Brazilian star Claudia Leitte to perform with Pitbull and Jennifer Lopez on the official song for the 2014 FIFA World Cup™

© Getty Images

One of the vital ingredients of the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ has today been confirmed, with the announcement by FIFA and Sony Music of the artists behind the event’s official song. One of Brazil’s hottest musical talents, Claudia Leitte, will team up with global superstars Pitbull and Jennifer Lopez on the track entitled “We Are One (Ole Ola)”.

Following the success of Shakira’s “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™, the new single, written and co-produced by Pitbull, is set to bring the passion of Brazilto the world when it is officially released by Sony Music later this year. Capturing the colourful atmosphere of the 2014 host nation, the song will ignite the excitement felt by football fans around the world in the lead-up to the 2014 FIFA World Cup™.

The announcement was made on Thursday, 23 January, at the Maracanã football stadium, with Claudia Leitte and Pitbull joining FIFA Secretary General Jérôme Valcke as well as LOC President José Maria Marin, Brazilian Deputy Sports Minister Luis Fernandes, LOC Board Member and footballing great Bebeto and two-time FIFA World Cup winner Cafu for an exclusive visit to the venue for the 2014 FIFA World Cup final.

Speaking at the Maracanã on Thursday, FIFA Secretary General Jérôme Valcke said: “FIFA and Sony Music are extremely excited to share the exciting talent of Claudia Leitte with the world, alongside such internationally celebrated artists as Pitbull and Jennifer Lopez. In my many visits to this country, I’ve heard a lot about the great Brazilian music tradition and it gives me great pleasure to see a Brazilian artist at the heart of this song. I’m sure, like me, millions of football and music fans all over the world will be eagerly awaiting the song’s release.”

“I am very happy and thrilled to represent my country at the FIFA World Cup alongside these two amazing artists who I admire and respect. I love sharing my culture and country to people through music!” said Claudia Leitte. “The FIFA World Cup is one of the biggest events on the planet, and I look forward to dancing samba with Pitbull and Jennifer Lopez in Brazil - we are one!”

“I’m honored to join Jennifer Lopez and Claudia Leitte at the FIFA World Cup to bring the world together,” said Pitbull. “I truly believe that this great game and the power of music will help unify us, because we are best when we are one.”

“We Are One (Ole Ola)” will debut later this year ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup™, and will be included on the upcoming “Official 2014 FIFA World Cup Album” to be released by Sony Music Entertainment. A video for “We Are One (Ole Ola)” is also in development.

FIFA and Sony Music have enjoyed a successful partnership in the World Cup’s official music programme ever since 1994. The tradition of an official song dates back to the 1966 FIFA World Cup™ in England with a song for the first Official Mascot, the lion “World Cup Willie”. Ever since, the official music programme and the Official Mascot have become an increasingly significant component of the event, providing an excellent opportunity for people other than football fans to identify with the world’s biggest single-sport event.

Official songs at recent FIFA World Cup™ competitions have included “Un’estate italiana” by Edoardo Bennato and Gianna Nannini in 1990, “Gloryland” by Daryl Hall with Sounds of Blackness in 1994, and “La Copa de la Vida” by Ricky Martin in 1998. In 2002, the official song was “Boom” by Anastacia, and there was also an official anthem by Vangelis featuring typical Korean and Japanese sounds. In 2006, “The Time of Our Lives” by the Il Divo quartet was a resounding success, followed in 2010 by “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” written by Shakira who performed alongside South African band Freshlyground.

FIFA.COM

Ticketing details announced for Morocco 2013

Preliminary details for the sale of tickets for the FIFA Club World Cup Morocco 2013 have been announced, with VISA exclusive pre-sales beginning on Monday 14 October.

The online pre-sale, exclusive to VISA cardholders, begins on Monday 14 October and will run until Sunday 27 October. This will be for all categories, including the Category 3 reserved for Moroccoresidents.

The open sales phase, for all other payment cards, will begin on Monday 28 October, and will again include all ticket categories.

For those wishing to purchase tickets in person, the Local Sales Stations will open in Morocco in November right up until the first match day. Public Ticket Sales Counters will be located at the Agadir Stadum, the Marrakech Stadium and at other locations to be confirmed in Morocco.

