| Paul Trimboli's round 10 preview Paul Trimboli casts his expert eye over round 10 of the A-League, highlighted by the Gold Coast United-Adelaide United match. foxsports.com.au |
Blatter praises England's example • Fifa president impressed by England 2018 World Cup bid• English methods 'would have prevented Genoa trouble'Sepp Blatter has praised England's efforts to eradicate hooliganism, and claimed similar measures would have prevented the trouble at the match between Italy and Serbia last night.The Fifa president was speaking after meeting David Cameron, the prime minister, in Downing Street, where Blatter received a presentation on England's bid for the 2018 World Cup. The Swiss said he was impressed by the bid, and urged other national associations to replicate the all-seat stadiums and lack of fences at the country's leading clubs.Last night's Euro 2012 qualifier in Genoa was abandoned after only seven minutes due to trouble involving Serbia fans. Blatter said: "England is the motherland of football. England has given so much to football, and England is going on to carry on giving much to football. Your predecessors were in a very difficult situation from 1985 to 1989 and so on. I don't want to speak about what happened then, but the reaction you have made."You have given to the world security in the stadiums. You have built all your stadia, there are no fences and everyone is sitting. If this had been the case we would not have had the problems we had in Genoa yesterday at the match. This is a big legacy, an important legacy you have given to the world."If only all the national associations in the world, and their leagues [had stadiums like this], we would have more fair play in our game."You did it - it's a question of organisation and it is also a question of discipline and respect. You did it here - and now we say where are the hooligans?"They are not in the stadium and this is a compliment to your government and your predecessors."Blatter watched Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons before going to 10 Downing Street for the presentation and lunch with Cameron, who was unable to meet him on his visit in August as his wife was about to give birth.Cameron stressed the value of England's global legacy plans, which include matching Fifa's estimated £75m annual investment in grassroots football. Blatter added: "Now England can organise the World Cup tomorrow, England can organise the World Cup – that's not a problem, but what you are doing is a World Cup for the world. The situation is such that your bid has impressed me personally. I will report to the executive committee when they meet [at the end of October] before the 2 December decision."Fabio Capello was among those at Number 10 and Blatter even made a joke about England's disappointing 0-0 draw against Montenegro. He added: "I wish you good luck, and I hope the goals are scored ... more than yesterday."Cameron promised the government's full backing to the 2018 bid and paid tribute Blatter for having taken the World Cup to South Africa.The prime minister also stressed England's work in tackling racism in football – an issue that has bedevilled their bid rivals Russia. Cameron said: "I hope you see that England has got what it takes to host the greatest tournament on earth. I hope you can see how much our country wants this."Most important of all, I hope you have seen the real legacy that we plan to leave. Our bid is not about not what the World Cup can do for one country it's about what the World Cup can do for the world."The Prime Minister stressed the passion for the game in England, and the stadiums, transport links and infrastructure already in place.He went on: "We are the most diverse football nation in the world and we have travelled so far in kicking racism right out of football and that is one of the reasons why I believe we can make 2018 such a success."England 2018 chief executive Andy Anson said the visit had been "excellent" for the bid.He said: "One thing the president mentioned today was our long-established credibility in dealing with hooliganism and that's fantastic to hear."Sepp BlatterWorld Cup 2018Football violenceFifaguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Seven Spain players among 23 nominees for FIFA Ballon d'Or Seven players from Spain's World Cup-winning team, including Barcelona trio Andres Iniesta, David Villa and Xavi Hernandez, were nominated Tuesday ... rssfeeds.usatoday.com |
U.S. Expects Soccer’s Rise if It Hosts Cup in 2022 United States soccer officials will learn on Thursday if the U.S. has won the right to host the World Cup in 2022. feeds.nytimes.com |
Leicester 1-0 Nottingham Forest Consistency is the key in the Championship, a division which has reached something close to stasis. Just 10 points separate the fourth‑placed club from the 22nd, and Leicester City's win tonight, deserved on the balance of play, means they continue to have as good a chance as any of emerging from the crowd to secure promotion.Both these clubs have made notable loan signings from Premier League clubs in recent days, but while West Bromwich Albion's Czech striker Roman Bednar started for Leicester, Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey was on the bench for Nottingham Forest, reflecting the fact that the young midfielder had played only 45 minutes of football since returning from the broken leg suffered at Stoke City in February.City came into the match unbeaten in their five home games since Sven-Goran Eriksson took over as manager but initially found themselves corralled by Forest's five‑man midfield. As a result it was the visitors who asked the early questions, and a stretching Dele Adebola should have done better than turn Garath McCleary's cross over the bar, but it was Leicester who went closest to opening the scoring.Bednar's shot beat the Forest goalkeeper, Lee Camp, only to be inadvertently blocked by Luke Chambers, and Camp made a fine block when Curtis Davies attempted to volley in the rebound. The goalkeeper was less praiseworthy shortly before the interval, when he failed to gather a header under pressure from Darius Vassell, but Chambers reacted swiftly to clear the ball off the line.City maintained the momentum after the interval but Vassell should have been tackled at least twice when he forced his way through from the edge of the Forest area. Again Camp made the save, but this time the goalkeeper could only divert the ball into the path of the City captain, Andy King, who turned it into the empty net for his eighth goal of the season."The owners want promotion as quickly as possible, though I don't know if it is possible this year," said Eriksson. "But we're bringing in players with Premier League experience, who should be very good at this level."The Forest manager, Billy Davies, was "disappointed" that Robert Earnshaw's appeal for a penalty after apparently being tripped by Greg Cunningham was turned down, and claimed the referee, Michael Oliver, had admitted he had made a mistake, but Davies acknowledged Forest had been second best.ChampionshipLeicester CityNottingham ForestRichard Raeguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |