World Cup warm up matches to raise money for Haiti

February 18, 2010

Part of the proceeds from 2010 World Cup warm-up matches will be donated to quake-stricken Haiti, world football’s governing body FIFA said on Thursday.

FIFA said in a statement that it would donate its two percent levy on the friendly games between March 1 and June 11, and appealed to the 32 World Cup teams to match the donation.

“With a greater understanding of the magnitude of the human toll and widespread destruction, it is clear that the relief and recovery effort will require attention for the coming months and years,” said FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

“To achieve more impact and to act in solidarity, we look forward to having all 32 participating member associations join this effort by making an additional donation of two per cent for a total combined donation of four percent from each friendly,” he added in a letter to the football associations.

The governing body had announced some 3.25 million dollars in funding for Haiti’s beleaguered footballing community after the devastating quake there last month.

FIFA said the money from the friendlies would go to the special fund that will finance projects submitted by the Haitian Football Association.

ZURICH (AFP)

Tags: blatter, body fifa, football association, football associations, friendlies, friendly games, governing body, Haiti, Levy, magnitude, march 1, member associations, million dollars, recovery effort, Sepp Blatter, solidarity, world cup teams, world cup warm up matches, world football, ZURICH

Europe stunned by football match-rigging bombshell

November 21, 2009

European football was reeling on Saturday from what one UEFA official called the continent’s worst ever match-fixing scandal, with 200 games under suspicion of having been rigged in nine countries.

A 200-strong band operating across Europe is suspected of swaying matches in Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Croatia, Slovenia, Turkey, Hungary, Bosnia-Hercegovina and Austria, prosecutors in Germany said on Friday.

By bribing players, coaches, referees and officials to influence matches, the gang is thought to have earned as much as 10 million euros (15 million dollars) in huge bets with bookmakers in Europe and Asia, primarily in China.

“But this is just the tip of the iceberg,” investigating prosecutor Andreas Bachmann said.

“UEFA will be demanding the harshest of sanctions … for any individuals, clubs or officials who are implicated in this malpractice,” UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino said in a statement.

The games include three Champions League ties, 12 matches in the Europa League, formerly the UEFA Cup, one qualifying game for the under-21 European championship. All took place this season.

UEFA said it would give details of the matches at a later stage, but the 15 at European level involved early qualifying round games, while the rest were under the jurisdictions of national football associations.

It said that the list included 40 matches that UEFA had previously said were under suspicion.

“Without doubt this is the biggest scam there has ever been in European football,” UEFA’s match-fixing specialist Peter Limacher said in Germany, where the probe was organised.

“We are deeply shocked by the scale of match-fixing through international gangs. We now have to do everything possible to ensure that referees, players and officials implicated face justice,” Limacher told reporters.

Around 300 police carried out around 50 raids on Thursday in Germany, Britain, Switzerland and Austria, arresting 15 people in Germany and two in Switzerland. More than a million euros in cash and property were seized.

Two of those arrested in Thursday included two Croatian brothers living in Berlin, Ante and Milan Sapina, who were at the centre of a match-fixing scandal that rocked Germany in 2004, newspapers said.

Investigators are also looking at 32 matches in Germany, including four in the second division, three in the third, 23 games in regional leagues and two under-19 clashes.

Elsewhere, 29 matches in Turkey from the first division downwards, 14 in Croatia’s first division, 13 in Hungary’s first division, eight in Bosnia-Hercegovina’s top flight and 11 in Austria’s first and second leagues.

In Slovenia, seven games in the first division have raised suspicions, as have 22 league games in the Swiss second division and six friendlies, plus 17 in Belgium’s second division, prosecutors said.

They warned that the list could get longer.

The German scandal saw referee Robert Hoyzer jailed in 2005 after admitting receiving almost 70,000 euros (104,000 dollars) and a plasma television from the Croatian brothers to throw games.

The worst European match-fixing scandal to date was the Calciopoli affair in 2006 involving five Serie A clubs, referees and high-ranked Italian football federation (FIGC) officials.