For more information on Club World Cup tickets, make sure to check FIFA.com regularly for further updates.


FIFA.COM

Moroccan football hooligans rampage in Casablanca

Moroccan football hooligans rampaged through Casablanca, mugging pedestrians and smashing up carriages of the city’s new tram system, cars and public buses. Nearly 200 people have been arrested.

Fans from the capital Rabat paraded through Casablanca before Thursday’s match between clubs from the two cities and attacked people and property. No one was reported injured.

Police said Friday that 193 people were charged with vandalism and the destruction included eight tram carriages, seven public buses and 13 cars. People described on national television being attacked in the streets and mugged by the fans as well.

An inquiry has been launched to discover why more security forces weren’t present.

There is a fierce rivalry between Moroccan football clubs and there have been outbreaks of violence outside games in the past.

alarabiya

Track and Field Athletes Test Positive, Eight Years Later

Six track and field athletes who competed at the 2005 world championships in Helsinki have been cited for doping after their samples were reanalyzed and found to contain banned substances, the sport’s international governing body said Friday.

The athletes, from Russia and Belarus, include three gold and two silver medalists. Among them was Nadzeya Ostapchuk of Belarus, a shot putter who placed first. She had also been stripped of her gold medal at last summer’s London Olympics after testing positive for an anabolic steroid after her event.

The hammer throw champions in 2005, Ivan Tsikhan of Belarus and Olga Kuzenkova of Russia, were also found to be doping, the international federation, I.A.A.F., said. The other athletes cited were Andrei Mikhnevich of Belarus (shot put), Vadim Devyatovskiy (hammer) of Belarus and Tatyana Kotova of Russia (long jump).

“The I.A.A.F.’s message to cheaters is increasingly clear that, with constant advancements being made in doping detection, there is no place to hide,” the organization’s president, Lamine Diack, said in a statement.

The I.A.A.F. did not say what banned substances were found in the re-examination. Antidoping officials keep samples for a minimum of eight years because that is the statute of limitations for retroactively banning an athlete for testing positive.

Officials said disciplinary procedures had begun against the six athletes, which could result in the stripping of their medals and suspensions from the sport.

Source : New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/09/sports/olympics/track-and-field-athletes-test-positive-for-doping-eight-years-later.html?ref=sports&_r=0

:Mata strikes lethal blow for Chelsea

Mata, who scored the opener and set up Lampard, was by far the best player at Stamford Bridge.

JAVIER ESTEPA 02/17/2013

Chelsea put paid to Brentford's modest hopes with a 4-0 thrashing and came through the FA Cup replay to book their place in the fifth round of the competition. Mata, who scored the opener and set up Lampard, was by far the best player at Stamford Bridge. Oscar and Terry also added to the score line for the 'blues'.

The first half was all one-way traffic on the part of Rafa Benítez's men. Brentford knew they were up against tough opposition and once again harried in defence on a truly horrendous pitch in the vain hope of surprising Chelsea. The best of their chances fell to the Brazilian Oscar, but Brentford defended well and never gave up the counter attack. Nevertheless, Petr Cech had two dangerous shots to contend with before the break, one of them from a free kick.

It was exactly the same story in the second half, and the 'blues' had only to wait till the 55th minute to get their just rewards. Juan Mata received the ball on the edge of the box and blasted a low shot past Brentford's keeper.

Oscar flicked in Chelsea's second in the 67th with a back heel from an Ivanovic cross and a few minutes later Lampard scored the third, following a brilliant pass from Juan Mata. John Terry scored the definitive 4-0 to put Chelsea through to the next round of the FA Cup, where Middlesbrough awaits.

Source:Marca

Chelsea FC considering bid for Malaga CF starlet Isco - report

Chelsea are reportedly considering launching a bid for Malaga starlet Isco.

Isco has been linked with a number of Premier League clubs over the past few months, with Liverpool, Manchester City, rivals Manchester United, and Tottenham all believed to be keen.

It is thought Man City could be preparing to launch a bid for the 20-year-old during the current transfer window, with the club's newly appointed director of football Txiki Begiristain a big fan of the youngster.

