Over the next week or two, Asian football will be focused on the second round of the 2013 Asian Champions League.

The sixteen teams standing are still divided into the western and eastern zones. In the west, there are three Saudi Arabian-Qatari clashes. Over in the east, it is more mixed with, for the first time, six nations represented.

South Korea and China have two each while Australia, Japan, Uzbekistan and Thailand also have a horse left in the race.

In the medium term however, the powers-that-be on the continent are ready to talk about an even bigger prize increasing the 4.5 World Cup spots allocated to the AFC and its 46 full members.

The clarion call was sounded by FIFA president Sepp Blatter on May 2. The Swiss supremo has a reputation for telling audiences what they want to hear and as he was talking to all 46 full members of the AFC Congress in Kuala Lumpur, his words should be taken with the usual amount of salt.

We have to have a better balance. You are a powerhouse, you must be aware of your powerhouse.

It may have been more blather from Blatter but he had a point. Over four billion people call Asia home but in terms of the World Cup, 60% of all humanity gets about 16% of the representation.

And as the FIFA boss pointed out, roughly half of the regular $1 billion income received by the world governing body rolls into Switzerland from the east. At the most basic level, its just not fair.

The man behind Qatars successful 2022 World Cup bid Hassan Al-Thawadi recently saw his attempt to win election to FIFAs powerful Executive Committee defeated by Sheikh Salman, who also won the AFC presidency. The charismatic Al Thawadi, also the General Secretary of the 2022 Supreme Organising committee, believes it is an issue worth discussing.

“It is something we need to look at,” he told Al Jazeera.

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Asian football and the World Cup question

Rio de Janeiro, May 9 (IANS) World football governing body FIFA admitted concern over delays in the construction of Sao Paulo’s 2014 World Cup Stadium.

Earlier this week, the building firm responsible for the Itaquerao Stadium said the venue would not be ready until at least March next year, more than two months after the FIFA deadline, reports Xinhua.

“FIFA is concerned as it is vital that the firm deadline of December 2013 is kept,” FIFA said in a statement.

“The host cities, federal government and stadium owners have committed themselves to this date and acknowledged that no compromises can be made.This is crucial not only for FIFA but for the entire host nation.”

Itaquerao’s developer Odebrecht is still awaiting a promised $200 million loan from state-run banks and has threatened to stop work if an imminent deal is not struck.

FIFA has set a Dec 31 deadline for the six stadiums not being used for the Confederations Cup in the cities of Sao Paulo, Manaus, Cuiaba, Natal, Porto Alegre and Curitiba.

Each of Brazil’s six venues for June’s Confederations Cup – considered an organisational warmup for the World Cup – long overshot their original deadlines of December 2012.

Brasilia’s Estadio Nacional is still yet to be reopened despite being scheduled to host the Confederations Cup opener between Brazil and Japan, June 15.

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Sao Paulo World Cup stadium delay upsets FIFA

BRASILIA (Reuters) – The stadium where the Confederations Cup is due to kick off in two months will not be officially opened until May 18 because rain has delayed the laying of the pitch, officials in Brazil’s capital said on Monday.

The Confederations Cup is a dress-rehearsal for the 2014 World Cup.

“Without the grass it would be like opening a theatre with no stage,” Brasilia’s World Cup secretary Claudio Monteiro told reporters.

President Dilma Rousseff was scheduled to open the new 72,000-seater Mane Garrincha National Stadium on Sunday but contractors have not been able to drain the waterlogged ground enough to lay the turf.

Only four of the six Confederations venues are ready for the tournament.

The Mane Garrincha, where Brazil face Japan in the June 15 opener, is behind schedule along with the iconic Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro where the Confederations Cup final will be played.

Brasilia is now set to open its venue when the finalists of the city’s local championship meet.

The teams will play before a crowd of around 30,000, representing the first of two test events required by world soccer’s ruling body FIFA.

The second test is expected to take place in front of a full house of 72,000 on May 26 when Neymar’s Santos face Flamengo in the first fixture of the Brazilian championship.

The $500 million (326.8 million pounds) arena is the most expensive of the 12 venues that will host the World Cup.

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Opening of Brasilia World Cup stadium delayed

The Mane Garrincha is slated to host a Confederations Cup game between Brazil and Japan in June.

Anthony Boadle/Reuters

BRASILIA (Reuters) — The stadium where the Confederations Cup is due to kick off in two months will not be officially opened until May 18 because rain has delayed the laying of the pitch, officials in Brazil’s capital said on Monday.

