FIFA World Cup 2018: Why the final group games are played simultaneously
The 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia has been in full swing for the past one week. Many upsets were witnessed in the opening group games with debutants Iceland holding Argentina to a 1-1 draw, Germany losing to Mexico and Japan defeating Colombia to become the first Asian team to beat a South American side at the World Cup.
The final group games will start from Monday with Russia facing Uruguay and Saudi Arabia going up against Egypt in Group A. One peculiar feature about these fixtures is that they will kick-off simultaneously at 7:30 PM (IST). All final group games will have a simultaneous kick-off and the reason for this dates back to the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain.
Football's mega event in 1982 saw African nation Algeria making their World Cup debut and their run of good form didn't stop as they went on to defeat West Germany in the opening game and shocked the entire world. After losing to Austria in their next game and winning the final group game against Chile, Algeria looked all set to make it to the second round, however, a disgraceful collusion between West Germany and Austria saw the debutant African nation eliminated from the first group stage.
Disgrace of Gijón
West Germany faced Austria in their final group game on the 25th of June, 1982 at El Molinon, Gijón. Algeria had already played their final game against Chile a day before and were in second position behind Austria with 4 points. Algeria looked in a good position as an Austrian victory or draw would've ensured them a place in the second round along with Austria and a West German victory by 3 goals or more would've seen them qualify with West Germany.
The opening 10 minutes of the match saw an attacking West German side take the lead through a goal by Horst Hrubesch. After West Germany scored both teams started passing the ball around in their own half and never looked like making an attacking move. They often passed the ball back to the goalkeeper and played inconsequential long balls into the opposition half. Both teams took shots with no attempt at accuracy and the only players who looked like making an effort were Austrian striker Walter Schachner and West German defensive midfielder Wolfgang Dremmler.
The game ended 1-0 and the collusion between West Germans and Austrians was clearly visible as many commentators refused to comment on the game and urged fans to switch off their television sets. The spectators at the stadium were also disgusted by the players' disgraceful display and a set of angry Algerian fans waved banknotes at the players. The Spanish daily newspaper El Comercio printed the match report in the crime section.
With this result, all 3 teams Algeria, Austria and West Germany had 4 points but the latter two progressed to the next stage due to a superior goal difference.
Introduction of simultaneous Kick-offs
In the aftermath of the game, Algerian football federation lodged a complaint to FIFA and believed that referee Bob Valentine should've intervened. However, FIFA found that no rules were broken and refused to take any action.
As a result, from 1984 UEFA Euro and 1986 FIFA World Cup the final group games were played at the same time to avoid any such occurrence in the future.
The simultaneous kick-off time ensures that no team can take unfair advantage of the other group game's result. For example, at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, after Matchday 2 all four teams in Group G were alive and had the chance to progress to the Round of 16. The final group games between Germany and USA and Portugal and Ghana had a simultaneous Kick-off so that no side could benefit from the result of the other game.
The main motive of having simultaneous Kick-offs is to maintain the sanctity of the game and ensure each team is given an equal opportunity to progress to the next stage. Over the years simultaneous kick-offs have also been experimented in domestic leagues if two or more teams are in a winning position on the final Matchday.
courtesy : sportskeeda.com
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
59 percent voter turnout in first phase in J-K, polling peaceful: CEO
Jammu, Sep 18: A voter turnout of about 59 percent -- "the highest in the past seven elections" -- was recorded in the first phase of assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, Chief Electoral Officer P K Pole said.
However, these are tentative figures and may rise after the final reports are received about postal ballots, and from remote pockets like Marwah, Wadwan, Dachhan and Machail in Kishtwar, the officer said.
Briefing mediapersons here after polling ended at 6 pm, Pole said the elections -- which covered 24 seats in seven districts -- ended peacefully without any untoward incident.
There are reports of some minor incidents of scuffle or argument from a few polling stations but "no serious incident" occurred that could have forced a repoll, he said.
