World Cup plagued by controversial delays

TIANJIN: International soccer's governing body FIFA mysteriously postponed China's last group match just four hours before yesterday afternoon's scheduled kick-off.

"It is late but it is also fair play of course," said China's Swedish coach Marika Domanski-Lyfors moments after hearing the news.

"It was a right decision. They could have made it yesterday, butt now they made it and it's Ok.

"We will go for the game tomorrow and now we have to get relaxed."

The team used last night's scheduled game time to tune up in a short training session.

With Typhoon Wipha closing in on China's East Coast, FIFA on Tuesday postponed two matches scheduled for yesterday - Norway versus Ghana in Group C and Brazil versus Denmark in Group D - until today. But the Group D match between China and New Zealand was still set to proceed (last night).

This met with protest from Chinese Football Association officials who claimed FIFA should abide the "Fair Play" rule and play the last two matches of each group at the same time.

FIFA disregarded the initial outcry before suddenly changing the draw just hours before last night's scheduled kick off.

FIFA spokesman Nicolas Maingot defended the lateness of Wednesday's decision, saying FIFA wanted the games on the same day but needed to make sure Tianjin and Chengdu would not be affected by the typhoon on Thursday.

Chengdu is about 1,800km west of Shanghai and Tianjin is 1,100km north. Neither is in the direct path of the typhoon.

"We would have loved to make the decision earlier, but we had to follow the evolution of the typhoon," he told The Associated Press.

FIFA's statement said the change also complies with the requests of the participating teams.

Canada coach Even Pellerud said he believed the change was the result of complaints to FIFA that it was unfair to play games on different days.

"It was the mounting pressure on FIFA.

"It was not one or two teams, it was mounting pressure," he said.

As well as the China-New Zealand Group D match in Tianjin, the Canada-Australia Group C match in Chengdu was also postponed until today.

All four games are critical and will determine which four teams advance to the quarterfinal.

Decision "too late"

China's media officer Meng Hongtao complained the decision came too late and would definitely negatively impact players.

"When the news came to us, we were about to have the scheduled 4pm dinner and open a closed-door meeting at 4:45," Meng said.

"It was all of a sudden that we are forced us to reschedule everything."

Meng was worried whether players would be able to adjust their physical and mental preparation after the anti-climax.

"We have many young players who lack experience of major competitions," he said.

"The sudden change will surely have bad effect on them.

"They were in very good shape and in full gear for the final group match yesterday.

"But the decision put the rhythm of life in a mess. I am sure we need some time again to get physically and mentally ready."

About 60,000 fans who bought tickets for the China-New Zealand fixture at the Tianjin Olympic Center Stadium were also faced to wait another day.

Many had already lined up outside the ground only to be told to come back today.

"Yes, I was a little bit upset," said one disappointed fan, from Hebei Province, who stormed off after being told the news.

"They should have told us earlier.

"But I will come tomorrow. I hope China could win."

Brazil is as good as through to the quarters with a huge for-and-against differential while China and Denmark are closely matched for the remaining quarterfinal spot.

Even New Zealand still has a slim hope but would virtually need a miracle.

For China to qualify, it has to either better Denmark's result or, in the event both sides win, achieve a victory margin five goals greater than the Danes'.

(China Daily 09/20/2007 page24)