Soccer-World-FIFA says not to blame for ticketing scams

By Gugulakhe Lourie

JOHANNESBURG June 27 (Reuters) – FIFA hit back on Sunday at critics who blamed soccer’s world governing body for fans and companies losing millions on World Cup ticketing scams, which have left many seats empty in the stadiums.

South Africa’s Sunday Times newspaper reported that petrochemical giant Sasol (SOLJ.J) and dozens of South African and foreign fans have lost more than 6.5 million rand ($852,500) in World Cup scams after buying tickets from illegal dealers.

“We have no specific comments on the issue of buying tickets outside FIFA channels,” FIFA spokesman Nicolas Maingot said at a media briefing on Sunday, adding that FIFA should not take the blame for millions lost by fans and companies.

“Honestly, we have published I don’t know how many warnings before the competition, even before 2006.”

Clifford Green, a lawyer for FIFA and its hospitality affiliate Match, told the Sunday Times that this week he handed police a dossier of affidavits from seven companies on their huge losses.

FIFA this week named Norwegian company Euroteam, which operates websites, as selling tickets illegally.

ILLEGAL TICKETS

Danish national Michael Bakkerstrom and German Siv Anne Basley appeared in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court this week for allegedly selling tickets illegally for Euroteam.

Despite the crackdown, Euroteam put an advert in the Sunday Times’s sister newspaper, The Times, on Friday, saying: “World Cup 2010 Tickets. All matches including the final.”

A tiny note on the advert says the firm is not affiliated to FIFA and all orders are subject to Norwegian law.

“No one should buy tickets outside the official channels. First, you put yourself in an illegal situation and, second, you might not enter the stadium,” Maingot said.

This is little comfort to Sasol Oil, a unit of Sasol, which is reported to have lost 3.3 million rand in the ticketing scam.

Jacqui O’Sullivan, Sasol’s spokeswomen, confirmed the company was defrauded of millions by illegal ticketing dealers.

“I cannot comment further on a legal matter,” O’Sullivan said, when asked whether Sasol was planning to sue the company that sold them illegal tickets.

The Sunday Times said other comapnies that made statements to the police on their ticketing woes include a firm in Johannesburg, which lost 2.8 million rand after buying 80 tickets, including hospitality.

“FIFA is also working closely with New Scotland Yard in the UK in shutting down several fraudulent and unauthorised websites,” FIFA said in a statement.

(Editing by Ken Ferris)

Aussie Kewell gets one match ban for sending off

(Reuters) – Australian forward Harry Kewell was suspended for one match by FIFA’s disciplinary panel on Sunday following his red card against Ghana on Saturday, FIFA said in a statement.

Sports

He will miss Australia’s next Group D match against Serbia on June 23.

Kewell handled the ball on the line to deny Ghana a certain goal in the 24th minute of Saturday’s game at Rustenburg which ended in a 1-1 draw. Ghana scored from the resulting penalty.

(Editing by Jon Bramley)

Raumklang-Technologie von DTS wird bei Übertragungen der FIFA-WM 2010 eingesetzt

Globales Sportereignis stellt die leistungsstarken Audiosysteme von DTS ins
Rampenlicht
CALABASAS, Kalifornien–(Business Wire)–
DTS, Inc. (Nasdaq: DTSI) gab heute bekannt, dass es seine Raumklang-Technologie
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11. Juli in Südafrika stattfindet. Mithilfe von DTS Neural Surround werden ESPN
und andere Rundfunksender Fußballfans in den USA und Brasilien in die Lage
versetzen, die Begeisterung auf den Rängen in hochqualitativem 5.1-Raumklang zu
erleben.

„Die Raumklangtechnologie von DTS wird ein integraler Bestandteil der
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Beide Lösungen versetzen Tontechniker in die Lage, ein dynamisches Raumklangmix
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zu müssen.

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Uzbek Irmatov will referee opening match

Uzbekistan’s Ravshan Irmatov will referee the opening World Cup match between hosts South Africa and Mexico at Soccer City in Johannesburg on Friday, organisers FIFA said on Saturday.

Irmatov, who began his international career seven years ago, was in charge of the 2008 Club World Cup final between Manchester United and Liga de Quito.

