FIFA Updates

CHICAGO (AP)—U.S. coach Bob Bradley plans to announce his roster early next
week for an Aug. 10 exhibition against Brazil at the New Meadowlands Stadium in
East Rutherford, N.J.

Bradley’s contract runs through the end of the year, and the U.S. Soccer
Federation has not said whether it will offer a new deal to Bradley, who coached
the Americans to a second-round finish in this year’s World Cup.

Team spokesman Michael Kammarman said a Monday or Tuesday roster
announcement was likely.

New coach Mano Menezes selected just four players from Brazil’s World Cup
team for his 24-man roster. Bradley is expected to pick mostly veterans for the
match.

BRASILIA, Brazil (AP)—Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has signed
a law aimed at curbing fan violence in football stadiums.

The law signed Tuesday includes fines and prison terms of up to two years
for anyone involved in acts of violence inside the stadium or within a radius of
up to 3 miles (5 kilometers) from the venue.

It also makes ticket-scalping a crime.

Stadiums with seating capacities of more than 10,000 will have to install
cameras to monitor fan groups that often clash after the games.

A recent study shows that more than 40 people were killed in connection to
Brazilian football matches between 1999 and 2009.

July 24 (Reuters) – Factbox on Mano Menezes who was
appointed as coach of Brazil on Saturday:

Born June 11, 1962, in Passo do Sobrado, state of Rio Grande
do Sul, southern Brazil. Full name is Luis Antonio Venker de
Menezes.

COACHING CAREER

* Menezes began coaching with youth teams in Rio Grande do
Sul, his native state, in 1992. His first professional job was
as coach of provincial club Guarani-Venancio Aires in 1997.

* He first made his name in 2004 when he led third division
side XV de Novembro to the semi-finals of the Copa Brasil,
beating first division Vasco da Gama on the way.

* In 2005, he was appointed as coach of Gremio, one of
Brazil’s most popular clubs, with the job of leading them out of
the second division. He succeeded in extraordinary style.

In their final game away to Nautico and needing a draw to be
promoted at their opponents’ expense, Gremio survived a penalty
miss—which followed a 25-minute suspension of the match as
players argued—and had four players sent off but still
managed to sneak a 1-0 win with a late goal.

* The following season, Gremio finished third in the first
division.

* In 2007, they went all the way to the final of the
Libertadores Cup, the South American equivalent of the Champions
League, before losing to Boca Juniors.

CORINTHIANS

* In 2008, Menezes joined Corinthians who, like Gremio, were
in the second division. Describing it as “the biggest job in
Brazilian football”, he once again won promotion at the first
attempt, Corinthians losing only three times in a 38-match
campaign.

* The following season, Corinthians signed former Brazil
striker Ronaldo who returned to play at home after a 15-year
absence. They won the Copa Brasil knockout competition.

* This year, Menezes suffered his first major disappointment
with Corinthians when they were knocked out of the Libertadores
in the round-of-16.

* Accepted the position as coach of five-times world
champions Brazil, replacing Dunga, who quit after Brazil’s shock
quarter-final defeat to the Netherlands at the 2010 World Cup in
South Africa.

* In contrast to his hard-nosed predecessor Dunga, Menezes
is regarded as easy-going and relaxed.

(Compiled by Brian Homewood; editing by Neil Maidment; to
query or comment on this story email
sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

SAO PAULO, July 24 (Reuters) – Mano Menezes, currently coach
of Corinthians, accepted an offer to take over as coach of
Brazil on Saturday.

“For the whole of Brazil, I say that I officially accept the
invitation,” he told a news conference. The Brazilian Football
Confederation (CBF) said on Friday night that they had offered
Menezes the job.

(Writing by Brian Homewood in Berne, Editing by Justin
Palmer

To query or comment on this story email
sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)