International Roundup

Stadium violence undermines South African World Cup bid

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) -- South Africa's premier league soccer chief, brought back to bolster hopes of staging Africa's first World Cup, slammed the standard of security and infrastructure on Monday after violence marred weekend fixtures.

Fans hurled bottles at players and officials during Saturday's Coca-Cola Cup final between Jomo Cosmos and Kaizer Chiefs -- one of the teams playing when 43 people were killed in the country's worst soccer stadium disaster in April 2001.

"The whole issue of security surrounding our football games, or major games, is just not adequate," Trevor Phillips told SABC radio on Monday.

"[There are] not enough trained security people in the country, not enough co-ordination between the police and the security," he said. "We must learn these lessons, we must get on top of this."

Phillips did not mention South Africa's bid to host the continent's first World Cup finals in 2010. His recall as head of the premier league in October after a three-year break was seen as an attempt to boost the credibility of the bid, already favourite.

In Saturday's match at the FNB Stadium, Johannesburg's main soccer venue, spectators hurled bottles at referee Daniel Bennett in the dying minutes after he did not award a penalty some Chiefs supporters thought their team deserved.

Players and officials were hit by missiles and at least two spectators were injured when they fell amid jostling crowds. Security marshals failed to keep control and police were brought onto the pitch, holding up the game for nearly half an hour.

Poor infrastructure

A first division match between Welkom Stars and Spartak was also held up for 20 minutes after angry fans invaded the pitch.

"To deal with that kind of incident you certainly need trained security people in the stand," Phillips said. "We have to look at the lack of infrastructure that's available for South African soccer."

Sports Minister Ngconde Balfour criticized Phillips for not stopping the match.

"I am very angry, quite disgusted at the scenes from FNB," Balfour told SABC during Saturday's match. "I am not sure why Trevor Phillips and all the officials did not stop the game and allow these thuggish people to go home."

But Phillips defended his decision and hit back at Balfour.

"It's all very well government ministers whingeing and moaning about what are we doing about this, what are we doing about that," he said. "We have, throughout the country, a total lack of infrastructure as far as soccer is concerned."

Phillips said South Africa had some of the world's best cricket and rugby stadiums -- such as Ellis Park, the rugby ground where 43 people died in a crush during an April 2001 Johannesburg derby between Chiefs and Orlando Pirates.

"This is in a country where the vast majority of the population couldn't tell you the shape of a rugby ball or what a cricket pitch looks like. Soccer is their game."

Dalglish: Scottish, Irish fans deserve Euro 2008

LONDON (Reuters) -- Kenny Dalglish says that the knowledge and passion of soccer fans in Scotland and Ireland could be the decisive factor in those countries' joint-bid to host the 2008 European championship.

Dalglish, who won a record 102 caps for Scotland, said on Monday that the two countries can match every other bid in terms of organization, finance and infrastructure but claims they are way ahead when it comes to support.

"Both sets of fans have been widely acclaimed at recent World Cups and European championships," Dalglish told journalists on Monday.

"The fans of both countries have proved that they know how to watch the game and how to enjoy themselves at the same time.

"Ireland's fans were magnificent at this year's World Cup while the Tartan Army is famous for having a great time but also appreciating good football.

"You saw at the Champions League final in Glasgow [between Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen in May] how they love a party atmosphere, and I think everyone who came to Glasgow for that event appreciated the atmosphere.

"The fans are the most important part of football and it is right that they should be rewarded."

Dalglish, who made his name playing for Celtic before moving south to a trophy-laden career with Liverpool, said that awarding the tournament to his country and Ireland would also be a huge boost to the grass roots of the game.

"Things are not so good with Scottish football at the moment but if the bid was successful it would be a great incentive for everyone," he said.

"There would be great investment in the big stadiums but also into the grass roots."

When Dalglish was in his prime, helping Liverpool to dominate in England and Europe, most leading English clubs could boast at least one Scottish international in their lineup.

Graeme Souness, Archie Gemmill, Alan Hansen, John Wark, Lou Macari, Gordon McQueen, George Graham, and many others, all played important roles for the biggest English clubs of the day, but the production line has dried up alarmingly.

