The Corsham News Letter no. 60 of July 1^st 2008” is available. Please, go at the right hand side of my website, and click on the "The Corsham Newsletter". And enjoy that superior work.

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Latest News:

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La version française sera publiée ultérieurement sur FIFA.com.

La versión espanola será publicada mas tarde en FIFA.com.

Die deutsche Version wird später auf FIFA.com abrufbar sein.

122^nd Annual General Meeting of the International

Football Association Board

IFAB PUTS ON ICE GOAL-LINE TECHNOLOGY AND AGREES TO TEST TWO ADDITIONAL ASSISTANT REFEREES

At its meeting today in Gleneagles (Scotland), the International Football Association Board (IFAB), has decided to put on ice the goal-line technology and to stop tests in this area until further notice. Amongst others, the questions of the human aspect of the Game, the universality of the Laws of the Game, as well as the simplicity and efficiency of the technology were taken into consideration.

But the IFAB has approved a proposal from FIFA to conduct an experiment involving two additional assistant referees who will mainly focus on the fouls and misconduct in the penalty area. The competition in which this test will be conducted will be decided at a later stage.

The Board also discussed a proposal from the Scottish FA regarding the use of video evidence to sanction simulation after the game. Although the suggestion was not approved, the IFAB members agreed that simulation is an act of cheating which must be intensively fought and sanctioned during the game and that all member associations would be encouraged to do so.

Furthermore, a proposal submitted by the FA and called Fair Play Convention, aimed at dealing with injured players while the game is in progress ,was acknowledged but not approved, mainly on the grounds that fair-play is an instinct behaviour rather than an attitude to rule.

Regarding the Laws of the Game, the IFAB approved the following amendments:

Law 1 – The Field of Play

In order to standardize the size of the football pitch for A international matches, the IFAB has decided to set a fixed size of 105m long and 68m wide (instead of a minimum and maximum length – from 100m to 110m - and a minimum and a maximum width – from 64m to 75m - as mentioned in the present text).

Law 2 – The Ball

Within the FIFA Quality Concept for footballs, the IFAB has agreed that the new “FIFA APPROVED”, “FIFA INSPECTED” and “International Match ball Standard” logos, which were launched in May 2007, will replace the former logos displayed in the present text.

Revision of the Laws of the Game

The last major revision of the text of the Laws of the Game was one 11 years ago. Since then, many additions and amendments have been made to the Laws themselves and various publications as well as teaching materials have been produced.  As a result, a further revision was overdue. The IFAB has approved the revision which contains no major change in content but simplifies the wording of the Laws.

On other business, it’s been agreed that a discussion about the look and design of the ball will be submitted to the agenda of the next sub-committee meeting.

Also, as it already did last year, the Board stressed that people in the technical should have no access and view to pitch-side monitors.

Finally, the FIFA President made a strong appeal against violent tackles on the field of play, reiterating that “players committing such acts should be banned”.

The123^rd Annual General Meeting of the International Football Association Board will take place next year in Northern Ireland.

The International F.A. Board, the custodian of the Laws of the Game, is composed of The Football Association (England), The Scottish Football Association, The Football Association of Wales, The Irish Football Association (Northern Ireland) and FIFA. Representing its 204 other members, FIFA has four votes on the body, while the four British associations have one vote apiece. A proposal requires a three-quarter majority (i.e. six of the eight votes) to be passed.

Further information from: 

FIFA Media Department – Tel.: +41-43/222 7272 – Fax: +41-43/222 7373 or E-Mail: media@fifa.org

FIFA COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION / Gleneagles (Scotland), 8 March 2008 / 2008-023-IFAB-E.doc

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Meeting of the Organising Committee for the FIFA Confederations Cup

MATCH SCHEDULE, REGULATIONS AND PRIZE MONEY APPROVED

Please click on the link: Meeting for the first time on 12 March, the Organising Committee for the FIFA Confederations Cup 2009, chaired by FIFA Vice-President and CAF President Issa Hayatou, approved the regulations and the match schedule for the competition.

