A Game Of Two Halves

SUGGESTIONS have been made to change fixtures at the 2022 Qatar World Cup to games of THREE thirty minute periods - if the heat conditions become too much for players.

Michael Beavon, director of Arup Associates, said: "There is a moderate risk of heat injury to the players between 24C-29C. But if you go above that you have high and extreme risk of injury.

"The one thing FIFA do say, although it is for guidance, is if it's 32C they will stop a match and play three 30-minute thirds rather than two 45-minute halves."

Temperatures can soar to over 40C in the summer, so the risk to players' health is clearly substantial. But, there is another way to get around this problem.

Do not have the World Cup in Qatar.

It is probably the most obvious solution.

What is the point in having three period football matches? It goes against the entire history of football. Not only will the idea of three periods play havoc with television scheduling, but the games will take even longer to complete.

No one wants to go to a football match and be disturbed by regular intervals. This is not American football where it takes four hours to complete a game because of the different plays and advertisement breaks.

Naturally, FIFA have distanced themselves from the claims. A spokesman said: "The possibility has not been discussed." Trust Sepp Blatter and his cronies to attempt to sweep another scandal under the rug.

The problem with Blatter is that he wants to leave a legacy. This is why we are facing the problematic World Cup in Qatar in the middle of summer, because of his 'legacy'. The only thing he is going to be remembered for is a series of cock-ups and a bribery scandal - not to mention his stubborn stance on goal-line technology, which I am not even going to get into.

Qatar was not a popular choice to host a World Cup, and this will do nothing to change anyone's views on the matter. Should three thirty minute periods be introduced, Blatter will be the laughing stock of the planet and the beautiful game will be a mockery.

The Nation Has Hope

ENGLAND Women qualified for the quarter-finals of the World Cup after beating Japan 2-0 on Tuesday.

A sensational chip from Ellen White and a neat finish from substitute Rachel Yankey were enough to see England top the group ahead of Japan, who are ranked fourth in the world.

Hope Powell's team now face France for a place in the semi-finals on Saturday in Leverkusen, and prove to the nation that not all World Cups can end in premature disappointment.

Following the men's humiliation at the hands of Germany last summer in Bloemfontein, the nation have come to expect nothing from those who pull on the coveted Three Lions jersey.

But now, after a draw against Mexico, victory from a goal down against New Zealand and Tuesday's win over Japan, there is light at the end of the tunnel for a country that is starving for success.

Women's football has been said to be lightyears behind the men's game, but the fact that more people care about the current World Cup going on in Germany than the Euro 2012 qualifiers explains the situation clearly.

Fabio Capello's flops fail to put on a display to get the crowd going on a regular basis, whereas Powell's team are some of the most consistent performers at every tournament. Could it be argued that the women's game is now more entertaining that the men's game? Or is it the same debate of lack of passion in the men's game?

Watching the goal celebrations every time the ladies scored, I got a real sense of togetherness. They are a close-knit unit - a family, even - rather than a team, whereas Capello's lads play as strangers.

It would be great to see the women bring the World Cup hope. Maybe it will not be as satisfying for a nation as a men's World Cup triumph, but you will not be able to take anything away from Powell's girls should they be victorious in Germany.

The Mann For The Job

DIETMAR Hamann's appointment as Stockport County manager is just the boost the club need to help steer them into the football league once more.

Hamann has a CV that boasts experience after a lengthy career which saw him lift two Bundesliga titles and a UEFA Cup with Bayern Munich, before a second UEFA Cup, two League Cups, two FA Cups and a Champions League triumph with Liverpool.

The Istanbul success under Rafa Benitez in 2005 was the icing on a fantastic career for the German who was capped 59 times by his country and scored the final goal at the old Wembley as the Germans ran out 1-0 winners over Kevin Keegan's England team.

The Hatters had a miserable campaign last season as they tumbled out of the football league for the first time in 106 years.

Under the charge of Dave Jones in 1996-97, County finished second in Division Two and also reached the semi-finals of the League Cup - beating three Premier League teams en route.

After five seasons in the second tier of English football, the Hatters were eventually relegated back to Division Two and then, not long after, to the fourth tier of English football.

In 2007-08, a 3-2 Play-Off Final victory over Rochdale saw Stockport return to League-One. However, financial trouble soon followed and after entering administration the club was taken over by the '2015 Group'.

Five wins from 46 matches saw the Hatters return to League Two in 2010, before toppling into the fifth tier after finishing bottom of the football league.

Now Hamann takes over the reigns of Ray Mathias in his first management job since retiring from professional football. The former Newcastle United midfielder was a coach at final club Milton Keynes Dons before he accepted the role of manager at Edgeley Park.

