Inside World Football - Page 2167 of 2234 - For the Business of Football

Mihir Bose: Africa has wasted golden opportunity presented by World Cup

On Wednesday night, as England qualified to meet Germany in the round of 16, with the USA topping England’s group and Australia doing Ghana a favour, the great and good of south African football returned to Sandton, the exclusive Johannesburg suburb which they have made their home during this World Cup, and their joy was unconfined.

The reason for the joy was not just on footballing grounds, although these are not insignificant.

Andrew Warshaw: Africa needs to rethink things after disappointing showing

Andrew Warshaw

They had a record six teams in the tournament but one by one they tumbled out, failing to live up to expectations, dashing the hopes of an entire continent.

The vuvezelas may still be screeching and organisers saying all the right things about the show going on but no-one can ignore the hugely disappointing performances of Africa’s teams at Africa’s World Cup.

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Exclusive: South African police fear hooliganism at England v Germany match

By Mihir Bose in Johannesburg

June 24 – South African police and organisers are concerned that England’s match with Germany in the round of 16 match at Bloemfontein on Sunday (June 27) could see German hooligans clash with English ones.

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World Cup exit illustrates decline of Italian football

By David Owen at Ellis Park, Johannesburg

June 24 – Call them the new North Korea.

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Blatter cleared in ISL case as FIFA names remain a mystery

By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year

June 24 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter was today cleared of any wrongdoing after the release of a Swiss court finding which claimed that senior FIFA officials were involved in a major bribery scandal.

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Clinton gives US World Cup campaign big boost

By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year

June 24 – Former President Bill Clinton has given the United States bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup a massive boost by changing his travel plans so he can continue to support them in South Africa.

Africa

Okocha fails to get Nigerian Football Federation elections stopped

June 24 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter has refused to stop the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) holding elections in August by a high-level delegation, including the country’s Sports Minister Isa Bio and former Super Eagles captain Jay-Jay Okocha, who claim that the govering body is corrupt.

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World Cup success paves way for Olympic bid says Zuma

By Duncan Mackay in Lausanne
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year

June 23 – Jacques Rogge (pictured) today welcomed the possibility of a bid to host the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics from South Africa following the success of the FIFA World Cup.

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Africa allowed to dream a little longer

By David Owen in Johannesburg

June 23 – Ghana kept the African flag flying tonight, securing passage to a second-round clash with the United States, victors over Algeria, on a frigid night at Soccer City.

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South Africa proves that Africa can stage successful World Cup

June 22 – The success of the World Cup in South Africa should encourage other African countries to bid for the tournament, Issa Hayatou, the President of the Confdederation of African Football (CAF) has claimed.

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Warner row continues as he calls for resignations

Jack Warner in front of FIFA sign

By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year

June 21 – The row over whether FIFA vice-president Jack Warner should be able to combine his role with a senior Cabinet post in the Trinidad and Tobago Government continues to rumble on even though he has been cleared to continue in both positions.

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Ronaldo and Portugal fire World Cup warning

By David Owen in Cape Town

June 21 – Perhaps it will be Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup after all.

Andrew Warshaw: No-one is celebrating the Jabulani

Andrew Warshaw

Jabulani means “celebrate” in Zulu. But you would have to go a long way to find anyone, anywhere - player, coach or fan - remotely happy when it comes to the controversial ball being used in the World Cup.

After the vuvuzela, nothing has generated greater debate. Watch any game and watch freekicks flying over the bar, outfield players struggling with their control, passes being overhit and goalies fumbling.

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Irish FA accounts reveal £516,000 spent on former chief executive

June 21 – It cost the Irish Football Association (IFA) £516,000 ($760,000) to get rid of chief executive Howard Wells (pictured), newly published accounts reveal.

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Domenech unloved and unwanted by France

By Andrew Warshaw in Johannesburg

June 20 – Alas Poor Raymond…Just after the World Cup began, a headline in one of the South African supplements read, “Everybody Hates Raymond”.