Rafael Ilyasov of Uzbekistan and Bahadyr Kochkorov of Kyrgyzstan will be the assistant referees in Friday’s game.

(Reporting by Javier Leira, editing by Tony Jimenez. To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

FIFA providing 150,000 more World Cup tickets

An extra 150,000 tickets for all 64 World Cup matches will be put on sale on Friday after 96 per cent of seats were sold, FIFA secretary-general Jerome Valcke said.

At a ceremony officially handing over Cape Town’s majestic new seaside stadium for the World Cup, Valcke said that if the additional tickets were sold the tournament would reach almost 98 percent capacity across all the 10 stadiums.

A total of nearly 2.9 million seats were available for the world’s most watched sporting event, which runs for a month from June 11.

Valcke said the additional tickets were from inventory that soccer’s governing body had held back until now for its own use.

The number of tickets available for any stadium would vary from 200 upwards. Valcke said last week organisers were having trouble filling the smaller Nelspruit, Polokwane and Port Elizabeth stadiums for some matches.

Estimates of foreign visitors for the World Cup, once put at 450,000, have recently been reduced to between 300,000 and 370,000. The number has been depressed by the global economic crisis, the cost of a long-haul World Cup destination and fears over South Africa’s high levels of violent crime.

Last month, realising it had made errors in selling tickets only over the internet, FIFA launched a drive to market the remaining seats to South Africans, who have grabbed thousands in over-the-counter cash sales.

(Reporting by Barry Moody; Editing by Clare Fallon. To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

England is best country to host World Cup: Capello

London, May 20 (ANI): Coach Fabio Capello has said that England is the best country to host the World Cup.

The England boss joined the 4,000 people who have backed The Sun’s campaign to save the country’s 2018 bid.

“This is the best country where you can play football. The transport, the fans, the stadiums, the hotels, everything is good. This is why I think it will be fine for England,” he said.

The paper launched Save Our Bid this week, calling on FIFA to ignore former bid chairman Lord Triesman’s corruption claims.

Boxing ace Ricky Hatton joined that campaign by signing the e-petition, saying: “England is where the beautiful game began. Bring it on.”

Oasis star Noel Gallagher, 42, speaking at the launch of Umbro’s I’m in campaign, said: “England should win. It’s a travesty we have only had it once.”

Other celebs backing The Sun’s bid include former England captain Alan Shearer, TV host Adrian Chiles and Fatboy Slim star Norman Cook. (ANI)

England 2018 bid gets support from Platini and FIFA’s vice-president

London, May 19 (ANI): UEFA president Michel Platini and FIFA vice-president Jack Warner have given a boost to England’s troubled 2018 World Cup bid.

FIFA’s ethics committee are investigating claims made by Lord Triesman that Spain would support Russia’s bid for the 2018 World Cup in return for help bribing referees in South Africa.

Triesman has resigned following publication of a recording of the comments, made secretly during a conversation with a friend, The Mirror reports.

Platini said the row may have damaged England’s bid, but insisted it can recover, and believes Triesman deserves support.

The UEFA president said: “I have a good friendship with Lord Triesman and I want to help him in his bad moment, for him as a person. I want to support my friend in this big problem. I think it is a bad thing that happened to him.”

Platini said the controversy could have harmed England’s bid but under Triesman’s successor Geoff Thompson, a UEFA and FIFA vice-president, the campaign could recover before the vote by FIFA’s executive committee is taken on December 2.

Asked if the bid had been damaged, Platini said: “Maybe yes, I think you need the people who vote on your side. But for the bid Geoff Thompson is a good guy, England is a great country and of course it can recover and survive this.”

Meanwhile, Warner said the FA’s swift action had limited any damage, The Mirror reports.

“It’s unfortunate but the English FA dealt with it appropriately and quickly and therefore I don’t believe there’ll be too much negative reaction from it,” Warner told Bloomberg. (ANI)

England 2018 World Cup bid suffers blow over fans visa fee

London, May 18 (ANI): England’s hopes of hosting the 2018 World Cup have been dealt another blow with secret papers revealing a government denial to remove visa fees of traveling fans amounting to 20 million pounds.

