Brazil’s answer to the vuvuzela has been unveiled.
The yellow and green percussion instrument is called a CAXIROLA [pronounced ka-shee-raw-la], and produces a rattling sound when shaken. It is made from recycled plastic, and will be given to fans attending the Confederations Cup in June, seen as the country’s dress rehearsal for the 2014 World Cup.
Brazilian musician Carlinhos Brown worked with FIFA and Brazil’s ministry of sports to create the caxirola.
The country’s president Dilma Rousseff said: “That image of the green and yellow caxirola and the fact that we are talking about a ‘green’ plastic in a country that leads in sustainability in the world. And at the same time it is an object that has the ability to do two things, to combine the image with sound and take us to our goals.”
Click the Image to watch and listen to the caxirola
The Caxirola will be used at the 2014 Brazil World Cup
Technology is invading football – end of discussion.
FIFA has announced the name of the winner of the goal-line technology provider for its next official tournament.
Now it is time to anticipate more infiltration of the beautiful game.
GoalControl GmbH (based in Wurselen, Germany) has been awarded the license to provide its goal-line technology (GLT) for the FIFA Confederations Cup 2013 in Brazil. Based on the success of the company, it will continue to be the provider of the same technology for the 2014 FIFA World Cup – Brazil.
The GLT approved can be described by the following:
14 high-speed cameras around the pitch
GoalControl-4D system
Position of the ball is continually and automatically captured in three dimensions – using X, Y and Z co-ordinates
When the ball has completely crossed the line, the central analysis unit sends an encrypted signal to the referee’s watch in less than a second
Adaptation to local conditions of the stadium and city
Compatibility of each GLT system in relation to FIFA match operations
Prior to the start of every match, the match officials will also carry out their own tests
Goal-Line Technology; where money will be spent to kill spontaneity
I was closer to the World Cup Winner’s Trophy than Cristiano Ronaldo will ever be.
The FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour was organized by VISA – Middle East. The trophy itself was on display in The Dubai Mall on 29-30-31 March, 2013 from 10:00 – 22:00, at the Grand Atrium. The activity around the event was mainly focusing on allowing thousands of people taking their picture near the cup. Some Samba lookalike artists danced next to the cup and a couple of football freestylers showcased their skills.
People queued in the mall, stepped up to the cup, took the photo [no touching or holding was allowed], and gathered around it to win some memorabilia by VISA [including the Brazil 2014 mascot].
The base of the World Cup Winner’s Trophy that will be handed to the winner in Brazil 2014
I was present at the mall, but couldn’t get a good hold of the cup or take a good photo. I even searched in the many photo albums on Visa’s Facebook Page, and couldn’t spot mine. However, I was lucky and privileged to get a special invitation from VISA to see the cup up close and personal.
The special showcasing was held at the Armani Hotel, Floor 123 in Burj Khalifa, Dubai, on 1 April, 2013. I went there looking for another chance next to the cup and I made sure I spent some time talking to it. The activities around the cup were similar to those in the mall, yet no gifts were given to the attendees but some food and beverages were served.
World Cup Winner’s Trophy in Burj Khalifa, surrounded by security
The marketing guys at VISA had some words talking about why they have chosen to bring the trophy and take it on tour. The lovely part out of the PR talk was the journey the trophy took and will take, soon.
A representative from VISA flew over from Dubai to Frankfurt where she met someone bringing the trophy from another event in Brussels. She flew First Class on Emirates Airlines over to Dubai with the trophy. After being held on display in The Dubai Mall, the trophy was brought to the Armani Hotel for a day, after which it will go to Kuwait for a day, then Oman for a day, too, before coming back to Dubai for one more day with the people from VISA. The journey will be concluded after that by flying again to Europe, specifically Zurich, to be handed out to the FIFA caretakers.