The Confederations Cup is a dress-rehearsal for the 2014 World Cup.

“Without the grass it would be like opening a theatre with no stage,” Brasilia’s World Cup secretary Claudio Monteiro told reporters.

President Dilma Rousseff was scheduled to open the new 72,000-seater Mane Garrincha National Stadium on Sunday but contractors have not been able to drain the waterlogged ground enough to lay the turf.

Only four of the six Confederations venues are ready for the tournament.

The Mane Garrincha, where Brazil face Japan in the June 15 opener, is behind schedule along with the iconic Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro where the Confederations Cup final will be played.

Brasilia is now set to open its venue when the finalists of the city’s local championship meet.

The teams will play before a crowd of around 30,000, representing the first of two test events required by world soccer’s ruling body FIFA.

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Opening of World Cup stadium put on hold

Goal-line technology will be used at the 2014 World Cup and two more systems could be considered in addition to the existing pair, soccer’s world governing body FIFA said.

Two systems, Hawkeye and Goalref, have so far been licensed by FIFA and both were used at last year’s World Club Cup in Japan, one in each of the two stadiums, where goal-line technology was employed for the first time.

FIFA said a third system, developed in Germany, had already passed examinations and that the providers were in licensing discussions. A fourth system, also German, has also been tested with the results due this week.

FIFA confirmed goal-line technology was “successful” at the World Club Cup, although there were no incidents where it had to be used.

It intends to install goal-line technology at all 12 venues at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

“After a successful implementation of goal-line technology (GLT) at the Club World Cup in Japan in December 2012, FIFA has decided to use GLT at the Confederations Cup Brazil 2013 and 2014 World Cup,” FIFA said in a statement.

“The aim is to use GLT in order to support the match officials and to install a system in all stadia, pending the successful installation, and pre-match referee tests.

“With different technologies on the market, FIFA has launched a tender today, setting out the technical requirements for the two forthcoming competitions in Brazil.”

FIFA said Hawkeye and Goalref would have to join the selection process.

LAMPARD CONTROVERSY

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FIFA confirms World Cup goal-line technology

Goal-line technology will be usedat the 2014 World Cup and two more systems could be consideredin addition to the existing pair, soccer’s world governing bodyFIFA said on Tuesday.

Two systems, Hawkeye and Goalref, have so far been licensedby FIFA and both were used at last year’s World Club Cup inJapan, one in each of the two stadiums, where goal-linetechnology was employed for the first time.

FIFA said a third system, developed in Germany, had alreadypassed examinations and that the providers were in licensingdiscussions. A fourth system, also German, has also been testedwith the results due this week.

FIFA confirmed goal-line technology was “successful” at theWorld Club Cup, although there were no incidents where it had tobe used.

It intends to install goal-line technology at all 12 venuesat the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

“After a successful implementation of goal-line technology(GLT) at the Club World Cup in Japan in December 2012, FIFA hasdecided to use GLT at the Confederations Cup Brazil 2013 and2014 World Cup,” FIFA said in a statement.

“The aim is to use GLT in order to support the matchofficials and to install a system in all stadia, pending thesuccessful installation, and pre-match referee tests.

“With different technologies on the market, FIFA haslaunched a tender today, setting out the technical requirementsfor the two forthcoming competitions in Brazil.”

FIFA said Hawkeye and Goalref would have to join theselection process.

UEFA wary

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World Cup welcomes goal-line technology

Iranian team of Beach Soccer returned to Tehran after being qualified for World Cup
Iran national Beach Soccer team returned to Tehran from Qatar on Sunday 27 January after victory over Japan and winning title of Asian championship .

By: Lenziran Newsvideo

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Iranian team of Beach Soccer returned to Tehran after being qualified for World Cup – Video

BRASILIA, Jan 28 (Reuters) – With just 500 days to go until the 2014 World Cup kicks off in Brazil, soccer’s world governing body FIFA warned that the hosts cannot afford any further delays in getting their venues ready.

The global soccer tournament, followed by the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro two years later, will test Brazil’s aspiration to become a developed nation. But delays in building stadiums and preparing hotels and airports to receive more than half a million soccer fans could turn the event into an embarrassment.

In June Brazil will host the eight-nation Confederations Cup, a dress rehearsal for the World Cup.

FIFA has twice agreed to push back the handover deadline of four of the six stadiums to be used in the Confederations Cup and FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke warned on Monday that there will be no further extension beyond the April 15 delivery date.

