Messages

8491

Football / U.S. is No. 7 in FIFA rankings

« on: January 18, 2006, 12:36:22 PM »

U.S. is No. 7 in FIFA rankings
Associated Press
Posted: 1 hour ago     
 
 
 
 ZURICH, Switzerland (AP) - The U.S. national soccer team advanced one place to No. 7 Wednesday in FIFA's rankings for January.

FIFA WORLD RANKING
Top 20 January 2006 
 
Rank  Country  Points  +/- 
1  Brazil  839  -1 
2  Czech Rep.  796  - 
3  Netherlands  790  -1 
4  Argentina  772  - 
5  France  768  - 
5  Spain  768  - 
7  Mexico  767  -1 
7  USA  767  -
9  England  757  - 
10  Portugal  753  -1 
11  Turkey  748  - 
12  Italy  741  - 
13  Denmark  733  - 
14  Sweden  731  -1 
15  Japan  714  -1 
16  Greece  708  - 
17  Germany  707  -1 
18  Uruguay  705  -1 
19  Iran  703  - 
20  Croatia  701  - 
 
Ranking criteria 
 
 
 

Support your favorite team with official World Cup gear from the Fox Soccer Shop! 
 
Brazil maintained the top spot it has held since July 2002, a month after it won its record fifth World Cup. The next three teams also were unchanged - Czech Republic, Netherlands and Argentina. France shared fifth with Spain.

Mexico, which was tied for fifth last month, dropped into a tie for seventh with the U.S. England remained ninth, ahead of Portugal.

The next 10 places were almost the same: Turkey was No. 11, followed by Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Japan, Greece, Germany, Uruguay, Iran and Croatia. Only Germany changed places, dropping to 17th from a tie for 16th.

Among teams in the top 20, only Turkey, Denmark, European champion Greece and Uruguay failed to qualify for the 32-nation World Cup, which begins in June 9 in Germany.


(Trinidad still at 50)

8492

Football / Re: audio stream of SWE-Saudi game on now (in swedish)

« on: January 18, 2006, 12:15:49 PM »

2nd half is on another link here:

http://www.sr.se/webbradio/createasx.asp?namn=SR-stockholm-High

8493

Football / Re: Tough break for Paraguay

« on: January 18, 2006, 12:05:22 PM »

That's not easy, but hopefully he can get back in the game.

Reminds me of the drummer from the band Def Leppard back in the 80's. Lost his arm, but they kept him on board, built him a special drum kit and he kept on goin'.

8494

Football / audio stream of SWE-Saudi game on now (in swedish)

« on: January 18, 2006, 11:44:36 AM »

1st half http://www.sr.se/webbradio/createasx.asp?namn=SR-event01-High
2nd half http://www.sr.se/webbradio/createasx.asp?namn=SR-stockholm-High
couldn't find a video stream

8495

Football / Re: bad translation of Swedish ticket process Jan10-24

« on: January 18, 2006, 01:22:52 AM »

Personal number: this I'm not sure what it is. The translation says: "Indicate with century ÅÅÅÅMMDDXXXX , transfer ex 197506246649 Answerable person must product born the 24 January 1988 ors olds." seems to be birthdate to make sure you are over 18 - just not sure what the last four digits are supposed to be.

Ok I found out what this is http://www.algonet.se/~hogman/personnr_eng.htm�  It's a citizens number that all Swedes by birth and immigrants to Sweden get. So that's the key. (I did get myself a username on the supporter site though - lol)

8496

Football / Re: bad translation of Swedish ticket process Jan10-24

« on: January 18, 2006, 12:38:59 AM »

interesting....

Yeah, just keep in mind, as I understand FIFA's rules, if they notice you have more than one application in for tickets they may invalidate all of your applications. e.g. if you went into FIFA's lottery as well as applied through the local FA's (Sweden or Trinidad)

I'm already in the FIFA lottery, so I'm not going to chance it. Hopefully after I know what I have there (Feb 3 or so) TTFF will finally have their act together and I can try again through them. Not too hopeful on that right now though.

8497

Football / Re: bad translation of Swedish ticket process Jan10-24

« on: January 18, 2006, 12:29:49 AM »

would you not need a swedish passport for that??

Apparently not. If you go to the application https://secure.svenskfotboll.se/evenemang there are four pages.
The first one you choose how many people you want tickets for (1-4)
The second you choose which matches and categories of tickets you want and select if you will accept another category.
The third is the personal info, it asks for each persons:

First name
Last Name
Sex
Personal number: this I'm not sure what it is. The translation says: "Indicate with century ÅÅÅÅMMDDXXXX , transfer ex 197506246649 Answerable person must product born the 24 January 1988 ors olds." seems to be birthdate to make sure you are over 18 - just not sure what the last four digits are supposed to be.

Nationality: check box for Swedish or write in other nationality
Passport no.
username at fotbollsupporter.se
Address
Postal Code
City
Country: box is prefilled with Sweden, but you can write over it
Phone
Mobile Phone
E-mail

That's it. I didn't take it any further to the next page.

8498

Football / Re: bad translation of Swedish ticket process Jan10-24

« on: January 18, 2006, 12:15:55 AM »

According to the site their 8% for the Trinidad game is 4,595 tickets. As of right now there are already 20,605 applications in for those seats.

Where are our 4,595 tickets, Jack???

Anyone thinking of applying through Sweden?

