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.

With presidency voting scandals to bribery allegations around the World Cup host selection (among a few red flags) it makes one wonder why things like the goal line technology issue is so abruptly discussed… guess you can’t bribe machines.

I would have liked to have listed a more detailed compendium of the alleged infringements of uncle Sepp, but it is a list far too long and complicated for me to even attempt to squeeze into a single post (for a comprehensive look into Sepp and Fifa’s controversial dealings, read “FOUL” by Andrew Jennings – interesting to say the least).

As long as we love watching the beautiful game, Sepp and men like him are always going to be a necessary evil. After all, the true Villains never leave the story for long.

Nic Hoekstra

@thekaptiv

pic: castlemaineindependent.org

Russia won the right to put on the 2018 World Cup, the first time it will have been staged in Eastern Europe after 10 editions in the western half of the continent.

Qatar, which has never qualified for the World Cup finals, will stage the 2022 tournament, a first both for the Middle East and for an Arab country. It will also be the smallest nation ever to host the World Cup.

Both new hosts are major energy producers and both had planned larger and costlier investment in infrastructure and new stadiums than all their respective rivals.

Fifa President Sepp Blatter, who announced the winners after a vote of his executive committee in the Swiss financial capital, said: “We go to new lands.

“Never has the World Cup been in Russia and Eastern Europe, and the Middle East and Arabic world have been waiting for a long time so I’m a happy president when we talk about the development of football.”

Russia’s prime minister Vladimir Putin flew in to Zurich immediately after the winning vote and held a news conference before going on to meet and thank Blatter and Fifa.

“We are honoured to win in this tough and fair fight,” he told reporters. “Thank you for supporting Russia. Together let us make sure football supports fair play, tolerance, honour.”

Putin said he had made the right decision to stay away from Zurich for Russia’s final presentation so Fifa executives could make their choice in peace after corruption allegations against some executive committee members in the British media.

“I did this out of respect,” he said. “There was unacceptable campaigning that was deployed for the World Cup in 2018. People were accused of corruption. They were accused without any grounds, without any reasons, no justifications.”

Football’s governing body’s executive committee voted for the two winning bids after a fierce lobbying campaign which saw world political leaders and top sports personalities gather in Zurich to press their case for one of the biggest prizes in global sport.

Russia defeated the challenge of three other European bidders, England and the joint bids of Netherlands/Belgium and Spain/Portugal.

Qatar took the honours for 2022 over rivals Australia, Japan, South Korea and the United States.

They committed in their bid document to Fifa building nine new stadiums and renovating three existing grounds at a cost of around $3 billion.

Qatar bid chairman Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al-Thani told the Fifa executive: “Thank you for backing us and expanding the game. You will be proud of us and you will be proud of the Middle East.”

Russia won on the second round of voting in which an absolute majority was required. England, motherland of football, was humiliated, going out in the first round with just two votes despite three days of lobbying in Zurich by British Prime Minister David Cameron.

Observers said they may have suffered from an adverse reaction by Fifa to the corruption allegations and to Wednesday’s serious outbreak of soccer hooliganism at a cup match in Birmingham.

The Russians, leading with nine votes on the first ballot, obtained 13 votes on the second round, ahead of Spain/Portugal on seven and Netherlands/Belgium with just two.

Qatar led in the 2022 ballot on each of the four rounds, obtaining 14 votes against eight to the US in the final round.

“I think it was the wrong decision,” US President Barack Obama told reporters.

Australia made a first round exit with just one vote and Japan and South Korea fell out in turn on the next two rounds.

This is how Thursday’s vote unfolded:

2018 World Cup:

Round 1: England 2 votes, Netherlands/Belgium 4 votes, Spain/Portugal 7 votes and Russia 9 votes (as no absolute majority was reached, the candidate with least amount of votes, England, was eliminated)

Round 2: Netherlands/Belgium 2 votes, Spain/Portugal 7 votes and Russia 13 votes (Russia obtained an absolute majority)

2022 FIFA World Cup:

Round 1: Australia 1 vote, Japan 3 votes, Korea Republic 4 votes, Qatar 11 votes, USA 3 votes (Australia eliminated)

Round 2: Japan 2 votes, Korea Republic 5 votes, Qatar 10 votes and USA 5 votes (Japan eliminated)

Round 3: Korea Republic 5 votes, Qatar 11 votes, USA 6 votes (Korea Republic eliminated)

Round 4: Qatar 14 votes and USA 8 votes (Qatar obtained an absolute majority)

Source + Pic: supersport.co.za

The FAI have lodged a formal complaint with the world governing body, claiming the integrity of the game has been damaged after French forward Thierry Henry blatantly handled the ball during extra-time in the lead-up to the winning goal scored by William Gallas.

“I really believe the integrity of the game has been questioned,” Delaney said.

“The governing body of world football have to step up to the plate and accede to our call for a replay.”

Delaney also confirmed the FAI have written to their French counterparts.

“We have got to do what we have to do,” he said. “We owe it to the players, who were magnificent. The supporters were incredible.

“It is up to the people who govern the game now. Every time I go to a FIFA congress I hear about fair play and integrity.

“This was not a league game. This was a defining game with the whole world watching and if FIFA believe in fair play and integrity, this is their opportunity to step forward.