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FIFA’s finances in 2007

POSITIVE RESULTS DESPITE UNEXPECTED ITEMS –

EQUITY INCREASED TO USD 643 MILLION

Please click on the link: Despite some unforeseen expenses, FIFA started the 2007-2010 World Cup cycle with favourable financial results. The accounts for 2007, drawn up in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS),

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Meeting of the FIFA Executive Committee in Zurich

FIFA EXECUTIVE UPHOLDS ALTITUDE DECISION AND WELCOMES

POSITIVE FINANCIAL RESULTS AS WELL AS IMPROVED RELATIONS WITH CLUBS

Please click on the link: The FIFA Executive Committee, chaired by President Joseph S. Blatter, upheld the decision taken in Tokyo in December 2007 regarding football at high altitude.

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BUILDERS’ UNIONS APPLAUD FIFA’S SHOW OF SOLIDARITY

Please click on the link: Members of South Africa’s building trade unions handed FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter a memorandum at the Home of FIFA in Zurich today – Tuesday, 11 March 2008.

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FIFA LOOKS FORWARD TO EGYPT AND NIGERIA 2009

Please click on the link: Under the chairmanship of FIFA Vice-President Jack A. Warner, the Organising Committees for the FIFA U-17 and U-20 World Cups met in Zurich today (Tuesday, 11 March) to review the preparations for the U-17 and U-20 events due to take place in Nigeria and Egypt, respectively, in 2009.

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FIFA TACKLES NINE AREAS OF CONCERN

Please click on the link: In October 2007, nine crucial subjects were discussed and approved by the Executive Committee of football's world governing body.

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ORGANISING COMMITTEE APPROVES TOURNAMENT FORMAT WITH REINTRODUCTION OF MATCH FOR FIFTH PLACE

Please click on the link: At its meeting in Zurich today (12 March 2008) under the chairmanship of Viacheslav Koloskov (Russia), the Organising Committee for the FIFA Club World Cup expressed its satisfaction at the tournament’s increasing success, which is particularly notable in terms of attendances and television coverage.

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FIFA AND CAF ESTABLISH A ROAD-MAP TO NORMALIZE THE ETHIOPIAN FF

Please click on the link: Having heard all the parties gathered today (22 February) in Zurich, in the Home of FIFA, under the chairmanship of Mr. Issa Hayatou, FIFA Vice-president and CAF President, and Mr. Jerome Valcke, FIFA General Secretary, and having reviewed all the relevant documents,

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FIFA statement regarding meeting with the English Premier League

Please click on the link: FIFA has been advised by the English Premier League that the league, accompanied by senior representatives of the English FA, does not seek a meeting with FIFA at this time to discuss the project of a 39th match day to be played abroad.

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FIFA Congress Sydney 2008

MEDIA ACCREDITATION PROCESS LAUNCHED FOR 58^TH FIFA CONGRESS

Please click on the link: FIFA is pleased to announce that applications for media accreditation for the 58^th FIFA Congress in Sydney (Australia) on 29-30 May are now being accepted via an online registration form in the Media section of FIFA.com.

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MEETING AND PRESS CONFERENCE OF WADA CHAIRMAN AND FIFA PRESIDENT

 WADA Chairman John Fahey and FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter will meet next Friday 29 February 2008 at the Home of FIFA in Zurich.

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FIFA AND CAF ESTABLISH A ROAD-MAP TO NORMALIZE THE    ETHIOPIAN FF

Please click on the link: Having heard all the parties gathered today (22 February) in Zurich, in the Home of FIFA, under the chairmanship of Mr. Issa Hayatou,

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PREPARATIONS FOR FUTSAL AND BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUPS WELL     UNDER WAY

Please click on the link: Under the chairmanship of Ricardo Terra Teixeira (Brazil), the FIFA Futsal and Beach Soccer Committee today (6 February) expressed their satisfaction at the growing importance of both of these variations on football as well as their confidence in the preparations for the upcoming FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Marseilles 2008 and the FIFA Futsal World Cup Brazil 2008.

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22 NEW GOAL PROJECTS APPROVED – FOUR ASSOCIATIONS TO RECEIVE FIRST PROJECT

Please click on the link: At a meeting chaired by FIFA Executive Committee member Mohamed bin Hammam (Qatar) in Zurich on 4 February 2008, the Goal Bureau announced that since March 2007, a total of 25 Goal projects have been completed and inaugurated as part of FIFA’s development programme.

