Federations Roundup - "Black Day for Football"; Biathlon Update

Blatter: "Black Day for Football"

FIFA president Sepp Blatter says Wednesday’s football violence in Egypt that left at least 79 fans dead was "a black day for football" and should have been prevented.

"I am very shocked and saddened to learn that a large number of football supporters have died or been injured following a match in Port Said, Egypt," Blatter said Thursday in a statement.

"This is a black day for football. Such a catastrophic situation is unimaginable and should not happen."

The riots occurred when rival fans invaded the pitch and fought running battles after Al-Masry beat Al-Ahly 3-1. Knives, stones and bottles were used as weapons in Egypt's worst-ever outbreak of football hooliganism and the worst anywhere in more than 15 years. Police were quickly overwhelmed and reportedly powerless to stop the escalating violence.

Al-Ahly player Abo Treika criticized the police's handling of the hooliganism.

"This is not football," he told his team’s TV channel. "This is a war and people are dying in front of us. There is no movement and no security and no ambulances."

FIFA has asked the Egyptian FA for a full report into the football rioting.

The Egyptian FA has indefinitely suspended football in the country's four divisions and announced a period of mourning for three days "for the souls of those who have fallen victim to the violence".

Biathlon Update

Reigning two-time Olympic champion biathlete Magdalena Neuner is closing in on her third overall World Cup title.

The native of Garmisch-Partenkirken, Germany notched her sixth World Cup win of the season Thursday in Oslo and fifth in the 7.5 km sprint, the first of six events on tap in Norway.

Neuner now leads Darya Domracheva of Belarus 756 points to 693 in the overall standings with two additional World Cups remaining after Oslo.

Meanwhile, it’s neck and neck on the men’s side between Martin Fourcade of France and Norway’s Emil Hegle Svendsen, who closed the gap between them to just 10 points thanks a third place finish in Thursday’s 10k sprint.

After this week’s World Cup, biathletes are back to work Wednesday in Kontiolahti, Finland and again March 13 in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia. World championships are sandwiched in between these final two WCs and run Feb. 29 to March 11 in Ruhpolding, Germany.

ITU Awards Cross Triathlon Champs

Cross triathlon is coming to Pelham, Alabama for the discipline’s second-ever world championships.

The International Triathlon Union announced Wednesday that Oak Mountain State Park will welcome defending champs Conrad Stoltz of South Africa, Melanie McQuaid of Canada and company May 19 for a 1.5km swim, 30km mountain bike and 10km trail run with a total of $20,000 up for grabs.

"The triathlon and multisport family is extensive and far reaching and ITU is delighted to form a partnership with XTERRA for our 2012 Cross Triathlon World Championships," ITU president Marisol Casado said in a statement.

"We are confident the strong race organization and dynamic course will continue to push cross triathlon to a new level."

Also this week, the 2013 world champs were awarded to The Hague, Netherlands.

London 2012 Site for Sailing

Sailing is the latest sport to launch its own Olympic website ahead of London 2012.

"With some exciting feature pieces and sailor profiling lined up in the build up to the Olympic Games, the new website will provide all the latest and relevant content relating to the Olympic sailing competition," says International Sailing Federation marketing head Tim Sewell.

ISAF will direct all of its stories, results, multimedia and other relevant info during the Games to the new site and will also track which athletes will set sail from Weymouth and Portland as member national authorities dole out their quota places for London 2012.

Indoor Archery Worlds

Archers the world over are setting their sights on Las Vegas, Nevada for next week’s indoor world championships.

Competition kicks off Sunday at South Point Hotel and Casino with elimination rounds to follow Tuesday and Wednesday.Medal rounds will unfold Thursday at South Point’s Equestrian Center Arena.

Top-ranked archer Brady Ellison will take on more than 300 archers as Team USA tries to defend the seven gold medals won at the last indoors championships in 2009.

Written by Matthew Grayson and Mark Bisson.

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