FIFA president, Infantino backs video replays, to push ahead with World Cup expansion.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino would like to see Video Assistant Referees (VAR) used at the 2018 World Cup — the last time he hopes the event will be played with 32 nations.

VAR has been used in Italy’s last two international friendlies, against France in September and Germany on Tuesday, and Infantino is hoping the testing and evaluation stage will soon lead to its implementation.

“We’re working on it and I believe that there will be leagues using it already from next season,” Infantino told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “[Italian FA president Carlo] Tavecchio has been excellent about it in Italy, compliments to him.”

Marcello Nicchi, the president of the Italian Referees’ Association (AIA), believes VAR could be introduced into Serie A next season.

The system nevertheless has its detractors, not least since it was used to rule out a goal scored by Kevin Volland at the San Siro on Tuesday night for an offside which even replays were unable to resolve conclusively.

The assistant referees viewing that incident decided within five seconds that the Bayer Leverkusen forward was offside, but there were many doubts, not least with La Gazzetta saying the goal should have been given since the forward was in line with his teammate who passed the ball.

“Replays, replays, come on — did you see what happened with Volland?” Infantino said. “Anybody who was worried we would be left with nothing to dispute at the bar has been served. There is always going to be something to talk about.

“Seriously, I was sceptical about it but I thought ‘let’s try it’ and now I don’t see anything negative about it. Replays don’t resolve everything because a lot of situations are open to interpretation, but it does provide the security that there will not be any serious mistakes and errors which could compromise a game.

“The flow of the game doesn’t suffer — decisions are made within three seconds. Now we just need to find a way to communicate to the fans that the decision has been taken by viewing replays.”

Infantino is also going to push ahead with his plans to expand the World Cup to 48 nations, saying it is “crucial” for the development of the game.

“Football’s future depends on this and I hope the advisory panel follows me,” he said. “Just think, there would be 16 nations automatically qualified and the other 32 would go into a playoff, which would take place a week before the start, in the same location.

“That would mean 48 nations would still be interested in the tournament in June and their hopes would not end in November already. The World Cup is a social event which changes nations and puts smiles on people’s faces. It would be the biggest ever impulse to the game’s development.”

A revamp of the FIFA Club World Cup, which is currently played in December, is also on Infantino’s agenda.

“It’s a complicated formula as it is now, played in a difficult period without much enthusiasm for it,” he said. “In summer, from June 10-30, we could have the 32 best clubs in the world. It will still come down to the players’ health as they will need time to rest, but we have [Zvonimir] Boban and [Marco] Van Basten working on a solution.”

They are not the only former stars Infantino would like working on such projects either.

“I hope so — from [Diego] Maradona to Luis Figo, I hope these people give clubs the best guarantees,” he said. “It would be a think tank on crucial issues. From now on, business comes after football because if you put business first, you destroy football.”

FIFA president, Issa Hayatou, Undergoes Kidney Transplant

President of the Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) Issa Hayatou, and acting president of FIFA, has undergone a kidney transplant.

 

According to the CAF website, the kidney transplant was successful, but the football administrator, who is spending a fifth term in office, will need some days of rest.

 

CAF did not indicate where the transplant was done, but it could be either in Zurich or Cairo.

 

“He has never hidden the sufferings of his kidney failure in recent times. However, it did not prevent him from discharging fully and continuously his functions with the world football body, Africa and the Olympic movement”, said a report by HIcham El-Amrani, CAF secretary-general.

 

“His current tasks as Acting FIFA President and CAF President will continue as planned”, he said.

 

“I am pleased with the positive news given by the medical personnel. On behalf of CAF and on my own behalf, I wish our President a speedy recovery. In the coming days, I will be in regular contact with him and I am glad to know that in future, he will be back on our side,” El Amrani added.

 

Credit : PM News

Orji Uzor Kalu For FIFA President?

Former Super Eagles first choice keeper, Peterside Idah, wants former sports loving Abia State governor,  Orji Uzor Kalu, to join the FIFA presidency race.

Idah, who spoke last night on popular cable TV sports channel, SuperSports,  wants the nation’s soccer authorities to officially present Kalu, insisting that his candidacy will receive massive support across Africa, Middle East  and beyond.

The South Africa based ex-international, who is now a Pastor and TV analyst, pointed out that Kalu, who, as Abia governor propelled Enyimba FC to  perform the historic feat of ruling Africa back-to-back in 2003 and 2004, has got the clout and contacts to run for the top soccer job.

“Kalu’s candidacy will receive massive support  on the African continent, the Middle East and other parts of the world. Nigeria as a nation should present him as a candidate. Kalu is passionate about the round leather game. He has promoted the game and we saw what he did with Nigeria’s Enyimba as governor,” Idah said.

Idah stated that an African FIFA president won’t disappoint, the same way Ghana’s Koffi Anan and Nigeria’s Emeka Anyaoku never did as Secretary Generals of the United Nation and Commonwealth respectively.

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