FIFA's record finances reignites World Cup pay parity debate

March 07, 2019

LONDON (AP) — When world soccer executives receive FIFA's annual report this year, they will see that $753,000 is funding a women's league in Colombia, $588,197 is helping female players in New Zealand and girls in Botswana are benefiting from $341,600.

That's merely a snapshot of the $270.3 million that the body that governs world soccer has invested in projects worldwide between 2016 and 2018. Four years since police raided the hotel and offices of soccer officials and FIFA's Zurich headquarters in 2015 in a scandal that threatened the organization's existence, FIFA is awash with cash. People with knowledge of FIFA's finances told The Associated Press that in the four-year period covering the 2018 World Cup, FIFA's reserves soared to $2.74 billion and revenue rose to $6.4 billion. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because the financial results remain confidential.

Now, the organization is eager to show that handouts no longer line the pockets of its top managers. Rather, the money is being used to build stadiums, train coaches and provide more playing opportunities. But while the annual report underscores FIFA's financial vitality, it also highlights the glaring disparity between men and women's soccer.

Last summer's World Cup is a good example: France banked $38 million from FIFA for winning the championship, but the women's champion this July will earn just $4 million. U.S. coach Jill Ellis, who is leading her team's title defense in France, said she is disappointed with the financial rewards.

"You want to make sure there is a fair apportionment of winnings going out," Ellis said. Most upsetting to critics is the fact that the financial gulf appears to be growing. FIFA has doubled the overall prize money fund to $30 million since the last Women's World Cup in Canada in 2015. But that total amount is less than the $40 million increase that men's World Cup prize money will get in 2022 — for a total of $440 million in prize money.

"The difference between the men's and women's prize money is ridiculous," said Tatjana Haenni, who stepped down as FIFA head of women's soccer in 2017. "It's really disappointing the gap between the men's and women's World Cups got bigger. It sends the wrong message."

The world players' union said the disparity is a reflection of FIFA's priorities as well as of the status of women's soccer . "In most countries, the pace of change has not been fast enough nor the changes progressive enough to make up for decades of neglect of the women's game," FIFPRO said in a statement to the AP. "Even today women's football remains an afterthought for many of football's male administrators and the game lags embarrassingly behind other more progressive sports and industries.

"Most troubling of all is that the gender gap in football is even widening in some areas, including the share of FIFA World Cup prize money." FIFA President Gianni Infantino has said critics are "perfectly justified" and have a "fair point."

"We need to try to find what is the most balanced way and I think we made a step and there will be many more steps going ahead," Infantino said in October before his ruling council approved the 2019 Women's World Cup prize scale. "Maybe one day women's football will generate more than men's football."

Exactly how much money women's soccer generates is unclear, as much of FIFA's revenue comes from top sponsors who are signed up for both World Cups. "That's something never really analyzed," said Haenni, who spent 19 years at FIFA. "What is the potential value of the Women's World Cup? Nobody knows the Women's World Cup commercial value because it's not sold separately. This is something that should at least be discussed."

One of FIFA's main sponsors is listening. Credit card giant Visa said last week that it would support "women's football with a marketing investment equal to our support of the men's FIFA World Cup in Russia." It did not disclose any figures.

Visa is one of the sponsors that stuck with FIFA through its corruption scandal, calling for the departure in 2015 of Sepp Blatter, FIFA's then-president who was eventually banned for financial misconduct.

After being elected as Blatter's successor in 2016, Infantino said "FIFA was clinically dead as an organization." Now, the Swiss-Italian has the budget is in a healthy state, and is due to be re-elected unopposed in June to a four-year term.

The 2015-18 finances exceed the forecasts that were presented to the FIFA Congress in June. While FIFA projected cash reserves to increase to $1.653 billion in the 2018 World Cup cycle, they had grown to $2.74 billion at the end of 2018, according to the people with knowledge of the finances.

Following the corruption scandal of 2015, FIFA had modestly aimed to raise $5 billion by the end of last summer's World Cup in Russia — a projection later increased to $6.1 billion. Those expectations were eclipsed when the four-year cycle ended with revenues of $6.4 billion, according to the people with knowledge of the financial report, which shows a profit of around $1 billion.

Haenni noted the challenge lies in ensuring that FIFA's riches don't all go to men's soccer. "Some federations won't have proper structures for the women's teams," Haenni said. "You want to know where the money is going and linked to creating a more balanced environment for women's teams."

Spain fetes its soccer champs with happy abandon

July 02, 2012

MADRID (AP) — Swathed in the red and yellow colors of Spain, hundreds of thousands packed central Madrid to give a hero's welcome home Monday to "La Roja" — the national soccer team that erased the economically struggling country's gloomy mood by winning the Euro 2012 Championship with flair.

With the celebrated team back, it was time to party for a second straight night. After a 2 ½ hour open-air bus ride through the fan-packed streets, squad members took to a stage in Cibeles plaza against the backdrop of Madrid's majestic town hall and danced to pop music while spraying each other with sparkling wine.

"It was a merited triumph, we made history and now it's time to celebrate it," said mastermind midfielder Xavi Hernandez, adding that Spain hopes to build on the success of the past four years. "Next we*ll go for the Confederations Cup (2013) and then the World Cup in Brazil (2014), but first we want to enjoy this one."

Earlier, King Juan Carlos and members of the royal family congratulated the players at the Zarzuela Palace outside Madrid within hours of their returning from Kiev, where they crushed Italy 4-0 to defend their title Sunday night. The Iberia plane that brought them to the Spanish capital bore the logo "proud of our national team."

Team captain and goalie Iker Casillas proudly held the tournament cup as he emerged from the plane in Madrid with coach Vicente del Bosque. In the palace gardens, the king, Prince Felipe, his wife, Princess Letizia, and one of the king's two daughters, Princess Elena, chatted and laughed with the players while two of the monarch's grandchildren gazed at and touched the cup.

"Congratulations on behalf of the family and the whole of Spain," the king said. "You have made the entire country happy." Prior to reaching Cibeles, a multitude jammed the paths and roads along a near 5-kilometer (3-mile) victory route chanting "Champions! Champions! Oe, Oe, Oe!"

Blowing horns, they put up with a baking evening sun to catch a glimpse of their heroes as they paraded by on the bus, escorted by police on horseback and motorbikes. Thousands more fans cheered on from apartment balconies.

The players danced and sang, raised the trophy and sprayed drinks on the screaming, flag-waving crowds below as the bus crawled along at a snail's pace. In Cibeles, organizers sprayed the crowds with water hoses to help them keep cool.

