Fifa

FIFA, SOCCER'S world governing body, would like to take some time out from all of its alleged backdoor dealings and scandals to make the following decree: Islamic headscarves are a violation of the outfit's dress code and are now banned from all competitions. However, the kicker here is not FIFA's decision, but its timing. Just prior to kickoff in a women's Olympic qualifier between Iran and Jordan last Friday, officials decided that the Iranian players' little white headscarves were illegal and disqualified the team.

FIFA, forced to play the role of Solomon in the fight between Japan and South Korea over the 2002 World Cup, may have succeeded. The difference is that it actually did cut the baby in half - but very, very carefully. If the settlement that FIFA brokered last week works - and with bitter rivals such as Japan and Korea involved, there's no guarantee that it will - the key seems to have been giving the biggest prize to one of the rivals, and then both of the next two to the other.

In an uncommonly strong move toward cleaning up rough play at the World Cup, soccer's ruling body yesterday suspended key players from the Bolivian and Spanish teams for the rest of the first round. Miguel Nadal, of Spain, and Marco Etcheverry, of Bolivia, each drew red card ejections during separate games Friday, the opening day of the World Cup. In the past, such expulsions meant suspension for only the following game. However, FIFA's disciplinary board stiffened the punishment by extending the suspension for another game.

In the end, it was only about the money. How else do you explain that the two oil-rich nations bidding to host World Cups in 2018 (Russia) and 2022 (Qatar) won the voting yesterday in Zurich? Russia finished last in the technical study done by FIFA among the European contenders for 2018 (with England, Belgium/Netherlands and Spain/Portugal), and Qatar, which beat out the United States, Australia, Japan and South Korea, was the only country named as a "high-risk" location by the technical group.

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa - While the majority of South Africans, as well as invading soccer fans, are oblivious to the minority's growing frustration, there is a definite undercurrentof anti-FIFA sentiment. And it seems to be spreading. South Africans are discouraged by FIFA's "domination of the country" its "draconian branding rules" and "mafia-like control of the country's public space" - this according to the Mail & Guardian, a Johannesburg newspaper. Earlier this week, police detained a group of Netherlands fans, all women, for "ambush marketing.

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa - While the majority of South Africans, as well as invading soccer fans, are oblivious to the minority's growing frustration, there is a definite undercurrent of anti-FIFA sentiment. And it seems to be spreading. South Africans are discouraged by FIFA's "domination of the country," its "draconian branding rules," and the "mafia-like control of the country's public space" - this according to the Mail & Guardian, a Johannesburg newspaper. Earlier this week, police detained a group of Netherlands fans, all women, for "ambush marketing.

A proposal for the World Cup soccer tournament to be rotated among six continents was approved unanimously yesterday by the FIFA executive committee, which affirmed that Germany would remain the venue in 2006. FIFA, the sport's international ruling body, rejected a request from the South African Football Association to submit to an arbitration panel the decision to award the competition to Germany. The vote on a system of rotation came three weeks after Germany was chosen.

The United States advanced to an all-time high No. 7 in FIFA's rankings yesterday while Greece jumped 21 spots to No. 14 after its dazzling run to the European Championship title. Brazil remained No. 1 for the 25th straight month, and France and Spain stayed at second and third. The United States twice had climbed as high as eighth - in September 2002 and again in May. The Americans beat Grenada in a home-and-home series in June to reach the semifinals of World Cup qualifying in its region.

FIFA, soccer's governing body, approved the use of sudden-death overtime for the 1998 World Cup in France. Until now, when games were tied at the end of regulation, teams played a full 30 minutes of overtime. Under the new rule, if games still are tied at the end of 30 extra minutes, they will be decided by penalty kicks. "We don't know of any other solutions," FIFA general secretary Sepp Blatter said in Zurich, Switzerland. Brazil beat Italy on penalty kicks after 120 scoreless minutes in last summer's World Cup final.

Faye Dunaway and Barry Manilow and Mario Andretti and Evander Holyfield were up on the stage at yesterday's World Cup draw. Pele was not. The one and only face of soccer in this country for many people had been banished by the sport's world governing body. Actually, he was banished by one man. Over the summer, Pele had publicly accused FIFA president Joao Havelange's son-in-law of corruption. Pele had said the son-in-law, the head of the Brazilian soccer federation, tried to get him to pay a kickback to televise soccer games in Brazil.

