November 15, 2013 -- Updated 1638 GMT (0038 HKT)
Brazilian footballers protested Wednesday because they want, among other things, a better schedule.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- Brazilian footballers cross their arms in games to protest against their confederation
- The players want changes made, including more vacation time and fewer games
- If their demands aren't met, they say "drastic measures" could be taken
- The protests are the latest black eye for the country that hosts next year's World Cup
(CNN) -- Less than a year before it stages the World Cup, Brazil is once again in the news for the wrong reasons.
Brazilian football
players protested Wednesday and said they could take more action --
possibly "drastic measures" -- if their confederation doesn't make
changes to the country's overcrowded calendar.
They want, among other things, more vacation time, longer preseasons, fewer games and a bigger voice in decision making.
In some matches, the players crossed their arms before the opening whistle. In others they did so after the whistle blew.
And in some instances,
they passed the ball from one end of the field to the other after the
referees threatened to give players yellow cards.
Also in a game, players
from both sides unfurled a banner in the middle of the pitch while the
national anthem played. It read: "For a football that is better for
everyone."
In a statement, Common
Sense F.C. -- not a club but a movement symbolizing the changes the
players want -- said on its Facebook page: "If there are attempts to
prevent players from expressing themselves in a peaceful way, drastic
measures will be taken.
"We expect an official position followed by moves that will benefit Brazilian football."
According to Brazilian
media, the future measures could include players crossing their arms for
a longer period of time, wearing red clown noses or even halting a
game.
There was no official reaction on Friday, which is a national holiday in Brazil.
No comments:
Post a Comment