The team's elegant performance in the Euro 2012 final raised spirits across a country drowning in financial woes and rampant unemployment. It also made them the first team ever to bookend a World Cup championship (2010) with two Euro Cup triumphs (2008, 2012).

"This is historic and I'm here to support the team. They just might be able to do it again so we can win the (2014 World Cup) in Brazil," said Jose Luis Clemente, 47, a bus inspector clad in the team jersey. "It's a rare positive point against such a terrible crisis in my country. It gives you some relief."

Still, he was realistic. "No football win is going to solve the crisis. That's work for the economists and the politicians," he added. The victory even had some Spaniards offering a tongue-in-cheek suggestion: Why not have the players run the country instead of Spain's feckless politicians?

In one newspaper cartoon, del Bosque is surrounded by Casillas and other stars such as Xavi and Andres Iniesta, who are all dressed up in suits for a new line of work. "The solution to our problems: the government of prime minister del Bosque and his ministers," read the vignette in El Mundo.

As the country recovered from a national hangover of elation, pride and booze, Spaniards soaked up sweet memories of a night no one will forget. For a few hours, the realities of 25 percent unemployment, a grinding recession and a banking bailout from the European Union to the tune of up to €100 billion ($125 billion) were put aside.

"No team has ever done what they have done, and it helps you to stop thinking about the crisis for 90 minutes during the game and the next day for the party," said Carlo del Pino, 25, a university student.

Del Pino said he hopes to teach physical education and coach one day but prospects are grim for graduates now with cutbacks in education funding, teacher pay cuts and layoffs of temporary teachers. "I don't know where I will be working when I graduate, whether it's in Spain, Portugal or some other country," he said. "But all the Spanish kids who are here cheering the team may want to do sports because of the victory, so that could help me."

Retired air force officer Ramon Ramirez, 76, looked a bit out of place, dressed smartly in long sleeve formal shirt and pressed jeans amid a sea of folks decked out in red and yellow as he waited for the team to pass.

"For Spain, the headlines around the world have finally changed to good instead of the bad we've seen for months. Let's hope it continues," he said. Maria Jose Herraiz, a 54-year-old homemaker, was so nervous she had to listen to the game on the radio instead of watching it on TV.

"When I heard people scream 'Goal!' I would run to the TV," she said. She called the victory marvelous, a potent shot of mood-boosting adrenalin for people sorely in need of it, but said reality would come back soon.

"It will be a sort of flower that blooms for just one day, because economic problems do not go away just because Spain wins," Herraiz said. Her two adult children — aged 26 and 28 — are both still living at home. They are struggling on rock-bottom salaries as low as €300 ($377) a month for half-day work despite being a computer scientist and a physicist.

Still, for one night, they came home just before dawn after a rousing celebration, their faces painted in red and yellow.

Ciaran Giles contributed to this report.

Spain win a personal milestone for Casillas

July 02, 2012

KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — Though a team triumph, Iker Casillas managed his own personal milestone when Spain beat Italy 4-0 to win the European Championship on Sunday.

The 31-year-old goalkeeper became the first player to ever record 100 wins for his national team. Instead of embracing his fiance journalist as he did after Spain's 2010 World Cup victory in South Africa, Casillas celebrated by giving her a peck on each cheek before running back onto the Olympic Stadium's field to celebrate the unprecedented milestone with his teammates.

"These years have been the best of my life," Casillas said. "Now, we have to enjoy this moment that will last a lifetime." Casillas, making his 137th appearance for Spain, ensured his team stayed in control of the match during a few dips, including just after the 14th minute opener from David Silva. Spain's captain got a hand to a cross destined for Daniele De Rossi in the 17th, before also getting a tip to a cross meant for Mario Balotelli 10 minutes later.

With Spain ahead 2-0 after the break, he made a point-blank reflex save to deny substitute Antonio Di Natale in the 51st. Casillas conceded just one goal from open play at Euro 2012 — to Di Natale in the group stage — and hasn't let in a goal in a knock out match since Zinedine Zidane scored against him at the 2006 World Cup.

Casillas, who counts the Champions League, Spanish league, Intercontinental Cup among his many club trophies, hasn't conceded a goal in the 10 straight elimination games since Zidane scored against him. And Spain has won three straight major titles since.

"We played well in defense (all tournament), not just Iker, but the entire team," defender Gerard Pique said. "We followed our game plan."

Spain answers critics with Euro 2012 'tiki taka'

July 02, 2012

KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — Spain's talented midfielders answered weeks of criticism over boring play with a masterclass performance of attacking football that led it to a second straight European Championship.

Andres Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez, Cesc Fabregas and David Silva repaid coach Vicente del Bosque's trust in fielding a starting lineup without a traditional striker by pulling the strings in Sunday's 4-0 victory over Italy.

The four players were involved in nearly all four goals as Spain's quick-touch passing and slick combinations — termed "tiki taka" back home — helped the world champions win their third straight major title.

"Even without a traditional striker they still cause a hell of a lot of problems," Italy coach Cesare Prandelli said from the Olympic Stadium. Del Bosque aligned the same starting 11 that he used in the opening 1-1 Group C draw against Italy, and despite routing Ireland 4-0 and beating Croatia 1-0, scrutiny followed. The world champions then beat France 2-0 and Portugal in a semifinal shootout, but the murmurs continued.

There was no argument on Sunday, however, as Spain showed its intent to silence the critics straight from kickoff with Silva capping a goal that involved all four players in the 14th minute. "Everyone has his own opinion, way of seeing things. We're not here to say if this is the best way of playing or not," Iniesta said. "Tonight we were at a high level and true to our style."

The term tiki taka has followed Spain since its Euro 2008 triumph in Vienna four years ago and Spain used its attractive passing game to keep the ball and phase their opponents out of the game. "What we do is difficult, but we make it look easy. It wasn't a walk in the park," Spain captain Iker Casillas said. "We knew that when you slip just a little but, people are there to criticize you. Now we have to enjoy this moment that will last a lifetime."

On the first goal, Xavi gathered at midfield and fed Iniesta on the run, with the Spain playmaker threading a ball to Fabregas. But instead of taking a shot, Fabregas carried his run deep to the goal line before crossing back for Silva to head home.

Xavi, who admitted he hadn't been at his best in Poland and Ukraine, certainly rebounded against Italy as he put Jordi Alba clear on goal with a perfect through ball in the 41st, and the left back scored his first goal with a low shot to the left.

"We deserved it, we were superior," Xavi said. "We played a complete game and perhaps the best of the entire European Championship. We made history and now we have to enjoy it." Spain completed 815 passes to take its overall total in the tournament to more than 4,200. When Italy was reduced to 10 men following the injury of Thiago Motta in the 64th with no substitutes available, the Azzurri had no chance as Spain controlled through its passing with substitutes Fernando Torres and Juan Mata adding late goals.

Del Bosque started with Fabregas, who usually plays an attacking midfield role for Barcelona. He led Spain's attack three times at the tournament. While Torres' late goal ensured he was the tournament's top scorer, it was with Fabregas as a roving center forward that Spain played with the most confidence.

"I don't think there's one way of playing football. You have to find a way to score," Del Bosque responded when asked if his tactical decisions had changed football. "We have very intelligent players who we can trust. It's a balanced team and we have total confidence in our players."

Spain will certainly feel it can defend its World Cup title in Brazil in 2014, especially with talented youngsters like Mata, Santi Cazorla, Pedro Rodriguez and Jesus Navas available to carry the style forward.

Spain beats Portugal on penalties at Euro 2012

June 27, 2012

DONETSK, Ukraine (AP) — Still not pretty to watch, still just as effective.

Spain failed to dazzle yet again at the European Championship, but still advanced to its third straight major championship final by beating Portugal 4-2 in a penalty shootout on Wednesday following a 0-0 draw after extra time.

"We're playing better in defense than what the characteristics of our players would suggest," Spain coach Vicente del Bosque said. "That's what earns victories." After earning plaudits for the eye-catching one-touch passing that helped Spain win titles at Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup, this year's team is struggling to create chances. Against Portugal, the defending champions managed only one shot on target in regulation time.

It didn't matter, though, because the Spanish still came through when it mattered. Cesc Fabregas, who came on as a substitute in the second half of regulation time, scored the deciding penalty after Bruno Alves had hit the crossbar for Portugal moments earlier.

"I played poorly, but the team worked really hard," Fabregas said. "I had this intuition that we could advance if we went to penalties and that's what we did." Spain will next face either Germany or Italy on Sunday in the final at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev.

Cristiano Ronaldo had several chances for Portugal, but he sent three shots well over the bar as his team held its own for the entire match. The Real Madrid star, who came alive with three goals in his last two matches at Euro 2012, did not take a penalty in the shootout. He had been slated to take the fifth one, but he never got that far.

"Our players trained and were prepared for a situation like this," Portugal coach Paulo Bento said. "We didn't have much luck." After an often dour opening 90 minutes in which the Spanish failed to impress, the match livened up in the 30 minutes of extra time. Spain midfielder Andres Iniesta forced Portugal goalkeeper Rui Patricio into a superb reflex save in the 103rd minute. Iniesta ghosted into the penalty area, then held his head in disbelief as Rui Patricio reacted brilliantly to get a strong hand to his shot after Jordi Alba cut the ball back toward the penalty spot.

Rui Patricio made another fine save to deny substitute Jesus Navas in the 111th. "Both teams were stronger in defense in the first 90 minutes, but that balance was broken in extra time," Del Bosque said.

Tempers frayed at times, with Portugal center half Pepe getting a yellow card for a challenge on Xabi Alonso as they went for a high ball. Ronaldo also received some heavy challenges late on. In the shootout, Xabi had the first attempt saved by Rui Patricio. But Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas then saved Joao Moutinho's shot. Iniesta, Gerard Pique and Sergio Ramos then all scored for Spain, while Pepe and Nani scored for Portugal.

"The first one wasn't so lucky, and then we scored the rest of them," Casillas said. "Yes, we really were lucky. Everything is about luck sometimes." Del Bosque ditched his unorthodox 4-6-0 formation for Wednesday's match and opted for a traditional striker — but not the one many expected. Instead of Fernando Torres, it was Alvaro Negredo that got the start up front. But 10 minutes into the second half, Del Bosque took him off and replaced him with Fabregas.

Although Negredo worked hard, his lack of movement made him easy to mark. Spain improved as Fabregas made clever runs to stretch the defense and the defending champions dominated most of extra time with the addition of Pedro Rodriguez for midfielder Xavi Hernandez late in the match.

"I think we were better in the first 90 minutes. Then in extra time we were less efficient," Portugal coach Paulo Bento said. "When we couldn't take advantage of our opportunities, Spain got stronger."

Rui Patricio was a big help in goal for Portugal, but much more was expected from Ronaldo. The winger had a chance, albeit a difficult one, to win the game in the 90th minute when Portugal poured forward after clearing a free kick. But Raul Meireles' pass was fractionally behind Ronaldo and, with momentum lost, he had to check his run and sent his shot high and wide.

Ronaldo briefly threatened early in the first half, whipping over a cross from the left wing that Casillas grabbed before Nani could head it in. He also sent a free kick into the wall after too easily tumbling under a challenge.

Working as a unit, Portugal started to gain the upper hand midway through the first half. Moutinho flicked the ball into the path of Ronaldo, whose wild shot flew over. "Everyone helped to control Ronaldo," Del Bosque said.

Lineups:

Portugal: Rui Patricio, Joao Pereira, Pepe, Bruno Alves, Fabio Coentrao, Raul Meireles (Silvestre Varela, 113), Miguel Veloso (Custodio, 105), Joao Moutinho, Nani, Hugo Almeida (Nelson Oliveira, 81), Cristiano Ronaldo.

Spain: Iker Casillas, Alvaro Arbeloa, Gerard Pique, Sergio Ramos, Jordi Alba, Xabi Alonso, Sergio Busquets, Xavi Hernandez (Pedro Rodriguez, 87), David Silva (Jesus Navas, 61), Alvaro Negredo (Cesc Fabregas, 54), Andres Iniesta.

In Kiev, a protest camp outside Euro 2012 fan zone

June 15, 2012

KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — If soccer fans aren't seeing enough action on the field in the European Championships, they can get a dose of rough-and-tumble Ukrainian politics near the fan zone in Kiev.

Supporters of Yulia Tymoshenko, the imprisoned former prime minister and the country's top opposition figure, have gathered in a protest camp next to a special area where fans mingle, drinking beer and watching matches on giant screens. On display at the camp is an effigy of a judge, a pile of mock human waste and a plastic pig with the president's face.

The championships already are being boycotted by Western leaders to protest Tymoshenko's imprisonment. And the protesters hope their eye-catching camp will further raise pressure on President Viktor Yanukovych to release her.

