World Cup and Other Soccer Capsules: Brazil to invest $3B on airports for 2014 WCup

BRASILIA, Brazil — The Brazilian government approved on Monday nearly $3 billion in funding to renovate and expand its airports ahead of the 2014 World Cup.

The government also guaranteed investments of about $400 million in its ports, hoping to make sure the country is ready to host soccer’s biggest tournament.

Authorities signed a document Monday securing the investments and creating a timetable for work related to transportation and stadium construction, two of the areas receiving most of the criticism from FIFA because of delays.

Government officials had also expressed concerns with the country’s preparations, but Brazil president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said everything will be ready on time.

“Things are happening very quickly,” he said.

The document allows Brazil’s civil aviation agency to accelerate work to renovate the 13 airports expected to be used by fans and tourists in the 12 host cities that are spread across Brazil, a large country that is currently without the transportation infrastructure needed to host the tournament.

“Now we have the investments for some of the sensitive areas such as the airports,” Brazil Sports Minister Orlando Silva said. “We expect 600,000 international visitors and other 3 million Brazilians (traveling).”

The investments approved Monday will also help Rio de Janeiro host the 2016 Olympics.

A recent government study said Brazil will invest a total of $18 billion in infrastructure in the next few years.

Sky Blue FC of WPS on fifth coach in 14 months

SOMERSET, N.J. — Sky Blue FC of Women’s Professional Soccer is on its fifth coach in 14 months.

The franchise won the league’s inaugural championship last season despite going through three coaches. Pauliina Miettinen was then hired in September, but she lasted just 14 games before the team announced Monday she had been fired.

Sky Blue is 5-6-3 and in third place out of seven clubs with 10 games left.

Assistant Rick Stainton was promoted to head coach.

Ian Sawyers was suspended then fired after the first six games of last season. His replacement, Kelly Lindsey, abruptly resigned with two games left. After U.S. national team captain Christie Rampone took over as player-coach, Sky Blue clinched a playoff berth and went on to win the championship.

The veteran defender remains a starter for Sky Blue after missing the beginning of the season because of the birth of her second child.

“I have 100 percent trust going forward,” Rampone said in a news release from the team. “It’s a new season, with 10 games and a playoff run left to go.”

Miettinen was a former Finnish national team player. She had coached in the Finnish Premier League and worked at Florida State when the Seminoles reached the 2005 NCAA semifinals.

Assistant Anne Parnila was also fired.

FIFA confirms October agenda for goal-line tech

LONDON — The use of goal-line video technology remains on FIFA’s agenda for October after soccer’s governing body confirmed that its rule-making panel will not discuss the issue at its meeting this week.

The International Football Association Board meets in Cardiff, Wales, on Wednesday but FIFA says “the only point on the agenda” is the continuing experiment with extra assistant referees behind the goals.

The video system was tested in last season’s Europa League.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter said last month that IFAB would look at goal-line technology this week following his apology to England and Mexico for the officiating errors that helped eliminate them from the World Cup.

He then said on July 8 that the matter would be on the agenda in October.

Court hears Irish north-south soccer divide case

LAUSANNE, Switzerland — The Court of Arbitration for Sport has heard a case on the right to select Ireland’s top young soccer players for international duty.

The Northern Ireland federation challenged on Monday what it believes is poaching by its southern neighbor, after recent political peace granted players dual nationality.

Northern Ireland appealed after FIFA allowed 18-year-old Daniel Kearns to switch allegiance to the Republic of Ireland despite not even having a grandparent born there, which is the usual minimal requirement for players to switch nationalities.

FIFA recognizes a 1998 political development allowing anyone born on the island of Ireland to claim a passport from either side.

The ruling is expected in several weeks.

Iraqi football official: federation offices raided

BAGHDAD — A member of the Iraqi Football Association says men in military-style uniforms have raided the organization’s offices and displayed arrest warrants for some of its officials.

The official said Monday that the men drove Humvees in Sunday’s raid, which caused the association to suspend work in the offices and delay all tournaments and matches until further notice.

The raid comes as members of the Iraqi Football Association are set to meet in the Kurdish city of Irbil on Saturday to choose a new president.

Iraq’s soccer association has been beset by problems. FIFA suspended Iraq in November because of political interference in soccer affairs. The suspension was lifted in March.

-- Hamid Ahmed

Ching, Moreno added to MLS All-Star roster

NEW YORK — Houston forward Brian Ching has been added to Major League Soccer’s All-Star roster for the July 28 game against Manchester United in Houston.

Ching, who was cut from the U.S. World Cup team, and D.C. United forward Jaime Moreno were selected Monday by MLS commissioner Don Garber.

MLS coach Bruce Arena of the Los Angeles Galaxy added 11 players: goalkeeper Nick Rimando (Salt Lake); defenders Kevin Alston (New England), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Wilman Conde (Chicago) and Heath Pearce (Dallas); midfielders Sebastien Le Toux (Philadelphia), David Ferreira (Dallas), Brad Davis (Houston), Shalrie Joseph (New England) and Jeff Larentowicz (Colorado); and forward Juan Pablo Angel (New York).

Maradona keeps people guessing about his future

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Diego Maradona isn’t saying whether he’ll stay on as Argentina’s national team coach.

Maradona was to meet early this week with Argentine Football Association president Julio Grondona, whose office said last week it would offer the coach a four-year extension through the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

However, Maradona planned to travel to Venezuela at the invitation of President Hugo Chavez to give a series of soccer clinics.

Maradona has not talked publicly about his plans since Argentina was knocked out of the World Cup by Germany with a 4-0 quarterfinal loss.

Argentina is scheduled to play an Aug. 11 exhibition at Ireland.