THE BEST FIFA FOOTBALL AWARDS™
PURE QUALITY
ENGLISH EDITION
NEW TECHNOLOGY IN THE TEST PHASE
HIGHLIGHTS OF 2016
LOOKING BACK ON AN IMPORTANT YEAR FOR FIFA
WWW.FIFA.COM/MAGAZINE
LARS LAGERBÄCK
BACK FOR ANOTHER COUP AFTER HIS FEATS WITH ICELAND? DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017
TOP-CLASS FOOTBALL LEAVING A LEGACY IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA
VARs
U-20 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP
THE BEST FIFA MEN’S PLAYER 2016 * SERGIO AGÜERO (Argentina/Manchester City) * GARETH BALE (Wales/Real Madrid) * GIANLUIGI BUFFON (Italy/Juventus) * CRISTIANO RONALDO (Portugal/Real Madrid) * KEVIN DE BRUYNE (Belgium/Manchester City) * ANTOINE GRIEZMANN (France/Atlético Madrid) * ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIĆ (Sweden/Paris Saint-Germain/Manchester United) * ANDRÉS INIESTA (Spain/FC Barcelona) * N’GOLO KANTÉ (France/Leicester City/Chelsea) * TONI KROOS (Germany/Real Madrid) * ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI (Poland/FC Bayern Munich) * RIYAD MAHREZ (Algeria/Leicester City) * LIONEL MESSI (Argentina/FC Barcelona) * LUKA MODRIĆ (Croatia/Real Madrid) * MANUEL NEUER (Germany/FC Bayern Munich) * NEYMAR (Brazil/FC Barcelona) * MESUT ÖZIL (Germany/Arsenal) * DIMITRI PAYET (France/West Ham United) * PAUL POGBA (France/Juventus/Manchester United) * SERGIO RAMOS (Spain/Real Madrid) * ALEXIS SÁNCHEZ (Chile/Arsenal) * LUIS SUÁREZ (Uruguay/FC Barcelona) * JAMIE VARDY (England/Leicester City)
THE BEST FIFA WOMEN’S PLAYER 2016 * CAMILLE ABILY (France/Olympique Lyonnais) * MELANIE BEHRINGER (Germany/FC Bayern Munich) * SARA DÄBRITZ (Germany/FC Bayern Munich) * AMANDINE HENRY (France/Portland Thorns) * SAKI KUMAGAI (Japan/Olympique Lyonnais) * CARLI LLOYD (USA/Houston Dash) * DZSENIFER MAROZSÁN (Germany/1. FFC Frankfurt/Olympique Lyonnais) * MARTA (Brazil/FC Rosengård) * LOTTA SCHELIN (Sweden/Olympique Lyonnais/FC Rosengård) * CHRISTINE SINCLAIR (Canada/Portland Thorns)
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NAME DER PUBLIKATION
THE BEST FIFA MEN’S COACH 2016 * CHRIS COLEMAN (Wales/Welsh national team) * DIDIER DESCHAMPS (France/French national team) * PEP GUARDIOLA (Spain/FC Bayern Munich/Manchester City) * JÜRGEN KLOPP (Germany/Liverpool) * LUIS ENRIQUE (Spain/FC Barcelona) * MAURICIO POCHETTINO (Argentina/Tottenham Hotspur) * CLAUDIO RANIERI (Italy/Leicester City) * FERNANDO SANTOS (Portugal/Portuguese national team) * DIEGO SIMEONE (Argentina/Atlético Madrid) * ZINÉDINE ZIDANE (France/Real Madrid)
THE BEST FIFA WOMEN’S COACH 2016 * PHILIPPE BERGEROO (France/French national team) * JILL ELLIS (USA/US national team) * JOHN HERDMAN (England/Canadian national team) * SILVIA NEID (Germany/German national team) * VERA PAUW (Netherlands/South African national team) * GÉRARD PRÊCHEUR (France/Olympique Lyonnais) * PIA SUNDHAGE (Sweden/Swedish national team) * OSWALDO VADÃO (Brazil/Brazilian national team) * MARTINA VOSS-TECKLENBURG (Germany/Swiss national team) * THOMAS WÖRLE (Germany/FC Bayern Munich)
FIFA PUSKÁS AWARD 2016 * MARIO GASPAR (ESP) – 13.11.2015, Spain v. England, international friendly
* HLOMPHO KEKANA (RSA) – 26.03.2016, Cameroon v. South Africa, Africa Cup of Nations qualifier
* MARLONE (BRA) – 21.04.2016, Corinthians v. Cobresal, Copa Libertadores
* LIONEL MESSI (ARG) – 21.06.2016, USA v. Argentina, Copa América Centenario semi-final * NEYMAR (BRA) – 08.11.2015, Barcelona v. Villarreal, La Liga (Spain)
* SAÚL ÑÍGUEZ (ESP) – 27.04.2016, Atlético Madrid v. Bayern Munich, UEFA Champions League * HAL ROBSON-KANU (WAL) – 01.07.2016, Wales v. Belgium, UEFA EURO 2016
* DANIUSKA RODRÍGUEZ (VEN) – 14.03.2016, Venezuela v. Colombia, South American U-17 Women’s Football Championship
* SIMON SKRABB (FIN) – 31.10.2015, Gefle v. Åtvidaberg, Allsvenskan league, Sweden
* MOHD FAIZ SUBRI (MAS) – 16.02.2016, Penang v. Pahang, Malaysia Super League
FOR THE LATEST NEWS ON THE BEST FIFA FOOTBALL AWARDS™, VISIT: http://www.fifa.com/the-best-fifa-football-awards/
EDITORIAL
TAKE THE STAGE! It’s that time of year again when FIFA honours the best of world football. The traditional annual crowning of the leaders in their field has long been a hotly anticipated and not-to-be-missed fixture in the football calendar. This year there’s a new twist. The awards have a brand new concept and new name to boot. The reasoning behind the name should be self-explanatory: “The Best”. After all, what would football be without its best protagonists? They are the ones who attract the huge numbers of spectators in the stadiums and have people glued to the TV at home. It becomes a virtuous circle – even the best of the best would be lost without fans around the world buoying them up like a huge supportive team. FIFA is now providing support to its member associations of up to USD 5 million per association in the current financial cycle. This will enable every football
Illustration: Stephan Walter
association to give their coaches and players the optimum opportunities and resources so that they too may one day become the best. Football is of course a team sport, and great players only become the best if they use their outstanding personal talent to work with their team-mates in pursuit of the common goal. “The Best” show us the ultimate in what is possible when talent and determination are combined. Perikles Monioudis FIFA 1904 /
1
CONTENTS
FIFA/COCA-COLA MEN’S WORLD RANKING
32
16
VIDEO ASSISTANT REFEREES
37
SOCIAL MEDIA
“Who will be the winners at The Best FIFA Football Awards?” Our readers give their opinions.
FIFA achieved a number of milestones in 2016 as it forged ahead in its mission to achieve greater transparency, efficiency and involvement of fans.
8 COVER PICTURE
Our cover features the 53 nominees for The Best FIFA Player and The Best FIFA Coach awards for 2016. Illustration: André Sanchez
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FIRST LOVE
40
Johannesburg, South Africa.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2016 – A KEY YEAR FOR FIFA
Having surpassed all expectations with Iceland’s performances at EURO 2016, Swedish coach Lars Lagerbäck spoke to FIFA 1904 about his golden summer.
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38
After goal-line technology, referees are now receiving further support in the form of video assistant referees (VARs). The trial period is in full swing and the results so far are encouraging.
INTERVIEW
6
André Sanchez, Jörn Kaspul, Getty Images (2), Viktor Fumé
On 9 January 2017, the best footballers on the planet will gather in Zurich to receive their awards. But what does the “best” mean anyway, and which league has produced the most World Players of the Year?
FIFA FAN FOCUS GROUP
Fifty fans from around the world were invited to fly out to Zurich and take part in a two-day Fan Focus Group to talk about the major issues surrounding FIFA and global football.
THE BEST FIFA FOOTBALL AWARDS 2016
Chile climb to fourth and cement their place among the world’s elite.
8
SNAPSHOT
Iran player Zahra Ghanbari takes a selfie with her team-mates (21 October 2016).
6
30
FOR THE GAME. FOR THE WORLD.
FIFA’s most recent investments in world football.
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16
DEBATE – PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
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48
WOMEN’S FOOTBALL
FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP JAPAN 2016
Renowned for their great spirit, the Mamelodi Sundowns from South Africa are aiming to cause an upset.
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A new platform for FIFA member associations to engage with each other – Gianni Infantino on the Executive Summits: “Moving forward also means moving closer together.”
STATISTICS
Facts and figures behind the coveted FIFA World Cup Trophy.
46
58
THEN AND NOW
From London to Havana.
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HEALTH
HISTORY
70
FACES OF FIFA
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Profiles of three FIFA employees.
What do Bert Patenaude and Xherdan Shaqiri have in common? They are among a select group of players to have scored a hat-trick at the World Cup.
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF...
We drop in on FIFA Project Manager Mohsin Mitha.
CELEBRATION
Although he never won the World Cup, Brazilian midfield maestro Sócrates became a legend of the game.
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Sir Ernest Shackleton and his Endurance crew play football on the pack ice (1915).
PHOTO ARCHIVE
52
The FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Papua New Guinea and its legacy.
FIFA is supporting the further development of electronic performance and tracking systems.
PUBLICATION DETAILS
48
40
FIFA 1904 app
FIFA 1904 appears monthly in four languages and is also available as an app for smartphones and tablets http://www.fifa.com/mobile FIFA 1904 /
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FOR THE GAME. FOR THE WORLD.
FIFA and the International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES) have published their first joint study on youth football competitions. It was compiled by 13 experts from all around the world and comprises six case studies from such diverse countries as Mali, Denmark and Venezuela. Among the many valuable recommendations made is a joint standardisation and certification procedure with a view to organDuring the
ising youth competitions in a
course of the supervisory
professional manner.
board meeting of the LOC for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar™ in Doha, FIFA’s Secretary General Fatma Samoura inspected the progress being made in the
FIFA has published a
preparations for the World Cup. Following a bus
circular on agreed objectives,
tour of five stadium construction sites, she
laying out the guidelines for the
appeared content: “Regions like the Middle
implementation of its new development
East should be better able to show that they
programme, FIFA Forward. The 211 member
too are footballing nations that can bring
associations must submit their agreed objectives
football-loving people from different
by 1 June 2017 and may then apply for up to
cultural and religious back-
USD 5 million in development funding over a four-
grounds together.”
year period. “Once we establish the development priorities with the member associations and The draw for the FIFA
confederations, we can support them more
Confederations Cup Russia 2017 was
effectively and improve these various as-
made in Kazan on 26 November, and
pects of football in a sustainable way,”
pitted Russia, New Zealand, Portugal and
said FIFA Secretary General
Mexico against each other in Group A, while
Fatma Samoura.
