FIFA Bans Barcelona Football Club from Player Trades until 2015

【Unlocking Word Meanings】

　今日の単語・フレーズ

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article. 

1. acquisition [ak-wuh-ZISH-uh n] (n.) – the process of getting something valuable

Example: The team’s recent acquisition of new players will be beneficial in the next tournament.

2. underage [uhn-der-EYJ] (adj.) – not yet of proper or legal age

Example: The league’s policy does not allow underage players.

3. connive [kuh-NAHYV] (v.) – to secretly work together for an illegal activity

Example: The referees connived to help the other team win.

4. stipulate [STIP-yuh-leyt] (v.) – to cite something according to the rules or agreement

Example: The agreement stipulates that teams cannot sign underage foreign players.

5. committee [kuh-MIT-ee] (n.) – group of people that handles and decides on specific issues

Example: The committee will soon announce the punishment on the players involved.

【Article】

　ニュース記事

Read the text below.

FIFA banned the Barcelona Football Club (FC Barcelona or Barca [bar-ka] from any player acquisitions until 2015 because of its violation of rules on underage players. FIFA reported that Barca seriously violated rules on underage players after signing up 10 non-Spanish minor players. Aside from the one-year ban that prohibits Barcelona from releasing or signing players, a fine worth $509,000 was also imposed on the team. The football organization gave Barca 90 days to fix the issue concerning this illegal act. The Spanish Football Association (FA) was also fined $560,000 for conniving in the illegal transactions and was given one year to revise the association’s rules on the transfer of international minors. FIFA’s rules stipulate that international players must be 18 before they can transfer and play in another country. However, minors can still be allowed to transfer if they fall under one of the three specific conditions: the player’s parents transferred to the country for personal reasons; the player moved within the European Union only and is at least 16 years old; or the player’s home is less than 50 kilometers from the destination. FIFA’s players’ status committee also needs to evaluate the situation before granting approval of a minor’s transfer. According to FIFA, they impose such sanctions to protect minors from the risk of abuse and manipulation in a foreign country. This punishment is a new challenge to the image of Europe’s football industry. A prior incident was the alleged tax evasion concerning Brazilian star athlete Neymar, who also plays for FC Barcelona.

【Viewpoint Discussion】

　ディスカッションテーマ

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.  

Discussion A

         Do you think FIFA’s sanctions on Barca and the Spanish Football Association are enough? Why or why not?

         Is FIFA also at fault for FC Barcelona’s violation of the rules? Why or why not?

Discussion B

         Why do you think some teams like Barca include minors in their group despite the restrictions?

         How can sports organizations ensure that rules are properly followed?

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UEFA Proposes a More Competitive Football Tournament

【Unlocking Word Meanings】

　今日の単語・フレーズ

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article. 

1. continental [kon-tn-EN-tl] (adj.) – referring to a continent as a whole

Example: The team wants to win the continental championship.

2. alternative [awl-TUR-nuh-tiv] (n.) –  anything that serves as another choice or option

Example: Green tea is a good alternative to energy drinks.

3. prequalifying [pri-KWOL-uh-fahy-ing] (adj.) – referring to a process that one needs to accomplish before being able to participate in the main event

Example: Being able to run fast is a prequalifying skill for a football player.

4. semifinal [sem-ee-FAHYN-l] (n.) – a match that happens before the final event or championship

Example: The team was not able to reach the final competition because it lost in the semifinals.

5. garner [GAHR-ner] (v) – to successfully gain or earn something

Example: She garnered the respect of her opponents after winning the competition. 

【Article】

　ニュース記事

Read the text below.

The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has recently introduced a new game format that allows a more challenging continental football competition. It took the UEFA three years to review proposals for this competition. Called the UEFA Nations League, the new competition will serve as a better alternative for international friendly matches, which are games that do not affect a team’s standing. The UEFA Nations League will also serve as a prequalifying tournament for the 2020 UEFA European Championship (Euro 2020). Its first tournament will take place in September 2018. The UEFA Nations League will split 54 European teams into four divisions, which are determined by the team’s ranking. Each division will have four sub-divisions or ‘pools’ composed of three to four teams that would compete against each other. The four winning teams from each pool will then compete in the semifinals until one team becomes the overall winner of each division. The last part of the tournament is the finals, in which the four overall winners of each division will contend with each other. Regardless who wins the finals, all four overall winners are already automatically qualified for the Euro 2020. This new game format has generally garnered positive feedback from different football organizations. The general secretary of the English Football Association said that the new concept will make the games more interesting. The European Club Association (ECA) also approves of the Nations League, as teams will no longer need to travel far for friendly matches. However, FIFPro is hesitant about the new game format as it would add pressure to top players.

【Viewpoint Discussion】

　ディスカッションテーマ

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.  

Discussion A

         Do you think this new game format makes the football tournament more interesting? Why or why not?

         What do you think are the advantages of doing international friendly matches? 

Discussion B

         Why do you think professional football games are important to European countries?

         What are the benefits of sports competition among different countries?

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Famous Russian Figure Skater Undergoes Huge Operation

【Unlocking Word Meanings】

　今日の単語・フレーズ

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article. 