"We are showing what our government is really like," said Ivan Shibko, a top activist at the Tymoshenko camp. "They are doing this to keep opposition leaders in jail during elections." Tymoshenko's seven-year jail sentence in October over abuse of office charges drew a storm of anger and condemnation from the West. The United States and the European Union called the verdict politically motivated and several Western leaders canceled plans to attend Euro 2012 matches played in Ukraine. The EU also put on hold a key cooperation agreement with Kiev over Tymoshenko.

The charismatic, blond-braided Tymoshenko says Yanukovych, who narrowly defeated her in the 2010 presidential election, threw her in jail to bar her from the October parliamentary vote. Tymoshenko, 51, spearheaded the 2004 Orange Revolution mass protests that annulled Yanukovych's fraud-tainted presidential victory. But he returned to power, capitalizing on slow reforms and constant bickering in the Orange camp.

Yanukovych has defied Western pressure to release Tymoshenko and even linked her to a murder case 16 years ago in an interview this week, further diminishing her chances of getting out of jail any time soon. Yanukovych also insists that the boycott by European leaders will have no effect on the championship's success.

Parliament members from Tymoshenko's party said they would be watching football matches from sport bars, rather than from gleaming new stadiums alongside top government officials, in protest of her jailing. And while they will be rooting for Ukraine, Tymoshenko's supporters also plan to "enlighten" foreign fans on the true face of Ukraine's leaders.

The work is already under way at the protest camp set up nearly a year ago outside the central Kiev court house where Tymoshenko was tried and sentenced. On a hot afternoon this week, supporters wore white T-shirts reading "Free Yulia" on the front and "Football fest in prison" on the back. They handed out brochures and posters and gave foreign fans guided tours of the camp, where the mock human waste represents Yanukovych's party and the hanging effigy the judge who sentenced Tymoshenko. The opposition leader herself was shown as a white dove locked in a cage. An English translator was on duty to assist the fans.

"It seems very confusing: Why is she in jail? Nobody knows," said Swedish fan Hakan Kronander, wearing his team's bright yellow T-shirt, as he strolled through the tent camp. "They (EU) should put pressure on Ukraine to do something about this."

Dressed in the fake chain armor of a medieval knight despite 25 Celsius (77 Farenheit) heat, English fan Stan Stanfield climbed on top of the Yanukovych-faced pig and posed for a face-in-hole photograph, pretending to be a boxer punching the Ukrainian president in the face.

"It's disgraceful, absolutely disgraceful," Stanfield said. "She's been locked up, she's a victim of a corrupt society." Stanfield is captain of a team of English fans that will be playing against Ukrainian fans next week. His side will be wearing "Free Yulia" T-shirts.

"We will help in any way we can by joining the cause and the fight for Yulia," Stanfield said. But despite the giant Tymoshenko posters, catchy banners and scores of national yellow-and-blue flags, the tent camp seemed drowned out by the soccer fan zone and the general festive mood of the football championship. Some fans stopped at the camp, while many others went through it without paying much attention. Earlier this week, an attempt by Tymoshenko supporters to stage a rally outside the Olympic stadium where the England team was playing France, was blocked by riot police.

Two top EU envoys were in Kiev this week on a mission to monitor the legal proceedings in the Tymoshenko case, hoping to pile pressure on Yanukovych ahead of an appeals hearing at the end of this month.

But experts predict she will remain in jail — despite opposition efforts to highlight the Tymoshenko case to the West and to visiting fans. "There will be T-shirts, there will be rallies in the fan zone, some statements from EU officials," said Vadym Karasyov, a Kiev-based political analyst with ties to the government. "But nothing will change radically: Yanukovych will not let her out of prison before elections. You don't have to be a political scientist to see that."

Spain's passing dazzles in 4-0 win over Ireland

June 14, 2012

GDANSK, Poland (AP) — Spain's dazzling ball control, dizzying passing game and deluge of shots were way too much for Ireland.

Fernando Torres scored a goal in each half, and David Silva and substitute Cesc Fabregas added the others as Spain beat Ireland 4-0 and eliminated the Irish from the European Championship with its most lopsided loss in 41 years.

Spain, which leads Group C along with Croatia with four points, dominated the tempo and scoring opportunities through its quick combinations and precise passing. The defending champions completed an incredible 779 passes and took 26 shots — 20 of them on goal — in a performance that put it on course for a spot in the quarterfinals.

Torres, who scored in the Euro 2008 final, put Spain ahead early after dispossessing Richard Dunne inside the area and scurrying past Stephen Ward before sending an angled shot over goalkeeper Shay Given in the fourth minute.

Torres started over Fabregas as the world champions reverted to fielding a traditional striker after the attack was led by six midfielders against Italy. The Chelsea striker showed that a late season turnaround was no fluke as he became Spain's third all-time leading scorer with 30 goals in 95 appearances.

"We wanted to win, to make a better impression than we did against Italy," said Torres, whose team completed three times as many passes as the Irish. "From the first minute we showed the character to win."

Torres' first goal marked the start of Spain's assault on the Irish, who had started well with Simon Cox forcing Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas into a tricky save in the second minute. "Unfortunately the goal for the second time after three minutes throws your tactical plan out the window," said Ireland coach Giovanni Trapattoni, whose team also conceded early in a 3-1 loss to Croatia.

But Spain's combination passing got better, leaving Ireland in a constant chase. Spain midfielders Xavi Hernandez and Xabi Alonso exploited every crack through the middle with pinpoint passes that were either spoiled by poor finishing, blocked shots or saves.

"For the vast majority of time, we were chasing shadows," Ireland midfielder Keith Andrews said. Silva was a continuous threat inside the area before finally converting early in the second half. The Manchester City forward gathered the ball inside the area in the 49th before showing some patience by rolling a left-footed shot around two defenders and through Dunne's legs and out of the reach of Given.

Given still made clutch stops on shots from Andres Iniesta, Xavi and Alonso, who pushed forward alongside fullbacks Alvaro Arbeloa and Jordi Alba as Spain looked for goals. "They are the best side I've ever played against and probably the best side I will ever play against," Ireland defender Sean St. Ledger said.

While Ireland enjoyed a brief spell of chances in the second half, with Casillas stretching to save a shot from Robbie Keane in the 75th, it was Torres who ran on to Silva's pass and held off Dunne's pressure to shoot around Given in the 70th.

"That why we put him on, to do what he did today, to score goals," Spain coach Vicente del Bosque said. "It was an exemplary game for us in many senses. We played a very complete game. Fabregas, who scored against Italy while playing in an unlikely attacking role, received Silva's corner at the near side and sent a shot off the inside of the far post to complete the rout in the 83rd.

Ireland will play its final match against Italy, which has two points and needs of a victory to advance to the quarterfinals. Spain can advance with a draw against Croatia on Monday. "To go out looking for a draw would be very dangerous," Del Bosque said.

