Latest news with #playerwelfare
Daily Mail
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
FIFA chief takes aim at 'combative' players' union boss for being 'more Papal than the Pope' as row over welfare escalates
The explosive war over player welfare has spectacularly escalated – with FIFA's chief legal officer taking aim at the union's president. Emilio Garcia Silvero has accused global players' union FIFPRO boss Sergio Marchi of being 'in a constant state of opposition' and of attempting to be 'even more Papal than the Pope'. In the wake of the expanded Club World Cup and an increasing calendar, Marchi had accused FIFA of choosing to 'continue increasing its income at the expense of the players' bodies and health', likened its approach to the 'bread and circuses' tactics used by Emperor Nero in ancient Rome and warned there could be no repeat of playing matches in such extreme heat at next summer's World Cup, which is being co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico. However, in an extraordinary, retaliatory attack, Silvero has gone onto the offensive. 'Over the last few weeks, it looks like some people are more concerned about making waves in the media instead of the real issues and problems players have to face,' he said. 'I believe being the FIFPRO president doesn't mean you have to find a new disagreement every day. 'My impression is that Sergio is in a state of constant opposition—not just opposing for the sake of it, but rather in a permanent effort to appear, and to demonstrate to other European associations, that he can be even 'more papal than the Pope'—more combative against FIFA than even the European unions themselves and, honestly, this surprises me.' FIFPRO represent around 66,000 men's and women's players across the globe. And Silvero suggested the body is not fit for purpose. 'I believe there is a very, very large disconnect between the global players' union and those they claim to represent,' he added. Marchi laid into FIFA president Gianni Infantino, and Silvero was quick to defend his boss.'Sergio said that Gianni Infantino 'is God' or 'thinks he is God',' he added. 'Frankly, I think this is far too personal. Clearly, he is not because he was not able to stop the storms and bad weather we had during the (FIFA) Club World Cup. He is a human being, with mistakes and with achievements.' Marchi had also raised questions over how 'democratic' FIFA was. But Silvero turned that onto the union itself. 'Speaking of democracy, we don't know anything (about FIFPRO)—how is FIFPRO financed?' he said. 'Don't give lectures if you don't have a leg to stand on. We probably are not a perfect organisation, but since 2016, since President Infantino was elected, FIFA has changed not just a lot, but so much in terms of transparency. 'FIFPRO is not the sole player union, and that's what FIFPRO wants to be. They don't want us to talk to anyone else. However, FIFPRO doesn't have any representatives in Brazil; FIFPRO doesn't have representatives in Ecuador; FIFPRO doesn't have representatives in Germany.' Silvero's comments are the latest in a punchy back and forth. Earlier this month, FIFA accused FIFPRO of 'grandstanding', 'blackmail' and 'operating in opacity' over their financial accounts.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
World Rugby boss rejects Schmidt's clearout claim
The boss of World Rugby has rejected Australia coach Joe Schmidt's claim that the decision at the end of the second Test against the British and Irish Lions contravened the sport's player welfare drive. The officials decided not to overturn Hugo Keenan's match-winning try after reviewing a clearout in the build-up from flanker Jac Morgan as the Lions edged a compelling contest at the MCG. As the Lions attacked near the Australia line, Morgan cleaned out Wallaby flanker Carlo Tizzano, who lurched backwards intimating he had been struck on the head as he tried to steal possession. The ball was then worked out to the left for Keenan to score, with referee Andrea Piardi sticking by his initial decision to award the try after consultation with the television match official (TMO). After the game, which the Lions won to take an unassailable 2-0 series lead, Wallabies coach Schmidt said it was a call that "didn't live up to" World Rugby's focus on player welfare. "I don't agree with that," World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin told the Rugby Union Weekly podcast in Sydney. "I understand emotions are running high and I understand Joe's looking at specific laws and playing that into the sort of officiating and welfare debate. "But Joe knows well, and so do all the international coaches, that we are investing heavily [in player welfare], whether it's instrumented mouthguards across the professional game, whether it's all the investment we make in the science and research. "We're trying to find that really tricky but massively important balance between a sport that is a brilliant physical contest and as safe as it can be in for the players. It's a very tough balance. "One of the great wonders of rugby is the complexity of our laws and the interpretation of that. We know that creates controversy and sometimes frustration but it also gets everyone talking about rugby, and talking positively about rugby and what an amazing game it was." Morgan produced 'perfect' clearout - Owens Ringrose ruled out of third Lions Test 'Glorious Lions needed this battle to reveal another side of themselves' Gilpin wouldn't be drawn about whether figures at Rugby Australia had lodged a formal complaint, but said the referees' body had been going through their customary review of the game over the past few days and that the officials "stand by their decision". "We've got to back our referees and our match officials. And we do. They're making 800-plus decisions under incredible pressure in front of a global audience in a single game," he added. "And they don't get every decision right. But as long as they've gone through the right process and as long as they've got a decision that they can stand behind, then we'll support them." Meanwhile, Australia fly-half Tom Lynagh has asked whether any review findings into the decision should be made available to the public. "I think it's a grey area," Lynagh said on Tuesday. "I think it would be good for the public to know the final result. "But unfortunately it doesn't change the result of the fixture, the decision is final." Former Wallabies captain Michael Hooper has been among those vocal in the Australian media, saying it should have been a penalty against Morgan and the Lions for a dangerous ruck entry. But he adds that now is the time for the hosts to move on and focus on the third and final Test in Sydney this weekend. "It's the game, right," he told Rugby Union Weekly. "But these things happen and if being a player teaches you anything, it's that you have to move on. "I hope the Wallabies have had a couple of days just to grieve, get it over with, and to get mentally prepared to bring it this week." 