Fans from across the globe rather
than FIFA officials will determine the man-of-the-match awards at
this year's World Cup in South Africa.
The technical study group of world soccer's governing body
have until now selected the best player from each game, but for the
first time it will be left to online and mobile text
voting.
The innovation is part of a digital media push unveiled on
Friday by World Cup sponsor Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world's
larger beer company and brewer of Budweiser, whose name is attached
to the man-of-the-match awards.
Through promotions, fans will be chosen to present the trophies
to players at the 64 matches.
The brewing group are also behind "Bud House," a Big Brother
style show bringing 32 fans from each of the qualifying nations
under one roof in Cape Town.
At the start of the tournament, the 16 female and 16 male
participants will sleep in rooms based on the World Cup group phase
pools. The two fans of the finalists will get tickets for the
match.
Organizers expect up to 450,000 foreign fans in South Africa for
the month-long tournament which starts on June 11, while tens of
thousands of local supporters are expected to watch games at fan
parks across the country.
reuters