FIFA strike back at vote sellers

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FIFA strike back at vote sellers Reynald Temarii and Amos Adamu of the FIFA executive committee were recently banned and fined for attempting to exchange their votes for the world Cups in 2018 and 2022. Adamu, of Nigeria was banned from all football activities for the next three years and stiffly fined, while Temarii, from Tahiti, was banned from football for a year and levied a smaller fine.

Four additional FIFA officials were fined and banned for violations of ethics codes, including Slim Aloulou, who is chairman of the committee tasked with settling disputes between coaches, clubs, and players. All of these dismissals and fines are quite a scandal for FIFA. It casts a pall over the negotiations for the upcoming World Cup Tournaments at a time that the executive committee is making some very important decisions, experts report.

FIFA says that the voting for 2018 and 2022 tournaments will go on with two less executive committee members and that the contentious decision to award both tournaments at a single sitting shall proceed, as well.

The four FIFA officials banned and fined in conjunction with Aloulou were not executive committee members and their actions, therefore, had nothing to do with attempting to sell votes.
The executive committee members attempting to sell votes were caught in the act by reporters pretending to be part of an American consortium trying to steer the games to the United States.

Right now, Russia and England, along with joint bidders Belgium/Netherlands and Spain/Portugal are bidding for the 2018 Cup, while the United States, South Korea, Qatar, Japan, and Australia try for the 2022 Cup. FIFA reports that there was no collusion on the part of any bidding countries in regard to the actions by the dismissed executive committee members.

England’s cutest football supporter, Carlisle United supporter, Freddie Tilley

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England's cutest football supporter, Carlisle United supporter, Freddie Tilley

Carlisle United star Tony Kane is pictured with Trophy Tot Freddie and his mum and dad, Lauren and Steven

Young Carlisle United fan Freddie Tilley celebrated his new found fame as England’s cutest football supporter with a trip to his favourite team with his mum and dad.

The Johnstone’s Paint Trophy’s official ‘Trophy Tot’ was whisked up the M6 with his parents to receive his award, before watching his side beat Southampton at Brunton Park 3-2.

The trophy has been asking supporters to help create a ‘young and hungry’ fan base by launching an appeal to find its official ‘Trophy Tot’ for the year, and Freddie won after receiving hundreds of votes.

He received a £50 voucher for the Carlisle United clubshop and a Johnstone’s Paint Trophy goody bag, filled with Johnstone’s Paint Trophy memorabilia including a runner-up medal from last season’s final.

The trophy tot competition was created in a light hearted effort to engage with clubs up and down the country.

Freddie’s dad Steven is a lifelong Carlisle United fan and travels from his home in Coventry to Brunton Park for every home game.

Freddie and his mum and dad received their award at Carlisle United’s weekend game, which ironically was the fixture for last season’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final at Wembley.

Freddie’s mother Lauren said: “We had a wonderful day out and would like to thank the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy and Carlisle United for their hospitality.

“The result was just the icing on the cake and to be able to wave to all the fans before kick-off was a dream come true.”

For the latest news on the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy please click on www.johnstonespainttrophy.com

Croatia bans gay footballers

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Croatia bans gay footballers Vlatko Markovic, head of the Croatian football federation has said, unequivocally, that gay men will not be allowed to play football for his country.  In s statement that only further enflamed gay rights activists all over Europe, he said that only healthy men were allowed to play for Croatia.

Of course, gay organizations the world over are calling for his immediate ouster.  His outburst has gone so far as to endanger his country’s application for membership in the European Union.  One of the EU standards clearly states that applying countries implement anti-discrimination rights.

Since his pronouncement, Markovic has withdrawn the statement, saying that he was misquoted and misunderstood.  One gay rights organization has suggested that in order to prove his remorse Markovic have the team fly the rainbow flag at their next match.

Markovic’s actions have opened up a long avoided discourse on gay players in football, with gay organizations urging players to come out of the closet.  The standard in international football has long held that no one asks and no one tells.

Of course, gay rights advocates find this sort of tacit acceptance to be less than they would like to see, which is an all out exposure of gay men in this sport or any other sport, for that matter.

It is estimated that as many as 10 per cent of professional footballers are gay men.  However, the sport has such a macho personification, say authorities that it would be career suicide to openly admit to being gay.  It has been rumoured that some gay players in Italy and Germany even have arranged fake weddings in an effort to hide their sexual preference.

Australia is serious contender for 2020 FIFA World Cup

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Australia is serious contender for 2020 FIFA World Cup Australia is making a strong bid to host the 2020 FIFA World Cup.  The country has even solicited actress Nicole Kidman and actor Hugh Jackman to appear in video ads as ambassadors for the country’s efforts.

In its campaign, Australia pitches its strong tourist appeal and its close location to Asia as marketing points.  It will be fighting a U.S. desire to hold the games for what would be a second time.

There are drawbacks, however, to allowing Australia to be the host of the tournament.  It would be winter when the games take place there.  The Australian time zone is not friendly to television viewers in Africa, Europe, or the Americas.  Thirdly, it is a very long trip for many fans and players.

Of course, the enthusiasts from Australia attempt to downplay the negatives by declaring that by 2020 Asia will have the largest television audience and broadcasting companies will want to reach them on their time zone, which they will with live broadcasts from Australia.

Australia, like many other possible venues has stadium issues.  Australian Football is in the position of denying use of their stadiums without gainful financial compensation.  So, it is unknown where the games would be played.  This is where the U.S. enters the fray, with access to all sorts of huge arenas and stadiums; this problem is nonexistent if the tournament were held in America.

This seems the major problem for Australia, as it appears that right now they will fall shy of the FIFA requirement for 12 stadiums.

Didier Drogba getting over malaria

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Didier Drogba getting over malaria Didier Drogba, the Chelsea striker, is glad that the worst of this battle with malaria is over.  He reported that at first it was thought that he was suffering from a virus.  However, recent tests confirmed it was malaria.

Drogba says he is not sure where or when he caught the disease; although others have guessed it might have been when he was in Africa, back in September.  Drogba became very ill before the games with Arsenal on 3 October.

He is now undergoing intensive treatment and it is reported that the malaria is the type that will clear out. His manager says that he was very unselfish to have played when he was ill.