Middle East rulers are fast getting on the democracy bandwagon, lest they face an insurrection. Qatari emir Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani will “ask thepeople” of his country to decide whether to hold the 2022 World Cup in winter to avoid the intense summer heat. FIFA President Sepp Blatter hadsuggested that it was better […]
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Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Clubs negotiate down to the wire
Teams spent $320 million on transfers involving 2,451 foreign-based players regulated by FIFA during the January window, and 70 more deals were blocked because teams missed the deadline to registerthem on its new online registration system. “They’re haggling until the last moment,” Mark Goddard, general manager ofFIFA’s Transfer Matching System. “They can all watch the […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Changing colors
[MY VIEW] National team loyalty isn’t what it used to be(*). More and more players are shopping themselves around to find the best situation before decidingwhich country to represent. Thanks to FIFA’s amended eligibility rules, players are, in certain circumstances, changing colors, representing more than one country. It is having profound effects on theU.S. national […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Blazer questions 2022 World Cup thinking
[2022 WORLD CUP] Chuck Blazer, the lone American on the FIFA executive committee, has broken his silence on the issue ofa winter World Cup, telling Reuters that the idea of switching the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to the winter would “upset the entire football world.” Blazer had been very critical of the Qatar2022 bid’s […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Blatter defends FIFA ethics, voting system
There won’t be changes to FIFA’s voting system if Sepp Blatter gets his way. The FIFA president replied brusquely to statements made by outgoing ethicscommittee member Guenter Hirsch, who said FIFA had “no real interest in playing an active role in the resolution, pursuance and prevention of violations of itsethics code.” Blatter fired back, “He […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Qatar turns on Blatter
So much for Sepp Blatter‘s plans to play the 2022 World Cup in Qatar during the winner to avoid the Gulf state’s summer heat. Mohammed bin Hammam, the Qatari member of FIFA’s executive committee, dismissed recent suggestions that the World Cup be played in the winter and also in other Gulf states. “I believe Qatar […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Qatar World Cup leaves English boss with 'cold sweat'
England came out of the vote for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups as the big loser. It was eliminated in the first round of the 2018 race against three other European bidders, and it must cope with the2022 World Cup in Qatar. Either the 2022 tournament is held in the summer — which no […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Spanish media rip FIFA for Spain Ballon d'Or snub
The Spanish media, still smarting from FIFA’s decision to pick Russia over Spain-Portugal as the host of the 2018 World Cup, criticized FIFA president Sepp Blatter following the selection ofArgentine Lionel Messi as the winner of the FIFA Ballon d’Or over Spaniards Andres Iniesta and Xavi. ABC Spain claimed, “FIFA scorns world champions,” according to […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Marta named Player of the Year fifth year in a row
[AWARDS] Marta, who led FC Gold Pride to the 2010 Women’s Professional Soccer title, won her fifth straight FIFA Women’sPlayer of the Year. New awards went to Jose Mourinho (Inter Milan/Real Madrid) and Silvia Neid (German national team) asthe men’s soccer and women’s soccer coaches of the year. Marta, 24, is a free agent after […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Lionel Messi wins FIFA Ballon d'Or
[AWARDS] Argentina’s Lionel Messi collected the FIFA Ballon d’Or, his second consecutive title, ahead ofBarcelona teammates Andres Iniesta and Xavi, at ceremonies Monday at the Zurich Kongresshaus. This thefirst time is FIFA Ballon d’Or has been awarded since the merger of France Football’s Ballon d’Or and FIFA Player of the Year. Members of the international […]