The selection of Qatar to host the 2022 World Cup continues to rankle in various quarters – and concerns about the FIFA voting process are giving way to more wide-ranging concerns about human-rights violations and civil-liberty policies in the emirate. FIFA President Sepp Blatter (pictured) stepped in it this week and when asked what gay fans should do about homosexuality being illegal in Qatar, he jokingly replied, “I would say they should refrain from any sexual activities.” Heh, heh. OK, then ….
Congolese champions Tout Puissant (All-Powerful) Mazembe Englebert upset defending world champs Internacional of Brazil on Tuesday to become the first African team ever to make the final of the FIFA Club World Cup. Every previous final has been Europe against South America. Mazembe will face European champions Inter Milan in Saturday’s final. No U.S. team in the CWC, of course, but two U.S. players are there: Midfielder José Torres and striker Herculez Gomez both started for Mexico’s Pachuca, the CONCACAF champion who finished fifth after losing to Mazembe in the first round.
And so the circle goes: Earlier this year, South Africa famously hosted the continent’s first World Cup, and African teams largely disappointed on the field; now the year ends with an African club going where none has gone before, in a tournament held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, just across the gulf from Qatar, which will famously host the Middle East’s first World Cup in 2022.
The Akron Zips won the NCAA Division I men’s championship Sunday, beating previously undefeated Louisville, 1-0, in the final. It’s Akron’s first NCAA title in any sport.
This article appears in December 17 • 2010.