FIFA acknowledges problems with Jabulani ball

[Aussie!]

FIFA has finally acknowledged that there may be something wrong with the Jabulani World Cup ball, but won't act on the problem until after the tournament.

Many players have likened the Jabulani to a "supermarket ball," saying it is too unpredictable and flies through the air too easily.

"We're not deaf," FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke said Saturday at a news conference.

"FIFA is not unreceptive about what has been said about the ball."

Valcke said that FIFA will discuss the matter with coaches and teams after the World Cup, then meet with manufacturer Adidas.

"There are rules for size and weight ... But the ball has to be perfect," he added.

Goalkeepers have complained about the ball at every recent World Cup, although this time forwards and even coaches have added their laments.

Brazil manager Dunga got into a verbal spat with Valcke over the Jabulani before the tournament, challenging the FIFA executive to come out onto the pitch and attempt controlling it.

Denmark defender Daniel Agger said the ball made some outfielders look like "drunken sailors".

The Jabulani could create even more problems in the knockout phase beginning Saturday, since games could be decided by penalty shootouts.

"The balls have changed over the last couple of years, they have become a lot faster and in addition to that in Johannesburg we are playing at an altitude of 1,700 meters, which makes the ball even faster," former Germany goalkeeper Oliver Kahn said.

"Thus the goalkeepers work even harder, but I don't think that we can take the ball or the altitude as excuses."

Adidas has made the World Cup ball since 1970 and is contracted through 2014.

The German company has defended the Jabulani, saying it doesn't know what the fuss is about because all the qualified teams were given the ball before the tournament to test it.

"There's a lot of talk about stadiums, infrastructure and TV and that's nice and all, but first we've got to worry about balls, spikes and jerseys," Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon said.

"I don't see why we can't just go back to the old black-and-white checkered version we all played with as kids."

As for the aesthetics, Valcke said that the ball had been criticised in the past as too colourful, and that's why this version is more white.

AP



So what now?

 

[Blue Smarties]

Fookin ell!

 

[squirtyflower]

so what now?

fook all by the looks of it, whilst we continue to use a ball which makes players look poor and the games dull

 

[Aussie!]

so what now?

fook all by the looks of it, whilst we continue to use a ball which makes players look poor and the games dull

Probably explains the simple fumbles by Green and Vincent Enyeama - the Nigerian goalkeeper - to name a few

 

[SCF08]

so what now?

fook all by the looks of it, whilst we continue to use a ball which makes players look poor and the games dull

Probably explains the simple fumbles by Green and Vincent Enyeama - the Nigerian goalkeeper - to name a few

No, it doesn't

These were technical goalkeeping errors. Those balls didn't move a yard.

It's just players excuses. When is the last time you saw a player in front of the camera admitting he was shit today and tried to be better next time

 

[Corky]

Probably explains the simple fumbles by Green and Vincent Enyeama - the Nigerian goalkeeper - to name a few

No, it doesn't

These were technical goalkeeping errors. Those balls didn't move a yard.

It's just players excuses. When is the last time you saw a player in front of the camera admitting he was shit today and tried to be better next time

They don't have to have a yard, six inches is more than enough at the last minute.

"goal keepers are professionals" therefore they should never be able to blame deflections, dodgey balls moving at the last milli-second or being completely exposed by their defense. They should never let goals in, every game should be 0-0 or else the keepers are shite.

 

[S04]

Funny how some teams manage to score nice goals lately, despite the ball eh?

Excuses, excuses...admit that you are a bit unfamiliar with the ball and learn how to use it fer chrissakes.

 

[Dubai Blue]

Funny how some teams manage to score nice goals lately, despite the ball eh?

Excuses, excuses...admit that you are a bit unfamiliar with the ball and learn how to use it fer chrissakes.

While I accept your first point, it is ridiculous beyond belief that FIFA deems its flagship tournament as the suitable arena for players to learn how to use a new ball.

By developing new balls for every single World Cup, it was inevitable that they were evebtually going to push it a step too far at some point. And it appears that step has now been taken.

There really is no logical reason whatsoever for developing a completely new ball every 4 years. If it's simply a money/marketing issue, why not just change the livery of the ball? That way it's still unique to each World Cup and plenty of people will still buy it.

 

[S04]

Funny how some teams manage to score nice goals lately, despite the ball eh?

Excuses, excuses...admit that you are a bit unfamiliar with the ball and learn how to use it fer chrissakes.

While I accept your first point, it is ridiculous beyond belief that FIFA deems its flagship tournament as the suitable arena for players to learn how to use a new ball.

By developing new balls for every single World Cup, it was inevitable that they were evebtually going to push it a step too far at some point. And it appears that step has now been taken.

There really is no logical reason whatsoever for developing a completely new ball every 4 years. If it's simply a money/marketing issue, why not just change the livery of the ball? That way it's still unique to each World Cup and plenty of people will still buy it.

As I recall it the ball was offered to all participating countries well in advance..

That said having a new ball at a WC is hardly necessary.

 

[Aussie!]

Funny how some teams manage to score nice goals lately, despite the ball eh?

Excuses, excuses...admit that you are a bit unfamiliar with the ball and learn how to use it fer chrissakes.

While I accept your first point, it is ridiculous beyond belief that FIFA deems its flagship tournament as the suitable arena for players to learn how to use a new ball.

By developing new balls for every single World Cup, it was inevitable that they were evebtually going to push it a step too far at some point. And it appears that step has now been taken.

There really is no logical reason whatsoever for developing a completely new ball every 4 years. If it's simply a money/marketing issue, why not just change the livery of the ball? That way it's still unique to each World Cup and plenty of people will still buy it.

I think it would be best for FIFA to impose a mandatory rule by which all leagues need to play with the same ball.

Some Players in this WC were complaining Germany had an advantage because their league used the Jabulani.