Filed under: Brazilian State Championships | Tags: Carlos Eugenio Simon, Ceará, Ceará State League, Flamengo, Fortaleza, Germany, Referees, Sweden, Teddy Lucic, World Cup
Wrong decisions in a big league match put referees in the headlines week in week out. But bizarre decisions put referees in the headlines no matter where or when they happen. Campeonato Cearense (Ceará State League) in Northern Brazil seldom appears in the national news. But this week it happened. Not because of the clash between local rivals and perennial finalists Ceará SC and Fortaleza EC, but due to a gross misjudgement by Fifa referee Carlos Eugênio Simon. Simon, who refereed in two World Cups and is looking for his third, awarded Ceará SC a ghost penalty after striker Edu Sales fell in the box (see below) even though the closest Fortaleza defender was three meters away.
The images were not enough to make the referee change his view. In an interview the day after the match Simon mantained he made the right call. To his luck the bizarre decision did not affect the final score since Fortaleza EC ended up winning the derby 2-1. However, it may hit Carlos Simon’s plans to become the first Brazilian to referee in three World Cups. After a dodgy decision which denied Flamengo a penalty in the added time of a match against Cruzeiro in the Brazilian League , Flamengo officials started a crusade against the referee sending Fifa a video of Simon’s alleged mistake. Now the club announced it will dispatch images of Simon’s most recent mistake to Fifa. The 43-year-old is the only Brazilian in the list of prospective referees for the 2010 World Championship in South Africa.
Also a journalist and trade unionist, Simon has taken part in five World Cup matches. He is best remembered not for a disputable penalty or offside call, but for a controversial grin after sending off Sweden’s defender Teddy Lucic in the first half of the 2006 World Cup second-round match against Germany – followed by a pat on the back from Germany’s striker Lukas Podolski.
Filed under: São Paulo State Championship | Tags: AC Milan, Barcelona, Corinthians, Cruzeiro, Inter Milan, Neymar, Pelé, Real Madrid, Ronaldo, Santos, Soccer legends, Vila Belmiro, World Cup
From his box at Vila Belmiro, Santos FC’s home ground, Pelé was hoping to watch his beloved team and its new star Neymar beat Corinthians in the first leg of the Campeonato Paulista (São Paulo State League) final. But what the King of Football saw was another brilliant exhibition of Ronaldo, who scored two goals and led his side to a 3-1 victory. Ronaldo’s second goal was such a beauty that deserved a special comment from Pelé.
“That goal was World Cup class. Ronaldo made the difference. He has proven he is back and fit again,” said football’s all-time greatest, who arrived at Vila Belmiro bragging he had not seen Santos lose any home match in more than three years.
Ronaldo has scored eight goals in ten matches for Corinthians and he is very close to win his first trophy at his new club – and his first piece of silverware in Brazilian football since the Campeonato Mineiro (Minas Gerais State League) for Cruzeiro in 1994 when he was only 17. Corinthians now holds a two-goal advantage over Santos ahead of the second leg on Sunday.
The man of the match himself was cautious as he believes it is too early to celebrate. With a history of long recoveries during a career plagued by knee injuries, Ronaldo has got used to waiting. Once again written off as finished he is just a week away of one more amazing comeback.
“To be king for a day in the stadium where Pelé scored so many of his goals is great. I am proud and happy that I did my best to help the team. But we still have 90 minutes to play,” said the former Inter Miland, Barcelona, Real Madrid and AC Milan striker.
Santos manager Vagner Mancini refused to admit the home defeat put an end to their title hopes but he acknowledges his side has a mountain to climb after Ronaldo’s performance.
“Corinthians did not have many chances, but when they did the ball went to Ronaldo’s feet. He is a genius and his second goal showed that. If it were anyone else, that goal would not have happened,” said Mancini.
Related news on FC Brazil: Ronaldo’s road to recovery: ‘What a pace, Gordo!’
Filed under: São Paulo State Championship | Tags: AC Milan, Barcelona, Corinthians, Football legends, Inter Milan, PSV Eindhoven, Real Madrid, Ronaldo, Soccer legends, World Cup
Ronaldo scoring a goal is hardly a reason to stop the presses. But the Phenomenon latest blast made the headlines because of how it was done.
