Cuban Players Ditch US Hotel, May Plan to Defect

Koman Coulibaly of Mali stirs controversy by nullifying late goal

(NEWSER) - The most famous person in American soccer today isn't an American or a soccer player: He's Koman Coulibaly, a World Cup referee from Mali. In today's US-Slovenia match , a 2-2 draw, Coulibaly awarded a free kick on an obvious dive, then negated a goal that would have given the Americans a late 3-2 lead—and refused to tell the irate players what the infraction was. "I am gutted," said Landon Donovan, who set up what appeared to be Maurice Edu's game-winner. “I don’t know how they stole that third goal from us." More»

(AP) - American players danced in the locker room and swigged bubbly after a thrilling victory last night in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, earned the US soccer team a trip to South Africa and another chance to impress at the World Cup. In one of the most exciting end-to-end matches the US has played in many years, the Americans took a 3-1 lead before Honduras closed on Julio Cesar De Leon's second goal of the game in the 78th minute. More»

Brazilians not allowed to ban booze, soccer chief says

(NEWSER) - Banning beer at the 2014 World Cup is not an option, FIFA chief Jerome Valcke has warned Brazil. The world soccer kingpin, visiting the country for an inspection tour, says he isn't happy about the state of Brazil's infrastructure, the pace of construction at stadiums and, in particular, a government squabble over alcohol sales at the 12 venues that will host the World Cup, the BBC reports. More»

But only within certain stringent limits

(NEWSER) - Cuba is taking another baby step toward capitalism, making it legal, for the first time in more than 50 years, for citizens and residents to buy and sell homes, a state-run newspaper announced today. It’s the latest and, according to a BBC correspondent, most significant in a string of free market reforms under Raul Castro. Of course, Cubans have effectively been selling homes for years, Reuters notes; they could legally swap homes, and money would pass under the table if one was larger. More»

Goalie tells Gadhafi to 'leave us alone'

(NEWSER) - Moammar Gadhafi has reportedly lost top military officials to defection, and now he'll have to do without his star soccer goalie. Juma Gtat and 17 other players from the national team have switched allegiance to the rebels, reports the BBC . "I am telling (Ghadafi) leave us alone and allow us to create a free Libya," says Gtat. "In fact I wish he would leave this life altogether," he added, laughing. More»