Dancing for the World Cup Winner’s Trophy
I couldn’t touch the trophy for security reasons, but I really felt I own the world while standing next to it. I asked many questions to finally come to a conclusion demystifying the fact about who gets to keep it forever. Apparently, this trophy is the ‘Winner’s Trophy’ which will be given to the National Team winning the Brazil 2014 Final. The original trophy never leaves the FIFA headquarters but for the opening and closing ceremonies of the World Cup Tournament. Another fact I got is that this trophy with its current design will not change similar to what happened earlier when Brazil won in 1970. There was a rule that any nation winning three titles in the World Cup will get to keep the cup forever and the design changes. It seems that this rule is now abolished. Brazil – Argentina – Italy – Germany will not keep this trophy with them in case any won the next tournament.
The closest I will ever be to the world cup trophy
The event was a once in a lifetime chance to see the World Cup this close, and it gave me a good feeling too. I will be looking for more events by VISA and other sponsors as the Head of Marketing Karim Beg promised.
Here are the two videos I managed to shoot:
p.s. Excuse my video and photo taking capabilities
The 2014 FIFA World Cup Winner’s trophy is coming to the UAE.
UPDATE: Location will be The Dubai Mall.
Visa is one of six FIFA Partners, with exclusive global rights in the Financial Services product category through 2014. Now, Visa is bringing the World Cup Trophy to the football fanatics in the United Arab Emirates, between 29 and 31 March, 2013.
More details are to be released soon, and Visa is promising many surprises.
Chelsea just lost the FIFA Club World Cup Final to Brazilian side Corinthians. Jokes aside, you tell me what should be done or what is next for the Abramovich Empire. Some say that this title is not the best to achieve and some see it as the end of the world. I am lost and cannot find the words at the moment…
FIFA has announced the three finalists for the Ballon d’Or 2012 award. No surprises pulled, and it is a déjà vu: Andres Iniesta – Lionel Messi – Cristiano Ronaldo. The winner of the award will be revealed at the FIFA Ballon d’Or gala as part of a televised show at the Zurich Kongresshaus on 7 January 2013.
Do you know that “1966 ghost goal”? And how about that Lampard disallowed goal in 2010? Well, they are, or actually were, among those moments that constitute two essential principles of the beautiful game of football: Spontaneity and Controversy.
I am not referring to those moments in the past tense because they happened some years ago, but because FIFA has approved the Goal-Line Technology.
On July 5, 2012, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) convened at the Home of FIFA in Zurich for a Special Meeting under the chairmanship of FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter. Three major items were decided and approved in this meeting, and the goal-line technology (GLT) was one of them (details here). The decision means we will see the GLT officially implemented starting and during the FIFA Club World Cup 2012 in Japan. It also means that Sepp Blatter finally gave in and changed his mind after he fought it for long. Moreover, it means that the head of UEFA, Michel Platini, is upset. And last but not least, it means that fans around the world have split feelings (not the English obviously) about what the decision means.
I am not Blatter, I am not Platini, and I am not English, but I am football. My greatest fear though, is that the goal-line technology will open Pandora’s Box and the beautiful game will become another Tennis lookalike or American Football wannabe. I know that Blatter and the IFAB promised that the “technology will only be utilised for the goal line and for no other areas of the game,” but I am worried. I am worried that more calls for more changes arise, and the human spontaneous and controversial factors disappear.
The controversy never ends; from Geoff Hurst in the 1966 World Cup, to Frank Lampard in 2010, passing by Muntari in the 2012 Juventus-Milan clash, and finally John Terry’s clearance in Euro 2012
Offsides: Instant replays that will cause the game to stop many times or gameplays repeated and the likes of Inzaghi or David Villa get no balls
Free kicks: Distance measurement and robots invading the field and fixing stuff to determine wall placement
Penalty kicks: A committee of ten thousand “experts” holding mobile phones and glued to screens talking to the referee at each incident inside the box
Substitutions: Stopwatches used to prevent time wasting and fans can get a burger while time stands still. Players come off and then decide to come on again.
Bookings: Some exotic models to count the number of fouls committed by a player and hand the referee a report card to book him after three strikes
Fouls: A Supreme Court judge sits on the sides calculating the seconds wasted with each foul and feeding the referee. The game of 90 minutes becomes the game of 90 days.
Posts and Crossbars: Colors added for balls to be identified as corner kicks or goal kicks. And maybe, just maybe, they become players and a ball hitting any, while going out of the field, becomes a corner kick.
