French chief steps down

Paris: French Football Federation (FFF) president Jean-Pierre Escalettes said on Monday he was resigning after France’s World Cup fiasco. “I consider that it is my duty to resign from my role as president of the French Football Federation. I accept my share of responsibility. My decision is essentially dictated by my will to preserve and facilitate the evolution of an institution I have served with passion for several decades,” Escalettes said in a statement.

Clean job

Johannesburg: Police say cleaning staff at England’s luxury World Cup hotel stole uniform shirts, a medal and even underwear from players. Police spokeswoman Junior Metsi says the pilfering had been going on for a week before it was reported Saturday.

Fresh Oranje

Durban: Dutch football legend Johan Cruyff says that Chile “has taken over” the Netherlands’ traditional role of most attractive team at the World Cup. Cruyff says in his column for Monday’s edition of a Dutch daily that Chile has put together more attacking moves than the other 31 teams combined.

Eye ball

Mexico City: If a grooved World Cup ball can upset some of the game’s best players, how would they react to a ball packed with cameras, lights and a GPS chip? A team of Mexico City-based designers are trying to revolutionise soccer with a ball that could beam out TV replays and light up in bright colours when it crosses the goal line to clear up any refereeing gaffes.

Screen play

Johannesburg: Fifa will censor World Cup match action being shown on giant screens inside the stadium after replays of Argentina’s disputed first goal against Mexico fuelled arguments on the pitch. Fifa spokesman Nicolas Maingot said Monday that replaying the incident was “a clear mistake.” “This will be corrected and we will have a closer look into that,” he said.

Bob to stay?

Johannesburg: United States Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati will meet with coach Bob Bradley to discuss his future with the national team following their second round exit but all the signs point to a likely parting of the ways. Bradley, whose contract expires in December, was non-committal on Sunday when asked if he wanted to stay in charge.

(Agencies)