Fútbol Internacional – Últimas noticias del fútbol mundial

Hungary’s Viktor Kassai did not feature in the initial shortlist of referees drawn by Cricinfosite, for the semi-finals and final of the World Cup.

The reason why we did not consider him was his relative youth. At 35, he is among the youngest referees on duty at the World Cup.

A referee’s job is thankless, made more so by the fact that he is often dealing with prima donnas with a huge fan following. a single error could be hyped up by the media to such an extent as to threaten the referee’s international career.

Often a referee’s support staff, namely, the linesmen could blunder, and the main referee could still get blamed for it. This was highlighted in England’s match against Germany where the linesman failed to see Lampard’s shot at goal cross the line. And Larrionda copped all the blame.

And we had serious doubts as to whether a younger referee would be able to handle the pressure in a tournament where senior referees such as Larrionda have floundered.

But when we heard that the second semi-final between Spain and Germany had been assigned to Kassai, we were not unhappy about FIFA’s choice. Because Kassai has been among the more non-controversial referees in South Africa, this last month.

Kassai became part of FIFA’s elite panel in 2003. Among his best accomplishments, the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada, the UEFA Euro 2008 the 2008 Olympic Games (men’s tournament), including in the final, and the qualifiers for the 2010 FIFA World Cup stand out.

Before tonight’s semi-final, Kassai has officiated at 3 matches, in this tournament: Brazil Vs DPR Korea, Mexico vs Uruguay, and USA Vs Ghana.

In all, the young Hungarian handed out 6 yellow cards, and no red cards, in these 3 matches. In the Brazil match, Felipe Melo was the lone man to be awarded a yellow card. In the Mexico-Uruguay encounter, Hernandez and of Mexico, and fucile of Uruguay were the three men to be penalized. In the USA Vs Ghana game, USA’s Donovan and Ghana’s Gyan and Castro were the recipients.

There are some similarities between Irmatov (who refereed the first semi-final) and Kassai. Both are among the youngest referees, with Irmatov 2 years younger than Kassai. Also, neither referee is card happy. Like Irmatov, Kassai has also not awarded any red cards, during this tournament.

We wish Kassai a great match, in tonight’s semi-final, between Spain and Germany.

La Liga refers to the first division Spanish League. The top professional football league in Spain is officially called as Liga BBVA for the reason of sponsorship. It is one of the most professional and exciting leagues in Europe, attracting some best football talents from all over the globe.

Just like any other leagues, La Liga is also guided by some strict rules and regulations regarding promotional and relegation of the clubs as well as how many non-EU players can play in the league. Let us take a quick glance over the La Liga rules.

Rules of Promotion-Relegation

Every year, 20 teams take part in the competition. The three teams finishing at the bottom of the league table are relegated to the 2nd division of the Spanish league system, with the top two rankers in the immediately lower division and the winner in a play-off replacing the relegated clubs.

Inclusion of Non-EU Players

There is an upper cap in regards to retaining of non-EU players in this top-most division of Spanish league. In La Liga, every team is allowed to retain a maximum of three offshore players. Even in the second division, each participating clubs can keep hold of only 2 players. If any La Liga club is relegated to the lower division, it is allowed to keep hold of the same number of foreign players until their contracts are expired.

What does it mean by «Non-EU»? The phrase has been repeated many times following several verdicts from the European Court of Justice. According to a decision adopted by the Spanish Federation in this regard, the participating La Liga teams are entitled to make the best use of the rules and bring many foreign players to their squad.

Claim of Citizenship

The foreign players are allowed to apply for Spanish citizenship from the countries where their ancestors descended from. In La Liga, a non-EU player can claim for Spanish Citizenship if he has played in Spain for at least, five years and it may result into triple citizenship. Let us give you an example. Leo Franco was born in Argentina and has Italian ancestry. He is capable of applying for Spain citizenship, having played in the country for more than five years.

The players arriving from the ACP countries including Africa, the Caribbean and Pacific, are not considered against the Non-EU category as per the Kolpak ruling.

Breach of Rules & Conduct

All the La Liga clubs are required to abide by the rules and regulations as clearly specified by the highest authority in the Spanish football league system that, in turn, ensures compatibility with the guidelines made by FIFA, the governing body of football in the world. In recent times, Barcelona have been handed punishment by FIFA for failing to conform to the rules regarding transfer of the players after allegation of transfer of the under-age players (below 18).

The defending La Liga champions are not allowed to play any new player until January of 2016. The club applied against the ban but it was not lifted. However, they have been allowed to sell players during the time of transfer ban.

Arsenal will host West Brom Albion this Saturday afternoon at the Emirates Stadium, in their sixth game of the ongoing Premiership season.

The last time the two sides met was at the same venue, and the game ended 2-0 in the host’s favour.

Arsenal with 11 points are second, and just behind champions Chelsea, in the League table, and are among the few unbeaten teams, this Premiership season.

Head to head, in the Premier League, Arsenal and West Brom have met eight times, with Arsene Wenger’s squad emerging winners in six games, while Albion have won on just a solitary occasion against the three-time champions.

In fact, in the last ten matches between the sides, Arsenal have emerged winners eight times, while one match in 2004 was drawn. West Brom Albion recorded a solitary home win during this period.

In nine home matches, in the Premier League, Arsenal have conceded just two goals. Added to that is West Brom’s failure to score a goal in their most recent four away matches in the League. Consider also that in their last 18 away games in the Premiership, West Brom have failed to win a single one, while losing 14, and drawing the remaining three.

All of the above facts might make Arsenal look more formidable than they are. But Sunderland’s injury time strike via Darren Bent last weekend proved that Wenger’s men could be tackled, by a team that’s prepared to attack.