8499

Football / bad translation of Swedish ticket process Jan10-24

« on: January 18, 2006, 12:08:58 AM »

Application if the ticket to Sweden VM- matches


Application if VM- the ticket via Swede Fotbollförbundet able make meantime 10 January-24 January kl. 17.00 2006.

On these variant find yous all data before application if the ticket to Sweden matches in VM 2006 from Swede Fotbollförbundet.
The is very importantly that yous am grabbing part of all data, including conditions  these variant ( watch headlines in upper column) entrance yous do your/ yourself application.

 - To application https://secure.svenskfotboll.se/evenemang/

 - Here you can watch number made application

The internetbaserade ansökningstjänsten is open 10-24 January.

The is only possible that application meantime 10-24 January. Inga application inkomnaefter  the terms will consideration.

A put in an appearance application is none guarantee for biljettilldelning. If efterfrågan on the ticket transcend accession, which is believable, am arriving a lottning that happen for biljettilldelningen.

Observe that ansökningarna is love and that tilldelningsförfarandet nots permit that duties change in efterhand. Per that application if the ticket am connecting yous yourself that accept and pays they the ticket yous inflict ( watch condition, dot 11 in " publish Sales Regulations").
A nots complete ifylld application makuleras.
Ansökningssystem on Internet
Application görs via wart internetbaserade ansökningssystem from the 10 January to den24  January kl 17.00.

Enklast is that make a collective application ( for one or two be up to four committee together) at that ors they matches yous/ yous am desiring. Bracket 1-3- the ticket able search for be up to four committee while Bracket 4- the ticket able search for maximal two committee.
Läs more if tillvägagångssätt and limitations wonder if biljettansökan.

The am going also that application if the ticket direct from FIFAs: official vm- variant. There tin you application if the ticket to övriga matches in VM (SvFF intermediary only the ticket to Sweden matches).

the ticket per SvFF
application if the ticket to Sweden matches ( and also s k voucher to Sweden matches if Sweden am going forth from gruppspelet) able make wonder period stated unaccustomed. The am acting none role when yous do your application wonder that period. If efterfrågan on the ticket transcend accession am arriving lottning that undertake among they put in an appearance ansökningarna behind ansökningsperiodens ends.
>> Läs more if biljettansökan

Resepaket per SvFF
SvFF am arranging inga resepaket to VM.
SJ organise travel with night from Ore to Berlin and därifrån forth to they Swede matchorterna. More if these travel tin you read here.

Personuppgifter
All the ticket is prevalence. The imply that yous must kunna indicate one number personuppgifter for yourself and dina medsökanden for that make an application if the ticket. Passport ors ID- action must bring for admission on VM- arena.

Compulsory duties for all committee in application is: accustom name- and adressuppgifter, birthdays, sex, passnummer and nationality.
Leaders on application ( to fakturamottagaren) must also indicate e- postal address and also in an part case bank account ( for ev refund to vouchersbeställare) and also verify that latter tagit part of conditions.

Övrigt
On the official VM- page find more data if Germany and VM- endgame. There tin you among other read if spelorterna, boende and communication.

8500

Football / Re: Group B Friendlies so far

« on: January 17, 2006, 11:41:36 PM »

Here's Sweden's lineup at today's group B friendly: Sweden-Saudi Arabia

18 January, 20.00 (local time - 18.00 Sweden time - 17:00 GMT)
Prince Faisal Bin Fahad Stadium, Riyadh

starters: 1 Eddie Gustafsson - 2 Christoffer Andersson, 3 Karl Svensson, 4 Teddy Lucic, 5 Max von Schlebrügge - 6 Martin Ericsson - 7 Niclas Alexandersson, 8 Anders Svensson, 9 Tobias Hysén - 10 Fredrik Berglund, 11 Mattias Jonson.

bench: 12 Johan Alvbåge - 13 Mattias Concha, 14 Andreas Granqvist, 15 Olof Persson, 16 Dusan Djuric, 17 Stefan Ishizaki, 18 Stefan Selakovic, 19 Jeffrey Aubynn, 20 Yksel Osmanovski.

8501

Football / Re: Group B Friendlies so far

« on: January 17, 2006, 10:34:22 PM »

4 f**king matches for Sweden and Paraguay, 3 for England and we only get 2 f**king friendlies? what the f**k TTFF DOIN!!??

In essence you could count the Barhain games as preperatory games since they were an additional playoff that most other qualifiers didn't play, but then you'd have to count England's friendly with Argentina played the same month.

But really when yuh think Jack is a FIFA VP that he can't line anything else up.... well I won't get into it now.

8502

Football / Re: Group B Friendlies so far

« on: January 17, 2006, 03:45:38 PM »

According to this article Paraguay is playing Austria and Serbia twice each? I'm trying to verify. Does anyone know the term for "friendly" in Spanish?

Dey usually say "amistoso"

or partido amistoso

Thanks, after searching spanish news one article says they play Austria and Serbia, but a 3rd European team is still to be announced. Possibilites are Denmark and Croatia. Another article says it will be Norway.

8503

Football / Re: Eriksson caught in tabloid sting

« on: January 17, 2006, 01:47:22 PM »

So this is brewing into a huge debate about whether Eriksson should quit the FA before the world cup. Proabably, not going to happen. But if it did how do you think it will affect England's chances?

