The Korea Herald

5 investigated over FIFA World Cup bid corruption

Nov 28, 2014

GENEVA (AP) ― Five officials, including three long-serving FIFA executive committee members, are being investigated in the corruption probe into the bidding contests for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.A person familiar with the cases confirmed the names Thursday to the Associated Press after the five were identified in European media reports. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the FIFA probe is confidential.The current FIFA board members under investigation are FIFA vice president
Tottenham advances in Europa League

Nov 28, 2014

MANCHESTER, England (AP) ― Tottenham was among nine teams to qualify for the knockout stage of the Europa League on Thursday after beating Partizan Belgrade 1-0 in a match that was briefly suspended because of three separate pitch invasions.Inter Milan and Napoli also advanced to ensure there will be at least three Italian clubs in the last 32 of Europe’s secondary competition. Spurs’ victory, secured by Benjamin Stambouli’s 49th-minute winner, was overshadowed by a succession of pitch invasions
Pele denies rumors of serious ill health

Nov 28, 2014

SAO PAULO (AP) ― Brazilian great Pele said Thursday he is not seriously ill, easing fears that his health deteriorated while being treated for a urinary tract infection.The 74-year-old Pele used his official Twitter account to deny widespread reports that said his condition worsened and that he was put in intensive care.“I want to take this opportunity to let you know that I am doing fine,” he said. “I was not put into intensive care today, I was simply relocated to a special room within the hos
Arsenal into knockout round

Nov 27, 2014

Bayer Leverkusen moves on despite losing to Monaco 1-0
U.K. mulls criminal probe into FIFA bids

Nov 27, 2014

LONDON (AP) ― A criminal investigation into allegations of World Cup bidding corruption could be opened in Britain, with authorities urging whistleblowers to come forward with information.The Serious Fraud Office is pursuing “every reasonable line of inquiry, including working closely with appropriate overseas authorities,” the government department said according to a letter sent to a British legislator.The Swiss attorney general has already received a criminal complaint from FIFA against possi
Messi gains record with hat trick

Nov 26, 2014

City squeezes out 3-2 win over Bayern
High-scoring forwards, stout defender up for MVP award

Nov 25, 2014

Two high-scoring forwards and a veteran defender have been shortlisted for the MVP award in the top domestic pro football league.The K League Classic, the first division competition, announced on Tuesday that Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors striker Lee Dong-gook, Suwon Bluewings forward Santos and FC Seoul defender Cha Du-ri will vie for the 2014 MVP honors.Lee and Santos are tied for the league lead at 13 goals apiece.Lee scored his 13 goals in 31 matches, helping Jeonbuk clinch the league championship
Korea to hold camp for Asian Cup in mid-Dec.

Nov 25, 2014

The South Korean men’s national football team will open a training camp for an upcoming continental tournament in mid-December, the sport’s national governing body said Tuesday.An official with the Korea Football Association said the national team, coached by Uli Stielike, will start a weeklong camp on the southernmost resort island of Jeju on Dec. 15 in preparation for the AFC Asian Cup. The continental competition will open on Jan. 9 in Australia, where South Korea will try to win its first ti
Liverpool’s woes continue at Palace

Nov 24, 2014

Liverpool’s rapid downfall since losing Luis Suarez to Barcelona in the summer continued Sunday with a fourth consecutive loss, as Crystal Palace added to Brendan Rodgers’ woes with a 3-1 victory.The pressure, though, eased up a bit on coach Mauricio Pochettino after his Tottenham team came from behind to beat 10-man Hull 2-1 in the Premier League.A runner-up last season, Liverpool is now 12th after 12 matches ― closer to the relegation zone than the top four. Although Rickie Lambert finally sco
Messi breaks goals record

Nov 23, 2014

BARCELONA (AP) ― Lionel Messi scored a hat trick to emphatically break the Spanish league’s all-time scoring mark in Barcelona’s 5-1 win over Sevilla on Saturday.Messi, already Barcelona’s all-time scorer, surpassed Athletic Bilbao great Telmo Zarra’s milestone of 251 goals that had stood untouched since 1955.Messi equaled Zarra’s mark in the 21st minute and added goals in the 72nd and 78th to claim the record for himself.“I have never seen a player like Leo,” Barcelona coach Luis Enrique said.
FIFA to review report on WC corruption

Nov 21, 2014

GENEVA (AP) ― FIFA will further review the 2018 and 2022 World Cup corruption investigation, putting the status of hosts Russia and Qatar back in question.The head of FIFA’s auditing committee will examine the full 430-page confidential report by American prosecutor Michael Garcia into impropriety during the bid process, reviving a probe which seemed closed one week ago.Domenico Scala, a Swiss businessman who serves as the soccer body’s audit panel chairman, will then decide whether to turn over
Blatter hits back at demands to publish World Cup report

Nov 20, 2014

PARIS (AFP) ― FIFA president Sepp Blatter on Wednesday rejected demands to publish the potentially explosive report into long-standing allegations of corruption surrounding the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bids.Greg Dyke, the head of the English Football Association, wants the report compiled by former U.S. federal prosecutor Michael Garcia to be made public.But Blatter insists that to do so would compromise Swiss privacy laws. “FIFA would violate not only its own rules and regulations but also Swiss
Messi hints he may not end career at Barca

Nov 19, 2014

Argentina’s Lionel Messi (right) shakes hands with Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of their international friendly in Manchester, England, Tuesday. The two stars only played the first half as Portugal won 1-0. (AFP-Yonhap)BUENOS AIRES (AP) ― Lionel Messi, who has always planned to end his career at Barcelona, is hinting that might not happen.In an interview published Tuesday by sports newspaper Ole, the 27-year-old Argentine said: “While I always said that I would like to stay there (Barcelon
FIFA files criminal ...complaint over bids

Nov 19, 2014

GENEVA (AP) ― The latest twist in FIFA’s World Cup bid corruption case has landed on the desk of Switzerland’s attorney general.FIFA filed a “criminal complaint” against unnamed individuals on Tuesday, calling on Swiss federal prosecutors to investigate money transfers connected to the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding contests that were won by Russia and Qatar.The unexpected move comes five days after FIFA had welcomed a “degree of closure” on the case.“In particular there seem to be grounds for
Germany struggles after title

Nov 18, 2014

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) ― From one red carpet to the other, Germany is still celebrating the World Cup title.On the field, however, Germany is looking far from being the best team in the world.As year-end honors pour in and Joachim Loew’s team gets feted across the country, the World Cup champions have struggled to keep up their reputation and so far have had a lackluster European Championship qualifying campaign.“Somehow, we’ve landed hard on the surface of reality,” Loew said last week.No wond