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Tournament shows parity No more weak teams in world game -- Blatter
Posted: Thursday January 13, 2000 02:21 PM
RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) -- FIFA president Sepp Blatter said on Thursday the Club World Championship had proved his point that clubs from Africa, Asia and Oceania were good enough to compete against European and South American sides. "For those who said that games involving the second level teams would end in scores of 10, 11 or 12-nil, I repeat: There are no more weak teams in the world. "I was surprised by the good quality of Al Nassr, of Raja Casablanca and of those from 'down under' [South Melbourne]." Blatter was answering criticism that the tournament, which ends on Friday with Vasco da Gama and Corinthians meeting in an all-Brazilian final, contained too many weak sides. In the event, no team managed to win a game by more than two goals. Blatter said a decision would be made in March on whether to hold the new competition every one or two years, but said some minor adjustments had already been recommended. He wanted the double bill format -- with two matches on the day in the same stadium -- altered and more time added between games. He also hinted that he had not been happy with the standard of refereeing. "We have the best match control," he said. "We must go to the best [referees] as we do to the World Cup. "We have had good refereeing here but good today, at the level we are playing, is not good enough." Blatter denied that he had a preferred candidate to host the 2006 World Cup for which England, Germany, Brazil, Morocco and South Africa are candidates. "I have identified one continent [Africa]; I have never identified one candidate," he said. He also refused to discuss the security situation in South Africa. Blatter expressed sadness at the problems facing Diego Maradona. "It hurts us a lot," said Blatter, who has been bitterly attacked by the former Argentine captain.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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