Mixed-martial-arts fighter Brett Charles Rogers has been sentenced to 60 days in jail for assaulting his wife in their Minnesota home. Dakota County Attorney Jim Backstrom said the 30-year-old Rogers also was placed on three years' probation and fined $500 on Wednesday. He has been given credit for 26 days already served behind bars. The assault occurred early June 29 at the couple's home in Apple Valley. Backstrom said the victim was choked, punched in the head and face, and lost a tooth.

GENEVA - With his organization still reeling from corruption allegations, FIFA president Sepp Blatter faced calls for his resignation Thursday after saying racial abuse on the soccer field could just be settled by a handshake and forgotten. The comment in television interviews Wednesday drew outrage across the soccer landscape. British prime minister David Cameron called Blatter's suggestion "appalling. " The British sports minister, Hugh Robertson, said "This is the latest episode that calls into question whether this man should be the head of world football," and urged Blatter to leave "for the sake of the game.

NBA Hall of Famer Jerry West said he has battled depression since childhood, when his father would beat him, causing low self-esteem that has plagued him despite a successful career as one of the NBA's biggest influences. West said his West Virginia childhood was devoid of love and filled with anger as a result of his abusive father, who left him feeling tormented and worthless. "I would go to bed feeling like I didn't even want to live," West said in a segment that aired yesterday on HBO's "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel.

ZURICH - The 2010 World Cup final was seen by at least 1 billion people, though the 2008 Beijing Olympics opening ceremony appears to retain the top spot as the most-watched televised event, according to figures published Monday by FIFA. One year after Spain beat the Netherlands, FIFA released its research that 909.6 million television viewers tuned in to at least one minute of the match at home, and the ratings likely topped one billion people when adding people who watched online and in public viewing places.

GENEVA - Jack Warner quit as a FIFA vice president yesterday and soccer's governing body dropped a bribery investigation of him, saying the "presumption of innocence is maintained. " Warner and Asian soccer chief Mohamed bin Hammam were suspended by FIFA last month amid the gravest corruption crisis to rock the scandal-hit organization. The two leaders were accused of offering $40,000 cash payments to Caribbean voters during bin Hammam's failed presidential campaign to unseat Sepp Blatter.

FIFA, SOCCER'S world governing body, would like to take some time out from all of its alleged backdoor dealings and scandals to make the following decree: Islamic headscarves are a violation of the outfit's dress code and are now banned from all competitions. However, the kicker here is not FIFA's decision, but its timing. Just prior to kickoff in a women's Olympic qualifier between Iran and Jordan last Friday, officials decided that the Iranian players' little white headscarves were illegal and disqualified the team.

Penn State officials will interview Duquesne basketball coach Ron Everhart for their vacant position at an undisclosed location today, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. Last week, Ed DeChellis left Penn State to take the same job at Navy. This came just 3 months after DeChellis led the Nittany Lions (19-15) to the NCAA Tournament. In 5 years at Duquesne, Everhart, 49, has orchestrated four winning regular seasons, and has taken the Dukes to postseason play the last 3 years.

Street parties in Spain celebrating Barcelona's 3-1 Champions League victory over Manchester United turned violent early Sunday. At least 18 people were hospitalized and more than 80 arrested after revelers attacked officers with bottles and flares, and destroyed bus stops. More than 100 other people were injured, but were treated at the scene by paramedics and not hospitalized. In Zurich, Switzerland, FIFA suspended senior executives Mohamed bin Hammam and Jack Warner because of bribery allegations while exonerating president Sepp Blatter in a corruption crisis facing soccer's governing body.

Keeping the human element, you have to expect human error. It's the mantra that FIFA, soccer's world governing body, lives by. But far too many times has this ideal proved the detriment of a player, coach, team or major competition. Referees. Held to a higher regard and made to answer to no one simply because bylaws in FIFA's rule book says so. Cross one? Get a card. Question one? Get fined. Here's an example: Serving last year as a pool reporter at Union matches, a perk of the position was the right to speak to an official after the game if the situation arose.

In the end, it was only about the money. How else do you explain that the two oil-rich nations bidding to host World Cups in 2018 (Russia) and 2022 (Qatar) won the voting yesterday in Zurich? Russia finished last in the technical study done by FIFA among the European contenders for 2018 (with England, Belgium/Netherlands and Spain/Portugal), and Qatar, which beat out the United States, Australia, Japan and South Korea, was the only country named as a "high-risk" location by the technical group.