Futsal’s lack of independence has been brought to this point by its self-proclaimed friends, not its enemies...

The editorial reflects the writer's point of view and Futsalplanet.com is not responsible for the content. (Futsalplanet note:... though we share the greatest part of the content!)

by Fatih Kale

for comments and editorial exchanges: scsc99@hotmail.com


Fatih Kale is a Turkish Futsal Coach based in Taiwan

When AFC Deputy General Secretary Hassan Al Sabah declared "I see Futsal as a base for football. If you can develop your skills well on the Futsal pitch, then it will be easier when it comes to the bigger version of the game", what he did (with great political skill) was not praising Futsal, rather putting Futsal in it’s place. Namely: behind football.

And he had the nerves to do it during a Futsal Refereeing Course in front of Spanish Pedro Galan Nieto and Japanese Yasuhiro Matsuzaki!

One could understand the polite nature of “obey the superiors” culture of Japanese Matsuzaki. But unfortunately there was also no reaction from the Spanish Galan Nieto.

This is the sad story of Futsal being domesticated…

In the Asian Confederation this egotistical “big brother complex” reached such absurd status, that Futsal coaches first needs to have a Football Coaching licence to follow a Futsal coaching career.

Supporters of the “Futsal is a tool for soccer” idea argue that Futsal is a proud part of the history of Brazilian talent playing football.

It is common that we hear and read things like "many famous footballers started with Futsal..."

Unwillingly, many Futsal followers also fall in to this trap. As they praise Futsal as a skill developer, they are indeed degrading Futsal as an individual sport. But history can be honored without making a fetish of its symbols.

Why not bring out Falcao to spotlight as a better player than Robinho, and challenge the status quo ?

Why not honor Lozano, as the best tactician of all indoors sports of last decade?

Why not promote Luis Amado as the best Goalkeeper of all times (of any sports requires a goal)?

Yet, it is easier to repeat the names of current famous Footballers and connect their skill to our beloved Futsal.


On the other side of the rainbow, there is the issue of Brazilian exodus. There is no doubt that Brazil is the Mecca of Futsal and Brazilian players have the ball-skills most of us can only dream of.

However, as long as the seal is in the hands of Mr. Ricardo Terra TEIXEIRA - who is from Brazil - naturalization is not likely to be regulated by FIFA.

But addiction to cheap labor must come to an end. So the National Associations must, themselves, declare that it's an unmitigated evil that undercuts the very foundations of the ‘Futsal dream' that the young Futsal players are in search of.

If the National Associations are not willing to do it voluntarily , than Futsal supporters must use their only power –as spectators- to protest during international matches.

Some might argue that these Brazilians are contributing the development of Futsal. And yes, Azerbaijan took the fourth place in the latest addition of UEFA Futsal Championship in Hungary.

But how can anyone with common sense argue that Azeri-Futsal really deserves that spot? Remember the groupmatch and 3rd/4th place matches they played against Czech Republic. Can you tell the difference between two? Could it be two missing Brazilians in the second match? What does it mean for the Azeri-Futsal?

Will this result give the Azeri kids a boost to start Futsal, or will they think “there is no way we will get a chance with a Brazilian coach and 5 Brazilians in the team!”

And how many of us really see the difference between the brilliance of the heel-kick of Spanish captain Rodriguez against Portugal and the attempt of an supererogatory “scissors-kick” by Brazilian import Pula of Russia.

Russia and Azerbaijan are great Futsal nations! They got more than enough talent waiting. Neither Russia nor Azerbaijan or any other country for that matter do not need this kind if Brazilian short cut to success. What they need is to nurture their youth, and create a league system not only for professionals but also for youth.

This is the only viable long term solution for development.

Thanks to Spain tactical awareness, team spirit and patience player development still counts for something!

Thanks to the Spanish victory, Futsal still has hope ...



“I see Futsal as a base for football”…

These simple words of AFC Deputy General Secretary probably reflects the sentiment in the European Confederation as well.

Otherwise why would the UEFA cancel the UEFA Under 21 Futsal Championship ?

In a worldwide effort organized by Futsalplanet.com, a petition was signed by thousands in an attempt to reintroduce the U21 competition.

Only time will tell how the UEFA futsal committee will react. Most likely they will decide “Futsal should be played before 16 years old and after 30 years old, so no need for a U21 competition” .

Which brings the question of the use of FUTSAL COMMITEES at both National and International level..

If, Boris Durlen of the Croatian Futsal Committee was only watching as the new National Futsal team coach was selected by Football people,

If AFC Futsal Committee does not attempt to amend the Futsal Refereeing and Coaching Regulations making them independent of Football education,

If UEFA Futsal Committee does not investigate the widespread naturalization of Brazilians and cancellation of U21 competition,

If Chinese Taipei Futsal Committee agrees to cancel all Futsal activities in 2009 and spend it’s entire budget on Football
(Futsalplanet note: A World Cup was organized THERE in order to develop futsal... THERE!!...)

If all Futsal Committees naively agree to be in the same bag as beach-soccer,

than we, as Futsal players ,coaches , referees, and spectators have the right to question the objectives and necessity of these committees.

Starting a war between Futsal and the governing body of Football (which by the way is the biggest non-political organization in the world) is not a logical thing to do. And it will only hurt Futsal.

But if Futsal do not have the will and courage to ask for respect and more autonomy within the Futsal committees , than the future is not as bright as we were hoping for…

Asking questions are not enough anymore. We have to stand up and start demanding answers!

If we fail to do so, Futsal will always be a “small sided game” for the rest of the world…


Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com