*AA* Blatter writes to Hayatou

Blatter writes to Hayatou
(FIFA.com) Saturday 9 January 2010
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The day after the tragic incident involving the Togo national team, FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter wrote to African Football Confederation (CAF) President, Isaa Hayatou.

Below is a transcript of that letter:

Dear President Hayatou,

Following the tragic incident involving the national team of one of the member associations of FIFA and CAF just hours before the kick-off of the African Football Confederation's leading competition, the CAF African Cup of Nations, I wish to convey my wholehearted support, along with that of the international football family.

My thoughts, and those of everyone at FIFA, go out to the victims of this terrible tragedy, and to their families and loved ones.

This awful event cannot dispel the fact that Africa has written some of the greatest chapters in the history of world football. Africa is the birthplace of some of the greatest players ever to have graced the game. The continent will soon play host to the FIFA World Cup for the very first time, as is its due. I have faith in Africa, and it is with this faith that together we will organise world football's showcase event in 2010.

We stand alongside you at this particularly painful time and reiterate our friendship.

Kindest regards,

Beckham: My Mandela memories ++

Beckham: My Mandela memories
(FIFA.com) Wednesday 2 December 2009

David Beckham called into the FIFA President’s Office in Cape Town this morning for a cordial meeting with Joseph S. Blatter ahead of the Final Draw for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™, at which England’s most-capped outfield player will act as an assistant.

The pair were engaged in conversation for half an hour and afterwards Beckham, one of the most famous faces in the game, spoke exclusively to FIFA.com about his memories of South Africa, the Final Draw, the upcoming FIFA World Cup, and of course his meeting with the FIFA President.

Prior to the meeting, Mr. Blatter had told the media that Beckham is "the best ambassador for Fair Play in football," adding: "I've been working in FIFA for 35 years and I know a good guy. He is one of the most important figures in football. He has a personal charisma that very few players have. He's a great man."

Those sentiments were appreciated by the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star, who revealed to the official website of FIFA and the FIFA World Cup that it was a meeting with arguably the most famous South African of all time that endures as the highlight of his professional career.

FIFA.com: David, it’s a welcome return to South Africa for you. What are the main memories of your previous visits here?
David Beckham: They’re extremely fond memories. When I was last here with England, I had the honour of meeting Nelson Mandela. That was the highlight of my career; to meet such a great man and a strong man and such a passionate man about sport and life will always stay with me. Then I played in the game and broke my arm! South Africa is such a great country and a sporting nation that deserves this World Cup. I think it will be a very memorable and special one.

What changes have you notice in the short time you’ve been here?
When you visit the country that a tournament is being held in before the event, you get a special feeling. As the time approaches, you notice that feeling intensify. As soon as I landed here in Cape Town, I noticed changes in the roads, as well as new hotels and it seemed as though the people’s excitement was tangible. There’s no better feeling than that.
As soon as I landed here in Cape Town, I noticed changes in the roads, as well as new hotels and it seemed as though the people’s excitement was tangible. There’s no better feeling than that.
David Beckham, England midfielder.

It must be great for you that England are involved and you’ll be playing in your fourth FIFA World Cup?
Yes, of course. We did very well during the qualifying campaign, but there is still a lot of hard work to be done. We want to compete with the best and we have a perfect set-up with management staff, with backroom staff, with players and fans. We just have to come over here and do it in the tournament. We have definitely got the players who can do that.

You’re obviously here to assist with the Final Draw. Have you been well briefed yet?
Not yet, because I’ve only just arrived, but I have been briefed on the things that I’ll be doing, as well as the Draw. I’m absolutely honoured to be invited and be part of it, because it’s not every day that you get asked to be a part of something like this. My family are very proud, and so am I.

You just paid a visit to the FIFA President’s office. What did you chat to him about?
Family, which is always a nice topic to talk about. Family comes above anything we achieve in our careers and in our lives. We also talked about the 2010 World Cup and South Africa; his pride to see the World Cup here, as well as the people’s pride in hosting the event. And that’s understandable, because it’s the biggest sporting event in the world. It was a very relaxed, light-hearted conversation and it was good to speak to him. Mr. Blatter is not just the FIFA President and a powerful man in football, but he’s a very, very good person as well, which is more important.

I believe that there is a little link between the two of you and the number seven too?
Yes, there is. It’s his lucky number – and it’s always been pretty lucky for me too, so we have that in common!

Blatter: Nigeria was right choice

Blatter: Nigeria was right choice
(FIFA.com) Sunday 15 November 2009
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On the eve of the FIFA U-17 World Cup Nigeria 2009 final, FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter held a press conference at the Congress Centre in Abuja, accompanied by a number of dignitaries including the President of the Organising Committee for the FIFA U-17 World Cup, Jack A. Warner and Engr. Sani Ndanusa, Sports Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It proved the perfect occasion to look back over the three weeks of action since the competition began, the use of MRI tests to determine the age of players and the progress of African teams in general, while giving journalists the chance to ask their own questions.

