World Cup Digest

A round-up of World Cup news with 3 days to go

Stampede not our fault – Fifa

FIFA SAID yesterday they were not responsible for the stampede outside a stadium in Johannesburg on Sunday that left 16 fans injured, despite the Nigerian FA’s claims that it had been left with nowhere else to play by the world governing body.

The incident occurred when free tickets for a warm-up match between Nigeria and North Korea were distributed outside the 10,000-capacity Makhulong Stadium in the Johannesburg district of Tembisa. The Nigerian FA said yesterday the match was played at the venue only because Fifa had “taken control” of all other alternatives.

However, the Fifa president, Sepp Blatter, and general secretary, Jerome Valcke, blamed poor organisation on the day and said responsibility for organising warm-up matches lay with national associations. Valcke said the rule that teams could not use World Cup stadiums for warm-up matches did not prevent them using others throughout the country.

“We have been criticised very often for not distributing tickets on the match day at the stadium,” Valcke said.

“What happened there proves we are right to say that you should never distribute tickets at the stadium on the match day. It’s one of our principles.”

Following a meeting of the Fifa executive committee, Blatter said: “We regret the incident that has taken place. I am sure and you are sure this is [a wake-up call] but this will not happen in any match of the World Cup.”

Robben hopeful of making finals

ARJEN ROBBEN is confident he can take part in the World Cup after his first physiotherapy session with Dick van Toorn.

The Bayern Munich forward has a small tear in his left hamstring but is hoping intense physiotherapy will help him take part in South Africa.

The initial diagnosis was gloomy but Robben is almost certain he can soon travel to South Africa to join up with his Dutch team-mates.

Speaking after his first session with Van Toorn, Robben told reporters: “It is impossible to say whether that (a return) will only be about four days or a week away.”

Drogba’s surgery proves a success

DIDIER DROGBA has undergone successful surgery on his broken arm and was due to link up with his Ivory Coast team-mates yesterday.

Drogba sustained the injury in Friday’s friendly against Japan following a heavy challenge from opposing central defender Tulio and was immediately sent for an operation in Bern.

Ivory Coast Federation spokesman Roger Kouassi said yesterday the surgery was a success – although a time frame for the striker’s return remains sketchy. Ivory Coast open their World Cup campaign against Portugal on June 15th and Kouassi said: “His recovery has been very encouraging.”