U.S. Soccer to ban heading the ball during games for all players under 13

In an effort to curb the increase of concussions in youth soccer, the United States Soccer Federation unveiled a series of safety initiatives Monday aimed at addressing head injuries in the sport — including a policy that sets strict limits on youth players heading the ball.

The new guidelines, which resolve a proposed class-action lawsuit filed against U.S. Soccer and others last year, will prohibit players age 10 and younger from heading the ball and will reduce its use in practice for those from age 11 to 13.

Youngsters will now be prohibited from using their heads to block crosses or even score the occasional goal — key components of soccer.

According to officials, heading the ball should not be allowed for any U.S. player aged under ten, and should be limited to practice sessions only for those aged 11 to 13 due to the concussion fears.

At the moment, the rules will only be mandatory for U.S. Soccer's Youth National Teams and its Development Academy, including MLS youth teams.

While those players only make up a fraction of the total number of people playing the sport, they are perhaps the most important in terms of furthering the game on a national and international level.

U.S. Soccer admits that it doesn't have the authority to force all clubs to play by the rules, though authorities say they will be putting pressure on everyone to follow their advice.

"Although they are only recommendations, they are based on the advice of the U.S. Soccer medical committee, and therefore U.S. Soccer strongly urges that they be followed," said a spokesperson.

The ruling comes after a class action lawsuit filed in California last year, bringing claims against U.S. Soccer and its associated bodies, as well as FIFA, the international governing body.

While a judge ruled that a claim in the U.S. had no authority over FIFA, the case against U.S. Soccer, as well as U.S. Youth Soccer, the American Youth Soccer Organization, U.S. Club Soccer and the California Youth Soccer Association, was allowed to proceed.

The claimants sought no financial payments, simply rule changes that brought a greater focus to the issue of head injuries within the game.

That case was settled on Monday, the same day U.S. Soccer announced these new initiatives. 

What is not clear, however, is exactly how these rules will be enforced and what punishment a player on the field can expect if they decide to head the ball during a game.

There is also concern that leaving out such a major facet of the game, especially for players in national development academies, will hurt U.S. Soccer's international reputation and advancement.

Among other rule changes are allowances for a player to be substituted for a concussion check without that change counted against a team's total.

Currently, at senior level, teams are allowed a total of three substitutions per game, including those made for injuries.

Comedian throws fake money at Sepp Blatter during FIFA presser (VIDEO)

FIFA officials announced Monday that they will choose a successor to embattled president Sepp Blatter, who has served as the federation's president for 17 years, after saying he will not run again.

During the press conference, Blatter was showered with fake money by a notorious prankster at the group's Zurich headquarters.

Comedian Lee Nelson - real name Simon Brodkin - managed to infiltrate the presser and make it rain all over the stunned Blatter.

Comedian Lee Nelson throws banknotes over Sepp Blatter #FIFA https://t.co/ssJLPnCJz6

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 20, 2015

As Nelson is being led away, throwing the phony bank-notes in the air around a visibly furious Blatter, the prankster issues a parting shot, saying: "Cheers, Sepp - it's all there".

Hope Solo's history of violence goes back to high school: Report

It appears that Hope Solo's pattern of violence off the pitch started back when the U.S. soccer team's star goalkeeper was still in high school. 

Documents uncovered by TMZ Sports claim that when the troubled Solo was a senior at Richland High School in Washington state when she harassed and bullied another student so badly she was hit with a restraining order. Solo was required to stay 300 feet away from the student at all times.

The documents quotes the student saying:

"(Solo) punched me in the cheek. Then she said, 'I f---ing hate you, you fat a-- whore!' and punched me two more times. Once in the eye and once in the mouth."

According to the gossip site, documents filed in 1998, Solo was hit with a restraining order and was required to keep away from the student at all times.

The 17-year-old incident comes to light after a string of violent behavioral incidents for Solo. Last year, she was arrested on domestic violence charges — where she was allegedy drunk, called a police officer a 'b----' and said to the cop that if she weren't in handcuffs, "I'd kick your ass."