8504

Football / Eriksson caught in tabloid sting

« on: January 17, 2006, 01:45:32 PM »

<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/4613844.stm>Eriksson caught in tabloid sting[/url]
BBC Sport
 
 There were never any negotiations, it was all just fantasising

Eriksson's agent Athol Still
England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has told an undercover reporter he would quit if England win the World Cup this summer, says the News of the World.
Eriksson is also quoted suggesting he would be prepared to become manager of Aston Villa as part of a takeover.

The Football Association refused to comment on the article, which also featured claims attributed to Eriksson about David Beckham and Michael Owen.

Eriksson's agent Athol Still called the article "disgraceful entrapment".

An FA spokesman said: "We want to reflect on the article in full before we make any formal comment."

Eriksson, who is under contract as England coach until 2008, was on an FA-sanctioned trip to Dubai when he is said to have been contacted by an undercover reporter who said he wanted to discuss a coaching job at a new football academy in Dubai.

He is said to have told the reporter that Aston Villa was for sale, that England captain David Beckham would return to play in England if Eriksson asked him to, and that striker Michael Owen was not happy at Newcastle.

As well as saying he would leave the England job if they won in Germany this summer, he is also reported to have said he would like to be paid as much as Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, the top earner in the Premiership.

  At no point did Sven say he would not honour his contract with England - he has even talked with me about extending it to 2010

Athol Still

Still says there were never any negotiations and described many of the claims as "sheer fantasy".

"The people we spoke to seemed totally plausible," he said.

"Following the discussions the people we spoke to said they had a substantial sum of money to invest in a Premiership club.

"I mentioned Aston Villa and Sunderland. The rest of the conversation was sheer fantasy.

"At no point did Sven say he would not honour his contract with England - he has even talked with me about extending it to 2010.

"He did talk about possibly managing Aston Villa because you never know what will happen in football, but it was all hypothetical.

"There were never any negotiations, it was all just fantasising.

"Sven is really angry that they have done this in a World Cup year. I will have to read the article fully before considering whether we will take any further action."

The reporter in question, Mazher Mahmood, has a track record of trapping public figures in embarrassing stings.

Among other celebrities caught out by the "Fake Sheikh" are England rugby star Lawrence Dallaglio and the Countess of Wessex.

 

8505

Football / Re: Group B Friendlies so far

« on: January 17, 2006, 12:41:36 PM »

Added May 25th Swedish friendly vs. Finland to the list.

8506

Football / Re: Group B Friendlies so far

« on: January 17, 2006, 12:37:34 PM »

According to this article Paraguay is playing Austria and Serbia twice each? I'm trying to verify. Does anyone know the term for "friendly" in Spanish?

Paraguay soccer team will play 5 friendlies ahead of World Cup
www.chinaview.cn 2006-01-14 08:18:18

�  �  BUENOS AIRES, Jan. 13 (Xinhuanet) -- Paraguay's national soccer team will play five friendly games ahead of the 2006 Germany World Cup, against Mexico and four European teams, the Paraguayan Football Association said on Friday.

�  �  The country's first friendly will be on March 1 in Cardiff, against the Wales.

�  �  Paraguay's national team is led by manager Anibal Ruiz. It played its last friendly game against Catalonia United: a 1-1 draw.

�  �  "January and February is the stage where we observe the players: the months when players will be in the middle of a cup competition," said Hugo Fernandez Camperchioli, a member of Paraguay's selectors.

�  �  In recent days, Ruiz and his assistant, Raul Amarilla, met players who are in the Cerro Porteno, Libertad and 3 de Febrero teams. They will visit other Paraguay league teams in coming weeks.

�  �  The rest of the games are as follows: against Mexico, in the US on March 29; against Austria on May 23 and May 27; and against Serbia and Montenegro on June 1 and June 2. One more date remains to be decided. Enditem

8507

Football / Re: US having ticket problems,too

« on: January 17, 2006, 10:07:34 AM »

e-man, on the day you found out you didnt get you shoulda gone straight to applying for fifa's third sales phase. by your accounts, you would still have a day to do that.

Sorry I'm not the author. This is from wecallitsoccer.com. I didn't apply through US myself. Right now just waiting on FIFA's lottery. Fingers crossed.

8508

Football / The Golden Ticket

« on: January 17, 2006, 10:03:14 AM »

January 09, 2006
wecallitsoccer.com
The Golden Ticket

You have until January 15 to sign up for the next World Cup ticket lottery through FIFA. Because of the crazy-insane demand and teeny-weeny number of tickets not already set aside by FIFA, applicants have slightly more than a snowball’s chance in hell of winning. In short: If tickets were turds, FIFA is constipated.

Good luck, suckers.In this country, we’re biting our nails and pacing around generally making each other paranoid about our ticket apps through U.S. Soccer. The Bigsoccer.com posters are getting to know each other according to what time they faxed their application, or what time their FedEx package arrived, or their seemingly random e-mail confirmation numbers, just to sift for any hint of whether they will get the tickets they covet.

From FIFA, so the story goes, U.S. Soccer has a mere 8 percent of the total tickets for games in which the Americans play. It’s not clear how much of that 8 percent is actually part of this open distribution process. It’s also not clear how many American fans were actually hip to that process, since Bigsoccer and sawker bloggers are not exactly representative of the general public.

U.S. Soccer says we’ll all know by January 14. If you’re left out, you’ll hopefully have one day to get in that hopeful application to FIFA. Hey, you can trust FIFA, right? Right!

