Milito, English Players NOT Shortlisted For FIFA Ballon D'Or Award

Diego Milito, who won the Treble with Inter last season is not shortlisted for the first ever FIFA Ballon D'Or award. Also not included is Man United's Wayne Rooney or any English players for that matter. This comes as a shock as both enjoyed great success with their respective clubs. Milito also won the Club Footballer of the Year in August.

Bookmakers' favourite for the award is Wesley Sneijder but also faces stiff competition from Xavi and Andrés Iniesta

FIFA Ballon d’Or 2010: Those in contention are..
Xabi Alonso (Spain), Daniel Alves (Brazil), Iker Casillas (Spain), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Didier Drogba (Côte d’Ivoire), Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon), Cesc Fabregas (Spain), Diego Forlán (Uruguay), Asamoah Gyan (Ghana), Andrés Iniesta (Spain), Júlio César (Brazil), Miroslav Klose (Germany), Philipp Lahm (Germany), Maicon (Brazil), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Thomas Müller (Germany), Mesut Özil (Germany), Carles Puyol (Spain), Arjen Robben (Netherlands), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany), Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands), David Villa (Spain) and Xavi (Spain).

FIFA World Coach of the Year:
Carlo Ancelotti (Italy/Chelsea FC), Vicente del Bosque (Spain/Spain national team), Alex Ferguson (Scotland/Manchester United), Pep Guardiola (Spain/FC Barcelona), Joachim Löw (Germany/Germany national team), José Mourinho (Portugal/FC Internazionale Milano and Real Madrid CF), Oscar Tabárez (Uruguay/Uruguay national team), Louis Van Gaal (Netherlands, FC Bayern Munich), Bert Van Marwijk (Netherlands/Netherlands national team) and Arsène Wenger (France/Arsenal).

FIFA Ends Arteta's Dream of Playing For England

It wasn't as if it was going to happen but the FA have crushed Mikel Arteta's dream of ever representing England after an insider opened the Big Fat Book of FIFA Rules.

Article 18.1.a within the Fifa statutes outlines that any player who has represented their country in an official competition or tournament, at whatever level, would at that time need to have held a passport for the country they later wish to play for in order to be permitted to make the switch.

Arteta played for Spain in the U16 European Championships and then in the FIFA World Championships at U17 level, but didn’t hold a British passport at the time ... therefore leaving him unable to represent anyone other than Spain at international level.

FIFA Inspector At Old Trafford

The inspectors for FIFA were present at Old Trafford to inspect Old Trafford, which is one of the stadiums selected for England's bid to host the 2018 World Cup.

Sir Alex Ferguson and David Gill laugh with the inspecting delegates.

Wayne Rooney and England captain Rio Ferdinand were also present at the Theatre of Dreams.