Bulgaria and Hungary punished by Fifa

Bulgaria and Hungary have both been ordered to play their next World Cup qualifier behind closed doors following racist and anti-semitic abuse from their fans.


FIFA announced the punishments as players and anti-discrimination groups demand tougher action against incidents at stadiums, including in Italy and Serbia.

FIFA fined Bulgaria $23,000 and Hungary £26,000 following incidents at home games.

Bulgaria fans made monkey chants at Denmark defender Patrick Mtiliga, during a World Cup qualifier in Sofia on October 12.

Hungary fans directed anti-Semitic slogans and reportedly displayed Iran flags to insult Israel at an August 15 friendly in Budapest.

In a statement FIFA said: "We strongly condemns all forms of racism in football, and any form of discrimination will not be tolerated and will receive a strong response by the relevant FIFA authorities."

On the Hungary incident, FIFA stated its disciplinary committee "were unanimous in condemning an abhorrent episode of racism, anti-Semitism, and of political provocative and aggressive nature perpetrated by supporters of the Hungarian national team."

On the Bulgaria fans FIFA added: "the offensive, denigratory and discriminatory actions of a small group of Bulgarian supporters was shameful and a clear breach of the FIFA disciplinary code."

Bulgaria and Hungary are currently in second place in their respective groups, which would be enough to earn a place in the European play-offs in November.

Hungary will now have to play their World Cup qualifier against Romania on March 22 behind closed doors, while Bulgaria will have no fans at their qualifier against Malta on the same day.

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Source: SkySports

Zidane: Brazil favourites to win 2014 World Cup

Former France international Zinedine Zidane believes that Brazil are the team to beat at the 2014 World Cup on home soil.

The Selecao last won the tournament in 2002 when they beat Germany 2-0 in the final, and Zidane feels they have what it takes to go all the way again in two years' time.

"Brazil is the country of football. They are the favourites for me as they have home advantage as well as a number of very talented players," Zidane told reporters.

"They have a lot of individual quality. They have excellent youngsters such as Neymar and Lucas, who are only 20 and already have plenty of experience."

Brazil recently parted company with national team coach Mano Menezes following their disappointing performances at the 2011 Copa America and London Olympics, and appointed Luiz Felipe Scolari as his replacement.

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Source: Goal

Luzhniki to host 2018 World Cup Final

FIFA has confirmed that the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow will be used to stage the 2018 World Cup final.

The ground, which hosted the 2008 Champions League final, will also be used for the opening match of the tournament as well as one of the two semi-finals.

St Petersburg will host the other last-four encounter.

FIFA's executive committee also approved Moscow, St Petersburg, Kazan and Sochi as venues for the 2017 Confederations Cup.

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Source: ESPN

Qatar keen to hold 2022 World Cup in the summer

Qatar's World Cup organisers have vowed to hold the 2022 tournament in the summer despite calls for it to move to the winter.

UEFA president Michel Platini has been canvassing for the tournament to be held in winter months rather than the extreme heat of the summer.

However, Hassan Al Thawadi, the secretary general of the Qatar 2022 supreme committee, insists they are determined to stage the tournament in the summer and that plans have been made to develop air-conditioned stadiums and also areas for fans to cope with the searing temperatures.

"Fans will come. They will experience a middle eastern World Cup," Al Thawadi told the Guardian. "They will feel safe, they will feel secure, they will feel comfortable and they will have a lot of fun.

"They will be physically cool and they will be cool in every sense.

"There are two cities where the neighbourhoods use active and passive cooling techniques, whether in terms of shading or the way it brings in the wind.

"Blowing in the cooled air is the active aspect but at the same time utilising shading techniques. Part of our commitment is that when fans come in they'll enjoy their time here. We made that commitment to the world and we can't back away from it."

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Source: SkySports