Damn! Spoke too soon. It seems that CONCACAF President Jack Warner -- also a FIFA VP -- has snapped up all of Trinibago's World Cup tickets to sell through his own travel agency -- in packages of nearly $5,000 a piece. I concur with Bruce “Hot Nuts" "Du Nord” McGuire:

    This dude should be strung up, or at least stripped of his regional position. He heads up one of 5 soccer regions in the world and therefore should not be within 100,000 miles of a company that sells tickets to the World Cup. No one in is family or anyone he knows should be allowed to sell these tickets. Its an ugly shame. But exactly what you would expect from these bastards. For the record these are the official soccer positions that Mr Warner holds: President of CONCACAF. FIFA Vice President and Chairman of the FIFA Youth Competitions Committee. Deputy Chairman of the FIFA Finance Committee. Member of the FIFA Emergency Committee and Committee for Security Matters and Fair Play. We should all make calls and write letters demanding he step down now.

Oh, by the way, here’s Warner’s e-mail address, jack.warner@concacaf.net. No idea whether he checks it or not. According to this two-year-old post on Play the Game, Warner is notorious for diverting FIFA business to his own business. He was also involved in that ballot-rigging scandal, where Warner’s buddies pretended to be other people when voting to make Sepp Blatter president of FIFA.

And just think: FIFA won’t shut up about how fair the ticket distribution is this time around.

Foxes, hen house, dig it? Wow.

Things on the WCIS to-do list: Talk about the ever-so-slightly widening free beer movement. Deliver the promised, in-progress list of quality American soccer bars. And share a big announcement that I am just not ready to share yet.

Patience, young Jedi.

8509

Football / Re: BAHRAIN DVD! Let me hear all yuh....!

« on: January 17, 2006, 09:57:57 AM »

I'm taking 1. Thanks much for this.

8510

Football / US having ticket problems,too

« on: January 17, 2006, 09:56:41 AM »

January 16, 2006
wecallitsoccer.com
The USSF Ticket Debacle, For the Record and in Perspective

Oye, oye! These things should be a matter of record:

    * The U.S. Soccer Federation, holding on to a mere 8 percent of tickets for U.S. matches in this summer's World Cup, sent out an e-mail to registered fans on December 12, 2005. This e-mail included a PDF application for whatever tickets USSF had available from FIFA.
    * The USSF said that these applications would be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. It also required applicants to send them by fax or other method with delivery confirmation, "i.e. fax, DHL, Certified Mail, FedEx, etc."
    * With the fax being the obvious quick route, virtually everyone tried that method. We were comforted by these words: "Will U.S. Soccer be prepared for the anticipated number of orders to be received via fax? Yes. Special accommodations have been made by U.S. Soccer in preparation to receive the large number of anticipated ticket orders via fax."
    * As it turned out, they were nowhere near prepared. For most applicants, the fax line was constantly busy. A lucky few got through, many of them late at night. Most gave up after a few hours, to get back to their jobs or their classes or crying babies, and opted for FedEx or UPS.
    * Those who gave up on the fax could only pray that this decision didn't cost them a shot at the "first come, first served" tickets.
    * Meanwhile, another deadline loomed: The January 15 deadline to apply for the Phase III FIFA lottery. The chances of winning this lottery were slim, but it was the best chance for those denied tickets through USSF.
    * But as the FIFA deadline approached, there was no word from USSF. It became increasingly clear that they were going to cut it very close. The U.S. applicants could only wait, since submitting a second application through FIFA is against the federation's rules, and could result in both applications being thrown out.
    * To all the applicants, USSF sent a mass e-mail on January 12. It included these big, bold capital letters: "ALL FANS WILL BE NOTIFIED ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 14. This is to enable those who do not receive tickets to participate in the third stage of the FIFA sale on January 15."
    * Once again, things did not turn out that way. Successful applicants did begin receiving confirmation e-mails on the 14th, with the incredible news that they had been awarded tickets. Others received e-mails putting them on the "priority wait list." These e-mails continued past midnight into the wee hours, and into the morning hours of Sunday, January 15.
    * Among the gossip-hounds at Bigsoccer.com, who had been sharing delivery times, methods and confirmation numbers for weeks, two things were becoming apparent: (1) It was not "first come, first served." Many people whose applications arrived later were getting tickets, while some earlier applicants were being wait-listed. (2) But many more applicants received no e-mail at all, seemingly forgotten... and we're still waiting.
    * The FIFA deadline was midnight German time, or 6 p.m. EST Sunday. After waiting by our inboxes and hitting the refresh button uncounted times, many of the Forgotten Ones bit the bullet at the last minute and entered the FIFA lottery. Including me. Others chose not to, skeptical of the odds or perhaps hopeful that USSF would come through.
    * Sometime after 5:30 p.m. EST, this message appeared on the U.S. Soccer front page, buried in the corner: "SPECIAL WORLD CUP TICKET ALERT:
      If you have not received an application status e-mail at this time, you have have been placed on the waiting list and are eligible to participate in FIFA's Phase III lottery." No e-mail, no nothing. So much for the Forgotten Ones.

Now, there are a few things we need to consider here:

1. The USSF handled the ticket application process with a breathtaking level of ineptitude.

2. The USSF handled the ticket application process with an obvious lack of preparedness, despite assurances to the contrary.

