FIFA Report -Intervention Requested for AFC; 60 Stadiums Interested in Cup

Five Asian football associations are calling on FIFA President Sepp Blatter to "urgently" intervene and ensure FIFA oversees the AFC Congress next month.

Senior football officials from Kuwait, Laos, East Timor, Afghanistan and Mongolia have signed a letter outlining their concerns, including claims of “threats expressed against some of us."

All five associations have been banned from voting in the Congress where AFC President Mohamed bin Hammam will be challenged by Bahrain's Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa for a seat on FIFA's executive committee.

Both candidates say they have the numbers to take the seat, but with a two-thirds majority required the five votes could be crucial.

The five nations have called on FIFA to “monitor and supervise the process of the Congress and election operations."

Four 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 recognize the temporary committee that is currently running its football affairs.

The letter to Blatter comes as the election campaign becomes increasingly nasty, with the Olympic Council of Asia this week denying any involvement in “vote-buying” to support the Bahraini challenger.

FIFA to Reap $2.7 Billion from World Cup TV Rights

FIFA is expecting a $2.7 billion boost to its coffers from the sale of television rights to broadcast the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

FIFA TV director Niclas Ericson announced the expected windfall at a press conference in Johannesburg. He says FIFA also plans to broadcast matches to hundreds of millions of mobile phones worldwide, entering special agreements with African TV networks across the continent.

“We have entered an agreement with the African Union of Broadcasters to place the TV rights in 41 sub-Saharan countries before the end of 2009,” Ericson says.

“The dream would be for an African team to reach the final, which would boost TV viewership.”

FIFA will spend $170 million on TV production of its showcase quadrennial event - with a cumulative audience of over 26 billion worldwide spectators.

Interest in Hosting World Cup from Nearly 60 Stadiums

The operators of 58 stadiums are interested in hosting games in the 2018 or 2022 World Cup if the U.S. wins the right to host either event.

The venues cover 49 metropolitan areas and include 30 of the 31 NFL stadiums, with only CandlestickPark in San Francisco not on the list.

Two of those NFL stadiums also serve as homes to Major League Soccer teams: Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. and Qwest Field in Seattle.

“We are very pleased by the impressive response, and are certainly gratified by the enthusiasm and thorough understanding everyone has shown for this unique opportunity,” David Downs, executive director for the USA Bid Committee says.

“The benefits to a host nation, and particularly to the venue cities where the matches could be played, are numerous and lasting. Tourism, economic impact, meaningful global exposure and a legacy of being at the center of a FIFA World Cup competition await host venues and cities if we are fortunate enough to stage the tournament here in 2018 or 2022."

A minimum of 12 stadiums capable of seating 40,000 or more must be submitted to FIFA in each nation's bid. Venues with a minimum capacity of 80,000 are required for the opening and final matches.

FIFA’s executive committee will award both tournaments in December 2010.

Blatter Welcomes U.K. Support for 6+5 Rule

Blatter says the support of British MPs in his bid to restrict foreign players in club football could be crucial in convincing Europe to back the proposal.

In a report on the governance of English football, the all-party Parliamentary Football Group - made up of 150 MPs - recommended that Blatter's controversial ‘6+5 rule’ be adopted.

That would create a limit of five foreigners in any starting lineup - but opponents of the plan insist it would also contravene strict European laws covering movement of labor.

“'Iwould like to express our satisfaction to the all-party Parliamentary Football Group for recommending yesterday that the Football Association and respective English leagues adopt the FIFA-proposed 6+5 rule,” Blatter says.

“'These recommendations are based on the need to protect national teams, promote youth development, safeguard and encourage clubs investing in training domestic talent, restore the competitiveness of competitions, and reach a harmonious development of football worldwide.''

Blatter says FIFA wants to gradually introduce the rule to allow clubs a period to adjust over several years, and insists it doesn’t have to contravene European law – although this has been disputed by the European Commission.

Briefs...

...Speaking to Indian newspaper Express, M V Sridhar, head of sports marketing, says the acquisition of Satyam Computer Services Ltd by Tech Mahindra has not affected its relations with FIFA. Satyam will help in event management solutions and IT requirements, beginning with the Confederation Cup in June. It is the first Indian company to be part of the FIFA family. Their agreement runs through 2014.

… Sepp Blatter's driving license was reportedly suspended for a month after an accident in the Bernese Oberland last October. According to Swiss news agency ATS, authorities in central Switzerland have reported that the 73-year-old FIFA boss collided with another vehicle heading in the opposite direction.Blatter escaped injury, but the driver of the oncoming car was slightly injured, ATS reports. Authorities took Blatter's clean driving record into account and described it as an offense of "medium" severity. He was also ordered to pay costs of $175.

Written by Anthony StavrinosFor general comments or questions, click here