It resulted in heavy punishments for top-flight clubs including Juventus, AC Milan and Fiorentina, with Juventus stripped of the 2004-05 and 2005-06 league titles.

BERLIN (AFP)

Tags: 10 million, andreas bachmann, bookmakers in europe, bosnia hercegovina, champions league, face justice, football associations, football uefa, gangs, general secretary, gianni, infantino, jurisdictions, match fixing scandal, national football, prosecutors, referees, tip of the iceberg, UEFA Cup

Europe match-fixing probe targets 200 games

November 21, 2009

In what one UEFA official called European football’s worst ever match-fixing scandal, investigators said Friday criminals may have netted 10 million euros rigging 200 games in nine countries.

They include three Champions League ties, 12 matches in the Europa League, formerly the UEFA Cup, one qualifying game for the under-21 European championship and four from the German second division.

All the games took place this season.

UEFA said it would give details of the matches later, but the 15 at European level involved early qualifying round games, while the rest were under the jurisdictions of national football associations.

It said that the list included 40 matches that UEFA had previously said were under suspicion.

By bribing players, coaches, referees and officials to influence matches, the criminals are then believed to have earned millions by placing huge bets on the games with bookmakers in Europe and Asia, primarily in China.

“Without doubt this is the biggest scam there has ever been in European football,” UEFA’s match-fixing specialist Peter Limacher said in Germany, where the probe was organised.

“But this is just the tip of the iceberg,” investigating prosecutor Andreas Bachmann said.

“UEFA will be demanding the harshest of sanctions before the competent courts for any individuals, clubs or officials who are implicated in this malpractice, be it under state or sports jurisdiction,” UEFA General Secretary Gianni Infantino said in a statement.

Investigators are also looking at 32 matches in Germany, including two in the second division, three in the third, 23 games in regional leagues and two under-19 clashes.

They warned that the list could get longer.

The 2004 German scandal saw referee Robert Hoyzer sentenced to two years and five months behind bars after admitting receiving almost 70,000 euros (104,000 dollars) and a plasma television from a Croatian mafia ring to throw games.

One of the worst European match-fixing scandal to date was the Calciopoli affair in 2006 involving five Serie A clubs, referees and high-ranked Italian football federation (FIGC) officials.

It resulted in heavy punishments for top-flight clubs including Juventus, AC Milan and Fiorentina, with Juventus stripped of the 2004-05 and 2005-06 league titles.

In 2005, Brazilian referee Edilson Pereira de Carvalho was banned for life after admitting match fixing. It culminated in the results of 11 league matches he had officiated being cancelled.

In 1999, four men were jailed for 12 years for plotting to sabotage an English Premiership match between Charlton and Liverpool in a multi-million pound Far Eastern betting scam by tampering with stadium floodlights.

BOCHUM, Germany (AFP)

Tags: 10 million, andreas bachmann, bookmakers in europe, bosnia hercegovina, champions league, face justice, football associations, football uefa, jurisdictions, living in berlin, national football, prosecutor, prosecutors, referees, tip of the iceberg, UEFA Cup

Home town honours Man Utd star Park

October 6, 2009

Manchester United star winger Park Ji-Sung presided Tuesday at a ground-breaking ceremony for a sports complex named after him in his South Korean home city.

The Park Ji-Sung Football Centre in Suweon just south of Seoul will be completed in May next year and offer two playing fields, a clubhouse, a clinic, a museum and a library, city officials said.

The centre plans to run a training programme initially for children aged between six and 13 and later for older players.

“I started playing football and spent most of my youth here,” Park was quoted by Yonhap news agency as saying.

“I hope that the centre will help many young players grow physically and mentally through football and encourage them to enjoy the sport.”

Hundreds of sports officials, including Chung Mong-Joon, vice president of the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA), attended the groundbreaking.

Park is one of the country’s biggest sporting stars. A street, a park and a forest are named after the player in and around his home town.

