The Monday Briefing - Japan 2022 Bid Leadership Change; Jordaan Contests CAF Presidency

(WFI) World Football Insider rounds up the 10 things you need to know about the global football business today.

Ogura is new face of Japan bid
Junji Ogura has replaced Motoaki Inukai as chairman of japan's 2022 World Cup bid and as president of the Japan Football Association. Inukai steps down after serving a two-year term as head of the JFA amid claims that his forceful style management lost him support in his reported quest to be re-elected for another term. But a spokeswoman for the Japan bid told INSIDER that the resignation of Inukai "has nothing to do with the management of the bid".

The change in leadership of the bid committee comes just days after a FIFA inspection team visited Japan. As bid chief, Ogura, one of the 24 members of the FIFA Executive Committee, will be expected to wield considerable influence in the lobbying of other FIFA Ex-co members in the months leading up to the Dec. 2 vote on the 2018 and 2022 World Cup hosts.

Ogura said the Japan 2022 bid had done an excellent job under Inukai’s leadership. FIFA inspectors last week praised Japan’s “very well balanced” bid and he promised the bid team would work even harder in the final months of its campaign. "I am deeply committed to bringing the 2022 FIFA World Cup to this country and will build on the bid’s current momentum to communicate Japan’s passion to host this great sports event to both domestic and international audiences," he said.

Jordaan to challenge Hayatou for CAF presidency
The South African Football Association has confirmed it will nominate Danny Jordaan to challenge Issa Hayatou for the presidency of the Confederation of African Football at elections next year. "Our position is clear, we want to transform soccer, not only in Africa, but the rest of the world," SAFA vice-president Mwelo Nonkonyana told the Sunday World. He added: "We have already consulted extensively in this regard. We have to know CAF's views. We don't want to antagonise people; we wish to make a difference." Jordaan is acclaimed for masterminding a successful World Cup, not least by FIFA president Sepp Blatter. Hayatou has been CAF president since 1987.

Blatter shows commitment to African football
FIFA president Sepp Blatter has exchanged letters with South African president Jacob Zuma in which both leaders underline their shared vision for World Cup 2010 to leave a lasting social legacy. According to FIFA.com, Blatter restated his belief to Zuma that the World Cup would “provide a trigger for long-term and sustained social, cultural and educational development”. Zuma highlighted the benefits of the 1 Goal Education for All Campaign, which will reportedly assist 72 million children, almost half of whom are in Africa, who are not attending school. Zuma also thanked Blatter again for his unequivocal support in the challenging build-up to the tournament and during the month-long event, saying that “your confidence in us and in Africa has made it possible for us to prove Afro-pessimists wrong”.

Coe wants rethink on GB team for 2012
Sebastian Coe, chairman of the London 2012 Olympics organising committee, wants Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to reverse their decision not to be part of the Great Britain football team at the Games. At the moment, only English players will make up the team because the other three nations fear their status as independent nations is under threat if they join a GB side. "If you are asking me do I think the people in Great Britain want to see a Great Britain football team [put] out, I am hazarding a guess that they do," Lord Coe told BBC Radio Five Live's 'Sportsweek'. "However, that is not really for me to decide - it is a matter for the BOA and the FA."

Brazil's new coach Mano Menezes was today presented at a news conference by the president of the Brazilian Football Confederation Ricardo Teixeira (Getty)

New Brazil coach
The Brazilian football confederation has appointed Mano Menezes as the new Brazil coach. The former Corinthians boss is charged with helping Brazil win their sixth World Cup when the tournament takes place on home soil in 2014. CBF president Ricardo Teixeira, who also leads the Brazil 2014 organising committee, was reportedly encouraged by the willingness shown by Mano Menezes to take on the daunting challenge. Brazil were knocked out by the Netherlands in the quarter-final of World Cup 2010. The 48-year-old's first game in charge of Brazil is a friendly against the USA on Aug. 10.

Brazil 2014 World Cup update
Brazil's sports minister Orlando Silva will update reporters on the country's 2014 World Cup preparations in a news conference on Wednesday. He will comment on the status of construction progress across the project in 12 host cities and is expected to provide fresh information on a stadium plan for Sao Paulo. At the moment, South America's largest city is not part of Brazil 2014 plans. Last month, the city's Morumbi Stadium was dropped from the list of proposed host stadia due to lack of financial guarantees for renovations to meet FIFA requirements.

Raul quits Bernabeu
Real Madrid legend Raul holds a farewell celebration today after the club announced the 33-year-old was leaving the club after 17 seasons at the Santiago Bernabeu. Spain's all-time leading scorer with 44 goals is joining German Bundesliga side Schalke on a two-year deal. Real Madrid president Florentino Perez and director general Jorge Valdano today took part in a news conference in Madrid to mark Raul's departure.

Tickets on sale for 2011 AFC Asian Cup
A unique ticket design has been unveiled for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup taking place in Qatar. Tickets have security features to prevent ticket forgery, as well as a custom-designed hologram. It's the first time in the tournament's history that tickets are going on sale almost six months before kick-off. Asian Football Confederation president Mohamed Bin Hammam urged fans to buy tickets early for the 16-team tournament taking place in five stadiums from January 7 to 29. “The tickets are reasonably priced to give everybody an opportunity to enjoy and maximise the stadium experience. AFC is keen to make the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2011 an event for the whole family and our ticketing concept is family-friendly," he said. Tickets are priced between $1.40 and $41. Around 550,000 tickets are now on  public sale through the official website www.afcasiancup.com. Over-the-counter sales in Qatar start later in the year.

Man Utd lose in Kansas
Manchester United lost 2-1 against Kansas City Wizards in a pre-season friendly over the weekend that ranks as one of the best ever results by an MLS club in any international match. A crowd of 52,424 watched the match at Arrowhead Stadium, the first event there since its $325m renovation. The friendly also provided a boost for Kansas City's chances of being included in the USA's final list of host cities for the 2022 World Cup if the bid is successful. United will face the Major League Soccer All-Stars in Houston on Wednesday.

Prozone partners with Leaders in Performance
Prozone Sports Ltd has re-signed as a partner for the second edition of the Leaders in Performance conference, which takes in October at Chelsea FC. Since 1998, Prozone has spearheaded the development of performance analysis in football, working with some of the leading coaches in the professional game. Currently, 75% of clubs in the Premier League and English Championship work with Prozone - in total over 100 clubs, leagues and federations worldwide now benefit from its performance analysis systems including Arsenal, Everton, CSKA Moscow, Real Madrid and U.S. Soccer. Leaders in Performance is dedicated to the identification, development and management of sporting talent.


By INSIDER editor Mark Bisson

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