Joseph S. Blatter, FIFA President
On the FIFA U-17 World Cup Nigeria 2009
Even though I was on the move a lot, I followed the first three weeks of the competition through the media and FIFA.com. It’s the second time that this competition has featured 24 teams, giving a total of 52 matches in eight different cities and stadiums. I’m very happy with the success of this competition after the headaches we experienced before the initial kick-off. Since it started, though, we’ve realised how successful the tournament has been. FIFA is happy to have organised the competition in this country – and not only FIFA, since the teams themselves have all expressed their satisfaction.

On Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) tests to determine if players comply with the age limit.
For years now, FIFA has been combating this problem together with the national associations and confederations. After the research and tests carried out thanks to MRI techniques, we’ve reached the conclusion that the players who’ve taken part in this competition are all in their 18th year at most, as the regulations stipulate. For us, the subject is therefore closed. There’s no more need for me to discuss this problem unless someone has proof that requires it to be looked at again.

On the qualifying criteria for the knockout phase
We need to look into the use of fair play in the elimination of teams when they have the same number of points, the same goal difference and the same number of goals scored. Fair play in this case means yellow cards and red cards, but these cards are at the referee’s discretion. Very tense games can result in just one or two yellow cards, whereas others without the same intensity can sometimes finish with eight or nine cards. We need to look at this problem with the organising committees of the various competitions.

On the chances of African teams at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™
The difficulty African or Asian teams face in terms of winning the World Cup isn’t just a technical one but also a mathematical one. Until now, we've only had world champions from Europe and South America. When you have 32 teams, including 13 from Europe and four or five from South America, there is a group of 17 teams from which the champions have always emerged. For the others, they need to be stronger in terms of technique and tactics to reach the semi-finals. That said, in 2002 we saw that Korea Republic were able to reach the semi-finals, so in South Africa next year I really hope to see an African team do at least as well. That nearly happened at Italy 1990 when there were only 24 teams. Cameroon came very close to reaching the semi-finals that year, having lost very narrowly to England in their quarter-final. We’ll see what happens for the local sides next year with an African atmosphere at the tournament.

Jack A. Warner, FIFA vice-president and Chairman of the Organising Committee for the FIFA U-17 World Cup
On the organisation of the FIFA U-17 World Cup Nigeria 2009
The principal lesson I’ve learnt from this tournament is that you always have to keep believing. I say that in particular for the Nigerians, because in their first match Nigeria were losing 3-0 to Germany. The spectators began booing their team and leaving the stadium – and today Nigeria are in the final and are getting ready to play in a full stadium which is ready to lift them up. Nigeria has shown it has the enthusiasm to organise a FIFA World Cup in a higher age group, but it’s not yet ready as things stand now.

On the next FIFA U-17 World Cup
The next edition will be held in Mexico, and as soon as Nigeria 2009 comes to an end we’ll start preparing for that. I’ll be going to Mexico as early as Monday with a FIFA delegation to carry out an initial inspection. Nine cities have put themselves forward as candidates to host games. So, as soon as the final whistle blows in the last match here, it will be farewell to Nigeria and welcome to Mexico!

Premier League

Premier League delay '39' meeting with Blatter

The Premier League's plans for overseas matches have been effectively sent back to the drawing board, after they pulled out of a visit to FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

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Chief executive Richard Scudamore had planned to go to Zurich on Thursday to persuade Blatter of the merits of each club playing a 39th game in a foreign city.

Blatter had already displayed vehement opposition to the '39th step' and now the League has decided to delay the visit indefinitely.

FIFA believe the move signals that the proposals in their current form are now dead and that new plans will have to be produced if the controversial scheme is to be revived.

The Premier League are adamant the idea is still alive but accept the proposals need to be 'developed' and that they will not push ahead without FIFA's approval.

The decision will also prevent the controversy torpedoing the official launch of England's bid for the 2018 World Cup, which is expected at the end of next month.

It should also go some way to restoring relations with Blatter, who had called the plans 'abuse' of football, and UEFA president Michel Platini - who had branded them 'crazy'.

The Premier League said in a statement: 'Having consulted with FIFA, we have decided to delay our planned visit while we conduct further work before addressing them and their confederations formally.

'We sincerely believe that the Premier League has much to offer the development of the game internationally as witnessed by the many federations and leagues that currently seek our involvement and advice.

'There never has been a rush to conclude these matters, and we are more than willing to take time to develop our proposals further before seeking approval - without which it is not our intention to proceed.'

Football Association chairman Lord Triesman, who revealed last week that the Football Association's board viewed the proposals as 'unsustainable', was due to accompany the visit to FIFA, who said it welcomed the Premier League's decision.

A statement from the world governing body read: 'FIFA have been advised by the English Premier League that the league, accompanied by senior representatives of the English FA, does not seek a meeting with FIFA at this time to discuss the project of a 39th match day to be played abroad.

'FIFA welcome the Premier League's decision and initiative - which re-establishes the positive and constructive relations between the FA, the FA Premier League and world football's governing body.'

Three weeks ago, Scudamore announced a year-long consultation process before the 20 clubs voted on a final proposal.

It now looks as though entirely new proposals will be needed - and perhaps even put before FIFA before the proposal is even made public.

The decision will also be welcomed by Manchester United and Liverpool, both of whom had expressed severe reservations about the overseas games.


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