But Chelsea have also been monitoring Isco for some time, and according to the Daily Mail, the Blues are considering tabling a bid for the playmaker at the end of the season.

Malaga are keen to keep hold of the highly-rated midfielder, who has a buy-out clause believed to be set at around €21million, and have insisted that a move will only happen this year should that figure be met.

Malaga sporting director Mario Husillos last month told TuttoMercato: "Isco is our player and he is not on the market."

When asked if clubs could tempt Malaga to cash in, Husillos added: "We want to keep him here. But, you all know that there is a termination clause and if a club chooses to pay this then it does not depend on us."

When asked to clarify if his comments meant Isco would only leave if his buy-out clause was met, Husillos confirmed: "Yes, but we would like to keep him with us.

http://www.crunchsports.com/category/Soccer/Chelsea-FC-considering-bid-for-Isco-201301070003/

Zambia held by Morocco

African champions Zambia had the better of a 0-0 draw with Morocco at the Rand Stadium on Tuesday in a warm-up match for the 2013 Cup of Nations tournament.

But Chipolopolo (The Copper Bullets) wasted several scoring chances and when Mukuka Mulenga unleashed a powerful shot eight mintues from time, goalkeeper Nadir Lamyaghri deflected it on to the woodwork and the ball was cleared.

The result came as a relief to France-born Zambia coach Herve Renard, who has come under media fire after friendly losses in Saudi Arabia and Tanzania last month and to Angola in Johannesburg last Saturday.

Zambia are in Group C with Burkina Faso, Ethiopia and Nigeria while Morocco face hosts South Africa, Angola and the Cape Verde Islands in Group A of a 22-day championship that kicks off on January 19 in Soweto.

http://www.sport24.co.za/Soccer/Wasteful-Zambia-held-by-Morocco-20130108

Lionel Messi: a fourth Ballon d'Or and dominance looks unstoppable

source:the guardian

Another record falls. Lionel Messi finished 2012 on 91 goals in 69 games. He began 2013 by winning the Fifa Ballon d'Or (with 41.6% of the votes), Cristiano Ronaldo (23.7%) came second and Andrés Iniesta (10.9%) third. It is the fourth time Messi has won it and no one else has won it so often. Because the award is a merger of the old European Footballer of the Year and the Fifa World Player of the Year which was inaugurated only in 1991, Diego Maradona never won it and nor did Pelé but it is doubtful if they would have matched Messi's achievement. Marco van Basten won the European award three times in five years, Johan Cruyff three in four and Platini three years in a row. Alfredo Di Stéfano won it twice. Messi has superseded all of them.

Months of speculation slowly gave way to a growing realisation, especially as the European Championship was left behind and Messi accelerated towards the end of the year: it was going to be him again. He scored twice in each of eight successive games and they were almost all goals of barely plausible brilliance; when he scored only once in his final game of 2012, it was as if he had underachieved. On Monday night, finally it was confirmed. "The good thing about the Ballon d'Or is that it's being handed out tomorrow," the Barcelona coach, Tito Vilanova, had said the night before. Everyone could get on with their lives, talk about something else for a change.

Hardly: first there will be the reaction and then it will not be long before talk turns to next year's award – except that right now it is hard to imagine anyone else walking away a winner from Zurich in 12 months' time. 2012, like 2010, was an opportunity for others but Messi swept all before him again – all the excitement, all the debates, all the headlines and the same winner. "To tell you the truth this is really quite unbelievable," Messi said. "The fourth award that I have had is just too great for words."

Michael Owen recalls how Gérard Houllier had to pull him aside after he won the Ballon d'Or in 2001 and impress upon him the significance of the award. Owen had taken it in his stride; Houllier was shocked at how blasé he was. In France, he insisted, it is huge.

So it is in Spain. The Ballon d'Or has become more important in England over the decade since international football, projected by the Champions League, carried by a television and internet boom, accessible in a way unthinkable 10 years ago, is followed far more closely than it was then and European exposure brings European tastes. But, at least while the candidates all reside south of the Pyrenees, the interest still does not match that of the Spanish.

