For the first time, those who love Basque ball will have the chance to gamble online on the results at Betfair.com, the famous international gambling portal. Anyone in the world will now be able to bet money on Basque ball, a two-players game.

At Betfair.com the market of Basque ball is open and will not close until 10pm, just before de beginning of the match between two of the greatest stars. Betfair.com introduces this new possibility at the final stages of the Manomanista, the world’s most important championship of Basque ball.

The FIFA President is planning strategies against the bets and will ask the referees to compromise not to bet during the World Cup. Blatter said he will personally direct the 23 referees to the tournament.

Blatter said he wants soccer to sow a good image during the World Cup. “30.000 million people will watch the 64 games and we have to make sure the referees do their job properly”. He also said he trusts some of the problems that occurred during World Cup 2002 won’t happen again.

The precocious forward player Lionel Messi, star of the Barcelona FC and Argentinean team, got the fifth position in the most profitable players ranking, according to the marketing consultant BBDO who elaborated a list of the most valuable players of the market.

The list, where Messi has the fifth place, is headed up by the Brazilian player Ronaldinho. The 26-year-old forward player is right above the other media star, the English David Beckham, who holds the second place with 45.6 million euros.

Sixteen people have been inculpated, by the Judge Sylvania Verstreken, in the case of the Belgium soccer matches that were supposedly set up.

Even though the judge hasn’t made public the name of the inculpated, among the 16 people are the Lierse ex soccer players: Marius Mitu, Laurent Fassotte and Cliff Mardulier, as well as La Louvire ex coach: Gilbert Bodart, according to different sources close to the case.

The Brazilian Scolari, who leaded Brazil throughout its successful 2002 World Cup, is back on track to take over the Sweden Sven Goran Eriksson as the coach of the English team, according to the press.
Scolari, who also made it to the finals in the Euro Cup 2004 with Portugal, would have won places after a second interview with the responsible for the English Federation.
Apparently, Portugal’s coach has the support of the Vice President David Dein, over the actual favorite: the coach of the English Middlesbrough, Steve McLaren.

Franz Beckenbauer, President of the World Cup 2006 Organization Committee, was named “Soccer Ambassador” and he is about to finish the tour throughout the countries participating in the World Cup.

He has accomplished his mission with total credibility and charisma, as a Foreign’s spokesman said, and also he has managed to personify the slogan chosen for the event: “A time to make friends”.

With a salary of over $60,000 pounds (€86,000) a week, many things can be done, although not all of them productive. Wayne Rooney, Manchester United player, spends part of that amount of money on gambling. Ten days ago, The Sunday Mirror revealed he owed $700,000 pounds (€1 million) to Goldchip, property of Stephen Smith, a friend of Michael Owen’s. The player was obliged to pay off this weekend due to the strong influence of popular opinion.

The English soccer club Manchester United was recently accused of a double negotiation after finishing the sponsor negotiations with Mansion, an online casino group.

Mansion confirmed that the conversations they had about a $200 million deal have finished irreversibly. According to Mansion’s spokesmen, the company realized that the Manchester had been talking to other potential partners.

Electronic Arts announced that, for the first time, soccer fans worldwide will be able to download the official 2006 FIFA World Cup game for cellphones. The game will be available in the five continents, allowing players to be part of the most exciting sport experience ever created for this platform.

Users will be able to choose any of the 32 teams of the final round and lead it to win the most precious trophy in football: FIFA World Cup.

None of the teams could beat the other, but that didn´t stop the betters of MiApuesta.com of getting all the money they expected from the game.

The most important game of the Spanish League was exciting right from the beginning. After 20 minutes of Barcelona’s control of the game, a penalty was sentenced in favor of Ronaldinho’s team, who scored and got his team one goal ahead of Real Madrid. Five minutes later, Roberto Carlos got a red card and had to leave the game, and his team was left with 10 players.