Park, who joined United from PSV Eindhoven four years ago, signed a new two-year contract with United on Friday. The improved deal is reportedly worth 3.6 million pounds (5.9 million dollars).

SEOUL (AFP)

Tags: Chung Mong-, city officials, clubhouse, Eindhoven, football associations, ground breaking ceremony, international federation, ji sung, joon, man utd, Manchester, manchester united, million dollars, mong, news agency, park ji sung, seoul, south korean, sports complex, sports officials, star park, Sung, town park, winger

AFC chief Bin Hammam keen to mend fences

May 13, 2009

SINGAPORE (AFP) – Asian Football Confederation chief Mohamed bin Hammam began his new four-year term as a FIFA executive committee member this week keen to mend fences with his most ardent critics.

But, as the dust settles on one of the most bitter election campaigns seen in football, he insists he will never change his controversial style of leadership.

So disillusioned were almost half of the AFC’s 46 member nations in the way the Qatari runs the regional football body that they voted against him last Friday at their congress in a key show of dissent.

They said he was a dictator, that there was no transparency in what he was doing and argued that local football associations were not getting enough money.

At the forefront of the criticism were two powerful and influential men — FIFA vice-president Chung Mong-Joon and Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) president Sheikh Ahmad Al Sabah.

Despite vicious personal attacks on him, Bin Hammam is keen to forgive and forget, conscious that if he doesn’t repair the relationships the battle for power will start again ahead of the next congress in two years.

Then, his presidency will be at stake.

“I have no problems with the remarks Chung made,” he said, referring to the Hyundai scion publicly declaring Bin Hammam had mental problems and ran the AFC like a criminal.

“Chung is one of the people who I would like to restart relations with for the good of Asia,” he added.

Sheikh Ahmad, who also heads the Kuwait Football Association, stepped up his rhetoric after the Qatari accused him and the OCA of vote-buying.

The matter was referred to FIFA’s ethics committee but Bin Hammam suggested he was no longer interested in pursuing the claims of corruption, which were denied.

“I’m not going to act as the sport’s police for the world,” he said.

“I just want to refocus and look forward. It is better for me to leave the past behind and start a new page.

“The past is the past and we all have to think about the future of Asian football from now on.”

But he still has some key unresolved business, notably changing the statutes so that the AFC president automatically becomes FIFA vice-president — a position Chung currently holds.

The AFC and Latin America are the only continental bodies that do not apply this principle and Bin Hammam won support from FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

“Whoever is president of FIFA, it is better for him to have vice presidents as heads of confederations. It is easier to work together and better for the good of the game,” said Blatter.

While Bin Hammam wants to build bridges, he insists he will not change the way he does business.

“I am definitely not going to change my style,” he said. “I have full democracy and transparency in the way I act as president. I respect the rules.”

With the budget for the next four years approved by the congress he will now press on with his vision for the future, which he said had developing the AFC Champions League at its forefront.

Bin Hammam believes that only through improving top level club football will more sponsor money start flowing into the AFC coffers.

The Champions League was revamped this year, expanding from 28 to 32 teams and with stricter participation criteria to raise standards.

At stake is 20 million dollars in prize money, dwarfing the four million available in 2008.

Tags: ahmad, Ahmad Al Sabah, al sabah, Asia, asian football confederation, CAF Champions League, Chung, Chung Mong-, election campaigns, enough money, executive committee member, FIFA, fifa executive committee, football association, football associations, hammam, joon, kuwait football, latin america, member nations, mong, oca, olympic council, personal attacks, qatari, scion, Sepp Blatter, sheikh ahmad, SINGAPORE, style of leadership

I´ll beat Bin Hammam, says key AFC rival

April 27, 2009

SINGAPORE (AFP) – The man challenging Asian Football Confederation president Mohamed bin Hammam believes his chances of winning a crucial vote next month have improved after weeks of mud-slinging.

Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, the chairman of the Bahrain football association, said he was confident of taking Bin Hammam’s FIFA’s executive committee seat, which is up for grabs at the AFC Congress on May 8.

