Qatar winter world cup debate

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Qatar winter world cup debate In round four, after eliminating Australia, Japan and South Korea, FIFA’s final vote was 8 for the USA and 14 for Qatar.  Therefore, Qatar will host the 2022 FIFA World Cup in the middle of its two hottest months, when it is illegal for labourers to work outside if the temperature reaches the seasonal average of 40 degrees centigrade.

Either that, or the World Cup will be moved from Qatar’s summer to Qatar’s winter, sometime smack in the middle of several other international winter sports competitions, like Europe’s football season and the 2022 Winter Olympics, for instance.

No one seems to be quite sure just why the tiny and very wealthy emirate of Qatar won the coveted position of host, and hardly anyone seems to be happy about it.  Sports fans, commentators and analysts from all over the place are logging in to express disbelief and dissatisfaction at what most are calling at best a huge gamble and at worst a total fiasco.  There are of course rumours of knavery and corruption, though none have been even faintly confirmed.  What is fairly certain is that FIFA’s credibility is at very low ebb.

Sepp Blatter has been FIFA’s president for 12 years now and apparently intends to go on for another four after the FIFA congress in Zurich this June.  He said he would personally clean up the Association’s image, proposing a new committee to oversee the ethics of the voting members.  He said this committee would be composed of reputable and experienced figures in finance, business, culture and politics as well as sports, and would thereby shore up the sagging credibility of the world’s foremost football authority.

Possibly the most serious blow to the Association’s image is the suspicion that all of Qatar’s magnificent promises regarding new infrastructure, new stadiums, and carbon-free air-conditioning may have been a smokescreen.  It has become apparent that a change in the timing of the World Cup was already on the table before the final votes were counted.

Christine Blakely sees the down side of being a WAG

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Christine Blakely sees the down side of being a WAG If she didn’t know it before she does now; Christine Blakely discovered yesterday that there is another side to being a WAG; one that is less about glamour and luxury and more about standing by your man in difficult times.

The famous TV presenter was in the stands watching her boyfriend, Frank Lampard, playing for Chelsea in their game against Bolton. Chelsea managed to secure their first win in a long time. However, the reaction of the crowd to Lampard’s performance manifested itself in the solemn look on Blakely’s face.

It also showed in the body language of Frank Lampard Senior, who sat watching the game next to Christine. Himself a former West Ham player and assistant manager, Frank Lampard senior is not new to the fickle, moody nature of football supporters. Nevertheless, he looked angry and crossed his arms while witnessing the fans’ disapproving reception of his son’s performance.

The game was Frank Lampard’s first  appearance for Chelsea after a spell on the sideline because of injury. And despite the win, thanks to Florent Malouda’s 61st minute goal, the supporters remained less than convinced by their team’s current form.

Frank will no doubt find consolation in the presence of his girlfriend. As she watched him play, the 31 years old TV Presenter was wearing a beige Mac and a black polo neck and clutched a brown handbag. Perhaps Frank can hope for more loving eyes from the crowd in the coming matches if Chelsea regains their verve on the pitch. But, unlike Christine and Frank's apparent steady relationship, the romance between the crowd and Chelsea's star player might end up with more than a few fans left unsatisfied. Instead of watching Chelsea perhaps they would prefer to start dating again, a few new girlfriends out there could be happy not to become football widows, for a short while at least.

Despite the doubtlessly awkward moments in the stadium all is going fine with Frank. The couple has been together for almost a year. Celebrating Christmas early, the couple were spotted coming out of an exclusive night club in London at 3am. Merry and rather sleepy, they jumped into a taxi and headed home.

Alex Ferguson lashes out at agents

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Alex Ferguson lashes out at agents Letting his irritation show forth, Sir Alex Ferguson vented about the unreasonable, and in some cases immoral, demands some football agents have put forward since he has been with Manchester United.

An unnamed agent demanded a block of flats to close the deal or his player would not sign. Another agent requested money for every goal scored by his player, but Ferguson pointed out that they were signing up and paying the player for exactly that. These incidents have been handed over to the directors of the club.

He was upset by the Blackburn Rovers’ agent, Jerome Anderson, because Sam Allardyce was let go. Sam is one of Ferguson’s good friends. Ferguson responded to sacking, “If Anderson had to pick something he couldn’t even pick his nose.”

During an interview with RTE Radio 1, he declared that the manager is the top of the heap at Manchester United and that if the player ever thinks he is more important it will destroy the team and they will never recover.

Ferguson also has strong opinions about the limitations that managers should have when negotiating wages for players. “A manager may phone me, and that’s when I get really irritated, when he asks for £1 million a year for a player who isn’t even a star. They believe they can work miracles like this.”

He clarifies, “The top paid players at Manchester United are getting paid what they earn. They are regularly out there performing in front of everyone, every time. Consistency and quality are the materials of star players. People expect them to perform well and it draws crows every week. That is why they get paid what we pay them.”

The Premiere League structure

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The Premiere League structure English footballs top flight is the Premier League, composed of 20 teams. There is also The Football League, which is divided into 3 classes, each with 24 teams. This total of 92 clubs are full-time professional clubs.

Each league has its own rules, but follows always the principle that all clubs play against all other league participants’ two games and three points for a win, one point for a draw and no points for a defeat. The table is always sorted by the number of points, with the club (other rules for sorting vary with the same number of points in the league) with the most points at the top.

There are different types of promotion and relegation rules every team and it is theoretically possible to climb to any level or fall from top to bottom. There are, however, minimum standards, such as the presence of a flood light or a certain number of seats in the stadium, which can lead to a club failing to climb the league regardless of its technical position.
The Premier League is the top division in English football and has 20 clubs. To win the Premier League is the biggest national success possible, and brings qualification for the UEFA Champions League, Europe’s biggest competition at club level.

The Premier League was founded in 1992, after the top clubs in England seceded in successfully improving their share of the revenue and to stay independent of lower-class clubs. At the end of each season three clubs from the Premier League are replaced by three representatives from the Football League Championship.

Scottish Football Association delays appointment of performance director

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Scottish Football Association delays appointment of performance director Despite his continuous search for a performance director, Scottish Football Association Chief Executive, Stewart Regan, believes it could be next season before an appointment is made.

Last April, The SFA published Henry McLeish’s Review of Scottish Football report. One of the main recommendations of the report was to provision the role of SFA Performance Director.

Supervision of the new academy structure in order to elevate the standard of footballers, will be the main priority for the new performance director. Therefore, it is essential for the SFA to get this appointment right and find the right person for the job, According to Regan.

The former chief executive of Yorkshire Country Cricket Club revealed that the SFA are keeping an open mind in their current search for a performance directory. The SFA will not limit themselves to looking in the football community. The search will extend to sports community, not only in Scotland but in other countries as well.

Regan declined to comment on whether Walter Smith is a potential candidate for the job.  Notably, by the end of the season, Walter Smith is stepping down as Glasgow Rangers Managers.

‘Commenting on individuals is incongruous,’ said Regan. ‘We would like to see the position filled in time for the start of the new season.’