Haiti alter World Cup jerseys after FIFA objects to design
Haiti have changed their World Cup shirts, which depicted a war scene from the country's battle for independence, after FIFA said they had violated its regulations on political speech, manufacturer Saeta said on Wednesday, Reuters reported.
Colombia-based Saeta said it had collaborated with the Haitian Football Federation on the design, which it said "celebrated the pride, resilience, and spirit" of the Haitian people and was not intended as a political statement.
Protesters call on FIFA to kick Iran out of World Cup, citing regime involvement
Instead of pride, many Iranian-Americans feel shame about the Iran team's participation in the World Cup and are demanding that FIFA boots the country out of the competition, protesters said on Wednesday, Reuters reported.
The team's presence is outraging many who see the Iranian government as using the competition as a way to sportswash its killing tens of thousands of dissidents since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, with many thousands killed as recently as during widespread protests in January.
Those deaths have included hundreds of athletes, protesters said.
Neymar still absent from Brazil training as squad celebrate Ancelotti's birthday
Forward Neymar was again absent from Brazil'straining ground at Morristown in New Jersey on Wednesday as the team prepare for their World Cupcurtain-raiser against Morocco on Saturday while also celebrating coach Carlo Ancelotti's 67th birthday, Reuters reported.
Ancelotti's players honoured the Italian, who is tasked with ending Brazil's 24-year wait for a sixth World Cup title, with a traditional guard of honour.
However, Barcelona forward Raphinha joked that the players opted for gentler treatment than is customary.
FIFA chief Infantino defends visa handling, ticket prices on eve of World Cup
FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended the way soccer's governing body had handled visa issues ahead of the World Cup, saying on Wednesday that it was working to find solutions but could not override government decisions, Reuters reported.
Speaking on the eve of the tournament opener between co-hosts Mexico and South Africa, Infantino addressed concerns surrounding Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who was barred from entering the U.S. despite having a valid visa.
