Much like the organization has promised in regards to the rampant shortcomings in officiating at the World Cup, FIFA has announced that it will look into the complaints regarding Adidas Jabulani ball that was produced for the World Cup. Several players griped about the new ball leading up the tournament, and prominent figures, among others England’s coach Fabio Capello and Argentina’s Diego Maradona, have bellyached about it since.
FIFA Promises Jabulani Investigation After World Cup
What’s worse: those carping about the Jabulani now have a bit of scientific backing from researchers in France, who have determined that the ball possesses “too perfect” a sphere. It must have been designed by Giotto.
Part of the problem may be that “the stitches of the Jabulani are internal, so the ball resembles a perfect sphere,” said Eric Berton, deputy director of the Institute of the Science of Movement in Marseille, France.
“Because of the shape, the time of contact with the foot is reduced. As a consequence, it practically doesn’t spin. The ball travels a little less far, and will have a floating and unpredictable trajectory, whether for a striker or a goalkeeper.”
Those who have watched the tournament would question whether in fact the ball doesn’t travel as well, but the mentions of bizarre trajectory are in keeping with what has been repeated throughout the tournament. Nevertheless, based on FIFA’s history, the assurances that meaningful examinations will be made is likely just lip service made to quell the furor until attention dies down.
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