Others • Created November 14, 2009 21:24

U-17: Blatter faults Brazil’s elimination through yellow cards

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the South American side had missed out qualifying for the second round after it recorded six yellow cards in three matches. “After today’s meeting of the Organising Committee, we realised that we needed to take another look at our regulations, and that of this competition in particular. […]

U-17: Blatter faults Brazil’s elimination through yellow cards
U-17: Blatter faults Brazil’s elimination through yellow cards

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the South American side had missed out qualifying for the second round after it recorded six yellow cards in three matches.

“After today’s meeting of the Organising Committee, we realised that we needed to take another look at our regulations, and that of this competition in particular. We need to have some changes,’’ Blatter said.

Brazil finished third in Group B games after one win and two losses, scoring three goals and conceding four, to fall among the six third-placed teams.

The six teams, which contended for four second round tickets, were Germany, Uruguay, New Zealand, Brazil, the UAE and the Netherlands.

After Germany, Uruguay and New Zealand claimed three of the tickets, Brazil, the UAE and The Netherlands were levelled on all scores in the drawing of lots for the last ticket.

The fair play rankings were then applied and the UAE, with five yellow cards, edged out the other two teams that had six yellow cards each.

“It is not correct to eliminate teams on the basis of the fair play rankings, because cards are in the opinion of referees, and match situations are different depending on their intensity.

“A match can be of high intensity while another one can be of low intensity, and cards in such matches cannot be the same in comparison,’’ Blatter said.

He said he was hopeful that Mr Jack Warner, FIFA Vice-President and Chairman of the competition’s Organising Committee, would bring the matter to the notice of its executive committee very soon.

“I am hopeful Warner will quickly bring this to the notice of the (FIFA) Executive Committee at its next meeting for us to change,’’ the FIFA president said. (NAN)


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