FIFA Updates

KHARTOUM, July 24 (Reuters) – Sudan risks a FIFA ban from
international soccer after the government said Football
Association president Kamal Shaddad could not run for a third
term this month.

The world governing body, which strongly objects to any
government interference in soccer, said on Saturday that Sudan
could be suspended or banned for barring candidates.

“Any election without respecting the SFA (Sudanese Football
Association) statutes and/or under governmental interference
will not be recognised by FIFA,” the world soccer governing body
said in a statement sent to Reuters on Saturday.

“In addition, such interference may lead to sanctions such
as suspension or expulsion.”

The head of the Sudanese Sports Commission, Al-Rayah
Wadatallah, told Reuters the decision to bar Shaddad was in line
with Sudanese law which says a candidate can not run for a third
term unless he held an international soccer job recognised by
the sports ministry. He said Shaddad did not hold such a post.

“Sudanese national law is in accordance with FIFA law,” said
Wadatallah.

This month FIFA threatened to expel Nigeria after President
Goodluck Jonathan banned the national team from international
soccer following the country’s first round exit at the World
Cup.

(Reporting by Opheera McDoom; Editing by John Mehaffey; To
query or comment on this story email
sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

ZURICH (AP)—FIFA has cleared Australia’s 2022 World Cup bid of wrongdoing,
rejecting claims that illegal gifts were provided.

The world football body says it reviewed the allegations but decided there
were “no grounds to open a formal case.”

FIFA said Thursday that it now considered the matter closed, even though it
reminded Australia’s football federation about bidding rules.

FIFA started investigating last month after The Age newspaper reported some
FIFA executive members were given jewelry and offered travel expenses.

The Australian federation said the pearl cufflinks and necklaces were
presented at a private dinner after the FIFA Congress in Sydney in May 2008—
eight months before official campaigning began.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP)—A FIFA delegation arrived in South Korea on Thursday,
the second leg of its tour to inspect bidders to host the 2018 and 2022 World
Cups.

The five-member team, led by Chilean football federation president Harold
Mayne-Nicholls, landed at Seoul’s Gimpo International Airport on Thursday to
start a four-day trip.

The team is to inspect stadiums, communication facilities and a national
football training center in South Korea, before traveling on to Australia on
Sunday. The FIFA team visited Japan to inspect its bid before coming to South
Korea.

FIFA will choose the 2022 World Cup host on Dec. 2.

South Korea, which co-hosted the 2002 World Cup with Japan, is competing
with Australia, Qatar, Japan and the United States for the 2022 World Cup.

South Korea became the first Asian country to reach the semifinals of the
World Cup during the 2002 tournament. During this year’s World Cup in South
Africa, South Korea advanced to the round of 16 for the first time on foreign
soil.

TOKYO (AP)—A FIFA delegation praised Japan’s planning and advanced
infrastructure after completing an inspection of the country’s bid to host the
2022 World Cup.

The FIFA inspection team, headed by Chile Football Federation president
Harold Mayne-Nicholls, toured stadium and broadcasting facilities in Osaka and
Tokyo from Tuesday to Thursday.

“We must say that it is a very balanced product,” Mayne-Nicholls said at a
press conference on Thursday. “It mixes football traditions with modern
stadiums, new technology and environmental projects integrated with the world.”

Japan, which co-hosted the 2002 World Cup with South Korea, is competing
with Australia, Qatar, South Korea and the United States to host the 2022 World
Cup.

“We got them to see an environment in which you could play fantastic
football,” said Motoaki Inukai, president of the Japan Football Association.

Japan’s government has endorsed the nation’s bid to host the 2022 World Cup,
vowing to cooperate in bringing the showcase tournament to the country.

Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan hosted the FIFA inspection team at a
dinner on Wednesday.

“The Japanese government has given its official backing and approval for
the 2022 bid,” Kan said. “We are supporting the bid with the full resources of
the nation. Should we win the bid, the Japanese government will take all
measures that FIFA deems necessary for the successful hosting of the event.”

The FIFA team next travels to South Korea and Australia.

The host will be chosen on Dec. 2.