Trivia and Facts-Part 41

 1-Former FIFA President, the Englishman Stanley Rous had small transistors on his glasses that allowed him to listen to the radio. Sometimes, during Official Meetings he would listen to Sporting events.

Photo From: World Soccer, September 1986

(Stanley Rous)

2-  Before their Champions Cup encounter vs. Dinamo Kiev (September 30, 1987, Rangers Glasgow 2-Dinamo Kiev 0), Rangers Glasgow Manager Graeme Souness ordered to pitch re-striped to narrow it by 5 meters each side.

He believed this would disrupt Kiev’s tactics and play.

After the Kiev delegation accused Rangers of foul play, UEFA delegates measured the distance and verified that it was per regulation by 20 cm.

Photo From: World Soccer, October 1986

(Graeme Souness at Rangers Glasgow, 1986/87)

3- Scotland played vs. Cyprus in a World Cup Qualifier at Limassol on February 8, 1989 (3-2 Scotland win).

East German Referee Siegfried Kirschen took down the names of Scotland’s Richard Gough, Paul McStay and Maurice Johnston because they were not wearing shin guards.

There had been a FIFA ruling in effect since March 1988 that made wearing shin guards compulsory. This was to reduce the risk of AIDS or any transmitted disease from open wounds.

Photo From: Panini World Cup 1990

(Paul McStay)

Photo From: World Soccer, September 1991

(Richard Gough)

Photo From: World Soccer, April 1989

(Maurice Johnston, February 8, 1989, World Cup Qualifier, Cyprus 2-Scotland 3)

4-England and Sheffield Wednesday International Peter Swan was selected for the 1962 World Cup squad. Just before departure, he was ill with tonsillitis, but nevertheless made the trip.

Once in Chile, he suffered from dysentery. His condition was so bad that many feared he might die.

Amazingly, the English party had no official Doctor. Fortunately, he did recover.

This event highlighted the unprepared ness of the English in such matters and served as a cautionary tale.

Photo From: England, Player by Player, Author: Graham Betts

(Peter Swan)

5-In 1990, with the World Cup in USA being four years away, FIFA President Joao Havelange floated the idea of changing the game’s rules. He suggested matches to be changed from two 45 minute halves to four 25 minute Quarters. He explained that the game needed to bring in more revenue and extra commercial breaks would bring in more money.

The idea was roundly criticized and was seen by many as an attempt by Havelange to make the game more malleable for an American Audience that FIFA wanted to win over in 1994.

Months later, the idea of increasing the distance between goal posts was also proposed. The increase in the distance would make the goal area larger and perhaps increase the number of goals. This idea was similarly met with disapproval by most.

Photo From: World Soccer, January 1991

(Joao Havelange)