Over 2.3 million voters were eligible to cast the ballot to determine the fate of 219 candidates, including 90 Independents.
"The polling percentage of 59 percent is highest in the past seven elections -- four Lok Sabha polls and three assembly elections," he said, attributing the increase in the voter turnout to various factors including improved security situation, active participation of political parties and candidates and a campaign by the department.
He said Kishtwar district recorded the highest 77 percent turnout, while Pulwama district witnessed the lowest 46 percent.
Doda district recorded a turnout of 69.33 percent, Ramban district 67.71 percent, Kulgam district 61.57 percent, Anantnag district 54.17 percent and Shopian district 53.64 percent.
In the 2014 assembly elections, the district wise poll percentage was: Pulwama 44 percent, Shopian 48 percent, Kulgam 59 percent, Anantnag 60 percent, Ramban 70 percent, Doda 73 percent and Kishtwar 76 percent.
In Kishtwar districts, he said, the Padder-Nagseni segment recorded the highest 80.67 percent voting followed by Inderwal (80.06 percent) and Kishtwar (78.11 percent).
In the nearby Doda district, Doda west segment recorded 75.98 percent, Doda (70.21 percent) and Bhaderwah (65.27 percent).
In Ramban district, Banihal segment recorded 71.28 percent and Ramban 67.34 percent, he said.
Among the seven constituencies of Anantnag district, Pahalgam recorded the highest voter turnout at 67.86 percent, followed by Kokernag (58 percent), Dooru (57.90 percent), Srigufwara-Bijbehara (56.02 percent), Shangus-Anantnag (52.94 percent), Anantnag West (45.93 percent) and Anantnag 41.58 percent, Pole said.
In Pulwama district, the CEO said, the Pulwama segment witnessed 50.42 percent polling, followed by Rajpora 48.07 percent, Pampore 44.74 percent and Tral 43.21 percent.
In Shopian district, the Shopian segment recorded a voter turnout of 54.72 percent and Zainapora 52.64 percent.
In Kulgam district, D H Pora recorded a turnout of 68 percent, Kulgam 62.70 percent and Devsar 57.33 percent, Pole said.
He said seven districts of south Kashmir had been traditionally low poll percentage constituencies and in some of the past elections, the percentage had not even crossed the single digit.
Asked about a social media video purportedly showing a policeman losing temper and aiming his gun before being overpowered by his colleagues outside a polling station in Kishtwar, he said the district election officer and the returning officer concerned have taken note and issue was resolved amicably.
PDP and BJP candidates were involved in an argument at the polling station.
Pole expressed hope that the remaining two phases on September 25 and October 1 will also see high polling percentage.
Meanwhile, the election commission expressed satisfaction over the long queues of voters at the polling stations showcasing the entire world, the deep trust and confidence of the people of J&K in the democratic exercise.
The polling was held across 3,276 Polling Stations in the seven districts and 24 special polling stations set up for migrant pandits in Jammu, Udhampur and Delhi.
According to officials, 31.42 percent of the more than 35,000 eligible kashmiri migrant voters exercised their franchise. While 27 percent cast their votes at 19 polling stations in Jammu, 40 percent at four polling stations in Delhi and 30 percent at one polling station in Udhampur.
In each of the seven districts where voting was held in the first phase, the voter participation exceeded the participation during the Lok Sabha 2024 elections, the election commission said in a release.
The performance builds on the trend witnessed during the Lok Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir which saw a voter turnout of 58.58 percent at polling stations, highest in the last 35 years.
Voting began at 7 am and proceeded steadily through the day. Men and women, the young and old, some too frail to walk and others patiently waiting their turn, queued up outside polling booths across Kashmir Valley and Jammu.
Security forces fanned out to ensure that there was no trouble. The day was largely without incident except for reports of clashes between political workers in some areas of Bijbehara and D H Pora.
