SAO PAULO // When Yuichi Nishimura, the Japanese referee, pointed to the spot last night, awarding Brazil a penalty and Neymar the opportunity to fire his team into a 2-1 lead, the majority of the 62,103 spectators inside Arena Corinthians celebrated. Those fortunate to have instant replays, were not so jubilant.
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It was undoubtedly a wrong decision. Fred, the Brazilian striker, went to ground easily while Dejan Lovren, the Croatian defender, looked aghast having hardly touched his opponent. In the heat of the moment, such mistakes are unavoidable and excusable. However, more worrying was the immediate reaction to the decision from those outside the ground.
Within seconds of the referee’s whistle, Brazil were being branded cheats, Nishimura was part of a conspiracy to ensure the host nation won and the entire integrity of the tournament was being questioned. It could have been a genuine mistake, but such is the negativity and skepticism surrounding Fifa at the moment that the default reaction is to suspect foul play.
In Sao Paulo this week, Fifa held its annual Congress meeting, in which the governing body’s Executive Committee voted against the implementation of age limits and term limits. The decision essentially handed Sepp Blatter, the 78 year-old president of football’s governing body, approval to run for re-election.
If Fifa is to regain any sort of credibility, Blatter must be step down from his position. Until then, every error that takes place either on the pitch or off it will be viewed through a skewed perspective. That is no way to develop the beautiful game.
gmeenaghan@thenational.ae
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AT%20A%20GLANCE
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Arabian Gulf Cup FINAL
Al Nasr 2
(Negredo 1, Tozo 50)
Shabab Al Ahli 1
(Jaber 13)
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
The five pillars of Islam
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
'Of Love & War'
Lynsey Addario, Penguin Press
FROM%20THE%20ASHES
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'How To Build A Boat'
Jonathan Gornall, Simon & Schuster
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
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Transmission: 8-speed automatic
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On sale: Available for preorder now
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: seven-speed
Power: 620bhp
Torque: 760Nm
Price: Dh898,000
On sale: now
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The story of Edge
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, established Edge in 2019.
It brought together 25 state-owned and independent companies specialising in weapons systems, cyber protection and electronic warfare.
Edge has an annual revenue of $5 billion and employs more than 12,000 people.
Some of the companies include Nimr, a maker of armoured vehicles, Caracal, which manufactures guns and ammunitions company, Lahab
In Full Flight: A Story of Africa and Atonement
John Heminway, Knopff
Five expert hiking tips
Always check the weather forecast before setting off
Make sure you have plenty of water
Set off early to avoid sudden weather changes in the afternoon
Wear appropriate clothing and footwear
Take your litter home with you
