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FIFA considering expanding World Cup teams from 32 to 40

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U.S. Sports Academy
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FIFA are considering plans to expand the amount of teams at the World Cup from 32 to 40 as early as the 2026 tournament, it has been announced.

The proposal does not need to be agreed by the governing body’s 209 Member Associations as the organisation’s ruling Executive Committee have the power to approve it.

A decision on whether the move will go ahead has been deferred, with no confirmed timeline given, though it is widely believed it will be approved due to reported widespread support.

It is being discussed by the Executive Committee during its current meeting in Zurich, an event overshadowed by the arrest of two “high-ranking” officials, reportedly Alfredo Hawit of Honduras and Juan Angel Napout of Paraguay.

They allegedly accepted millions of dollars in bribes in connection with tournaments in South America, as well as FIFA World Cup qualifying matches.

Expanding the teams at FIFA’s flagship quadrennial competition, considered the second largest sports event in the world after the Olympic Games, comes amid plans to limit the terms officials can serve within the governing body, with further governance reforms expected following recommendations from the Reform Committee.

These proposals were put forward by the Committee, led by François Carrard, a former International Olympic Committee (IOC) director general involved in the reform process following the Salt Lake City 2002 bribery scandal, in the wake of the crisis which has enveloped world football’s governing body since the arrest of 14 officials and sports marketing officials ahead of FIFA’s Congress in May.

The World Cup was last enlarged for the 1994 tournament, held in the United States, from 24 teams to 32.

The 1978 competition in Argentina was the last to feature 16 teams as it was expanded to 24 for the 1982 edition, held in Spain.

The move may be seen as an attempt to challenge perceptions within football about the event as there are some who believe too many places at the competition are given to European nations.

Currently, UEFA’s countries are given 13 spots at the tournament, while Africa has five, Asia four and a half, Europe 13, North and Central America three and a half, South America four-and-a-half, Oceania half a place, while one goes to the hosts.

The Oceania Football Confederation at present does not have a guaranteed berth.

It is thought the move will be supported by all five candidates who are running to replace Sepp Blatter when he steps down as FIFA President at the Extraordinary Congress in Zurich on February 26.

Asian Football Confederation President Sheik Salman bin Al-Khalifa, UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino, Jordanian Football Association chief Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein, Frenchman Jerome Champagne and South African businessman Tokyo Sexwale are the five men vying to take over from the Swiss, who has held the role since 1998.

Infantino, who has also claimed he will withdraw from the race should suspended UEFA President Michel Platini be allowed to stand, which appears unlikely as it remains possible that he will be hit with a lifetime ban from football for his involvement in widespread corruption, had vowed to expand the World Cup from 32 to 40 teams as part of his manifesto.

The idea was first mooted by Platini in October 2013.

Pop Warner Coaches Pound the Pavement for Players

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U.S. Sports Academy
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Three young coaches took the day off of work yesterday to knock on doors across Philadelphia – from City Hall to the NovaCare Complex – to try to secure transportation for 90 kids from three winning Pop Warner football teams to attend their championship games in Florida this week.

By yesterday afternoon, Northwest Raiders Athletic Association assistant coaches Reuben Payne, 34; Cyril Woodland, 28; and Kenneth McCutchen, 32, said they were still short the cost of two buses, or about $17,000.

Payne said he didn’t know what he’d tell his players, who range in age from 9 to 15, if they couldn’t make it to the Pop Warner Super Bowl at Walt Disney World.

“It’d be devastating. As coaches, we’d feel like we failed them,” he said. “How do you tell 90 kids who worked hard all year that they can’t go and compete for the national championship because of money?”

Last year, the Northwest Raiders Midget team won their championship game at the Pop Warner Super Bowl. This year, those defending Midget champs again made it to the Super Bowl, but so did the Northwest Raiders’ Pee Wee and Jr. Midget teams.

In a way, the Northwest Raiders are victims of their own success. The association had raised enough to send one team to Florida, but sending three teams is a much greater cost than was expected – about $96,000 total – the coaches said.

“We did a lot of fundraising to offset the trip but it’s not enough with three teams,” Payne said. “Our back is against the wall because we don’t have the funds to get them down there.”

On Monday, Mayor Nutter gave $118,000 in grants from the Philly Champions Fund to about 20 teams and cheerleading squads from across the city who are headed to nationals, said mayoral spokesman Mark McDonald. Out of those funds, the Northwest Raiders received a grant of $10,000, McDonald said.

