World Cup 2010 Blog: FIFA Suspends Nigerian Football Federation

---

FIFA Suspends Nigerian Football Federation Posted: 04 Oct 2010 09:08 AM PDT As usual, in such bureaucratic pissing contests, fans are the real losers… In a drastic move, FIFA has suspended the Nigerian Football Federation as a result of the government’s ongoing interference in the Federation’s affairs.  If you remember earlier this year, after the World Cup, the President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, suspended the football team for 2 years.  That suspension was lifted, but FIFA are not satisfied that the Federation and Nigerian government are compliant with FIFA’s regulations which demand that the Federation be transparent and independent of the government. The complete FIFA statement… The FIFA Emergency Committee decided today, 4 October 2010, to suspend the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) with immediate effect on account of government interference. This decision follows the latest events linked to the NFF, such as the court actions against elected members of the NFF Executive Committee preventing them from exercising their functions and duties, the stepping down of the acting NFF General Secretary on the instructions of the National Sports Commission, the decision of the Minister of Sports to have the Nigerian League start without relegation from the previous season, and the fact that the NFF Executive Committee cannot work properly due to this interference. The suspension will be maintained until the court actions have ceased and the duly elected NFF Executive Committee is able to work without any interference. During the period of suspension, the NFF will not be able to be represented in any regional, continental or international competitions, including at club level, and also not in friendly matches. In addition, neither the NFF nor any of its members or officials can benefit from any development programme, course, or training from FIFA or CAF while the federation remains suspended. Some Reactions… Is Nigeria’s decision a smart or fatale move?  [Please note:  This was written in reference to first suspension, but it is still is relevant and provides a range of opinions on FIFA's rules against government interference] “We know that it will soon be election time into the FIFA executive committee. It is possible that some of those who intend to secure the vote of Nigeria may be courting support from those in the NFF whose election was annulled by the court. It is quite interesting that some FIFA members who frown at mixing football with politics are themselves not averse to playing a little politics!” – Daily Trust (complete article here)

You are subscribed to email updates from World Cup Soccer - South Africa 2010 To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610

GMC Never Say Never Moments

Your team never stops trying to make it to Super Bowl XVL. Neither should you. Enter for your chance to win a trip to Super Bowl XLV or a 2011 Sierra Denali. GMC NEVER SAY NEVER MOMENTS. Welcome back NFL fans. 2010 is already stacking up to be an amazing year on the gridiron - full of incredible finishes, unexpected heroes and unforgettable moments. At GMC we call them Never Say Never Moments and, together with the NFL, we intend to celebrate each one. We need your help picking the best of the best. Each week we'll post the most incredible moments from that week and ask you, the fans, to vote on which one is worthy of the GMC Never Say Never Moment of the week. Click below to vote for your favorite.

ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN YOUR OWN NEVER SAY NEVER MOMENT: TICKETS TO THE SUPER BOWL OR YOUR VERY OWN GMC SIERRA DENALI. That's right, each week we're giving away a chance of a lifetime. Tickets to Super Bowl XLV. And one lucky winner will drive off with a GMC Sierra Denali. So make sure after you vote, you enter for your chance to win.

You are receiving this e-mail advertising GMC products and services in response to your entry into the GMC Never Say Never Sweepstakes. Should you wish to unsubscribe from these weekly e-mail updates, please click here. To opt out of future GMC communications, please click here. If you prefer not to receive any unsolicited marketing e-mails regarding GM(R) vehicles, please click here. Privacy Statement For GMC Customer Assistance, please call 1-800-462-8782. General Motors 100 Renaissance Center 482.A00.MAR Detroit, MI 48265-1000 © 2010 General Motors | Copyright & Trademark Information © 2010 NFL Properties LLC. All NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. MUST BE LEGAL RESIDENT OF THE 50 UNITED STATES (D.C.), 18 YEARS OR OLDER WITH VALID DRIVER'S LICENSE TO ENTER. Void where prohibited. Sweepstakes ends 1/5/11. For entry and official rules with complete eligibility, prize description and other details, visit www.gmc.com/nfl . Sponsor: General Motors LLC, 100 Renaissance Center, Detroit, MI 48265.

