Tottenham Hotspur head coach Antonio Conte questioned on Friday the quality of player welfare and said soccer’s world governing bodies are mainly interested in the notion of “the show must go on”.
Conte called the fixture schedule “crazy”, with the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar sandwiched in the middle of clubs’ seasons during the months of November and December.
“We are seeing that this situation is impossible. It is impossible for the future, and it will be important for the future to understand, because many times I hear about the welfare of the players.” said Conte
“Yeah, but it is only a ‘polite’ way to show that you are really interested in the welfare of the players, because they (the soccer authorities) are not really worried about the welfare of the players if the (soccer) schedule is this and, in every moment, you show that the most important thing is the show must go on.”
“We knew about this situation. I knew that it was crazy to put (hold) the World Cup during the league (seasons) or during the Champions League, during the (club) fixtures. And this type of schedule is really, really crazy. And, honestly, also it is really strange that, in England, we start to play (again just) three days after the final of the World Cup.”
The Italian was also guarded on whether Son Heung-min would be fit for the World Cup, as the South Korea international undergoes surgery to stabilise a fracture around his left eye.
Conte, whose Tottenham side face Liverpool in the English Premier League on Sunday, said the work which his opposite number Jurgen Klopp has done at Anfield “could be a good example for us.”
“I think Jurgen (Klopp) shows that through the work, through the patience, through the transfer market, he improved a lot Liverpool and brought Liverpool at the top of the world. And, for sure, yeah I can only speak well about Liverpool, about Jurgen, about the players of Liverpool. They could be a good example for us.” said about their next opponents Liverpool and their manager Jurgen Klopp
Non-ticketed fans of World Cup allowed to enter Qatar after group matches
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 05, 2022
Reuters
Non-ticketed fans of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 will be allowed to enter the country as from December 2, 2022, announced by the Qatari authorities on Thursday.
At a joint press conference held by the World Cup organizing committee, the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Public Health, Interior Ministry spokesman Colonel Jabr Hammoud Jabr al-Nuaimi announced that non-ticketed fans will be allowed to enter Qatar as from December 2, after the conclusion of group matches.
The related fans can apply for the Hayya Cards through the Hayya platform or the Hayya to Qatar 2022 mobile application to use it as a visa for entry.
The spokesman also noted that the security work for the World Cup is ready, and the Qatari side has formulated a complete emergency response plan and will strive to ensure the safety of fans.
The Qatari side also noted the stadiums will be disinfected on a regular basis, and tourists from various countries entering Qatar during the World Cup can call the medical assistance hotline and receive free emergency medical services in all public health institutions if they encounter medical emergencies.
In terms of transportation, the Doha Metro will operate 22 hours a day during the football feast, and the interval between trains will be shortened to 165 seconds.
In addition, Qatar also plans to mobilize more than 3,000 buses to provide fans with responsive commuting services and convenient travel options.
Three EPSON Tour Players Sign Up for 9th SAT-TWT Open
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 04, 2022
THE NATION
Pavarisa Yoktuan, Jaravee Boonchant and Chanoknan Angurasaranee, all being active players on the Epson Tour, will strut their stuff in the ninth circuit of the Bt2.5 million SAT-TWT Road to World Ranking which will get underway from November 8-10 at Pattaya Country Club in Chonburi.
The three contenders will utilize the tournament, one of the 10 circuits of the Thai WPGA 2021-2022 season, as their final-warm up ahead of their participation in the LPGA qualifying competition in the US.
Currently ranked 23rd on the Epson Tour Official Money, Pavarisa is thrilled to compete in a home tournament. She hopes to shape up her game before heading to North America. “The TWT-Open will serve up as a good test for me before I go back to the States. My goal is to earn a tour card on the LPGA again,” said the 28-year-old Pavarisa whose best attempt on the LPGA was a tied fifth position in the Marathon Classic back in 2019.
“I’m quite happy with my performance this year on the EPSON Tour with two second placed finishes. I hope to play well in my home tournament next week, but I will try not to put too much pressure on myself,” added Pavarisa, hoping to put a long drought of title since winning the Singha-SAT Championship seven years ago.
Up-and-coming Jaravee celebrated the biggest win in her career when she lifted up the EPSON Tour Championship crown in Florida two months ago, which propelled her to finish the season at 12th on the EPSON Tour Order of Merits rankings. She also staged impressive results in big international events including a tied sixth finish in the Hana Financial Group event in Korea.
“Everything is moving to the right direction for me this season. As for the rest of the season, I’m trying to get ready for the Final Q-School stage. I hope that every aspect of my game will pick up next week, which should give me a good boost before I go to the US,” said the 23-year-old former Duke University player. “I’m also working on my fitness during my time in Thailand. I plan to play most of the 2023 season in the US if things go according to my plan,” Jaravee added. After playing her rookie season on the EPSON Tour with 15 starts, teenage Chanoknan enjoyed her best finish at tied fourth in the Twin Bridges Championship in New York. Like Pavarisa and Jaravee, Chanoknan ihas her eyes firmly fixed on a slot in the LPGA qualifying event in December.
“I’m really working hard right now which includes five days of training the gym per week. I need to be really well prepared for the second qualifying stage later this month. So, after the SAT-TWT Open, I’m heading to the US right away,” said Chanoknan. “My goal is to reach the final stage in December. If not, I may enter the Ladies European Tour Q-School instead,” she added.
The ninth SAT-TWT Open will be competed at the par 72 6,542-yard Pattaya Country Club. It is organized by Thailand Women’s Professional Golf Association (Thai WPGA). It will be competed in a three-day stroke-play format. After 36 holes, top 60 and ties will move ahead to the final round where they will battle it out for the winner’s prize money of Bt367,500.
Ex-football chief Worawi ready to take the helm if his services are needed
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 04, 2022
Akarawath Ounboriboon
For most Thais, the upcoming Fifa World Cup in Qatar will be a distant football spectacle, involving a sport in which Thailand is a passive spectator.
However, not too long ago, there was one Thai who held a prominent position in football’s world governing body for several years. Worawi Makudi, the former president of the Football Association of Thailand, was a member of Fifa’s executive committee — now known as Fifa Council — for 17 years.
In a long chat with the The Nation, he reflected on how he had got into the Fifa executive committee and what he could do to improve the Thai football scene.
Though he is no longer a member of the Fifa committee, he remains an honorary member and can watch the World Cup or other activities to which he is invited by Fifa.
With his vast experience, it would be interesting to know his opinion on the Thai football scene, the World Cup, and his thoughts on the Football Association of Thailand (FA Thailand).
At 71 years old, he is still strong, active, and amiable.
“I have something to do every day even though I am not managing the Football Association anymore, but I am still working, including exercising and playing football when I have time to spare.” Worawi said, as he opened the doors of his house in the Nong Chok district of Bangkok to The Nation.
Making it to Fifa executive committee
Looking back, Worawi’s feat of becoming a member of the Fifa executive committee is extraordinary because Thailand is a small country on the international football stage with no clout. No Thai squad has ever reached the World Cup finals, while their best finish in Asia is fourth place at the Asian Games.
There are several steps to become a member of the Fifa executive committee, but everything started when Thailand and two other member countries — Malaysia and Indonesia — founded the Asean Football Federation (AFF), Worawi explains.
“The correct term is member of the executive committee of Fifa, or exco in short,” Worawi says.
Reflecting on his appointment to the world body, he says, “This goes a long way back to 1996 when I was the general secretary of the Football Association. I thought that Thailand has no role at the international level so I thought of combining forces as Asean. Back then, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia were the main force in the region.
“In my opinion, apart from uniting Asean, I paved the way for a role at the international level. Three people from three nations held joint discussions and it led to the founding of the Asean Football Federation [AFF].”