In April, Solo's husband, former NFL player Jerramy Stevens, was convicted on a DUI charge. 

Solo was a passenger in the car at the time of his arrest. She was given a short suspension by the U.S. soccer team after the incident.

The athletic, 5-9, 150-pound goalkeeper will be on the field Friday in Winnipeg when the U.S. soccer team plays its second game of the 2015 Women's World Cup.

Critics claim the U.S. team swept Solo's abusive behavior under the rug long enough to get her into the World Cup because she is too important to the squad and its take-no-prisoners — just use them —quest for the title. And despite her apparent penchant for violence, they still promote the alleged domestic abuser in their commercials during the most prestigious and visible women's soccer tournament in the world.

If that doesn't scream double-standard for women who commit the same crimes as men — what does?

Mexico coach defends gay slur chant by fans at the World Cup: Report

Mexico World Cup coach Miguel Herrera has said his team supports the fans' chanting of 'puto' during the World Cup matches in Brazil. The term has many derogatory meanings, including being used as a gay slur.

The New York Daily News reported:

Herrera says Mexico fans shouting the slur as the rival team's goalkeeper takes a goal kick is ''not that bad.'' He says ''We're with our fans. It's something they do to pressure the opposing goalkeeper.''

Fare, the European fan-monitoring group, first reported the chants at Mexico’s 1-0 win over Cameroon in Natal. FIFA subsequently opened a disciplinary case against the Mexico federation, which is responsible for fan behavior inside stadiums.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter and Brazil President Dilma Rousseff have pledged to use the World Cup as a platform to fight racism and discrimination.

Although a debate has raged over whether the fans are indeed yelling a gay slur, some defend the chant as the word's other perceived, and less offensive, non-gay meaning — whore.

Either way, Univision has muted the chant in broadcasts in the past, and ESPN said it will likely do the same in Mexico's final group game in Brazil. FIFA is looking into the matter as well and has opened a case against Mexico.

Nigeria goalkeeper appears to intentionally throw ball into own net (VIDEO)

Nigeria goalkeeper Austin Ejide sure picked a bad time to apparently throw the ball into his own net. The  bizarre own goal was disallowed in Nigeria's 2-2 draw with Scotland but it came on the heels of a Nigerian soccer fixing investigation

The 30-year-old appeared to throw the ball into his net during the friendly after coming to claim a corner and making contact with Blackburn defender Grant Hanley.

The no-look pass to the net got even more publicity after it was confirmed that police were investigating a fixing scandal ahead of kick-off following a match-fixing tip off from the National Crime Agency.

The build-up to Wednesday night's game at Craven Cottage was precluded by talk of a police investigation after possible attempts to rig the game were brought to FIFA's attention.

After the game, Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi was quick to deny that his team was, or would ever be, caught up in a match-fixing scandal.

"We did (talk about it) because it’s something ridiculous, something that we don’t know where it’s coming from," he said. "We’re not gamblers, we are football players. I don’t even know where that is coming from, we don’t know what happened, match fixing or no match fixing.

"This is the first time I’ve been a coach or been a player and the first time I’m hearing this, match-fixing. I don’t think it had anything to do with our build-up or the game."

The video evidence might tell another story.

Bruno Xavier score is being called the greatest goal in the history of... beach soccer (VIDEO)

Bruno Xavier may not be a name familiar to most sports fans and beach soccer gets about as much respect as beach Frisbee in the U.S. but, after this goal on a sand-covered pitch, Xavier may become worthy of a single-named fame in Brazil — where the sport is wildly popular.

And now, many are calling this barefooted score the greatest goal in the history of the sport.

Xavier, considered by many the best beach football player in the world, scored the remarkable goal for Brazil against Germany in the Riviera Maya Cup 2014. Xavier juggles the ball past several players before faking out the goalkeeper and calmly nudging the ball into the back of the net.

The 29-year-old Xavier — the 2013 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Golden Ball award winner — led Brazil to a 9-4 victory over Germany.

Congo soccer stadium stampede kills at least 15 fans: Report

A stampede at a soccer stadium in Congo's capital on Sunday killed at least 15 people and injured more than a dozen, government officials said.