It is a shrewd appointment by Lord Snape who must surely believe that the experience Hamann will bring to the club will be invaluable. With a variety of contacts in England and across the continent, it will be interesting to see if those could be put into effect by securing the loan signings of talented young players that would surely help the Hatters back into the football league.

Knock-Out Football

WHEN I heard that a Sunderland fan was suing their own club I was shocked. The Mackems are amongst some of the most passionate and loyal in the land, surely it is a hoax I thought.

Then I saw the reason why the Black Cats were being sued, which is absolutely preposterous.

Why on earth would anyone sue the club they love after being knocked out by a stray Djibril Cisse shot at the training ground? Has the world gone completely mad?

So you got hit by the ball? Big deal.

Chairman Niall Quinn should ban this lunatic from coming within 100 yards of the Stadium of Light after this fiasco, but instead he is answering questions on BBC Radio Newcastle about the legal action being taken against the club.

"That supporter is in the process of suing us right now," said the Irishman.

Incredible.

This one supporter will probably end up ruining it for every other Sunderland fan. The effects this will now have on supporter and training ground regulations could be catastrophic.

Young Mackems lining up to get a glimpse of their heroes will be turned by the club for fear of having another lawsuit filed against them. It is completely ridiculous.

It could also start a new craze in the football stadiums now. Should a fan get hit by the ball when a player clears it into touch, what is to stop them from suing the club too?

'Where there's a blame there's a claim'...Try blaming yourself for not moving out of the way of a ball you moron!

If this fan wins the case then there is something seriously wrong with the world we are living in today.

Does the Punishment Fit the Crime?

PASSION. One of many words associated with football. Unfortunately idiocy is another one that fits the bill perfectly. The mind boggles to come to terms with why Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has been slapped with a two match ban for merely showing his enthusiasm.

The England man said that the automatic two-match ban was "clearly excessive" and I completely agree.

There is always going to be swearing in modern day football, it is part and parcel of the game, it is the culture that we live in. Tempers are running high and emotions are boiling over, and showing your passion is a crime now...apparently.

It seems that, lately, the FA are doing all they can to undermine United. First by hitting Sir Alex Ferguson with a five game touchline ban for improper conduct after his rant at Martin Atkinson, and now the ban dished out to Rooney for foul and abusive language. This means both will be in the stands for the crucial FA Cup semi-final tie against local rivals Manchester City.

It is such a harsh and petty punishment for Rooney, who has done worse things in his life than swear down a television camera. Yes, there would probably be children watching at home, but it is nothing that they will not hear in the playground in a few years time anyway.

Live matches always have abusive chants coming from the stands that cannot be edited out. Is this just the FA trying to even out the law for when Rooney should have been suspended for elbowing James McCarthy in the fixture against Wigan Athletic?

If so, it is a terrible way to go about it.

The absence of the former Everton man in the semi-final clash will have a drastic impact on moral in the City dressing room. Although Rooney has not hit top form at all this season, he still has all the capabilities to cause problems, and Roberto Mancini will no doubt be relieved that his name will not be on the team sheet.

I do not think that anyone particularly cares that he swore down the lens of a camera. It was certainly inappropriate, but there are much worse things in life at the moment.

So does the punishment fit the crime? Not one bit.

The English game is becoming a complete farce. It is high time the FA took a long hard look at some of their actions and realised how truly pathetic they are.

The Pressure is Real

AHEAD of this evenings Champions League clash at the Bernabeu, all the pressure is on Jose Mourinho's team of superstars.

Champions League new comers Tottenham Hotspur are not going to disgrace themselves, even with a 5-0 defeat at the hands of the Galacticos, which is why I think the Spanish giants may struggle tonight.

If Spurs are able to keep their heads and defend properly they will have a fantastic opportunity to get a positive result. With Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema both out of the clash, the visiting defence will really fancy their chances in the Spanish capital.

Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon will be the key men for the Harry Redkapp's men as they will be looking to provide the service for Milan hero Peter Crouch and the prolific Jermaine Defoe.

Rafael van der Vaart is a man on a mission tonight. The former Ajax and Hamburg midfielder was signed by Spurs for £8m from Madrid on January deadline day, and has been a key figure in the North London club's bid to secure a second successive Champions League spot.

The expectations are high for a club drenched in European glory with no less than nine Champions League triumphs, the last of which, however, was in 2002 - a game which will always be remembered for a tremendous volley from undoubtedly the best player at the time...Zinedine Zidane.

With the likes of Zidane and Luis Figo now well and truly moved on, it is up to new boys Mezut Ozil and Angel di Maria to step up to the plate and show their true qualities.

Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Vedran Corluka will have their work cut out to deal with the movement of the tricky forwards, and may face familiar foe in the shape of on-loan Manchester City star Emmanuel Adebayor, who played for fierce rivals Arsenal for four seasons.

Gonzalo Higuain will also have to be watched carefully by the depleted visiting defence. No Ledley King or Youness Kaboul has left the back line looking very thin, but Michael Dawson has been in inspirational form at the heart of the defence this season.

It is up to Spurs to go out there and do what they do best - play free-flowing attacking football. If Redknapp's men sit back and attempt to defend, there will only be one outcome.

Both AC and Inter Milan have come undone at the hands of Tottenham's explosive attacking football, so it is time now for Harry's lads to show the world that it was no fluke by causing another European upset.

Making A Stand

WHY is the Premier League so against having terraces? Everyone knows a standing section is great for atmosphere - and that is what fans want.

I would be delighted to go and stand on the terraces and cheer my team on because I rarely use my seat when I am at a game.

The fear is that there will be a repeat of the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, but what Premier League bigwigs need to consider in their calculations is that metal fences are no longer present in the English game.

A spokesman for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said: "Football grounds are safer and more comfortable than they were 20 years ago." Though this is true, football is not about comfort, it is about entertainment and togetherness - the fans as one, being the twelfth man.

The Premier League's main argument for having all-seater stadia is so that more women and children will be encouraged to attend the games. Well, hold on a minute. No one suggested getting rid of the family stands. We want more people to get involved. All we want is a section of terraces for those who want to stand and bring back the atmospheres that football had decades ago.

The Football Supporters' Federation (FSF), who are leading the campaign to bring back the terraces to the top two divisions in England, are using the German Bundesliga as their prime example as to why standing areas should be reintroduced to the English league.

German stadium expert Professor Gunter Pilz said: "You can't sing and make a good atmosphere when you are sitting." He also believes that the chances of another disaster like Hillsborough is very unlikely. "We have never had safety problems with standing in Germany."

There are plenty of stadiums in the lower tiers of English football that still have terraced areas, and there are no health and safety issues whatsoever. There might not be as many fans, but even so this is evidence enough for the Premier League to reintroduce standing areas for supporters who want it.

Football is for everyone, not just for prawn sandwich eaters who take flasks and blankets.

Look at the German example. The Bundesliga is becoming bigger and better than ever and fans are enjoying the atmosphere. Maybe the Premier League should take a leaf out of their book and stop worrying about health and safety and start worrying about the decay of fans' enjoyment.

It is time to give something back to the supporters.

Twinning Mentality the Future Foundations

THE FA CUP quarter final gave the nation a glimpse at Manchester United's future. Rafael and Fabio da Silva. At just 20-years-old, the Brazilian twins are two of the most exciting prospects in the Premier League. But it feels like they have been around for years.

Scouted from Fluminense, who also produced Real Madrid left-back Marcelo, the twins have made a name for themselves at one of the highest levels of football, with both claiming honours in their three years at Old Trafford.

The watchful eye of Sir Alex Ferguson has enabled the nimble full-backs to be nurtured by senior squad members, with Gary Neville and Patrice Evra the perfect role models for aspiring, young footballers.

Ferguson is building the foundations for another fantastic squad - just like he had during the days of Gary Pallister, Steve Bruce and David Beckham.

Chris Smalling is another rising young star. His performances in his last few games have been fantastic, he too is being nurtured by senior squad members Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand.

We all know that Fergie is no mug when it comes to transfers - Eric Djemba-Djemba and Kleberson aside - and he has unearthed some real gems in the shape of Smalling, the Silva twins and fellow South American Javier Hernandez, who has been a revelation for the Red Devils this season.

England striker Wayne Rooney's constant misfiring this term has meant that Chicharito has been the main man for United this and boy has he stepped up to the plate. I have lost count of the amount of crucial goals the Mexican has popped up with this season.

Lots of people are saying that there is no future for United, but I have to disagree. Yes, the veterans Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes will soon be leaving the Premier League. The only question is whether it will be at the end of this season like Edwin van der Sar.

But despite the spine of the team being ripped out through old age, there is some incredibly bright talent waiting in the wings to become the new Stretford End heroes.

There have been rumours floating around for months that there will be a huge clear out at Old Trafford, with Fergie getting rid of anyone he considers to be 'dead wood'. The Scot needs some talent in the engine room if they are going to continue to challenge for major honours. It is quite clear that Darron Gibson, Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher are not the key to success.

If van der Sar can be replaced, Sir Alex needs to secure the signatures of exciting, young midfielders. If he can do this, the Red Devils will continue challenging at the highest levels.

So He's Gay? Big Deal

I REALLY want to know what everyone is making such a big fuss about. So a footballer has come out as being gay...and? We are in the 21st Century here, not back in medieval times when you would be burnt at the stake.