3. Ineptitude and lack of preparation appear to be the worst of it. In other countries, the federations are so corrupt it's absurd (see: Jack Warner, Trinidad and Tobago). True, we should hold our own federation to a higher standard. But I'll take inept over corrupt any day of the week.

Now that I've been shut out on tickets, this is all that I demand from the USSF: An honest and straightforward explanation of what went wrong.

Meanwhile, my inbox is still empty.

8511

Football / LA Times: In a World Cup Year, There Must Be a Scandal Somewhere

« on: January 15, 2006, 10:49:52 PM »

7:58 PM PST, January 15, 2006 latimes.com : Sports : Soccer
 
SPORTS EXTRA / SOCCER
In a World Cup Year, There Must Be a Scandal Somewhere

By Grahame L. Jones, Times Staff Writer


Corruption, thy name is FIFA.

When it comes to scandal, soccer's world governing body leaves the International Olympic Committee looking like a choirboy, as pure as the driven snow that piles up at this time of year around FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland.
 
World Cup years are worse than others because the quadrennial tournament, apart from being a huge sporting event, is a financial cash cow of immensely bloated proportions. Opportunities abound for the greedy, the unscrupulous, and the unethical.

Not surprisingly in the Joseph "Sepp" Blatter era, FIFA's "for the good of the game" leadership jumps at the chance.

It was only last month that Urs Linsi, FIFA's general secretary, said in Leipzig, Germany, that the 2006 World Cup would generate $1.7 billion — most of it from television and sponsors — and would be the most profitable in history.

It comes as no great shock, therefore, that the stench of cronyism and conflict of interest is rising from several locales, not least of them Port of Spain, Trinidad, as the scramble for World Cup tickets intensifies.

In Port of Spain, Jack Warner, a FIFA vice president, president of soccer's North and Central American and Caribbean (CONCACAF) region and a "special advisor" to the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF), is up to his neck fending off accusations of questionable ethics.

Again. Just as he had to do in 2001.

A three-part investigative series by journalist Lasana Liburd of the Trinidad Express has revealed that Warner and his family own a company, Simpaul Travel Services Limited, that bought Trinidad and Tobago's entire allocation of World Cup tickets from the country's soccer federation.

Simpaul, the Express wrote, stands to make millions of dollars, not off individual ticket sales but rather by selling packages that include accommodations and tickets for all three of Trinidad and Tobago's three first-round matches, against Sweden, England and Paraguay. At prices far above what might be expected.

"Soca Warrior" fans have no choice. It's the package or nothing.

Tickets that FIFA priced at $360 and $214 are being sold, by Simpaul, for $4,875, Liburd wrote "with the addition of lodging for 12 days in Germany and a national flag, replica shirt and wristband" but "exclusive of airfare and ground transport."

Depending on how many tickets they have — no one will reveal the number — "the Warners could be $50 million [U.S. $8 million] richer from ticket sales alone," Liburd calculated.

When the Express asked "whether it was ethical for the country's ticket allocation to be diverted to Warner's private company," neither Oliver Camps, the TTFF president, nor Warner would comment, the newspaper said.

"Do you know who the owner of Simpaul is?" it quoted Camps as saying. "Let us not go there."

Warner, meanwhile, was even more dismissive.

"You write what you want to write," he told Liburd. "I have nothing to discuss with you."

Once the series was published, however, and once the Trinidad and Tobago government had threatened to step in and sort matters out, Warner, his ego flaring, was much more forthcoming.

"It is not a crime to be successful, even for people like me," he said, pompous as ever, adding that no one should "attempt to impute improper business practices and conflicts of interest to me."

The Express series, he claimed, was "part of a well-timed, carefully orchestrated character assassination, designed to devalue any political currency which opponents ... feel I might have been developing as a result of the Soca Warriors' World Cup qualification alongside my own efforts within the United National Congress to unify the party and country."

In the same Jan. 3 news conference, Warner said he believed "the intention of the articles is to change the reference point of Jack Warner in the minds of the public, or more importantly, the electorate. It was designed to sully the Warner name and to reframe the recent achievements I have yearned and struggled for over many years in the football arena."

Aside from being a grammatical shambles, such comments are not only self-serving but absurd.

In Warner's eyes, it's all a conspiracy designed to thwart his political ambitions, not a matter of ethics at all. Why shouldn't a FIFA vice president snap up all his country's World Cup tickets and make a financial killing?

With soccer fans in Trinidad and Tobago up in arms over what they perceive as unfair practices and price gouging, Patrick Manning, the country's prime minister, was forced to step in.

Sports minister Roger Boynes said the government would try to buy tickets from the federation — even though no more supposedly are available — and would arrange charter flights for fans on the national airline.

Such is the arrogance of FIFA's leaders that Warner brushed this aside.

"No government in the world can intervene in FIFA's business," he said, "and that's the bottom line. Mr. Manning represents the government of Trinidad and Tobago. FIFA doesn't deal with governments."

As the Express pointed out, this is not the first time that Warner has enriched himself off a FIFA event.

"Warner similarly cashed in," it said, when Trinidad and Tobago played host to the 2001 FIFA Under-17 World Championship. "Then, his companies controlled exclusive contracts to supply air tickets to all competing foreign teams as well as catering and IT [communication] deals for all the stadiums."

This is the man who presides over CONCACAF, the 38-member regional soccer confederation of which the United States, Canada and Mexico are a part.

As long as Warner can deliver CONCACAF's votes to his good pal Blatter, FIFA's equally insufferable president, no one in Zurich is going to question the way he is lining his pockets.

