# Jabulani - will the new world cup soccer ball cause celebration or sadness? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [June 9, 2010, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jabulani-will-the-new-world-cup-soccer-ball-cause-celebration-or-sadness/542567 "2010-06-09T19:11:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jabulani-will-the-new-world-cup-soccer-ball-cause-celebration-or-sadness/542567/1 "2010-06-09T19:11:58Z")
So what’s the deal with the latest World Cup soccer ball? I didn’t even know there was a controversy until I see the Los Angeles Times this morning: [The World Cup’s ball of confusion](http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-0609-new-world-cup-ball-20100609,0,3826360.story) By Kevin Baxter June 8, 2010 | 10:18 p.m (Reporting from Johannesburg) > [@](#): > > The new World Cup ball carries the name Jabulani, which is Zulu for “to celebrate.” > The soccer players who are using it have another name for it: disaster. Each World Cup has a new soccer ball, and for this World Cup Adidas tried to make a ball that will perform well at any altitude, hot or cold temperature, sunshine or rain. It took 50 people 5 years to develop. Some players are complaining that the ball is very unpredictable. Adidas says the blame should be directed at South Africa’s thin air. Adidas also says that this is the “most stable, accurate and perfectly round ball ever”. (see the graphic accompanying the article.) What’s the story here? Is it really a horrible ball? It’s been tested in professional leagues for a while. Has anyone seen one of the balls “in the flesh”? ---
**Author:** ![Jayrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Jayrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayrot)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jabulani-will-the-new-world-cup-soccer-ball-cause-celebration-or-sadness/542567/2 "2010-06-09T20:57:46Z")
It seems that there has been a story about the controversy over the ball for the at least the last 3 world cups. In 2006 there was a controversial new ball [link](http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/06/060609-world-cup.html) Apparently there was even controversy over the ball in the 1930 World Cup. They ended up using Argentina’s ball for one half, and Uruguay’s ball for the other. [link](http://wapedia.mobi/en/Football_World_Cup_1930) ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jabulani-will-the-new-world-cup-soccer-ball-cause-celebration-or-sadness/542567/3 "2010-06-09T21:02:07Z")
They should play 45 mins with the new ball, and 45 mins with [one of these](http://www.shapesoftime.net/FileSystem/upfile/j00013/caser_2170%20(3).jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jabulani-will-the-new-world-cup-soccer-ball-cause-celebration-or-sadness/542567/4 "2010-06-10T13:50:23Z")
I could always buy one and see for myself, but not being an expert, I probably couldn’t tell the difference. I see several versions available online: [adidas World Cup 2010 Jo’Bulani _(sic)_ Final Official Match Ball](http://www.amazon.com/adidas-World-JoBulani-Final-Official/dp/B003N3XBFM/ref=pd_sbs_sg_7) US$ 135 [adidas World Cup 2010 Jabulani Official Soccer Match Ball](http://www.amazon.com/adidas-World-Jabulani-Official-Soccer/dp/B002ZSTIY4/ref=pd_sbs_a_1) US$ 110 [adidas Jabulani World Cup 2010 NFHS Top Training Soccer Ball](http://www.amazon.com/adidas-Jabulani-World-Training-Soccer/dp/B003066L2W/ref=pd_sim_sg_4) US$ 40 (available in different colours) [adidas World Cup 2010 Mini Soccer Ball](http://www.amazon.com/adidas-World-2010-Mini-Soccer/dp/B002N1SK6K/ref=pd_sim_sg_2) US$ 12 [adidas World Cup 2010 Repliqué Soccer Ball](http://www.amazon.com/adidas-World-2010-Repliqu%C3%A9-Soccer/dp/B002NJT5S4/ref=pd_sim_sg_2) US$ 24 - this one looks like a regular old-fashioned soccer ball with the World Cup design on it ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jabulani-will-the-new-world-cup-soccer-ball-cause-celebration-or-sadness/542567/5 "2010-06-10T15:02:03Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > They should play 45 mins with the new ball, and 45 mins with [one of these](http://www.shapesoftime.net/FileSystem/upfile/j00013/caser_2170%20(3).jpg). Yeah, if England does get the 2018 World Cup, that should be the controversial official match ball. Fuck Adidas. I’d like to see that one swerve. ---
**Author:** ![footballisplayedwithyourfeet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9f8e36/32.png) [@footballisplayedwithyourfeet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/footballisplayedwithyourfeet)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jabulani-will-the-new-world-cup-soccer-ball-cause-celebration-or-sadness/542567/6 "2010-06-10T15:08:30Z")
Well, I think the biggest problem is the combination of the ball and playing at altitude (Joburg is at over 1700 meters). The thinner air causes balls to go fater anyhow and I’ve also heard people say the Jabulani leaves your boot particularly quickly, sothe combination might cause some problems I must say that from a cc ouple of friendlies I’ve seen (played in Joburg) that the ball does seem to behave strangely, I at least felt I could see it do ‘unpredictable’ things. ---
