FIFA controversially awarded the 2022 World Cup to Qatar. But the tiny Gulf state’s bid was just another step in its ambitious push to become a global hub.
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Ghana looks to World Cup after U-20 success
Ghanaians clad in the national colors of red, gold and green celebrated long into the night on Friday as excitement over the national team’s penalty shootout victory over Brazil in the final of the Under-20 World Cup in Egypt brought the West African nation to a standstill.
Jordaan plays down World Cup strike fears
Danny Jordaan, the chief executive of the 2010 World Cup organizing committee in South Africa, said in a statement on Wednesday that construction remains on schedule for the tournament despite large-scale strikes delaying building work at stadium sites. About 70,000 workers have downed tools in a pay dispute after negotiations broke down earlier this week, with less than 12 months to go before the finals kick-off. The workers are reportedly seeking a 13 percent pay rise on their $300 average monthly wage, and there are growing worries that a prolonged strike could jeopardize key projects such as the centerpiece 94,000-seater Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg
Gay footballers battle for world domination
One year before the FIFA World Cup kicks off, 26 teams of gay and lesbian footballers are battling for global supremacy in the Gay Soccer World Championships. Co-ordinated by the International Gay & Lesbian Football Association (IGLFA), the tournament, which began on Sunday, is being hosted by the Federal Triangles club in Washington D.C., and supported by the local Major League Soccer (MLS) side D.C
Iranian football stars ‘retired’ after match protest
Four Iranian footballers have been "retired" from the national side after protesting against the contested election result in the country during a match against South Korea. The players drew attention to the situation in Iran by wearing green armbands during last week’s World Cup qualifying match in Seoul.
Ronaldo in clear over high-speed car smash
Cristiano Ronaldo has escaped punishment over the car smash earlier this year that saw his Ferrari written off. The Manchester United star, who is set to move to Real Madrid for a world record fee, demolished the front of his high-performance sports car after he hit a roadside barrier in a tunnel on a freeway in the north-west of England city.
Egypt protest over Brazil Confed Cup winner
Egypt said they would file a protest to FIFA after Brazi’ls controversial injury time winner in their Confederations Cup opener in Bloemfontein on Monday night. Egypt had come back from 3-1 down to be tied at 3-3 as the match headed into injury time, but were beaten by Kaka’s last-gasp penalty.
Legend Figo ready to call curtain on career
Former World Player of the Year Luis Figo has announced that he will retire from football at the end of this season. The 36-year-old is hoping to go out on a high note after Inter Milan’s match match of the Italian season at home to Atalanta on Sunday. Jose Mourinho’s side have already wrapped up the Serie A title — the fourth that former Portugal captain Figo has won with the club since joining from Real Madrid in 2005
The best goalkeepers of all time
Edwin van der Sar claimed the all-time British record for minutes without conceding a goal during Manchester United’s 1-0 win over West Ham on Sunday. The Dutch veteran also took the 30-year-old English record from Steve Death last week. Death’s name, with all due respect to the former Reading custodian, is not up there with the game’s greats.
Former Chelsea manager in football race row
Former manager of English football club Chelsea and current boss at Italian side Juventus, Claudio Ranieri, is at the center of a race row after comments he made following his side’s Coppa Italia defeat to Lazio. Ranieri told media after the loss on Tuesday: “I did not like the entire direction of the match. I found the official was tough with us, on the field it seemed as if he was Chinese, as it was always yellow cards with us,” football web site Goal.com reported.