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Actress' Henry gag Oscar-winning actress Charlize Theron has got Sepp Blatter and co hot under the collar as she prepares to host the World Cup draw later today. She was taking part in a rehearsal mock draw yesterday and pulled an 'Ireland' ball out of the hat. Theron's long-term partner, actor Stuart Townsend, is Irish and had [.

FIFA announced the seeds and pots for Friday's World Cup draw, and the main talking point for the US is that CONCACAF was put in the pot with Asia and Oceania as opposed to Africa. Of course, the main talking point all over the world is that while the Hand of Henry may have gotten France into the World Cup Finals, the Hand of Blatter has taken away France's seed even though they came within a penalty kick of winning the last World Cup.

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I'm pretty sure Sepp Blatter and FIFA's executive committee is trying to drive me insane, if not kill me. I'm not sure why they'd have a vendetta against a little-known British-born blogger exiled to the United States, but there can be little other reasonable explanation for them forcing me to write the same commentary over and over again on their practices: stop forcing me to presume you are fixing everything!

Charlize_Theron, originally uploaded by zemraorg.

La hermosa actriz Charlize Theron es sin duda una de las mujeres mas bellas del mundo y además posee un valor y una inteligencia que muy pocos tienen y se atreven a mostrar, ayer mencionaba en la presentación de RED en la lucha contra el Sida si habría algún valiente en preguntarle a Bono (irlandes) algo referente a la polémica de Irlanda y la mano de Henry.

The World Cup Draw begins today, and it's a massive day for soccer fans around the world. If you're not near a TV set, at work or want to share your opinions about the World Cup Draw, be sure to visit the World Cup 2010 Draw Live Blog on EPL Talk (beginning at Noon ET/9am PT/5pm GMT) or the 2010 World Cup Draw Live Blog on MLS Talk (beginning at Noon ET/9am PT/5pm GMT).

FIFA's recent discussions regarding Ireland led me to think about the possibilities of an extra side at the tournament, and what would perhaps be more exciting than including a side who claimed they've been cheated out of the tournament would be to enter an entirely new team.

This team would be made up of international players whose respective countries did not manage to qualify for the finals.

Sad news from Sepp today: no video replay. A rather emphatic dismissal of video replay, in fact. It wasn't quite leading us on, it was always unlikely, but still a bit disappointing. "Referees shall remain human, and we will not have monitors to stop the game to see if we are right or wrong," Blatter said.

I was going to post a whole series of articles about the two freaking feet of snow dumped on the eastern United States, and ask whether Don Garber has followed up with Sepp Blatter about that move to a winter schedule. But, this apparently isn't the right week to make those jokes.
Maybe Europe ought to move to a summer schedule.

What is the FAI chief, John Delaney smoking?

Thirty three teams for the World Cup? The Republic of Ireland has requested Sepp Blatter for a spot in the World Cup after Thierry Henry's illegal hand decided France would go through.

This matter will be brought up for discussion in the executive committee meeting on Wednesday.

Ireland assistant manager Liam Brady has blasted FIFA president Sepp Blatter for revealing the supposedly confidential details of a meeting with the FAI.
Speaking at a conference in South Africa, Blatter stated that the Irish had enquired at the meeting as to the possibility of being invited to next summer's World Cup as a '33rd nation' after their controversial play-off exit at the hands of France.

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When I was 15 or 16, I interviewed Brighton & Hove Albion manager Liam Brady for a school magazine piece that never got published (the magazine never made it to print), and found him to be an amicable and thoughtful man oddly willing to listen patiently and answer a school kid's long-winded questions about his time playing for Juventus and what he thought of Fever Pitch.

Sepp Blatter reveals to a full press room in South Africa for a World Cup briefing that a delegation from the FAI – who ahd travelled to Zurich last week met the FIFA President for discussion on the Thierry Henry incident We all thought that they had let it go! He tells us that they [...]

The footballing world was outraged when France forward Thierry Henry used his hand to set up William Gallas' goal against the Republic of Ireland in their World Cup play-off. Gallas' extra time goal in the second leg resulted in Ireland's elimination, while Henry was well and truly branded with the cheat tag.

The Football Association Of Ireland today voiced its displeasure that issues in the meeting with FIFA were 'singled out in public by FIFA President Sepp Blatter despite his assurances that the meeting would remain private.'
Blatter jokingly revealed at a press conference that the FAI had requested a 33rd nation place at the World Cup in South Africa.

The seedings for the World Cup draw were announced today and there were a couple of surprises. Namely the news that the great Fabio Capello has effectively wiped Euro 2008 from statistical history and that France will need a small miracle not to be drawn into a Group of Death.

