Sepp Blatter is the head of FIFA, you know, that soccer thingy...Well since soccer is one of the most important things in the world outside of the US, and he's the one in charge of it, that makes Sepp Blatter a very powerful man.
KHAYELITSHA, South Africa (Reuters) - On a brand-new soccer field in South Africa's second-largest township, teenage boys and girls kick balls and run round hurdles in games soccer authorities hope will help them avoid the scourge of AIDS. The center, officially launched by soccer's world governing body FIFA on Saturday, is the first of 20 "Football for Hope" hubs to be formed across Africa, meant to use the power of football to help children overcome the continent's multitude of social... Read Full Story
Talk about shooting the messenger. Soccer's guardians took the cowardly route with their double decision this week to a) set their police on Thierry Henry for his notorious hand ball and b) do absolutely nothing to prevent such cheating from spoiling the next World Cup. Henry's famous fondle, a double hand ball that set up the goal that qualified France for next year's tournament, sent a message heard by everyone around the world except FIFA: Referees cannot keep track of everything in today... Read Full Story
FIFA paid a symbolic tribute Thursday to the role football played in shaping resistance at one of the most notorious penal colonies of the last century. In an historic move, they held an executive committee meeting on Robben Island, now a popular tourist attraction, ahead of the draw for the 2010 World Cup Friday . It was a gesture that highlighted how the game played an important role in the lives of political prisoners, most famously Nelson Mandela and Jacob Zuma, jailed by South Africa's... Read Full Story
Irish football chiefs on Wednesday criticised FIFA President Sepp Blatter for making public details of their request for a '33rd' place at the World Cup in the wake of the Thierry Henry handball row. In a statement, the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) said it had asked for the request to be taken off the agenda for Wednesday's scheduled meeting of FIFA's executive committee in Cape Town. "The Football Association of Ireland acknowledges that the suggestion of an additional place at the... Read Full Story
Any slim hopes Ireland still harboured of competing at the 2010 World Cup were finally snuffed out on Tuesday with FIFA saying there was no way they would take part as a 33rd team. In a desperate last ditch bid to salvage a place in this week's draw, the Irish FA approached FIFA several days ago and asked to be admitted as a 33rd team with another side, possibly Costa Rica, being added as a 34th. FIFA president Sepp Blatter revealed this week that it would be put to an extraordinary meeting... Read Full Story
FIFA president Sepp Blatter has apologized to the Irish soccer federation for his comments on Ireland's loss to France in a World Cup playoff. Blatter had defended Thierry Henry, whose hand ball led to a goal that eliminated Ireland from the World Cup, saying it wasn't the forward's responsibility to tell the referee. The federation also criticized Blatter for making public Ireland's request to be allowed into the World Cup as an extra team. Blatter says he's "sorry about these headlines. It... Read Full Story
FIFA president Sepp Blatter said Wednesday Thierry Henry will face a disciplinary investigation and apologised to Ireland for making public details of their request for a '33rd' place at the World Cup. Blatter has been slammed for dithering and empathising with Henry whose blatant handball allowed France to qualify for next year's tournament at the expense of the Irish. "The FIFA disciplinary committee will open an investigation ... concerning the behaviour of the player Thierry Henry," he... Read Full Story
David Beckham is the key in selling England's struggling bid for the 2018 World Cup and he must be used at every opportunity, according to FIFA president Sepp Blatter. Blatter met Beckham in Cape Town ahead of England's presentation of their bid credentials to the world's media and football's powerbrokers here this week. The FIFA chief was quoted by Sky Sports as saying the "Beckham-brand" should be milked mercilessly as it could make the difference between success and failure. "They have to... Read Full Story
Soccer's governing body will consider having extra officials on the field to help referees at next year's World Cup. FIFA president Sepp Blatter says Thierry Henry's hand ball against Ireland, which led to the goal that put France in next year's tournament, showed referees need assistance. "There is a lack of discipline and respect in the game by the players because they are cheating," Blatter said Monday, two days before an emergency meeting of the FIFA executive committee in Cape Town... Read Full Story
FIFA rejected the use of extra match officials at the 2010 World Cup on Wednesday, instead opening a disciplinary case against France's Thierry Henry for a hand ball in the World Cup playoff against Ireland. Henry's hand ball in the World Cup playoff led to a goal and eliminated Ireland. The uproar following the non-call helped prompt Wednesday's emergency meeting of its executive committee ahead of the World Cup draw in South Africa. FIFA president Sepp Blatter said there will be no change... Read Full Story