Just two days after Lord Triesman was exposed for smearing rival bids from Spain and Russia, Home Office papers show that FIFA is deeply unhappy with the Football Association over its refusal to waive visa costs for fans.

Football’s world governing body expects host nations not to charge the fees as South Africa has done this summer, but the Home Office has refused to foot the cost due to budget cuts, The Mirror reports.

A secret memo to new Home Secretary Theresa May warns it maybe a “fatal blow” to England’s 2018 bid.

The document says: “The FA suggested that several key votes will come from nations whose citizens will need to pay for a visa unless provided free. It is suggested if we charge these nations for a visa this will be perceived as discriminatory in comparison with fans attending the World Cup from European countries who are entitled to free movement and those from non-visa counties who can attend for free.”

“Consequently, the FA sees the levying of visa fees for such nationals as a significant and potentially a fatal problem. It is anticipated that rival bidding nations, such as Russia, will offer free visas for spectators and participants,” it adds.

A Home Office source said: “The last Home Secretary ruled it out on cost as there is simply not the money. There seems little choice but for the new Home Secretary to do the same.” (ANI)

Young Socceroos lose to Paraguay

The Young Socceroos have suffered a 2-0 loss to Paraguay’s under 20s in the opening match of their South American tour.

In front of a small crowd at the Libertad Stadium, Australia went down a goal in the third minute after Diego Benitez pounced on a defensive mistake.

Paraguay then went up 2-0 just before half-time when striker Ivan Torres chested down the ball and neatly finished past goalkeeper Alex Pearson.

The second half was more evenly contested, though it was delayed for 20 minutes after the floodlights went off due to a power failure.

Young Socceroos coach Jan Versleijen was optimistic about his team’s performance.

“We came to South America to play quality opposition and that is what we got tonight, our players learnt a lot by the experience,” said Versleijen.

The Young Socceroos, captained by Newcastle Jets star Ben Kantarovski, will face Paraguay again on Thursday before two matches against the Argentina U20s next week.

The tour forms part of the side’s preparations for October’s Asian Under 19s Championship in China, where the top four teams will qualify for next year’s FIFA Under 20s World Cup.

Iran girls barred from Singapore Youth Olympics for wearing hijab

London, Apr 6(ANI): The Iranian girls’ football team has been barred from this year’s inaugural Youth Olympic Games after FIFA rejected the Iranian Olympic panel’s request to let their players wear hijab (Islamic headscarf).

Iran was scheduled to compete in a six-nation tournament at the Games, to be held in Singapore from August 14 to 26.

According to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), Iran’s National Olympic Committee (NOC) had earlier refused to let the team play without the hijab, and sent a request to FIFA.

FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke rejected the Iranian Olympic panel’s request in a letter to the national football federation, and added that Thailand has been nominated to replace them.

“Taking into consideration the clear position stated by the (Olympic committee) of Iran, the FIFA Executive Committee had no choice, but to take the decision that (Iran) will not be able to participate,” The Telegraph quoted Valcke, as saying.

FIFA maintains football’s international rule book, which contains a section on players’ on-field equipment stating that “basic compulsory equipment must not have any political, religious or personal statements.”

“The team of a player whose basic compulsory equipment has political, religious or personal slogans or statements will be sanctioned by the competition organiser or by FIFA,” it adds. ANI)

Cup bid healthy, with or without Docklands

Football Federation Australia chairman Frank Lowy is confident the nation’s bid to host the World Cup is on track despite confirming Melbourne’s Docklands stadium is no longer a considered venue.

Lowy says he has decided on the 12 stadiums which will host matches if Australia’s bid is successful – with Docklands left out after management said it will honour its contractual obligation to host AFL matches.

“Etihad (Docklands) is off the list,” Lowy said.

“They have certain prior rights and they’re using it for (AFL), there’s nothing we can do about it.

“We’ll do without them and we’ll succeed without them.”

Lowy said people should not assume Australia would be successful in its bid, saying the competition was strong.

But he believed “sympathy” towards Australia could prove decisive in the race to host either the 2018 or 2022 tournament.

“It’s a contest,” he told reporters.

