Blatter Talks Racism, Reforms; "Super Saturday" Redux?

Blatter Talks Racism, Reforms

President Sepp Blatter says FIFA has no doubt all six stadia will be ready for the 2013 Confederations Cup as Brazil enters its final five months until kickoff.

"It will be kind of a rehearsal in terms of the Local Organizing Committee and especially the logistics," the Swiss said Thursday in an interview posted to FIFA.com.

"We want to see how a stadium is filled and emptied, how people are transported."

On the subject of racism, the FIFA president reiterated his support of Kevin-Prince Boateng’s recent walk-off from an AC Milan friendly against Italian side Pro Patria and advocated relegation as a possible punishment for such racist behavior by a club’s supporters.

"It is now up to us to take the adequate steps," he said.

"It is not enough to give a fine. Playing a game without spectators is one of the possible sanctions, but the best would be the deduction of points and the relegation of a team, because finally the club is responsible for their spectators."

As for FIFA’s ongoing reforms, he indicated the process is now two-thirds of the way complete and applauded the Independent Governance Committee as well as its chair Mark Pieth, who Blatter said "has given us some hints and incentives to have a look inside" in the months ahead.

On the table as possible reforms are an age limit of 72 for FIFA election candidates; a two-term, eight-year limit for the president; integrity checks for all candidates; Europe forfeiting two of its three FIFA vice presidencies; Britain giving up some of its four seats on the rule-making International Football Association Board; and a rule changes for World Cup bidding.

After a working group chaired by Germany’s Executive Committee member Theo Zwanziger meets next month to examine proposed tweaks to the FIFA Statutes, the FIFA Legal Committee will then draw up the suggested proposals and pass on a draft to the Ex-Co, which will meet March 20 and 21 to review which reforms will be submitted to the FIFA Congress in May for final approval.

"In Mauritius I am convinced we will bring our reform program to an end," Blatter told FIFA.com.

"It’s a big change. If you look at the FIFA Executive Committee, there will be a lot of changes by next May from when we took our first steps in 2011."

For more from Blatter, including his thoughts on match-fixing and the women's game, follow World Football INSIDER.

"Super Saturday" Redux?

Two heroes of "Super Saturday" hail the return of track and field to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

Six month after the 2012 Olympics, the London Legacy Development Corporation and British Athletics announced a deal with the IAAF on Thursday to bring the Samsung Diamond League to Olympic Stadium on the anniversary weekend of the opening ceremony of the Games.

"It's fantastic that the British Athletics London Grand Prix is going to be held at the Olympic Stadium in July," reigning 5,000m and 10,000m gold medalist Mo Farah said in a statement.

"It will give athletes and fans who did not get to experience the amazing venue the chance to go there, and for those of us who had the most incredible experiences on the track and field, an opportunity to re-live a few memories," echoed heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis.

Mayor Boris Johnson, who chairs the LLDC, added: "What better way to mark the anniversary of the tremendous London 2012 Opening Ceremony than to see this Stadium packed again as the world’s top athletes compete in this unique series."

Thursday’s announcement comes two days after the LLDC unveiled a deal giving music promoter Live Nation exclusive rights to host major concerts in the North Park, including the Wireless Festival and Hard Rock Calling confirmed for July, as well as Olympic Stadium this summer.

Written by Matthew Grayson

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