By DAN KARELL
While much of the consensus around FIFA seems to point to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar being moved to the winter, Australia has gone public to demand that if the tournament is moved to the winter, they should be heavily compensated for the potential costs.
The Football Federation of Australia (FFA), who were among the nations bidding for a World Cup in 2022 but lost in the first round of voting, believe that a vote to move the World Cup to the winter should be delayed until the FIFA Executive Committee discusses the consequences of such a move to leagues around the world.
In addition, FFA chairman Frank Lowy believes that Australia and the other nations that bid for a summer World Cup should be compensated for money lost by moving the tournament to a time when it’s either unfeasible or in competition with other sports and can’t gain as strong a foothold in the market.
“If the World Cup were to be staged in the middle of our A-League season it would impact on our competition, not just for 2022, but for the seasons leading up to and beyond that date,” Lowy said in a statement. “Clubs, investors, broadcasters, players and fans would all be affected.”
Qatar won the 2022 World Cup over bids from Australia, Japan, South Korea, and the United States.
Here are some more stories to get your Tuesday started:
INTER FINED AND SANCTIONED FOR FAN RACISM
Three days after their 1-1 draw against Juventus, Inter Milan have been handed a fine and partial closure to the San Siro due to racist chanting from their fans.
According to reports in Italy, the Inter ultras chanted racist abuse towards Juventus players Paul Pogba and Kwadwo Asamoah, and the sporting court in Italy announced that the ultra’s section in the San Siro will be closed for the side’s next home game, against Fiorentina on September 26.
In addition, the club were fined €15,000 for the chants, and were fined another €15,000 for fans using lasers to distract the Juventus players and coaching staff.
SWANSEA COME BACK TO DRAW LIVERPOOL
Facing his former club for the first time since moving to the Liberty Stadium this summer, Jonjo Shelvey wound up having a part in all four goals of a 2-2 draw between Swansea and Liverpool.
The Swansea midfielder needed less than 90 seconds to score his only goal of the night, single-handedly going past two defenders before supplying a cool left-footed finish to give the Welsh side the lead. However, barely 90 seconds later, Shelvey gift-wrapped a goal for Liverpool, passing the ball back to Daniel Sturridge, who couldn’t miss in front of goal.
In the 36th minute, Shelvey again sent a pass that went straight to Liverpool loan signing Victor Moses, who dribbled forward and scored an accurate shot into the corner to give the Merseyside club the lead. However, in the 64th minute, the former England youth international Shelvey made amends for his error with a brilliant flick header to teammate Michu, who finished calmly to tie the scoreline.
ROMA CONTINUE FINE EARLY SEASON FORM
The transition to playing under their third coach in 12 months seems to be going better than expected.
Since joining the club this summer, Rudi Garcia has put his side joint-top of the Serie A table with Napoli after scoring three second-half goals in their comeback 3-1 victory on Monday night against Parma.
Jonathan Biabiany scored a fine header at the near post to give Parma the lead in the 39th minute, but a terrific strike by Alessandro Florenzi two minutes after halftime break put Roma level. In the 70th minute, Francesco Totti beat the offside trap and collected a chip from new Roma signing Kevin Strootman, finishing easily to give the visitors the lead. Strootman finished off the match five minutes from time with a penalty kick goal to make it 3-1 to Roma.
QUICK KICKS
UEFA President Michel Platini has said he’ll wait until during or after the 2014 FIFA World Cup to decide whether he will run for the FIFA presidency. (REPORT)
Hamburg have sacked their coach Thorsten Fink following a poor start in the Bundesliga. (REPORT)
In an interview with French publication L’Equipe, Carlo Ancelotti admitted that he was ready to leave Paris Saint-Germain last March, regardless if he got the Real Madrid job. (REPORT)
Borussia Dortmund will be without their captain Sebastian Kehl for up to six weeks. (REPORT)
Liverpool’s Daniel Agger suffered an injury when trying to get out of way of a falling dumbbell. (REPORT)
Tunisia have hired Dutch coach Ruud Krol for their two playoff matches for a World Cup place against Cameroon. (REPORT)
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What do you think of this news? Do you see Australia demanding legal action of the WC is moved to winter? Do you see Shelvey being dropped from his next match? Do you feel the sanctions on Inter weren’t harsh enough?
Share your thoughts below.