“We’ve got nine nations competing against us and of course all of them, with the exception of Indonesia – who decided not to go ahead – are putting their best foot forward in building and promising stadia.

“I think that there is a sympathy for Australia. We’ve never had it here. We’re part of the Asian confederation. We’re giving an opportunity for FIFA and world football to have exposure to Asia better than in most other places.

“I think we’re doing well. As I said, I’m hopeful, I’m confident, but we must remember this is a contest.

“There are nine countries participating but we’re in as good a position as I would have expected us to be for this time.

“We are just about there and I’m confident of the position that we’re in. We’ll have the 12 stadia that are required to put the bid into FIFA.”

- AAP

Now, Italians point finger at Man U over ‘poaching’ players

London, Sep 10 (ANI): Manchester United is confident that they will not be brought to book by FIFA after being embroiled in another alleged poaching controversy.

Following Le Havre’s accusations over the signing of young French star Paul Pogba, Fiorentina are now considering asking FIFA to look into United’s signing of 16-year-old Italian defender Michele Fornasier.

In Italy, players under 18 are not allowed to sign a professional contract, so Fornasier was effectively a free agent. But United expect to pay a compensation fee set by FIFA to Fiorentina for their development costs.

This was the procedure they followed with Lazio for Federico Macheda and Roma for Davide Petrucci, the Daily Express reports.

Last night, FIFA confirmed that no formal investigation into the case has been opened because they were still waiting for the relevant documentation from Fiorentina. (ANI)

Cristiano close to tears as hopes of playing World Cup diminishes

Copenhagen (Denmark), Sep 7(ANI): Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo, who had broke millions of English hearts in the last World Cup and gave a wink after England striker Wayne Rooney was shown a red card for a tussle with Ricardo Carvalho, seemed close to tears at the end of a crucial game against Denmark in Copenhagen on Saturday.

FIFA World Player of the Year now fears that Portugal may not make it to the World Cup 2010 in South Africa, as they are reeling fourth in their group, which is lead by Denmark.

Currently Portugal are seven points behind Denmark and need to finish at least second to stand any hope of qualifying.

Meanwhile, Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz is hopeful of a luck change and believes that they can still make it to the World Cup.

“We have to raise our heads and keep believing. The game is not over and while it lasts we have to believe. Portugal played very well and were very focused. We progressed in the game, always in control, but, once again, the merit did not follow who played better,” The Sun quoted Queiroz, as saying.

“Only one team could have won. We were not good in finishing matters, with opportunities with an empty net where we could not score,” he added.

Portugal’s hopes now reels on their games against Hungary and Malta, and then hope for favours elsewhere in the group. (ANI)

Ronaldo may soon crush Becks in battle of brands

London, August 21 (ANI): Football ace Cristiano Ronaldo, 24, may soon outstrip ageing England hero David Beckham, 34, for the number of commercial deals to his name, says a report.

The suggestion came after LA Galaxy fans heckled Beckham and his wife Victoria at the weekend.

“Beckham, because of his age and the stage of his career, has lost it. And Ronaldo is ideally placed to ass-ume the mantle of ‘brand Beckham’, especially among young kids and teenagers,” the Daily Star quoted sports branding expert Prof Simon Chadwick, from Coventry University, as saying.

Ronaldo has already bared his chest in ads for Pepe Jeans. He has also campaigned for Nike, Coca-Cola, video game FIFA Street 2, and energy drink Extra Joss.

The news report further reveals that Ronaldo raked in 12million pounds a year at Manchester United from product endorsements, compared with Becks’ 25.5million pounds in his heyday.

He has also been snapped up as a “global ambassador” for engine oil firm Castrol.

However, how much money goes into his banks will eventually depend on his performance on the pitch, says the report.

Veteran football agent Jon Holms said: “Ronaldo is probably a better player than Beckham. Beckham is a workhorse of a player, while Ronaldo seems to be more natural.” (ANI)

Ronaldo still hungry for more titles

Madrid, July 9 (ANI): Real Madrid’s world-record pounds signing Cristiano Ronaldo has said that he is still hungry for more trophies despite his astonishing stint with the Red Devils, and promised fans at Los Galacticos that he will bring in more trophies for the club.

