On this day 21 May 1904 ((Exactly 115 years ago) The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) was founded in the rear of the headquarters of the Union Française de Sports Athlétiques at the Rue Saint Honoré 229 in Paris. The foundation act was signed by the authorised representatives of the following associations:
Present at that historic meeting were: Robert Guérin and André Espir (France); Louis Muhlinghaus and Max Kahn (Belgium); Ludvig Sylow (Denmark); Carl Anton Wilhelm Hirschman (Netherlands); Victor E Schneider (Switzerland). Sylow also represented the SBF while Spir performed the same function for the Madrid Football Club.
*France – Union des Sociétés Françaises de Sports Athlétiques (USFSA)
*Belgium – Union Belge des Sociétés de Sports (UBSSA)
*Denmark – Dansk Boldspil Union (DBU)
Netherlands – Nederlandsche Voetbal Bond (NVB)
*Spain – Madrid Football Club
Sweden – Svenska Bollspells Förbundet (SBF)
*Switzerland – Association Suisse de Football (ASF
When the idea of founding an international football federation began taking shape in Europe, the intention of those involved was to recognise the role of the English who had founded their Football Association back in 1863. Hirschman, secretary of the Netherlands Football Association, turned to the Football Association. Its secretary, FJ Wall, did accept the proposal but progress stalled while waiting for the Executive Committee of the Football Association, the International FA Board and the associations of Scotland, Wales and Ireland to give their opinion about the matter.
Guérin, secretary of the football department of the Union des Sociétés Françaises de Sports Athlétiques and a journalist with Le Matin newspaper, did not want to wait any longer. He contacted the national associations on the continent in writing and asked them to consider the possibility of founding an umbrella organisation.
When Belgium and France met in the first official international match in Brussels on 1 May 1904, Guérin discussed the subject with his Belgian counterpart Louis Muhlinghaus. It was now definite that the English FA, under its president Lord Kinnaird, would not be participating in the foundation of an international federation. So Guérin took the opportunity and sent out invitations to the founding assembly. The process of organising the international game had begun.
The first FIFA Statutes were laid down and the following points determined: the reciprocal and exclusive recognition of the national associations represented and attending; clubs and players were forbidden to play simultaneously for different national associations; recognition by the other associations of a player’s suspension announced by an association; and the playing of matches according to the Laws of the Game of the Football Association Ltd.
Each national association had to pay an annual fee of FF50. Already then there were thoughts of staging an international competition and Article 9 stipulated that FIFA alone was entitled to take over the organisation of such an event. It was decided that these regulations would only come into force as of 1 September 1904. Moreover, the first Statutes of FIFA were only of a provisional nature, in order to simplify the acceptance of additional members. On the day of foundation, the Deutscher Fussball-Bund (German FA) sent a telegram confirming that it would adhere to these Statutes in principle.
Elsewhere;
On this day 21 May 2010 (Exactly 9 years ago) Debutants Aduana Stars emerged the dominant force at the fifth edition of the annual Premier League Board (PLB) Awards Gala night held at the Banquet Hall of the State House, Accra. The Dormaa Ahenkro-based Club still basking in their historic feat o f being the first and only Club to have annexed the Premier League crown on their first attempt went away with four awards including the prestigious Champion Club award.
Head coach Herbert Addo was named Best Coach, right-back Godfred Saka took the ‘Most Promising Player’ award with the Club’s shot-stopper Stephen Adams as the ‘Best Goalkeeper’. It was however coach Addo who enjoyed the most applause. Dressed with a cowboy hat with the Club’s veil around his neck, he walked majestically towards the podium to pick his prize as ‘King of Coaches’ from former Black Stars coach, Sam Arday amidst chants and plaudits from the well attended audience. The climax of the event was the presentation of the keys of a brand new Tata pick-up vehicle to Aduana Stars for their historic feat by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Ms Akua Sena Dansua.
Runners-up Obuasi Ashantigold took consolation in Chief Executive, Cudjoe Fianoo being adjudged the ‘Best Chief Executive Officer’ as well a s joint winners with Accra Hearts of Oak for the ‘Best Functional Premier League Club Office’ award category. For the second successive season, Bechem Chelsea’s Lee Addy was named ‘best defender.
Hearts of Oak’s striker Mahatma Otoo emerged tops in the ‘Footballer of the Year’ award category whilst his strike-partner, Samuel Afum and Kessben FC’s Bismarck Idan were adjudged joint goal kings after each netted 13-goals during the season. Liberty Professionals was named the Club with the ‘Best behaved supporters’ for the second year running whilst Bechem Chelsea scooped the
‘Fair Play’ award.
FIFA referee Thomas Nunoo was crowned ‘Best Referee’ whilst David Laryea maintained his status as the ‘Best Assistant Referee.’ Augustine Asante was decorated as ‘Best Match Commissioner’ with Stephen Asamoah as ‘Best PLB Cameraman.’
On this day 21 May 2008 (Exactly 11 years ago) Manchester United won the UEFA Champions League by beating Chelsea 6-5 on penalties after a dramatic 1-1 draw at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.
Cristiano Ronaldo headed United in front after 26 minutes but Frank Lampard equalised before the interval.
Lampard and Didier Drogba hit the woodwork before the striker saw red in extra time for slapping Nemanja Vidic.
Ronaldo missed his penalty, but John Terry hit the post with a kick that would have won it for Chelsea and Edwin van der Sar saved from Nicolas Anelka.
It sparked wild celebrations for Sir Alex Ferguson and his players in the Moscow rain as United won Europe’s elite trophy for the third time, a triumph made more poignant as it came 50 years on from the Munich air crash.
