Long-standing accusations of corruption in the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), the world soccer governing body, have picked up traction lately, forcing two top officials in the organization to step aside in light of accusations that they offered $40,000 bribes to two dozen officials in an attempt to buy their votes for the presidency. [More]
Basketball Championships To Be Vuvuzela-Free
By August 2, 2010
Kobe and Lebron won’t be at the World Basketball Championships, which start on August 28th in Turkey. Neither will any of the other NBA players who helped Team USA win the Gold at the 2008 Olympics. But if you’re still going to watch the tournament, here’s one consolation: No vuvuzelas. The organizers have banned the horns, saying that they’re “not appropriate in a confined space such as a basketball arena.” [More]
FIFA Backs Down on World Ticket Prices (A Bit)
By December 23, 2005
For you in this time of joy, a happyish ending to Grant Williams’s FIFA World Cup Ticket Saga:
Edit: I get results, baby! According to the Babelfish translation of this page, the TST-Series non-refundable fees have been negotiated down to only 10, 20, and 30 euros per ticket instead of the 20, 30, and 50 euros they were originally. Not perfectly to my satisfaction, but better than nothing, I suppose.
FIFA’s World Cup Balls: ‘Worse Than Ticketmaster’
By December 9, 2005
More evil than Ticketmaster? That’s the accusation fielded by Grant WIlliams against FIFA, World Cup soccer’s governing body. Even better, he’s got the numbers to back it up. It seems FIFA requires you to put down money on tickets before the championships have shaken out. If the team whom you’ve pre-paid to watch doesn’t qualify, FIFA refunds your money—minus a per-ticket “modality” fee.