“We cannot go beyond this date. There cannot be any further delays. All the stadiums must be ready by then,” Valcke said after inspecting work on the new Man Garrincha stadium in Brasilia, where Japan play Brazil on June 15 in the opening game of the Confederations Cup.

Despite the warning, the giant Maracana stadium which will host the finals of both the Confederations Cup and the World Cup will not meet FIFA’s deadline as its owner, the state government of Rio, has already said it will not be ready until the end of May.

The Man Garrincha stadium in Brasilia is 87 percent complete and builders are working round the clock to erect steel trestles that will hold up the roof covering 70,000 seats at the second largest of the 12 stadiums to be used in the World Cup.

Even at completed venues there is still work to be done.

Valcke could not make any calls on his cell phone at the Arena Castelao in the northern city of Fortaleza, where the first of Brazil’s 2014 World Cup stadiums to be ready held its first matches on Sunday.

The FIFA official signed an agreement with Brazil’s communications ministry on Monday committing Brazil to add cell phone antennas and other communication systems around the 12 World Cup stadiums.

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Soccer-FIFA warns Brazil against delays in World Cup preparations

Jerome Valcke (AFP Photo)

Brasilia – With just 500 days to go until the 2014 World Cup kicks off in Brazil, soccer’s world governing body FIFA warned that the hosts cannot afford any further delays in getting their venues ready.

The global soccer tournament, followed by the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro two years later, will test Brazil’s aspiration to become a developed nation. But delays in building stadiums and preparing hotels and airports to receive more than half a million soccer fans could turn the event into an embarrassment.

In June Brazil will host the eight-nation Confederations Cup, a dress rehearsal for the World Cup.

FIFA has twice agreed to push back the handover deadline of four of the six stadiums to be used in the Confederations Cup and FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke warned on Monday that there will be no further extension beyond the April 15 delivery date.

“We cannot go beyond this date. There cannot be any further delays. All the stadiums must be ready by then,” Valcke said after inspecting work on the new Man Garrincha stadium in Brasilia, where Japan play Brazil on June 15 in the opening game of the Confederations Cup.

Despite the warning, the giant Maracana stadium which will host the finals of both the Confederations Cup and the World Cup will not meet FIFA’s deadline as its owner, the state government of Rio, has already said it will not be ready until the end of May.

The Man Garrincha stadium in Brasilia is 87 percent complete and builders are working round the clock to erect steel trestles that will hold up the roof covering 70,000 seats at the second largest of the 12 stadiums to be used in the World Cup.

Even at completed venues there is still work to be done.

Valcke could not make any calls on his cell phone at the Arena Castelao in the northern city of Fortaleza, where the first of Brazil’s 2014 World Cup stadiums to be ready held its first matches on Sunday.

The rest is here:
FIFA issues World Cup warning

Jose Paolo Guerrero fired Corinthians to the 2012 Club World Cup in a 1-0 final victory over Premier League side Chelsea inYokohama, Japan.

The Peruvian striker, top scorer in the 2011 Copa America, headed home the only goal of the game days after nabbing the winner in the Brazilian side’s semi-final victory over Al Ahly.

Making matters worse for the Champions League holders was the 90th-minute dismissal of Gary Cahill after the centre-back lashed out at Emerson in an off-the-ball exchange.

The Copa Libertadores winners have become the first side from Brazil to win the tournament since 2006, and they add the accolade to their 2000 success in a round-robin format which featured Manchester United at the expense of their FA Cup entry that year.

With two sides who like to dictate the attacking tempo competing in a tournament with less fear of defeat than the likes of the Champions League and Copa Libertadores, the final unsurprisingly proved full of chances.

And on 11 minutes, the goal-line technology being trialled at the competition in Japan was almost called into action when Cahill sent a Chelsea corner towards goal which left goalkeeper Cassio and his defenders scrambling to keep the ball out by inches.

Corinthians really should have taken the lead just shy of the half-hour mark when Guerreros forward pass was inexplicably leaked through by the Blues back line only for Emerson to somehow shoot over in the subsequent one-on-one with Petr Cech.

Emerson then hit the post from a tight angle five minutes later after Guerreros initial effort dragged wide in an attack which stemmed from a breakaway when Paulo Andre denied Victor Moses a close range opportunity at the other end.

Fernando Torres brought down Frank Lampards superb ball over the top from the halfway line with aplomb on 37, but failed to add any guidance to his shot which was smothered by the outrushing Cassio.