Group B contains the African champions (to be decided in the Africa Cup of Nations final in Gabon on 5 February 2017) plus Chile, Australia and Germany. The top two from each group will contest the semi-finals. The tournament will be held in Kazan, Moscow, Saint Petersburg and Sochi from 17 June to 2 July 2017. 4
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Illustration: Julien Pacaud FIFA 1904 /
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+ / – Points
Rank Team
+ / – Points
Rank Team
+ / – Points
Rank Team
1 Argentina
0
1634
55 Russia
-2
592
109 Jordan
-5
313
162 Singapore
9
138
2 Brazil
1
1544
56 Saudi Arabia
-2
589
110 New Zealand
6
311
162 Moldova
11
138
3 Germany
-1
1433
57 Morocco
3
587
111 Gabon
-1
308
165 Kosovo
-1
135
4 Chile
2
1404
58 Panama
5
584
112 Latvia
4
304
166 Myanmar
5 Belgium
-1
1368
59 Venezuela
9
581
113 Botswana
-12
296
167 Laos
6 Colombia
-1
1345
60 South Africa
7 France
0
1305
61 Mali
8 Portugal
0
1229
62 Uzbekistan
9 Uruguay
0
1187
63 Montenegro
10 Spain
0
1166
64 United Arab Emirates
11 Switzerland
3
1129
65 Cameroon
12 Wales
-1
1121
66 Benin
13 England
-1
1114
67 Scotland
14 Croatia
2
1103
68 Guinea-Bissau
15 Poland
0
1089
-3
17 Costa Rica
-10
131
8
130
2
571
114 Equatorial Guinea
-22
293
168 Cambodia
-1
129
-3
569
115 Ethiopia
11
291
169 New Caledonia
-3
123
-14
558
116 Cyprus
23
290
169 South Sudan
-2
123
-7
549
117 Philippines
7
289
171 Papua New Guinea
-12
122
6
537
118 Canada
-8
282
172 Kuwait
-5
117
-6
534
119 Georgia
3
281
173 Dominica
1
110
0
526
120 Iraq
-7
279
174 Gambia
2
106
-10
524
121 Korea DPR
5
274
174 Vanuatu
3
106
1
515
122 Oman
7
266
176 Bhutan
3
103
69 Haiti
18
505
122 Estonia
-3
266
177 Fiji
2
102
1083
70 Congo
-15
504
124 Kyrgyzstan
-25
265
177 St Vincent and the Grenadines
1
1041
71 Guinea
-7
500
125 Cuba
17
264
179 Indonesia
18 Mexico
-1
1012
72 Bulgaria
17
492
126 Dominican Republic
-5
263
180 St Lucia
-13
95
19 Peru
4
965
73 Uganda
-1
488
127 Bahrain
-4
259
181 Nepal
5
90
20 Ecuador
-1
890
74 Belarus
3
470
128 Niger
0
246
182 Malta
-4
85
21 Iceland
0
889
75 Curaçao
2
467
129 Vietnam
7
235
183 Bangladesh
5
84 82
16 Italy
-15
102
0
100
22 Netherlands
-2
887
76 Jamaica
-1
461
129 Thailand
17
235
184 Macau
12
23 Republic of Ireland
10
858
76 Honduras
10
461
131 Tajikistan
9
231
185 Guam
-3
81
24 Turkey
1
851
78 Trinidad and Tobago
-13
454
132 Luxembourg
-2
230
186 Seychelles
-2
79
25 Slovakia
1
837
79 Guatemala
4
450
133 Palestine
-13
222
187 Bermuda
-2
77
26 Hungary
-4
826
80 Cape Verde Islands
-9
443
133 Burundi
5
222
187 Solomon Islands
6
77
1
825
80 St Kitts and Nevis
-7
443
135 Guyana
-4
221
189 Liechtenstein
-6
75
-4
822
82 Antigua and Barbuda
0
433
136 Madagascar
-3
220
190 Brunei Darussalam
0
804
83 China PR
1
423
137 India
0
217
191 Timor-Leste
30 Iran
-3
797
84 Faroe Islands
-10
422
138 El Salvador
-3
216
31 Austria
-1
773
84 Norway
-3
422
139 Comoros
4
206
32 Northern Ireland
4
767
86 Libya
-10
417
140 Sudan
8
33 Senegal
-1
755
87 Armenia
38
412
140 Hong Kong
0
34 Côte d'Ivoire
27 Bosnia and Herzegovina 28 USA 29 Ukraine
2
74
-5
64
191 American Samoa
-2
64
191 Cook Islands
-2
64
205
191 Samoa
-2
64
205
195 Sri Lanka
-1
44
-3
738
88 Qatar
3
409
142 Lesotho
8
202
195 US Virgin Islands
0
44
34 Tunisia
4
738
89 Kenya
-4
397
143 Turkmenistan
-29
200
197 Pakistan
0
40
36 Egypt
10
719
90 Azerbaijan
-2
386
144 Angola
-10
199
198 Mongolia
4
38
7
699
91 Zambia
3
374
145 Mauritius
6
194
199 Montserrat
-1
30
38 Algeria
-3
692
91 Togo
2
374
145 Puerto Rico
6
194
200 Cayman Islands
-1
21
39 Romania
-5
690
93 Finland
8
368
147 Afghanistan
-2
189
201 Turks and Caicos Islands
-1
20
40 Paraguay
-3
684
94 Syria
2
363
148 Lebanon
1
185
202 San Marino
-1
17
41 Sweden
-2
675
95 Bolivia
-15
359
149 Yemen
-17
184
203 Andorra
0
12
37 Korea Republic
42 Greece
6
+ / – Points
Rank Team
FIFA/COCA-COLA MEN’S WORLD RANKING
0
674
96 Sierra Leone
1
357
149 Tahiti
23
184
204 British Virgin Islands
-1
11
43 Czech Republic
-3
671
97 Kazakhstan
-7
354
151 Suriname
-4
183
205 Anguilla
0
0
44 Serbia
-1
647
98 Namibia
20
347
152 Chad
-49
179
205 Bahamas
0
0
45 Japan
6
644
99 Nicaragua
8
346
153 São Tomé e Príncipe
0
177
205 Djibouti
0
0
46 Denmark
4
643
100 Swaziland
6
343
154 Maldives
4
165
205 Eritrea
0
0
47 Congo DR
2
638
101 Rwanda
6
336
155 Barbados
2
163
205 Gibraltar
0
0
48 Australia
-8
636
102 Zimbabwe
8
334
156 Malaysia
8
158
205 Somalia
0
0
49 Albania
-2
618
103 Malawi
-3
327
157 Grenada
-3
150
205 Tonga
0
0
50 Burkina Faso
17
616
103 Liberia
1
327
158 Chinese Taipei
3
149
50 Nigeria
10
616
105 Central African Republic
2
325
159 Aruba
50 Slovenia
2
616
106 Lithuania
-8
324
160 Tanzania
53 Ghana
-8
611
107 Mauritania
54 Israel
25
595
108 Mozambique
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1
147
-16
146
8
322
161 Belize
2
141
-13
320
162 FYR Macedonia
-7
138
Last updated: 24 November 2016
CHILE CHASING THE CHAMPIONS
LEADER ARGENTINA (unchanged) MOVES INTO TOP TEN NONE Back on track Chile’s 3-1 win over Uruguay with a brace from Alexis Sánchez (centre) lifted them into fourth place.
The 0-0 draw between Colombia and Chile
Munich’s chagrin. His team-mates did OK
on 10 November 2016 left nobody happy.
without him though, bouncing back from
Certainly not the Colombians, who were at
conceding the first goal to record a vital
home and banking on all three points.
3-1 win, not least thanks to a brace from
Chile could at least take some satisfaction
Alexis Sánchez. That was enough to clamber
as it would have been worse had it not been
into the all-important fourth place, given
for the outstanding Claudio Bravo in goal.
that the top four teams will qualify directly
But the reigning Copa América champions
for Russia 2018. There are still six games left
would not have been happy with a point in
though, so all is left to play for.
MOVES OUT OF TOP TEN NONE MATCHES PLAYED IN TOTAL 134 MOST MATCHES PLAYED LAOS (7 matches) BIGGEST MOVE BY POINTS ISRAEL (up 145 points)
a tricky World Cup qualifying campaign. That victory also lifted Chile into fourth place And then came a home match against
in another table too, one with 211 teams
Uruguay, a crucial game in the jostle at the
rather than ten, namely the FIFA/Coca-Cola
top of the South America round robin.
World Ranking, with La Roja earning
That much was made clear by Artur Vidal,
131 points and climbing two places as a
who picked up a knock versus Colombia
result. The only teams now ahead of Chile,
but said a couple of days later: “I will play
who have only ever been higher once before
against Uruguay. We desperately need
(in April and May 2016, when they were
the points.”
third) are three teams with multiple World
BIGGEST MOVE BY RANKS ARMENIA (up 38 ranks) BIGGEST DROP BY POINTS CHAD (down 155 points) BIGGEST DROP BY RANKS CHAD (down 49 ranks)
Getty Images
Cup titles to their names: Germany, Brazil Vidal didn’t make it through the game
and Argentina.
and was carried off the pitch on a stretcher shortly after half-time, much to Bayern
Alan Schweingruber
http://www.fifa.com/worldranking FIFA 1904 /
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THE BEST FIFA FOOTBALL AWARDSâ„¢ 2016
THE PINNACLE 8
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Football – at any level – would be nothing without the fans, and now, for the first time, the fans will be able to have their say in helping FIFA to name the best players and coaches of the year. And that’s not all, because the fans now also have their own award.
The Best – could there be a more apt description for the most outstanding players
By Perikles Monioudis (text) and André Sanchez (illustrations)
“We win as a team and we lose as a team” is something that is impressed upon
and coaches in world football? They are the best – or, to be even more precise, the best of the best. Over the past 12 months, they have all shown just what they are capable of, producing the goods at the very highest level time and time again. For some of them, their performances may have resulted in a domestic or international title, a cup, a trophy. For others who have been nominated for FIFA’s new highest award, they may not have won a title, but that should in no way detract from their performances for their club or national team. After all, football is and always will be a team sport.
every kid who starts to play the game. For what good is a dazzling dribble if it doesn’t lead to a goal? The simple answer is that it’s no good at all, not even for the player who embarked on the run.
THE LANGUAGE OF GOALS Any player’s individual success will always be indelibly linked to the team’s achievements and fortunes. Outstanding players can only ever reach their true potential if they strike a balance between using their personal talent and showing
Getty Images
a willingness to put a shift in for the team, to go the extra mile for their team-mates. But it lies in the very nature of the beautiful game that it is maybe easier for stars who play further up the pitch to catch the eye than it is for their team-mates further back, given that the defence’s main job is to stop goals rather than to FIFA 1904 /
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THE BEST FIFA FOOTBALL AWARDS™ 2016
16 score them, to deny opposition fans those moments of joy for which all fans long. That is not to say that their work is not respected and commended – just think of exponents of the art such as Andrea Pirlo, Sergio Ramos or Manuel Neuer. But then flair players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann also speak the language of goals, and that is a language that is particularly well understood the world over.
SUPERSTARS AND AMATEURS The best of the best will always show other players – regardless of whether they are playing at the highest or lowest level of the game, in the best
H
professional league or in the lowest amateur league – just what is possible in
THE BEST FIFA FOOTBALL AWARDS™
this game of ours if you marry talent with hard work. And while FIFA honours
The inaugural edition of the “The Best FIFA
football, the superstars who are household names, it also offers every single
Football Awards™” will be held in Zurich
one of its 211 member associations the help that they need in order to help
on 9 January 2017 and will honour the
themselves in a sustainable and long-term manner.
not only the best players in the world, the leading lights of international
outstanding performers of 2016. That is why in the current four-year period, FIFA has approved financial
)
The votes of the captains and head coaches
assistance of up to USD 5 million for each of its member associations. This
of national teams from all around the
will ensure that every association – regardless of its standing in the world of
world will account for 50% of the vote,
football – will have the chance for its coaches and players to one day be among
with the remaining 50% coming from the
the best. For football is about so much more than the superstars of the game.
results of the public vote (25%) as well as
It is about the millions upon millions of children, youngsters, and adult players,
from the votes from a selected group of
coaches and referees, and it is of course also about the millions upon millions
more than 200 media representatives (25%)
on-
representing the six confederations.
frica,
The new FIFA Fan Award will also see the fans honoured. A jury of football experts will compile a shortlist of memorable moments involving exemplary fans, and fans will then be able to choose their
of fans without whom football would lose so much of its power and ability al
AN AWARD FOR THE FANS sal, na,
digital platforms.
u-
nich,
without their loyalty, without their expertise – all of which often comes from their many, many years of following the game. Once it has hooked you, it will never let you go. To paraphrase a famous claim from Wayne Rooney – once a
It goes without saying that football simply could not do without its fans,
THE AWARDS:
especially this year when it comes to deciding who are the best in the world
• The Best FIFA Men’s Player 2016
of football right now.
FA
What would football be without the fans? Without their passion for the game,
fan, always a fan.
favourites by casting their votes on FIFA’s
pain)
to stir emotions.