Only one Spaniard has won the award: Luis Suárez in 1960. Many have never forgiven Owen. Some consider it a grave injustice that Raúl did not become the second; 2001 was the year when Raúl's candidacy was at its strongest; the England striker's Ballon d'Or was "rightfully" Raúl's. Similarly, had Owen not been a former winner, Real Madrid's president Florentino Pérez would surely have been less interested in signing him: here was another one for the collection, status guaranteed. An "objective" measure of the best player in the world.

Just as with Raúl, a sense of injustice exists now. It is quieter but it is there. This Spain side is the most successful international team there has ever been. But none of its players have won the award. In 2010 even Messi seemed surprised to finish ahead of Xavi and Andrés Iniesta. Here Iniesta was Spain's sole representative – the winner of Uefa's Best Player in Europe award following Euro 2012. "I don't need individual awards to feel recognised; football is a collective game," he said. But that collective success, some argue, should have been recognised in this award.

Spain's media and fans remain divided along club lines, though. Over 60% of the country declares itself a fan of Madrid or Barcelona and sports newspapers wear their club colours unashamedly. Even the idea of a Spanish winner only unites them at a superficial level: they want a club winner. When the list for the team of the year was released the front cover of AS said it all: "Madrid 6 Barcelona 5".

And so it is that the battle comes back down to the two men who have come to represent Spain's biggest two clubs, the personification of the greatest rivalry. Messi had already admitted that he would be voting for Xavi, Iniesta and his Argentina team-mate Sergio Agüero; asked why he did not vote for Messi, Ronaldo said the reason was simple – he had not voted at all. Injury meant that he missed international duty and his voting papers were passed to a team-mate – who voted for him.

By the time the ceremony came round, Ronaldo had got used to the idea that he was not going to win: "This is not a life and death issue," he said. In August he had insisted: "I only want justice to be done." José Mourinho, who did not attend despite being short-listed for the managerial award, bemoaned that Messi would win, "after the campaign that has been carried out". Yet the most aggressive campaign had been his own in favour of Ronaldo. "How can Messi win the Ballon d'Or without winning the league or the Champions League?" Mourinho asked.

Last year Messi picked up almost half the votes; there was no question. This time a case can certainly be made for Ronaldo, who helped carry Real Madrid to the league title, taking it from Barcelona for the first time in four years and breaking an all-time points record. He scored the goal that effectively clinched the title at Camp Nou, one of 63 he scored in 71 games. Ronaldo, like Messi, reached the Champions League semi-final and, like Messi, missed a penalty. But Ronaldo missed his in the shootout having scored in normal time.

At Euro 2012 Portugal reached the semi-final where they were defeated by Spain; Ronaldo was down to take the final penalty but never got the chance. Messi, of course, was not there. At team level Messi won only a Copa del Rey.

But then he scored more goals than anyone in a calendar year (the last man to hold the record, Gerd Müller, did not win the Ballon d'Or: Franz Beckenbauer did in 1972). Messi finished as the Champions League's top scorer for a fourth year in a row. And he started to do the one thing that everyone agreed he still had pending: perform brilliantly, consistently, for Argentina: his 12 international goals included a hat-trick against Brazil.

This is a wider electorate now than the ones used for either of the awards that preceded it. With the old system, where only journalists voted, Messi would not have won in 2010. With 600 in the electorate now, the criteria are widened and yet also narrowed; virtually no one is going to leave Messi out of their top three.

Beyond the analyses there is a very simple question: who is the best player in the world? Few would doubt that the answer is Messi. "For as long as Messi is around, the Ballon d'Or makes no sense," Dani Alves said, and Agüero concurred: "The Ballon d'Or will always be for Messi."

Messi is 25. It may be a long wait for someone else.

Fifa World XI of the Year

Iker Casillas (Real Madrid); Dani Alves (Barcelona), Gérard Piqué (Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Marcelo (Real Madrid); Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Xavi (Barcelona), Andrés Iniesta (Barcelona); Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Radamel Falcao (Atlético Madrid), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid).

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2013/jan/07/lionel-messi-ballon-dor

Catalonia, with 9 FC Barcelona players, tie Nigeria (1-1)

All nine FC Barcelona that were called up to the Catalan national team featured in today's match against Nigeria 

Sergio González scored for Catalonia (3'), Nigeria equalised through Bright (54')



The Cornellà-El Prat stadium hosted the Catalan national team’s traditional holiday match this year. The match against Nigeria, Johan Cruyff’s final match at the helm of the Catalan national team, ended in a one-all draw. Nine Blaugrana featured for Catalonia in the Dutchman’s farewell game. 27,234 spectators attended the match. 