Moses had a curling drive pushed around the far upright by the busy Corinthians stopper with five minutes remaining until the break while Guerrero somehow escaped a booking for deliberate handball.

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World Football – Corinthians beat Chelsea to lift Club World Cup

The winner of the O-League represent the region at the FIFA tournament, which is currently being played in Japan with the final between European champions Chelsea and South American champions Corinthians to be played on Sunday.

The new Oceania format, which has been re-branded as the Oceania Champions League, will introduce a semi-final stage, reduce the final to a single match and condense the schedule into a six-week period from late March to mid-May.

Previously the O-League had kicked off in late October or early November with the two-legged final between the winners of two four-team groups being staged in April or May.

“Each of the clubs has three home matches and we felt it was important to keep this in place as it gives the chance for football fans from all around the region to watch their team in action,” OFC general secretary Tai Nicholas said.

“It is also an important source of revenue for the clubs as it provides them with funds from gate takings and increases the opportunities for partnerships with sponsors and other investors.

“The condensed format means games will now take place every weekend, as well as mid-week matches, which also makes the competition more attractive to fans and sponsors as there are no lengthy delays between each round.

“And the introduction of semi-finals means more teams will feature in the race for the title right up until the final stages, extending the excitement levels of the fans for a longer period.”

New Zealand’s Auckland City represented Oceania at this year’s Club World Cup but were bundled out in the first game by J-League champions Sanfrecce Hiroshima.

Fiji’s Ba, Hekari United (Papua New Guinea), Solomon Warriors (Solomon Islands) and Amicale (Vanuatu) form Group A of the 2013 Oceania competition while Mont Dore (New Caledonia), Auckland City, Waitakere United (New Zealand) and Dragon (Tahiti) are in Group B.

The group stages will take place from March 30 to April 27 and the two-legged semi-finals scheduled for May 4 and 11. The final will be staged in Auckland on May 19.

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World Football – Oceania Champions League gets revamp

Club classic: Inter claim title of world's best
TP Mazembe – Inter Milan, FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2010: Internazionale was in rampant form as they crushed the dreams of the first African finalists. From 6-16 December, follow the FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2012: www.fifa.com More video highlights from the FIFA Club World Cup: www.youtube.com More classic football videos: www.youtube.com More about UAE 2010: www.fifa.com Please subscribe to FIFA on YouTube to stay updated on daily releases: www.youtube.com More videos from FIFA on YouTube: www.youtube.comFrom:FIFATVViews:9 1ratingsTime:03:37More inSports

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Club classic: Inter claim title of world’s best – Video

Chelsea are tighter under Benitez, says Cahill
Gary Cahill says Chelsea are better defensively under interim manager Rafael Benitez as they prepare for the soccer Club World Cup in Japan.From:admin86ableViews:0 0ratingsTime:00:45More inSports

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Chelsea are tighter under Benitez, says Cahill – Video

Chelsea striker Fernando Torres has defended the importance of the Club World Cup, expressing his desire to win the competition.

The 28-year-old has flown out to Japan with his team-mates ahead of their first game against Monterrey on Wednesday, with Rafa Benitezs side handed a bye in the first round and they will enter the competition at the semi-final stage.

The competition has attracted criticism in the past, often being cited as little more than FIFA PR exercise leading to its importance has being brought into question.

Nevertheless, Torres has defended the competition, arguing that both fans and players alike take it seriously and that the side want to use this as an opportunity to erase the hurt felt by the 4-1 hammering suffered at the hands of Atletico Madrid at the start of the campaign in the European Super Cup. “How many people don’t take this tournament seriously, or don’t think it is like the real World Cup? It is for the clubs,” Torres told reporters.

“You ask the South American people. David Luiz showed me a video of Corinthians fans at the airport, it was full of fans cheering the team and travelling to Japan to support, so it is important.

“In Europe maybe we don’t give it as much attention, and to some people it might not mean much, but to me it does, so this is not a holiday or a break, this is a World Cup.

“It’s nice to be involved, and maybe to be able to say you are a world champion. The European Super Cup was just as important to us and we lost, so we don’t want that disappointment.”

The Spain international also revealed the significant role that a Japanese cartoon played in leading him to become a footballer as a child, hailing it as an influence on him early on.

He added: “I remember when I was a kid, we couldn’t find the signal really well on TV, but everyone in school was talking about this cartoon about football, from Japan.