• The Best FIFA Women’s Player 2016
m-
bia,
• The Best FIFA Men’s Coach 2016
• The Best FIFA Women’s Coach 2016
• The FIFA Puskás Award 2016
vid-
The fans can now have their say, and it is a significant one at that. This year, for the first-ever time, the fans’ votes will account for 25% of the overall votes for four awards (the best players in men’s and women’s football, plus the best coaches in the same two categories). This is a big deal for the fans, who will
• The FIFA Fan Award 2016
now be able to support their favourites at “The Best FIFA Football Awards™”.
• The FIFA Fair Play Award 2016
• FIFA FIFPro World11 Even better still, the fans will also be in the running for an award themselves at For the latest on The Best FIFA Football Awards™,
the ceremony in Zurich on 9 January 2017 because in yet another first, FIFA will
visit http://www.fifa.com/the-best-fifa-football-awards
present an award to an individual fan or a group of fans, regardless of the league in which their favourite club play, regardless of gender, and regardless
10
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of nationality. The jury for the FIFA Fan Award consists solely of fans from all over the world, who can cast their votes on FIFA.com for any of the three nominees shortlisted by a jury comprising Zvonimir Boban, Marta, Gabriel Batistuta and Switzerland coach Vladimir Petković.
THE CRITERIA But what exactly is a special fan moment, one that is worthy of an award? What criteria will the fans use for their 25% of the vote when they come to think about the best in the world of football? Every fan, each and every one of us, will have their own thoughts, their own moments that spring to mind. But one thing is for sure – no matter who eventually goes home with one of the coveted FIFA awards early next year, they will have well and truly earned it.
The best of the best will always show other players just what is possible in this game of ours if you marry talent with hard work.
“WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS” It’s been the same story every year since 2009 – the best player in the world plies his trade in Spain. It wasn’t always that way though as Italy once ruled the roost, and it was a certain Lothar Matthäus who led the way... By Alan Schweingruber
The year is 1991, a year that will forever be remembered for the passing of the inimitable Freddie Mercury and the great Miles Davis, but on the football pitch, there was a 30-year-old German who was head and shoulders above the rest – Lothar Matthäus, who that year became the first player to be named FIFA World Player of the Year. A year earlier, he had led West Germany to the World Cup title, and German fans were rather fond of singing “We Are the Champions”, a song penned – of course – by Freddie Mercury some 14 years earlier. But it wasn’t just the Germans singing it as the Italians also got in on the act because they almost regarded Matthäus as one of their own. Matthäus was playing for Internazionale at the time alongside his compatriots Jürgen Klinsmann and Andreas Brehme, and they regularly did battle with Diego Maradona’s SSC Napoli and the unforgettable Dutch trio of Ruud Gullit, Marco van Basten and Frank Rijkaard at AC Milan. And as hard as it may be for some of our younger readers to believe, there was no doubt that Italy was the place to play your football in the early ’90s, with Matthäus even going so far as to dub it “the footballing land of plenty”. FIFA 1904 /
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THE BEST FIFA FOOTBALL AWARDS™ 2016
ITALY’S HEYDAY Queen’s “We Are the Champions” was once named by a team of British scientific researchers as “the catchiest pop song of all time”, and in 1991 you would have been hard pushed to find a German who disagreed because they were the champions ... of the world. Matthäus himself had played a starring role in the European summer of 1990 in his adopted home country, even putting his red Peugeot cabrio at the disposal of the entire West German squad for the duration of the tournament. He would later say that his days in Italy from 1988 to 1992 were the best of his career, and you can easily believe it. These days, the lustre and appeal of Serie A has faded somewhat. The stars of the modern game tend to earn their corn elsewhere, and younger fans were not even around when Italy was the place to be. But then, once a year when the world’s leading players and coaches descend upon Zurich to collect their trophies, the old pictures see the light of day. There are shots of the fleet-footed Ronaldo, the legendary Brazilian striker who lifted the award three times and also donned the Internazionale jersey, and of 12
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Only once in 25 years has the World Player of the Year come from the English Premier League – and even then, it was that man Cristiano Ronaldo back in 2008.
Zinédine Zidane, also with three titles to his name and yet another who graced the Italian game in the black-and-white stripes of Juventus. The facts and figures also back up Matthäus’ description of Italy as the land of plenty: seven of the first ten FIFA World Players of the Year played in Serie A.
JUST ONE GERMAN WINNER More recently, most of the action has moved to Spain – and to Barcelona and Madrid in particular, where Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are still engaged in a captivating battle to be the best, trading blows left, right and centre with their exploits on the pitch. If the Portuguese maestro had not swapped his glory days at Manchester United under the watchful gaze of Sir Alex Ferguson for even more moments in the sun at Real, then maybe England wouldn’t have been consigned to the role of onlookers at the annual awards ceremony. But the facts bear it out – only once in 25 years has the World Player of the Year come from the English Premier League – and even then, it was that man Cristiano Ronaldo back in 2008. Still, the English league can at least say that over the years it has provided more winners than the German Bundesliga – who are still waiting for their first player to be crowned. But then, there is always Lothar...
THE STUFF OF DREAMS What would happen if the top players – men and women – all turned out for the same team? Our roving reporter pictures the scene. By Annette Braun
In her dream, the girl’s eyes are full of excitement and joy and in them is reflected the beam of the giant floodlights illuminating the packed arena. As at every match, there is not a spare seat to be found: indeed, even public training sessions are a sell-out and have to take place inside the stadium due to heavy demand. It is the first time the girl has attended a match involving her favourite team, who are currently warming up on the pitch. She doesn’t know where to look, there’s so much to see. The players caress the ball with FIFA 1904 /
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THE BEST FIFA FOOTBALL AWARDS™ 2016 their feet and pass it expertly among themselves. There is a carefree mood in the air. Her anticipation grows, and the game hasn’t even started yet. Her father promised to buy her a replica shirt for this special occasion, but with such an array of fabulous stars and glamorous-sounding names, she couldn’t make her mind up in the shop which one to buy – and also did not want to, somehow.
ALL-OUT ATTACK She loves the way the team plays, the fact that every player has an attacking mindset, even the goalkeeper. Granted, they may let one or two goals in, but thanks to the number of chances they create, they generally score more than the opposition. This can pose a slight problem for the TV companies, though: the match highlights are often so numerous that there is not enough time to fit them all into the programme. But for fans like her, there is nothing better. She glances at the starting line-up on the display board as the stadium announcer reads out the names. She wouldn’t like to swap places with the manager, who has to decide on the starting eleven and tell the other players that they are on the bench. Not an easy task when you have a squad brimming with talent – and raring to go. The whistle blows and the match begins. Although each member of the team is outstanding individually, they play as a unit, anticipating each other’s moves and reading the game as one. A feeling akin to walking on air envelops the girl again, so she leans back in her seat and enjoys the game. There are solo runs and crosses, and she notices how balls are played into the other team’s channels and how play is switched when needed. At times, the game is played at such a pace that her head spins and she wonders how the manager manages to avoid getting dizzy watching the video after the match.
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STAY FOCUSED! Yet she cannot take her eyes off the action and everything away from the pitch is just a blur. The ball is played out of defence to the wing back, who expertly controls it and zips down the touchline as far as the corner flag. He crosses to the far post without even lifting his head, as if he instinctively knows where his team-mate will be and that she’ll volley it under the bar and into the net, which she does with aplomb. Everyone celebrates wildly. From the corner of her eye, the girl sees a boy a couple of rows in front of her, his eyes glued to the pitch. He missed the goal by checking his mobile for a second. She has a little chuckle: you cannot switch off for a second, even if you’re sitting in the stands. When the referee blows for time, the girl looks at her watch in disbelief: the 90 minutes went by so quickly and yet when she thinks back to the highlights, they seem to have taken place in slow motion. She beams, and the boy in front of her also has a smile on his face. Luckily for him, he managed to catch the other goals, which made up for the one he missed. As the girl leaves the stadium, she has plenty of memories that she can look back on, and she also carries a souvenir in her hands in the form of the ball that she chose in the shop instead of a shirt – and she can’t wait to put it through its paces. She wakes up and rubs her eyes. Her hands and feet are tingling and she feels a warm glow inside. But as the day begins and reality sets in, she realises that although it was fantastic to imagine all of her heroes playing together in the same team, the competition as a whole would suffer in the long run. Where would the tension be then, the excitement? The all-star eleven would simply run out of teams to play.
As the girl leaves the stadium, she has plenty of memories that she can look back on. FIFA 1904 /
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VARs
AN EXTRA SET OF EYES FOR REFEREES The idea behind video assistant referees is to make the game fairer without diminishing the role played by referees – on the contrary, their authority should increase thanks to more accurate decisions being made. By Perikles Monioudis in Bari (text) and Jörn Kaspuhl (illustrations)
Night falls in the port of Bari in southern Italy, and orange-tinged clouds stretch out into the distance, lending the sky a golden glow. The San Nicola Stadium starts to fill up as the Azzurri prepare to take on a France team containing all of its star players. Between the outside broadcasting units in front of the side entrance to the stadium car park are two white containers, to which journalists and photographers are currently demanding entry, which has yet to be granted before this important friendly as the officials inside need to be able to concentrate fully on the matter in hand. That “matter” is the latest key 16
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It is a special event, and one that is set to go down in football history.
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VARs development in the beautiful game, video assistant referees (VARs). Together, The International Football Association Board (IFAB) and FIFA are trialling the first-ever use of VARs in an international match. It is a special event, and one that is set to go down in football history.
TECHNOLOGY HELPS Are there enough cameras in place? Will the man in the middle be able to communicate properly with the VARs in the FIFA container, who are surrounded by computers and monitors? And will the former top-class referees in the other container, Pierluigi Colina, Domenico Messina, Roberto Rosetti and FIFA Head of Refereeing Massimo Busacca, be able to follow the VAR experiment? Will the technology be up to the task? How will the players react if the referee stops play to get the view of the VAR? How many times will this happen, and how will the crowd react? So many questions, which are similar in their way to those posed when goal-line technology was introduced – and which were emphatically put to bed long ago. Fears that the game could be damaged by outside intervention have also proved groundless in the past, as football has continued to evolve – and improve – over the years, as innovations such as substitutes, penalty kicks and, in particular, the upgrading of linesmen to assistant referees with more tasks and increased powers can attest. All of these advances have taken the game forward: technology-wise, goal-line technology was an important change as it gave referees certainty, the ability to conclusively decide whether or not the ball had crossed the line. For certainty, read “authority”. A referee who can receive external assistance in a strictly regulated way is a better referee, and this increases the players’ trust in him or her. Such decisions are no longer controversial and thus do not affect games in the way they used to. Thanks to VARs, referees know what’s what. The question now is: what is a controversial decision? When can a referee resort to the VAR and when not? Conversely, when can the VAR alert the referee’s attention to a potentially controversial decision (by radio)?
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A referee who can receive external assistance in a strictly regulated way is a better referee.
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VARs Such scenarios are clearly outlined in the regulations. VARs can only assist the referee in four situations:
1. When a goal is scored and the VAR has spotted a possible infringement by a player in the build-up to the goal.
2. The VAR can verify whether or not the referee has made a serious error by deciding to award or not to award a penalty.
3. The VAR ensures that the referee has done everything correctly when showing a red or yellow card and has not missed either a foul that was worthy of a red card or violent conduct.
4. Finally, the VAR tells the referee if he or she has shown a card to the wrong player. Ideally, the VAR will only need a few seconds to appraise the situation. The Italy v. France match is now underway, and with four minutes gone, Djibril Sidibé fouls Italian midfielder Daniele De Rossi. Azzurri captain Giorgio Chiellini runs up to Dutch referee Björn Kuipers, demanding him to get the red card out. The highly experienced Kuipers receives immediate support from the two Dutch VARs in the white container, who tell him that a yellow will be enough here as the foul does not deserve a red. He keeps his finger on the earpiece to let the players know that the situation is being analysed, then produces the yellow card on the advice of the VARs. “The players accepted my decision immediately,” said Kuipers after the match.