'Lions need whitewash to be lauded for decades' - Dawson column 'Finish on a high' - Russell seeks 3-0 Lions clean sweep Get the latest updates from the Lions tour
France 24
3 days ago
- Sport
- France 24
World Rugby boss disappointed in Schmidt questioning player safety push
Lions wing Hugo Keenan touched down in the last minute at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday with the match and series-winning try given by Italian referee Andrea Piardi after a video review. A furious Schmidt was adamant it should not have stood, pointing to a high clean-out in the lead up by Jac Morgan on Carlo Tizzano, with Australian rugby boss Phil Waugh backing the assessment. In his post-match comments, Schmidt insisted that contact with Tizzano was made above the shoulders, which made it illegal. "Our perspective is, we felt it was a decision that doesn't really live up to the big player safety push that they're talking about," he said. Gilpin, in Sydney to launch the 2027 men's World Cup ticketing program, told reporters it was disappointing, but Schmidt would not face disciplinary action. "It's disappointing when the reaction is one of 'this means player welfare isn't taken seriously' because we have worked really hard on that narrative," he said. "Everyone knows we're putting player welfare in its broadest sense at the top of the agenda. "I think Joe's comments have continued to respect the fact that the match officials have got a tough job to do," he added. World Rugby has been conducting a review into the incident in conjunction with Australia, the Lions and match officials which is expected to be concluded this week. Gilpin said Piardi and his assistants were being supported amid the backlash. "In those tight contests, decisions made in crucial moments inevitably draw a lot of scrutiny," he said.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
World Rugby boss rejects Schmidt's clearout claim
The boss of World Rugby has rejected Australia coach Joe Schmidt's claim that the decision at the end of the second Test against the British and Irish Lions contravened the sport's player welfare officials decided not to overturn Hugo Keenan's match-winning try after reviewing a clearout in the build-up from flanker Jac Morgan as the Lions edged a compelling contest at the joined the back of a ruck near the 5m line and collided into Australia's Carlo Tizzano who lurched backwards in pain, claiming he had been struck on the back of the neck as he tried to lift the the ball was worked out to the left for Keenan to score, the television match official (TMO) checked the clearout and agreed with referee Andrea Piardi's initial decision to award the the game, which the Lions won to take an unassailable 2-0 series lead, Wallabies coach Schmidt said it was a call that "didn't live up to" World Rugby's focus on player welfare."I don't agree with that," World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin told the Rugby Union Weekly podcast in Sydney."I understand emotions are running high and I understand Joe's looking at specific laws and playing that into the sort of officiating and welfare debate."But Joe knows well, and so do all the international coaches, that we are investing heavily [in player welfare], whether it's instrumented mouthguards across the professional game, whether it's all the investment we make in the science and research."We're trying to find that really tricky but massively important balance between a sport that is a brilliant physical contest and as safe as it can be in for the players. It's a very tough balance."One of the great wonders of rugby is the complexity of our laws and the interpretation of that. We know that creates controversy and sometimes frustration but it also gets everyone talking about rugby, and talking positively about rugby and what an amazing game it was." Gilpin wouldn't be drawn about whether figures at Rugby Australia had lodged a formal complaint, but said the referees' body had been going through their customary review of the game over the past few days and that the officials "stand by their decision"."We've got to back our referees and our match officials. And we do. They're making 800-plus decisions under incredible pressure in front of a global audience in a single game," he added."And they don't get every decision right. But as long as they've gone through the right process and as long as they've got a decision that they can stand behind, then we'll support them."Meanwhile, Australia fly-half Tom Lynagh has asked whether any review findings into the decision should be made available to the public."I think it's a grey area," Lynagh said on Tuesday. "I think it would be good for the public to know the final result."But unfortunately it doesn't change the result of the fixture, the decision is final."Former Wallabies captain Michael Hooper has been among those vocal in the Australian media, saying it should have been a penalty against Morgan and the Lions for a dangerous ruck he adds that now is the time for the hosts to move on and focus on the third and final Test in Sydney this weekend."It's the game, right," he told Rugby Union Weekly. "But these things happen and if being a player teaches you anything, it's that you have to move on."I hope the Wallabies have had a couple of days just to grieve, get it over with, and to get mentally prepared to bring it this week."