“It was a series called Oliver y Benji in Spain, and in Japan it was Captain Tsubasa, and these two young players started as youth team players, got into the national team, won the World Cup, and moved to Barcelona and Bayern Munich, then moved to Europe, so it was like a dream.

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Torres defends Club World Cup: This is not a holiday, I'm here to become a champion

Chelsea in Japan
Rafa Benitez and Petr Cech spoke to the press in Japan ahead of the Club World Cup. Find out what the team have been up to so far on Chelsea TV: secure.chelseafc.comFrom:chelseafcViews:308 112ratingsTime:01:02More inSports

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Chelsea in Japan – Video

Manchester City fan apologises to Rio Ferdinand
Subscribe for the latest GiveMeFootball news: bit.ly December 10 | The Manchester City fan that ran onto the pitch at the Etihad Stadium in a bid to confront Rio Ferdinand has apologised to the Manchester United defender. Matthew Stott was restrained by City goalkeeper Joe Hart before getting to Ferdinand and was subsequently arrested and charged with pitch encroachment. It was not the only incident to mar the match that was won 3-2 by United from a last minute deflected Robin van Persie free-kick, as Ferdinand had been struck by an object that appeared to be thrown from the crowd. United players were celebrating Van Persie's goal when the former England captain was struck with what he claimed to be a coin, which caused cut above his eye. Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech has said the Blues are comfortable with being labelled favourites to lift the FIFA Club World Cup this month. The Stamford Bridge number one claimed he was delighted to be in Japan for the tournament and said the whole squad was desperate to come away as winners. Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere believes he is nearing full fitness and hopes his influence on games will grow further in the next few matches. The England international was in impressive form against West Brom on Saturday and manager Arsene Wenger expressed surprise at the speed with which the 20-year-old was returning to 100 per cent. Tottenham Hotspur defender William Gallas fears his side will never learn how to cut out the mistakes that have …From:GiveMeSportViews:162 4ratingsTime:01:34More inSports

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Manchester City fan apologises to Rio Ferdinand – Video

European champions Chelsea train in Japan
It could be seen by some as a distraction, but that's not the way the Chelsea players feel ahead of their opening game of the FIFA Club World Cup. Peter Cech delighted to be in JapanFrom:admin86ableViews:0 0ratingsTime:02:17More inSports

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European champions Chelsea train in Japan – Video

[FIFA] Seo Jung-won's goal against Japan 1997. 9 .28
Seo Jung-won's tie score goal The preliminaries of 1998 World Cup – Korea vs Japan 1997-9-28 Tokyo National Stadium Museum of JapanFrom:kmjns01Views:1 0ratingsTime:01:15More inSports

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[FIFA] Seo Jung-won’s goal against Japan 1997. 9 .28 – Video

[FIFA] Lee Min-sung's goal against Japan 1997. 9 .28
Lee Min-sung's reverse score goal The preliminaries of 1998 World Cup – Korea vs Japan 1997-9-28 Tokyo National Stadium Museum of JapanFrom:kmjns01Views:1 0ratingsTime:01:45More inSports

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[FIFA] Lee Min-sung’s goal against Japan 1997. 9 .28 – Video

Interim Chelsea boss Rafael Benitez on Monday denied feeling any added pressure going into the Club World Cup in Japan, despite his side exiting the Champions League at the first hurdle last week.

The London club, appearing in the intercontinental event for the first time, will take on Mexican side Monterrey in the semi-finals at Yokohama International Stadium on Thursday.

They come into the tournament on the back of a win at Sunderland on Saturday — a victory which ended a poor run of results, including two draws and a defeat in Benitez’s first three games in charge since replacing Roberto Di Matteo.

It also came days after the Blues became the first Champions League holders to fail to progress past the group stage of the premier European competition.

“I don’t have any problem in terms of pressure,” said Benitez, who won the Club World Cup as Inter Milan coach two years ago.

“I have some experience and I would like to enjoy every minute that I am here and try to do my best and try to win,” the Spaniard told a news conference in Yokohama.

Benitez, who was sacked just five days after leading Inter to glory in 2010, said the Japan showpiece provided his team with a good chance to collect some silverware.

“Everyone at this club has the same idea as me: to win every trophy that we can,” the 52-year-old said.

“So we have this opportunity now. It doesn’t matter if we are in the Champions League or not. This one is very important for us.”

Benitez said he was aware of the threat posed by Monterrey, who thrashed South Korea’s Ulsan Hyundai 3-1 on Sunday to avenge a quarter-final defeat last year.

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Benitez denies feeling pressure at Chelsea