After
watching the inaugural match yesterday between the host country Russia and one
of the Asian Giants Saudi Arabia, of the current World Cup going on in Russia, once
again it was proved how low the standard of Asian soccer is. Though Russia is not a super power in soccer
as compared to others in Europe and South America yet the Russians made a
mockery of the Asian powerhouse Saudi Arabia.
In
1982 World Cup held in Spain, Kuwait qualified for the final phase. During its encounter with Platini’s France,
when the Frenchman scored one of their goals, the Kuwaiti defense remained motionless
thinking referee has whistled for some infringement but when they found that
the match referee blew his long whistle for the goal, the Kuwaiti players rushed
to the referee questioning him how he allowed this goal when he already blew
his whistle earlier, but the referee said he did not blow the whistle twice,
that is, earlier he did not. That means
somebody behind the goal among the spectators must have played the mischief.
There
was heavy argument on the field, the big man of Kuwaiti soccer administration
Sheikh Fahad watching that match from the VIP Gallery wearing his brownish
National dress – Distasha – came sprinting from the Stands on top all furious and
by making a sign in his right hand indicating to the Kuwaiti players standing
on the ground not to play any further. In his capacity as the top official of the Kuwaiti
team he cannot act that way. After some
consultation, the referee withdrew that cntroversal goal and the match restarted
again. Later on the FIFA reprimanded
Kuwaiti soccer team and heavily fined Sheikh Fahad. Somebody said that this Kuwaiti Prince
thought that he was dealing with Indian domestics at his house coming to work
in Kuwait from Goa and not with FIFA which is the most upright body in the
World.
According
to my assessment, till what saw till today
15.06.18 at 6.30 PM, World Cup this time will be a drab affair without much entusism. I don’t think in this W.Cup we will get a chance to
see another Pele-Maradona, Zico, Falcao, Rummeniege, Eusebio and many others.
A.ronica
Ferandes.
