Euro 2016 qualifiers: Blatter, Platini condemn abandoned game
Pro-Albanian drone message disrupts Serbia-Albania match.
GENEVA:
Fifa boss Sepp Blatter and Uefa president Michel Platini yesterday strongly condemned the violent scenes that forced a Serbia-Albania football international to be abandoned.
Platini called the politically-charged violence in Belgrade ‘inexcusable’ while Blatter said football “should never be used for political messages.”
Players from the two sides clashed on Tuesday after a drone carrying a pro-Albanian flag was flown over the Belgrade stadium where the two sides were playing a qualifier for the 2016 European Championships.
A handful of the 20,000 Serbian spectators also ran on to the pitch and tried to assault the Albanian team, while Albanian fans had been banned from attending the match.
“Platini is deeply saddened by the events in Belgrade last night,” said Uefa spokesman Pedro Pinto.
“Football is supposed to bring people together and our game should not be mixed with politics of any kind. The scenes in Belgrade last night were inexcusable,” the spokesman quoted Platini as saying.
Uefa was expected to formally open an investigation into the events yesterday after studying reports from the match referee and coordinator.
Blatter added, “Football should never be used for political messages. I strongly condemn what happened in Belgrade last night.”
Serbia’s captain, Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic, said he was dismayed by the events.
“In the name of my team I can say that we wanted to continue the match...but the Albanian players said they weren’t in the physical or psychological state to continue,” he said.
Resilient Irish delighted with Germany draw
Martin O’Neill praised Ireland’s never-say-die spirit after John O’Shea celebrated his 100th cap with a dramatic equaliser to seal a 1-1 draw with Germany in Tuesday’s Euro 2016 qualifier.
Germany were heading for a 1-0 win in Gelsenkirchen after Toni Kroos’ second-half goal before O’Shea stabbed his shot home in the 94th-minute to celebrate his landmark in style.
After their 33-match unbeaten run in qualifiers was ended by Saturday’s 2-0 shock defeat to Poland in Warsaw, Germany’s qualifier woes continued as Ireland claimed a deserved point.
“We just didn’t give up and kept going,” said Ireland manager O’Neill.
“I never felt we were actually out of the game, which is great credit to the players.
“Spirit alone will never be enough, but there is a great never-say-die attitude amongst the players, which keeps the confidence going.”
The result keeps Germany fourth in the Group D table, but level on four points with third-placed Scotland while the Irish are level on seven points with leaders Poland, but second on goal difference.
Meanwhile, Ronaldo’s late header gave Portugal a 1-0 win in Denmark and Scotland claimed a creditable 2-2 draw with Poland.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 16th, 2014.
Fifa boss Sepp Blatter and Uefa president Michel Platini yesterday strongly condemned the violent scenes that forced a Serbia-Albania football international to be abandoned.
Platini called the politically-charged violence in Belgrade ‘inexcusable’ while Blatter said football “should never be used for political messages.”
Players from the two sides clashed on Tuesday after a drone carrying a pro-Albanian flag was flown over the Belgrade stadium where the two sides were playing a qualifier for the 2016 European Championships.
A handful of the 20,000 Serbian spectators also ran on to the pitch and tried to assault the Albanian team, while Albanian fans had been banned from attending the match.
“Platini is deeply saddened by the events in Belgrade last night,” said Uefa spokesman Pedro Pinto.
“Football is supposed to bring people together and our game should not be mixed with politics of any kind. The scenes in Belgrade last night were inexcusable,” the spokesman quoted Platini as saying.
Uefa was expected to formally open an investigation into the events yesterday after studying reports from the match referee and coordinator.
Blatter added, “Football should never be used for political messages. I strongly condemn what happened in Belgrade last night.”
Serbia’s captain, Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic, said he was dismayed by the events.
“In the name of my team I can say that we wanted to continue the match...but the Albanian players said they weren’t in the physical or psychological state to continue,” he said.
Resilient Irish delighted with Germany draw
Martin O’Neill praised Ireland’s never-say-die spirit after John O’Shea celebrated his 100th cap with a dramatic equaliser to seal a 1-1 draw with Germany in Tuesday’s Euro 2016 qualifier.
Germany were heading for a 1-0 win in Gelsenkirchen after Toni Kroos’ second-half goal before O’Shea stabbed his shot home in the 94th-minute to celebrate his landmark in style.
After their 33-match unbeaten run in qualifiers was ended by Saturday’s 2-0 shock defeat to Poland in Warsaw, Germany’s qualifier woes continued as Ireland claimed a deserved point.
“We just didn’t give up and kept going,” said Ireland manager O’Neill.
“I never felt we were actually out of the game, which is great credit to the players.
“Spirit alone will never be enough, but there is a great never-say-die attitude amongst the players, which keeps the confidence going.”
The result keeps Germany fourth in the Group D table, but level on four points with third-placed Scotland while the Irish are level on seven points with leaders Poland, but second on goal difference.
Meanwhile, Ronaldo’s late header gave Portugal a 1-0 win in Denmark and Scotland claimed a creditable 2-2 draw with Poland.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 16th, 2014.