Ronaldo’s career was put in jeopardy back in February 2008 when he blew his left knee. Many thought that, at age 31 and having to face major reconstructive knee surgery, the 2002 World Cup leading scorer would choose what seemed to be the the logical way out and simply quit football.
However, once again Ronaldo defied logic. Despite all the struggle to lose weight and be in game shape, not only the former PSV, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and AC Milan striker came back to professional footbal, but he also came back to Brazil, to play for Corinthians.
Last Sunday, Ronaldo scored Corinthians second goal against São Paulo, putting the finishing touch on a 2-0 win that propelled his team to the São Paulo state championship finals, where they will face Santos.
The goal came with Ronaldo’s usual soft touch. What was unexpected, though, was the fact that Ronaldo outpaced defender Rodrigo to the ball before slotting the shot past goalkeeper Bosco.
It was such an amazing run that Corinthians’ manager Mano Menezes joked with Ronaldo when they were celebrating the goal: “Que velocidade, gordo!” (“What a pace, fatty!), he said, refering to Ronaldo’s (in)famous bout with the weight scale.
After the match, Ronaldo took a shot at one São Paulo director who said he was an “ex-player”, by saying: “There is always some j****** talking some b*******. Let’s see if he shows up now to say anything.”
Related news on FC Brazil: Ronaldo’s goal delights Pelé: ‘World Cup class. He is back’
Filed under: English Premier League | Tags: Alexandre Pato, Amauri, Deco, Eduardo da Silva, Italy national team, Manchester United, Marcos Senna, Rodrigo Possebon, World Cup
Brazilian and Italian press have discussed for months the issue of which national team Juventus striker Amauri will choose to play for. Meanwhile, and without the same amount of attention, another Brazilian talent has made up his mind without much trouble. Manchester United midfielder Rodrigo Possebon was called to Italy U-20 national team and said yes.
“I am very happy to be called up and to have chosen to defend Italy, a country that has recognized my work. There is no come back. From the moment I got the Italian citizenship I knew this could happen. I see it as a way to return what Italy has given me: the possibility to play in Europe and to defend Manchester United. I will do my best to secure a place in the U-20 team and to have a chance in the senior national team later on,” says Rodrigo.
Possebon is born in Sapucaia do Sul, state of Rio Grande do Sul (same as Ronaldinho), and began his career at SC Internacional, where he played alongside AC Milan star Alexandre Pato. Rodrigo was spotted by the same scout who recommended the twins Rafael and Fábio da Silva to Manchester United. The midfielder moved to England without having played a single professional match in Brazil. He was granted the Italian citizenship through his father’s family and avoided the need for a working permit in UK.
Rodrigo Possebon has played only seven official matches for the Red Devils but his talent has been praised by Sir Alex Ferguson and Cristiano Ronaldo. Manchester United’s official website calls him “elegant and composed in possession but full of energy, an archetypal box-to-box midfielder.” The player has already got a song from Man United fans.
Brazilian players have a long history of contribution to the Italian national team. The forward Anfilóquio Marques, known as Filó in Brazil and as Guarisi in Italy, was the first Brazilian to win a World Cup in 1934 as part of the Italian squad. In the 50’s striker Dino da Costa was a member of the team who failed to qualify for the 1958 World Cup. A winner in Sweden 1958 with Brazil, striker Mazzola moved to Italy and defended the Azzurri in the World Championship four years later in Chile. In indoor football the Brazilian influence is even stronger. In the 2008 Futsal World Cup all 14 players of the Italian squad were born in Brazil.
In the 80’s and 90’s Brazilian-born footballers defending other national teams were considered players who had no chance of making it to the Seleção. This is still a common view. But names such as Deco in Portugal, Marcos Senna in Spain and Eduardo in Croatia have shown they could have been valuable assets to the Brazilian team. Brazilian fans now can only hope this will not be the case of Rodrigo Possebon. Neither of Amauri, if he chooses to follow the same way.
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