World Cup 2010 Blog: Cesare Prandelli’s Attack Of The Idiots

---

Cesare Prandelli’s Attack Of The Idiots Posted: 30 Sep 2010 07:31 AM PDT Let’s get this out in the open: Antonio Cassano, Francesco Totti, Mario Balotelli….none of these men could have split the atom. Extraordinary, occasionally unbelievable, physical and athletic talents, but they don’t quite possess the same intellectual prowess. Totti’s written a book of jokes about it (alright, maybe ghostwritten), Balotelli has hinted at such recently and with enough digging, I’m sure there’s a slightly depressing, Mike Tyson-esque quote of resignation from Talentino in which he waxes on how stupid he be. Maybe Cesare Prandelli has something up his sleeve, or maybe he’s referring to their footballing IQs (likely, but let’s ignore it for a second), but he has a quote in which he claims to want players of Balotelli’s “intellectual capacity” directly after hinting at a return of the telepathic duo of Totti & Cassano to the Italian attack. “The idea of seeing Totti and Cassano together in the national team is a particular desire, we’re talking about friendship, a relationship that exists between them. We wanted to create an occasion which would be an example for kids who would want to watch the match. I said it would be great for two friends to rediscover each other on the pitch.” Another player Prandelli wants to see back in his squad is 20-year-old Balotelli. “I miss him because I really want to try out an attack with players of his intellectual capacity,” added Prandelli. This could spawn a sequel to Totti’s novella of yuckers: How best to stop the Italian Cassano-Totti-Balotelli tridente? Long division.

You are subscribed to email updates from World Cup Soccer - South Africa 2010 To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610

World Cup 2010 Blog: World Cup: Breaking Up Relationships, Destroying Productivity.

---

World Cup: Breaking Up Relationships, Destroying Productivity. Posted: 28 Sep 2010 07:08 AM PDT For many, the World Cup is the most romantic of all the tournaments up to a certain point, when an elite group take over and relegate Cinderella to “thanks for the memories”. Turns out it’s not quite as romantic in the land of romantics, as 5% of those polled witnessed a relationship dissolve as a result of the tournament. (Isn’t the WC supposed to bring people together?) The same study says 14% broke the rules at work to watch the Cup during the summer, which leads to the theory most took this survey with a boss standing directly over their shoulder. According to ESPN, fourteen percent of Americans surveyed said they or a friend broke work rules to watch the tournament in South Africa. The cable network Monday cited research by Knowledge Networks’ Total Touch that found 77 percent of out-of-home Internet usage during World Cup matches occurred at offices and 50 percent of out-of-home ESPN mobile use was at offices. Eighteen percent of people said they or a friend wore their favorite team’s World Cup jersey to work during the tournament from June 11 to July 11, and 5 percent said they or a friend broke up with a significant other because of the World Cup. If the World Cup cause early termination in five percent of relationships, we can safely assume Football Manager is in the high eighties. (Conservatively, of course.)

You are subscribed to email updates from World Cup Soccer - South Africa 2010 To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610

World Cup 2010 Blog: South Korea Wins U-17 Women’s World Cup

---

South Korea Wins U-17 Women’s World Cup Posted: 27 Sep 2010 04:00 AM PDT Confession time: I must admit I did not have high hopes for the highlights of a “World Cup” for those still in the midst of a high school education. I was very, very wrong and rather blown away by the astonishing expertise with which these “women” (they’re girls, really) can hit a Jabulani. The men from the summer’s edition should be blushing in shame. South Korea beat Japan on Saturday to win the Women’s U-17 World Cup, and it’s a good thing they did or else maternal areas the world one would’ve felt too much pain to continue on. The South Korean keeper, Minah Kim, had an adventurous normal time to say the least: the first Japanese goal was just cruel – how is a child supposed to jump high enough?; the second was a proper Jabulani’ing, which makes her qualified to start for most senior teams of the male persuasion; and the third was a bad spill into the six. However, she’d have her chance for retribution in extras – South Korea would actually pay back both on their second goal – and Minah would come good, with some added help from So Dam Lee’s monster volley in the 79th to equalize. Maternal areas of the world are now safe, though it’s best not to scope out the Japanese post-game photos. Superdramatic highlights set to superdramatic metal-cum-choir follow, with an added bonus of some Jabulani specials: