At their meetings yesterday under the chairmanship of Michel Platini (France) and Ángel María Villar Llona (Spain) respectively, the FIFA Technical and Development Committee and the FIFA Football Committee confirmed that FIFA would review the current methods used to calculate the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking. Although there were diverse opinions as to what criteria should be taken into consideration when calculating the ranking, the committees unanimously reconfirmed the importance of the ranking as a valuable tool to help provide an objective comparison amongst FIFA member associations’ representative ‘A’ teams. A working group will be established to review the potential modifications and provide a comprehensive dossier of proposals.

The committees later addressed their concerns about the increasing frequency of teams who utilise the tactic of a player feigning injury to waste time or interrupt the rhythm of the game. Various solutions were debated and the Technical and Development Committee proposed recommending to the FIFA Referees’ Committee that referees take more firm and appropriate action, such as a yellow card for time-wasters, or specifically adding on additional minutes in injury time. On the same subject, the Football Committee noted that referees should stop their watch in such situations.

Furthermore, the committees received a detailed report on the decisions taken at the International Football Association Board meeting in Cardiff, Wales on 26 February, as well as discussed a number of other issues, including the current age categories for FIFA youth competitions.

Finally, the FIFA President and all of the members of the two committees expressed their support for the Swedish referee, Anders Frisk.

Further information from:

FIFA Media Department

Telephone: +41-43/222 7272 – Telefax: +41-43/222 7373 – E-mail: media@fifa.org

FIFA Communications Division / Zurich, 15 March 2005 / 2005-32-TechnicalCommittee-E.doc