“From the French FA point of view they need to look at themselves in this situation. Henry is their captain and a wonderful footballer but does he want to be like Diego Maradona and his legacy to be this handball, this goal that got them to the World Cup in an unjust manner?”

Delaney added: “If we had qualified in this manner, I wouldn’t be happy.

“I really believe the integrity of the game has been questioned.”

The FAI statement earlier said: “The handball was recognised by the FIFA commissioner, the referee observer and the match officials, as well as by the player himself.”

Ireland’s Justice Minister Dermot Ahern and assistant Republic of Ireland coach Liam Brady have both called for the game to replayed.

The FAI believe there is a precedent for the result to be struck out.

FIFA ordered Uzbekistan to replay Bahrain in a play-off for the 2006 World Cup in Germany after the referee made a mistake after a penalty had been awarded.

The governing body described it as a “technical error”.

However, in that instance, the referee was guilty of wrongly applying the rules rather than missing an offence. An indirect free-kick was awarded against Uzbekistan when one of their players encroached on the Bahrain penalty area as the Uzbeks successfully converted a penalty. The correct interpretation would have been to order the penalty to be retaken.

The FAI hit out at the referee, Swedish firefighter Martin Hansson, who failed to spot Henry use an arm to control the ball before squaring for team-mate William Gallas to score.

“Conclusive video evidence of a deliberate hand ball by Thierry Henry, which led to France’s additional time goal, has been seen by millions of football fans worldwide,” the FAI said.

“The blatantly incorrect decision by the referee to award the goal has damaged the integrity of the sport and we now call on FIFA, as the world governing body for our sport, to organise for this match to be replayed.”

Source + Pic: football365.com

Chelsea

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.

Kakuta, 18, joined Chelsea from Lens two years ago after which the French club lodged a complaint with FIFA asking for compensation and for sporting sanctions against the London side.

FIFA said in a statement: “The French club had lodged a claim with FIFA seeking compensation for breach of contract from the player and requesting also sporting sanctions to be imposed on the player and the English club for breach of contract and inducement to breach of contract respectively.

“The DRC found that the player had indeed breached a contract signed with the French club. Equally, the DRC deemed it to be established that the English club induced the player to such breach.

“A restriction of four months on his eligibility to play in official matches is imposed on the player Gael Kakuta while the club FC Chelsea is banned from registering any new players, either nationally or internationally, for the two next entire and consecutive registration periods following the notification of the present decision.”

Chelsea have the right to appeal against the decision and take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne.

Given the severity of the punishment, it is almost certain the club will take that course of action.

Kakuta, a skilful left-winger, is viewed as Chelsea’s most promising young player. He ended his first season as top scorer in the youth side and was voted the Academy’s player of the year.

His second season was brought to an abrupt end in February by a double fracture of his ankle.

Source: teamtalk.com

Pic: skysports.com

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.”

Portugal manager Carlos Queiroz, who was also with Ronaldo at Manchester United when he was assistant coach to Ferguson, said it was a logical decision.

“Quality and justice were behind this decision,” said Queiroz.

“This is a great achievement for a player as young (23) as he is and with his career before him.

“I congratulate Cristiano Ronaldo and hope that this award both stimulates and inspires his career.”

Ronaldo, scorer of 42 goals in all competitions in the 2007-8 season, was one of United’s architects behind the club’s English Premiership and Champions League double.

It was not a perfectly scripted year for Ronaldo, however, as Portugal crashed out 3-2 to Germany in the quarter-final of Euro 2008 in June.

Ronaldo becomes the second Portuguese player to win the FIFA accolade after Luis Figo in 2001, and the first one playing for a British club.

He reaped 935 points in the vote in which the coaches and captains of 155 national teams took part. Messi finished second (678 points) and was trailed by Torres (203), Kaka (183) and Xavi (155).

Brazilian midfielder Marta was unveiled as FIFA World Women’s Footballer of the year for 2008, for the third year running.

Marta delivered an outstanding performance at the women’s Olympic football tournament in Beijing 2008, and equalled the record set by Birgit Prinz by claiming her third consecutive title.

For the women’s vote, 139 coaches and captains cast their vote and Marta won comfortably (1,002 points) ahead of Germany’s Prinz (328), Brazil’s Cristiane (275), Germany’s Nadine Angerer (198) and England’s Kelly Smith (150).

WORLD FOOTBALLERS OF THE YEAR WINNERS

2008: Cristiano Ronaldo (POR) Manchester UnitedM
2007: Kaka (BRA) AC Milan
2006: Fabio Cannavaro (ITA) Real Madrid
2005: Ronaldinho (BRA) Barcelona
2004: Ronaldinho (BRA) Barcelona
2003: Zinedine Zidane (FRA) Real Madrid
2002: Ronaldo (BRA) Real Madrid
2001: Luis Figo (POR) Real Madrid
2000: Zinedine Zidane (FRA) Juventus
1999: Rivaldo (BRA) Barcelona
1998: Zinedine Zidane (FRA) Juventus
1997: Ronaldo (BRA) Inter Milan)
1996: Ronaldo (BRA) Barcelona
1995: George Weah (LBR) AC Milan
1994: Romario (BRA) Barcelona
1993: Roberto Baggio (ITA) Juventus
1992: Marco van Basten (NED) AC Milan
1991: Lothar Matthaus (GER) Bayern Munich

Source + Pic: supersport.co.za