Back then, the AFF did not organise any tournaments. After that, we combined with the Philippines, Brunei, and Singapore. Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar did not join due to domestic problems.
“I then brought Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar together, even though they had not joined AFF, because they were Asean countries and wooed members of the Asian Football Confederation [AFC] so they had votes in the big stages.”
Creating the AFF Cup
“When we combined together back then, we found we had no activities so we decided to hold an event that would bring revenue to the AFF. We held several meetings in Thailand because the federation had no revenue so we took on the role of host.
“Once it was finalised, we held a bidding for sponsorship. AFC Market [later changed to World Sport Group] won the bidding and it became the AFF Championship, but was known as Tiger Cup in the first phase. Later, it was changed to Suzuki Cup and recently Mitsubishi Electric Cup, according to the current sponsor.
“I can say proudly that this football competition was born in Thailand and I can also claim to have been instrumental in launching the tournament,” Worawi says.
How AFF got a member on Fifa’s executive committee
“When we [AFF] were united, we had 10 votes, which we could use to negotiate with other regions including South Asia, Middle East, and East Asia when selecting executives of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). These regions wanted to join us because our votes were almost half of the total votes. This is the strength that these countries want to associate and join us because we will win when we vote.” he added.
How did Worawi make it to the Fifa executive committee?
“It was a sudden moment when we organised AFF Cup in 1996. The next year, Fifa was adding another position because there were more member countries, so Asia got one more spot in addition to the three it had already,” he says.
“It was in keeping with our united position. So I proposed to take the additional position if Asia got another spot, as the representative from Asean. Back then, the three spots in Asia were taken by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and South Korea, so I asked for the fourth spot. Other member countries also wanted me to join because they would earn benefits after I joined. FA Thailand had always treated them well whenever these countries travelled to practise in our country so they fully supported me.”
“I faced one opponent — the J League chairman — but I won more votes and became a Fifa member,” Worawi says.
A gift for Thai children
After Worawi was selected as a member of Fifa ’s executive committee in 1997, he managed to hold his place until 2015. While he was a Fifa member, he was also the general secretary of the Football Association of Thailand until 2007 when he was elected president in place of Vijit Ketkaew.
Interestingly, Worawi, or “Bang Yee”, became a member of the Fifa executive committee before becoming heading Thai football.
When I became a Fifa member, it [Thai football scene] developed a lot. For example, in 1997 Thailand’s U-17 squad played in the World Championship for the first time when I was a Fifa member.
“Later in 1998, during the World Cup in France, I was selected as a Fifa head in Nantes to organise everything. When I was a Fifa member, I was a head of managing stadiums in the 1998, 2002, 2006, and 2010 World Cups. Of all the World Cups, I am most impressed by the 2010 World Cup in South Africa,” he says.
The World Cup in South Africa also means more to him at a personal level as he was able to give some Thai children the experience of watching this spectacle. “That year, when I was the president of the Football Association, I had an idea to give Thai children a ringside view. So I organised a contest for children who wanted to go to the World Cup, asking them to write and describe the World Cup and their love for football. Finally, we selected 11 children and I paid for them to travel from Thailand to see the opening match in South Africa.”
“I saw their sparkle and smiles and they were very happy. It was one of my best moments when I was working with Fifa and taking our children to see World Cup,” he says.
Apart from buying World Cup tickets for the children, Worawi also arranged accreditation cards for Thai press to cover the event.
“I do not want to return but if there is no appropriate candidate, I am ready to do for the country.” — Worawi Makudi
Worawi retains much of his love and passion for the sport, even though he is not managing the Football Association anymore. He is actively involved as chairman of Nakhonratchasima Mazda Football Club in the Thai league.
Does he still nurse ambitions of returning as president of FA Thailand? Worawi gives an ambiguous reply. He says he wants the next generation to take up this role. However, if club members want to give him the responsibility, he would not shirk.
