2 November 2009
Abuja — FIFA yesterday in Abuja attributed Brazil's failure to qualify for the second round of the ongoing FIFA U-17 World Cup to "fair play inadequacies".
Brazil were knocked out of contention on Sunday in Abuja after drawing level on points and goals with the UAE and the Netherlands.
The three teams had been drawn to pick the remaining ticket in the best third-placed teams classification after Germany, Uruguay and New Zealand had picked three of the four available tickets.
Mr Wolfgang Resch, head of FIFA's Communications and Public Affairs Division in Abuja, said the UAE were ahead of the other two sides in the fair play rankings.
"UAE had a better fair play record, and they were picked ahead of Brazil and the Netherlands. They have five yellow cards, while both Brazil and the Netherlands had six yellow cards each," he said.
Brazil had placed third in Group B after one win and two losses, scoring three goals and conceding four, the same record with the UAE and the Netherlands who played in Groups E and C respectively.
In accordance with Article 25 of the competition's regulations, a drawing of lots took place to pick the team to join the other three.
Resch said that with the three teams still level after their points, goal difference and number of goals scored had been considered, the fair play points system had to be followed.
"In this case, the number of yellow cards and red cards collected by both sides are evaluated, with points awarded. But a team with a greater number of cards will certainly record low points," he said.
Commenting on the situation, FIFA Vice-President Jack Warner said it was a good lesson to teams on discipline, playing offensive football and conceding less goals.
"This is the first time this is happening in a FIFA competition, as far as the records can show, at least until this morning when we checked.
"But it tells you of the importance of fair play. For Brazil, it was rather unfortunate," he said.
Mr Jean-Marie Conz, head of FIFA's Technical Study Group (TSG) at the competition, also said Brazil could have advanced to the next round if they had scored more goals.
"The surprise of this situation is Brazil and Holland too. It is indeed difficult to lose like this, but they are not weak teams and know that they have to work hard for success.
"It is not about just scoring three goals, and for a team like Brazil it is bad. In football, you have to score goals and continue to be on the offensive," he said.
Second round matches are scheduled to commence on Wednesday with Group A runners-up Argentina facing Group C runners-up Colombia at the Gateway Stadium, Ijebu Ode.
Group D winners Turkey will also on Wednesday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu meet Group E third-place finishers, the UAE.
Group B winners Switzerland are to take on European champions Germany on Wednesday at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.
Wednesday's fourth match will hold at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna with Group F leaders Italy facing the U.S. who finished second in Group E.
On Thursday, Group E winners Spain, who whipped Malawi 4-1 in Kano on Sunday, will return to the Sani Abacha Stadium to meet Group D runners-up Burkina Faso.
At the U.J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar, Group C winners Iran will meet Uruguay also on Thursday.
Mexico, who finished second in Group B, will also on Thursday at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium in Bauchi take on Group F runners-up South Korea.
The last match on the second round line-up sees hosts and defending champions Nigeria who topped Group A returning to the Abuja National Stadium on Thursday to meet New Zealand.
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