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FIFA marketing rules spark frustration in S.Africa
S.Africa
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JOHANNESBURG — "Welcome to the Republic of FIFA," read a recent newspaper headline, highlighting the frustrations of South Africans who feel the world football governing body has an iron grip on "their" World Cup.
"FIFA is the only entity to benefit from the World Cup," complained Grant Abramhamse, an aspiring entrepreneur who wanted to make key chains to sell to fans during the tournament.
But FIFA told Abramhamse his key chains -- decorated with the South African flag, the year 2010 and the vuvuzela trumpet beloved by local fans -- were infringing on its copyright.
"This is David and Goliath. I am David, FIFA is Goliath," he said, as the country gears up for the June 11 kick-off.
Abramhamse said he got the government's permission for his project in 2004, but in 2005 received a cease-and-desist letter from FIFA, which owns the rights to the words "World Cup", "2010", "South Africa", and all combinations thereof.
"The association is dictatorial and prescriptive. They are only after it for money for themselves, and not for anybody else," said Abramhamse.
Numerous South Africans have expressed frustration with the rules FIFA has imposed on the host country, and feel deprived of their World Cup, which starts on June 11.
The global football body has opened 451 cases of ambush marketing, aiming to protect its official partners who have spent fortunes to win exclusive rights to the brand.
With Emirates as its official airline partner, FIFA demanded that South African budget carrier Kulula to withdraw an ad declaring itself "the unofficial national carrier of the you-know-what", with images of a stadium and a footballer.
FIFA brushes off the authoritarian tag, saying "the majority of cases is settled in dialogue with the infringers."
"FIFA is much more lenient with (small businesses), always embarking on an educational and non-aggressive approach," it said.
But FIFA won an order stopping production of lollipops with a World Cup theme, and forced a sports bar in Pretoria to pull down banners from its roof celebrating the tournament.
"A lollipop, really? Can they disturb the World Cup? The lollipop-maker is not going to take away the revenues of an official sponsor," said trademark attorney Andre van der Merwe.
"They are very aggressive. I think because of that, people are looking forward to the World Cup but they are not very found of FIFA," he said. "They think FIFA is taking over the country."
Aside from the marketing rules, the nine host cities have also had to adopt rules to regulate activity around the stadiums, the fan park viewing areas, and other official sites.
"Any advertising in certain areas is basically prohibited, unless you get a special permission of city council. It's an extremely broad prohibition," said constitutional lawyer Pierre de Vos.
"If the rules are strictly enforced, there are going to be freedom of expression problems," he said. "These restrictions are quite draconian."
"There are very severe restriction on trading, not only immediately outside the stadium but also in the vicinity of the stadium, around fan parks," he said. "They seem to me to be quite excessive."
"Many of the rules are here to protect financial interests of FIFA. It has nothing to do with the successful hosting of the World Cup."
De Vos fears that could mean that South Africans could see only limited benefits from the World Cup.
FIFA reports $196M profit, $1B reserve fund
New subtitle
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ZURICH — FIFA made a profit of $196 million (euro145 million) in 2009 and increased its reserves to more than $1 billion as football's commercial appeal defied the global economic crisis.
In its annual financial report published Friday, football's world governing body said it made its surplus on revenue of $1.059 billion (euro780 million). FIFA president Sepp Blatter said he was a "happy president" that revenue had topped 10 figures for the first time.
"We are comfortable. I wouldn't say we are rich," Blatter said after a two-day meeting of FIFA's ruling executive. "A good result has been achieved."
Blatter said the financial report showed that awarding the 2010 World Cup to South Africa was a "good financial and commercial decision."
In the report, Julio Grondona, the chairman of FIFA's finance committee, said the first World Cup in Africa had posted marketing revenues that surpassed the results of the previous two tournaments, in Germany (2006) and South Korea and Japan (2002).
FIFA has focused on building its reserves in recent years to sustain it in the event that a World Cup is canceled and commercial partners have to be repaid. It originally had a target of $800 million (euro591 million) to be set aside by the end of 2010, but has exceeded that with its equity now totaling $1.061 billion (euro785 million).
