Top Stories

Monday Kickoff: Blatter confirms FIFA candidacy; Reus injures ankle; and more

SeppBlatterFIFA8 (Reuters)

By DAN KARELL

Sepp Blatter has made the news official. He’s running for a fifth term.

Despite promising in the run up to the 2011 FIFA presidential election that it would be his last, Blatter has unsurprisingly decided to run again for FIFA’s highest office, where he is almost surely a shoe-in to win again in next year’s elections.

Blatter confirmed his intention to run again in a recorded message to delegates at the Soccerex convention in Manchester, England.

“You see a mission is never finished. And my mission is not finished,” the 78-year-old Blatter said, via Reuters. “Then I got (from) the last (FIFA) congress in Sao Paulo not only the impression but the support of the majority, a huge majority of national associations asking ‘Please go on, be our president also in future.’ Now I would make an official declaration definitely in September (to stand)… when we have the executive committee.

“I will inform the executive committee. It’s a question of respect also to say then to the football family, ‘Yes I will be ready. I will be a candidate.'”

Blatter’s top potential opposition, UEFA president Michel Platini, pulled out of the race to become FIFA president, claiming he preferred to remain as UEFA president. Former FIFA executive Jerome Champaign is the only other candidate so far who has announced that he will run for the presidency.

Here are some more stories to kick off your week:

REUS INJURES SAME ANKLE IN GERMANY WIN

Germany picked up a big win to start off Euro 2016 qualification on a positive note, but for the second time since June, they’ve suffered a massive scare with a Marco Reus injury.

The star Borussia Dortmund midfielder missed out on the World Cup after tearing ankle ligaments in Germany’s final friendly match before heading to Brazil, and last Sunday, Reus suffered an ankle injury late in the 2-1 victory over Scotland in Dortmund. Reus limped off the field and was substituted in stoppage time.

Although the injury is on the same left ankle that just healed following surgery, Germany coach Joachim Löw is optimistic for Reus quick recovery.

“Reus turned his ankle again and it is the same one as the one against Armenia,” Löw said following the match. “Initial diagnosis suggests it may not be as bad as before the World Cup. But we will have to wait for more checks.”

RIBERY COULD BE BANNED FOR REFUSING CALL-UPS

Franck Ribery announced his international retirement earlier this summer, but some in French soccer think he’s retired too soon.

In an interview with German newspaper Bild am Sonntag, UEFA president Michel Platini threatened suspension as a consequence for refusing a call-up, and called on Ribery to play for France as they prepare to host Euro 2016 in less than two years time.

“Ribery can’t just decide himself whether he plays for France or not,” Platini said. “If (France) coach Didier Deschamps calls him up, he has to go to the national team. If he doesn’t he’ll be suspended.”

“He’s French, the European Championship is in France in 2016, not Poland. He has to want to play.”

France coach Didier Deschamps has not decided whether he’ll call up Ribery for Les Blues’ next slate of matches in October.

QUICK KICKS

Andrea Pirlo has admitted that former Juventus coach and current Italian National Team manager Antonio Conte convinced Pirlo to continue with the Azzurri. (REPORT)

England will likely be without Jordan Henderson after he limped out of training ahead of their Euro 2016 qualifying match at Switzerland. (REPORT)

Maicon has been removed from Brazil’s squad by head coach Dunga for “internal problems,” and has been replaced with U-21 player Fabinho. (REPORT)

Brazilian centerback David Luiz meanwhile has been ruled out of Brazil’s Tuesday friendly against Ecuador due to a minor knee injury. (REPORT)

Dani Carvajal has suffered a hamstring injury and will play no part in Spain’s match against Macedonia on Monday evening. (REPORT)

Chivas de Guadalajara returned to the win column on Sunday with a 3-0 victory over city rivals Universidad de Guadalajara. (REPORT)

Fluminense forward Kenedy’s 88th minute goal saved a point for his side in a wild 3-3 draw with Cruzeiro at the Maracana. (REPORT)