Meanwhile, have U.S. Soccer, Soccer Canada or the Mexican Football Federation, the region's supposed powers and presumptive molar leaders, ever raised a squawk about the ethics or lack thereof within CONCACAF?

Have the American companies — Anheuser Busch, Coca-Cola, Gillette, Mastercard, McDonald's — that give tens of millions of sponsorship dollars to FIFA ever questioned how that money is being used or misused? Not a chance.

They just go along with it all.

If soccer itself can't or won't clean up its act, if governments supposedly are powerless to intervene, then perhaps the way to accomplish change is through the sponsors.

Money is all that matters to FIFA's elect, so if fans can turn off the financial tap by boycotting or at least pressuring FIFA's sponsors, soccer might eventually be able to rid itself of those who currently infest its highest reaches.

For the real good of the game.

8512

Football / Probe into £750 World Cup tickets

« on: January 15, 2006, 01:31:32 AM »

Probe into £750 World Cup tickets

Denis Campbell, sports news correspondent
Sunday January 15, 2006
The Observer

Police are investigating ticket touting firms which, the Football Association claims, are illegally charging England football fans up to £750 a match to follow the team's bid for glory at this summer's World Cup. The FA has alerted the police to 12 unofficial ticket websites seeking to cash in on the huge demand to see Sven-Goran Eriksson's side in action in Germany.
Around 100,000 England fans are expected to travel in June to watch the games in Group B against Paraguay, Trinidad and Tobago, and Sweden. But it is thought that only 30,000 of them will have secured tickets.

The FA has been scrutinising internet-based ticket companies and identified a dozen which, it says, may be breaking the law by offering to supply tickets at many times over the face value. They have asked the police and Fifa, football's global governing body, to investigate and see what can be done to stop them.

Andrin Cooper, an FA spokesman, said: 'Our customer services and security departments have been monitoring the internet for unauthorised websites selling what purport to be World Cup tickets for England's matches. We have passed details of about a dozen websites to Fifa and the police.

'We condemn this illegal exploitation and will do everything we can to combat it. It's important to protect fans against unscrupulous operators. Sadly, there are a number of people who always seek to exploit the incredible loyalty and dedication of English football fans.'

The FA declined to name any of the online firms involved. Websites offering to sell tickets at the moment include the Online Ticket Shop, which is based in the United States but has an outlet in Britain. It is charging between £495 and £750 per seat for England's three games, even though the original prices were only £24-£68.

Some outfits claim to merely provide a marketplace for buyers and sellers, but that is also illegal. One of those, My Ticket Market, which is based in Marylebone in London, tells fans that: 'Purchasing your England football tickets could not be safer and easier. Once your England World Cup 2006 ticket purchase is confirmed and your credit card is approved, your England tickets are 100 per cent guaranteed.'

Kevin Miles, international co-ordinator of the Football Supporters' Federation, said: 'It's outrageous if the enthusiasm of the genuine England fan for the World Cup is being exploited. Sadly, some supporters will feel driven to these places to pay these extortionate prices, that they can barely afford, simply to follow their team.'

The government plans to introduce measures to combat touts and has pledged to produce an 'action plan'.

8513

Football / Black Friday

« on: January 13, 2006, 10:20:23 PM »

Black Friday
Terry Joseph
Friday, January 13th 2006

 Continuing suspicion of most things black suggests no self-respecting day would deliberately paint itself that colour, even Christianity cleverly tweaking its darkest story, the crucifixion, marketing the observance as Good Friday; protecting the episode from finding itself in the crosshairs of detractors-purely on the basis of tint.

It is therefore no surprise that in our society and perhaps for historical reasons, successful high-profile black men are at greater risk of public pillorying than counterparts of different hue and curiously, more so from within their own brotherhood.

"Bobolee" of the month may be Jack Warner but Dwight Yorke, Lawrence Duprey, Lloyd Best, Brian Lara, William Munroe and Hasely Crawford-to name a few-have, each in his time, suffered through varying degrees of vilification from fellow tribesmen.

Sheer diversity of their pursuits indicates commonality of little else but pigmentation. Contrary to his embracing personality, Mr Best was often found guilty of being deliberately "too intellectual" and consequently aloof. Through rumour alone, the quintessential roots-man and steelband music lover came to be perceived as a snooty highbrow.

Record-breaking athletes are routinely held to often-spurious account the minute applause subsides, this one a drunkard, the other a womaniser; as if George Best didn't gleefully admit to being both. Although yet to bear fruit, a police search of Mr Duprey's home stirred vicious gossip.

Allegations about Mr Munroe cover every conceivable wrongdoing, notwithstanding his timely and critical rescue of what evolved into the soundtrack of our national festival, after Government, as Carnival custodian, ill-advisedly abandoned soca.

In an effort to provide a home for a stable of calypsonians already under contract, Mr Munroe obtained permission (as per a document signed by President Noor Hassanali) to erect a temporary structure on the Mucurapo Wetlands. Public outcry over possible damage to the "eco-balance" resulted in the landlord, the Port Authority, ruthlessly demolishing the venue early one Good Friday morning.

Today, MovieTowne, Price Smart, BHP Billiton, Ruby Tuesday and Marriott Courtyard can erect huge permanent concrete buildings, asphalt-covered parking lots and a shopping mall on the same site; concerns about global-warming having mysteriously disappeared like the million-dollar tent, property of Mr Munroe, which was never located after the demolition.


