Coaching legend Bora Milutinovic (second right) talks to the players.
By Sports Reporter/Doha
During a joint event of Al Kass International Cup and ICSS on Friday morning at “La Cigale Hotel” that featured former Dutch international Edgar Davids, coaching legend Bora Milutinovic and ICSS Head of Anti-Corruption & International Development Partnerships, Werner Schuller, the players were warned about the dangers of corruption in football such as match-fixing and were also made aware of the importance to be careful with the personal use of social media.
According to the International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS), many criminals and match-fixers are now utilising sites like Twitter and Instagram to approach and groom young footballers. “Criminals are very clever about the way they infiltrate and corrupt players and it is important that young athletes are educated about the dangers of social media and the amount of personal information they make public,” stated Schuller, who also told the young players how important it is to support the integrity of the game. “As part of our commitment to safeguarding and educating young athletes, we would encourage any young player to recognise, resist and report any approaches by suspicious individuals immediately to their club or governing body.”
As social media usage has rapidly expanded in recent years, it forms an increasingly colourful addition to the excited chatter around the Al Kass International Cup. For the young, web-savvy players, platforms including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram present fantastic opportunities to share their experiences in Doha with fans, followers and friends alike.
This year a record level of ‘selfies’ are predicted as more and more participants utilise social media to publicise their footballing feats, perhaps with the long-term aim of building up personal online ‘brands’. With the tournament just a couple of days in, the photography phenomenon has already been embraced by the AC Milan team who celebrated their 4-3 victory over River Plate with a joyful victory selfie at the side of the pitch
However, while such activity is generally nothing more than harmless fun, some experts are warning of the growing dangers that social media can present to young footballers. “Through our investigations at the ICSS, we have come across numerous cases where criminals have contacted young players at clubs through Facebook, Twitter or Instagram with a view to compromising them,” said Schuller.
In an effort to encourage greater awareness of these risks, Al Kass and the ICSS hosted a joint event on Friday to highlight these hazards to the tournament’s young players.
The lessons form part of a wider legacy initiative by the Al Kass International Organising Committee to ensure that players leave Qatar with more than just a footballing education.
Commenting on the social media classes, Essa al-Hitmi, Chairman of the tournament’s Organising Committee said: “We hope that players who compete in the Al Kass International Cup will leave Qatar with positive memories of this country and its relationship with the beautiful game. This is a tournament that seeks to open minds and inspire the next generation of football stars. Furthermore, we believe these practical lessons on such a contemporary topic can help protect the players and ensure they reach their full potential.”