The stampede at the Tata Raphael Stadium in Kinshasa happened toward the end of a match between two popular Congolese teams, AS Vita Club and TP Mazembe, according to a statement from the Interior Ministry read on national television late Sunday.

At least 21 people were injured during the melee, said Gov. Andre Kimbuta, who has set up a commission to investigate the incident.

Witnesses told U.N.-backed Radio Okapi that police fired tear gas into the crowd after angry fans threw objects onto the field in the final minutes of the match on the last day of the league season. The home team, AS Vita, was losing 1-0.

The stampede then caused a recently restored wall and gate to collapse, African soccer body the Confederation of African Football said in a statement Monday. The continental body has also asked Congolese soccer authorities for a report.

Altercations have previously erupted when Kinshasa-based AS Vita played Lubumbashi-based TP Mazembe, a four-time African club champion that played at FIFA's Club World Cup in 2010.

Sanctions had been imposed last season on the teams after a match between them in the city of Lubumbashi, Radio Okapi reported.

Brazil players banned from having 'acrobatic' sex during World Cup: Report

In what has to be a huge blow to the host soccer team, Brazil coach Luis Felipe Scolari wants his players to refrain from "acrobatic" sex during the World Cup tournament which kicks off June 12.

Scolari — worried about possible injuries — wants his players to get their kicks on the pitch and not in the bedroom during the month leading up to the final game in Sao Paulo.

“The players can have normal sex during the World Cup. Usually normal sex is done in a balanced way, but some like to perform acrobatics," Scolari said, according to Sports Illustrated.

As for how he plans on enforcing this rule, Scolari promised to "put limits and survey the players," including superstar Neymar and rumored new girlfriend Gabriella Lenzi.

The coach didn't elaborate on how he'll "survey" the action or what constitutes "normal" sex — at least in Brazil.

Scolari, who coached "A Seleção" to its fifth and last World Cup title in 2002, is under intense pressure to win the trophy on home turf — especially with the specter of the 1950 World Cup still haunting Brazil more than six decades after Uruguay shocked the host nation, 2-1, in that year's final.

That fateful game is known as "El Marancanzo," named after the Estadio Maracana, which will also be the site of the July 13 final.

If Brazil ends up on top in 2014, a fitting name would be El Posição do Missionário.

Adorable kid invades soccer pitch, gets carried around by players (VIDEO)

One adorable little South African kid managed to get up close and personal with his soccer heroes when he ran onto the pitch during Wednesday's South Africa-Brazil friendly at Soccer City stadium in Soweto.

Before security wrangled the tiny intruder, Brazilian superstar Neymar saved the day by scooping up the cute kid and bringing him over to his teammates — where they carried the green and yellow-clad tyke around the pitch.

Neymar might want to bring his new lucky charm back to Brazil for the World Cup. He scored a hat trick against the home team.

World Cup will be played between November and January in Qatar: Report

FIFA's secretary general has stated that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar "will not be in June or July."

Jerome Valcke, who had been given the task of looking at alternative dates due to the oppressive heat of the summer in Qatar, said it is likely to be held in the winter months sometime between November 15 and January 15.

Valcke told France Inter Radio: "It will not be in June or July. Frankly I think it'll be played between November 15 and January 15 at the latest.

"If you play between November 15 and the end of the year that's when the weather is at its most favorable."

Valcke suggested it will be "like a warm spring in Europe" with "an average temperature of 25 degrees (77℉), therefore it's perfect for football."

In October, FIFA delayed making a decision on whether to play the tournament in the winter saying it was setting up a consultation process to decide when the finals should be held.

At the time, the world governing body announced it would reach a conclusion sometime after this year's World Cup in Brazil.

Valcke's surprise announcement on Wednesday comes more than three years after Qatar was originally awarded the tournament in December 2010, although his statement is still likely to need ratification by FIFA's executive committee.

The average temperature in the summer months in Qatar can be anywhere between 95℉ and 113℉.