Well, again, I am worried. I know that the goal-line technology will put many demons to sleep, and some millions will rejoice, but it is not fair for the game. GLT means no anxiety within players fearing the unknown. GLT means playing safe. GLT means extra hundreds of thousands of US dollars paid to implement it in each stadium. GLT means many federations will have no qualified stadiums to host games. GLT means that moments we still argue about, like 1966 or 2010, will never exist.
Still, GLT is now approved, and I can do nothing about it, but I will hold the FIFA, the IFAB, and Blatter, and all those celebrating to this: “technology will only be utilised for the goal line and for no other areas of the game.”
Now, you are welcome to discuss your fears or show your happiness.
The FIFA/Coca-Cola Ranking was published today, 11 April 2012. A closer look at the table gives an idea on the current ranking of the 10 participating Asian national teams of the World Cup Qualifiers (Asian Zone – Round Four). The teams are: Group A: Korea Republic, Iran, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Lebanon / Group B: Australia, Iraq, Jordan, Oman, Japan.
Talking about these 10 teams in general (world ranking), 5 of them moved down the table, 4 moved up, and one team maintained its position. As to their ranking within the Asian Zone, the status is almost the same of March’s, with the exception of Korea Republic and Japan who switched places.
Next release of the FIFA/Coca-Cola Ranking is on 09 May 2012.
Before Messi, there was only one Argentinean player who broke through the FIFA World Player of the Year Award; and no, it was not Diego Maradona. Before the FIFA Ballon d’Or, there were the FIFA World Player of the Year and the Ballon d’Or; and yes, they merged in 2010. The facts are many, so are the awards. Any magazine, association, organization, or human being can create an award and nominate a different player. Hence, there is no one true criteria to select the world’s best player but there is a general consensus among a certain committee members to select one.
The most prestigious accolade in today’s football is called the FIFA Ballon d’Or. The winner of the 2011 award was selected some hours ago: Lionel Messi. The Argentinean star has won the prize for the third consecutive time, ahead of his Barcelona teammate Xavi, and Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo. Few will say Messi’s win was a surprise, and many will agree that Xavi was the biggest loser for the third consecutive year. However, and if it is of a consolation to the midfield genius, Maradona never won any of the aforementioned awards, and Messi himself said: “I want to share the award with Xavi: you deserve this as much as I do.”
FIFA Ballon d'Or 2011: Lionel Messi was again crowned the indisputable king of the sport (by fifa.com)
As of today, like it or not, hate him or love him, Lionel Messi is the undisputed “King of Planet Football.” At the age of 24, Messi has a staggering résumé where he:
Won the last FIFA World Player of the Year (2009) – An honor that will never be anyone’s but his
Won the first FIFA Ballon d’Or (2010) – No one will ever take that from him
Won 3 consecutive Ballon d’Or awards (2009, 2010, 2011) – Only Michel Platini share the same honor: 1983, 1984, 1985
Won 3 consecutive FIFA World Player of the Year (2009, 2010, 2011) – No one has ever done the same
Joined Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini, and Marco van Basten as the fourth player to win the Ballon d’Or 3 times
Joined Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo as the third player to win the FIFA World Player of the Year award 3 times
Scored some million goals, assisted some other millions, and won thousands of individual and team trophies.
We can argue till the end of days about who the greatest player of all times is. We can even keep wondering about whether individual titles or team titles are more important. Yet, we shall all agree that each era has a name that makes the difference.
From left to right: Ballon D'Or (1956 - 2009) - FIFA World Player of the Year (1991 - 2009) - FIFA Ballon d'Or (2010 - )
To recap, and so you do not get confused as I did, and since Messi will bolster his titles soon, here is a quick summary of the three famous awards:
FIFA World Player of the Year: Started in 1991 by FIFA and stopped in 2009. In 2010 it was renamed FIFA Ballon d’Or.
Ballon d’Or (Golden Ball): Started in 1956 by France Football Magazine. Until 1995 it was only awarded for European players. From 1995 till 2009 it was open to any player. It was stopped in 2009. In 2010 it was renamed FIFA Ballon d’Or.
FIFA Ballon d’Or: Started in 2010. It is a merger of the FIFA World Player of the Year and the Ballon d’Or.
