World Cup finals may move to winter

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World Cup finals may move to winter Following the decision to award Qatar the organization of FIFA Football World Cup in 2022, many have expressed their concern because of the high temperatures in the Middle East during the summer season. Some members of the football community have proposed rescheduling the World Cup to be played in January or February, when the temperature is more manageable in the area. If it happened, the move will be the first of a kind. It will also mean that the world club will interrupt major European leagues.

Sepp Blatter, the FIFA President, expressed that he is in support of the idea.‘Playing in winter is more appropriate not only, for the fans, but for the players as well,’ Said Blatter at the Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi. ‘If it is possible, and it should be, playing in winter will offer more protection to footballers.’

‘The international could be an issue,’ admitted blatter.’ but it has been eleven years so it should be possible,’ The organizers on the other hand, have submitted plans to air-condition all stadiums and training facilities.

So far, FIFA has not received any official request to change the tournament timing. However, high profile support for the schedule change may make it a reality. ‘Flexible schedules will mean that the World Cup can go to many more countries,’ said the FIFA general secretary, Jerome Valcke.

Blatter also took the chance to apologies for his calling on gay fans travelling to Qatar to refrain from sexual activities during their visit. ‘I regret and apologies if my statement offended anyone; It was never my intention,’ Blatter said.

Will there be a GB or multiple football teams at Olympics

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Will there be a GB or multiple football teams at Olympics The British Olympic Association (BOA) believes choosing an all English team to play at the London 2012 games then players that were not selected may press for legal action. Last year the Football Associations of England, Northern Ireland, Wales, and Scotland agreed that Great Britain would be represented by only English players.

Home nations are worried that by sending a combined team to the Olympics they would compromise their status as individual teams with Fifa.

However, although the four countries signed the deal the BOA is worried that players should be chosen based on their merit due to the potential for legal problems.

Chairman of the BOA, Lord Moynihan, warned that if only England players are selected legal challenges could ensue.

The BOA and the Football Association will meet at the beginning of next year to figure out a solution to the problem but given that many of the home nations refuse to back down it may not be quite so simple to find a compromise that everyone can agree on.

A spokesperson for the Scottish FA stated that while they are aware of the comments made by Lord Moynihn, they have not changed their position that only England players should be sent to the Olympics.  He added that the Irish GA, Scottish FA, and the FA of Wales have already made the agreement to play under the moniker Team GB.

Australian Soccer Federation officials attempted to influence FIFA

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Australian Soccer Federation officials attempted to influence FIFA Information has been leaked that shows Australia Soccer Federation officials attempted to influence FIFA executive committee members by making promises and pressuring government officials to do more to influence the committee.

In particular, Reynald Temarii, who has been suspended from FIFA, provided Australian Soccer officials a secret list of demands in return for his vote representing the Oceania Football Confederation in the bid process.

Certain members of the Australia bid team also pressed the government to give Jack Warner a case of wine rather than the single bottle they had promised.

These same documents reveal that the Australians attempted to deliver on political and personal promises in order to obtain Mr. Temarii’s vote.  Such conduct, if proven, would be a clear violation of FIFA rules, although no one suspects that it would be less than standard operating procedure in the tainted FIFA bid process.

It is also reported that the Soccer Federation is imploring the Australian government not to release information on two questionable lobbyists, Fedor Radmann and Peter Hargitay, who were hired based upon their association with FIFA officials.

Whatever the case, it is expected that other such documents and information regarding questionable acts on the part of FIFA and other negotiating bid teams will be revealed in due course.

Sir Alex Ferguson lashes out at FIFA

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Sir Alex Ferguson lashes out at FIFA Sir Alex Ferguson, the well-known boss of Manchester United has spoken out against the recent FIFA World Cup decision not to bring the event to England, but to take it to Russia instead.  He said that the most embarrassing part of the Zurich decision was to knock England out in round one.

England should have had a better opportunity than that, in his opinion, based upon its infrastructure alone.  Travel is easy in England, he pointed out, and there are already fantastic facilities.

Ferguson said that in his experience with committees, there are no real democratic decisions made.  There are always a couple of strong personalities who impose their will on others in committee, whether it is sports, business, or politics.

He fears that England may not get a real legitimate shot at another World Cup unless the FIFA committee system is overhauled or there are new members put in place.

He said that there is nothing to be done now and England must just be satisfied that they did the best that they could do.

Harry Redknapp faces the wrath of the taxman

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Harry Redknapp faces the wrath of the taxman Harry Redknapp might have problems other than Her Majesty’s Revenue people to deal with as a result of an investigation into his tax payments.  Redknapp, along with Peter Storrie and Portsmouth Chairman Milan Mandaric are dealing with tax charges as the result of a two-year investigation into English football corruption.

Redknapp is accused of tax avoidance during his tenure as manager at Portsmouth and it seems it could now cost him the job at England FA, if he were convicted.  Redknapp is thought to be a number one contender for the position being vacated by Fabio Capello after Euro 2012.

The General Secretary of the FA, Alex Horne, says that it is a matter that is far from decided, although he acknowledges that Harry Redknapp has managerial talent and feels certain he would be on a long-list of candidates for the job.  Horne also acknowledges that Capello will not be leaving for another year and a half, and that anything can happen during that time.

Horne says that, to his knowledge, no list, long or short, has yet been developed.  There are many candidates to consider, he says, and Harry Redknapp would certainly be among them.

Enthusiasts and experts alike contend that the FA has its sights on Redknapp, but confirm that a tax conviction could wipe out his chances.  It would be very embarrassing should an England manager be found not to be paying his proper taxes, especially even before he becomes manager, they say.

Redknapp has expressed his personal wish to manage England, although the FA says they have not sounded him out about it.

No matter what, he will have to deal with this tax situation first.