That said, Arsenal’s own attack is not a mediocre act, by any stretch, with 19 goals to show for in five matches played this Premiership season. The defence has also stood up, with only three goals finding the back of Arsenal’s net, in these five matches.

Arsenal could find West Brom hard to handle this season. West Brom are coming off a morale boosting 3-1 win against Birmingham, their third win in five Premier League matches, this ongoing season. However, Albion are a defensive side, and just seven goals scored in five matches is a clear pointer to this fact.

For Arsenal; Fabregas has been ruled out for three weeks with a hamstring injury. The Spanish midfielder is key to Arsenal’s performance this season, and with their match against Chelsea coming up, this is bad news, indeed.

Arsenal’s probable eleven: Almunia, Koscielny, Sagna, Squillaci, Clichy, Song, Wilshere, Denilson, Arshavin, Chamakh, Nasri

West Brom’s probable eleven: Carson, Scharner, Shorey, Jara, Olsson, Thomas, Tamas, Mulumbu, Brunt, Odemwingie, Fortune

The formal name of the club is West Ham United Football Club, and they are known by several nicknames, the most popular of which is ‘The Hammers’. Other nicknames are ‘The Irons’ and ‘The Academy of Football’.

Founded in 1895, the squad were then known as Thames Ironworks. The Hammers train at the Boleyn ground, at their home venue, Upton park. The stadium has a capacity of just over 35,000.

The owners are David Sullivan and David Gold, both shareholders, alongwith companies called CB Holding Ltd, and Minority Investors.

West Ham are managed by Avram Grant, who came in recently after the previou manager, Gianfranco Zola, was dismissed.

The hammers have featured in all but three seasons of the Premier League. They have enjoyed greater success in the FA cup, winning it thrice, the last one in 1980.

They finished the last Premiership season in 17th position, while their highest was 5th in 1998-99.

The current campaign has got off to a horrific start for West Ham, losing all three matches played so far. They had an abject showing in their opening match against Aston Villa, losing 3-0. Therafter they lost 3-1 to Bolton and 3-0 to Manchester United.

Early Season Preview:

Early in the summer, Sullivan and Gold made known their transfer targets, and the list made impressive reading: Joe Cole, David Beckham, Ruud Van Nistelroy and Theirry Henry were all named. But that was the end of the story as none of them has signed to play for West Ham. If nothing else, the team bosses would have managed to enthuse home fans to reserve their seats at Upton Park.

The team that lost 3-0 to Manchester United comprised: Green, Gabbidon, Upson, Spector, Faubert, Ilunga, Dyer, Parker, Boa Morte, Noble, Cole, Stech, Da Costa, Barrera, Kovac, Stanislas, McCarthy, and Piquionne.

The club owners have great expectations from Scott Parker this season.

Thomas Hitzlsperger is one of the world’s most explosive strikers, but apart from his power, his game leaves something to be desired. That said, Hitzlsperger could be in the news for a sensational strike or two.

Apart from Hitzlsperger, the Hammers have also signed New Zealander Winston Reid and Mexican winger Pablo Barrera, on the back of good showings, at the World Cup, by the respective players.

Portsmouth’s Tal Ben-Haim and Frederic Piquionne have also been snared by Avram Grant from his former club.

West Ham have released striker Guillermo Franco.

The squad are relegation favourites, although they have a great manager in Grant, and some genuine talent that should have them for mid-table.

Hammers’ early results belie such optimism, though.

Newcastle United will host Stoke City at St James’ Park, this Sunday, in what will be the sixth match of their Premiership campaign.

Ahead of the game, Newcastle are gung-ho, thanks to a mid-week 4-3 win over Chelsea, at Stamford Bridge, in the Carling Cup. Ironically, Newcastle also lost at home to Blackpool, in the Premier League.

Chris Hughton’s squad have scored eleven goals in the first five matches of their Premiership season. Their defence has stood up when it counted and conceded just four goals, to give the Magpies a healthy goal difference.

Contrast that with Stoke’s six goals for, and eight goals against. Seven of those came in the first 45 minutes of the matches in which they transpired.

The Potters have been up and down this season. Following a last-gasp away win against Villa, they drew at home against West Ham.

James Perch will return to the Newcastle squad, from suspension. Sol Campbell who played the entire duration of the Carling Cup game is also likely to start. ‘Keeper Steve Harper has been advised 12 weeks’ rest after shoulder surgery.Tim Krul is likely to replace him.

Danny Simpson and Danny Guthrie have not returned to match fitness from their respective shoulder and knee injuries. Newcastle will also miss Steven Taylor nursing a shoulder injury and Dan Gosling who has a knee concern.

For Stoke, regular players should return to the starting eleven after they were rested during the Carling Cup match loss to Fulham, mid-week, chief among them is ‘keeper James Sorensen. Abdoulaye Faye will bolster the back line, while the forward line should benefit from John Walters’ return.

Manager Tony Pulis will also welcome winger Jermaine Pennant returning from a hamstring injury.

The Potters last won at St James’ in 1976. Their last win against the Magpies came in 1989, when they prevailed 2-1 in a Division 2 game. The sides have drawn three of their last four league and cup games.

Caroll is Newcastle’s man of the season, with four goals in five matches, while Jones has scored just one for the Potters in their five.

Stoke should consider themselves lucky if they got away with a draw; Newcastle should consider it as an opportunity lost if they didn’t bank three points from the game.

Newcastle will probably field these players in their starting eleven: Krul, Enrique, Williamson, Coloccini, Perch, Ben Arfa, Nolan, Barton, Routledge, Ameobi, Caroll

The Stoke City starting eleven will probably be: Sorensen, Collins, Faye, Shawcross, Huth, Etherington, Delap, Whitehead, WhelanJones, Walters.