**Author:** ![Speak\_to\_me\_Maddie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Speak\_to\_me\_Maddie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speak_to_me_Maddie)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jabulani-will-the-new-world-cup-soccer-ball-cause-celebration-or-sadness/542567/7 "2010-06-10T15:27:37Z")
It seems that the controversy this year covers the same points as the last go-round. Adidas is claiming (as they did in 2006) that the new ball is the “roundest ball ever” and that its special grooves make it move faster through the air, while the players claim the ball moves erratically when booted, making it harder to pass and shoot accurately. I’m new to watching soccer so I don’t really get why the ball has to be so damn round that only a NASA laser array can detect any deviation. I also don’t know why Adidas gets so much control over how to make the ball for such an important event. Money I guess. I can’t imagine Wilson producing a football for the Superbowl with ten stitches and a vinyl finish because their “ball science” says it will perform better. ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jabulani-will-the-new-world-cup-soccer-ball-cause-celebration-or-sadness/542567/8 "2010-06-10T15:39:25Z")
Btw, in case you haven’t seen it, here’s the buttock-clenchingly awful official unveiling of the new ball. Highlight is Sepp Blatter’s hilarious “joke” towards the end, so good that he milks it for about 20 seconds. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRODQF8H6Oo) ---
**Author:** ![nani](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/58956e/32.png) [@nani](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nani)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jabulani-will-the-new-world-cup-soccer-ball-cause-celebration-or-sadness/542567/9 "2010-06-10T16:17:34Z")
Every World Cup there are complaints about the new ball. I generally don’t hold with them. That said, if the ball takes the kind of spins that I saw it take in the goal [China scored against France](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N63cVBZZOko), then this World Cup will be really fun. ---
**Author:** ![Parenchyma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Parenchyma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Parenchyma)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jabulani-will-the-new-world-cup-soccer-ball-cause-celebration-or-sadness/542567/10 "2010-06-11T06:01:17Z")
Brief hijack. I won one of the 2006 official balls in a raffle. It’s wonderful, but I had never played with a $135 ball before. That model is also available with [pink](http://soccer.epicsports.com/trk382445/prod/3759/closeout-adidas-glider-pink-soccer-ball-sz-3-4.html) markings. It turns up occasionally in my women’s league and due to the shapes in the design is known as “the [pantyliner](http://moneysavingmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/carefree-300x300.jpg) ball.” ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jabulani-will-the-new-world-cup-soccer-ball-cause-celebration-or-sadness/542567/11 "2010-06-11T06:22:46Z")
“most stable, accurate and perfectly round ball ever”. If addidas was to make a golf ball or tennis ball under those specifications they would certainly not get a better product, either aerodynamically or for the game. FIFA seems to have determined many years ago that the “best” goals are those scored from long range strikes or free kicks, so anything that allows either a greater curl or a multidirectional flight (curl both ways or curl and dip) is an improvement. ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jabulani-will-the-new-world-cup-soccer-ball-cause-celebration-or-sadness/542567/12 "2010-06-11T09:52:59Z")
What’s the problem? The ball’s going to be unpredictable for everybody, if the reports are true. It’s the same with the _prima donnas_ who complain about the ground quality of some Premiership teams. They can play in a slutch patch, for all I care. Frankly, I’ve always found it funny that the footballing authorities are insistent on not having goal line technology, and so forth, because lower league and amateur leagues can’t afford the same technologies, whilst insisting on using balls that cost an arm and a leg to purchase. As far as I know, it’s only football that does this: you can buy a rugby ball from JJB sports for £20 that the professionals use. Scrap all this rubbish about developing new balls, and have them play with something amateur players use. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jabulani-will-the-new-world-cup-soccer-ball-cause-celebration-or-sadness/542567/13 "2010-06-11T10:01:43Z")
