‘FIFA Must Stop Age Cheat’

Ganiyu Salman, Kaduna - 07.11.2009

ITALY coach, Pasquale Salerno wants the world soccer governing-body to steely checkmate the issue of age cheats in age-group championships to enhance the growth of the game.

"It is sad that in the past, countries had paraded ineligible players for age-group World Cup competitions. It will be better for the game if stern measures could be introduced by the football authorities to stop this unholy act.

"My objective as a coach is to ensure fair play at all times. If FIFA decides any measure to discourage the use of over-age players in age-group competitions, it is the best thing to happen to the game," said Salerno after leading the Azzurinis of Italy to the quarter-final of the ongoing FIFA U-17 World Cup, Nigeria 2009.

He warned of the consequences of allowing over-age players to compete in close chamionships. "There must be an ideal situation for you to get the desired result. It is good to pave the way for eligible players to compete with one another because that will enhance development of the players in the game.

"Age-group competitions were introduced by FIFA to serve as developmental programmes and when the age cheats are allowed to take part, the overall objective of the competitions, be it U-17 or U-20 would be difficult to achieve. The standard will be affected if you don't have the right players to compete.