Croatia bans gay footballers

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Croatia bans gay footballers Vlatko Markovic, head of the Croatian football federation has said, unequivocally, that gay men will not be allowed to play football for his country.  In s statement that only further enflamed gay rights activists all over Europe, he said that only healthy men were allowed to play for Croatia.

Of course, gay organizations the world over are calling for his immediate ouster.  His outburst has gone so far as to endanger his country’s application for membership in the European Union.  One of the EU standards clearly states that applying countries implement anti-discrimination rights.

Since his pronouncement, Markovic has withdrawn the statement, saying that he was misquoted and misunderstood.  One gay rights organization has suggested that in order to prove his remorse Markovic have the team fly the rainbow flag at their next match.

Markovic’s actions have opened up a long avoided discourse on gay players in football, with gay organizations urging players to come out of the closet.  The standard in international football has long held that no one asks and no one tells.

Of course, gay rights advocates find this sort of tacit acceptance to be less than they would like to see, which is an all out exposure of gay men in this sport or any other sport, for that matter.

It is estimated that as many as 10 per cent of professional footballers are gay men.  However, the sport has such a macho personification, say authorities that it would be career suicide to openly admit to being gay.  It has been rumoured that some gay players in Italy and Germany even have arranged fake weddings in an effort to hide their sexual preference.

Australia is serious contender for 2020 FIFA World Cup

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Australia is serious contender for 2020 FIFA World Cup Australia is making a strong bid to host the 2020 FIFA World Cup.  The country has even solicited actress Nicole Kidman and actor Hugh Jackman to appear in video ads as ambassadors for the country’s efforts.

In its campaign, Australia pitches its strong tourist appeal and its close location to Asia as marketing points.  It will be fighting a U.S. desire to hold the games for what would be a second time.

There are drawbacks, however, to allowing Australia to be the host of the tournament.  It would be winter when the games take place there.  The Australian time zone is not friendly to television viewers in Africa, Europe, or the Americas.  Thirdly, it is a very long trip for many fans and players.

Of course, the enthusiasts from Australia attempt to downplay the negatives by declaring that by 2020 Asia will have the largest television audience and broadcasting companies will want to reach them on their time zone, which they will with live broadcasts from Australia.

Australia, like many other possible venues has stadium issues.  Australian Football is in the position of denying use of their stadiums without gainful financial compensation.  So, it is unknown where the games would be played.  This is where the U.S. enters the fray, with access to all sorts of huge arenas and stadiums; this problem is nonexistent if the tournament were held in America.

This seems the major problem for Australia, as it appears that right now they will fall shy of the FIFA requirement for 12 stadiums.

Didier Drogba getting over malaria

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Didier Drogba getting over malaria Didier Drogba, the Chelsea striker, is glad that the worst of this battle with malaria is over.  He reported that at first it was thought that he was suffering from a virus.  However, recent tests confirmed it was malaria.

Drogba says he is not sure where or when he caught the disease; although others have guessed it might have been when he was in Africa, back in September.  Drogba became very ill before the games with Arsenal on 3 October.

He is now undergoing intensive treatment and it is reported that the malaria is the type that will clear out. His manager says that he was very unselfish to have played when he was ill.

John Barnes watches match rather than being at baby’s birth

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John Barnes watches match rather than being at baby’s birth Football commentator John Barnes knows where his priorities belong.  While telecasting events at the eagerly awaited Premiership match between Chelsea and Liverpool, he decided to wait out the game, rather than rush to the side of his wife, as she gave birth to his seventh child, Alexander.

Perhaps he wasn’t quite sure how he should handle his obligations as a broadcaster, since he had been booked as a special guest to do commentary during the game.  He made a decision to remain on the air even after he was notified that his wife was in labour.

Even after that, when the birth was announced on air and the former England and Liverpool striker was questioned if he wished to leave, he chose to stay with the match. At the final whistle, announcing partner Richard Keyes told the audience that Barnes had gone ahead to the hospital to join his wife and new son.

Teaching footballers about nutrition vital

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Nutritionists need to become better communicators in order to ‘sell’ their advice to athletes more effectively, according to a Premiership sports nutritionist.

Mayur Ranchordas, senior lecturer in sports nutrition at Sheffield Hallam University, has been working with Bolton Wanderers Football Club since they started pre-season training in August. He believes that sport scientists need to use their communication skills to overcome footballers’ resistance to dietary advice.

Mayur said: “In football, you tend to have four different types of responses to nutrition advice: those who do everything in order to improve as much as possible, those who take on board some of the advice, those who ignore the advice and do nothing, and those who are indifferent but will do it if they’re forced to. Part of the problem is how we as sports nutrition practitioners communicate, how we sell the message.”

“If you tell a footballer that drinking beetroot juice will allow him to work harder, beat his opponent to the ball, enhance his fitness test results, and therefore his match performance, he’s more likely to take that advice. It’s about translating our knowledge into practical results for them.”

According to Mayur, sport science is becoming a highly valued part of football, but there is still a clash between sport science and the culture among footballers.

He said: “Very few clubs outside of Manchester United and Chelsea have got a real suite of sport science services. They all have sports massage and physiotherapy specialists, but not necessarily things like a nutritionist, physiologist, chiropractor and acupuncturist, for example.  Ten years ago there were no dedicated nutritionists in professional football, it was left to the manager or the catering staff. Now it’s a key part of the support team.”

“Additionally, the move away from chemicals and supplements in nutrition to natural, food-based products means that players are often more receptive.”