OK, yes, it is a tough thing for anyone to openly admit that they are gay, but for a professional sportsperson who is constantly in the public spot light being scrutinised for every move they make takes a lot of courage.

Just look at Justin Fashanu.

Although it ended in tragic circumstances for Fashanu, it does not mean it will be the same for Anton Hysen, who came out on Thursday.

"I really don't care," said the 20-year-old. "If you respect me for the person who I am and how good I am at my sport, you shouldn't care."

Truer words never spoken.

Why should we care? In a society where everyone is striving to be accepted, why should professional sportsmen and women be afraid of coming out and admitting to who they are?

A survey by Staffordshire University showed that 90% of fans would not care if a footballer openly admitted that he were gay. I wonder how many of those fans would still join in with homophobic chants if said player was up against their team.

"They can say what they want," continued the Swede, son of former Liverpool defender Glenn, "I am who I am, I don't really care. Maybe I should just go dance with them - I don't know."

The important thing for a gay professional is to have the support of their teammates, not to be shunned or cast aside because they are different. Just look at the support that cricketer Steven Davies had when he announced his homosexuality on February 27. He received the full backing of the England team, and that is what professionals need if they are going to take that final step and announce who they really are.

Why should a sportsperson be afraid or ashamed to come out for fear of being slandered and ridiculed? Just because some fat mess eating a pie on the terraces is going to hurl homophobic abuse at them. Fans who cannot accept homosexuality in sport need to take a good look at their sad, pathetic lives and realise that this is the way people choose to live their lives. They do not want to be forced into hiding because of another person's insecurity.

"I've had players over the years who were single and read books and so others [other players] said they must be gay," said former Crystal Palace manager Alan Smith. "I think being openly gay would be something very difficult to live with in football. You can get drunk and beat up your wife and that's quite acceptable, but if someone were to say 'I'm gay', it's considered awful. It's ridiculous."

Smith makes an excellent point. Why should it be considered awful when there are far more worse things going on in the game. Players cheating on their wives with hookers, international footballers shooting people on work experience with an air rifle.

It is about time the world of football - and any other sport for that matter - embraced the fact that homosexuality is a way of life.

Lion Hart

YOU know your club is struggling when Paul Hart is appointed as manager. But, it is fair to say that the 57-year-old is one of the most underrated coach in the game.

His success at Nottingham Forest as youth coach is clear to see, bringing through some of the finest talent England has to offer in the shape of Jermaine Jenas and Michael Dawson - who are both playing Champions League football with Tottenham Hotspur.

Hart was given the managerial position at the City Ground in 2001, taking over from David Platt who had left the club with spiraling debt and led Forest to the Division One Play-Off semi-finals, only to lose to Sheffield United.

Following spells at Barnsley and then Rushden and Diamonds, Hart was appointed Director of Youth Operations at Portsmouth in 2007, before taking over the reins at Fratton Park on February 9 2009 when Tony Adams was dismissed.

The following season, seven consecutive league defeats saw Pompey rooted to the foot of the Premier League and Hart's spell came to an end on November 24 with just two wins from 13, leaving the south coast club stranded and battling for relegation.

A one month stint at Queens Park Rangers was to follow before he took the managerial post at relegation stricken Crystal Palace on March 2 2010, after Neil Warnock took the Queens Park Rangers job.

With the Eagles in administration and League-Two looming, three draws from the last three games were enough to keep the south-London club up - including a dramatic last day of the season point at fellow strugglers Sheffield Wendesday, who were relegated following a 2-2 draw at Hillsborough.

Now, the former Stockport County, Blackpool, Leeds United, Nottingham Forest, Sheffield Wednesday, Birmingham City and Notts County defender has taken charge at Npower League-One side Swindon Town, who are lurking precariously in the drop zone following the departure of Danny Wilson.

The club have been struggling since losing strikers Billy Paynter and Charlie Austin to Leeds and Burnley respectively.

Now, although Hart's managerial record is not one to be admired too much, we cannot deny his abilities as a coach to get the best out of young players. While a youth coach at Leeds, he produce much of the team that led the Whites to the Champions League semi-finals in 2001.

United were regarded as one of the finest teams in Europe at the time, and although players such as the prolific Mark Viduka, Rio Ferdinand and Olivier Dacourt were the spine of the team, players such as Ian Harte, Harry Kewell, Alan Smith, Paul Robinson and Stephen McPhail all had a major part to play in Leeds' bid for glory.

All of those players came through under Hart's watchful eye, so, although his managerial track record does not scream success, what he has achieved as a coach is something that deserves recognition.

He could be the man to save the Robins from relegation, but only time will tell.