A NEW CHAPTER IN FOOTBALL HISTORY Interrupting play for nine or ten seconds does not represent a big stoppage, and the VARs were only called into action once more during the entire match, for a penalty appeal. “After seven seconds, the VAR advised me not to give the penalty,” added Kuipers. “Here too, my decision was accepted without complaint. This trust from the players gave me a lot of confidence.” As well as making more informed decisions, therefore, referees who benefit from VARs grow in authority in the knowledge that every decision they make is correct and one that everyone can accept. The final whistle blows in Bari. Italy have succumbed to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of EURO 2016 finalists France. With nary a whiff of controversy caused by a wrong decision, the semi-live experiment can be judged a success. “We need to and we want to help and protect the referees,” says FIFA President Gianni Infantino. “Incidents where millions of fans witness a clear mistake in a game-changing situation but the refs can’t react will be strongly minimised in the future. We have opened a new chapter in football history.“ Missing from the trial in Bari was an opportunity for the referee to look at the monitor on the touchline and size up the situation then and there for himself. This would call for a further development of the technology and greater investment, which would not be a problem in countries such as the USA. However, the pioneers in terms of VARs are the Netherlands, the country that has the most experience in this area, including live tests – which have already been conducted in Major League Soccer in the USA. 20
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“The players accepted my decision immediately.” Björn Kuipers, referee
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VARs The Dutch Football Association (KNVB) has certainly amassed the most practical VAR experience worldwide. According to Mike van der Roest, who is in charge of the VAR experiments for the KNVB, it is crucial that the VAR and the referee completely understand each other: “For the VAR system to
“We don’t want to replace referees with technology.” Massimo Busacca
work, there has to be intensive training and strict rules for communication between VAR and referee, who has to be able to make a decision in ten to 20 seconds.” Lukas Brud of The IFAB is in full agreement: “Referee training is the key factor here.”
A LONG ROAD The path ahead is therefore relatively clear: the next steps in the VAR experiments consist of further tests – such as the match between Italy and world champions Germany in Milan on 15 November – and in training VARs, which should help to raise the application of the VAR technology to a higher level. “We don’t want to replace referees with technology,” says Massimo Busacca. Continuing with the “minimal intervention, maximum benefit” approach, the VAR trials will continue until 2018, when The IFAB will decide on the official introduction of VARs. The IFAB, which comprises representatives from the football associations of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales plus FIFA, decided in March 2016 to assess the possibility of introducing VARs and will make a definitive decision in 2018 or 2019 after consulting widely with the football family. “Football sometimes seems to be stuck in the Middle Ages,” says former
THE SECOND SEMI-LIVE TEST
world-class player and current Deputy Secretary General Zvonimir Boban.
On 15 November 2016, the Azzurri
“We are often scared of new things in our sport, but after a while we see
hosted world champions Germany in
the positive effects of innovation and we start to appreciate them. It should
a friendly at Milan’s San Siro stadium.
be no different with VARs.”
The match, which finished 0-0, was the second semi-live test using video assistant referees (VARs). Portuguese referee Artur Soares Dias called upon the VARs to confirm three decisions: a disallowed goal for Germany for offside and two incidents involving rejected penalty appeals, one for each of the teams. All three decisions were adjudged as correct. Marco van Basten, FIFA’s Chief Technical Development Officer, declared himself satisfied after the match: “Slowly but surely, we’re getting there. The idea is to make matches more accurate and honest, and all the signs are there that VARs will make this happen.” F04
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HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2016 – A KEY YEAR FOR FIFA 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016
2016
2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016
“Football has come back to FIFA and FIFA has come back to football.” Gianni Infantino Extraordinary FIFA Congress in Zurich on 26 February: Gianni Infantino is elected as FIFA President The FIFA Congress approves far-reaching reforms and their incorporation in the FIFA Statutes, taking FIFA a further step towards good governance and FIFA is committed to ensuring that the game is on a safe and permanent footing, operating in all governance, transparency and zero tolerance towards any misconduct. It also demands that its member associations meet high standards in this respect. 24
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its dealings according to the principles of good
Richard Heathcote / Getty Images
transparency. As world football’s governing body,
Involving all stakeholders In March, FIFA created a dedicated department for professional football. “Our department will oversee FIFA’s club licensing and the club benefits programmes as well as professional football matters that require FIFA’s authorisation – an example would be applications for closed leagues or regional leagues. We will also be involved in the management of professional football services, reports and research projects,” said department head James Johnson. These objectives are enshrined in the reforms approved by the FIFA Congress on 26 February 2016.
“If women win, men win.” Billie Jean King More than 40 years ago, Billie Jean King was a pioneer for equal
FIFA focuses on human rights
prize money in tennis, and today, she encourages women
“FIFA is committed to playing its part in ensuring respect for
around the world to use their talents and build careers. At the
human rights and to being a leader among international sports
FIFA Women’s Football and Leadership Conference in Zurich on
organisations in this important area,” said President Infantino
7 March, she was one of the keynote speakers. Brigitte
on 14 April. “We have therefore asked human rights expert and
Henriques, General Secretary of the French FA, said: “You can’t
Harvard Kennedy School Professor John Ruggie to provide
change the way people think overnight, as not everyone is ready
recommendations for embedding respect for human rights in
to take that step at the same time. That’s why we need to use
all of our policies and practices.”
our powers of persuasion every day to convince people that sexual equality is the right solution for every organisation.”
2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016
Big and bigger At the New York showdown of the FIFA Interactive World Cup 2016 from 20 to 22 March, 32 players battled it out on the EA SPORTS™
foto-net, Alexander Hassenstein / FIFA via Getty Images
FIFA 16 game for the coveted title of FIFA Interactive World Player.
An oversight body for
The event, which attracted significant media attention,
workers’ welfare
was won by Mohamad Al-Bacha.
On 22 April, at the conclusion of his two-day visit to Qatar, President Infantino announced the creation of an oversight body containing independent members whose task would be to monitor the arrangements in place to ensure fair working conditions on the construction sites of FIFA World Cup™ stadiums.
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HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2016 – A KEY YEAR FOR FIFA “We can go much further than where we are now at FIFA in terms of changing the world and making it a better place to live.” Fatma Samoura FIFA’s new Secretary General wants to place football at the heart of the fight against exclusion, discrimination and poverty. On 13 May, ahead of the 66th FIFA Congress, Fatma Samba Diouf Samoura from Senegal was appointed FIFA Secretary General by the FIFA Council.
Olympic-standard football Youth football of the highest quality The 78th edition of the Blue Stars/FIFA Youth
The Men’s Olympic Football Tournament in Rio from 3 to 20 August will live long in the memory, not least thanks to Neymar’s blistering
Cup on 4 and 5 May brought high-calibre youth football to Zurich, where FIFA’s
performances. The talismanic Brazilian’s slender shoulders refused to buckle under the weight of a nation’s
headquarters are located. Under a clear blue sky, local team Grasshoppers went home with the trophy.
expectations as he helped to bring home the gold medal for the hosts. Germany won silver and Nigeria bronze. Germany won gold for the first time in the six-edition history of the women’s tournament, the silver and bronze medals going to Sweden and Canada respectively. Both tournaments were staged by FIFA.
2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016
FIFA Congress drives football forward With the announcement of a complete overhaul of football development, the appointment of new FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura, progress on the implementation of the reforms, and the launch of the FIFA Legends initiative, the 66th FIFA Congress in Mexico on 12 and 13 May ushered in a new era for FIFA and
for football development in each of FIFA’s member associations and the six confederations.
revision of FIFA’s football development programmes that provides 360-degree, tailor-made support
Philipp Schmidli / FIFA via Getty Images, Elisabeth Real / FIFA, Laurence Griffiths / Getty Images, Simon Bruty / FIFA
global football. Backing up his election pledge, President Infantino presented “FIFA Forward”, a comprehensive
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Live experiments using video assistant referees During a friendly match between Italy and France in Bari on 1 September, FIFA made its first successful, albeit low-key, live experiment using video assistant referees (VARs). “With video assistant referees, we’re helping referees and protecting the game,” said President Infantino. “We have
Argentina crowned world futsal champions for the first time The Futsal World Cup in Colombia from 10 September opened a new chapter in football history. After this very positive experience, we will see where the VAR tests lead us.
to 1 October failed to produce a rematch of the thrilling 2012 quarter-final between Argentina and Brazil, mainly because
We need more tests, which is why they will continue until
the latter were beaten by a strong Iran side in this year’s
2018.” The International Football Association Board (IFAB)
quarter-finals. Argentina, meanwhile, made it all the way to the final and played superbly as they saw off Russia 5-4
will then make a decision on VARs.
to claim the title for the first time.
Paolo Bruno / FIFA via Getty Images, Jan Kruger / FIFA via Getty Images, HO
2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016
UNFCCC and FIFA
FIFA 2.0: a vision for the future
join forces
of football
At the beginning
On 13 and 14 October, the FIFA
of September, FIFA
Council met for the second time
became the first
in its new form at the Home
international sports
of FIFA in Zurich and discussed
organisation to join
a number of issues, including
the Climate Neutral
the bidding procedure for the 2026 FIFA World Cup™, women’s
Now initiative launched by the United Nations Framework
competitions, The Best FIFA Football Awards 2016 and the
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). “Each one of us,
location of the 67th FIFA Congress. As evidence of this new
as well as every organisation, has to take responsibility for
determination and to pave the way for concrete, forward-looking
the world we live in and lead by example. Climate change
measures, President Infantino presented FIFA 2.0: The Vision
is one of the most pressing issues of our time, and we are
for the Future, an action plan that sets out FIFA’s future direction.
proud to commit to this cause. Beyond this pledge and
He said that for the first time in its history, FIFA was setting out
through the power of football, we also aim to inspire greater
a strategic approach aiming to grow the game, enhance the
awareness and best practices in sustainability standards,”
football experience for fans and players, and build a stronger
said FIFA Secretary General Samoura.
institution.
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FIFA PARTNER
A new era begins As the curtain came down on the U-17 Women’s World Cup in Jordan on 21 October, it was a significant moment for the women’s game and for women in general, the foundations having been laid for the development of women’s football in the region. The training pitches and stadiums in Jordan meet FIFA’s highest standards and are also wheelchair-friendly. Children’s football centres and FIFA Live Your Goals festivals across the country are inspiring girls to take up the game and creating new opportunities for them. In addition to social programmes – such as the presence of 300 migrant children among the 14,000-strong crowd at the opening ceremony – FIFA courses were held for female referees and coaches from the region.
Russia 2018 and the fun-loving wolf
A warm welcome in Papua New Guinea
On 21 October, the Russian public
Fifteen teams travelled from the four corners of the world to
chose a wolf who radiates fun, charm
join hosts Papua New Guinea in contesting the FIFA U-20 Women’s
and confidence as their mascot for
World Cup from 13 November to 3 December.
the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™.
The 315 women experienced warm hospitality wherever they
Its name is Zabivaka™, which means
went – and a quality tournament!
“the one who scores” in Russian. 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016
Boris Streubel / FIFA via Getty Images, Matthew Lewis / FIFA via Getty Images, FIFA
FIFA’s Women’s Football Division New Zealander Sarai Bareman was appointed head of the new FIFA Women’s Football Division, which reports directly to the Deputy Secretary General (Football), Zvonimir Boban. She is also a member of the management board. Bareman, who took up her post
World’s best clubs slug it out in Japan The 13th edition of the FIFA Club World Cup is being held from 8 to 18 December in Yokohama
on 14 November, was the only woman
and Osaka, Japan, and will feature
on the 2016 FIFA Reform Committee,
eight matches. Reigning champions
where she was a strong advocate for
Barcelona have failed to qualify
change, in particular calling for concrete
for this year’s tournament, their
requirements on women in leadership positions at FIFA. These came into force following unanimous approval at
place having been taken by 2016 UEFA Champions League winners Real Madrid.
the Extraordinary FIFA Congress in February 2016. FIFA 1904 /
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SNAPSHOT
Spirit of togetherness Iran player Zahra Ghanbari takes a selfie with her team-mates before the match with Sweden at the Ullevi stadium in Gothenburg (7-0 to Sweden; 21 October 2016). 30
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Mathias Bergeld / Bildbyran FIFA 1904 /
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FIFA FAN FOCUS GROUP
FIFA fan culture Allison Cary from the USA travelled to Zurich to take part in the Fan Focus Group.