Jordan coach looking to go further

Mon, 17 Jan 2011

Doha - Jordan's participation at the Asian Cup in Qatar is just the second time that they have managed to qualify for the showpiece of Asian football.

A 2-1 victory in their Group B game against Syria on Monday saw them - just as they did in 2004 when they qualified - advance to the quarter-finals of the tournament and their coach Adnan Hamad is now hoping they can go further than they did then.

In 2004 they lost a penalty shoot-out to Japan, who then went on to win the tournament, this time around they will be facing Uzbekistan, who won Group A.

"We have got to face a very strong team in the next round. The Uzbekistan coach said he wished to face us in the final.

"Their players are strong and fast, so it will not be easy for us to go through to the semi-final."

"This is the second time we have qualified for this stage. Hopefully we will do better than earlier, we are hoping to go further," the Iraqi-born coach said.

Hamad, who saw his team come back from going down to an early goal said that they had done well against Syria. "We played well and we focused and concentrated."

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/362767,coach-looking-go-further.html.

اليابان والأردن لربع نهائي آسيا

17/1/2011 م

تأهل منتخبا اليابان والأردن إلى الدور ربع النهائي بكأس آسيا لكرة القدم بعد فوزهما على السعودية وسوريا 5- صفر و2-1 على التوالي في الجولة الثالثة والأخيرة لمنافسات المجموعة الثانية للمسابقة اليوم الاثنين.

ففي المباراة الأولى سحق المنتخب الياباني نظيره السعودي بخماسية نظيفة أحرز منها شينجي أوكازاكي ثلاثة أهداف في الدقائق 8 و13 و80، وريويتشي مايدا هدفين في الدقيقتين 19 و51.

وارتفع رصيد منتخب اليابان بعد هذا الفوز إلى سبع نقاط في صدارة المجموعة الثانية، وسيلعب مع منتخب قطر صاحب الأرض (ثاني المجموعة الأولى) في الدور ربع النهائي يوم الجمعة المقبل.

وهذه الهزيمة الثالثة على التوالي لمنتخب السعودية الذي أقال مدربه البرتغالي جوزيه بيسيرو بعد الجولة الأولى، وعين المدرب الوطني ناصر الجوهر بدلا منه.

تأهل الأردن

عدي الصيفي (يسار) يحتفل بعد تسجيله هدف الفوز للأردن بمرمى سوريا (رويترز)
وفي المباراة الثانية ضمن المجموعة ذاتها، تأهل المنتخب الأردني للدور ربع النهائي بعد فوزه على سوريا 2-1.

تقدم محمد زينو لسوريا في الدقيقة 15، وأدرك علي دياب مدافع سوريا التعادل للأردن بطريق الخطأ في مرماه في الدقيقة 30، قبل أن يسجل عدي الصيفي هدف الفوز للأردن في الدقيقة 59.

وارتفع رصيد الأردن إلى سبع نقاط في المركز الثاني متأخرا بفارق الأهداف عن منتخب اليابان المتصدر، بينما تأتي سوريا في المركز الثالث برصيد ثلاث نقاط.

وسيلعب منتخب الأردن في الدور ربع النهائي مع منتخب أوزبكستان متصدر المجموعة الأولى يوم الجمعة المقبل.

المصدر: الجزيرة.
الرابط: http://www.aljazeera.net/NR/EXERES/06605055-5567-41C4-9680-FEE9EC0E3B5C.htm.

Organizers not concerned about poor turn-out at Asian Cup

Sun, 09 Jan 2011

Doha - Organizers of the Asian Cup said Sunday they were not concerned about the poor turn-out and believed they had done all that could be done to attract fans to the stadium.

Not even Friday's opening game between the hosts and Uzbekistan was played in front of a capacity crowd, while Saturday's Group A game between Kuwait and China officially drew a crowd of 7,400 in a 22,000-seater stadium, though most estimates had the number of spectators at around 5,000.

The Operations Director of the local organizing committee Jessim Al Romaihi told a media briefing Sunday they had worked very hard to attract people.

"We are talking with other nationalities within Qatar about coming to the games. But we are not worried.

"Sometimes you have full stadiums, sometimes they are not full. That happens in football.

He dismissed speculation that an ATP Tennis tournament that ended on Saturday and featured Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal might have had a negative effect on ticket sales.

"This is an annual event, I do not think that it made a difference."

The Competition Director of the Asian Football Confederation Tokuoki Suzuki said that 11,000 tickets had been sold for the game between China and Kuwait.

Qatar was last month awarded the right to host the 2022 World Cup and Suzuki said people should be encouraged to come to watch football.

"The average attendance in the Qatar league in 2009 was 3,000 and last year it was 4,000. So we need to encourage people to come and watch football.

"I was not disappointed with the number of fans."

He urged the media to encourage football fans to attend matches and said that the ticket price was not a factor in the number of people watching the games.

"We believe the price of tickets is very reasonable. Ticket prices are not the reason why people are not coming."

Prices for matches at the January 7-29 tournament start at 5 Rial (1.4 dollars) for children and 25 Rial for adults. The most expensive tickets - apart from those for the opening game - are 100 Rial.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/361380,poor-turn-out-asian-cup.html.

Japan forced to make two changes to Asian Cup squad

Sun, 09 Jan 2011

Doha - New Cologne signing Tomoaki Makino and Gotoku Sakai have been withdrawn from the Japanese squad at the Asian Cup due to injuries, organizers said Sunday.

Makino, who joined struggling Bundesliga club Cologne in the winter-break, injured himself during training, but had hoped to recover in time to play during the January 7-29 tournament.

Sakai, an uncapped 19-year-old, was suffering from back pains.

Their withdrawal leaves Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni in trouble at the back as both players are defenders and the Italian already had to leave World Cup center-backs Marcus Tulio Tanaka and Yuji Nakazawa out of the squad.

There is also a question mark hanging over Daiki Iwamasa, who is recovering from a foot injury.

Ryota Moriwaki, who has yet to play for the national team and Mitsuru Nagata, who has played just once, have been called up to take the place of Makino and Sakai.

Teams can change their squads up to six hours before their first match if players are ruled out through injury.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/361384,changes-asian-cup-squad.html.

Footballers' union in favor of winter World Cup in Qatar

Wed, 22 Dec 2010

Berlin - The world footballers' union FIFPro has come out in favor of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar being held in winter instead of summer to address concerns about heat in the Gulf state.

Winter temperatures in Qatar are generally in the region of 20 degrees Celsius but this rises up to 50 degrees in the summer.

