ZURICH: Guatemala, Uzbekistan and the Turkish club Eskisehirspor are the three short-listed candidates to win the FIFA Fair Play Award at the world federation’s annual gala in Zurich next month writes KEIR RADNEDGE.

The three were selected from a list submitted by the bureau of the Committee for Fair Play and Social Responsibility chaired by FIFA exco members Prince Ali of Jordan and Turkey’s Senes Erzik.

Guatemala’s football federation was chosen for “giving a clear signal that unfair behaviour and match-fixing will not be tolerated in football.” The GFF investigated and banned for life for matchfixing three senior national team players. The ban was  extended worldwide by FIFA.

As for Uzbekistan its clubs and national teams collected the most fair play points in the Asian confederation in 2012. Points are computed on the basis of red and yellow cards received, positive play, respect towards opponents and the referee and the conduct of officials and fans.

Eskisehirspor’s original nomination was proposed by fans of Scottish club St Johnstone after a Europa League second qualifying round tie.

During the game in Turkey, a St Johnstone player was 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 10 men, Dede of Eskisehirspor gave the ball back to St Johnstone.

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