“I MET INCREDIBLE PEOPLE” A testimonial from the FIFA Fan Focus Group (FFG) event in Zurich by Allison, a participant from the USA. Allison Cary
A few months ago, FIFA released a survey
of the official event, during a tour of the
amazed me more. We started the morning
and asked fans to give feedback on how the
FIFA Museum. As we all introduced our-
talking about FIFA’s mission, and we had
organisation could improve their relations
selves, I started talking to one man about
a Q&A with the new Secretary General
with fans. Over 26,000 people responded.
my job at Orlando City SC. One of the
Fatma Samoura. We were split into groups
Fifty of them were chosen to fly out to the
women from Australia overheard us. “Did I
that afternoon, so that we could discuss
Home of FIFA in Zurich, Switzerland, and
hear you guys talking about Orlando?” she
specific topics regarding the future of FIFA.
take part in a two-day Fan Focus Group.
asked. She was an Orlando Pride fan – with
I was put into the women’s soccer group,
I was one of those 50 people.
all of the Australians represented on our
where we shared ideas about how the
team, we were a natural choice for her
game could be grown and talked about
It’s hard to put into words how incredible
favourite National Women’s Soccer League
solutions to current problems facing the
an experience it was. When I received the
squad. We immediately became friends.
women’s game.
e-mail saying that I had been chosen to travel to Zurich, I had to restrain myself
Of course, as a staff member of the Orlando
GOOD DISCUSSIONS
from screaming. I called my mother and
Pride, it was only natural that I was then
Again, the Orlando Pride connection came
we were both close to tears – we were
adopted by the Australian contingency.
into play as a woman from India spoke
bursting with excitement. Two weeks later,
That night at the hotel I had dinner with
about her own experiences as a fan and
I got on a plane to Switzerland. And when
people from places as diverse as Australia,
player in her country, and how Alex Morgan
I returned to the United States three days
Egypt, Canada and South Africa. That was
and the rest of the US women’s national
later, my life was changed forever.
only a taste of what was to come.
team had served as an inspiration for her.
BECOMING FRIENDS
When I got off the bus at the Home of
called it a day and went to dinner together.
We were 50 fans representing 24 different
FIFA, I was speechless. And the events that
When we left, I was just as speechless as
countries. Some of us met before the start
were lined up for the rest of the day only
the moment I walked in.
32
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HO
After each group had shared their ideas, we
foto-net.ch (2)
Getting down to work Allison (centre, in a blue top) shares her views in the women’s football group.
All smiles Fifty fans from around the world came to the Home of FIFA for the first focus group.
FIFA 1904 /
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© 2016 adidas AG
The second day we focused on the fan experience. We talked about the future of the World Cup, and talked about potential developments in the realm of social media and online forums that could help to connect soccer fans. At lunch, we met the Dutch and AC Milan legend Marco van Basten. We then kept on working through the afternoon.
“This event is a testament to the power of soccer to bring people together.”
A special visitor FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura (right) is herself a football fan.
To say it was an amazing experience doesn’t do it justice. And yet, since coming back I’ve struggled to find the words to explain it. And what seems to have impacted me the most was not the incredible speakers or the grandeur of the event itself – it was the people that I met. It was playing soccer on the pitch next to the Home of FIFA during our lunch break, and the conversations about our favourite players and teams that went long into the night. Fifty people from 24 different countries, and yet over those 48 hours we became a family. This
Lunchtime kickabout The fans making the most of the football pitch outside the Home of FIFA.
time last week, I didn’t know them. Now,
ABOUT THE FFG
I have 50 lifelong friends.
Following up on last year’s pilot Fan Forum project, FIFA has slightly adjusted the objectives and renamed it the Fan Focus Group. Fifty fans were selected
This event is a testament to the power of
to be part of the Fan Focus Group event in Zurich in order to discuss a number
soccer, and sports as a whole, to bring
of football-related topics, share their views and generate fan insights for FIFA.
people together. Despite many political,
THE KEY OBJECTIVES OF THE FAN FOCUS GROUP ARE:
became friends with everyone I met on that
• Generate insights – reach a selection of global fans and gain insights from
common love and passion: soccer.
their contribution. • Co-creation – extract relevant challenges from FIFA projects and invite
trip. Because we are all united by one
religious and linguistic differences, I instantly
candidates to share their views on the latter.
• Positioning – establish the initiative as an insight/focus group platform and an opportunity to see FIFA from within.
• Dialogue – improve FIFA’s relationship with football fans through the implementation of an open and insightful dialogue. foto-net.ch (2)
The 50 fans were recruited through an online fan survey which was live from 22 August to 5 September 2016. The event took place on 27 and Allison Cary is a soccer fan and works as a content writer with Orlando Pride/Orlando City Soccer Club.
28 October 2016 at the Home of FIFA in Zurich. F04 FIFA 1904 /
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SOCIAL MEDIA FIFA 1904 ASKED ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER Who will be the winners at The Best FIFA Football Awards™ 2016?
“I CHOOSE GRIEZMANN. HE HAS GREAT MERIT BECAUSE HE PLAYS FOR ATLÉTICO MADRID, A MORE DEFENSIVE AND TOUGH CLUB. IF HE PLAYED FOR REAL MADRID OR BARCELONA, HE WOULD EASILY SCORE 50 OR 60 GOALS A SEASON.” Alain Frigon (Canada) on Facebook
“I’M A REAL MADRID FAN, BUT CLAUDIO RANIERI HAS DONE GREAT THINGS WITH A TEAM THAT WE DIDN’T EXPECT.” Ibi Bouba (Cameroon) on Facebook
“MELANIE BEHRINGER FOR ME, GREAT FOR CLUB AND COUNTRY, AND SHE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN GERMANY GETTING GOLD IN RIO.” Leanne Brown (England) on Twitter
“I WOULD SAY SINCLAIR OR MARTA. BOTH HAVE HAD A PERFECT YEAR WITH THEIR TEAMS, IN TERMS OF RESULTS, EFFECTIVENESS, GOALS, TIME PLAYED.” Janet Quintana (USA) on Twitter
“CLAUDIO RANIERI DID THE IMPOSSIBLE BUT I THINK FERNANDO SANTOS DESERVES THIS BECAUSE HE DEFEATED A BETTER, FAR STRONGER SIDE, FRANCE, WITH A TEAM LIKE PORTUGAL.” Ali Waris (India) on Facebook
FIFA 1904 /
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FIRST LOVE PLACE Johannesburg, South Africa DATE 4 July 2013 TIME 15.21 PHOTOGRAPHER Muhammed Muheisen
AP Photo 38
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FIFA 1904 /
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Lars Lagerbäck, 68 Fresh from making history with Iceland. 40
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Viktor Flumé
THE INTERVIEW
“YOU CAN’T SET THE BAR TOO HIGH” Lars Lagerbäck did what no Iceland coach had ever done before – he led them to a European Championship ... and then promptly reached the quarter-finals. The Swedish coach is now enjoying some time out of the game. So when will he be back for his next coup? By Alan Schweingruber
How are you, Lars? Lars Lagerbäck: I’m well, thank you. I’m relaxing in Stockholm. It has been an eventful year. Your success at EURO 2016 has certainly had an effect on Iceland. Tourism is booming like never before, and there has been a rapprochement in politics and business following the financial crisis. Our matches really did have a huge effect. I don’t want to take all the credit for that. We all did some good work. When I think back to the tournament in France, I remember the amazing football, but all the emotions start flooding back too. The feeling of making an entire nation happy is intense. It is overwhelming when someone talks to me about the European summer of 2016.
When did you first realise the potential of that Iceland team? I knew from the very start that I had a good core group of players. I also knew that it was a project that needed time. But we soon started to enjoy little successes. The manner in which you go about building something is important. You can’t set the bar too high. Iceland is a very small country with just over 300,000 people. Are you a strict coach? I think so, yes. But that doesn’t mean that it is all about rules, rules and more rules when we get together. Quite the opposite in fact, as I am a firm believer in players needing to have a certain amount of self-discipline too. But I of course have expectations and I make myself clear. FIFA 1904 /
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THE INTERVIEW How did you go about starting the Iceland project back in 2011? We had to change quite a lot. If you were to go and ask an Iceland player today what he thinks about our training sessions, he would probably choose his words very carefully. But there were things that simply had to be done. Runs, set pieces, tackling, tactics – we had to work and work on everything so that it became second nature to them. There’s no other way to do it. I don’t like to use the word ‘brainwashing’ because it sounds so dramatic but it was a little bit like that. Let’s say it was positive brainwashing! Looking back on it now, it was a fun time for everyone because we didn’t have to wait long for success. In our 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign, for example, we conceded 14 goals in ten games. Two years later, we only conceded six goals in ten games in qualifying for EURO 2016. Even the Czech Republic, who topped our group, conceded more. It was a massive improvement. And it also gave us more motivation for the tournament in France.
How would you describe a typical Icelander? You can tell that the country has always had to organise itself. That certainly shapes the people’s mentality. There are rules for everything in Iceland, there are no grey areas. You have to remember that the Icelanders live in isolation. They have no neighbouring countries so they are reliant upon themselves. The people are down to earth and reliable. You don’t have to ask someone to do something three times before it is done. 42
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NAME Lars Lagerbäck BORN 16 July 1948 in Katrineholm CAREER AS A PLAYER Gimonäs CK, Alby FF CAREER AS A COACH Kilafors IF, Arbrå BK, Hudiksvalls ABK, Sweden (including youth and B teams), Nigeria, Iceland
Viktor Flumé
“You can tell that the country has always had to organise itself. That certainly shapes the people’s mentality. There are rules for everything in Iceland, there are no grey areas.”
“It has become very difficult to be a successful football coach. There are enormous external influences. If a coach does not stay true to his beliefs, you can quickly forget it.”
Why have you stepped down? You could have taken the team to the World Cup in Russia. When I extended my contract in 2014, the plan was always to step down two years later. At the same time, my assistant Heimir Hallgrímsson extended his contract for a further four years and we became joint managers. Now Heimir is carrying on without me. That was always the plan. Hallgrímsson recently admitted in a newspaper interview that he misses you. Comments like that are flattering. But I know that he has all the qualities needed to be a success. I also have to admit that I was longing for a little bit of peace and quiet. I will be 69 next year, and all of the travelling was making me tired. I live in Stockholm, but I was spending days or weeks at a time in Reykjavik or somewhere else. So I am now enjoying my time at home with my family and friends. I often take myself off to my quiet cabin in the woods, some 400km from Stockholm. Do you still play chess? Yes. But I didn’t have the time for that before either. Now I do, but I’ll have to find the right opponent first (laughs). How important are tactics in football? It has become very difficult to be a successful football coach. There are enormous external influences. If a coach does not stay true to his beliefs, you can quickly forget it. You need
to have a clear strategy and stick to it. You have to have a strong personality. Tactics are also important, but the coach needs to work out which tactics he can actually use and with which players. Before your time in Iceland, you were coach of Nigeria. How was that? The two countries are obviously completely different. I have fond memories of my time in Nigeria, even though I was only there for a few months and we were knocked out of the 2010 World Cup early on. There is so much potential in African football. They just need to improve the structures for the longer term if they want to win a major international title one day.
You also made life difficult for the Dutch when you were coach of Iceland. Will history repeat itself? We’ll see. Sweden has just had a changing of the guard. Now, for the first time in many years, players such as Zlatan Ibrahimović and Kim Källström are no longer there. But the team is strong. After all, our U-21 team won the European Championship in 2015.