FIFPro expressed its satisfaction that football's ruling body FIFA is open to the idea of moving the tournament to solve the problem of of heat.

Tijs Tummers, secretary of FIFPro's technical committee, said Qatar's high summer temperatures meant the summer was not a suitable time to be in the country, either for players or fans.

"It is not sensible in a country with an average temperature of 41C in June and July, a midday temperature of 50C and, above all, extremely high humidity," he said in a statement.

"Tourists are advised not to travel to Qatar in the summer months and inhabitants leave the country en masse during this period."

Tummers added that he did not foresee any insurmountable problems in regard to staging the event to winter.

"If you look at what happened last weekend with weather problems in Europe because of heavy snowfall, you could see this as an advantage rather than as a problem," he said.

"And it might, perhaps, turn out that the players will be fitter at the start of a winter World Cup than was the case last summer at the World Cup in South Africa."

Qatar was elected on December 2 by FIFA to host the 2022 tournament, the first country from the Arab world to be given the nod.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/359305,winter-world-cup-qatar.html.

Turkish firm to build N.Africa's biggest football stadium in Tripoli

The stadium will be ready for African Nations Cup in 2013.

Friday, 17 December 2010

A Turkish company will construct the biggest football stadium of North Africa in Tripoli.

"Ronesans Holding" and its Austrian partner PORR AG will construct the stadium in Tripoli, the capital city of Libya.

The stadium will be ready for African Nations Cup in 2013.

The 200 million euro project will have a capacity of 50 thousand seats and will be constructed in line with UEFA standards.

The stadium will have a parking area for 10,000 vehicles.

The roof of the stadium will be built on three steel arches rising 100 meters to symbolize the ancient cities of Oea, Leptis Magna and Sabratha.

Kamil Yanikomeroglu, Chairman of Ronesans Holding Real Estate Group, said the due date of the stadium was 2013, however noted that they promised Libyan leader Muammer Ghaddafi's son Muhammed that they would conclude the construction till December 12, 2012 the time when a friendly match will be played between Libya and Brazil.

Yanikomeroglu said the stadium would be the biggest and most modern stadium of North Africa.

He said Ronesans Holding entered Libyan market 2.5 years ago, adding that, "our business volume in Libya amounted to 2 billion USD. We are planning to double it in two years."

Source: World Bulletin.
Link: http://www.worldbulletin.net/news_detail.php?id=67498.

العراق يستضيف خليجي 21

5/12/2010 م

أقر رؤساء الاتحادات الخليجية لكرة القدم استضافة العراق لبطولة كأس الخليج في دورتها المقبلة (الحادية والعشرين)، وذلك خلال اجتماع بمدينة عدن اليمنية على هامش بطولة خليجي 20 التي تختتم اليوم.

جاء ذلك بعد مداولات وخلافات حول مدى قدرة العراق على تنظيم تلك البطولة في ظل الأجواء الساخنة التي تعيشها في الفترة الأخيرة، علما بأن المجتمعين اتفقوا على طرح فكرة أن تكون قطر هي البديل لتنظيم تلك البطولة في حالة عدم قدرة العراق على استضافتها.

وناقش الاجتماع مواضيع متصلة ببطولة كأس الخليج أهمها التعديلات المقترحة على لائحة البطولة وأبرزها تعديل موعدها، بحيث تقام خلال شهر يناير/كانون الثاني في السنوات الفردية.

ومن جانبها، رحبت وزارة الشباب والرياضة العراقية بقرار إقامة البطولة الخليجية في مدينة البصرة، مؤكدة استعدادها للتعاون واستضافة أي لجنة لزيارة المنشآت الرياضية التي يجري العمل فيها استعدادا لاستضافة هذه البطولة.

وأكدت الوزارة أن الحكومة العراقية رصدت أكثر من 500 مليون دولار لإنجاز مشروع المدينة الرياضية في البصرة لاستضافة البطولة.

وكان العراق بدأ مشاركته في دورات الخليج عام 1976 في قطر، ثم استضاف البطولة عام 1979 في العاصمة بغداد وتوج بلقبها.

المصدر: الجزيرة.
الرابط: http://www.aljazeera.net/NR/EXERES/9A883F18-6E15-493B-9155-A7BBB2BC5489.htm.

الفتح المغربي يتوج بكأس الاتحاد الأفريقي

5/12/2010 م

فاز نادي الفتح الرباطي المغربي مساء أمس بكأس الاتحاد الأفريقي لكرة القدم، بعد فوزه 3/2 على مضيفه نادي الصفاقسي التونسي في إياب الدور النهائي على ملعب الطيب المهيري في صفاقس.

وسجل عبد الفتاح بوخريص (د7) ورشيد روكي (د75) ومحمد الزويدي (د89) أهداف الفتح، وحمدي رويد (د44) وكمال زعيم (د49 من ركلة جزاء) هدفي الصفاقسي.

وكان الفريقان تعادلا من دون أهداف في مباراة الذهاب يوم الأحد الماضي بالعاصمة المغربية الرباط.

وهذا هو اللقب الأول للفتح الرباطي في هذه المسابقة الأفريقية، وقد كرر به إنجاز ثلاثة أندية مغربية أخرى هي الكوكب المراكشي (عام 1996) والرجاء البيضاوي (عام 2003) والجيش الملكي (عام 2005).

وهذه هي المرة الرابعة التي التقى فيها الفتح والصفاقسي في المسابقة هذا الموسم، وذلك بعد مواجهتيهما في الدور ربع النهائي (دور المجموعات)، حيث فاز الصفاقسي 3/صفر ذهابا في صفاقس ورد الفتح بالانتصار 2/1 إيابا في الرباط.

وبهذه الهزيمة فشل الصفاقسي في إحراز اللقب الرابع بعد أن كان قد فاز بالبطولة ذاتها سنوات 1998 و2007 و2008، ومنع فوز الفتح الرباطي تكريس المسابقة كاختصاص تونسي، بعد أن كان قد أحرزها النجم الرياضي الساحلي ثلاث مرات أيضا أعوام 1995 و1999 و2006، والترجي الرياضي عام 1997.

وفي أعقاب المباراة أعلن المدير الفني للصفاقسي بيير لوشنتر أنه يفكر في الانسحاب من تدريب النادي، وقال إنه يدرس الأمر مع الإدارة.

وعبر لوشنتر –الذي يرتبط مع الصفاقسي بعقد لمدة عام واحد وقعه بداية الموسم الحالي- عن حسرته الكبيرة لهزيمة ناديه.