Ferguson had made it his mission to take the trophy back to Manchester that year in memory of those who died, and those who survived, in the tragedy in Munich in February 1958.
And it gave the then 66-year-old Scot his second Champions League triumph, repeating the success against Bayern Munich in Barcelona in 1999.
Tevez and Carrick were on target for United as the shoot-out started, with Ballack and Juliano Belletti following suit for Chelsea.
Ronaldo then made a hash of his effort, stopping in his run-up before seeing his kick saved by Cech.
Lampard was successful from the spot and Owen Hargreaves scored under pressure before Ashley Cole’s penalty took Chelsea to the brink of victory.
Nani scored to prolong the tension, but with defeat staring United in the face, Terry threw them a lifeline with his miss.
Substitutes Anderson and Kalou traded successful kicks before Giggs threw all the responsibility on Anelka as the shoot-out reached sudden death – and it proved too much for the striker, who saw his penalty palmed away by Van der Sar to crown United as kings of European football once again.
Man Utd Line-up : Van der Sar, Brown (Anderson 120), Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Hargreaves, Scholes (Giggs 87), Carrick, Ronaldo, Tevez, Rooney (Nani 101).
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, O’Shea, Fletcher, Silvestre.
Booked: Scholes, Ferdinand, Vidic, Tevez.
Goals: Ronaldo 26.
Chelsea Line-up : Cech, Essien, Carvalho, Terry, Ashley Cole, Ballack, Makelele (Belletti 120), Lampard, Joe Cole (Anelka 99), Drogba, Malouda (Kalou 92).
Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Shevchenko, Obi, Alex.
Sent Off: Drogba (116).
Booked: Makelele, Carvalho, Ballack, Essien.
Goals: Lampard 45.
Man Utd win 6-5 on penalties
Attendance : 69,552
Referee : Lubos Michel (Slovakia).
On this day 21 May 2005 (Exactly 14 years ago) Asenal won a penalty shoot-out to lift the FA Cup after a final that was dominated by Manchester United
Arsenal became the first team to win the FA Cup via a penalty shoot-out, despite being outplayed throughout the game, after neither side managed to score in the initial 90 minutes or in 30 minutes of extra time. The shoot-out finished 5–4 to Arsenal, with Patrick Vieira scoring the winning penalty after Paul Scholes’ shot was saved by Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann.
Arsenal Line-up : Lehmann, Lauren, Toure, Senderos, Cole, Fabregas (Van Persie 86), Vieira, Silva, Pires (Edu 105),Bergkamp (Ljungberg 65), Reyes.
Subs Not Used: Almunia, Campbell.
Sent Off: Reyes (120).
Booked: Cole, Lauren, Reyes, Vieira.
Man Utd Line-up : Carroll, Brown, Ferdinand, Silvestre, O’Shea (Fortune 77), Fletcher (Giggs 91), Keane, Scholes, Ronaldo, van Nistelrooy, Rooney.
Subs Not Used: Howard, Gary Neville, Smith.
Booked: Silvestre, Scholes.
Attendance : 71,876
Referee : Rob Styles (Hampshire).
On this day 21 May 2016 (Exactly 3 years ago) Manchester United came from behind and survived Chris Smalling’s sending-off to beat Crystal Palace and win the FA Cup at Wembley through Jesse Lingard’s extra-time strike.
As Wembley was awash with growing speculation this would be Louis van Gaal’s final match as United manager – he was able to add English football’s most glamorous cup to his honours list.
United looked on course to end the season empty-handed as well as missing out on Champions League football when substitute Jason Puncheon’s powerful far-post finish put Palace ahead with 12 minutes left
It was harsh on United, who had hit the woodwork through Marouane Fellaini and Antony Martial, but they responded within four minutes with a brilliant run from Wayne Rooney that ended with Juan Mata scoring from close range.
United lost Smalling to a second yellow card for hauling back Yannick Bolasie in extra time – but Lingard took the trophy to Old Trafford when he lashed home a first-time strike from Damien Delaney’s half-clearance after 110 minutes.
On this day 21 May 1966 (Exactly 53 years ago) Muhammad Ali TKOs Henry Cooper in round 6 at the Arsenal Stadium, Highbury, London for heavyweight boxing title.
On this day 21 May 2016 (Exactly 3 years ago) On same card, American boxer Jermell Charlo KOs John Jackson in round 8th to claim vacant WBC super welterweight title, and Jermall Charlo beat Austin Trout on points to retain IBF version; became the first twins to simultaneously hold world boxing titles in the same division (154 pounds) with wins in Las Vegas.
Jermell Charlo started things off by claiming the previously vacant WBC super welterweight with a comeback knockout against John Jackson. Jermell trailed on all three judges’ scorecards entering the eighth round before scoring a TKO of Jackson.
Then Jermall Charlo successfully defended his IBF junior middleweight title against former belt holder Austin Trout with a unanimous 116-112, 116-112, 115-113 decision.
“It’s history. We did it,” Jermell said on the Showtime broadcast.
The brothers, Hastings High School graduates are extremely close. Jermall, who is a minute younger than his brother, watched from the locker room as Jermell claimed his first world title. Then Jermell quickly showered and changed after his fight so he could get ringside and watch his brother defend his belt.
I want to thank God for allowing me and my twin brother to see this day, baby. History, baby,” Jermall said with his brother by his side. “It feels good. I knew my brother would get the job done. We belong at this level. And for us to get the attention we need from Canelo (Alvarez) and the greats out there, we need these titles, and we’re going to keep these titles.”
BY: GEORGE ‘Alan Green’ MAHAMAH
