SAO PAULO (AP) ― FIFA president Sepp Blatter is trying to schedule a trip to Brazil to speak at a public hearing about a controversial World Cup bill FIFA wants approved as soon as possible.
The Brazilian senate invited Blatter, but FIFA initially said it would send Secretary General Jerome Valcke to talk to the congressional commissions debating the bill. Senators last week rejected Valcke’s visit and said they would only talk to Blatter.
Football’s governing body said Tuesday that FIFA’s president told the senate he will try to attend to discuss the bill, which bill gives FIFA all the needed guarantees to organize soccer’s showcase event.
“The FIFA president indicated that he will come back to the (senate) regarding possible dates to meet the members of the three commissions in charge of elaborating the 2014 bill,” FIFA said in a statement sent to the Associated Press.
FIFA added, however, that “at this stage no visit of the FIFA president is scheduled.”
Abidal undergoes liver transplant
BARCELONA (AP) ― Eric Abidal underwent his scheduled liver transplant on Tuesday as more than 70,000 fans at Camp Nou paid tribute to the France defender during Barcelona’s 4-0 win over Getafe in the Spanish league.
Barcelona Sporting Director Andoni Zubizarreta told Canal Plus TV that Abidal was in a hospital, undergoing surgery during the game. The 76,041 spectators paid tribute to Abidal after 22 minutes, the number matching his jersey.
“We still don’t have any news. We’re hoping the doctors tell us something,” Zubizarreta said. “We know he’s in good hands.”
koreaherald@heraldcorp.com
