400,000 Soccer Fans So Far At U 17

The ongoing Under-17 World Cup has attracted over 400,000 soccer fans, soccer's world governing body FIFA said.

FIFA said on its website that 416,399 spectators watched the 32 matches so far played at the tournament which runs through Nov. 15.

The figure indicated that the eventual attendance may surpass that of the last edition in South Korea, where saw 434,067 fans making appearances in the 52 matches two years ago.

"Peru 2005' recorded 551,817 spectators in the 32 matches where a total of 86 goals were scored," FIFA said.

The 2007 edition had a total of 165 goals scored in the 52 matches while 111 goals were scored in the 32 matches played in Peru in 2005.

The number of participating teams rose from 16 to 24 in 2007.

Release of MRI test results

- World soccer's governing body FIFA will release the results of the age verification tests, which are being conducted at the ongoing FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Nigeria, after the tournament.

"The MRI (Magnetic Imaging Resonance) test on the players is ongoing, so no result out yet; but I want to assure that we will make it public after the whole exercise,'' FIFA Vice President Jack Warner told journalists here Monday.

But Warner said no player had tested positive to performance-enhancing drugs at the tournament.

Nigeria was forced to decamp over 15 players before the tournament, after they failed the MRI test.

Also, African champion Gambia sacked almost its entire team before the tournament after they failed the age verification test.

Meanwhile, a new controversy has emerged over the age of the Nigerian players at the tournament, after a former Nigerian national team player - Adokiye Amiesimaka - alleged that the captain of the team is 25 years old, not under-17 as he is claiming.

Amiesimaka said the skipper, Fortune Chukwudi, was 18 years old seven years ago, when he was recruited into a feeder team in Southern Rivers state.

The allegation has generated angry reactions from Nigerian football officials, who lampooned the former Nigerian player.

By: GOODLIFE PROMOTIONS

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