1. legendary [LEJ-uh n-der-ee] (adj.) – very famous or extremely successful

Example: Michael Jordan is a legendary basketball figure.

2. indestructible [in-di-STRUHK-tuh-buh l] (adj.) – cannot be broken or destroyed

Example: Experts claim that the equipment is indestructible.

3. pull out [pool out] (v. phrase) – to withdraw from a commitment

Example: Because of his injury, the boxer pulled out of the competition.

4. axel [AK-suh l] (n.) – a kind of jump done by a skater

Example: The figure skater’s flawless demonstration of the axel amazed the judges and the audience.

5. bravado [bruh-VAH-doh] (n.) – a strong display of courage, often in a negative way

Example: The movie star’s obvious bravado disappoints many of his fans.

【Article】

　ニュース記事

Read the text below.

Legendary Russian figure skater Evgeni Plushenko recently underwent a major operation in Tel Aviv, Israel. Plushenko is a four-time Olympic gold medalist and a three-time world champion for figure skating. He injured his back while practicing for the Sochi Winter Olympics. This injury forced the 31-year-old athlete to pull out from the competition. In Tel Aviv, Israeli doctors removed four screws from Plushenko’s back in an operation that was shown on Russia’s Channel One television. The screws used to support an artificial disc in Plushenko’s vertebrae. These screws were designed to be indestructible, but one of the screws broke into two after the athlete did a triple and a half axel. The television reported that the doctors initially planned to replace the broken screw. However, the doctors found that Plushenko’s backbone can now support the disc quite firmly, so they decided to remove all four screws from his back. The doctors noted that the operation went very successfully. Hence, Plushenko can expect to be in full form within months. One of his doctors added that no restrictions will be prescribed for Plushenko after completing half a year of rehabilitation. Now a retired athlete, Plushenko said that he will no longer worry about getting injured again but jokingly added that he still might figure skate. Known for being full of bravado, Plushenko stated that one must sacrifice something for a medal. In his case, he sacrificed his health. Some people may consider him a fool, while some a hero. Nonetheless, he stressed that he is what he is and that he loves sports and taking risks.

【Viewpoint Discussion】

　ディスカッションテーマ

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.  

Discussion A

         If you were Plushenko, would you still do figure skating even after the operation? Why or why not?

         How do you think can Plushenko quickly restore his health after the operation? Kindly discuss briefly.

Discussion B

         Do you think that it is appropriate to sacrifice one’s health to achieve a successful career? Why or why not?

         What are you willing to sacrifice in order to become successful? Explain.

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First Muslim Sumo Wrestler to Promote the Sport in Africa

【Unlocking Word Meanings】

　今日の単語・フレーズ

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article. 

1. elite /ɪˈlit, eɪˈlit/ (adj.) – the best or the highest

Example: The brilliant inventor belongs to an elite group of scientists recognized all over the world.

2. try (something) out /traɪ ˈsʌmˌθɪŋ aʊt/ (phrasal v.) – to check or evaluate something out

Example: He tried the new sport out and found it fun.

3. countryman /ˈkʌntrimən/ (n.) – a native of one’s own country

Example: The multi-awarded athlete is considered a hero by his countrymen.

4. fast /fæst, fɑst/ (v.) – to not eat food for a certain period of time

Example: She fasts because she desperately wants to lose weight.

5. abstain /æbˈsteɪn/ (v.) – to refrain from doing something

Example: The boxer abstains from eating too much while he is training.

【Article】

　ニュース記事

Read the text below.

Abdelrahman [ab-del-RAH-man] Ahmed Shaalan [SHA-lan], the first professional sumo wrestler from Egypt, aims to promote the sport in his home country and in Africa. Although there are many foreign sumo wrestlers in Japan, 22-year-old Shaalan is the first Muslim to enter the dohyo, or ring. Shaalan is known as Osunaarashi or the Great Sandstorm. Weighing 146 kilograms (322 pounds), he has won nine and lost six matches in January 2014. Last October, Shaalan was promoted to the elite division of sumo wrestling, making him the first foreign-born wrestler to be immediately included in the prestigious group. Sumo wrestling is not very famous in Africa. Thus, having an Egyptian wrestler seem to have surprised many people. When asked why he joined the sport, Shaalan explained that he wants it to be famous in his country. But to achieve this goal, he needs to succeed in Japan. Initially, Shaalan wanted to become a body builder. When he was invited to try sumo wrestling out, he refused at first. He thought that the sport, which his countrymen call “the battle between two elephants,” was ugly. He also did not want to be fat at that time. When he finally tried it out, he was not able to win against a wrestler half his weight, much to his surprise. Feeling challenged, he began t0 love the sport. One of Shaalan’s greatest challenges during training is observing Ramadan, a religious practice that requires Muslims to fast. He has observed the practice twice since becoming a wrestler. He said that abstaining from drinking water more than eating food is very difficult when he is training.

【Viewpoint Discussion】

　ディスカッションテーマ

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.  

Discussion A

         Considering the cultural and religious practices in the Arab region, do you think sumo wrestling will be famous there? Why or why not?

         How do you think Shaalan can best promote the sport in his country? Please explain briefly.

Discussion B

         How can sports affect a country’s culture? Explain.

         What can be the disadvantages of being a sumo wrestler? Explain.

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