BABAYARO OFF IN SHAKER FOR HOSTS
CELESTINE BABAYARO, the Chelsea defender and captain of Nigeria's Olympic football team, was sent off yesterday as his country, defending their gold medal, knocked the hosts out of the men's tournament. Australia's Brett Emerton was also given a red card after a brawl involving 21 players during a fiery 3-2 win for the Africans in the Sydney football stadium.
Australia had levelled the match at half-time after going two goals down, but Victor Agali hit the winner with 25 minutes to go.
The Olyroos' adventure has ended quickly, to local disappointment, even if football has always been something of an oddball, estranged cousin at these Games. Its tournaments - men's and women's - began before the opening ceremony and will visit several
cities outside Sydney. The Princess Royal, among others, believes team sports such as football should have no place in a modern, lean Olympiad. The IOC accountants, however, and Sepp Blatter, the Fifa president, note that the best-attended single event four years ago was the men's football final, in which Nigeria beat Argentina 3-2. The Super Eaglets drew their first match of the 2000 Games, against Honduras, 3-3.
Olympic football matters to Nigerians, hence the dispute - won by Arsenal - over Nwankwo Kanu's availability. It matters to the fancied Brazilians, who have never won football gold. It matters to Italy, who put back the start of their league season to avoid clubversus-country distractions for coach Marco Tardelli's European Under-21 champions. Italy, who have won both opening matches, have not used the IOC's licence to include three players over 23 in their
squad, but are strong nonetheless.
Apart from the adventures of Premiership stars such as Babayaro, British interest is remote. Without a recognised GB team, the best young English, Scottish, Welsh or Northern Irish players must miss out on what has become a valuable global development tournament. But given England's disappointing showings in recent youth finals, a British team - even one including the likes of Joe Cole, Michael Owen and Barry Ferguson - may well struggle to qualify.
IAN HAWKEY
Sunday Times