> [@Ximenean](#): > > Yeah, if England does get the 2018 World Cup, that should be the controversial official match ball. Fuck Adidas. I’d like to see that one swerve. You’d need [a pair of these](http://www.jamesmacsmith.com/uploads/2/2/1/8/2218309/6395104.jpg) to even be able to kick it, if it was wet. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![vdgg81](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/3d9bf3/32.png) [@vdgg81](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vdgg81)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jabulani-will-the-new-world-cup-soccer-ball-cause-celebration-or-sadness/542567/14 "2010-06-11T11:07:03Z")
> [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](#): > > What’s the problem? The ball’s going to be unpredictable for everybody, if the reports are true. (…) I’d think that an unpredictable ball will favor more aggressive teams over more defensive minded ones and worse, worse teams over better ones (as the better teams _are_ better at least in part because of their greater ability to control the ball). Since I root for Brasil I guess I should be worried. However, as the players have griped about the ball in every single Cup I’m able to remember, I’m sure everybody is exaggerating a lot and won’t loose any sleep over it. ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jabulani-will-the-new-world-cup-soccer-ball-cause-celebration-or-sadness/542567/15 "2010-06-11T12:02:29Z")
I’m not seeing a downside to favouring more aggressive styles of football. Last thing we want is a tournament full of Italian-style 11 men behind the ball yawn-fests! ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jabulani-will-the-new-world-cup-soccer-ball-cause-celebration-or-sadness/542567/16 "2010-06-11T15:17:25Z")
> [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](#): > > What’s the problem? The ball’s going to be unpredictable for everybody, if the reports are true. It’s the same with the _prima donnas_ who complain about the ground quality of some Premiership teams. They can play in a slutch patch, for all I care. > > Frankly, I’ve always found it funny that the footballing authorities are insistent on not having goal line technology, and so forth, because lower league and amateur leagues can’t afford the same technologies, whilst insisting on using balls that cost an arm and a leg to purchase. As far as I know, it’s only football that does this: you can buy a rugby ball from JJB sports for £20 that the professionals use. Scrap all this rubbish about developing new balls, and have them play with something amateur players use. Ask the goalies what the problem is. I saw a story on ESPN and the goalies all hated it. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jabulani-will-the-new-world-cup-soccer-ball-cause-celebration-or-sadness/542567/17 "2010-06-11T16:33:12Z")
> [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](#): > > Frankly, I’ve always found it funny that the footballing authorities are insistent on not having goal line technology, and so forth, because lower league and amateur leagues can’t afford the same technologies, whilst insisting on using balls that cost an arm and a leg to purchase. Are lower leagues and amateur legues obligated to use the World Cup soccer balls in their official games? ---
**Author:** ![Parenchyma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Parenchyma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Parenchyma)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jabulani-will-the-new-world-cup-soccer-ball-cause-celebration-or-sadness/542567/18 "2010-06-11T17:23:11Z")
Not at all. Home team supplies the ball, the ref assesses it, fondles it, bounces it, and might ask to increase or decrease the inflation. Occasionally if he/she really doesn’t like the ball, the away team will offer one until the ref is happy. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2010, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jabulani-will-the-new-world-cup-soccer-ball-cause-celebration-or-sadness/542567/19 "2010-06-12T06:29:42Z")
> [@Parenchyma](#): > > Not at all. Home team supplies the ball, the ref assesses it, fondles it, bounces it, and might ask to increase or decrease the inflation. Occasionally if he/she really doesn’t like the ball, the away team will offer one until the ref is happy. Can they bring any ball they want, or does it have to be one of a small list of FIFA-approved balls? ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2010, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jabulani-will-the-new-world-cup-soccer-ball-cause-celebration-or-sadness/542567/20 "2010-06-12T08:21:25Z")
Well, it certainly flew straight enough for the opening goal of the tournament yesterday. Yayyyyyyy, go Boomshalalalala. I want that guy to get the Golden Boot for most goals. ps. That’s if Rooney doesn’t get it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jabulani-will-the-new-world-cup-soccer-ball-cause-celebration-or-sadness/542567.md?page=2)