Two months before its biggest tournament kicks off in South Korea and
Japon soccer appears buoyant.
And yet, the worlds most popular sport also has plenty of problems.
Some teams are on the brink of brankruptcy.Players are cheating to get
penalties or get their opponents sent off.Some have tested positive for
nandrolone.
The game remains a platform for violence and racism.While clubs such as
Manchester United and Real Madrid are getting richer thanks to TV,
merchadise and sponsorship revenue and many other teams face extinction.
On the field FIFA "Fair Play" policy is increasingly being ignored.
Players frequently try to trick referees into awarding penalties and free
kicks when they are not fouled.FIFA has instructed officials to show players
yellow cards for "diving"-feigning injury.
Some fans have hurled coins,bottles at players and some officials on the
field.Fan violence,sometimes fatal happens almost around the world.