Going into today's meeting it was undecided which methodology FIFA would use to determine the seeds for Friday's draw.

FIFA dashed any lingering World Cup hopes Ireland had by rejecting the country's plea to be the tournament's 33rd team.
One suggestion I recently heard from a co-worker was having Ireland and Costa Rica -- another team that suffered a dubious exit -- play a high-profile friendly to kick off the events in South Africa.

OK so maybe I'm blowing this a little out of proportion, but can you blame me? Something's finally gone right for the bid! Sepp, the eternally foolish president of FIFA, has gotten his creep on. David Beckham, who traveled down to South Africa in a last ditch attempt to pick up the pieces of our bid and make them into a charming collage, has gotten Sepp's backing.

Some news to read as you reflect on boot-to-the-head brain damage. (And on why this was only a yellow card offense.) (Dirty Tackle) Is Sepp Blatter's Beckham man-crush keeping England's World Cup bid alive? (England World Cup Blog) A withering dissection of Arsene's critique of the Chelsea match (Avoiding the Drop) Well, at least they stayed [.

You know how FIFA does their level best to make the World Cup draw, which is essentially nothing but drawing some names out of bowls, into a television extravaganza?
Sepp Blatter loves putting on a show, loves being on TV, loves being the center of attention and loves show biz.

Don't know if you heard, but the draw for World Cup 2010 happens today in Cape Town, South Africa. Judging by my TV schedule, FIFA are set to make the relatively simple process of picking balls out of pots last something like three hours. But no point complaining. Better to just dive in and enjoy.

Michel and Sepp, sitting in a tree, F.I.X.I.N.G

All eyes are on the action except for Michel Platini's he's only got eyes for Sepp Pratter. The saucy minx has left his seat to jauntily prop himself up on the desk and get Mr Blatter's attention.

I know flirting is a French national sport, but there is a time and a place, Michel.

The draw for the 2010 World Cup begins today, but where can you find it on television to see the drama unfold and find out which group your team will be playing in?

• If you live in the United States, you can watch the draw live on ESPN2 beginning at Noon ET.

I sometimes wonder whether SA's contribution (with due apologies to all the Bafana Bafana) is not so much there is a national team but the essential subtext that football provides in that nation's struggle against apartheid.

A few days ago, Sepp Blatter and his FIFA cronies set foot on Robben Island, a notorious former jail of anti- apartheid activists.

Sepp Blatter introduces the award with Mrs Erzsébet Puskás.

This is the inaugural year for a brand new FIFA award. The FIFA Puskás Award will be presented to the scorer of the best goal of each year. Ten goals have been nominated by FIFA and now it will be voted on by users of FIFA.com.

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Driving through the snow in Chicago this weekend, I was reminded of why Sepp Blatter is batshit crazy when he thinks we should be playing winter soccer here in the United States. As MLS Commissioner Don Garber pointedly told Sepp, Chicago is Moscow in December, and they're not playing much soccer in Russia right now either.

You know Sepp Blatter is trying to give the Messiah dating tips there but tipo ain't taking it! Abuelo, you failed at the World Cup Draw and no one wants to go and watch Miss Universe tapes with you OK?! Anyway, we don't have to tell you who the FIFA Player of the Year is because if you don't know, go and stand by the window "immediatamente!

The proposal to slaughter a cow at every 2010 World Cup venue in a traditional South African blessing ritual at a cultural ceremony in each of the venues has left the cows in SA a shaken lot.
The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which enforces South Africa's statutory powers over animal welfare, has written to Fifa requesting participation in discussions with the South Africa 2010 Organising Committee about the ceremonies.

Todo mundo se queja del Pacto de Caballeros, pero nadie hace nada. Es un pacto no firmado, que existe, que hasta aparece en los Diarios y ocurre, se vive. Y todo ha salido, nuevamente, a colación toda vez que el Veracruz no termina de amarrar a Reinaldo Navia y Walter Gaitán ya que América y Necaxa respectivamente quieren cobrar "derechos federativos" para que estos jugadores se enrolen en el cuadro jarocho.

COS Contributor Retryboy discusses the issue of Video Replays and the FIFA presidents rather short sighted view on a long running footballing debate.

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Sepp Blatter has re-iterated again that whilst he remains FIFA president video replays will not be used saying "Please do not insist on the technology, the day that the referee takes 2 captains aside to study monitors and see if something is inside the box or outside is the day the spectators will say no, we are not coming to the game.