If the Qatari loses that powerful position, he has said he will step down as AFC chief despite his term running until 2011.

“I am confident of my ability and my chances are better than my opponent in the battle for several reasons,” Sheikh Salman told AFP.

“I did not prevent any of the Asian members from voting, I did not create laws to try and prevent others who have the right to vote from doing so, I did not interfere in the affairs of others.

“So let us now focus on the battle and see what we can do for Asian football.”

Sheikh Salman’s comments came after FIFA ruled on Friday that six Asian football associations had the right to vote at the AFC’s Congress despite being informed that they did not meet the conditions to do so.

The nations — Kuwait, Brunei, Laos, East Timor, Mongolia, Afghanistan — are all expected to back the Sheikh, with a two-thirds majority of the AFC’s 46 members needed to win the FIFA seat.

In the cases of Brunei, Laos, East Timor, Mongolia and Afghanistan, the AFC’s ad-hoc legal committee said they had not played enough official competitions to be able to vote, but FIFA said they had.

The Kuwaitis were told they would be excluded from voting because the AFC did not recognise the temporary committee running their football affairs. Again, FIFA disagreed.

“What we want is for everyone, all associations, to have their say and to express their opinions with absolute freedom,” said the Sheikh, who is running under an “Asia for Change” slogan.

“We want to promote equality among member associations, transparency within the AFC organisation, with an emphasis on transparency in reporting AFC finances, and promoting unity for the development of Asian football.”

Tags: absolute freedom, AFC, Afghanistan, al khalifa, Asia, asian football confederation president mohamed, bahrain, CAF Champions League, east timor, executive committee, FIFA, football association, football associations, grabs, hammam, Ibrahim Al Khalifa, kuwait, kuwaitis, Laos, laos east, legal committee, member associations, mongolia, qatari, SINGAPORE, slogan, temporary committee

FIFA rules ´banned´ AFC associations can vote

April 24, 2009

SINGAPORE (AFP) – World football’s governing body on Friday said five “banned” Asian football associations have the right to vote at the AFC’s crucial upcoming Congress.

It followed a letter from the associations to FIFA president Sepp Blatter urging him to intervene and supervise what they claimed would be an undemocratic Congress next month.

The letter outlining their concerns, including allegations of “threats expressed against some of us”, was signed by senior officials from the FAs of Kuwait, Laos, East Timor, Afghanistan and Mongolia.

All five associations had been told by the AFC that they could not vote on a challenge by Bahrain’s Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa to AFC president Mohamed bin Hammam, whose place on FIFA’s executive committee is up for grabs.

Both men claim to have the numbers to win the increasingly bitter battle for the seat on May 8, but with a two-thirds majority required the five votes could prove crucial.

Marco Villiger, FIFA’s director of legal affairs, said in his reply, obtained by AFP, that the associations appeared to meet all the necessary requirements.

“It is our duty to have answered your questions neutrally, objectively and in compliance with the FIFA statues and with mandatory Swiss association laws,” he added.

Four of the associations — Laos, East Timor, Afghanistan and Mongolia — had been told by the AFC they could not vote because they had not participated in at least three Asian competitions in the past two years.

FIFA ruled that they had, making clear that under-13 and under-14 competitions must also be considered.

“Any other interpretation would be against the logical reading of the article (in the statutes),” said Villiger.

As for Kuwait, they were informed by the AFC that it did not recognise the temporary committee that is currently running its football affairs and so were not eligible to vote.

But Villiger said the Kuwait Football Association was recognised by FIFA after a suspension it was under for political interference was provisionally lifted, and it had full voting rights.

He added that “the Congress as the supreme authority of the AFC is the body to decide about voting rights”.

“Neither the (AFC) executive committee nor any other committee have the power to decide about such issues.”

The AFC had no immediate comment.

