FIFA not to ban vuvuzela

JOHANNESBURG - Football’s governing FIFA sprang to the defence of the much-maligned vuvuzela Monday with president Joseph Blatter ruling out the favourite accessory of South African football fans being banned at the World Cup.

Dempsey had to look at linesman before he was sure goal counted in World Cup

Dempsey not certain World Cup goal counted

Highly anticipated debut of Brazil comes against reclusive North Korea at World Cup

Finally, Brazil takes the field

Whenever Brazil sambas into a tournament, heads turn, even if it no longer truly plays the beautiful game of Pele and other great Brazilian teams.

World Cup opening game smashes South Africa viewing record

JOHANNESBURG - A record 10 million South Africans, nearly one in five, watched the opening game of the World Cup between South Africa and Mexico June 11, World Cup organizing body FIFA announced Monday.

India needs to develop infrastructure for football: Bhutia

KOLKATA - Indian football team captain Bhaichung Bhutia on Monday said there is a need to develop infrastructure for football in the country has to be developed to see India playing in the FIFA World Cup.

Vuvuzelas to come to England for Premier League

LONDON - Vuvuzelas might have drawn criticism because of their droning sound in the ongoing World Cup football but the stadium horns from South Africa would be welcomed to English grounds next season after the Premier League said they would not impose a ban on them.

S. African court sentences three for robbing World Cup covering journos

JOHANNESBURG - South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority has sentenced two of three men to 15 years in prison each for the armed robbery of three foreign journalists in Magaliesburg.

Argentina, Spain favourites: Viswanathan Anand

KOLKATA - World chess champion Viswanathan Anand considers Argentina and Spain as hot favourites to win the ongoing FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

FIFA president Blatter backs South African fans’ historical right to blow vuvuzela horns

Blatter backs SAfrica fans on blowing vuvuzelas

FIFA WC: Facebook messages indicate mixed reaction to services in S. Africa

JOHANNESBURG - A commentary on the social networking site Facebook has revealed that services being provided to guests and fans watching the FIFA World Cup has got a mixed reaction.

Prince Harry’s night-halt at girlfriend’s Cape Town flat vetoed due to security risk

CAPE TOWN - Royal Protection officers have vetoed Prince Harry’s plans to stay at his girlfriend Chelsy Davy’s flat during the World Cup due to ‘huge security’ concerns.

World Cup capsules for New Zelaand-Slovakia, ICoast-Portugal, Brazil-NKorea

Tuesday’s WCup lookahead capsules

Capsules for Tuesday’s matches at the World Cup (FIFA rankings in parentheses):

Vuvuzelas to stay despite complaints

JOHANNESBURG - World Cup organizers have made it clear that ‘Vuvuzelas’ will not be banned from stadiums in South Africa despite complaints of them being a nuisance.

World Cup enters the kitchen

KOLKATA - Lionel Messi, Wayne Rooney, Argentina, Brazil - the hot stars and teams of the ongoing FIFA World Cup have now entered the mouth-watering menus of hotels and restaurants here.

Drogba, Zidane join UNDP drive to kick away poverty

NEW YORK/CAPE TOWN - United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) goodwill ambassadors Didier Drogba and Zinedine Zidane have launched a new drive, coinciding with the FIFA World Cup, to “kick off” poverty.

England fans poke fun at gaffe-goalie Robert Green

LONDON - England goalkeeper Robert Green may be getting the support of his fellow players after failing to prevent the United States from pushing through an equaliser in their June 12 FIFA World Cup match, but the team’s fans are not quite as forgiving.

Heinze the unlikely scorer among power-packed Argentina squad

Argentina defender turns out be best attacker

Fifa, World Cup organizer considering vuvuzela ban

LONDON - A secret horn called ‘Vuvuzela’, which is creating an ear-shattering experience during FIFA World Cup in South Africa, could be banned from use inside the stadiums.

Vuvuzela trumpets disturb players’ concentration: Ronaldo

MAGALIESBURG - Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has joined the long list of football players and officials who have voiced their concern over use of ‘Vuvuzela’, which is creating an ear-shattering experience during FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

FIFA World Cup: Germany thrash Australia 4-0

MELBOURNE - Germany thrashed Australia 4-0 in their opening FIFA World Cup campaign in Group D late on Sunday at the Durban Stadium.

Germany’s Podolski named Man of the Match

DURBAN - Midfielder Lukas Podolski was named FIFA Man of the Match in Germany’s comfortable 4-0 victory over 10-man Australia

Inconsistent security observed at World Cup venues; FIFA confident it will improve

Security a work in progress at World Cup venues

Tough, vocal and just plain good, Americans know they’re in good hands when Howard in goal

Howard cornerstone of US team _ and envy of others

Kolkatans enjoy football, rain

KOLKATA - As the mercury dipped with the monsoon arriving in West Bengal, the people of soccer-crazy Kolkata enjoyed the weekend playing football and watching the action at the FIFA World Cup.

Slovenia beat 10-mn Algeria to top Group C

POLOKWANE - Slovenia recorded their first ever World Cup victory to go to the top of Group C when they beat 10-man Algeria 1-0 Sunday.

FIFA to invetigate laser beam flash at Ellis Park

LONDON - FIFA launched an investigation into security at Ellis Park in Johannesburg after a green laser beam was flashed at players and Argentina coach Diego Maradona during their World Cup match against Nigeria Saturday.

FIFA vows to help al-Jazeera stop World Cup black-outs

JOHANNESBURG - FIFA said Sunday it would help Middle Eastern television network al-Jazeera track down the cause of black-outs in its broadcast of the World Cup’s opening match in South Africa.

World Cup capsules for Italy-Paraguay, Netherlands-Denmark,Cameroon-Japan

Monday WCup lookahead capsules

Capsules for Monday’s matches at the World Cup (FIFA rankings in parentheses):

FIFA probes transport, ticketing systems after 8,000 no-shows at South Korea-Greece match

FIFA probes 8,000 no-shows at SKorea-Greece game

S. Africa’s Vuvuzela horns may soon invade other sports in England

LONDON - The Vuvuzela instrument, which making waves at the FIFA World Cup in South Africa, is likely to invade other sports in England such as cricket, tennis, motor racing and The Ascot in the days to come, and not many are seeing it as a welcome development or practical.

TV New Zealand targeted in spate of World Cup media robberies

JOHANNESBURG - A television crew from New Zealand have become the latest victims of a spate of robberies targeting foreign journalists covering the World Cup in South Africa.

Malaria charities use World Cup to highlight disease

LONDON - Malaria charities are targeting the FIFA World Cup as a means of highlighting a disease that still claims a child’s life every 30 seconds on the African continent.

Fans would give Asia Cup due attention despite football frenzy: Afridi

KARACHI - Given the public frenzy for the FIFA World Cup, Pakistan cricket captain Shahid Afridi still believes fans would give the upcoming Asia Cup in Sri Lanka due attention.

Wins for Argentina, South Korea as US hold England to draw (Roundup)

JOHANNESBURG - Fancied England were held to a 1-1 draw by underdogs the United States Saturday as Argentina and South Korea chalked up victories on the second day of the World Cup.

FIFA World Cup fever grips football lovers in India

MUMBAI/NEW DELHI/BANGALORE/KOLKATA - With the FIFA World Cup 2010 kicking off in South Africa, football fever has started to grip Indians as well.