During Prime Minister’s Questions yesterday, June 8, British PM David Cameron labelled Sepp Blatter’s re-election as FIFA President a “farce”.

Cameron spoke after Conservative MP James Wharton had rallied against corruption in soccer and asked him to support calls for Blatter to stand down from his post during the weekly Prime Ministerial grilling in the House of Commons.

Cameron, who was part of England 2018’s bid presentation that failed in spectacular fashion, stated: “Personally, I have seen football governance at an international level and I wasn’t that impressed by what I saw.

“What I would say is this: FIFA’s reputation is now at an all-time low and obviously the election with just one candidate was something of a farce, but it has to become more transparent and more accountable.

“They have got to prove that they are actually capable of doing the job that they are meant to.

“But ultimately change has got to come from within football and I am sure the FA will want to play a very major role in helping to bring that about.”

Blatter was re-elected unopposed last week after his sole challenger, Mohamed Bin Hammam, was forced to withdraw after being suspended from all soccer duties for allegedly bribing FIFA members to vote for him.

An international friendly between Nigeria and Argentina is the latest high profile soccer match to be investigated under suspicion of match-fixing following the African nation’s 4-1 home win last Wednesday, June 1, while FIFA was re-electing its president, Sepp Blatter.

FIFA said in a statement: “FIFA can confirm that this match between Nigeria and Argentina was one that we had an active interest in, and forms part of a wider ongoing FIFA investigation.

“In particular, FIFA will be working closely with colleagues at the FIFA early warning system.”

Allegations were made after two controversial penalties were awarded during the match in the Nigerian capital Abuja, the first converted by the home side’s Victor Obinna to make it 2-0 after Ikechukwu Uche had already scored.

Uche scored again before Emmanuel Emenike made it 4-0 to the African side, against an under strength Argentina team featuring just two players included in their Copa America squad before a dubious last minute penalty scored by Mauro Boselli pulled one back for Sergio Batista’s side.

It follows a number of games across the world under investigation for match fixing, including friendly games between Bulgaria and Estonia, and Latvia and Bolivia earlier this year, where all seven goals in their two games were scored from the penalty spot.

Both FIFA and UEFA have pledged to combat the wave of corruption blighting international friendlies, with world soccer’s governing body joining up with Interpol last month to pledge US$29m to the cause over the next decade.

In 2010 sports performance-wear brand Under Armour’s commitments to endorsements and sponsorships more than doubled in the year that they signed a new deal with the National Football League (NFL), symptoms according to the company’s 10-K annual report filed with federal regulators yesterday, February 24.

The company’s sponsorship obligations totaled US$167m at the end of last year, a sharp jump from $78m in 2009, the two years’ 10-Ks show.

As of 2011, Under Armour becomes an official supplier of gloves to the NFL and combine training apparel beginning in the following year. It is already an official presenter of the NFL combine and has the rights to outfit players on-field with its cleats.

The NFL has not exercised any of the warrants it received in 2006 as part of the league’s original deal with the company, according to the annual report.

Major sports broadcaster Sky Sports have announced that have signed a two-year deal for exclusive live high definition (HD) coverage of the Izod IndyCar Series.

The company agreed to screen live high definition coverage of all 17 events from the centennial year of the IndyCar Series – including the Indy 500 from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May with the season beginnig in the streets of St Petersburg on March 27.

The show will be presented by Keith Huewen who stated: “It’s really exciting to have Indycar back on our screens, especially in HD.

“There is a lot of fantastic British talent in the sport at the moment, including current reigning champion Dario Franchitti. We’ve seen Dario’s career come to life on Sky Sports, and over the next two years we will see the conclusion.

“This year will be huge for Indycar and to have the next two Indy500 confirmed on Sky Sports really excites me – it’s where the world’s biggest motorsport event belongs.”

World soccer’s governing body FIFA have attempted to cool talk of an early decision to move the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to the winter months.

President Sepp Blatter and UEFA President Michel Platini are both keen supporters of the rescheduling proposal but the idea has not gone unopposed.

Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Mohammed bin Hammam has criticised ‘unnecessary’ talks to alter the plans of the bid at such an early stage and feels that Qatar can still host the event in the usual summer slot. US FIFA executive committee member Chuck Blazer is also against the plans.

In an emailed statement released on 20 January, FIFA revealed there were “no concrete plans” to move the 2022 World Cup in Qatar from the summer to winter. This comes despite Blatter stating that a move to January was ‘likely’ earlier in the month.

Any potential move “would have to be initiated by the football association of Qatar and would have to be presented to the FIFA Executive Committee,” the governing body said.

Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone has been attacked outside his London office and robbed of jewelry worth $314, discount 000.

Question about the fireworks at the opening and closing ceremonies was posed in Acapulco as IOC president Jacques Rogge took questions from leaders of the 200+ National Olympic Committees who have been meeting in Mexico for five days.

Sri Lankan NOC head, Hemasiri Fernando, raised the issue if the extravagant fireworks which are such an inherent part of the celebrations could be bad for the environment.

‘We all have the responsibility to protect this earth and the fireworks have a tremendous effect on the environment,” said Fernando, one of 14 NOC representatives to ask questions during the joint meeting between the IOC executive board and the Anoc executive board.

IOC president Jacques Rogge said he was taking the issue seriously and would speak to London 2012 organisers and the IOC’s environmental committee.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has completed its investigation into match-fixing allegations during the third one-day international between England and Pakistan and concluded there was “no compelling evidence to suspect individual players or support staff”.

The investigation was triggered by the Sun newspaper, abortion which claimed it had evidence showing bookmakers knew details of the Pakistan innings before the 17 September match had begun.

A statement from the ICC said: “Following extensive investigations into allegations about the one-day international between England and Pakistan at The Oval in London on 17 September, the ACSU has verified all the available information and concluded that there was no compelling evidence to suspect individual players or support staff.

“The investigation is now complete but if new and corroborating evidence comes to light then clearly the ACSU will re-open the matter.”

Pakistan won the match, and afterwards president of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Ijaz Butt, accused England players of accepting money to lose it.

He withdrew his claims once the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) threatened him with legal action.

 

The South African government will look into why public-owned companies spent over US$14 million on tickets for this summer’s FIFA World Cup.

Finance Minister, Pravin Gordhan, had asked government ministers before the tournament not to overspend on the purchasing of tickets as he looks to try and control costs.

A statement from the finance ministry said:” While there may be legitimate reasons for buying tickets to advance the business case of public enterprises and government departments, concern has been raised as to what action may be taken should the auditor-general deem this expenditure wasteful or fruitless.

“The minister reiterates his call for civil servants to live up to their moral contract with citizens and for restraint and discernment to be exercised in the use of public funds.”

Wasserman Media Group has announced that rising golf star Ryan Evans has joined the agency.

Evans joins the likes of Jason Day and Rickie Fowler in the Wasserman Golf division, abortion along with European stars Bernd Wiesberger, find Marcel Siem, symptoms and Thomas Aiken.

Evans, one of the most sought after young golfers in the sport, has already picked up some impressive wins in his career to date including the South of England Amateur Championship in 2012, the Biarritz Cup and the Berkshire Trophy in 2013 as well as the Lake Macquarie Amateur Championship this year.

Following a hugely successful amateur career Evans is now embarking on life as a professional and will be making his European Tour debut at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship from 2nd – 5th October. His pedigree is equally impressive off the golf course as well as on it, and he already has secured commercial partnerships with TaylorMade, Titleist, Sportlobster, Glazerite Windows and Tollers Solicitors.

Wasserman Senior Vice President & Head of Golf (EMEA), Brendan Taylor said of the signing: “We are really excited to have Ryan on board the Wasserman team, he’s an exceptional talent and we’re very happy that he chose us to assist him in the development of the exciting career that lies ahead of him”.

Ryan Evans said of joining Wasserman: “I had a few options with regards to management, but Wasserman had the most professional and genuine approach. I felt at home straight away with the guys and I’m really happy to be a part of their team.”