المصدر: الجزيرة.
الرابط: http://www.aljazeera.net/NR/EXERES/E42190DF-CCF8-4F96-AD28-55C128BD09F8.htm.

Ugandan court sets free 18 suspects in World Cup bombings

Tue, 30 Nov 2010

Kampala - A court in the Ugandan capital Kampala Tuesday dismissed charges against 18 suspects in the July bombings that killed more than 70 World Cup fans who were watching a televised match.

The court said it did not find adequate proof to continue the prosecution of the 18 for their alleged involvement in the bombing attacks on two restaurants in Kampala. The dead had gathered to watch a World Cup match that was broadcast from South Africa.

The Somali insurgent group al-Shabaab, which is battling the Somalia's Western-backed government, claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was in revenge for the presence of Ugandan peacekeepers in their country.

The prosecution of 18 remaining suspects was to continue. Two additional suspects were still being sought.

Lawyers for the 18 suspects who were released on Tuesday claimed that three of their clients had been immediately detained again by security officials at the court, despite the fact that charges were dropped, according to their comments on Radio Simba.

The terrorist suspects included Ugandans, Kenyans and Somalis, who were charged in August with terrorism, murder, assault and attempted murder. More than 80 people were injured in the twin attacks.

After Egypt, Algerians see CAN Morocco match as battle between brothers

"Moroccans are our brothers. We love them because they rejoice in our football victories and achievements, unlike the Egyptians," said business-owner Nabil Abdellaoui.

By Abdou Tajj El-Din in Algiers for Magharebia – 18/03/10

When Algeria and Morocco face off in the 2012 African Cup of Nations (CAN) qualifiers, it won't be the first time that the neighbors battle on the pitch. But after all the drama the Greens had with Egypt before winning their World Cup ticket, Algerians see the upcoming CAN Group 4 fight as a friendly contest among brothers.

CAF drew for the CAN qualifiers late last month in DR Congo. Out of the 44 national teams organized into 11 groups, Algeria and Morocco ended up together, along with Tanzania and Central African Republic.

Sports fans on the streets of the capital were eager to discuss the surprising draw results. The mere mention of an Algeria-Morocco game was enough to bring smiles to faces that used to scowl during the Egypt-Algeria World Cup and 2010 CAN chase.

For many Algeria supporters, Morocco playing in the Greens' group is like having two chances at winning the title.

"Moroccans are our brothers. We love them because they rejoice in our football victories and achievements, unlike the Egyptians," said Nabil Abdellaoui, owner of a perfume shop in Mohamadeya.

"Frankly, I wish we didn’t have to be in the same group in any qualifiers. But the 2012 CAN draw decided otherwise. I can only hope that Algeria win the title," the merchant said.

Kamel Laabadi, a civil servant in Chevalley, Algiers, said, "I still recall the 1986 World Cup when Algeria and Morocco qualified for Africa. We were delighted that Morocco made it to second place for the first time in the history of African football."

"Nowadays, Morocco never make it to the CAN finals, despite the talented players they have." He added, "I wish the Atlas Lions all the best."

Even those too young to remember what happened in 1986 see Morocco in a positive light.

"I was a kid in the late eighties," said Lina Malik, a university student from Ain Benian. "But when it comes to football, things are very different with Morocco than they are with Egypt. I wish we didn’t have to be the same group."

Algerian-Moroccan football encounters are always a thrill. The two teams have met on 23 different occasions through friendly and official matches. Their first game, on November 1st, 1965 in Algeria, ended in a goalless draw. Their most recent match was in January 2004, when Morocco beat Algeria at the CAN quarter-finals in Tunisia.

"When we got disqualified in Tunisia, I was sorry. But I was not sad, because a brotherly football team showed superior performance," said Amine Andaloussi, a sports journalist at Le Soir d’Algerie.

"Algeria and Morocco played some unforgettable games," agreed civil servant Samir Ouradi. "Even though we could not defeat the Moroccans for years, Algeria-Morocco games are always a thrill, and never yield any animosity."

"We hope that sports clears the airs between Algeria and Morocco," Ouradi said.

Magharebia also asked Algerian football players and coaches about the unexpected CAN qualifier draw.

Veteran Algerian coach Abdelhamid Kermali had hoped to avoid playing in the same group, so as to boost Maghreb chances at the biggest continental event. "However, the draw thought otherwise," he said. "I am certain our game with Morocco is going to be amicable and brotherly, nothing more, nothing less."

"The better team will win eventually," Kermali told Magharebia.

Former Greens footballer Lakhdar Belloumi also thinks the Algeria-Morocco qualifier will be a game among brothers.

"I played against the Moroccan team. I know that all our games with them are marked by excitement and honest competition. Never did any of our games violate the ethics of sportsmanship. I hope that will continue to be the hallmark of our next encounter with them," Belloumi said.

Algeria national coach Rabah Saadane has personal experience with Moroccan football. The Batna-born trainer, now in his 5th turn at the helm of his country's team, was with legendary Moroccan club Raja Casablanca when they won their first Botola in 1988 and the African Champions League title a year later.

"I never wanted to play against the Moroccan squad. I wanted to avoid such matches," he told Magharebia. "I was saddened by the fact that Morocco did not take part in the previous CAN. I am hoping they can make a strong comeback and represent Maghreb and Arab football in all continental and international tournaments."

"True, we did qualify for the World Cup, but that does not mean our job will be any easier in the CAN qualifiers, especially playing against Morocco who, I assume, will be doing their absolute best to make it to the tournament," the Greens' coach said.

"I am certain the game is going to be a tough one," Saadane added. "May the better team represent the Arab Maghreb in CAN."

Karim Ziani, the lead striker for the Greens, thinks the Algerian-Moroccan encounter will be one big football festival.

"We are sick and tired of playing against the Egyptians. That caused us a lot of trouble, which we need not mention here," Ziani told Magharebia.

"Our game against the Moroccans is going to be very different. They play fair and their fans love football away from any fanaticism," he stressed.

Ziani added, "I have come to know many Moroccan players, playing in France. I am on good terms with them, such as the brilliant forward Marouane Chamakh. I am truly excited about our upcoming game."

For his part, former Morocco coach (2002-2005) and current WAC manager Badou Zaki thinks that despite drawing with Algeria, the current crop of Atlas Lions can still make it to the 2012 African Cup of Nations.

"Morocco remain one of the greats of Africa and I can even assert that the national team will have its word to say in Group 7. The group includes Algeria, who are coming back strong on the African scene, but they remain within the grasp of the Atlas Lions," he told Arryadhia on March 17th.