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
World Rugby hits back at furious Australia's referee complaints following controversial flashpoint during British and Irish Lions Test
World Rugby have refuted claims by Australia that match officials failed to act in the best interests of player welfare, during the controversial climax of the Lions' epic victory in Melbourne last Saturday. Since the British and Irish tourists snatched a 29-26 win at the MCG to claim a 2-0 series lead with one game to play, the sport has been ablaze with a furious debate about a late decision made by referee Andrea Piardi and his fellow officials. Having studied replays of a ruck clear-out by Jac Morgan in the lead-up to Hugo Keenan's decisive, last-minute try for the Lions, the Italian ruled that there was no foul play by the Wales captain. However, the Wallabies were incensed and adamant that Morgan had hit Carlo Tizzano illegally high, on the neck. Head coach Joe Schmidt said: 'Match officials make errors. We felt it was a decision that doesn't really live up to the big player safety push that they are talking about. 'In a world of player welfare… It's what they are there to enforce. A player who dives off his feet and is clearly beaten to the position over the ball, makes neck contact.' In response, World Rugby – the global governing body – have expressed concern about the tone of Schmidt's incendiary remarks. Chief executive Alan Gilpin said: 'It is disappointing when the reaction is, 'this means player welfare isn't taken seriously', because everyone knows we are putting player welfare, in its broadest sense, at the top of the agenda. So, that part is challenging, in terms of the player welfare statements (by Schmidt).' Gilpin emphasised the need for a 'respectful debate', but asked if Schmidt could face disciplinary action, he said: 'No. There's a lot of emotion, understandably. The Wallabies had a chance to win an amazing Test match, so we understand the emotion involved. 'Joe's comments have continued to respect the fact that the match officials have a tough job to do. He might disagree with the decisions that were made, but I don't think he's called the integrity of our match officials into question.' The authorities are rallying around the group of officials on duty for this series – Piardi, Ben O'Keeffe and Nika Amashukeli, along with a roster of TMOs. 'There is no other position on the field that is under the scrutiny our match officials are under,' said Gilpin. 'Those match officials are making something like 800 decisions in a game with the pressure, speed and complexity of all that. 'We all know the breakdown is such a complex area to officiate. They've gone through their process. When the on-field decision is try and that's referred to the TMO, there needs to be something really clear and obvious to change that and they didn't feel there was. 'We won't talk publicly about that decision. The decision's happened, the game has finished, we'll move on, we'll share with Joe (Schmidt) and the coaching team why the match officials made that decision. 'Joe's got a view about what was wrong with that decision-making, and there'll be a debate between them about that, so that Joe and his players can go into the next Test understanding how the game's going to be officiated.' Tizzano received treatment following the incident, but referees found no fault with the way Morgan entered the ruck The last Lions tour was scarred by an infamous episode when South Africa's then director of rugby, Rassie Erasmus, publicly savaged Australian referee Nic Berry and cast doubt on the integrity of the match officials, which sparked uproar and earned Erasmus a ban. The saga shed light on the issue of what the officials and their families are subjected to and the toll it takes on them. With that in mind again, Gilpin was asked if Piardi and Co are being given extra support and he said: 'We are checking in on them. They're a great unit. They've been together on this tour as a team so they're looking after each other. 'I've said it a couple of times to people in the last couple of days, four years ago in the last Lions series in South Africa when the match official in the first Test was heavily criticised, the mental health challenges... 'Wayne Barnes (former English referee, who received death threats after the last World Cup Final) has talked about it. We've got match officials who, when they're criticised publicly, are having their families targeted outside the school gates. That's not good, that's not fair, and that's not right, so we've got to support these guys.' Both Australia and the Lions have been given an opportunity to review the last Test and clarify any issues with the officials, before the series finale in Sydney on Saturday, which will be refereed by Amashukeli. 'Everyone exchanges clips and questions, looking for clarification,' said Gilpin. 'The key is always to do that process quickly enough that the two coaching teams can go into the next set of training sessions with the questions that they have answered. That is about today, really.'