“If [you] ask me right now, the association is currently trying to frame regulations to prevent me from being involved. I have to say that because it is actually like that,” he says.
“[Such an attitude] It is not beneficial at all. As for me, I am ready to do anything for the country but the team and the thoughts must go in the same direction. It was the same when I told you that we must have a committee from three leagues to recruit and ask members if those who are nominated are appropriate or not.
“I am glad to support new people but if there is no one and [someone] wants me to help, I am glad to sacrifice my time to work with our national football team.”
He is wary about sounding needy. So, he quickly adds, “But I do not want to say more because that would make it look like I want to return. In reality, I feel indifferent but many people said that things were improving when I was the president but it is currently going downhill.”
“I think it is logical to assume the situation should be better now than during my term, because revenues are now high and they can afford to do many more things,” he explains.
Worawi’s dream was to make Thailand the top football team in Asia and compete in the World Cup. That has not happened yet.
But he believes his stint has paved the way for the creation of a strong professional football league that generates adequate revenue to pay footballers, coaches, staff, vendors, and product owners well.
Manchester United face a tough Europa League knockout round play-off tie after failing to build on teenager Alejandro Garnacho’s outstanding opener and beat Real Sociedad by a two-goal margin.
Both sides were already assured of progress from Group E ahead of the San Sebastian showdown, but September’s shock Old Trafford defeat to the LaLiga side meant United travelled to Spain in second spot.
Garnacho’s superb goal got the Red Devils off to a dream start as they sought to usurp the hosts, but they struggled in the second half as Sociedad held tight for a 1-0 loss that means they top the group on goal difference.
Erik ten Hag’s runners-up will now have to play an extra round in mid-February against a side dropping out of the Champions League, with Barcelona, Juventus and his former club Ajax among the potential opponents.
Garnacho
“I think today they did everything. They are fine men. They did everything to get the tempo out of the game. And they succeeded in it by losing only 1-0. I congratulate them for the victory. We at Manchester United are always disappointed when we are not number one. But we also have something positive to take back to Manchester.” Said ten Hag
“Of course we always want to be number one. And when we are not we are disappointed about it. But finally we won tonight. It was a clean sheet. We created some great chances. I think the win is also a decent performance from (Cristiano) Ronaldo and a really good performance from (Alejandro) Garnacho. But we had some problems in the front line.”
“It’s clear we have to work on that. We have to score more goals. But in the end it is what it is. I think that within this group we’ve had our opportunities to get a better goal difference. That’s the right analysis.”
La Real progress straight to the last-16 on a night that was only 17 minutes old Garnacho overtook George Best as United’s youngest non-English goalscorer in European competition with a lovely finish.
Cristiano Ronaldo provided a fine assist for the 18-year-old’s first senior goal and lifted narrowly over towards the end of a first half that ended with David De Gea producing an excellent double save.
But Ten Hag’s side were unable to build on that solid start, with defender Harry Maguire brought on as makeshift striker in a desperate – and ultimately fruitless – attempt to snatch the second goal they needed.
Barcelona player Pique to retire, play last home game on Saturday
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 04, 2022
Reuters
Barcelona defender Gerard Pique called time on his glittering career on Thursday (November 3), saying he will retire from soccer when LaLiga breaks for the World Cup this month.
Pique, 35, said in a video posted on social media that Saturday’s (November 5) league clash with Almeria will be his last at Barcelona’s Camp Nou after 14 years with the Catalan giants following his return from Manchester United in 2008.
Barcelona will travel to Osasuna on Tuesday (November 8) for their final fixture before the November 20 – December 18 World Cup.
“I want to tell you that I’ve decided that now is the time to bring this journey to its end,” Pique, who has not been a regular starter for Barcelona this season, said in the video.
“I’ve always said that there would not be any other team after Barca. And that’s how it will be. This Saturday’s game will be my last at Camp Nou.”
“A lifetime dedicated to Barca. Thank you, Pique,” Barcelona tweeted after the player’s announcement.