“Mayor Nutter has long been a supporter of youth sports and related activities, and the Champions Fund is one vehicle to show that support,” McDonald wrote, via email. “He has also asked Philadelphians to support youth activities by donating to the team organizations.”

While the Northwest Raiders coaches were grateful for the grant, they said they were still short the cost of two buses.

So, with just days until the buses would have to leave on Friday, the coaches spent yesterday knocking on the doors of state senators, City Council members, professional sports teams and local news organizations. They even planned to bring their players to the Sixers game last night to solicit donations.

The coaches said their dream is for a company to donate the buses or to cover the cost of the two remaining buses.

Stephanie Farr On Twitter: @FarFarrAway. This article was republished with permission from the original publisher, the Philadelphia Daily News.

FIFA Executive Committee approves reform proposals

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U.S. Sports Academy
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FIFA’s Executive Committee has unanimously approved a set of proposals put forward by the Reform Committee, including restricting the President to a maximum 12-year term.

The recommendations will now be put to a vote at next year’s Extraordinary Congress in Zurich on February 26, where Sepp Blatter’s tumultuous reign in charge at world football’s governing body is also due to come to an end.

Other proposals include establishing a FIFA Council, which will replace the current ruling Executive Committee and would be chaired by the President.

Members of the Council would be elected by Member Associations at their respective Confederation Congresses and would have to pass an integrity check before taking up the position.

Another recommendation is that a new article be implemented into FIFA’s statutes to ensure human rights are protected, which have come under question concerning construction of venues for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

“Concrete” steps will also be taken to ensure more women are given increased representation within the governance of football, with a minimum of one female representative elected as a Council member per Confederation.

The number of Standing Committees could also be cut from 26 to nine to increase efficiency, while all members of such groupds would have to undergo integrity checks, conducted by an independent FIFA Review Panel.

In order to improve transparency in the organisation, a dedicated Football Stakeholders Committee will be established, made up of players and representatives from clubs and leagues, a crucial step to including those involved in the game at the top level of footballing governance, it is claimed.

The reforms were proposed by the Reform Committee, chaired by François Carrard, a former International Olympic Committee (IOC) director general who was involved in the reform process following the 2002 Salt Lake City bribery scandal, as a result of the corruption crisis which has engulfed FIFA since 14 officials were arrested on the eve of the Congress in Zurich in May.

Blatter is currently serving a 90-day suspension, along with UEFA President Michel Platini, who had been favourite to succeed him.

Both are facing life bans from the sport.

“These reforms are moving FIFA towards improved governance, greater transparency and more accountability,” interim FIFA President Issa Hayatou said.

“They mark a milestone on our path towards restoring FIFA’s credibility as a modern, trusted and professional sports organisation.

“This signals the beginning of a culture shift at FIFA.

“It is important to recognise that today’s recommendations build on the foundations established by the IGC (Independent Governance Committee) in 2011 under Mark Pieth’s leadership, which included the creation of an independent chairman on the Audit and Compliance Committee and splitting the Ethics Committee into investigative and adjudicatory chambers.

“As the February Congress approaches, I want to encourage all presidential candidates to embrace this spirit of reform and, as they campaign, to make clear their plans on how they would help FIFA enact these and other reform measures, should they be elected.”

FIFA also confirmed a proposal to expand the amount of teams at the World Cup from 32 to 40 was discussed and although no formal decision was made, the matter will continue to be debated.

“FIFA is going through a major crisis but a crisis is a unique opportunity for change and for commencing a new period,” Carrard said.

“We are far from being finished – we are only at the beginning.”

Pistorius found guilty of murder

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U.S. Sports Academy
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Oscar Pistorius has been found guilty of murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp after a South African appeals court overturned a manslaughter verdict.

The six-time Paralympic gold medallist will now be re-sentenced by the original court and faces a minimum of 15 years in jail.

Pistorius killed Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day in February 2013 after shooting her four times through a locked toilet door.

Reading the ruling reached by a panel of five judges, Justice Lorimer Leach said the South African athlete must have foreseen that firing into the toilet would have killed whoever was inside.

Pistorius did not attend the hearing at the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein and is currently under house arrest at his uncle’s lavish home after spending one year of his original five-year sentence in jail.

The double amputee was released from prison on October 19 having been eligible under the South African law of “correctional supervision”.

