Bendtner fine and suspension shows the hypocrisy of football

Arsenal and Denmark’s Nicklas Bendtner was fined €100,000  (~$125,797) and suspended for one World Cup Qualification match for improper conduct. This improper conduct in this case was revealing a pair of bookmaker-sponsored underwear (Paddy Power) after scoring his second goal against Portugal in their EURO 2012 match.

Bendtner was also reprimanded by the Danish Football Association (DBU) and ordered to wear those the bookmaker-sponsored underwear in Denmark’s final group stage match against Germany.

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Via UEFA.com

Following the opening of disciplinary proceedings concerning the improper conduct of Denmark’s Nicklas Bendtner at the UEFA EURO 2012 Group B match against Portugal in Lviv on Wednesday 13 June, the UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body has decided to suspend the player for one competitive fixture.

This suspension applies to the next 2014 FIFA World Cup match, including the qualifying competition, for which Bendtner is eligible. The player has also been fined €100,000. An appeal can be lodged against this decision within three days of the dispatch of the full written decision.

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During this same tournament, the Croatian Football Federation (HNS) was fined €25,000 ($31,449) for throwing fireworks and missiles and invading the pitch during their group stage match against Ireland. In addition, the Russian Football Union was fined €125,000 ($150,054) for stadium violence after their group stage match against the Czech Republic.

FC Porto was fined £16,700 in February after their fans were cited for racial abuse of Mario Balotelli– in this case being monkey chants.

UEFA has shown yet again that the most important thing to them is money. Bendtner’s hefty fine and suspension was because he advertised an unapproved sponsor when he showed his bookmaker sponsored underwear.

Although UEFA claims differently, for them it’s all about the money.

 

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Matchpack: Portugal v Netherlands

Reposted from Yahoo! Sport UK & Ireland

TEAM NEWS

Portugal coach Paulo Bento will almost certainly keep faith with the same starting line-up with none of his squad injured. That would mean an unchanged team for the fifth straight competitive match after their two play-off games with Bosnia and first two matches in this tournament.

Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk is keeping his starting line-up to himself but the temptation will surely be to start with a formation similar to the one that finished against Germany. Trailing 2-0 at half-time Klaas-Jan Huntelaar was introduced at centre forward with Robin Van Persie and Arjen Robben playing in the wide roles and midfielder Wesley Sneijder given a more advanced position. Rafael van der Vaart is another option for the left flank while skipper and defensive midfielder Mark Van Bommel could be sacrificed.

MANAGER QUOTES

Paulo Bento: “Our aim is not only to go through but to win the game. We know what their tactics will be. Dutch teams like to have the ball and dictate the game. They have always had a great technical quality but this cannot let us rely just on our counter-attacks – we need to possess the ball too. And I don’t think the Netherlands have an advantage just because they’ve played here (Kharkiv) twice. We have already shown great defensive quality. We will try to counter-attack better and will fight until the end. Although the Netherlands haven’t won yet, they deserve a lot of respect. They are very organised and have great quality. They have great pedigree and also can reach the quarter-finals. I’m a great optimist. I wouldn’t be here otherwise.”

Bert van Marwijk: “The biggest change for us is that it is about one game, it’s like a final – a one off-game and so we have to go for it. We need Germany to win but we know from the start we have to win by two goals and I will keep that in mind. We have to go for it, that’s what the tactics are based on… the tactics will reflect that situation. It’s going to be a frantic game and there were lots of yellow and red cards in the past. So we need lots of discipline for this game. I told the players that but they know that themselves.”

QUALIFYING CHANCES

All four teams can still go through or be eliminated.

Germany hold the best cards and would qualify with a win or draw against Denmark. Even if they lose, they would still reach the quarter-finals if Portugal do not beat Netherlands.

Portugal and Denmark have identical records – and there it gets complicated. If both win their last group games, they would finish with Germany on six points and the three would have to be separated on the basis of head-to-heads. In that situation, Denmark would be sure to go through, whatever the scores, and Portugal would probably join them.

Germany could oust Portugal only if they lose by a single goal margin and score two or more goals, for example 2-3, 3-4 etc. Any other defeat would send them home.

If both matches are drawn, Portugal would go through and Denmark would be out by virtue of losing to the Portuguese in the direct encounter. In other circumstances, whichever of Portugal or Denmark gets the best result will qualify – unless both lose.

In that case the two countries would finish with the Dutch on three points and head-to-heads would again come into play. Netherlands would go through only if they beat Portugal by two goals or more. Denmark would definitely be out, whatever the scores, and Portugal would be through if they lose by one goal.

MATCH FACTS

Netherlands have only won one of their previous 10 internationals against Portugal; 1-0 in Rotterdam in a Euro 1992 qualification game.

