Limit for salvation

The Italians were concerned about the invasion of the Varangians

The failure of the 2006 World Cup champion Italy, which finished last in its preliminary group in South Africa, forced the country's football federation to take measures to protect the interests of home-grown players in the national championship. From now on, only one player who does not have a passport from a European Union country can enter the field in Serie A matches. Previously, this quota was equal to two players.

According to the head of the country's Association of Professional Footballers, Sergio Campana, the Italian championship is filled with low-level foreign players, while receiving high salaries. They take the place of players who in the future could play for the Azzurra squad if they had enough practice, and did not sit in the reserves. The President of the Italian Football Federation, Giancarlo Abete, is somewhat disingenuous when he says that the decision on the limit is not related to the national team’s disgusting result. In fact, the question of a new limit on the Varangians was not raised before the World Cup. At the same time, the head of the Italian league, Maurizio Beretta, is categorically against the federation’s decision: “This innovation will rob the entire Serie A.

Nigeria will avoid disqualification

The Nigerian national team also turned out to be an outsider in the group, only in this country the failure became the reason for the anger of the head of state, Goodluck Jonathan. Without thinking twice, he banned the “super eagles” from competing in official competitions under the auspices of FIFA and the Confederation of African Football for two years. However, FIFA categorically does not tolerate government interference in the internal affairs of national federations and has threatened Nigeria with an even longer period of disqualification in the event of arbitrariness by those in power.

In fact, presented with an ultimatum, the president was forced to back down and “mercifully,” as stated in a press release from the Nigerian Football Federation, nevertheless reversed his initial decision. True, in Nigeria itself, many sincerely believe that a two-year self-isolation would help restore order in the national team.

Maradona will be immortalized during his lifetime

A bill to erect a sculpture dedicated to world football star and current coach of the Argentine national team Diego Maradona on the southern outskirts of Buenos Aires was submitted to the parliament of the Argentine capital on Tuesday, RIA Novosti reports, citing local media. The author of the parliamentary initiative, which will be considered in the near future, was Juan Cabandie, who heads the pro-presidential faction of the ruling Justicialist (Peronist) party in the legislative body.

The monument is planned to be built in the Puente la Noria area, not far from the slum area where the famous football player was born on October 30, 1960. “Maradona has become a social phenomenon, an icon of Argentine popular culture. With all his shortcomings and virtues, making mistakes typical of any person, Diego managed to overcome the vicissitudes of fate, demonstrating inflexibility and a fighting spirit,” says Kabandie.

Prepared by Olga ERMOLINA and Ilya TRISVIATSKY