Scottish decline

Dalglish, a veteran of three World Cups but who never played in the European championships, said that he did not feel the influx of overseas players was the reason for Scotland's decline - but could not offer an alternative explanation,

"I wish I knew the answer," he said. "If I did I would have the answer to the problems we are going through now.

"But there are good young players coming through. At the 15-16 year-old-level they are very good quality but they are not developing from there.

"If the European championships came to Scotland, and Ireland, in 2008, I'm sure it would be a real boost for the game in those countries at every level.

UEFA will decide the host on December 13 where the Scotland/Ireland bid faces opposition from Austria/Switzerland, Bosnia/Croatia, Greece/Turkey, Hungary, Russia and a four-way Nordic bid.

Cuba, Martinique advance in Gold Cup qualifying

GEORGETOWN, Cayman Islands (AP) -- Cuba came from behind to beat the Dominican Republic 2-1, and Martinique scored three second-half goals to best the Cayman Islands 3-0 to advance to the second round of Gold Cup qualifying games.

Serguel Senudo's goal in the 77th minute dug Cuba out of a 1-1 gridlock in Sunday night's game to give Cuba first place in the Caribbean Zone Group B qualifying round.

The Cubans were forced to come from behind, after Ramoon Marino put the Dominican Republic ahead 1-0 at the 17-minute mark. Marino, left unmarked, collected a loose ball in front of the Cuban net to tap in an easy goal.

The second half belonged to the Cubans who put steady pressure on the Dominican defenders.

The pressure paid off with a goal by Yowandy Lopez, who tried to clear the ball but instead fired it into his own net to tie up the game 1-1 in the 63rd minute.

Senudo unlocked the score with a goal off a pass served up by winger Jorge Rondon in the 67th minute.

Cuban coach Miguel Chumpitazy said he was thrilled that his team would be moving forward, playing Trinidad and Tobago in the second round next year.

"This is another great opportunity for Cuban football," he said. "I am very pleased with how my players performed."

Cuba already had defeated the Cayman Islands 5-0 and Martinique 2-1 in previous games at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex.

In the second game played Sunday night, Martinique won 3-0 over the Cayman Islands, also earning a place in the second round.

The local team was playing without team captain Lee Ramoon and starter Carson Fagan, who were out due to red card infractions.

Martinique also played without Ludovic Mirande and play-maker Victor Lavril, both suspended for an after-the-game episode against Cuba on Friday.

Caymans manager Graham Rankin also had to sit in the bleachers after being suspended for questioning a call in the Cuba game.

After a scoreless first half, Martinique finally broke the ice in the 52nd minute when Randolphe Ranos crossed a pass from the right side to Jose Gordon in front of the Cayman net.

Gordon kicked the ball home to give Martinique a 1-0 advantage.

Martinique scored again 20 minutes later when Rano unleashed a shot on goal.

Cayman goalkeeper Tuda Murphy made the save, but was unable to hold on to the ball. Martinique forward Patrick Percin collected the rebound and scored the second goal in the 72nd minute.

Percin scored on a header in the 85th minute to make the final score 3-0.

Oki to take over as manager of S-Pulse

TOKYO (Reuters) -- Former assistant manager Takeshi Oki will take over at Shimizu S-Pulse next season, officials of the J-League club said on Monday.

The 41-year-old, currently in charge of second division Ventforet Kofu, has been named successor to Yugoslav Zdravko Zemunovic, who has announced he will step down after S-Pulse finished 12th in the J-League second stage.

Zemunovic, who took over from Englishman Steve Perryman two years ago, will stay on for the season-ending Emperor's Cup.

Oki was an assistant to Perryman when S-Pulse won the J-League second-stage title in 1999. Kofu finished seventh in the second division under Oki this season.

Karamyan voted Armenian Player of the Year

YEREVAN (Reuters) -- Pyunik Yerevan striker Arman Karamyan has been voted the Armenian Player of the Year in a nationwide poll of soccer officials, coaches and media.

Karamyan, who led Pyunik to the Armenian league and cup double by scoring a club-record 36 goals last season, beat his 20-year-old twin brother, team mate and fellow Armenian international Artavazd into second place.

Another Pyunik player, Argentine-born defender Jose Bilibio, who was granted Armenian citizenship earlier this year, finished a distant third.

 

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Both the Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.