————-

What do you think of these reports? Do you expect Blatter to win election to a fifth term? Are you worried for Reus after being injured again? What do you think of Platini’s statements on Ribery?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. “Ribery can’t just decide himself whether he plays for France or not,” Platini said. “If (France) coach Didier Deschamps calls him up, he has to go to the national team. If he doesn’t he’ll be suspended.”

    seriously, how is this even possible? it’s most certainly up to the player to decide when they want to retire.

    also, Blatter makes it sound like we will all be okay with him running again because he has the support of the “large majority” of the Congress. DUH. they want to keep things corrupt. so that is NOT a ringing endorsement…

    Reply
  2. let’s see:

    next 2 world cups scheduled in countries that football associations might seriously consider boycotting for humanitarian reasons: check

    a policy on concussion that makes the NFL and NHL look responsible by comparison: check

    FIFA not giving a flip about mounting public outcry over continued allegations of bribery: check

    sure, why not continue with the status quo?

    Someone, anyone, run against this clown. Please at least make an effort to stop the insanity.

    Reply
  3. I wonder if anyone is going to be dumb enough to run against him. Considering everyone who has run against him has been banned for life during their campaigns…

    Reply
  4. ummm

    didnt lahm just retire? wait until yogi love hears about that!

    and what about players lkke drogba and etoo

    besides if ribery wants to know how to avoid a call up he can speak to chandler

    Reply
  5. Leave it to a Napoleonic Code country to try and argue that the absence of express provision for international retirement or death means they can call up your corpse and punish it being AWOL.

    Reply
  6. Do we really want a competent, transparent FIFA?
    The way MLS is run I would rather they keep doing their shady deals and we keep doing ours.

    Reply
    • Uh. You’re comparing apples and oranges. FIFA is legitimately corrupt – and in, brides were paid to bring the World Cup to Qatar. MLS is opaque in its dealings with players. I don’t like it, but opaque does not equal corrupt.

      Reply
      • Shady is paying millions and millions in bribes to land a multi-billion dollar gig.

        Protecting operations in an extremely vulnerable industry (professional, profitable soccer in the US) so that millions more and can enjoy the league and sport is creating win-win situations for fans and owners alike.

        In under 2 decades, the league will go from contraction from 12 to 10 teams to solid expansion across North America and house 24 first division, profitable franchises all while paving the way for profitable minor league franchises.

        Kinda, sorta, majorly different.

      • Exactly. But some how, MLS is “sketchy” bc they’re trying to create something never done before in this country.

      • if everybody could spare the 30 or seconds it takes to read the short post bodguero has written, the entire planet would become smarter and happier.

        and for euro leagues, reading this is basically porn.

    • This might be the worst comment I’ve ever seen on this site. I mean really, really terrible. Please explain to me the transparency of Serie A, or the EPL, or any major league is better than MLS . Actually, please don’t. I don’t think I could read another one of these.

      Reply
  7. “Then I got (from) the last (FIFA) congress in Sao Paulo not only the impression but the support of the majority, a huge majority of national associations asking ‘Please go on, be our president also in future.’ Now I would make an official declaration definitely in September (to stand)… when we have the executive committee…….

    Pretty much what he is saying those who are just as corrupted as him want one of their own to stay at the top.

    Reply
  8. “You see the [bribery money] is never finished. And my [bribery money] is not finished,” the 78-year-old Blatter said, via Reuters.

    Reply
    • Also proving Plantini is just as big of a jackarse as Blatter, “Ribery can’t just decide himself whether he plays for France or not,” Platini said.

      Is he referring to a club football suspension or the national team suspension? The former would be ridiculous, and the latter is seems to already be in place…by Ribery deciding for himself.

      Although, maybe if they offered him underage prostitutes Ribery would reconsider.

      Reply

Leave a Reply to Dave Cancel reply