The election of Sepp Blatter as FIFA President has come as a major embarrassment to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and could herald a major shake-up in African soccer, officials said today.The majority of African nations voted for Blatter at yesterday's FIFA congress in Paris despite the African Football Organisation having declared its support for UEFA President Lennart Johansson.
The result, African officials say, now sets the stage for changes within their own continent in the next two years.
Zico unhappy
Brazil's assistant coach Zico today expressed disappointment at new FIFA rules on tackles from behind, saying they were not tough enough. Coach Mario Zagallo predicted the regulations, plus opposing teams' determination to defend rather than entertain, could result in a tournament of dour, defensive soccer.
Governing body FIFA originally announced that all tackles from behind would result in an automatic red card even if the guilty player had been aiming for the ball.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