He claims he accidentally shot dead Steenkamp after believing there was an intruder in his house, but the judge said that the identity of the person behind the door was irrelevant.

Justice Leach rejected the argument that Pistorius had acted in self-defence and compared his act to someone setting off a bomb in a public place without knowing who the victims might be.

The Supreme Court of Appeal ruled that in the original trial, Judge Thokozile Masipa did not correctly apply the concept of dolus eventualis – meaning the act was carried out knowing it would lead to death and the accused went ahead anyway – and that the verdict was “confusing and flawed”.

If Pistorius’ lawyers can argue that his constitutional rights have been violated, their client can challenge the ruling in the constitutional court.

Steenkamp’s mother, June, was present at the hearing and remained silent as the decision was read out.

Reacting to the decision, Steenkamp’s father, Barry, told reporters he was “satisfied with everything now”.

“I would hope to God that all of this could have been prevented, but seeing that it has been done, let us now all get on with our lives,” he said.

Armour: Ben Roethlisberger sets example for NFL by self-reporting head injury

By
Nancy Armour
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The NFL needs more players to be like Ben Roethlisberger.

Rather than staying silent about a head injury, as so many players continue to do, the Pittsburgh Steelersquarterback told team doctors he was having double vision after a hard high-low hit in Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks.

Never mind that there were only three minutes left in the game and the Steelers had just pulled within two. Roethlisberger made the right decision, one that hopefully will resonate with others around the league.

“The brain is nothing to mess with,” Roethlisberger said Tuesday during his radio show on Pittsburgh’s 93.7 The Fan.

“I was literally on the sideline probably for the first time maybe in my life thinking about my family and not going back into the game because I did not feel quite right,” he said. “It was definitely a moment, that’s why I was honest with the trainers and doctors and wanted to tell them exactly what I was going through.”

Whether Roethlisberger actually suffered a concussion remains a topic of debate. He said Tuesday that he didn’t, calling it a “traumatic ocular migraine” instead. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin disputed that shortly after, and said Roethlisberger is still going through the NFL’s concussion protocol.

But that’s not the issue.

For as much progress as there’s been in concussion awareness — and make no mistake, we’re light years ahead of the days when players who got their “bell rung” needed only a quick whiff of smelling salts before returning to the game — one of the biggest hurdles remains getting players to acknowledge the injury.

In survey after survey, players say they would hide a concussion or try to play through it. A survey of NFL players conducted by USA TODAY Sports at the end of the 2013 season found they were far more concerned with knee injuries than concussions.

Part of that is competitiveness and pride, the idea that it’s a sign of weakness to leave the field. Part of that is that players — all people, really — in their teens and 20s believe they’re invincible. Traumatic brain injuries are something that happen to “other” people. Or, if they are affected, it won’t be for many, many years.

All of which is foolish. And dangerous.

“You can have, when you’re done playing, knee replacements and hip replacements and all kinds of surgeries,” Roethlisberger said. “There’s no brain replacement surgery.”

Granted, as a two-time Super Bowl champion and Pittsburgh’s franchise quarterback, Roethlisberger has more job security than, say, Case Keenum. If he self-reports a head injury, he knows his job — and his paycheck — will still be there when he’s healthy. The same can’t be said for Keenum, the St. Louis Rams backup who stayed in a game two weeks ago despite an obvious concussion.

But attitudes have to begin shifting somewhere, and Roethlisberger is one of the few players with the power to drive that change.

“People know me, I’ll play through any injury. I’ve played through a lot of injuries,” Roethlisberger said. “But the brain is not an injury that you want to play with and play through. I think more people need to understand that.

“That brain is too valuable to mess with,” he added. “I’m proud of myself and I think more guys should do it and not try to be tough guys when it comes to the brain.”

No doctor, researcher or slide of damaged brain tissue could have made the point better.

This article was republished with permission from the original author and 2015 Ronald Reagan Media Award recipient, Nancy Armour, and the original publisher, USA Today. Follow columnist Nancy Armour on Twitter @nrarmour.

Russian Biathlon Union fined 100,000 Euros

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U.S. Sports Academy
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The Russian Biathlon Union has been fined 100,000 Euros for “seriously damaging the interests and reputation” of the International Biathlon Union. The fine is the highest possible financial sanction which is provisioned by the IBU Disciplinary Rules after the RBU has been fined 50,000 Euros in 2009 also in connection with Anti-Doping Rules violations. The IBU Executive Board’s decision followed anti-doping procedures against Russian biathletes Ekaterina Iourieva, Irina Starkykh and Alexander Loginow.

