Three nominees for the FIFA Fair Play Award announced

FIFA today announced the three nominees for the FIFA Fair Play Award 2012. In alphabetical order, the contenders are:

The Guatemalan Football Federation (GFF), for giving a clear signal that unfair behaviour and match-fixing will not be tolerated in football. The GFF thoroughly investigated three national team players charged with match-fixing and banned them for life in Guatemala based on the findings of a special investigation committee. The ban was then extended worldwide by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee.

The Turkish club Eskisehirspor, whose nomination was proposed by the supporters of Scottish club St Johnstone following a Europa League second qualifying round tie. During the game in Turkey, a St Johnstone player became injured as Eskisehirspor went on the attack. This attack resulted in a corner, but as it had come about when the opposition were down to ten men, Dede of Eskisehirspor gave the ball back to St Johnstone.

The Uzbekistan Football Federation, for showing that fair play and competition are not mutually exclusive, but complement each another. The clubs and national teams of Uzbekistan collected the most fair play points in the Asian Football Confederation in 2012. Points are awarded or deducted on the basis of red and yellow cards received, positive play, respect towards opponents and the referee and the conduct of the officials as well as of the crowd.

The three nominees have been selected from a list submitted by the bureau of the Committee for Fair Play and Social Responsibility chaired by H.R.H Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein and Senes Erzik.

Each year, FIFA commends persons or institutions for their fair play, an issue that has always been of crucial significance to world football’s governing body. FIFA aims to promote the principles of fair play through projects and campaigns.