In the interest of transparency, let me rush to state that I have enjoyed benefits from professional association with several of the persons listed above and currently sit on the executive of the T&T/Germany 2006 organising committee under chairmanship of Mr Warner, with whom I also worked as director of the visit to Trinidad and Tobago by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela.

The closeness of our working relationship and long-standing friendship offered insights apparently quite different from those internalised and perpetuated by members of the public with access to only third-party accounts of his business adventures but from my experience, descriptions of him as a conniving exploiter of his own people are nothing short of astonishing.

I am not here recommending Mr Warner for beatification and it is neither my history nor ambition to vary personal morality with the ease some of his political colleagues have expressly mastered but in the absence of contrast, the speed at which local hearsay escalates to near-empiricism demands intervention by those of contrary appreciation, if we are to thwart this usually destructive process.


In a nutshell, Mr Warner, a FIFA vice-president, is most recently being accused of nepotism and insider-trading because his family owns a travel agency holding "exclusive rights" to game tickets for the football World Cup and is selling package tours to the event at a price critics deem outrageous.

Interestingly, regulations concerning exclusive rights to tickets for such events have only now come into focus, well after another travel agency, owned by a family of different heritage, monopolised admission to the Olympic Games for 20 continuous years without attracting even a murmur of public protest.

And while the handling of ticket sales by the Football Federation of Australia was being hailed here as exemplary, that country's Sunday Times newspaper Christmas Day edition was simultaneously lamenting abject chaos with the identical transactions. Letters to newspaper editors baulked at the package tour cost, even as www.primesport.com continues to offer the same facilities for the Trinidad and Tobago matches but at precisely twice the price.

So this is not so much about Jack or William or any single black male but about almost relentless derision of a number of successful entrepreneurs from our tribe.

What better time to raise the alert than Black Friday?


TJ.Words@gmail.com
 

8514

Football / Re: The 2006 World Cup Uniforms So Far

« on: January 13, 2006, 12:45:11 PM »

more links to jersey pictures in the official store.

http://www.fifaworldcupstore.com/IWCatSectionView.process?IWAction=Load&Merchant_Id=1&Section_Id=2083&Sort=Product_Name

It seems most of adidas home jerseys have that curvy stripe pattern: Germany, France, Argentina, Japan, Spain. In all likelyhood TnT will be similar.

what do you all think of Costa Rica's done by Joma?



some of the designs are different than what's on the spanish site though. not sure which is official.

8515

Football / Third time lucky for Paraguay?

« on: January 13, 2006, 12:29:01 PM »

Third time lucky for Paraguay?
13 January 2006
by FIFAworldcup.com

On 9 December in Leipzig, as the draw for the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™ came to a close, several journalists headed straight for Paraguay coach Anibal Ruiz, expecting a negative reaction to what many perceived as a tough draw for his side. The prospect of facing two European teams of the calibre of England and Sweden, a pairing that put paid to Argentina's hopes at Korea/Japan 2002, as well as an unpredictable Trinidad and Tobago side is one that few managers would relish.
In the event, the Uruguayan tactician was typically calm about it all, professing his utmost belief in his charges: "It may be the case that, along with Argentina, we've been handed one of the toughest groups in the tournament. But let me make one thing clear: we're not coming here just to make up the numbers. I've got reasons enough to believe that we can make it through."

Read on as FIFAworldcup.com analyses Paraguay's first-round matches, checks out the history behind each encounter and gives its verdict on the Albirroja's chances of emulating their previous FIFA World Cup performances.

England game a chance for revenge
As far as previous meetings between the two sides are concerned, the Paraguayans could be forgiven a moment's self-doubt ahead of their opening game with a formidable-looking England side on 10 June in Frankfurt. The pair have met twice over the last 20 years, with both games ending in comprehensive victories for the Europeans. The first of these, which England won 3-0 in the last 16 at Mexico 86, continues to weigh heavy on the minds of Paraguayan fans.

Ruiz himself continues to laugh in the face of cold logic, seeing the game as an ideal opportunity to get revenge for that defeat in Mexico. "Playing England in the opening game is the best thing that could have happened to us," he says. Why you may ask? How could taking on the likes of Michael Owen, Wayne Rooney, David Beckham and Steven Gerrard be considered a dream start?
 
However, El Maño, as Ruiz is known, has his reasons. "I watch a lot of English football, and it's always good to play against a team that you know. If we win, it would be a great boost to morale for the matches ahead," he insists. The statistics back up Ruiz's bold claims: Paraguay have lost just two of their opening games in six appearances on world football's biggest stage.
Sweden evoke fond memories
In May 2002, Paraguay travelled to the Swedish capital of Stockholm for a friendly match shortly before the FIFA World Cup in Korea/Japan. Under the guidance of Cesare Maldini, the Albirroja sprung a surprise, winning 2-1 against the team that would go on to eliminate a much-fancied Argentina side in the Far East. The only other game between the two teams was a 2-2 draw way back at the 1950 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

On 15 June in Berlin, the two teams will meet again in Group B and Sweden coach Lars Lagerback is full of respect for his Paraguayan opponents: "I can still remember the game we lost against them back then. I have a lot of respect for Paraguay as a team. They are very well-organised, physically very strong and technically gifted." Ruiz, for his part, feels that the Swedish team are "very similar to the English, who favour a very direct style of play". Former Paraguay legend Jose Luis Chilavert agrees, believing that the Europeans can "make things difficult for us in the air, as we're not as strong in that area as we were in the past". The winner of the aerial duel between two real giants of the game, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Carlos Gamarra, could tip the balance in this mouth-watering clash.

