FIFA Report -- Premier League Chair Drafted Into World Cup Bid

The Football Association has appointed Premier League chairman Sir Dave Richards to a key role in England's bid to host the 2018 World Cup.

The move by FA chairman Lord Triesman, widely interpreted as a gesture aimed at quelling political infighting, could damage its chances of a successful bid.

Announcing the appointment, Triesman was also forced to deny rumours he was angry at not being invited to a meeting between the Premier League chief executive, Richard Scudamore, and FIFA President Sepp Blatter next week.

While the English bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup has not yet been formally unveiled, early preparations have been marred by political wrangling.

The Premier League claims to be backing the bid but the absence of its most talented executives on the board has fueled suggestions the bid will suffer from an inability to capitalize on the domestic game's appeal overseas.

England 2018 chief executive Andy Anson, the former Manchester United commercial director, has been negotiating for weeks with Richards in an effort to find the right role for him.

He had already addressed another criticism by persuading London 2012 chief Seb Coe to step down from his role as chairman of the FIFA ethics committee and serve as a non-executive director of the bid.

Richards will take a role as one of three deputy chairmen, alongside Football League chairman Lord Mawhinney and Manchester United chief executive David Gill.

Richards will assume specific responsibility for international relations.

“Bringing the FIFA World Cup to England would be fantastic for the game in this country and, along with my colleagues, I will be doing all I can to make that a reality,” he said.

England is considered a favorite but faces strong competition from a field that also includes Australia, Russia, the United States, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, and at this stage, joint bids from Belgium/Holland and Spain/Portugal.

If FIFA rules that joint bids are inadmissible, as is expected, Spain is likely to proceed with a single bid.

The new appointees join an expanding cast that also includes 10 ambassadorial vice presidents, including Prince William, David Beckham and Fabio Capello.

Triesman, a former Labour peer with strong links to the party, moved to the cross benches in response to Tory criticism that the bid was being led by government and contained too many Westminster figures.

There has been antagonism between the FA and the Premier League since Triesman, in one of his first public speeches, questioned the “debt mountains” of English football.

South African Police Say They’re Ready For Anything

There has been much aerial activity taking place over the Johannesburg, Rustenburg and Pretoria areas around the FIFA World Cup stadia and certain airfields this week.

The South African Police Service and South African Air Force have been conducting various joint operational and intelligence aerial exercises in preparation for the FIFA Confederations Cup and 2010 FIFA World Cup.

According to SAPS 2010 Senior Operational Planner David Garnett, the security forces are confident they can deal with issues they may face including crowd control and management, identification and security screening of visitors to South Africa, hooliganism, terrorists, plane hijackers and match tickets validation.

“Our techniques are amongst the most advanced in the world and I can give you the assurance that we are in a position to deal with any contingency that may occur, absolutely anything,” Garnett says.

“Therefore, anyone wishing to visit SA should do so and enjoy themselves.”

There are between 35,000 and 40,000 joint forces personnel preparing for the World Cup.

All specialist policing areas including the dog unit, bomb disposal experts, hostage negotiators, national air wing, national intervention unit, borderline and ports of entry, as well as military special forces, are being utilized with the aim of intercepting any airborne threats.

Garnett says South Africa is confident in the quality as well as the way in which it has deployed its resources and the overall experience of the personnel.

The Civil Aviation Authority has issued a notice restricting, but not banning, flights in certain airspaces in Johannesburg, Pretoria and Rustenburg between March 16 and 19.

National Joint Operation spokeswoman Sally de Beer says anyone wishing to fly in the restricted airspace areas will need authorization at least 24 hours in advance.

Safety and Security Minister Nathi Mthethwa, Deputy Defence Minister Fezile Bhengu, Chief of Joint Operations General Temba Matanzima and senior police and military officials attended one security drill which was almost postponed due to heavy rain.

In the simulated exercise, security forces in fighter jets known as Hawks approached an “illegally flying aircraft," forcing it to descend and land at Swartkops Air Force Base, where a group of armed police and military personnel took up position.

In the event of any hostages or illegal substances such as explosives on board the plane, hostage negotiators will be called to the scene. The dog unit will sniff out explosives, which if discovered, will be safely removed by a specially designed robot.

Garnett says South African security forces are working together with the international community and Interpol to list some of the possible threats and individuals known to engage in hooliganism.

“Threats change from day to day, some are eliminated and some grow. And that information is provided to the operational arms who re-plan extensively to counter any threats,” Garnett says.

He says two more provinces, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal, needto take part in similar exercises before a review of all provinces tested takes place and where necessary, forces will return.

Zambia Risks FIFA Suspension

Zambia has opened itself to sanctions by football governing body FIFA after Football Association of Zambia President Kalusha Bwalya was indefinitely suspended from all sports activities by the government’s Sports Council.

Bwalya was suspended by the government body for refusing to appear before the Council's disciplinary committee to answer charges relating to the transfer of a minor to Israeli side Maccabi Tel-Aviv last year.

There was controversy surrounding the sale of striker Emmanuel Mayuka to Tel-Aviv last year after his Zambian club Kabwe Warriors accused FAZ of issuing an international transfer certificate without its consent.

The club’s complaint prompted the government to investigate the matter through the Council.

The 50-day investigation, which included a public hearing, exposed a number of irregularities and was also debated in Zambian parliament.

A 90-page report into the transfer alleges Bwalya and his deputy, Emmanuel Munaile, influenced decision to issue the certificate.

But Bwalya has refused to appear before the Council disciplinary committee, saying his association had reported the matter to FIFA for adjudication.

FIFA does not allow government interference in its member associations.

Total Apparel Group bolsters management team

Total Apparel Group, distributor and licensee of branded apparel, footwear and accessories, has bolstered its management team ahead of the launch of an official collection of merchandise for football governing body, FIFA. TAG is the official U.S. master distributor of FIFA and FIFA World Cup licensed product.

Duarte Da Silveira has been named as president and Mitchell Porigow as executive vice president.

Da Silveira is the former president and CEO of football equipment and apparel manufacturer Kelme USA and will be responsible for managing TAG's day-to-day operations.

He will also oversee the company’s national sporting goods and sports specialty store sales force.

Porigow is a former senior vice president for Perry Ellis America, a brand he launched and grew nationally.

He will be responsible for managing and developing TAG's national sales team and maintenance of key relationships at major department stores, national chain specialty stores and discounters.

“Given the breadth and scope of the FIFA branded merchandise launch, the additions of Duarte and Mitch come at the perfect time,” TAG CEO Janon Costley says.

Written by Anthony Stavrinos

For general comments or questions, click here