Tags: AFC, Afghanistan, al khalifa, asian football, bahrain, bitter battle, CAF Champions League, east timor, FIFA, football association, football associations, governing body, hammam, kuwait football, Laos, laos east, legal affairs, Marco Villiger, mongolia, necessary requirements, political interference, president mohamed, senior officials, Sepp Blatter, SINGAPORE, swiss association, temporary committee, world football

Blatter asked to intervene ´urgently´ in AFC row

April 23, 2009

SINGAPORE (AFP) – Five Asian football associations have called on FIFA president Sepp Blatter to “urgently” intervene and supervise what they claim will be an undemocratic AFC Congress next month.

A letter outlining their concerns, including allegations of “threats expressed against some of us,” has been signed by senior officials from the FAs of Kuwait, Laos, East Timor, Afghanistan and Mongolia and sent to Blatter.

All five associations have been banned from voting in the Congress which will see AFC president Mohamed bin Hammam challenged by Bahrain’s Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa for a seat on FIFA’s executive committee.

Both men claim to have the numbers to win the increasingly bitter battle but with a two-thirds majority required, the five votes could be crucial.

“We are writing to you because we need, urgently and crucially, your support and guidance,” said the letter, obtained by AFP.

“In recent days we have received letters from AFC’s acting secretary general that are totally against the FIFA and AFC Statutes.

“On the basis of such information and of the threats expressed against some of us, we have reason to believe that there is a serious risk that the AFC Congress will not be held in a democratic way…”

It called for FIFA to “monitor and supervise the process of the Congress and election operations”.

“As FIFA members, we therefore respectfully request FIFA take steps to ensure that the AFC Congress is conducted… with complete fairness and integrity.”

Four of the associations — Laos, East Timor, Afghanistan and Mongolia — have been told they cannot vote because they have not participated in at least three AFC competitions in the past two years.

As for Kuwait, they have been informed by the AFC that it does not recognise the temporary committee that is currently running its football affairs.

The letter to Blatter comes as the heat intensifies ahead of the Congress, with the Olympic Council of Asia this week denying it was involved in “vote-buying” to influence the outcome of the elections.

The previous week, South Korea’s football association filed a complaint with FIFA’s ethics committee against Bin Hammam, accusing him of “groundless, bitter accusations.”

Tags: AFC, Afghanistan, al khalifa, allegations, asian football, bahrain, bitter battle, blatter, CAF Champions League, democratic way, east timor, executive committee, fairness, FIFA, football associations, kuwait, Laos, laos east, mongolia, olympic council, president mohamed, secretary general, senior officials, Sepp Blatter, SINGAPORE, south korea, support and guidance, temporary committee

Olympic Council of Asia fumes over ´vote-buy´ claims

April 20, 2009

SINGAPORE (AFP) – The Olympic Council of Asia on Monday angrily denied “baseless” accusations that it was involved in “vote-buying” to influence the outcome of elections for a FIFA executive committee seat.

The Council, headed by Kuwait’s Sheikh Ahmad Al Sabah, has been asked by FIFA’s ethics committee to clarify the claims surrounding an increasingly ugly battle for power within the Asian Football Confederation.

At stake is an Asian seat on the powerful FIFA executive committee, currently held by AFC president Mohamed bin Hammam.

His term ends on May 8 and Bahraini Crown Prince, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, is challenging him.

In an interview with Australia’s SBS television on March 30, Bin Hammam claimed that the OCA, via its national Olympic committees, was offering grants to football associations in Asia to secure their votes for Sheikh Salman.

FIFA decided to look into the allegations after a request to do so, reportedly by Australian broadcaster Les Murray, who conducted the interview with Bin Hammam and who also sits on the ethics committee.

But the OCA said it was untrue and is threatening legal action.

“The OCA has completely and absolutely denied the allegations leveled on it with regard to the rumors concerning the AFC elections,” it said in a statement sent to AFP.

The Olympic body said it was asked to clarify its position by the FIFA’s ethics committee on April 16.

“The OCA was quick to respond on the very same day denying the baseless accusations and requested FIFA to name the source,” it said, adding that FIFA denied to reveal who had made the claims.

“However, subsequently OCA found out … that the base of these allegations was the interview given by Mr. Bin Hammam, President of AFC to the SBS, an Australian broadcaster on 30th of March 2009.”

It added that Bin Hammam “leveled allegations on OCA without any proof, which is a part of his unwise campaign and has a created a division in football in the Asian continent”.

“The OCA further expects new accusations and rumors from Bin Hammam till the elections are completed on 8th May which is part of his election strategy.

“Clearly, the OCA cannot leave such accusations unanswered and is now preparing to undertake legal action against these so called ’sources’ along with at least 15 countries who have also been wrongly implicated.”

Qatar’s Bin Hammam, accused by his opponents of running the AFC like a dictator, says he will step down as AFC chief if he loses the FIFA seat, despite his term not expiring until 2011.

He was not immediately available for comment on Monday.

Tags: AFC, Ahmad Al Sabah, al khalifa, al sabah, allegations, Asia, asian continent, asian football confederation, Australia, bahraini, baseless accusations, broadcaster, CAF Champions League, crown prince, FIFA, fifa executive committee, football associations, kuwait, mr bin, Murray, national olympic committees, oca, olympic council, president mohamed, Qatar, sbs television, sheikh ahmad, SINGAPORE, stake

Blatter demands fair play in AFC leadership row

April 17, 2009

SINGAPORE (AFP) – FIFA president Sepp Blatter has demanded all sides play by the book in an increasingly bitter battle for power inside the Asian Football Confederation.

The head of the sport’s world governing body made the comments as relations between AFC president Mohamed bin Hammam and his chief rival, Bahrain’s Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, plummet.

Shaikh Salman, Bahrain’s Crown Prince, is challenging Bin Hammam for his seat on FIFA’s executive committee, with the winner decided at the AFC Congress in Kuala Lumpur on May 8.

Qatar’s Bin Hammam, accused by his opponents of being a dictator, says he will step down as AFC chief if he loses the FIFA seat, despite his term not expiring until 2011.

The battle, which both sides claim to be winning, has become increasingly political among the powerful factions within the AFC’s 46 member nations, with Japan, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia all opposed to Bin Hammam.

On Wednesday, South Korea’s football association filed a complaint with FIFA’s ethics committee against the Qatari, accusing him of “groundless, bitter accusations.”

The row stems from remarks Bin Hammam made in a television interview in February, in which he blasted Korea Football Association chief Cho Jung-Yeon, saying he was ready to “cut Cho’s head off.”

Meanwhile, the ethics committee is reportedly probing claims by Bin Hammam that the Olympic Council of Asia, via its national Olympic committees, was trying to pressure national football associations to vote for Sheikh Salman.

Blatter, a long-time supporter of Bin Hammam, said all sides needed to start showing more respect and discipline.

“Football is a universal sport based on the fundamental principles of discipline and respect for opponents and the laws of the game… underpinned by the values of fair play and ethics,” he said in a statement.

“These principles and values must be applied not only on the field of play, but also in the administration and governance of football, particularly in the area of sports politics.

“And, of course, this includes elections to the governing bodies of football.

“As president of FIFA, it is my duty to remind all members of the Asian football community of the importance of these values in the run-up to the election scheduled for May 8 for the vacant Asian seat on the FIFA executive committee.”

Several key proposals made by Bin Hammam have proved to be controversial, and helped spark the move to oust him.

These include his plan to move the AFC headquarters out of Malaysia, a proposed 12-year marketing deal with World Sport Group and amendments to the AFC statutes that would consolidate his power.

Despite the move to unseat him, Bin Hammam believes he has the numbers to remain at AFC House, claiming this month that he has the support of 33 of the 46 members nations so far, with a two-thirds majority required.

Asia has four seats on the FIFA executive committee — South Korea’s Chung Mong-Joon as vice-president, Japan’s Junji Ogura from East Asia, Thailand’s Worawi Makudi from Southeast Asia, and Bin Hammam.

Bin Hammam’s is the only position up for election.