WORLD CUP DAILY: Infantino calls for people to 'relax' amidst ongoing FIFA chaos | Mexico open the tournament at the Azteca
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Off the ball. Rugby.
No, I probably apologised for the first one. I think that's where you have to get rid of that in rugby. You've got to tuck the shoulder to the head. But, yeah, because then guys aren't going to jack calls. So, you know, that's just my only thing for me now is to say sorry for that.
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Hello and welcome along to today's World Cup Daily, I'm Phil Egan. Coming up, the tournament finally gets underway with one of the co-hosts, Mexico, taking on South Africa at the Azteca Stadium. FIFA President Gianni Infantino calls for people to chill and relax. after Somali referee Omar Attan was denied entry to the US, and England finished their preparations for the tournament in a weather-affected clash against Costa Rica in Orlando. But first tonight, it's the first of 104 games at the biggest ever World Cup across three countries. Mexico, who hosted the World Cup in 1970 and 1986, kick off the tournament at the Azteca Stadium in the south of Mexico City. They play South Africa in a repeat of the opening game of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, which ended in a one-all draw.
The second game in Group A will kick off in the early hours of the morning. South Korea take on Ireland's conquerors Czech Republic in Guadalajara. That one gets underway at 3 a.m. A White House official claims Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry to the U.S. due to an association with the suspected members of terror organizations. He was interviewed for 11 hours on arrival in Miami before he was made to leave the country. Artan says he was questioned over links to militant group Al-Shabaab, but he says he knows nothing about them. Meanwhile, FIFA president Gianni Infantino has told people to chill about the controversial topics that have dominated the build-up to this tournament. He says it's unfortunate that our town was denied entry.
Others have faced issues with visas. Ticket prices continue to cause much debate. Infantino says there's only so much FIFA can do.
We try always to find solutions. But then we need to respect that we are not the kings of the world who can rule over governments and police forces and I don't know what. We are a sports organization.
What are the highlights of the opening match between Mexico and South Africa?
We try to do our best with the means that we have.
On those ticket prices, Infantino says the pricing for the World Cup is fair. The tournament organizers are facing legal action with the subpoena brought by New York and New Jersey over ticketing practices. Ahead of the tournament opener in Mexico City, Infantinos said that if they had sold tickets too cheaply, they would have become inflated on resale sites.
Where would the money go then? Well, to those who organise secondary market or black market activities and not to football. So every dollar that comes in goes back into the development of football.
Football broadcaster Antonio Rusique joined Owen Sheahan on the football show last night to give the perspective from Mexico. And with Mexico City littered by roadblocks by teachers protesting for better pay conditions, Rusique explained why the Mexican people want to be proud of the show they put on for the world.
We want to feel proud. And right now we have this feeling that the government didn't do enough to have the airports in perfect circumstance, in perfect shape. to have all the avenues and to have everything in perfect shape. So that's my feeling and the general feeling that, oh, come on, you have eight years, you know, to build everything up. And right now, for example, two days ago, I used the airport and they're still working over there. It's not 100% finished in that sense. They're doing some make-up. so that's a feeling but the feeling is that the government could have done a better a better job to make us shine we want to feel proud and we're gonna do everything we have in our hearts and in our souls to make all the tourists feel fantastic here you know us as mexicans we like to be a good host
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–2:22
2
What are the highlights of the opening match between Mexico and South Africa?
2:22–8:27
3
What controversy surrounds Somali referee Omar Artan's entry denial?
8:27–10:01
4
What does FIFA President Gianni Infantino say about the tournament's controversies?
10:01–13:34
5
How are ticket prices and legal issues affecting the World Cup?
13:34–16:22
Speakers
6 identifiedMore from OTB Football
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