Out to rewrite history against T&T
Should Paraguay manage to win one of their first two games, victory on 20 June against FIFA World Cup new boys Trinidad and Tobago in Kaiserslautern would see them safely through to the last 16. Curiously enough, in Paraguay's six previous appearances at the finals, they have yet to defeat a team from the North, Central American and Caribbean Zone.

The Albirroja went down 3-0 against the United States at Uruguay 1930, and were defeated by the same margin by host nation Mexico at the 1986 tournament. "There's no doubt that they are the unknown quantity in our group. However, they looked very good in qualifying, and we'll be trying to get as much information about them as possible to see how we can beat them," explains Ruiz.

Historically, neither side has the edge. On the two occasions the teams have met, both friendly matches played on Caribbean soil in mid-1989, the games ended all square. History books and statistics aside, the Paraguay coach is adamant that his side are more than capable of overcoming their opponents. Raising his voice uncharacteristically, Ruiz backs his players to the hilt: "I fully believe that the ability, character and charisma of the Paraguayan players will see us through."

8516

Football / Re: In defense of Jack Warner

« on: January 13, 2006, 10:18:05 AM »

I am appealing to the powers-that-be to cease and desist this attempt.

Jack: FIFA VP, CONCACAF Pres, TTFF special advisor, UNC vice-chair, etc.
Liburd, football supports at large: journalist and general public.

Who is the "powers-that-be" in this scenario?

The questioning and subsequent objection to Warner’s ownership of Simpaul’s Travel Agency and its exclusive right to sell World Cup tickets in Trinidad and Tobago and throughout the West Indies is not only a virulent attack on his person,

No one has questioned or objected to his owning a business. The objection is unfair business practices.
If the exclusive right had been obtained by a fair bidding process there would not be a problem.

but represents the tip of a wider conspiracy designed to keep certain people down.

Again who is "down" in this case: fans without tickets, or business man with monopoly?

This act on Warner’s part was not only a prudent business decision, but it demonstrates the ingenuity of a simple man trying to make it in a rough world, a world that is at times prejudiced against him.

Oooh the poor simple man, sob sob

The entire negotiations were conducted above board and to insinuate ulterior motives is to impugn the character and integrity of a man who has already given much to this country.

I have never seen an accounting of the bidding process for these tickets that Simpauls claims to have had from the TTFF or whatever source they claim to be getting them from. I don't consider that "above board"

Why should people question those motives?

Anyone with a half a brain.

Is it because he is a man of colour?

    How does the race card get into this? The majority of TnT football supporters, "the virulent attackers", are not the same race?

Those who draw their guns at Warner should investigate why banks and other financial institutions recommend particular legal firms (thereby keeping business within particular clique) when conducting negotiations for mortgages and other major financial transactions.

They should also investigate why TSTT was allowed to operate in a monopolistic environment for so long and why Spectacular Promotions were criticised for operating Carnival shows on the foreshore.

Now we have Marriot and MovieTowne in the same location and not a word from detractors.

It seems in this country, justice and fair play vary from race to race and from class to class.

What is good for one should be good for all and in this case, Warner, a simple Black man is trying to make it in legitimate business.

The above is all misdirection and beside the point

8517

Football / Re: Classic Archive of Strike Squad games in T&T, I eh lie.

« on: January 12, 2006, 11:01:44 AM »

Ebay has a few players which look like they'll go for under $100

8518

Football / Re: Now hold on there, Jack

« on: January 12, 2006, 09:41:10 AM »

WC in six months, tickets or leave goh be sell out by then , allyuh feel apart from de entertainment we does find or get from bashing Jack anything going to change ?
iI sorry ah went an sine up wid Simpauls, ah not letting anything stop this waggon from seeing TT in Germany an feeling de feeling.

Yuh know how much time ah buy all inclusive ticket an get rip off ?
So to hell wid all inclusive fete all mih money gone in Simpaul.

I thought the Simpauls website said you have to source your own tickets from FIFA or TTFF, if that is the case why then did you pay so much for this package with no WC ticets, no airplane ticket and no ground transportation??
you must be really wanted the tshirt and them that come in the package!!!

but remember they first promised tickets were included when it was 30k, now they change it to no tix at 27k. Yuh better start working on a refund - time to get a lawyer.

8519

Football / Re: Warrior Nation logo competition

« on: January 12, 2006, 09:39:07 AM »

I put up a couple ideas.

8520

2006 World Cup - Germany / ticket news!!!

« on: January 11, 2006, 10:06:53 PM »

from trinidadexpress no problem article:
http://www.socawarriorssc.com/swonline/smf/index.php?topic=10314.0

"In related news, TTFF special advisor Jack Warner yesterday confirmed at a media conference at which it was announced that the FIFA World Cup would be displayed in T&T on February 17 at the Centre of Excellence, that the local Federation had received the ticket allocation they had requested.

"We have not been given the exact figures," Warner said. "But all we have asked for we have gotten."

The TTFF had requested the eight percent of the tickets for the Warriors' matches to which they were entitled. That is expected to be in the region of 10,000 tickets."


So there should be about 10,000 tickets. Now how to apply?