You are often linked to managerial vacancies. Are your management days over now? No. I don’t want to close any doors. But I am enjoying these more laid-back days. I was a coach for 40 years, virtually non-stop. It does you good to take a step back and relax. I am also helping the new Sweden coach, Jan Andersson, in an advisory capacity, and we plan the team’s training camps together. Is World Cup qualification a realistic target for Sweden? France are in the same group and it will be hard to dislodge them from the top. The Netherlands, however, are currently rebuilding, just as Sweden are. I think that we have a realistic chance of finishing second. FIFA 1904 /
43
THEN
1950 LONDON, ENGLAND
Haywood Magee / Picture Post / Getty Images
Children enjoy a kickabout on an empty street.
44
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NOW
2015 HAVANA, CUBA
Lucas Vallecillos / Redux / laif
Street football is still popular with kids.
FIFA 1904 /
45
DEBATE
Working together for the long term President Gianni Infantino welcomes participants to the first FIFA Executive Football Summit in Paris.
NEW PLATFORM FOR MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS really come from those who have to
The inaugural meeting in Paris brought
one of the key initiatives introduced as
engage with and organise football in their
together top executives from French
part of the FIFA reforms, in Paris on 22
countries every day, and that is why it is
speaking countries across Africa, Europe,
and 23 November. The series of summits
important that we use their feedback and
the Caribbean and Oceania showcasing a
will bring together member association
input to develop our programmes,” said
wide range of experiences.
presidents and general secretaries to
FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
discuss strategic matters and provide a
-
FIFA held its first Executive Football Summit,
“We’ve enjoyed a familiar atmosphere, a football loving atmosphere, with deep
exchange of know how.
tatives of around 20 member associations
discussions at the same time,” said the
and is divided into two half day workshop
President of the Haiti Football Association,
“It is important that in future the decisions
sessions, conducted in an informal setting
Yves Jean Bart. “I’ve heard comments
at FIFA are not dictated from the top but
to allow open and constructive dialogue.
from African colleagues that have shown
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Getty Images
-
-
46
-
Each summit brings together the represen
-
platform for discussion, debate and an
PRESIDENT´S MESSAGE me that the world of football is the same everywhere and we all face the same issues. I think we should get to know each other better, understand each other better, appreciate each other more and probably develop joint actions.” The main topic on the agenda of the Paris summit was FIFA’s revamped development programme, Forward, which raised great
A FIFA THAT LISTENS
interest and many questions among the member associations. “Today, we can see that the Forward Programme will
Moving forward also means moving closer together. A transparent and open FIFA
allow improvements to be made in the
has to be a FIFA that knows how to listen and that takes into account the concerns
governance and management of national
of all of its partners. That is the idea behind the Executive Summits, the first of
associations. Through Forward we can
which took place in Paris in November, to be followed by two more in Singapore in
review the whole administrative structure
early December. These first three summits will be followed by eight more – two in
of an association,” said President of the
Miami in January 2017, two in Doha and two in Addis Ababa in February 2017, and
Democratic Republic of Congo FA and FIFA
the last two in London in March 2017.
Council member Constant Omari. FIFA has no wish to simply impose decisions from above, and these types of meetings “It gives us the opportunity to give and
with the members provide a way of involving them and also enriching FIFA’s under-
receive feedback about projects and
standing of their needs. The summits provide a platform for exchange and debate,
programmes. We receive clarification and
an opportunity for member associations to express their expectations of FIFA
can better understand some topics that we
and its administration, and for associations to share their particular experiences and
often find unclear,” explained Jean-Bart.
know-how so that they can learn from and help one another.
“The programmes presented by FIFA are
These summits create a link that I am sure will only get stronger and stronger through
very interesting, extremely positive,” added
the subject that unites us: the development of football. The first workshops, held in a
the President of the French Football Asso-
warm and convivial atmosphere, showed the football family’s capacity to explore
ciation, Noël Le Graet. “I think that, in a
profound questions, some of which are sensitive and doubtless complex, but all with a
short time frame, FIFA has done a great
common objective – to get more and more people all over the world playing football.
deal of work. I see that FIFA has a sharing nature and I like that. All of the smaller, less
The players are, after all, the heartbeat of our sport and will be duly celebrated in
privileged associations really need FIFA.”
style at the start of the new year when the first edition of FIFA’s new awards, “The Best”, will be held in Zurich on 9 January. For the first time ever, not only captains,
The 11 FIFA Executive Football Summits
coaches and journalists will vote, but also the fans will have their say on who should
will be held in six venues around the world
be crowned the best players (male and female) and the best coaches in women’s
between November 2016 and March 2017.
and men’s football. Another demonstration that FIFA’s determination to listen and
Following the launch in Paris, two summits
get closer to its stakeholders is not just a sound bite.
Lukas Mäder / 13 Photo
will take place in Singapore (6-8 December), two in Miami (17-18 January), two in Doha
It remains only for me to wish you all a wonderful year ahead in 2017, one that is
(14-16 February), two in Addis Ababa
full of joy and, above all, football.
(21-23 February) and two in London (7-9 March). Key findings from the discussions
Best wishes, Gianni Infantino
will then be fed back to the relevant decision-making bodies within FIFA.
FIFA 1904 /
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WOMEN’S FOOTBALL
In the spotlight Korea Republic warm up for their group match against Germany.
ONE TOURNAMENT, MANY OPPORTUNITIES the pitch and singing the national anthem. It is the crowning moment of their career to date, the icing on the cake – and a just reward for all of the effort and sacrifices they have made down the years. Winning trophies with the club is all very well, but until success is achieved with the national
By Annette Braun
Fifteen teams made the trip to Papua New Guinea to join the hosts on the international stage in a bid to triumph at the U-20 Women’s World Cup – each with their own expectations and with every player acutely aware of the perfect opportunity that the tournament presents to compete against the world’s best and make the transition to the adult game.
team, a player’s career is somehow incomplete. Such ambitions start, of course, at
FOLLOWING IN FORMIDABLE FOOTSTEPS
youth level.
The list of Golden Ball winners at this
48
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national team shirt, running out onto
The FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Papua New Guinea was all about high-quality football, developing the game and promoting a healthy life free of violence.
Matthew Lewis /FIFA via Getty Images
Every footballer dreams of pulling on the
tournament down the years contains some big names, among them Christine Sinclair (2002), Marta (2004) and Dzsenifer Marozsán (2012) – all of whom went on to become legendary players as professionals. Sinclair fired in ten goals in 2002 to claim the Golden Boot award and even appeared on a Canadian stamp in the run-up to the 2015 World Cup in her home country, where she scored the only goal of the game in injury time of Canada’s opening match. Marta has been voted the FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year five times. She also has the distinction of being the only woman to date who has been asked to have her footprints preserved at the Maracanã stadium in Rio de Janeiro, alongside those of greats from the men’s game in Brazil like Garrincha and Pelé. And Marozsán, who helped Germany reach the final of the U-20 Women’s World Cup
Unbridled joy Goalscorer Nicollete Ageva (right) and Bellinda Giada celebrate Papua New Guinea’s first-ever goal at a FIFA tournament.
in 2012, was the driving force behind her team’s triumph at the Olympics four years
employment opportunities. By improving
The World Cup gave them an opportunity
later, wearing the captain’s armband to
their chances on the job market, the
to show what they were made of and
boot.
programme is intended to bring some
gain some valuable experience. At the
stability to their lives and thus both alleviate
matches, they didn’t have to look far for
poverty and reduce crime in the country.
inspiration as to what is possible when you
Great players all, and they serve as role models for those who took to the pitch in Papua New Guinea.
A PROJECT WITH PROSPECTS The players were also an inspiration to a vital group of people who helped make the tournament run smoothly: the volunteers, who took care of the teams, the organisation inside the stadiums and
Maddie Meyer /FIFA via Getty Images (2)
the fans’ well-being. Like the women on the pitch, these 950 young people were ready and willing to embrace the opportunity that had come their way. They all came from the state-sponsored Urban Youth Employment Project (UYEP), an initiative that aims to provide unemployed people aged 16 to 35 with new
Powerful message USA players Courtney Petersen (left) and Kelcie Hedge show their support for the “ENDviolence” campaign. FIFA 1904 /
49
work hard. An example was the goal scored by forward Nicollete Ageva, Papua New Guinea’s first at a FIFA World Cup and a moment of unbelievable emotion. No matter that the host nation went on to lose the match 7-1 to former champions Korea DPR: Ageva’s strike set off a wave of elation in the stadium.
“FOR A HEALTHY AND SAFE CITY” For FIFA, it was also an opportunity not only to organise a top-quality tournament but also to leave a lasting legacy off the pitch once the final whistle had blown. “My wish is for a healthy and safe city,” said Powes Parkop, governor of the capital city Port Moresby, echoing this objective. To this end, FIFA, together with its partners – the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC), UNICEF, UN Women, the UYEP, the Australian High Commission and the US embassy in Port Moresby – focused on activities that promoted respect, mutual understanding and tolerance as well as
Hand in hand England player Alex Scott joins in the Walk for Life initiative in Port Moresby.
spreading awareness of the fight against gender prejudice and discrimination. shone at the tournament, the volunteers
THE FIFA U-20 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP 2016
One example of such activities took place
with their new prospects and the country
in Port Moresby every Sunday at five in
itself had all gained from the event, thus
the morning, when the capital was trans-
demonstrating once again how football
Qualification for Papua New Guinea
formed into a sea of red – but not from
can be a force for good.
was achieved in 2015 via tournaments
the rising sun. Red is the colour of love
in the various confederations, with the
and warmth, but also of danger. It attracts
following 15 teams joining the hosts:
attention, which is the very reason why
Ghana and Nigeria (CAF), Japan, Korea
hundreds of people gathered at daybreak
DPR and Korea Republic (AFC), France,
to spread awareness of a certain cause.
Germany, Spain and Sweden (UEFA),
That cause was the Walk for Life health
Canada, Mexico and the USA
initiative, which was launched to coincide
(CONCACAF), New Zealand (OFC), and
with the U-20 Women’s World Cup and
Brazil and Venezuela (CONMEBOL).
and old alike. All participants wore red
The tournament, which takes place every
shirts as they promoted a healthy lifestyle
two years, was held from 13 November
and demanded an end to the widespread
to 3 December.
violence against women in the country.
Maddie Meyer /FIFA via Getty Images
attracted scores of local residents, young
When the referee blew for time in the final, there was certainly more than one winner: the talented young players who
For all of the results and match reports plus an array of photos, see http://tinyurl.com/66wbum. FIFA 1904 /
51
PHOTO ARCHIVE
Trapped in Antarctic pack ice Polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton managed to keep his Endurance crew together – not least thanks to the odd 52
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game of football (1915).
FIFA 1904 /
53
Frank Hurley / Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge / Getty Images
HISTORY What do Bert Patenaude and Xherdan Shaqiri have in common? At first glance, not a lot. One grew up in the USA, the other in Switzerland. One took to the pitch in the 1920s and 30s, the other is playing now. Bert Patenaude died almost 20 years before Xherdan Shaqiri was born in 1991. Two continents, several generations, different times and circumstances. Yet both have been part of a very special World Cup moment – one that connects the two. In 2014, Shaqiri fired Switzerland into the round of 16 at Brazil 2014, scoring all three goals in the Swiss’ 3-0 victory over Honduras. A long-range shot into the top corner and two finishes after some slick passing moves made for a great hat-trick, which also just happened to be the 50th in World Cup history.
Pioneer Bert Patenaude (right), pictured here in a tussle for the ball with Belgium’s Nicolas Hoydonckx, scored the first-ever World Cup hat-trick in Uruguay in 1930
By Annette Braun 54
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factories. Workers came from far away in Europe to work in the textile industry and among them were Portuguese and Italians, who, alongside their labour, also brought a football culture with them. Patenaude soaked it all up and made it his career. He played for clubs including Philadelphia Field
20th century, was best known for its cotton
of Massachusetts which, at the start of the
grew up in Fall River, a city in the US state
A hat-trick is something special for any footballer – especially if it comes at the World Cup.
illustrious list that Shaqiri joined in 2014. He Popperfoto / Getty Images, Darryl Dyck / Keystone
THREE GOALS FOR ETERNITY
Bert Patenaude stands at the start of the
Club and Fall River Marksmen in his career,
21 June 1994 in a 4-0 win against Greece
THE ORIGIN OF THE TERM
which lasted around ten years. In the
and then on 21 June 1998 in a 5-0 triumph
Why is a hat-trick actually called a
summer of 1930, national coach Robert
over Jamaica.
hat-trick? The term can allegedly be traced back to an event in cricket.