Portugal have won both clashes with the Oranje in major tournaments, winning 1-0 in the 2006 World Cup and 2-1 in Euro 2004.

The Dutch have failed to score in six of their 10 meetings with Portugal.

The meeting between the sides at the 2006 World Cup holds the record for most red cards (four) shown in any game at World Cups or European Championships.

Portugal haven’t drawn a group stage game at the European Championships since a 1-1 against Denmark in 1996, (W10 L3).

The Netherlands have lost their last three games in Euros and World Cups combined, scoring only one goal in the process.

In 2008, the Dutch won all three games in the Euro group stages – now they fear losing all three.

The Netherlands are the team with the most shots (46) but the fewest goals (one) in Group B.

Portugal’s last five goals conceded at Euros were all headers.

None of the Netherlands’ last seven goals at Euros has been scored before the 54th minute.

In both games at Euro 2012 the Dutch have conceded the opening goal in the 24th minute.

The Netherlands’ only way to reach the quarter-finals is to beat Portugal by at least two goals and hope Denmark lose against Germany.

MATCH ODDS

Portugal 17/10 Draw 5/2 Netherlands 6/4

Article link: http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/match-facts-portugal-v-netherlands-013057635.html

Matchpack: Denmark v Germany

Reposted from Yahoo! Sport UK & Ireland

TEAM NEWS

The Danes will be without experienced winger Dennis Rommedahl, injured against Portugal, and he will likely be replaced by Tobias Mikkelsen. Midfielder Niki Zimling faces a race to recover from a muscle injury suffered in the early part of the 3-2 loss to Portugal on Wednesday.

The Germans will be without suspended right back Jerome Boateng with Lars Bender the most likely candidate to replace him, leaving captain Philipp Lahm on the left. Schalke’s Benedikt Hoewedes is an alternative. Assistant coach Hansi Flick said Lukas Podolski needed to improve in attack but the rest of the team that beat Portugal and the Dutch is set to be retained.

MANAGER QUOTES

Morten Olsen: “I am absolutely sure that Germany will not underestimate us. They know that we have a team that on the day can play against any opponent so we don’t have this advantage as we did 20 years ago. As sports people we have experienced two dressing rooms, one which was euphoric and one that was filled with grave emotions and darkness. We, of course, prefer the feeling we had after the Dutch game.”

Joachim Loew: “We will not underestimate them. We have not qualified yet and need at least one point. It will be a tight match. Denmark also have hopes of reaching the last eight, we always knew they would be a threat as they’re compact and very dangerous on the counterattack.”

QUALIFYING CHANCES

All four teams can still go through or be eliminated.

Germany hold the best cards and would qualify with a win or draw against Denmark. Even if they lose, they would still reach the quarter-finals if Portugal do not beat Netherlands.

Portugal and Denmark have identical records – and there it gets complicated. If both win their last group games, they would finish with Germany on six points and the three would have to be separated on the basis of head-to-heads. In that situation, Denmark would be sure to go through, whatever the scores, and Portugal would probably join them.

Germany could oust Portugal only if they lose by a single goal margin and score two or more goals, for example 2-3, 3-4 etc. Any other defeat would send them home.

If both matches are drawn, Portugal would go through and Denmark would be out by virtue of losing to the Portuguese in the direct encounter. In other circumstances, whichever of Portugal or Denmark gets the best result will qualify – unless both lose.

In that case the two countries would finish with the Dutch on three points and head-to-heads would again come into play. Netherlands would go through only if they beat Portugal by two goals or more. Denmark would definitely be out, whatever the scores, and Portugal would be through if they lose by one goal.

MATCH FACTS

All three clashes between Denmark and Germany in major tournaments have ended 2-0, with Denmark winning in the 1986 World Cup and Euro 1992 and Germany in Euro 1988.

Denmark are unbeaten in three clashes with Germany, winning two (all friendlies).

Dennis Rommedahl netted three goals in those matches.

The Danes have netted just one first half goal in their last 10 meetings with Germany combined.

Any Danish win guarantees them a place in the quarter-finals. Germany need just a draw to reach the last eight.

Germany have won all of their last 13 competitive games – an all-time record in DFB history.

Furthermore Germany are the only team to win all of their qualifying and tournament matches in EURO 2012 and have scored the first goal in each of these games.

The German team have won their first two matches at EURO finals for their fourth time. On the previous three occasions they managed this, they went on to lift the trophy.

Nicklas Bendtner became the fifth Danish player to score a brace at European Championship finals in his side’s last game against Portugal (after Arnesen, Larsen, B. Laudrup, Tomasson).

Mario Gomez netted three goals with his first five shots at EURO 2012 after failing to score with any of his five at Euro 2008.

MATCH ODDS

Denmark 9/2 Draw 14/5 Germany 8/13

Article link: http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/match-facts-denmark-v-germany-013623297.html