Sports Shorts: Vela gets Mexico call-up despite years of refusals

Real Sociedad midfielder Carlos Vela was called up by Mexico for November tour friendlies on Tuesday after turning his back on his country since March 2011.

Vela, one of the most gifted players of his generation in Mexico, was named by coach Miguel Herrera among 10 European-based players for matches against the Netherlands on Nov. 12 and Belarus six days later, the Mexican federation said.

The 25-year-old has constantly turned down call-ups from a string of Mexico coaches since winning his 35th cap in a March 2011 friendly against Venezuela claiming poor form but appears to have been persuaded to return by World Cup coach Herrera.

The former Arsenal player was a world under-17 champion with Mexico in 2005, a CONCACAF Gold Cup winner with the senior team in 2009 and played at the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.

Herrera, who steered Mexico to the last 16 where they lost to the Netherlands in this year's World Cup in Brazil, has also given a first call up to Twente Enschede midfielder Jesus Manuel Corona.

The other eight on the list are goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa (Malaga), defender Diego Reyes (Porto), Hector Herrera (Porto), Andres Guardado (PSV Eindhoven) and Jonathan Dos Santos (Villarreal) and forwards Javier Hernandez (Real Madrid), Raul Jimenez (Atletico Madrid) and Giovani Dos Santos (Villarreal).

Herrera is expected to complete the squad with home-based players next week.

Putin says needs effective, yet subtle World Cup security

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday security at the 2018 World Cup would be "effective but not intrusive", underlining to his security chiefs the need for subtle measures that will not scare off fans.

At a meeting of Russian and FIFA officials, Putin won support from FIFA president Sepp Blatter for Russia's staging of the soccer championship despite calls by some Western officials to move it elsewhere because of Moscow's role in Ukraine.

Putin urged the security services to work together to make sure the tournament, to be staged in 12 stadiums in 11 Russian cities at a cost of 664 billion roubles ($15.6 billion), passes off without problems.

"Here there should be complete cooperation, coordination of work of all services and departments. It should be marked for personal responsibility," Putin told a meeting of Russian, regional and FIFA officials.

"Security measures should be effective, but not intrusive, not excessive," he said. "Do not create problems, or discomfort for athletes and fans."

Although winning the right to host the World Cup stirred national pride, Moscow has faced calls for the finals to be played elsewhere because of its role in the Ukraine crisis and some Western officials have suggested a boycott.

Blatter said it was impossible to boycott football.

"FIFA firmly supports holding this championship in Russia," he told the same meeting.

For Putin, the World Cup, like the Winter Olympics Russia staged in February, are projects aimed at showing how Russia has developed since Soviet days into a modern state worthy of a seat at the table of top nations.

But the Winter Olympics, held at Sochi, put the spotlight on corruption, cronyism and cost overruns, rather than on sport.

Ebola crisis won’t affect Club World Cup preparations: FIFA

Preparations for the Club World Cup in Morocco in December are going ahead as planned and have not been affected by the Ebola crisis although the situation is being monitored, FIFA said on Tuesday.

FIFA also supported the Confederation of African Football's (CAF) decision to avoid playing international matches in Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia, the hardest-hit countries, as it issued recommendations for teams and players.

"According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are currently no cases of Ebola reported from Morocco and therefore all preparations continue as planned," said FIFA in a statement.

"FIFA is monitoring the situation and is in close contact with the Moroccan authorities and constantly updating its position in accordance with WHO technical guidance.

"Should the situation change we will be in touch with the participating clubs accordingly."

Morocco is also scheduled to hold the African Nations Cup in January and February, and has asked CAF for a postponement of that event. CAF are due to meet with Moroccan authorities in Rabat next week.

FIFA said that clubs whose players take part in an international match involving one of the three high-risk countries should carry out a check-up on their return.

It added that Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea should hold pre-match training and meetings on neutral grounds and that, before international games, players and officials from those teams should conduct self-monitoring, "including daily temperature control", for any symptoms.

Guinea have been staging their home matches in the Nations Cup qualifying competition in Casablanca while Sierra Leone have played in Democratic Republic of Congo and Cameroon.

The venue for their home match against Ivory Coast on Nov 14/15 has not been confirmed.

Liberia were eliminated by Lesotho in a preliminary round tie in June and have not played an international game since.