Sepp Blatter, FIFA President has revealed that goal line technology is on its way and could be implemented as early as next season. The testing of nine systems is currently taking place and two technologies have already proven to be accurate and fast. Blatter says the International Football Association Board, which determines the rules of the sport, will discuss the technology in London in March 2012 and if approved will be implemented as soon as possible.

The 2014 World Cup in Brazil will be the first to have use of the new technology that will primarily be used to avoid phantom goals. Both Cricket and Tennis are two sports that rely significantly on technology.

With regard to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar Blatter stated that  ”The 2022 World Cup will definitely take place in Qatar and with my full confidence. This has been firmly established by a democratic process.”

He also mentioned that he has no intention of stepping down as FIFA president anytime before 2015, the year he originally announced he would retire.

source: Independent.co.uk

FIFA will finally bring years of waiting to an end when they announce the Brazilian cities that will be hosting the matches for the FIFA World Cup in 2014. The long awaited announcement will also include the locations for the opening and final matches.

Lobbying for the opening game already began not long after Brazil was confirmed as the host country four years ago. While Sao Paulo is considered the favourite againast Fortaleza and Brasilia, there have been reports of delays in construction of the new Itaquerao stadium in Sao Paulo.

There have also been a number of concerns about the amount of travelling teams and supporters will be expected to do in order to reach the multiple venues spread across the 12 different cities in the fourth largest country in the world. In 1998 FIFA scrapped the concept that teams should be based on one venue for the group stage. However, based on the country’s size and limited public transportation FIFA may be forced to rethink the old concept.

Extreme weather experienced in the country from tropical to chilly conditions in the north and south respectively will also factor into FIFA’s match venue decisions.

The announcement is scheduled for Thursday 27th October.

source: supersport

In a poll to accompany the launch of the new superhero series The Cape, television channel SyFy asked approximately 2000 people to vote for their selection of heroes and villains. Standing tall above the likes of celebrity villains such as Simon Cowell, BP’s Tony Hayward, Tiger Woods and Ryan Giggs to name but a few, is Mr Blatter with a victorious 9.2% of the vote (I wonder if this win will constitute a corruption investigation).

If Sepp wasn’t suspiciously voted in for yet another term as president of FIFA, I’m sure he’d make an ideal candidate to play The Penguin in Chris Nolan’s Dark Knight franchise. After the daylight looting of South Africa during the FIFA World Cup last year have been added to his résumé, he could create his own super-villain alter ego. Maybe “RUMPELSTEALSTUFF” or the “TELE-TSOTSI”…we’ll keep at it. There seems to be a continuous flow of controversy and speculation surrounding this little Swiss wheeler ’n’ dealer, yet somehow he magically avoids any conviction, dispelling the allegations as mere rumors. Much like a movie mob boss really.

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Chelsea have been hit with a ban by FIFA to sign any new players till January 2011 because they ‘induced’ Gael Kakuta to breach his contract at Lens.

French attacking midfielder Kakuta, 18, joined the Blues from Lens two years ago after which the French club lodged a complaint with FIFA.

FIFA’s dispute resolution chamber (DRC) have announced Chelsea will be banned from registering any new players for the next two transfer windows – effectively January 2011 will be the next time they can make a new signing unless they win an appeal.

A FIFA spokesman said: “This decision confirms our aim to ensure contractual stability. It is an important ruling for football in general.”

Chelsea have been ordered to pay £115,000 (130,000euros) training compensation to Lens, and are also liable for the £680,000 (780,000euros) compensation sum ordered against Kakuta himself, who is banned from playing any games for four months.

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Local based players will get the first chance to impress Bafana Bafana head coach Joel Santana in 2009 when the Brazilian names a squad comprises only Premier Soccer League players next week to play Zambia in the first friendly of the year at Atteridgeville’s Super Stadium on January 27.

As this friendly is a practice match, no caps will be awarded. But it is an important game for Santana as this will be the first opportunity for the coach to start fine tuning the squad ahead of the Confederations Cup in June where Bafana are in the group with European champions Spain, Asian kingpins Iraq, and Oceania champions New Zealand.

Santana will meet with his technical team on Thursday to prepare for the friendly and begin selecting players.

But this is an excellent opportunity for local players to impress against Zambia and catch the coach’s eye ahead of next month friendly against Chile for which caps will be awarded.” Bafana play Chile on February 17 in Polokwane on a Fifa sanctioned date.

Santana will use the core of PSL players he has used in recent matches such as Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune, crafty winger Siphiwe Tshabalala, Thanda Royal Zulu striker Bernard Parker – if he has not been transferred to Red Star Belgrade – Golden Arrows class midfield anchor Kagisho Dikgacoi, Orlando Pirates midfield maestro Teko Modise, plus Mamelodi Sundowns players Siboniso Gaxa, Robyn Johannes, Surprise Moriri and Lerato Chabangu as the backbone of his squad.

Santana, who returned from a holiday in Brazil on Monday is not able to call up any of his overseas based players as the match fall outside a Fifa sanctioned date.

Said Sanyane: “This gives the coach the perfect opportunity to get an early look at what is available in the PSL and reward players who are shaping well this season.”

With the Confederations Cup around the corner and the 2010 World Cup just 18 months away, every friendly game Bafana play will be taken seriously.

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The Portugal and Manchester United football star Christiano Ronaldo was named FIFA World Player of 2008 on Monday.

Ronaldo, who is also holder of the prestigious Ballon d’Or for the European Footballer of the Year, beat off competition from 2007 winner Kaka (Brazil), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Fernando Torres (Spain) and Xavi (Spain).

“It’s an overwhelming moment in my career and I’d like to dedicate this award to my family, friends and colleagues,” he said.

“Winning the Champions League for me was the most memorable moment of 2008,” added Ronaldo, who scored in the final but missed a penalty in the penalty shootout against Chelsea.

Ronaldo went out of his way to heap praise on United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, with whom relations became strained during last summer over whether he was going to leave the club for Real Madrid.

“It’s also true that the manager always has an important role to play,” said Ronaldo.

“It was a great season for me and for my club, and the coach was important for me because I learned a lot from him.

“His experience over so many years is of paramount importance – it’s a privilege to have such a great club manager.

“This is the climax of a fantastic era for me. I’m happy and proud about what has been done by my team and what we have won.

“I am lucky to be part of the history of a club like Manchester United.”

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The football legend David Beckham is set to make his debut for AC Milan on Tuesday against German side Hamburg.

“Speaking on Monday from Dubai, where the squad is at a training camp, Ancelotti said: “there has been a lot of curiosity surrounding David Beckham.

“And I can calmly say that he is available and that he can therefore play.”

Ancelotti added: “The past few days he (Beckham) has been working hard and I’ve noticed his commitment to showing that he wants to play for the team.”

Former Manchester United and Real Madrid star Beckham plays for Los Angeles Galaxy in the United States but has joined AC Milan on a short-term loan as he bids to extend his England career.

LA Galaxy resume competition in March.

AC Milan’s first official match of 2009 is Sunday’s Serie A league encounter against AS Roma.

However Ancelotti has indicated that Beckham, who plays as a creative midfielder, faces stiff competition from the likes of Andrea Pirlo, Clarence Seedorf, Ronaldinho and Kaka.

Beckham admitted he is thrilled to be playing with Milan and added, in an interview with Sky Sports, he is waiting patiently for the nod from Ancelotti.

“When I will play? I am always ready but it’s up to the coach to decide. Physically I know I have to work hard to reach 100 percent, I want to play well instead of just play,” he said.

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