[WORLD CUP2018/22 BID] What’s the big deal about breakfast at the White House? In a World Cup bid process where governmental support is considered an essential element, the 7:25 a.m. date FIFA inspectorshave on Wednesday — with or without President Barack Obama in attendance — is an important display of support for the U.S. bid […]
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Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Welcome to Big Friday
[TELEVISION WATCH] Soccer fans will have to get used to new viewing days as Friday’s opening day of play in Euro 2010 qualifying marks the new Tuesday-Fridaydays for international matches during double-fixture windows. The new Tuesday game days are intended to allow players to get home to their clubs a day earlier, and the Friday […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Harvey leaves key management position
[WPS] Former U.S. women’s world champion Mary Harvey has left her position as chief operating officer of Women’sProfessional Soccer as part of the continuing restructuring in the league office. Harvey, who had come to WPS from FIFA, was hired to directly oversee the day-to-day affairs at the leagueand all aspects of player-related matters, including day-of-game […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
FIFA inspectors arrive Monday in New York
[WORLD CUP 2018/22 BID] FIFA inspectors head to New York on Monday to begin a three-day tour of five of the cities included in the U.S. bid to host the WorldCup in 2018 or 2022. Harold Mayne-Nicholls, the president of the Chile Football Association, heads six-person FIFA delegation that also includesDr. Danny Jordaan, CEO of […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Asian chief Bin Hammam won't challenge Blatter
Asian Football Confederation chief Mohamed Bin Hammam ended speculation that he’ll challenge incumbent Sepp Blatterfor the FIFA presidency, ruling out a bid for Blatter’s position and saying he’ll support the 74-year-old Swiss, who is seeking a fourth term. “My aim is to run for the nextelection of AFC president due at the start of 2011,” […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Blatter: England would be 'easy' choice
While FIFA inspectors began their visit to England on Monday, the big news on the World Cup bidding front came thousands of miles away in Singapore, where FIFA President Sepp Blatter said England would be the easy choice. That could be viewed as good or bad news for the English bid for the 2018 World […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
British prime minister offers Blatter apologies
How serious is the bidding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups? David Cameron, the British prime minister, called FIFA President Sepp Blatter to offer his “apologies” that he will on a family vacation next week when FIFA inspectors will visit England on their 2018/22 World Cup inspection tour. Blatterreportedly told Cameron the prime minister’s […]
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FIFA mulls eliminating ties at World Cup
[FIFA] To combat the defensive approach teams take in the group stage at the World Cup, FIFA President Sepp Blattersuggested the answer might be eliminating ties and deciding all drawn matches by penalty kicks. “We are considering doing away with ties in the first round … and also ending overtime,”he said in an interview with […]
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
Don't bother with Fair Play — just pay the fines
By Paul Gardner Images of the recent World Cup final linger on in my mind. Andres Iniesta’s goal, of course, now made more lustrous by knowledge we could not have atthe time, that this was the winning goal. But beyond that … what else is there that remains from that game, that climactic game, that […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
FIFA fines Netherlands and Spain for conduct in final
FIFA fined World Cup champion Spain 10,000 Swiss francs ($9,600) and the runner-up Netherlands 15,000 Swiss francs ($14,400) for the poor conduct of their players in the most ill-tempered final inthe history of the World Cup. The Dutch received eight yellow cards and defender John Heitinga was sent off, while Spain had five players booked.The […]