Pique, a member of Barcelona’s youth academy, announced in 2018 his retirement from Spain’s national team.
The player has a contract with Barcelona until 2024 but he will renounce the remaining year and half his salary, La Vanguardia newspaper reported.
Spain
The decision will help Barcelona improve their financial fair play margin since Pique is among their best-paid players.
Pique has been the subject of off-pitch news in recent months.
In June he announced his separation from Colombian singer Shakira and in April he denied any wrongdoing over his involvement in helping the Spanish FA secure a deal to relocate Spain’s Super Cup to Saudi Arabia, an agreement which earned his Kosmos company 24 million euros ($23.41 million) in commission.
Regarded as one of the best centre backs of his generation, Pique collected 35 trophies during his 18-year career.
Pique won nine league titles in Spain and England, four Champions League trophies, as well as a World Cup and European Championship.
Pique has said he would like to be Barcelona’s president one day. In his farewell video, while looking at the board’s Camp Nou seats, he said: “Sooner or later, I’ll be back”.
A Look at the 2022 World Cup’s new offside technology & match officials
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 03, 2022
Reuters
Semi-automated offside technology will be used at this year’s World Cup with world soccer’s governing body FIFA promising decisions that are more accurate and a lot quicker.
In what can be considered an extraordinary development in the officiating of the game, technology will be able to resolve contentious offside calls with a speed and accuracy unimaginable less than a decade ago.
Using cameras strategically positioned around the stadiums, and a chip in the match ball, FIFA said the technology will go a long way to cutting down on continuous Video Assistant Referee (VAR) decisions on marginal offside calls and reduce the time needed to check
“I heard and I read about robot referees and similar things. I understand that sometimes this is very good for headlines, but this is not the case. The match officials are still involved in the decision making process as the semi automated offside gives an answer only when a player who was in an offside position plays the ball. In other words the assessment of interfering with an opponent remains match officials responsibility.” said PIERLUIGI COLLINA CHAIRMAN OF FIFA OF REFEREEING COMMITTEE
The semi-automated technology which will bring a futuristic, space age feel to the game, with spectators able to see some of the 3D animation when the VAR decisions are explained on a stadium’s giant screen.
The technology has already been tested at two tournaments over the last year and had been expected to be approved for the World Cup in Qatar from Nov. 20-Dec. 18. It will be used at all the venues at the tournament.
Referee Ivan Kruzliak check the VAR screen
A total of 36 referees, 69 assistant referees and 24 video match officials have been chosen by FIFA for the tournament.
Six of those officials will become the first women to officiate matches at the men’s World Cup.
“It’s like a football team; they have to prepare everything perfectly to arrive, also preparing very well for the most important competition we have in sports. So, here, we analyse the situation, we discuss concepts, topics and whatever really to be on the same page. Like a player who wants to win the game, or wants to score a goal, you have to understand exactly what you have to do. For us, preparation is crucial.” said MASSIMO BUSACCA DIRECTOR OF FIFA REFEREEING
Three women referees and three women assistant referees will be part of the global showpiece event in Qatar.
Referees Stephanie Frappart from France, Salima Mukansanga from Rwanda and Japan’s Yoshimi Yamashita, as well as assistant referees Neuza Back from Brazil, Karen Diaz Medina from Mexico and American Kathryn Nesbitt have all been called up.
World Cup worries for Son Heung-min as South Korea star set for surgery
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 03, 2022
THE NATION
South Korea captain Son Heung-min will undergo surgery on a facial injury, jeopardizing his availability for the World Cup in Qatar.
Son, one of Asian soccer’s most high-profile players, was helped off the field during the first half of Tottenham’s Champions League match at Marseille on Tuesday after taking a shoulder to the face.
Tottenham said Wednesday that Son will have an operation “to stabilize a fracture around his left eye.”
The Premier League club didn’t say how long it expects Son to be sidelined.
