Tag Archives: unopposed

Sepp Blatter hands FA 314,000 cheque for St George"s Park

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Friends again After World Cup 2018 snub, Blatter hands FA 314k cheque for St George's Park

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UPDATED:

14:13 GMT, 21 November 2012

The relationships between FIFA and the FA, which reached an all-time low after the 2018 World Cup vote debacle, have now improved to the extent that Zurich have awarded 314,000 Goal project funding to St George's Park.

The money will be spent on further developing the state-of-the-art sports science and medical facilities at the National Football Centre outside Burton, which was visited by FIFA President Sepp Blatter.

Blatter, who was greeted at the entrance by FA chairman David Bernstein with a warm embrace, said: 'FIFA is committed to the development of football across the world and the Goal projects are crucial in achieving this mission.

Take Blatt: FIFA have handed a cheque to the FA for St George's Park

Take Blatt: FIFA have handed a cheque to the FA for St George's Park

'Protecting the health of the players is one of our key objectives and I am therefore very pleased that this project will be dedicated to a sports science and medical centre at such an emblematic location as St George’s Park.'

Bernstein, who made his solo stance against Blatter's unopposed re-election at the FIFA Congress in 2011 following the World Cup vote fall-out, said: 'This is fantastic news and reflects FIFA’s commitments to raising standards within the game around the world and to our improving relationships with FIFA.

'I'd like to thank our colleagues at FIFA for their support of St George's Park as well as those who continue to work so hard on the project here in England.'

The rebuilt partnership between Zurich and Wembley was further strengthened through a Memorandum of Understanding signed jointly by Blatter and Bernstein.

Great expectations: The new facility at Burton is the future English football

Great expectations: The new facility at Burton is the future English football

This will see the FA share their expertise in various football disciplines, including sports medicine, stadium safety, and women’s football with developing nations.

And SGP will play host to nine football coaches from around the world next month as part of the strategy to re-engage with federations. This initiative will be paid through the FA's new international bursary scheme.

The Goal programme is FIFA's financial assistance programme which was launched in 1999.

Tom Daley to compete unopposed at Diving Championships in Sheffield

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Daley and Waterfield to compete unopposed at Diving Championships in Sheffield

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UPDATED:

22:40 GMT, 7 June 2012

Tom Daley and Pete Waterfield compete at the British Gas Diving Championships on Friday – but they will have no opponents.

The London 2012 medal hopefuls are the only entrants in the event in Sheffield, which also sees fellow medal contenders for the summer Tonia Couch and Sarah Barrow competing in the women's event.

Returning to Sheffield will be emotional for Daley, as the Championships were the last event his late father Rob attended.

Making a splash: Daley and Couch will be competing in Sheffield

Making a splash: Daley and Couch will be competing in Sheffield

Making a splash: Daley and Couch will be competing in Sheffield

Brann keeper Piotr Leciejewski argues with team-mates following fluke "fair play" goal

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Fair play Brann keeper objects to conceding purposefully after his side score fluke goal

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UPDATED:

16:05 GMT, 15 May 2012

Kicking the ball back to the opposition after it has purposefully been put out of play has become a welcome staple of the fair play etiquette in football.

But what happens when the ball upon its return somehow finds its way into the back of the net

That's exactly what happened in a top flight Norwegian game between Lillestrom and Brann, after the visitors scored a fluke goal to go 4-2 ahead.

Following an injury where Lillestrom kicked the ball out, Brann player Erik Mjelde’s attempt to kick the ball back to opposition keeper Stefan Magnusson from his own half ended up with the ball bouncing over the Icelandic stopper’s head and into the goal.

For the Brann players it appeared a unanimous decision to purposefully concede to restore the one-goal difference between the teams …until goalkeeper Piotr Leciejewski stepped in.

The Pole furiously gestured and argued with his players claiming that he would not return the favour, and stuck to his word – even if his team-mates didn’t agree.

From the restart, Lillestrom run through the Brann defence unopposed but faced a different proposition in Leciejewski who clearly tried to stop the one-on-one chance before being beaten with a neat finish. So much for the goalkeepers union.