The president of world soccer’s governing body FIFA, Sepp Blatter has admitted Brazil’s preparations ahead of hosting the 2014 World Cup are “not progressing very quickly”, as well as being the subject of a jibe from competing presidential candidate Mohamed bin Hammam.

Blatter said that Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo could be omitted from the 2013 Confederations Cup programme, the test event ahead of the World Cup a year later, due to the slow progress being made in preparations at the two major cities.

Blatter told the Associated Press: “The World Cup stadiums are still in the process of being discussed between the city mayors and the state governors. I must say that in comparison with the state of play between South Africa and Brazil three years before the World Cup, Brazil is behind South Africa. It’s a fact.”

Referring to how little time remained before the World Cup, Blatter said: “It is tomorrow, but the Brazilians think it’s just the day after tomorrow. What they shall do is to give a little bit more speed now in the organisation.”

Meanwhile Blatter’s opposition to what would be a record fourth term as FIFA president, Mohamed bin Hammam has stated that people’s perception of FIFA has been tarnished by the ‘unpopularity’ of the current presidential incumbent.

The Qatari national, president of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), blogged on his personal website: “The trip to Paris has given me a growing sense that more and more people within the game are eager to see change in FIFA.

“Unfortunately, from what I can see, people have been judging the entire organisation by the unpopularity of its president.

“Hopefully we will be able to change that and turn FIFA into an organisation we can all be proud of once again.”

Football Federation Australia has extended its ties with Asia with the Hyundai A-League contemplating the implementation of a designated Asian only visa position.

Speaking to Fairfax Media, capsule FFA CEO David Gallop, ed cheap has said the time is right to capitalise on Shinji Ono’s impact in the competition.

“By 2020, it’s estimated there will be 400 million people playing football in Asia. We are part of that. Football can help the nation build political and economic ties with Asia. The A-League would benefit from fostering opportunities for Asian players,” he told Fairfax Media.

“The details would need fine tuning and discussing with the clubs, but having a spot for an Asian player definitely fits with our strategic direction.”

“Our links with Asia are important, and when Shinji goes it will be disappointing to have lost our only star player from Asia,” he said.

Any change is unlikely to be implemented for next season though, as clubs will have foreign players already contracted.

“It might take some time given the existing rules for visa places, which are for five foreign players, but it is definitely worth exploring,” he said.

Tokyo’s 2020 bid has received overwhelming public support according to a survey of 400 people .

The survey was conducted by the Tokyo 2020 bid committee shortly after the London Games.

Support for Tokyo 2020 climbed to 66 per cent, up eight points from 58 per cent in a survey taken slightly before the London 2012 Games.

The London 2012 Olympics is scheduled to boost UK economy by £16.5 billion ($25.8bn) for 2017 according to a new study.

It is also expected to create 62,200 jobs from a starting period in 2005 when the Games were awarded, to the five years after the Games finish, and will come mainly as a result of building Olympic sites and the boost to tourism, according to the study by Lloyds Banking Group.

London 2012 sponsor Lloyds TSB, said nearly a third of the gains worth £5bn ($7.85bn) will come over the five years following the event.

This will be when Olympic sites are converted to other uses and tourism continues to see a boost.

Lloyds chief economist Patrick Foley told Sky: “London 2012 is the most important sporting event the UK has ever staged.

“We’ve witnessed a construction project on an unprecedented scale, the economic ripples of which are being felt not only in the host city, but across the UK.

“As this study demonstrates, London 2012 will help support employment, tourism, consumer spending and living standards, not only this year, but for many years to come.”

The campaign for FIFA’s presidential elections will arrive in England in an attempt to win the Football Association’s (FA) vote, with current incumbent Sepp Blatter set to be invited to a grand lunch, according to the Daily Mail.

Blatter was said to have played a pivotal role in the resounding failure of England’s 2018 World Cup bid, with then stand-in FA chairman Roger Burden ruling himself out of the post due to an unwillingness to work with the current FIFA regime.

Current FIFA president Sepp Blatter will arrive in England next week to campaign for the Football Association’s vote in the upcoming FIFA presidential elections – less than four months after suggestions that Blatter played a pivotal role in the demise of England’s 2018 World Cup bid – according to media reports.

However, new FA chairman David Bernstein is reportedly set to host a lunch at Wembley Stadium and will welcome Blatter when he arrives in the country next Monday.

Blatter is campaigning for votes for a fourth term in office, up against Mohamed bin Hammam who confirmed his candidacy just over a week ago.

Bin Hammam, who played a central role in securing the 2022 World Cup for Qatar, said the current FIFA board of 24 should be increased to 41 – a plan that would dilute the power of Europe and South America – while boosting the representation from the rest of the world. 

The 61 year-old also made it clear that he would support the introduction of goal line technology, and of the extra two officials behind the goals.

Eurosport have announced a two-year, pan-European partnership with Nintendo to provide 3D sports content for the company’s new 3D console. The agreement represents the latest move by Eurosport into 3D, after becoming one of the most prominent supporters of 3D development over the past 18 months.

Nintendo 3DS will now receive exclusive and extensive exposure via Eurosport across their multi-media communication platforms including TV, Internet and mobile broadcasts.

Eurosport Group chairman and CEO Laurent-Eric Le Lay stated: “We are pleased to partner with Nintendo to provide compelling sports video content for the newest game console, 3DS.”

He added: “Eurosport has always been at the forefront of new technology and this partnership is another demonstration of our commitment to innovation and our ability to reach new audiences by making Eurosport content available on as many platforms as possible.”