“I’m still hungry for more titles and for me it’s as if I haven’t won anything. This is a different stage in my life and my career and I have the same ambition as when I started. I’m starting from zero and I want to win more titles at Madrid than I did at Manchester,” The Independent quoted Ronaldo, as saying.

During his six-year stint with Manchester United, Ronaldo has won many trophies and individual awards.

He was part of the teams that won three league titles, the Champions League, the FA Cup and the Club World Cup among others.

Among individual awards he was named FIFA world player of the year, the Ballon d’Or, FIFPro’s player of the year, and even won the European Golden Shoe as the continent’s top scorer.

“After Manchester there are few places better to be a great footballer. That’s why I’ve taken the decision to come here, where they are used to fighting to win everything. It’s what I’ve always liked, to play and win titles,” Ronaldo said.

“I like that our fans are ambitious and I’m sure that we can win the titles that will get Madrid back to the top in both Spanish and European football. We must keep our feet on the ground though and not think that we can win everything in one go,” he added. (ANI)

Australia has good chance to host FIFA World Cup, says Beckenbauer

London, July 5 (ANI): German football legend Franz Beckenbauer has dropped a strong hint that he could back Australia’s bid to host a FIFA World Cup.

Beckenbauer is a member of the 24-man executive committee of the world football governing body, which will decide the hosts of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups in December next year.

Asked about the 11-nation race to host the event, he said: “It’s too far away, it’s more than one year to go.”

But when pressed on the chances of the most popular sporting tournament in the world heading Down Under, he gave a strong hint that his vote may be among the 13 needed, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

“Australia? I think they have a good chance because the World Cup’s never been to Australia,” Beckenbauer said. “Australia is a beautiful country, a beautiful continent.”

Earlier, he told a media conference for Adidas, for which he is an ambassador, that Europe’s football decision-makers want the World Cup to return to Europe in 2018, with South Africa hosting next year and Brazil in 2014.

“It will be Europe’s turn. As a UEFA member, I would like to see it in Europe but it is an open race as to which country might get it,” Beckenbauer said.

He said if the FIFA executive committee decided the 2018 would be in Europe, then “England could host it tomorrow because they have the stadiums, the infrastructure, the fans, everything.”

“But there are a lot of other different countries bidding. Let’s wait and see,” he said. (ANI)

Cricket South Africa CEO lauds success of IPL-Two

Johannesburg, May 26 (ANI): Cricket South Africa CEO Gerald Majola has declared the DLF Indian Premier League a resounding success, saying all parties should feel proud of the collective effort that saw the IPL moved from India to South Africa at short notice.

Speaking after the Deccan Chargers beat the Royal Challengers Bangalore by six runs in the final at the Liberty Life Wanderers Stadium on Sunday night, Majola said: “CSA’s main reason for taking on the challenge of hosting the IPL was to assist an ICC member country who had problems hosting a major tournament for reasons beyond its control.

“We knew that CSA had the climate, facilities, know-how and a cricket-loving public to back up the successful hosting of this second IPL tournament even at this short notice. To see it all come together with a full house at the Liberty Life Wanderers Stadium for the final was incredible.”

“Before our national elections last month, South Africa was experiencing a lot of doom and gloom politically and economically, and the IPL tournament lifted spirits enormously. Our tourist industry also got an extra bite of the cherry against the negative world travel trend. CSA must add its warmest gratitude to the South African Government which gave its wholehearted support to CSA hosting this prestigious tournament right from the start.”

“This endorsement made a big difference between us getting the final nod from the BCCI and the IPL organisers to host the tournament. The Government effort throughout was superb, right from the Presidency to every level of support service that was needed to make this such a huge success.

“It also showed the world that South Africa was ready and able to do a great job in hosting FIFA’s two most important events: the 2009 Confederations Cup and the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

“We also think it had a positive impact on the holding of India’s month-long and peaceful elections on a sub-continent fraught with internecine strife.

“The tournament also heightened interest in cricket worldwide. Certainly, at home it added even more value to cricket following the Proteas’ most successful season and the eventful tours in and out of Australia.