This story first appeared in the blog, The Sport Intern. The editor is Karl-Heinz Huba of Lorsch, Germany. He can be reached at [email protected]. The article is reprinted here with permission of Huba.

The city of Lausanne has given the IOC the go-ahead for a new headquarters

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U.S. Sports Academy
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The city of Lausanne has given the IOC the go-ahead to build a new, 160 million CHF (approx. 156 million US$ or 147 million Euros) headquarters on public land at Lake Geneva. A majority of Lausanne politicians gave their green light for the new IOC headquarters to be built on land belonging to the city at the Vidy district.

According to local media, the IOC plans to invest 160 million Swiss Francs in a new threestorey building, to be named Olympic Unity House, which will bring together 600 staffers from various offices in one complex. This will comprise an “agora” welcome area, restaurant and sports cafe where visitors can watch sports events, as well as five large meeting rooms, offices and a sports centre. The IOC hopes to open the new structure in 2020.

“This project is an opportunity for the city,” city councillor Grégoire Junod told the 24Heures newspaper. “It’s a high quality architectural project and it also secures the long-term presence of the IOC in Lausanne.” Earlier this year the IOC and Lausanne au celebrated the 100th anniversary of the IOC’s arrival in Lausanne.

The IOC said it plans to stay another century. Highlighting the choice of Switzerland because it was neutral territory, IOC president Thomas Bach said in April: “Between Lausanne and the Olympic movement, it is a love story.” The IOC also said in a statement that the city of Lausanne has agreed to a new lease running until 2115.

This story first appeared in the blog, The Sport Intern. The editor is Karl-Heinz Huba of Lorsch, Germany. He can be reached at [email protected]. The article is reprinted here with permission of Huba.

Should character count in professional sports?

By
Dr. Bret Simmermacher
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Why is it that coaches learn through their education to teach life lessons through the sport they coach and then at the professional level when millions of dollars are at stake the money is more important? There is a very simple solution to what is going on with the Johnny Manziel saga and the Cleveland Browns. Release or cut him from the team! It’s that simple! He has proven that all of the chances he has been given by the coaches, the front office, and the league are not something he wants. If his lively hood of playing the game of football for the money is taken away, he may shape up and become a productive citizen. However, the all mighty dollar wins again. The Browns organization is more concerned about making money or not getting something in return for the bad investment they made when they drafted him. The fact that they drafted him in the first round (22nd pick overall) was a mistake in the first place. When he was playing at Texas A&M and having the on/off field issues he was having should have been a clue that he had a sense of entitlement. In June of 2012 he was arrested and charged with carrying fake identification and fighting. In August of 2013 he was investigated by the NCAA for signing memorabilia in exchange for cash and suspended as a result. In January 2014 he declares for the NFL draft and is selected in the first round by the Browns. He has been on the decline since then and spiraling out of control.

Then there is a player like Tim Tebow that nobody in the NFL wants. A man of high character, class, and a consummate professional. He won a Heisman Trophy in 2007 while at Florida and was drafted in the first round (25th pick overall) by the Denver Broncos in 2010. He was their backup until the starter, Kyle Orton, was benched after a 1-4 start through five weeks of the 2011 season. Tebow replaced Orton before week seven and compiled an 8-5 record, including the playoffs and a six game winning streak from week 9-14 after replacing Orton. As the 2012 season approached the Broncos signed Peyton Manning and Tebow was traded to the New York Jets. His time in New York was brief and he was released in 2013. The New England Patriots signed him to a two-year contract and played in two preseason games and then released in August of 2013. Between 2013 and 2014 Tebow was working for ESPN as a college football analyst on the SEC Network. Most recently he had signed a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles and then released after the fourth preseason game just before the start of the season.

Here we have an example of a player with questionable character and one of high character. The player with high character can’t play in the NFL and the one with questionable character issues continues to hang on. As a coach you always look for players that can be accountable, have great morals, treat people the way they expect to be treated, and so on. Many speculate that this isn’t something that counts in professional football. What kind of precedent is being set for young aspiring athletes that are hearing from their lower level coaches (youth, high school and college) that character and morals are important throughout life? At some point the hope is that some organization in professional football can make character a more important quality to have than trying to keep the star athlete out of trouble. People of character will WIN on the playing field and in life more often than people with questionable character.