Severed head of Brazilian soccer player is discovered on his front doorstep: Report

Police in Brazil have launched a manhunt after the severed head of a former professional soccer player was left on the doorstep of his home Tuesday.

The horrified wife of Joao Rodrigo Silva Santos made the gruesome discovery as she left the house in Rio de Janeiro for work early yesterday, reports DailyMail.com.

The player's eyes and tongue had been cut out and his head placed inside one of his own backpacks, police said.

Santos retired from football two years ago after a successful career playing for several teams in Rio de Janeiro, as well as for clubs in Sweden and Honduras.

He had recently set up his own business selling health foods and dietary supplements.

Police said today that Santos is believed to have been snatched from outside the shop he had opened in the Realengo district of Rio as he closed up at around 7.45pm on Monday.

Witnesses said they saw several men bundling him into his car, a Hyundai i30, and speeding off just before midnight, a spokesman said. He was reported missing by his wife at 9 pm on Monday.

Investigators are working on the theory that Santos could have been murdered by a drug gang because of his wife's work at a military police base in a local slum. She is a military policewoman who does social work to take back control of the favelas from drug gangs

Santos played as a professional footballer between 1996 and 2005  — during which he scored 33 goals in 103 matches as a striker.  Nicknamed Humble Hero, he was signed to a number of second division teams. He also played abroad for Swedish Club Oster Vaxjo  and Olimpia in Honduras. 

A recent United Nations report into drug trafficking-related crime in Brazil found that more than half of the homicides, robberies and thefts have a direct or indirect link with this criminal activity.

The FIFA World Cup begins in Brazil on June 12.

Costa Rica protests soccer loss to U.S. in heavy snow

The Costa Rica soccer team seemed to be having a lot of fun playing in the snowy conditions during Friday night's World Cup qualifying match against the United States even when inches of the white stuff covered the pitch at  Dicks Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo.

Although the U.S. lead 1-0, players from both sides — who looked more like characters in a snow globe — seemed to be pleading with the referee to let the match go on.

That was until the final horn and Costa Rica realized they lost. Suddenly the Rockie Mountain high disappeared.

Costa Rica manager Jorge Luis  Pinto vented his anger about the perceived snow job after the 1-0 loss.

"It was an embarrassment to football, disrespectful to the game," an animated Pinto told reporters.

Pinto said the "legal conditions" for playing the game were not in place and a Federation official told Costa Rican media that an official protest would be made to FIFA on Saturday.

Regardless of the weather, postponing the game would've caused considerable problems for both teams. They would've had to complete it within 48 hours and both sides have to travel for their next matches on Tuesday.

U.S. and Costa Rica push groundskeeper out of way 

According to Reuters, US federation president Sunil Gulati claimed that playing the match in Colorado this time of year had nothing to do with trapping their opponents arctic conditions and instead was designed as high-altitude training for the US's trip to Mexico City next week.

It seems like there's a snow ball's chance on a Costa Rican beach that any action will result from the team's protest, but -- from their perspective they've already lost so why not try.

Soccer star Ronaldo's totaled Ferrari on eBay for $65K

An Italian sports car that international soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo totaled in January 2009 was put up for auction on eBay yesterday — but was taken down just as fast.

The Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano F1 international soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo crashed — when he careened into a tunnel barrier near Manchester, England — was listed on the online site for a starting price of $64,380.  A brand new version would run you about $322,000.

The listing was removed after media reported on the sale, prompting speculation that the wrecked car's pedigree could jack up the asking price at a later date.

Spanish newspaper ABC reports that the burgundy-colored car only has 1,925 miles on the odometer and comes with various documents with the 27-year-old Portuguese star's name on them.

It is being offered at the discount price, by a professional scrap dealer in the east of France, because it is in such bad shape.

According to the listing, the powerful car with the demolished front end is "certainly repairable." 

The listing was taken down early Thursday morning after Spanish, French and Portuguese media reported it was for sale prompting speculation on Twitter that it could be back on the market later this week — but at a much higher sale price.

The then-FIFA World Player of the Year escaped uninjured and the police did not take any action against him.

No word on if the vehicle comes with any of Ronaldo's leftover hair gel.