Pele Makes Two Doomed Pronoucements in Hong Kong

Pele in Hong Kong (from The Standard)

So, here are Pele’s latest pronouncements that are a certain shoo-in for failure and ridicule (see past examples here at Pele's Pathetic Unprophetic Predictions). He has made only two (or rather the Hong Kong media reported two opinions from Pele) so far during his three-day Hong Kong visit. Pele’s two pronouncements are:

1) Rather than goal-line technology, Pele prefers the use of extra match officials.

2) Rather than the use of defensive walls during free kicks, Pele wants the rules to be changed so that there is only a one-man “barrier” … with (as far as can be understood from the news report*) the rest of the players from the defending team to stay behind the ball.
* If anyone has other interpretations, please feel free to disclose and comment

These two predictions from Pele are certain to meet their doom.

For the first one, the experiment using extra match officials does not appear to be going well. It is really a stop-gap measure until the football bigwigs chiefs (namely Michel Platini and Sepp Blatter), who despise technology for reasons known only to themselves, back down and acknowledge that technology, and specifically goal-line technology, should be used at the highest level where millions of people want to watch entertaining matches with no clear mistakes such as the one that affected England in their 2010 World Cup match against Germany.

For the second one, this one demonstrates just how “out of sync” Pele is with the modern game. The modern game of football does not need special rules for a certain kind of player (namely players that Pele believe are similar to him, in terms of dribbling past multiple players). And how often does that happen in matches? Rules should apply to all players, and not to just benefit some. If Pele wants to revise the football rules, then why not first run for president of FIFA or UEFA? Only then will his pathetic predictions have a real chance of coming true!!


Source

Pele back in the limelight with Cosmos (SCMP; paywall)

Tim Noonan
Mar 08, 2011

In his new role as honorary president of the New York Cosmos, Pele yesterday showed a Hong Kong audience he still had some moves, despite retiring more than 30 years ago.

Dubbed the world's greatest player, Pele led the Cosmos contingent into town and was moved to action at a press conference when asked about rule changes he would like to see in today's game.

"I would like to see players who foul around the penalty area forced to stand in a one-man wall in front of the upcoming free-kick," the 70-year-old Brazilian said, before demonstrating how he would snake through a defence. "The last defender commits a foul, , but they put all nine players who I have passed in the wall against me. Everybody I pass is now in front of me. That is not fair."

Pele raised concerns over players' inflated salaries, powerful agents and the use of goal-line technology.

"Players should never forget to play for the love of the game and the team," he said. "Sometimes I tease players and say they earn in one year what took me 10 years."

He said agents did not care if players were good or not. "They just want to sell them and get the money. It's a danger for the future of football."

He also said more time was needed to decide if hi-tech aids were essential to rule on penalties and balls crossing the goal line. "Football is not Formula One or tennis. It's about quick movement. You cannot stop a counter-attack to see if it was a goal."

It's all about money (The Standard)

Tuesday, March 08, 2011

Brazilian football legend Pele has warned that soaring players' salaries and powerful agents who squeeze clubs for higher fees represent a "danger for the future" of the game.

Speaking in Hong Kong, the three- time World Cup winner bemoaned the number of players pocketing big salaries only to "disappear" after a short career.

"Players should never forget to play for the love of the game and team ... players love whoever pays a little bit more, that's the danger for football," he said.

Decrying the role of agents in the modern game, he said: "They do not care if the player is good or not. They want to sell the player and get the money."

Pele, considered by many to be the all-time greatest footballer, also raised concerns over the potential impact of goal-line technology currently under discussion at Fifa.

"It is about quick movement ... you cannot stop a counter-attack to see if it was a goal," he said, stating his preference for an extra referee behind each goal to resolve disputes over penalties and balls crossing the line.

Pele does want one rule revised, to force players who foul around the penalty area to stand in a one-man wall in front of the ensuing free-kick.

Citing his famous mazy runs through the opposition as an example of the need for a rule change, the Brazilian said: "The last defender would make a foul on me .... they put all nine players who I pass in the wall against me.

"Everybody I pass is now in front of me. That is not fair."

Pele said the standard of Asian football had risen dramatically since he first toured the region with Brazilian club Santos. "The level is fantastic, it's very hard to come here and play. What they need is an opportunity to win the World Cup, and the coaches and players to experience other leagues to raise their level," he said.

Pele is on a promotional visit for former club New York Cosmos, who are vying to join Major League Soccer in 2014.

Edison Arantes do Nascimento, you continue to be a source of entertainment! Thank you.