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Blatter blasts English FA

AFP, Doha
Football's world ruling body FIFA has called on the English Football Association to get tough following a week of embarrassing headlines involving some of the game's top players.
In an executive committee meeting, which also discussed players' naturalisations and the thorny issue of Oceania's World Cup place, FIFA president Sepp Blatter called on the FA to demand "discipline and respect" from professional plying their trade in England.
"When something happens in England, whose federation (FA) was founded in 1863, it's not like when it happens anywhere else," said Blatter, referring to the Rio Ferdinand affair.
England and Manchester United defender Ferdinand hit the headlines last week when it was revealed that did not turn up for a dope test.
He was dropped from the squad for England's Euro 2004 qualifier against Turkey but his teammates threatened to boycott the match because many felt the FA had been too swift in judging Ferdinand.
"The FA has to start enforcing the rules and must ask its players to show proof of their discipline and respect."
The FA was also in the firing line when the issue of automatic suspensions for a red card were discussed.
FIFA has confirmed it will not be changing the current ruling whereby a player is automatically suspended for a direct red card or two yellow cards in a match.
"The only possible exception is if video evidence shows that the
referee has made an error," said Blatter, who added that if the federations -- and notably the FA -- did not apply the ruling then FIFA's disciplinary commission would step in.
FIFA have also clamped down on the number of footballers playing for their adopted countries.
The new amendment means that only players who have played once for the A team of their country of
origin can not be selected to play for another country.
On the other hand, players who have played with a national team right up to junior and under-21 level can still play for their country of origin if they so wish.
FIFA, according to an official source, have taken the steps in a bid to protect an increasing number of young players, mainly from Africa, who are often picked to play for the junior national team of their adopted country and are therefore unable to go on and play for their country of origin.
Blatter explained: "We don't want another case like Ladislao Kubala or Alfredo di Stefano who respectively had played for three and two differ-
ent countries."
The five-hour long meeting also discussed the order of the play-off matches for qualification for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
Oceania put forward a proposal for a playoff tournament which would bring together the "four confederations who have half a place" from the CONCACAF, from Asia, South America and Oceania.
However FIFA rejected the proposal due to the lack of available dates on the international calendar and have left it up to the organising body for the 2006 World Cup to decide in Frankfurt on December 3, two days before the draw for the Finals.
Blatter said: "There's only three options. Either we have an integral draw, we find some sort of regional solution (Asia against Oceania and South American against CONCACAF), or we leave it up to the Executive Committee meeting in Madrid on December 15 which would grant a full place to Oceania and just one play-off between Asia and CONCACAF."
FIFA also announced that the African hosts of the 2010 World Cup will be announced between May 1320.
Before the extraordinary summit got underway Blatter repeated his call for national championships to be cut to 16 sides.
The FIFA president also wanted Europe to reduce the number of its competitions to avoid player burnout.
"It's true that it goes against business interests but it would protect players' health. We have never had so many injuries," he said.
"We really need to study this problem seriously. I told (UEFA president) Lennart Johansson on Thursday we need to reduce the
pace of matches." But he admitted he faces stiff opposition.
"It's a burning issue and I find the reactions of some clubs uncalled for. They're the ones who force players to play so many matches."
English and German soccer authorities have already dismissed Blatter's proposal to cut domestic leagues and countered with a call to cut the number of international matches.
If the proposal were to be adopted by delegates here, it could go to FIFA's centenary congress in Paris in May 2004 for ratification.
Whether FIFA would be able to enforce such a change is doubtful.
There are 20 clubs in the English Premiership and 18 clubs in the German Bundesliga.
Blatter was shocked in June when Marc-Vivien Foe collapsed and died while playing for Cameroon in the Confederations' Cup in France.
However, Blatter insisted the World Club Championship would be revived in 2005, probably in Japan, South Africa or the USA.
"We will have no problem finding the clubs," he said.
Blatter said European clubs at the forefront of protests have stepped up money-making tours of Asia and the United States in their summer break.
The World Club Championship was held for the first time in 2000 in Brazil. It triggered a controversy in England when champions Manchester United withdrew from the English FA Cup to play in South America.
The tournament was subsequently postponed until 2003, but plans for a tournament this year were scrapped.