South Africa accept WC replay order
FA to increase World Cup cyber security over hacking concerns
JOHANNESBURG, Sept 12, (Agencies): South Africa said Tuesday they accepted a FIFA order to replay a 2018 World Cup qualifier against Senegal that was manipulated by a Ghanaian referee.
“Following extra information from FIFA, we resolved on moral and ethical grounds that we cannot benefit from corrupt activities,” a national football association statement said.
“Therefore, we have decided to comply with the FIFA directive to replay the match against Senegal on a date to be decided.”
Referee Joseph Lamptey awarded South Africa a nonexistent penalty which they converted en route to a 2-1 home victory over Senegal in Group D last November.
The other South African goal was also controversial with the match official still ordering Senegalese players to retreat for a free-kick after it was taken.
FIFA gave Lamptey a life ban for match manipulation and his appeal to international sport judicial body CAS was rejected.
The replay order means South Africa must play Senegal home and away during the November 6-14 international window.
Burkina Faso and Cape Verde have six points from four matches and Senegal five and South Africa one from three with the group winners qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
The English Football Association will increase cyber security for the 2018 World Cup in Russia after hacking attacks by a group suspected of links to a Russian spy agency, media reports said.
The FA has written a letter to soccer’s governing body FIFA expressing its concerns about sensitive information such as injuries, strategies and tactics being leaked before matches during the World Cup, British newspapers said.
England players and staff have been advised not to use public Wi-Fi in Russia, including the connections provided at the team hotel.
According to media reports, the FA has also strengthened firewalls, introduced encrypted passwords and have strict guidelines for players regarding social media. The FA could not immediately be reached for comment. England, who lead Group F with 20 points, can seal their participation in the World Cup with a win over Slovenia in their penultimate qualifying match at Wembley on Oct 5.
Hacking group Fancy Bears in August leaked anti-doping information regarding footballers and said more than 150 players failed drug tests in 2015. Athletics governing body the IAAF said in April it had suffered a cyber attack that it believed compromised information about athletes’ medical records.
Pay-TV group Sky and the English Football League (EFL) have agreed a 600 million pound ($796 million) five-year domestic broadcasting deal, they said on Tuesday.
The deal, which the EFL said represented a 36 percent increase on the current value of the rights, runs to 2024 and allows the broadcaster to stream all midweek Championship (second tier) matches.
Sky said in a statement that the deal strengthened its position as “the home of football” and would offer subscribers more matches and more ways to watch.
The broadcaster will show exclusively up to 183 live matches a year from the Championship, League One, League Two, Carabao (League) Cup and Checkatrade Trophy.
The EFL said the new agreement would also allow clubs to stream midweek league games via their websites if not broadcast live on Sky Sports.