FIFA president: Male players can learn from better behaved women
CGTN
["europe"]
Striving to improve behavior at soccer matches, Gianni Infantino, president of the world soccer governing body FIFA, sees women as role models for male players.
There is less simulation and time wasting in the women's game, according to Infantino, and it's time for men to clean up their act to improve the image of soccer.
"The men's game has developed incredibly, positively, but a few maybe side effects have unfortunately developed as well that we are fighting now," Infantino said on Saturday. "Let's take the example of the women's game."
Infantino's admiration for the conduct of female players stands in contrast to predecessor Sepp Blatter, who urged them to wear tighter kits to make the game more popular.
Female soccer players from China and England compete for the ball during the 14 Nations Tournament in Cartagena, Spain, March 2, 2019. /VCG Photo

Female soccer players from China and England compete for the ball during the 14 Nations Tournament in Cartagena, Spain, March 2, 2019. /VCG Photo

"Women are nicer than men, probably, generally," Infantino said. "Sometimes we men feel that we need to show how strong we are, probably in the human nature, and this is reflected as well in some of the behavior in society in general but also on the football pitch."
Infantino was speaking after the game's law-making body, the International Football Association Board, discussed ways of improving on-field behavior at its annual meeting, including the treatment of referees. Yellow and red cards for misconduct by team officials are now entered in the laws of the game after successful trials.
"When it comes to behavior," Infantino said, "if there's something to learn from the women's game... it's certainly this: This is much less time lost and wasted on simulations or on other situations we criticize in the men's game. We are intervening now."
Such as ensuring someone substituted "doesn't greet all the players before going out (leaving the pitch) and so on – wasting time," Infantino said. "All the things you don't see in the women's game."
Referee Paolo Valeri consults the VAR during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Sassuolo in Milan, Italy, March 2, 2019. /VCG Photo

Referee Paolo Valeri consults the VAR during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Sassuolo in Milan, Italy, March 2, 2019. /VCG Photo

Diving has been reduced by the introduction of video review, Infantino said, while announcing his support for VAR at the FIFA Women's World Cup in France between June 7 and July 7. The decision will have to be ratified by the FIFA Council at a meeting in two weeks in Miami.
"Players now know that it's not just sufficient to have a look where is the referee, so if he doesn't see me I can simulate because he or she will be caught," Infantino said. "That's why VAR automatically helps the fight against simulation and diving in a very efficient way."
(Top image: FIFA President Gianni Infantino displays the ball used for the FIFA Women's World Cup at a press conference in Roma, Italy, February 27, 2019. /VCG Photo)
Source(s): AP