Is The Official 2010 World Cup Ball Haunted?

By Sharmaine Jones

Adidas named the official match ball of the 2010 FIFA World Cup “Jubulani,” which translates to “rejoice” in Zulu. Shakira is scheduled to perform “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa),” celebrating unity, at the opening ceremony concert today (June 10). All signs point to happiness, right? Wrong!

Soccer players of all positions have expressed their displeasure with the new ball. "It's very weird," Brazilian striker Luis Fabiano said. "All of a sudden it changes trajectory on you. It's like it doesn't want to be kicked … like someone is guiding it.... It's supernatural." Spooky!

Tradition dictates that every World Cup feature a new official ball for the tournament. The “Jubulani” ball, used by teams for the first time this week, was supposed to be designed for fast/accurate passing, allowing the attackers to put more spin and swerve on their deliveries.

Adidas's global innovation team explained that "goalies may find it a bit more difficult to cope because the ball will travel faster, possibly 5% faster, at altitude as the air is thinner and it will also 'jump' a bit higher."

Unfortunately, goalies aren't the only players hating on the new ball!

Italian striker Giampaolo Pazzini thinks a more suitable name for the ball is “Disaster.”

"It moves around so much … this ball can go anywhere," said Marcus Hahnemann, the backup U.S. goalkeeper. "You can't judge it. And it's taking the skill away from the game.... You can't pinpoint a pass anymore."

Controversy surrounding the ball is nothing new. In 2002, Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon compared the the Adidas “Fevernova” to “...one of those crazy bouncing balls that you play with when you are a kid." DC United goalkeeper Troy Perkins described 2006's “Teamgeist” as “a nightmare, an absolute nightmare.”

We think all the pre-tournament contention about the official match ball will disappear as the World Cup competition heats up this week... But if that ball starts acting possessed on the field, don't say we didn't warn you!

The World Cup Opening Celebration Concert will air live today on ESPN2 from 2 to 5 p.m. ET! If you can’t watch the concert live, ABC will offer two hours of highlights at 8 p.m. on Friday on WFTV-Channel 9.

Kickoff is tomorrow (June 11), with South Africa vs. Mexico at 10 AM ET on ESPN.

Should there be one standard ball for all World Cups? Are the players' complaints valid or just pre-game jitters? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3!

Tags 2010 World Cup, ball, controversy, FIFA