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New York Times soccer

Just How Much is FIFA Ripping Off South Africa?

FIFA’s usual crony capitalism has sunk to the depths of heat-vent worms for this year’s World Cup, charges a new book by South African and British journalists. Non-competitive bids for contracts, inflated stadium and light rail costs, price-fixing for infrastructure materials, and an estimated take of up to $4 billion are all at the expense of South Africa’s government and people. (Jeré Longman/NYTimes.com)

Sepp Blatter promised a rethink four years ago…but here comes another World Cup that could be decided on PKs. Instead, what about overtimes with progressively decreasing squad sizes…down to seven on seven, say? (Christopher Clarey/NYTimes.com)

Political corruption. Hit lists. Sweetheart land deals for $1 in an area of rampant poverty. It sounds like a James Ellroy novel, but it’s the story of the World Cup stadium in Nelspruit, South Africa — which will be used four times this summer, and then perhaps never again. (Barry Bearak/The New York Times)