Fifa

Arsene Wenger praises Qatar’s plans for the 2022 World Cup

Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has praised the preparations from Qatar for the 2022 World Cup and believes the tournament would provide the fans with a brand new experience. The stadiums in the Middle East nation have been built with a distance of just 55 kms between them and that is expected to reduce the travelling burden for the players as well as the supporters.

Speaking to reporters, Wenger was impressed with the thinking behind the construction of the stadiums where the comfort of the fans and players has been given special attention, he said: “I'm impressed with the quality of the planning for the World Cup, including the thinking that is behind it. This World Cup is integrated in the community and there are a lot of plans to make sure it is not wasted after the tournament.

WORLD STARS FEATURE IN PAKISTAN EXHIBITION MATCH

Two exhibition matches are planned in Pakistan this weekend, with many of the World's top football stars poised to appear in the games with the hope that it would spur more growth for the game in a cricket-crazed nation.

The recently retired Brazilian Ronaldinho is set to lead the stars for the games. One is set for Karachi on Saturday and the other in Lahore the next day. The exhibition is dubbed “Ronaldinho and friends” and will have stars like Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs, Dutchman George Boateng, former Arsenal stars Robert Pires and Nicolas Anelka, aside from the former Barcelona playmaker.

FIFA HAPPY WITH 36 POINT BAN

FIFA have drawn a line under the Sion / UEFA / Europe League controversy, and are allowing Switzerland to continue to compete in international competition.

There had been speculation that FIFA would ban the Swiss FA from the World Cup and European Championships because they had failed to deal with the on-going controversy at Sion, one of the top clubs in the Swiss League, but this has now been resolved.

Sion managed to finish in third last season, and would be on course for another good finish this year were it not for the massive 36 point penalty placed on them by the Swiss FA, which leaves them way off the pace at the bottom of the league, with games running out.

SWISS WARNED BY FIFA

The Swiss football Association has already been warned about the severe consequences they could face from FIFA after failing to recognise and penalise FC Sion, who fielded ineligible players in many matches this season.

As a result, the Swiss football Association has moved in to hand a 36-point penalty. The Swiss football Association took the decision to penalise the club for every ineligible player used in the league and European matches this season. This decision comes in the wake of the warning from FIFA that Swiss football could totally eliminated from the world football calendar should they not punish the club.

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