Twenty-seven years ago, 18-year old Gianni Infantino of Brig, Switzerland, won election to the presidency of the local soccer team by promising to have his mother wash the team uniforms. Yesterday, the now 45-year old Infantino won a much bigger soccer election: for the presidency of FIFA.
As reported by Sam Borden in the New York Times, Infantino, the secretary general of UEFA since 2009, garnered 115 votes on the second ballot and now has the tough task of replacing the suspended Sepp Blatter, and turning around the pervasive scandals that have plagued the governing body of world soccer. After the first ballot Infantino had a three vote lead and Sunil Gulati of U.S. Soccer, who had supported Bahrain's Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa, switched the U.S. vote to Infantino and lobbied other CONCACAF nations to do likewise.
"A new era has started as we speak," Infantino said after the vote. One can only hope. Best of luck!
Saturday, February 27, 2016
Sunday, February 14, 2016
Carli Lloyd Update
Last saw Carli two weeks ago at the Philadelphia Sportswriters Association banquet when she accepted the Athlete of the Year award. Pretty cool seeing that, and also my old high school buddy, Dave Montgomery of the Phillies, receive the Ed Snider Lifetime Distinguished Humanitarian Award.
Only had a chance to briefly say hi to Carli before the dinner and then got in a short line to get her to sign the program to my granddaughter, Allison.
Back on the soccer field, Lloyd scored the only goal last night as the U.S. women beat Mexico, 1-0, to clinch a spot in the semi-finals of the Concacaf Olympic qualifying semifinals February 19 in Houston. The winners of the semifinal matches on February 19 will qualify for the Rio Olympics. The New York Times ran an AP story of the game.
And finally, here's an in-depth interview Seth Davis did with Carli on Campus Insiders on February 11.
Only had a chance to briefly say hi to Carli before the dinner and then got in a short line to get her to sign the program to my granddaughter, Allison.
Back on the soccer field, Lloyd scored the only goal last night as the U.S. women beat Mexico, 1-0, to clinch a spot in the semi-finals of the Concacaf Olympic qualifying semifinals February 19 in Houston. The winners of the semifinal matches on February 19 will qualify for the Rio Olympics. The New York Times ran an AP story of the game.
And finally, here's an in-depth interview Seth Davis did with Carli on Campus Insiders on February 11.
Friday, February 5, 2016
U.S. Soccer Sues Women's Team
Nothing like a lawsuit to take the glow off a World Cup.
Just seven months after the United States Women's team routed Japan, 5-2, to capture its first World Cup since 1999, U.S. Soccer has sued its most successful and glamorous team. Sort of. As reported by Andrew Das of the New York Times and Grant Wahl of Sports Illustrated, the sport's governing body ran into court in Chicago seeking a declaration that the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the players union did not expire until the end of 2016.
A declaratory judgment action does not seek damages but merely asks a court to determine the rights of parties. Declaratory judgment suits are commonly used to interpret insurance policies and other contracts.
The last agreement expired in 2012 but, according to U.S. Soccer, has been extended by a memorandum of understanding signed in March 2013. But back in December, Richard Nichols, executive director of the players union, said the memorandum was invalid as a collective bargaining agreement and would expire on February 24. Apparently U.S. Soccer interpreted that as a threat of a strike because the CBA contained a no strike clause. Nonsense, Nichols told Das earlier this week. “There were no threats about strikes or work stoppages.” He aid the players were merely “reserved our legal rights.”
So, apparently, is the organization. The last thing it needs is for its popular women's team to walk out in an Olympic year. The women have lost only once in the last year, in a friendly with China back in December. On Wednesday they begin their Olympic qualifying tournament with a match against Costa Rico in Frisco, Texas.
Just seven months after the United States Women's team routed Japan, 5-2, to capture its first World Cup since 1999, U.S. Soccer has sued its most successful and glamorous team. Sort of. As reported by Andrew Das of the New York Times and Grant Wahl of Sports Illustrated, the sport's governing body ran into court in Chicago seeking a declaration that the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the players union did not expire until the end of 2016.
A declaratory judgment action does not seek damages but merely asks a court to determine the rights of parties. Declaratory judgment suits are commonly used to interpret insurance policies and other contracts.
The last agreement expired in 2012 but, according to U.S. Soccer, has been extended by a memorandum of understanding signed in March 2013. But back in December, Richard Nichols, executive director of the players union, said the memorandum was invalid as a collective bargaining agreement and would expire on February 24. Apparently U.S. Soccer interpreted that as a threat of a strike because the CBA contained a no strike clause. Nonsense, Nichols told Das earlier this week. “There were no threats about strikes or work stoppages.” He aid the players were merely “reserved our legal rights.”
So, apparently, is the organization. The last thing it needs is for its popular women's team to walk out in an Olympic year. The women have lost only once in the last year, in a friendly with China back in December. On Wednesday they begin their Olympic qualifying tournament with a match against Costa Rico in Frisco, Texas.
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