Millar called him up for the first FIFA World Cup™ in Uruguay, where Patenaude got
England’s Geoff Hurst was the first and to
Back in 1858, Englishman Heathfield
himself on the scoresheet four times. Three
date the only player to score three times in
Harman Stephenson became the first
of his four goals came in a single match – a
a World Cup final – against West Germany
player to take three wickets in three
group game against Paraguay – and it was
in 1966. His hat-trick also included the
balls. To honour the feat (or “trick”),
the first hat-trick in World Cup history.
legendary “Wembley goal”, which came in
he was given a hat – and so the
the 101st minute of the match that finished
hat-trick was born. Since then,
RECORD BREAKING
4-2 and is still the subject of discussion
the term can be found in several
Records are always at risk of being broken.
today.
other sports, such as football and ice hockey.
dredths of a second. In football, it is about
ALL IN THE HEAD
the number of goals or games. Such
Meanwhile, all-time leading World Cup
masterpieces live in the moment. How long
goalscorer Miroslav Klose (16 goals) did it
do they last for? To answer that question,
using his head, scoring three headers in
you would have to be able to consult the
Germany’s 8-0 win over Saudi Arabia
football almanacs of the future. Yet there
in 2002, a feat matched only by Czechoslo-
are some records that last forever – even if
vakia’s Tomáš Skuhravý in a 4-1 win over
they can be repeated time and again.
Costa Rica in 1990. And Pelé? The Brazilian
Patenaude’s record is one of them.
also scored a hat-trick in his side’s 5-2
So back to the question: what do Bert
He scored the very first hat-trick, Shaqiri
victory over France in the 1958 semi-final at
Patenaude and Xherdan Shaqiri have in
the landmark 50th. And in between?
the tender age of 17, and he remains the
common? At second and third glance,
There are some other hat-tricks for the
youngest player to have scored a World
perhaps more than you would think.
ages. Sándor Kocsis, for example, was the
Cup hat-trick.
F04
Back of the net! Three members of the World Cup hat-trick club: (from left to right): Fabienne Humm (2015), Gabriel Batistuta (1994 and 1998) and Xherdan Shaqiri (2014).
first player to score two hat-tricks in one tournament. At the 1954 World Cup,
The fastest hat-trick in a women’s interna-
the Hungarian scored three in a 9-0 victory
tional match belongs to Switzerland’s
over Korea Republic and then four times in
Fabienne Humm, who needed just five
an 8-3 win over West Germany. Argentinian
minutes for her three goals against
Gabriel Batistuta hit two hat-tricks that
Ecuador (10-1) at the Women’s World Cup
were four years apart to the very day – on
in 2015.
AFP, Clive Brunskill / Getty Images
In athletics, it all comes down to hun-
FIFA 1904 /
55
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FACES OF FIFA
Name: Fabiana Miggiano Job title: Personal Assistant to the Chief HR & Services Officer Age: 40 Nationality: Switzerland/Italy Date joined FIFA: 2008
Name: Christian Luna Job title: FIFA Quality Programme Manager Age: 32 Nationality: Mexico Date joined FIFA: 2014
Name: Isabel Falconer Job title: Senior Group Leader, Dispute Resolution Affairs Age: 34 Nationality: France Date joined FIFA: 2008
Why did you want to work for FIFA?
Why did you want to work for FIFA?
What exactly do you do at FIFA?
I come from the travel industry and have always been
I love football and have played it since I was a kid. I
My department handles the administration behind
interested in different countries, languages and
always liked the way the sport and this organisation
FIFA’s Dispute Resolution Chamber and Players’ Status
cultures. To work at FIFA was actually the dream of
unite people regardless of ethnicity, religion or
Committee. These are arbitration bodies that are
my older sister and so it was something that stuck
gender. I wanted to contribute to the continuous
competent to deal with international disputes between
with me when I was a kid. For me, FIFA is the perfect
development of the beautiful game. For me, joining
various stakeholders of the football community
employer and the fact that I love football is the icing
FIFA was like a dream.
(players, clubs, coaches, associations). I am in charge
on the cake.
of investigating these disputes. Which footballer (or person involved in football)
Which footballer (or person involved in football)
would you like to meet and why?
Who is your favourite football team of all time?
would you like to meet and why?
Hugo Sánchez, a number nine legend from my home
The French national team that led France to victory in
Gigi Buffon, who for me is more than just a brilliant
country, because of his achievements and the way he
the 1998 FIFA World Cup. To witness my national
goalkeeper. He’s a true leader and team player for
played football. I admired the fact that he won five
team winning the World Cup in my own country was
whom fair play and respect are really important –
“Pichichis” [top goalscorer awards], one with Atlético
an extraordinary experience that I will never forget.
he’s a role model for young and old alike.
Madrid and four in a row with Real Madrid. I also
Who is your favourite football team of all time?
loved his spectacular “chilenas” [bicycle kicks] and
What has been the highlight of your time at FIFA
acrobatic celebrations.
to date?
Lukas Mäder / 13 Photo (3)
The Italian team of 2006, not just because they won
Working as a Protocol Officer at the 2014 FIFA World
the World Cup that year but also because I would sing
Has your impression of FIFA changed since
Cup in Brazil. I had the opportunity to see first-hand
my then two-year-old son to sleep with a lullaby that
you’ve joined?
what the organisation of such a major sports tourna-
I adapted to include the names of all the players. It was
Definitely. I realised how important all of the stake-
ment entails. I was blown away by how the FIFA team
quite a hit with my friends and acquaintances too!
holders are, not only the FIFA employees based in
and the Local Organising Committee worked together
Zurich but also the Local Organising Committees of
to make this tournament a success.
Has your impression of FIFA changed since
the tournaments, the representatives of all the
you’ve joined?
member associations around the world, the service
Has your impression of FIFA changed since you’ve
When you’re part of the team, you can sense that
providers, etc., and at the same time, the organisation
joined?
everyone is working with their heart and soul.
has been going through a restructuring process,
I have always had faith in FIFA. I work with passionate
Football brings people together at work too, not just
increasing investment in football, innovating more to
people who love the game. Nowadays, we have to cope
on the pitch. I’ve been through the highs and lows
improve the game and improving the accountability
with the public’s perception of our organisation, which
with FIFA and I’m glad that the focus is now back on
of its daily operations.
we all know needs to improve. I try my best to explain
football.
what FIFA is doing to stay true to its core mission. FIFA 1904 /
57
STATISTICS
SPIRALLING DREAMS The winning entry came from Italian sculptor
SILVIO GAZZANIGA,
who died in October 2016 at the age of 95. “The lines spring out from the base, rising in spirals, stretching out to receive the world,” was how he described his winning design.
AFTER THEIR THIRD WORLD CUP TRIUMPH IN 1970, BRAZIL WERE ALLOWED TO KEEP THE JULES RIMET TROPHY. FIFA THEN GATHERED IDEAS FOR THE DESIGN OF A NEW TROPHY. 53 ENTRIES CAME IN FROM 7 COUNTRIES.
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AT THE 1974 FIFA WORLD CUP, WEST GERMANY WERE THE FIRST COUNTRY TO HOLD THE NEW TROPHY ALOFT. SINCE THEN, ARGENTINA, GERMANY, BRAZIL AND ITALY HAVE EACH WON 2 TIMES, WHILE FRANCE AND SPAIN EACH HAVE 1 VICTORY ON THE ROLL CALL OF WORLD CHAMPIONS.
The FIFA World Cup Trophy was made from solid 18-carat gold, stands 36.8 centimetres tall and weighs a hefty 6.175 kilograms. It is looked after by FIFA, while the World Cup winners receive a replica trophy.
ON THE BASE OF THE TROPHY, THE NAME OF EACH WORLD CUP-WINNING SIDE SINCE 1974 IS ENGRAVED. FOLLOWING THE 2014 TOURNAMENT, THE LIST OF WINNERS HAD TO BE ENGRAVED VERTICALLY AS THERE WAS NO LONGER ENOUGH SPACE FOR ALL THE NAMES.
Andrea Pagliarulo FIFA 1904 /
59
CLUB WORLD CUP
Yeah, mate! Mamelodi fans wait at the airport for their Champions League stars to arrive.
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By Alan Schweingruber
Can the Club World Cup only be won by European or Brazilian teams? With the qualification of the Mamelodi Sundowns, the tournament will see the addition of a team this year that are renowned for their great spirit and determination to break the mould.
Ihsaan Haffejee / Anadolu Agency / AFP
AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT
Sometimes yellow is more than just a colour. In football, yellow shirts are associated with the most successful team in the world, Brazil’s Seleção. And if a team plays particularly well – ideally in yellow shirts and blue shorts – then it is not long before a sort of coronation ceremony takes place: “the Brazilians of Europe”, “the Brazilians of Asia” and the like. The Mamelodi Sundowns are the “Brazilians of South Africa”, current CAF Champions League holders and Africa’s representatives at the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan this December.
The stadium was bathed in yellow, ready for a party and ready to play host to a historic achievement. Anyone who witnessed the scenes of 15 October 2016, at the final of the Champions League under blue skies in Pretoria, will have had the same thought: this is epic!
Amr Abdallah Dalsh / Reuters
The stadium in the South African capital was bathed in yellow, ready for a party and ready to play host to a historic achievement. The guests: Zamalek of Egypt, who travelled all of 6,200km from Giza. The Mamelodi Sundowns started cautiously, with a lot of respect for their opponents, but then got into their flow, going on to win 3-0. Coach Pitso Mosimane could barely describe it: “An unbelievable sight... This is real patriotism! I’ve not just seen yellow shirts, but also Kaizer Chiefs and national team shirts in the crowd. I want to thank everyone.”
Giving nothing away Sundowns defender Mbekile Asavela (in yellow) blocks a cross by Ohawuchi Stanley of Zamalek SC in the final (15 October 2016).
FIFA 1904 /
61
CLUB WORLD CUP DESPITE THE SMIRKS, MOSIMANE WAS SERIOUS The South Africans had gone through a lot by the time they made it to the final. They had qualified for the Champions League as “only” league runners-up to their rivals Kaizer Chiefs. In the preliminary round, they lost the first leg to Zimbabwean underdogs Chicken Inn 1-0 and only just managed to turn the embarrassing situation around in the return leg. That was in February 2016. In April, the Sundowns were actually eliminated... but only temporarily. Their opponents, Vita Club from Congo DR, were retrospectively disqualified for fielding an ineligible player. This all felt somehow familiar: EURO 1992. “We’re the Denmark of Africa!” said Mosimane after they had been reinstated to the competition and many on the continent smirked at his seemingly madcap designs on the cup. But Mosimane was completely serious. And he did indeed triumph with his team, just as Denmark did in
with the meticulous work of their coach. He put together a team without a classic goalscorer: no player scored more than two goals during their CAF Champions League Johannesburg Airport Coach Pitso Mosimane (holding the trophy aloft) and his team celebrate with the fans.
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campaign, or put another way, their 19 goals (two of which were own goals) were scored by 11 players.
NO STRIKER? NO WORRIES That the Sundowns played with calm, balance and drive was also very much to do
compromised by the Balkan conflict.
Ihsaan Haffejee / Anadolu Agency / AFP
1992 when the Danes qualified at the last moment in place of Yugoslavia, who were
“We’re the Denmark of Africa!” said coach Mosimane and many on the continent smirked at his seemingly madcap designs on the cup. But Mosimane was completely serious.