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IOC HOLDS PRODUCTIVE MEETING WITH EU MINISTERS

Please click on the link: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and other representatives of the Olympic movement, including FIFA, today held a productive meeting with a number of EU Sports Ministers and their representatives at its headquarters in Lausanne.

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SABC AWARDED BROADCASTING RIGHTS FOR PERIOD UNTIL 2014 FIFA WORLD CUP™

Please click on the link: On the day of the launch of the 2010 Official Emblem and the “Win in Africa – with Africa” initiative, FIFA is pleased to announce another important deal in the host country of the first FIFA World Cup™ taking place on African soil:

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FIFA FOOTBALL COMMITTEE: YES IN PRINCIPLE TO 6+5 RULE

THE FIFA FOOTBALL COMMITTEE, BRINGING TOGETHER SOME OF THE WORLD’S FINEST MALE AND FEMALE PLAYERS AS WELL AS OTHER TOP PERSONALITIES FROM THE GAME, CONSIDERS THE 6+5 RULE IN PRINCIPLE AS NECESSARY AND ALSO ADVISABLE FROM A MORAL POINT OF VIEW, BUT EXPRESSED CERTAIN DOUBTS AS TO ITS EFFECTIVENESS.

Please click on the link: Meeting on 4 February under the chairmanship of FIFA Executive Committee member Franz Beckenbauer (Germany), the FIFA Football Committee addressed a range of topical issues regarding the game, such as the 6+5 rule,

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STRONG DEFENCE OF THE INDEPENDENCE OF FOOTBALL ASSOCIATIONS

Please click on the link: Under the leadership of its chairman, FIFA Vice-President Geoff Thompson (England), the FIFA Associations Committee yesterday (5 February) examined a number of cases and underlined the importance of taking a strong stance in the defence of the independence of FIFA’s

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FIFA DISMAYED WITH CAS’S DECISION REGARDING WEBSTER –

A PYRRHIC VICTORY FOR PLAYERS

Please click on the link: FIFA is dismayed with the decision taken by the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) in Lausanne (Switzerland) on 30 January regarding the case of the player, Andy Webster. World football’s governing body is of the opinion that the verdict in favour of the player will have far-reaching and damaging effects on the game as a whole.

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ANC PRESIDENT JACOB ZUMA PAYS COURTESY VISIT TO FIFA PRESIDENT

Please click on the link: Jacob Zuma, the President of South Africa’s governing political party, the African National Congress (ANC), met FIFA President Joseph Blatter at the Home of FIFA today.

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2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ Preliminary Competition

INFORMATION ON MATCH SCHEDULE DRAW FOR EUROPEAN GROUPS 2 AND 5

Please click on the link: The draw to determine the fixture list for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ preliminary campaigns of European Groups 2 and 5 will take place at the Sheraton hotel Ballroom (section A) in Zagreb, Croatia on 30 January (16:00 CET), the eve of the XXXII Ordinary UEFA Congress.

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FIRST FIFA OFFICIAL STORE OPENS IN SINGAPORE

Please click on the link: Strengthening its ties with football fans across the globe, world football’s governing body today (16 January 2008) opened the first FIFA Official Store at Singapore’s Changi airport.

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International matches in 2007:

929 MEN’S INTERNATIONAL MATCHES, WOMEN’S FOOTBALL STILL AT PEAK

Please click on the link: The year 2007 brought three continental championships and 929 international matches in the men’s game, with 443 women’s matches (including the Women’s World Cup) almost setting a new record.

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Historic meeting between FIFA, UEFA and several top European clubs

VICTORY FOR FOOTBALL AS A WHOLE

Please click on the link: FIFA, UEFA and a number of top European clubs are pleased to announce that they today signed a letter of intent, which starts a new chapter in the relations between the governing bodies and the clubs.

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2010 FIFA World Cup™

FIXTURES SET FOR CONCACAF QUALIFIERS

Please click on the link: FIFA announced today the fixtures for the first-leg encounters in Stage 1 of the qualifiers for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ in the CONCACAF.

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