“Following surgery,” the team said, “Son will commence rehabilitation with our medical staff and we shall update supporters further in due course.”
The World Cup starts Nov. 20 and South Korea is one of the last teams to play its first group game — against Uruguay on Nov. 24. Portugal and Ghana are also in Group H.
Tottenham has games against Liverpool and Leeds before the Premier League is paused for the World Cup.
Lewis ‘something special’ purrs Guardiola as he scores in big Man City win
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 03, 2022
THE NATION
Pep Guardiola was full of praise for Rico Lewis following the 17-year-old’s goal on his full debut for Manchester City.
Lewis opened the scoring for City on the night as they came from behind to beat Sevilla 3-1.
Rafa Mir opened the scoring with a header from an Isco corner just after the half hour mark, but Lewis levelled things after half-time with a brilliant finish after he was played through by Julian Alvarez. Provider turned scorer in the 73rd minute as Kevin De Bruyne played a scintillating pass through to Alvarez, who rounded the ‘keeper and powered the ball into the roof of the net.
Riyad Mahrez put the icing on the cake and made it 3-1 in the 83rd minute with a curled finish. The win means that City qualify from the group with 14 points from six games.
“Well, we see him (Rico Lewis) every day. We we don’t give presents here. So, you know, not because he’s Manchester City fan, because he’s from the academy are going to play, he have to earn it.” Said Pep Guardiola
“But we see him since day one in the United States of America in pre-season where he played against few minutes against Bayern Munich, for example. And the training sessions always is. ‘Oh, this guy have something special.'”
Lewis opened the scoring for City on the night as they came from behind to beat Sevilla 3-1.Riyad Mahrez put the icing on the cake and made it 3-1 in the 83rd minute with a curled finish.
Q : why Jack Grealish was substitued at half-time ?
“Jack (Grealish) was the best player in the first half. The best one. The more direct. But he played tough, a real, real tough game in the last game, we need him, we need him for the next game. And we need a special left foot in left, the right foot the right being wider to make this cross and these crosses.”
Jack Grealish was substitued at half-time
“I would say there is no one person in the locker room today, staff, backroom staff and players is not happy today for him (Julian Alvarez). He’s a guy who’s a special guy, a work ethic. You saw the third goal, remember little bit Gabriel (Jesus) in terms of how aggressive is without the ball and make two assists and a goal, the goal is not easy to do it because the pass from Kevin (De Bruyne) again is exceptional.”
Martial back in training with Man United ahead of Real Sociedad test
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 03, 2022
THE NATION
Anthony Martial returned to training with Manchester United on Wednesday ahead of the club’s Europa League clash with Real Sociedad.
The France international has not played since the 2-1 win over Everton at the beginning of October, and he has only played for 135 minutes so far this season due to injury.
United trained without Jadon Sancho or Antony, but the return of Martial will come as a boost to manager Erik ten Hag.
The ‘Red Devils’ can top Europa League Group E and avoid a play-off game if they beat Sociedad by more than two goals on Thursday evening.
Real Sociedad train ahead of Man United test in Europa League
Real Sociedad trained at their base in Zubieta on Wednesday in preparation for a group-deciding Europa League clash with Manchester United.
‘The White and Blues’, who beat Man United 1-0 in their opening game of the group stage, head into Thursday’s final match in Group E sitting three points clear of ‘The Red Devils’ at the top of the standings.
But a 2-0 win for the visitors at Estadio de Anoeta would see United leapfrog Sociedad into first place and avoid a play-off for a spot in the knockout stage of the competition.
Real Sociedad train ahead of Man United test in Europa League
Referee Ivan Kruzliak check the VAR screen
Lewis opened the scoring for City on the night as they came from behind to beat Sevilla 3-1.
Riyad Mahrez put the icing on the cake and made it 3-1 in the 83rd minute with a curled finish.
Jack Grealish was substitued at half-time
Real Sociedad train ahead of Man United test in Europa League
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