "They seem to be more attentive when England are playing, although it might be more to do with the red shirts than anything," said Steve Townsend, general manager of Weymouth Sea-Life Park. When the seals are not watching football they like to play it, and staff hope they may pick up a few tips from David Beckham, Michael Owen and the rest of the team.

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