REAL MADRID HAVE TO BE FAVOURITES The 13th Club World Cup will take place from 8 to 18 December. It is now the eighth time that the tournament is being played in Japan, this time in Osaka and Yokohama. and the Copa Libertadores champions have
70,000 Egyptians packed the Borg El-Arab stadium in Alexandria for the return leg,
all qualified. The line-up so far includes
creating an impressive backdrop. And after 63 minutes the home team took the lead,
Real Madrid (Spain, UEFA), Club América
sending the North African fans wild for half an hour. And the South Africans? They
(Mexico, CONCACAF), Mamelodi Sundowns
remained steadfast, unaffected. And this again recalled 1992, when footballing giants
(South Africa, CAF), Atlético Nacional
Germany – with titans such as Sammer, Hässler and Klinsmann – just could not get
(Colombia, CONMEBOL) and Auckland City
past goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel in the final. They kept everyone in suspense until
(New Zealand, OFC). You can find the full
the very end.
list of participants on FIFA.com. sca
Ihsaan Haffejee / Anadolu Agency / AFP
The continental Champions League winners As part of this charming story, there naturally had to be a Sundowns showdown.
At the Club World Cup, which will be held in Japan for the eighth time, only European and Brazilian teams have ever lifted the trophy. If the Mamelodi Sundowns make it to the final, there is a good chance that they will be facing Real Madrid. The path to get there will be difficult, but anyone who overcomes embarrassment, comes back from defeat and even elimination, and still manages to win – without a genuine striker on the field, to boot – should not be reckoned against from making a final coup in 2016.
Sundowns kid No fan, no matter how small, is left out of celebrating the return of the champions.
FIFA 1904 /
63
Gregory Gilbert-Lodge
TRAINING
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MEASURING THE WORLD OF FOOTBALL A belt to measure a player’s heart rate, a chip that collects a player’s physiological performance data – as technology develops, so does football, all with the goal of making the game, and the players, even better than they currently are. By Annette Braun
Saturday, 9 April 1938 was certainly a
unprecedented opportunities for footballers
And then there are innovations that support
historic day at Wembley. Although England
and the game in general. In recent years,
match officials such as goal-line technology
had locked horns with their great Scottish
there has been even more of a trend
and video assistant referees, the latter
rivals on many occasions before, only those
towards teams trying to plan as much as
currently being trialled by FIFA, or electronic
fans who had been lucky enough to be
possible and avoiding the unexpected,
performance and tracking systems to collate
inside the stadium had ever witnessed the
with terms such as “football by numbers”
and measure data by using small chips that
action. This time, however, it was different,
establishing themselves as a way of
can be worn on garments underneath a
as the match was the first to be broadcast
expressing the teams’ need to have as many
player’s shirt. Teams have already been
in its entirety on TV. Television sets may still
variables as possible known and under
using this in training for a while to keep
have been a rare luxury but thousands
control. Little is left to chance these days,
track of their players’ physiological health
more fans were able to watch the match
whether it is in a match or out on the
by measuring their physical condition with a
on TV, witnessing the Scots secure a
training pitch.
system that works without having to enter or link data. Whether it is for the players’
1-0 victory in front of their travelling band of fans, who were in fine voice that day
TECHNOLOGY PAVING THE WAY
sprints, changes of speed or runs on the
with their renditions of “Loch Lomond”.
The quest for valuable data is also driving
pitch, visualised movement profiles provide
the development of a wide range of
coaches with invaluable information on
Fast forward 78 years to the present day,
technologies. Take the Footbonaut, for
their charges’ condition and abilities.
and fans can now watch virtually any game
example. First seen in 2012, the Footbonaut
their heart desires, whether it is on TV,
is a football training machine that sees a
THE “LAPTOP COACH”
the internet or even a smartphone,
player take up a position in the middle of
Even though Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz
all thanks to the dozens of cameras in
a 14x14m artificial surface, which is
Rummenigge is on record as being rather
the stadiums that capture the action from
surrounded by 64 squares. Balls are then
dismissive of the whole idea by branding it
more or less every conceivable angle.
fired at different speeds and trajectories
a “laptop coach”, the sight of computers on
from these squares, and the player has to
the sides of training pitches, with analysts
This technological progress may have
return the ball into the highlighted square,
beavering away to analyse and interpret the
created a whole new viewing experience
all of which helps to improve the player’s
data being relayed from the pitch, is now
for fans, but it has also opened up
accuracy of passes and speed of action.
all too common. FIFA 1904 /
65
TRAINING
Backslash Franck Ribéry sporting wearable technology under his shirt.
Wearable chips and optical systems work
can study videos and performance data
either via GPS (global positioning system) or
at half-time. Fans can benefit from this too,
LPS (local positioning system) and measure
however, for example with graphics
a wide range of data, which can then be
displayed on screen to show the positions
studied in an app, either in real time or
that a defence should have adopted in
over a longer period for analysis purposes.
order to prevent a goal, or with information
to the player’s movements to change direction, the explosiveness of movements, and the stress being placed on the entire musculoskeletal system, as well as acceleration and deceleration speeds or the energy
on the kicker’s and goalkeeper’s heart rates at a penalty kick. All of the data that is collected for a player can then be used to create a medical profile, which can then help to identify irregularities in the player’s condition and musculoskeletal system.
expended by such movements.
The objective is to ensure that the game is open to technological advancements without the integrity of the game being affected.
Lennart Preiss / Bongarts / Getty Images
This data can, for example, be in relation
GLOBAL APPROACH
When deployed in matches, electronic
In October, FIFA invited a number of
performance and tracking systems can be
companies to the Home of FIFA in Zurich to
used to compile statistics so that the coach
allow them to demonstrate their electronic
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about the players’ positions on the pitch.
It is, however, also about tactics and
performance and tracking systems. For FIFA, it is vital that wearable chips do not present a risk of injury to anyone on the pitch, and also that they provide relevant data. Consequently, the FIFA Quality Programme is currently focusing on ensuring that all such chips meet global minimum requirements if they are to be used in matches, with particular attention being paid to aspects such as the security, accuracy and validity of data, as well as the compatibility of data exchanges. The basic framework now needs to be put in place so that the systems can
On your marks... The device is calibrated for each individual player.
be developed further without affecting the integrity of the game, and to ensure that as much information as possible can be collected for the benefit of players, clubs and member associations. Former USA goalkeeper Briana Scurry once said: “A champion is someone who does not settle for that day’s practice, that day’s competition, that day’s performance. They are always striving to be better.” That much was true for the England v. Scotland match at Wembley nearly 80 years ago, and it continues to hold true for the beautiful game that continues to enthral millions of fans all
Get set... The compact nature of devices means they can be affixed to shirts.
For FIFA, it is crucial that advances in sports science and technology are used correctly so that the latest developments, when coupled with intuition and crea tivity, can take the game to even greater heights for the benefit of everyone involved in the game, whether as players, coaches, match officials or fans.
Tony Marshall / Getty Images, imago, David Maher / Sportsfile via Getty Images
around the world.
Go! Assistants can evaluate the data at the side of the pitch. FIFA 1904 /
67
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF...
A FIFA PROJECT MANAGER
The man for project management South African Mohsin Mitha also enjoys exploring Zurich in his spare time.
When Mohsin Mitha saw an advert back
projects, not to mention the minor
whether they have any tips for good
home in South Africa for a vacancy in
last-minute ones, can be reproduced
restaurants in town. “If you get to know
FIFA’s project management team in Zurich,
consistently at a later date in another place
a culture’s cuisine, then you will also get
the 34-year-old did not think twice about
and with other companies and people.
to know its people better,” he says.
Kurt Schorrer / foto-net.ch
applying, especially as he had already
He is always grateful for the next recom“When it comes to organising a men’s
mendation – whether it’s Asian, African,
body as part of the 2010 World Cup.
World Cup, at FIFA we currently have
Caribbean or any other region in the
Then employed by Deloitte, Mohsin acted
64 different areas using project manage-
world – and he’s certainly had more than
as a consultant to the LOC in project
ment and knowledge transfer,” says
a few pointers since joining FIFA, which is
management, an area he knows inside out.
Mohsin in his office at the Home of FIFA.
hardly surprising given that 45 different
“Each area is fascinating in its own right.
countries are currently represented among
Then, in April 2014 and after having
And when you see how a project, in all of
FIFA’s employees...
completed his MBA, he upped sticks and
its complexity, begins to take shape and
moved to FIFA HQ, where he is now also
then, at the end, a World Cup goes ahead
focusing on project management & know
exactly as planned, then it is of course a
worked with world football’s governing
ledge transfer – after all, the complex
F04
thrill. It is also hugely satisfying.”
world of project management can only be navigated if everything that goes into the
When Mohsin is not setting deadlines or
organisation of an entire World Cup, for
creating complex Gantt diagrams, you will
example, is documented so that the major
probably find him asking his colleagues
Each month, FIFA 1904 accompanies a FIFA employee in their daily work. FIFA 1904 /
69
CELEBRATION
DOCTOR SÓCRATES He played for four Brazilian clubs and had a brief stint in Italy at Fiorentina, but it would seem that Sócrates was only truly happy at his beloved Corinthians. And when he scored an important goal for them, as he did here in the away match at local rivals São Paulo in 1982, the statuesque playmaker celebrated in his usual modest way: standing upright with a smile on his face and his right arm raised high. We cannot be certain exactly where Sócrates’ gaze is directed, but the chances are that it is the part of the ground allocated for away fans. This covered quite a large area, as the Corinthians fans – the “Mosqueteiros da Fiel”, or the “Faithful Musketeers” –had nabbed an entire sector in the upper tier of the Morumbi Stadium for themselves. At the time, this mighty arena held up to 80,000 spectators. Sócrates – or Doctor Sócrates, as he had studied medicine and would practise as a paediatrician after hanging up his boots – was the captain and linchpin of the legendary Seleção team of the 1980s, whose line-up also included the likes of Zico, Toninho Cerezo and Falcão, and who, despite their failure to win a World Cup, were known for their attacking elan. Born Sócrates Brasileiro Sampaio de Souza Vieira de Oliveira in 1954, the midfield maestro remains the player with the longest name ever to have taken part in a World Cup. Sócrates died of blood poisoning in 2011 at the age of 57. A vocal proponent of democracy during Brazil’s military dictatorship, he had gone public about his problems with alcohol only months before. He once said in an interview that when his time came, he would like to die on a Sunday and for Corinthians to win the league on that day. Just hours after his passing, Corinthians were crowned champions – on a Sunday. Alan Schweingruber 70
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FIFA 1904 /
71
global photo / fotogloria
PUBLICATION DETAILS FIFA 1904 – PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY THE FÉDÉRATION INTERNATIONALE DE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION (FIFA). PUBLISHER FIFA, FIFA-Strasse 20, P.O. Box, 8044 Zurich, Switzerland
PRODUCTION Hans-Peter Frei
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Reproduction of photographs and articles of FIFA 1904 in whole or
STAFF WRITERS Alan Schweingruber (Deputy Editor), Annette Braun
in part is only permitted with prior editorial approval and with
ART DIRECTION Catharina Clajus
reference to the source (FIFA 1904, © FIFA 2016).
PICTURE EDITOR Peggy Knotz LAYOUT Susanne Egli
The editor and staff are not obliged to publish unsolicited manu-
TRANSLATION AND PROOFREADING English: Timo Eugster,
scripts and photographs. The views expressed in FIFA 1904 are not
Andrew Hurley, Stuart Makin, Caitlin Stephens; French: Alexandre
necessarily those of FIFA.
Adriano, Alexandre Hubert, Alexandre Károlyi, Nicolas Samier, Estelle Valensuela; Spanish: Irene Antolín Pérez, José Ibarra,
FIFA and the FIFA logo are registered trademarks.
Juan F. López Vera, Natalia Pita Álvarez; German: Sandra Locher,
Made and printed in Switzerland.
Niklaus Wächter / Reportair.ch
Yves-Manuel Méan, Gabriela Straube-Zweifel
Home of FIFA, Zurich. 72
/ FIFA 1904
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