Campaigner of the week
Italy’s FA head Carlo Tavecchio: asking Fifa to trial video replays in Serie A. Tavecchio, convicted five times since 1970 for forgery, tax evasion, falsifying records and abuse of office, says he’ll drive a new era of fair play “credibility”.
• Also last week: reactions in Italy to Uefa banning Tavecchio from its committee meetings for six months after he called black players “banana eaters”. Tavecchio: “It makes no practical difference to me. I won’t miss out on anything.” Serie B president Andrea Abodi: “It’s not a real ban, is it? Frankly, I’m more and more convinced that Tavecchio was the right choice as president.”
Football family news
Last week’s Zurich headlines:
1) Belgian Fifa executive Michel D’Hooghe revealing how Brazil’s FA handing out free £16,000 watches had made Fifa executives feel. “We were absolutely angry. I’ve been in football 42 years and received many watches, it’s a classical present. I didn’t need that one.”
2) Franz Beckenbauer on Sepp’s candidature for re-election: “He’s not the youngest any more, but if he feels up to it, then why not?”
3) A report estimating the global box-office takingsfor Fifa’s movie United Passions at £120,000 since its Cannes world premiere in May. Fifa say the £16.8m they invested – the same as their total spend on global football development in 2013 – was worth it, to “raise awareness of Fifa’s work”.
• Among the film’s key moments: a scene set in 1975 as Sepp, played by Tim Roth, reveals his plan to leave his old job working for a Swiss luxury watch brand. “I’m taking up football. No more watches.”
The week in racism
Last week’s strides:
• Russia – CSKA Moscow reacting to their two-game stadium ban for more racist violence by appealing against the ruling. “We are really upset with Uefa … really sad and upset.”
• Romania – Rapid Bucharest coach Marian Rada clarifying his observation that Chiajna striker Wellington reacted to racist abuse by “crying like a woman”. “I’m sorry if I was misunderstood, especially as I have a black player in my side, who I like very much.”
Thought for the week
Roy Keane, 2013, on Alex Ferguson: “Loyalty? He doesn’t know the meaning of the word … I don’t know how many books he has written now, he’s got to draw the line eventually.” The wider problem: “It’s part of modern life: people like to do books and criticise their ex-players.”
Clamping down
1) Guatemala: Municipal’s Carlos “The Fish” Ruiz banned for six months for alleging a rival club’s president was refusing to pay his players: “We’re tired, fed up with how players are treated in this country, treated like animals, like dogs.” Ruiz was sued for “public assault”.
2) Algeria: Linesman Munir Bitam banned for life for stopping a second division game and taking his top off to reveal a T-shirt slogan alleging Algerian FA officials fixed matches. The FA said Bitam’s actions represented “grave misconduct, defaming our dignity and honour”.
Niculae news
Romania: Astra owner Ioan Niculae assessing their latest defeat as: “shameful … this is the straw that broke the camel’s back.” Astra say Niculae sacked coach Daniel Isaila due to “tensions in the coach-owner relationship”.
Other manager news: • 19 Sept, Scunthorpe chairman Peter Swann on Russ Wilcox. “Any manager who goes on a run where they’re not doing well, there’s always the opportunity they may lose their job. But that’s never been the case with Russ.” 8 Oct: Russ loses his job.
• Italy: Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini – 28 coaches in 11 years – on coach Beppe Iachini’s team. “They’re embarrassing, they can hardly stand upright. But Iachini is absolutely not at risk.”
Best philosophy
Turkey coach Fatih Terim recalling Besiktas’s Gokhan Tore despite allegations that Tore aimed a gun at two team-mates in a hotel last year. “He’s apologised for this so many times. If we exclude every player who makes a mistake, we’d be left with no players.”
Exit of the week
Bosnia: Branitelj keeper Romeo Mitrovic, 35, saying sorry after being banned for nine months for trying to punch a referee who booked him. “I had no red cards in 20 years in football, but all the disastrous refereeing I’ve faced just built up inside. Then it all came out.”
Best apology
Italy: Turin airport operators Sagat apologising to Roma’s squad after members of the public used the airport’s PA system to call them “total losers”. “During the embarkation some passengers spread unpleasant messages from a microphone at a gate unguarded by Sagat staff. We apologise to Roma and the city of Rome. We too are the victims of this uncivilised behaviour.”
Denial of the week
China: Shanghai TV anchor Zhou Liang sacked for calling visiting Jiangsu Sainty players “dogs” ahead of their game against Shanghai Shenhua. Zhou denied using the term until a clip emerged of him reading out the team lineup: “No1 is north Jiangsu dog, No2 a north Jiangsu dog, No3 is a north Jiangsu dog from Brazil, No6 is a north Jiangsu dog from Lebanon … No24 is the last north Jiangsu dog.” PPTV: “We sincerely apologise.”
Love news
Argentina: Rocío Oliva, 24, back on “good terms” with Diego Maradona six months after he accused her of stealing £200,000. “We talk all the time, we’re happy.” In April Oliva told press she’d fight for their love: “This isn’t over. Our chances of getting back together? I give it a 3 out of 10.”