Algerian sportswriter Amine Andaloussi shares Zaki's optimism.

"Moroccan football boasts prominent stars and is capable of begetting even more brilliant ones. They're only going through a temporary phase. With a player like Marouane Chamakh and others, they can still be a world-class team," Andaloussi said.

Source: Magharebia.com
Link: http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/reportage/2010/03/19/reportage-01.

Maghreb region rallies behind Algeria squad

2010-01-27

Celebrations erupted across the Maghreb as football fans celebrated neighbor Algeria's advancement to the CAN semi-finals

By Naoufel Cherkaoui in Rabat, Mohamed Foily in Nouakchott and Mona Yahia in Tunis

Cheers and jubilations were heard all across the Maghreb on Sunday (January 24th) when Algeria, the sole Maghreb team left standing in the African Cup of Nations, defeated the Cote d'Ivoire Elephants 3-2 to advance to the tournament semi-finals.

Sports fans in Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia waved Algerian flags as they gathered in homes and cafes to catch the latest African action on the pitch. Despite disappointment over their national teams' ousters, fans took pleasure in Algeria's victory and voiced their hopes that the next CAN champion would come from the Maghreb.

"Congratulations to the Algerian team and to our fellow brothers for their achievement," said Salim, watching the game in Rabat. "I raise my hat to the players who faced all obstacles. I truly wish they will make it to the end of the contest, play against the Egyptians and crush them, and silence all those who doubt that the Maghrebis are the leaders of soccer."

Moroccan followers were happier with the Greens' performance during the second half. Down 2-1 against Cote d'Ivoire, many Moroccans had given up all hope until Fennecs defender Madjid Bougherra knocked in the equalizer. Bougherra's second goal in extra time, which put Algeria on top, was met with considerable relief by Moroccan fans.

"Algeria played a historic game against one of Africa's toughest teams," said Moroccan fan Adel. "The players did a great job during the second half time, though they wasted many chances."

In Tunisia, fans overcame the Carthage Eagles' heartbreaking exit from CAN to root for their neighbors. Filling cafes at a late hour to watch the game, Tunisians roared with excitement when Algeria came away with a victory.

"They are the real heroes," Mohamed, a newspaper vendor, told Magharebia on Sunday.

"Why couldn't the Tunisians show such a level of performance since they had all the necessary resources made available to them?" lamented Hasiba, who watched the match from Tunis.

"I was really impressed by the performance of the Algerian national team," said civil servant Nizar Daou. "It reminded me of the glory of that team twenty years ago when it used to be among the toughest African national teams."

In a strange twist of fate, Mauritania turned out to be the only country in the Maghreb with home access to the Al Jazeera football broadcasts. Though Mauritanian football fans are split between Algeria, Mali and Cote d'Ivoire, many Mauritanians were thrilled with the Greens' domination over Cote d'Ivoire.

"I told you so," Nouakchott university student Mohamed Ali told his friends.

Another fan sported a scarf with Algeria colors. "We've formed an Algeria fan club and we're watching the matches together," he told Magharebia.

"They're doing the Arab Maghreb proud."

Source: Magharebia.com
Link: http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/articles/2010/01/27/feature-03.

'No security concerns for Egypt, Algeria clash'

Jan 27 2010

Africa Cup of Nations' organizers insisted on Tuesday they do not expect a repeat of the violent clashes sparked by November's World Cup play-off between Egypt and Algeria when the bitter rivals face off again in Thursday's semifinal.

Unconfirmed reports suggest Algeria will have upwards of 1 000 fans in Benguela while Egypt are expecting around 400 but the high costs of travel to Angola as well as stringent entry visa requirements may lead to far fewer fans turning up.

Those numbers are but a fraction of the crowds that attended November's play-off in Kartoum and the final World Cup qualifier before that in Cairo, which both prompted violent incidents that sparked a diplomatic row between the two countries.

Egypt and Algeria's foreign ministers, speaking by phone on Tuesday, agreed on the importance for both sides of approaching the match in Benguela "wisely", an Egyptian ministry spokesman said.

The Arab League also called for the two countries to overcome their differences and "prove that the friendship and historic ties between Egypt and Algeria are too strong to be affected by a temporary crisis".

Fifa security officer in charge of the Benguela match venue, Abel Mbengue, refused to volunteer any information as regards to any special measures being put in place to ensure a trouble-free Nations Cup semifinal between the fierce North African rivals.

"It's against protocol to publicly discuss the security for this match," he told AFP at the Terminus Hotel in Lobito.

A Confederation of African Football (CAF) official, who wished to remain anonymous, said they do not expect any problems on Thursday and that adequate arrangements had been put in place to prevent any injuries at the headline game.

"We do not envisage any problems as has been the case since the competition started at our center.

"There was a security meeting on Tuesday morning and if need be, we would tighten security but there is nothing to suggest that right now," he said.

Benguela has hosted six first round matches as well as Monday's quarterfinal between champions Egypt and Cameroon. And for each of these games, over 1 000 security personnel were deployed.

The brand-new Ombaka Stadium was filled to its 35 000 capacity on the opening day of action in Group C, which featured Egypt, Nigeria, Benin and Mozambique.

But attendance has slipped for subsequent matches.

"There have not be any major security breaches here, bar the arrests of some people who sneak in unauthorized cameras into the arena," added the CAF official.

"We will of course separate both sets of fans inside the stadium to guard against any problems."

Egypt international striker Mohamed Zidan has already stoked the fire of this perennial rivalry between his country and Algeria, describing the game as "war" and saying The Pharaohs had to win it to confirm they deserve to be at the World Cup, and not Algeria.

"It will be a matter of life and death in that game. For both sides it will be like a war," said the Borussia Dortmund star.

"For us, it is a chance to show the world that we deserve to go to the World Cup and if we beat them, we will be able to watch the World Cup with pride."

Egyptian officials though have tried to downplay the animosity between the two teams, insisting that this is only a sport and nothing more.

Their Algerian counterparts, on the other hand, flew into Benguela on Tuesday afternoon on a chartered flight but refused to discuss the match with reporters and preferred instead to head straight to their hotel in Lobito, about 35 kilometers outside Benguela.

Algeria coach Rabah Saadane has sought to play down fears of any repetition of the stormy and violent scenes that were triggered by their last three encounters against Egypt.

"In our three games against Egypt everything passed off smoothly on the pitch. You have to stop talking about that [the animosity between the two countries]," he insisted.

Source: Mail & Guardian Online.
Link: http://www.mg.co.za/article/2010-01-27-no-security-concerns-for-egypt-algeria-clash.