Possession and goal for Catalonia 

The Catalan national team, with Piqué, Puyol, Bartra and Xavi in the starting line-up, dominated the first half. It didn’t take long for Cruyff’s men to find the back of the net as the referee pointed to the penalty spot on three minutes after a Nigerian defender handled the ball in the area. Sergio González, who has donned the Catalan strip more than any other footballer, stepped up and netted for the home team. Shortly there after, Sergio was subbed off for Carles Puyol. 

With the 1-0 in favour, the Catalan national team continued to control the match. Nigeria’s first real goalscoring chance came after 20 minutes, but it was stopped short by an onrushing Marc Bartra. Minutes later, the FC Barcelona defender, who started this evening out wide, won the end line and crossed the ball. It could have been Catalonia’s second but no strikers were able to connect with the Blaugrana’s cross. 

The stadium fell silent on 42 minutes when Puyol, after receiving an elbow to his eye, fell to the ground. The Barça defender was subbed off for his club teammate Martín Montoya. 

Six Blaugrana on the pitch 

Catalonia started off the second half with six FC Barcelona players on the pitch. Without Xavi, Piqué and Puyol, who were brought off at the break, it was time for Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, Sergi Roberto and Tello to take center stage. The four players were joined by Bartra and Montoya, who had already played a portion of the first half. On 35 minutes Montoya was denied by the Nigerian goalkeeper. The visiting team, more active in the second half, scored the equaliser - through Bright (min. 54)- after a fantastic counter attack .

Cruyff’s men looked for the match-winning goal and it almost came on 72 minutes when Tello found Jonathan Soriano in the box. Nigeria also created chances to score, especially on the counter. On 80 minutes, Uche’s shot was brilliantly saved by Codina. With 30 seconds to go before the 90 minutes were up, Tello had a fantastic chance to score the winner but his shot went wide.

fcbarcelona

Egypt's Abou-Treika shortlisted for best African-based player award

Egyptian footballer and Ahly striker Mohammed Abou-Treika has been shortlisted for the 2012 Best African-based Player award.

African governing body CAF announced that Treika made it among the final three candidates, including Zambians Rainford Kalaba and Stoppila Sunzu, who both play for Democratic Republic of Congo club TP Mazembe, Egypt’s al-Ahram online reported Friday.

Youssed Msakni and Yannick N’Djeng of Tunisia’s Esperance club were dropped despite leading their team to the African Champions final where they conceded to Ahly, 2-3 on aggregate.

However, for Abou Treika, it has been a disappointing year as the Egyptian national team failed to qualify in competing for the African Nations Cup in South Africa next year. He also barely participated in domestic football following the suspension of last season’s Egyptian Premier League due to the Port Said violence in February.

Fellow compatriot Ahmed Hassan won the award in 2010. This year’s winner will be announced in Ghana on Dec. 20.

alarabiya

Saudi female fans want their own space in football stadiums

Some Saudi women came all the away from the kingdom only to watch their country’s Al-Fateh team play against Kuwait’s Al-Arabi in a UEFA Cup football match in Kuwait City on Monday.

“We came all the way from al-Hasa to support our team, and we wish that our team will win,” one woman said, adding “this is the first time we came here to watch a game live...the experience is superb and hopefully we will win.”

The women, excited to be in Kuwait City to watch the match live, cheered and applauded Al-Fateh in the first leg match against Al-Arabi. 

Another Saudi woman, ecstatic, expressed how much it is different to watch the game in a stadium. 

“First of all, when we come watch the match real live in the stadium is far more exciting. We live the experience and it is such a pity that we cannot attend matches live in Saudi Arabia.”

The women, however, reacted with some sadness when Al-Arabi won 3-2 goals against their country’s team.

In the second leg match, a draw with Saudi’s Al-Fateh is enough for Al-Arabi to qualify, but Al-Fateh needs a win to advance.

alarabiya