FIFA bans Maradona for obscene rant; New Zealand book World Cup place

(WFI) FIFA imposes a two-month ban on Argentina coach Diego Maradona for an expletive-filled rant that followed his country’s qualification for next year’s World Cup in South Africa.

Remorseful Maradona avoided sanctions which would see him miss the World Cup, but is prohibited from “any football-related activity” until January 16, FIFA said.

Argentina has no confirmed fixtures in that time, with only a tentative date of Dec. 16 set for a friendly against the Czech Republic.

“The committee reached this decision following a three-hour meeting,” said a FIFA statement.

“The head coach of Argentina was heard by the committee during 40 minutes and apologized to FIFA and the world football family. The committee took into consideration the apologies and the sincere remorse shown by Maradona in its decision.”

FIFA’s disciplinary committee also fined Maradona $24,000 with a warning that he would face harsher sanctions if he breached the ban.

It could have slapped Maradona with a heavier penalty lasting well into next year’s World Cup if it had ruled he breached Article 58 of FIFA’s disciplinary code, relating to offending “the dignity of a person or group of persons through contemptuous, discriminatory or denigratory words”.

But instead, the committee found the Argentine guilty of the lesser charge of using offensive gestures and language.

Maradona travelled to FIFA’s Zurich headquarters for Sunday’s hearing after Argentina’s 2-1 friendly defeat by Spain in Madrid a day earlier.

Last month, in an outburst directed at his media critics after Argentina secured its place for South Africa with a 1-0 win away to Uruguay, Maradona said: “To those who did not believe in us — and, ladies, forgive me — they can suck it and keep on sucking it.”

Three more teams qualify for World Cup
Another frantic schedule of football over the weekend has produced three more qualifiers for next year’s World Cup - Nigeria, Cameroon and New Zealand.

The All White’s qualification, after a 1-0 win over Bahrain means that for the first time ever two teams from the Pacific will compete at the tournament, with Australia one of the first qualifiers.

“These are exciting times. It is gratifying that the lineup for next year’s tournament is almost complete,” World Cup organizing committee CEO Danny Jordaan said in a statement.

“It is a privilege to welcome New Zealand back to South Africa next year. They are certainly a welcome addition to the tournament and received great support from South Africans during the FIFA Confederations Cup earlier in the year.

“They can be assured that they will be part of a world-class tournament in 2010 and that the South African public will once again welcome them with open arms.”

New Zealand’s qualification will end a 28-year drought for the All Whites who last qualified for the 1982 World Cup in Spain.

Nigeria beat Kenya 3-2 to book their place in football’s quadrennial showpiece, while Cameroon qualified by defeating Morocco 2-0.

Jordaan said it was an honor to host “African football superpowers”, before noting that African teams have been the strong perfomers in tournaments held on the continent this year.

“I am confident Nigeria has a good chance in 2010 and its team will certainly feel the full support of South Africans in the tournament.”

Cameroon is one of Africa’s best weapons for World Cup success next year, Jordaan said. “With their skill, flair and experience, Cameroon is sure to win over hundreds of new fans during the tournament,” he said.

“Since the days of Roger Milla in the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the USA, they have become synonymous with entertainment and we expect next year to be no different.”

The three latest qualifiers join 23 other sides that have already booked a ticket to the tournament: Japan, Netherlands, North Korea, Australia, South Korea, USA, Brazil, Ghana, England, Paraguay, Spain, Denmark, Ivory Coast, Chile, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Serbia, Switzerland, Argentina, Honduras, Slovakia and South Africa.

The remaining six nations are expected to qualify this Wednesday.

Beach Soccer World Cup kicks off
Dubai is the setting for the fifth FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup starting today.

Defending champions Brazil, who have been crowned champions every year since 2006, are looking for their fourth consecutive title on the sand of Jumeirah Beach.

The 16 finalists will contest 32 games in the Nov 16-22 tournament. Costa Rica, Switzerland and Côte d’Ivoire are the debutants this year. UAE are expected to provide stiff opposition, having twice been crowned champions of Asia.

Switzerland are U-17 world champs
Switzerland were crowned FIFA U-17 world champions over the weekend after they defeated World Cup host and defending champion Nigeria in the final at a packed Abuja National Stadium.

The decisive goal came in the 63rd minute courtesy of a Haris Seferovic header, underpinning a solid performance by the Swiss in the tournament’s preceding games and disappointing the 60,000-strong crowd.

Spain took third place in the tournament by defeating Colombia 1-0 in the playoff.

Written by Anthony Stavrinos  

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