FIFA said its financial health hinged almost entirely on the successful staging of the World Cup and an equity of more than $1 billion would cover only the costs of the next 18 months.
"FIFA has thus far made it through the turbulence in the financial markets and the global recession unscathed and has emerged from the crisis in a stronger position," its report said.
Soccer Player Dies After A Game in Sudan
Sudden Death Comes As A Shock
KHARTOUM Feb 2010 - Nigerian footballer Endurance Idahor died after collapsing during a game in Khartoum on Saturday, football association officials said. Idahor, 25, who played for Sudan's Al-Merreikh club, clashed with another player minutes after the start of the match, an official from the Sudan's Football Association told revealed.
"It was a normal incident of obstruction," said the official who asked not to be named as he was not authorised to talk to the media. "He fell over and now he has passed away. It is a huge shock to Sudan's whole sporting family." The official said Idahor collapsed during a game with Sudan Premier League rivals Al-Amal, held at Al-Merreikh's stadium in the Khartoum suburb of Omdurman.
Evander Holyfield and Francois Botha of South Africa Meets in Uganda
A Title Challange Fight By Holyfield
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American Evander Holyfield will challenge South African Francois Botha for the World Boxing Federation world heavyweight title in Uganda on Jan. 16, the South African Press Association reported on Thursday. Organizers for the fight at Kampala's Nambole Stadium said that both boxers had signed contracts and a crowd of 80,000 are expected to watch the bout.
"I am very much looking forward to going to Uganda and I expect a tough fight against Francois Botha," said Holyfield (47-10 with 2 draws), who has not fought since losing a points decision to Nikolai Valuev in a World Boxing Association title fight in December 2008. "I am going to win and I will cherish the WBF world title," said the 47-year-old American, a former world cruiserweight and heavyweight champion. "I have always been my own harshest critic. My performance against Carrion, without making any excuses, was arguably the worst of my career," said Botha, who retained his WBF title by drawing with Pedro Carrion of Cuba in Germany in October.
"Expect the fittest, toughest and best ever - and extremely serious -- Francois Botha in Uganda in January. I owe my fans and members of Team Botha the performance of my life. I intend to make good on that," he added.
Pantsil and Mensah Out From Ghana African Cup Squad
Both Sidelined By Injuries
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John Pantsil and John Mensah has been both forced to withdraw from Ghana's African Cup of Nations squad through injuries. The Fulham full-back Pantsil twisted his knee during the Cottagers' 2-1 defeat to Chelsea on Monday and is now facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines. He is guaranteed to miss Africa's showpiece event in the New Year, with Getafe's Derek Boateng called up as his replacement.Pantsil admits he is bitterly disappointed to miss out on the prestigious tournament, especially as he feels Ghana are among the favourites to land the crown."I am so sorry that I cannot make Angola 2010," he said.
Ghana captain John Mensah will also miss this month's African Nations Cup finals after picking up a hamstring injury, the Ghana Football Association said on Friday. Mensah, who suffered the injury playing for Sunderland, joins fellow defender John Paintsil on the sidelines after the Fulham player twisted his knee last weekend. This is two great palyers in a roll and would certainly affect the Ghanian squad's standing going into the tournament.
Cameroon, Nigeria and USA Gets a Good Draw in World Cup 2010
Brazil, Portugal and Cameroon Draw into Zone of Death
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Spain, the world’s top-ranked team, was grouped with Switzerland, Honduras and Chile, while Argentina heads a group that includes Nigeria, South Korea and Greece. South Africa may become the first home nation not to advance beyond the first round, having been placed in a forbidding group with France, Mexico and Uruguay. The United States received a favorable draw for the 2010 World Cup . Anything short will be considered a major disappointment. The Americans drew a top seed in England, but avoided a second European power team and a top African team, instead the other teams in their group includes Slovenia and Algeria.
Brazil, a five-time World Cup champion, was drawn into the so-called Group of Death with the Ivory Coast, which is led by perhaps the world’s top striker, Didier Drogba, and Portugal, which finished fourth at the 2006 World Cup and features Cristiano Ronaldo. Only two teams will advance from each of the eight four-team groups, meaning that one team from among Brazil, Ivory Coast and Portugal will go home early. Italy, the reigning World Cup champion, was placed with Paraguay, New Zealand and Slovakia. The final group, headed by the Netherlands, also includes Denmark, Japan and Cameroon.
Injured Obafemi Martins To Return In Time For World Cup 2010
Martins is a Huge Hope in Nigeria's 2010 World Cup Quest
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The news of Obafemi Martins' injury last weekend was a huge setback to Super Eagles' preparation for the Nations Cup in Angola. However, the good news is the stricker is expected back in time for the one that matters the most, FIFA World Cup 2010 in South Africa. It was revealed that the Wolfsburg striker, whose brace helped the Nigeria to qualify for the 2010 World Cup, will be undergoing a surgery on his shin and is not expected to be back until mid-January. It means the former Newcastle United and Inter Milan player is a huge doubt for the continental showpiece which begins on January 10.
The injury is the latest in Martins' injury-blighted career. This year alone, he has faced some difficult times on the sidelines. He underwent hernia operation in January and was out of action for Newcastle for over two months before returning to action against Everton on February 22.
Martins also had a mild disagreement with manager Alan Shearer after making a very late complaint over a groin problem in May as they prepare for league game.
Caster Semenya Test is Not Complete
Says IAAF
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Gender tests on South African athlete Caster Semenya are yet to be completed, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) revealed. The 18-year-old had been expected to find out if she was eligible to compete as a woman on Friday. But the IAAF said it will not discuss the case at its meeting in Monaco.
The IAAF would also not confirm claims from South Africa that Semenya will be allowed to keep the 800m gold medal she won at August's World Championships. The governing body was responding to an earlier statement from South Africa's Department of Sport and Recreation that said: "Because Caster has been found to be innocent of any wrong, she will then retain her gold medal, retain her title of 800m world champion, retain her prize money." Semenya burst on to the world scene when she ran one minute, 56.72 seconds for the 800m in July, smashing her previous personal best by more than seven seconds. She also broke Zola Budd's long-standing South African 800m record before arriving in Berlin as the newly crowned African junior champion.
Spain and Nigeria Are Top Picks U17 World Cup
Phil Tosin
The Spanish under-17 football team bull-dozed their way to the quarter-finals of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup Nigeria 2009, with a 4-1 win over 10-man Burkina Faso team in Kano, yesterday, while the other top pick, Nigerian Green Eaglets ran all over New Zealand earlier 4-0. Sergi Roberto of Spain opened the scoring for the Spainards about 19th minutes into the game, with a nice side shot into the corner after Isco was thumped just outside the box.
Speaking at the post-match conference, the Burkina Faso coach, Rainer Willfeld said he lost the match to technically better side, a team with the most experience and record in the tournament. Not too quickly many would say, the Nigerians have the home court advantage and have been playing at their best lately. The next few matches would be crucial for both teams, the Nigerians are scheduled next for November 14th. Other teams to watch are Uraguay, Mexico, and the South Koreans.
Caster Semanya May Be A Hemaphrodite
Test Shows Both Male and Female Characteristics
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Sebastian Coe, a former Olympic runner who now oversees London's Olympic committee, said international athletics officials should have acted more quickly once the questions arose so as to protect Semenya from harmful speculation. This is not easy," Coe told reporters Thursday. "The science of this is complicated. And when you are dealing with a gender issue like this, it's sensitive, it's complicated, it is something that also polarizes people, and it's a debate that, frankly, far too long has been in the corner of conferences and something that governing bodies have not wanted to grasp." Semenya's masculine build and dominant performance fueled existing questions about her gender.
Reports in two newspapers last month said the results of the tests showed Semenya has both male and female characteristics. The IAAF has declined to confirm those reports and said a decision in the case will come late next month.The process of gender verification has undergone big changes since it was first introduced for international competition in the 1960s, the IAAF said. As it stands for now, it seems the athlete has both male and female composition- Haemaphroditis like characteritics.
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