Dr. Bret Simmermacher is the Chair of Sports Coaching at the USSA. He can be reached at  <[email protected]>

November 30, 2015

Bret Simmermacher, DSM

FCA event with Tony Dungy draws thousands

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U.S. Sports Academy
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Fellowship of Christian Athletes recently welcomed legendary coach Tony Dungy, who provided inspiring words to coaches, athletes and the local community during a special event on Monday in Kansas City.

Goals for the evening were to build up coaches in their calling, inspire athletes toward excellence and encourage the community to support coaches and athletes — all with the clear focus of the gospel of Jesus Christ in mind. Musician Marvin Mumford also provided worship at the evening event at Kansas City’s Municipal Stadium.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the work that FCA is doing in the heart of Kansas City to offer the hope of Christ by bringing people together through sports.

Earlier in the day, before the Super Bowl-winning coach and respected Christian leader took the stage at Municipal Stadium, FCA opened its newly redesigned Hall of Champions at its National Support Center in Kansas City to the media, friends and donors.

Dungy is the No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of “Quiet Strength,” “Uncommon” and “The Mentor Leader.” He led the Indianapolis Colts to Super Bowl victory on Feb. 4, 2007, the first such win for an African-American coach. Dungy established another NFL first by leading his teams to the playoffs for 10 consecutive years.

One of the most noted Christians in the sports world, Dungy was inducted into FCA’s Hall of Champions in 2000 and has long used his platform as an athlete, coach and sports commentator to support and promote the ministry of FCA. He has also been a popular speaker at FCA conferences, banquets, clinics and camps.

Dungy joined the Colts in 2002 after serving as the most successful head coach in Tampa Bay Buccaneers history. He has also held assistant coaching positions with the University of Minnesota, Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs and Minnesota Vikings. Before becoming a coach, Dungy played three seasons in the NFL.

In 2007, President George W. Bush appointed Dungy a member of the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation. That same year, the United States Sports Academy awarded him the Amos Alonzo Stagg Coaching Award. In 2010, Dungy’s name was added to the Indianapolis Colts Ring of Honor.

Dungy retired from coaching in 2008 and now serves as an analyst for NBC’s “Football Night in America.”

This article was republished with permission from the original publisher, Lee’s Summit Journal.

Tokyo 2020 expect 10,000 entries as search for new logo is officially opened

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U.S. Sports Academy
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The competition to select a new logo for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics officially opened today – with 10,000 entries expected.

Organisers in the Japanese capital have been forced to start the logo process from scratch after a plagiarism row led to their initial emblem being scrapped.

Only a select group of experts, who had to have won a design award, were allowed to put themselves in the running first time around, but the re-started process is open to all Japanese nationals over the age of 18.

That means that with the selection panel accepting entries from today, a deluge of potential designs will be forthcoming.

It was revealed on Saturday that more than 50,000 application forms had been downloaded prior to the beginning of the contest, and that number has now increased to more than 62,000.

Only 104 entries were accepted in the contest for the eventually axed design.

“We’re expecting at least 10,000 applications this time,” said Ryohei Miyata, head of the 19-strong emblems selection committee, to the Japan Times.

The winning designer will receive a prize of ¥1 million (£5,400/$8,200/€7,600) and will be invited to the Opening Ceremonies of both the Olympics and Paralympics.

“By accepting entries from the public, it became fair,” said Daiki Umeda, who has submitted a logo with waves and other designs.

“There will be opportunities for a lot of people.”

The emblems committee consists of people from the worlds of sport, design and business and they will make a final decision in the spring after the closing date for entries on December 7.

Tokyo’s original logo by Japanese designer Kenjiro Sano was abandoned after Belgian designer Olivier Debie claimed it resembled his Théâtre de Liège logo too closely.

A lawsuit against the International Olympic Committee (IOC) by the Théâtre was dropped but Debie is believed to be proceeding with his own case after filing a lawsuit in a Belgian court in August.

The form to enter the contest for the new logo can be downloaded.

Foreigners with residency in Japan can also apply, while children and foreigners not resident can take part as a group, as long as at least one person meets the age, nationality and residential requirements.

By Dan Palmer

  • This article was republished with permission from the original publisher, Inside the Games www.insidethegames.biz
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