“It has given a number of young South African cricketers a chance to play top level cricket against, and with, many of the world’s greatest stars. This will give them huge confidence going into the forthcoming ICC World Twenty20 in England.

“Finally, the 2009 IPL has re-confirmed South Africa as a wonderful host to major sporting events, and a home for the world’s rainbow cultures. It has also brought in unexpected and very welcome funds for the further development of South African cricket, mainly in previously disadvantaged communities.

“Internationally, it has changed the landscape of world cricket.

Properly handled, the IPL concept will bring about the real globalization of the sport for the first time. This should enable the longer forms of cricket to prosper, but only if they are made to be publicly attractive in the 21st century and beyond, Majola concluded.” (ANI)

Lets let bygones be bygones, Zuma appeals after ANC election win

Johannesburg – South Africa’s ruling African National Congress leader Jacob Zuma on Saturday appealed to his opponents to let bygones be bygones after his party was handed a decisive mandate to govern for the next five years, but with a reduced majority. Zuma was speaking after the Independent Electoral Commission in Pretoria announced the ANC had won 65.9 per cent of Wednesday’s vote to the National Assembly in Cape Town, which is expected to elect Zuma president within days.

“We have gone through a difficult period over a few years,” Zuma, 67, said, referring to the protracted infighting in the ANC between factions loyal to Zuma and ousted ex-president Thabo Mbeki that led to a split in the party.

“It is now time to put it all behind us,” Zuma appealed, calling for an end to “mistrust, uncertainty, pain and tension” and saying it was vital to restore South Africa’s image as a place where country came before partisan interests.

Thanking the millions who voted ANC, Zuma said the ANC’s “decisive” victory was an endorsement of the party’s 15-year track record in government as well as “a victory for the country’s constitution.”

“We reiterate that the constitution is not under threat from the ANC. It has never been,” he said in answer to fears in opposition quarters that the ANC, if it had obtained a two-thirds majority, might have used it to rein in dissent by changing the much-vaunted charter. Zuma has recently questioned the powers of the judiciary, saying judges who ruled against him in his defunct corruption case, were “not God.”

In the end, the ANC fell short of the “overwhelming majority” Zuma had asked for, dropping around 4 percentage points on its 2004 score of 69.7 per cent.

Unemployment of around 40 per cent, and the slow pace of service delivery in poor communities, were listed by voters, including ANC voters, as the most critical election issue.

While the ANC has built around 3 million free or low-cost houses since 1994, close to 1 million people out of a total 48 million still live in tin shacks.

Zuma acknowledged that improving service delivery was critical, while voicing concern about the potential impact on the economy of the global economic crisis.

After averaging 5 per cent between 2003 and 2007, GDP growth in South Africa is forecast to dip under 1 per cent this year, constraining Zuma’s ability to deliver on his election promises of more jobs.

Preparations for the football World Cup being held in South Africa next year has helped buffer the country from the worst of the global economic fallout.

Zuma said he had spoken to Joseph Blatter, head of the World Cup organizing body FIFA, earlier Saturday and assured him of his “unwavering commitment” to the tournament. (dpa)

WAG Abbey Clancy’s nip slip

London, April 24 (ANI): England football star Peter Crouch’s girlfriend Abbey Clancy suffered wardrobe malfunction after her boob popped out during an award function.

The beauty had just arrived to the FiFi UK Fragrance Awards 2009 when her dress’ gaping neckline travelled a bit too further south, exposing her boob, reports the Sun.

Clancy is an English lingerie and catwalk model who made headlines during the 2006 FIFA World Cup as the girlfriend of Crouch.

She currently co-hosts the new ITV2 series The Fashion Show with model Michelle de Swarte and George Lamb. (ANI)

Cannavaro to rejoin Juventus

Rome – Veteran defender Fabio Cannavaro has decided to rejoin Serie A club Juventus after three seasons at Spanish giants Real Madrid, Italy’s Sky TV reported on Sunday.

The 35-year-old international, whose contract with Real expires in June, is expected to play the next season with Juve before taking a managerial role within the Turin club. His first stint at the club was 2004-2006.

Cannavaro captained Italy to their fourth World Cup triumph in 2006, when he received the FIFA World player and the Ballon d’Or awards. (dpa)