ZURICH — Lionel Messi's stunning solo strike in Argentina's 4-3 win over Brazil in June is among the 10 nominations for the FIFA goal of the year. Goals by Colombia striker Radamel Falcao, Brazil forward Neymar and France playmaker Hatem Ben Arfa are also on the shortlist, which will be reduced to three on Nov. 29 following a public vote on the websites of FIFA and France Football magazine. The winner of the FIFA Puskas Award, named after Hungarian great Ferenc Puskas, will be revealed on Jan. 7 at the Ballon d'Or gala in Zurich. Neymar won the 2011 award and will look to retain the prize courtesy of his goal for Santos against Internacional on March 7, when he scored following a mazy dribble from the halfway line. Blatter slam acquittals In Switzerland, FIFA President Sepp Blatter says the “irritating” acquittal of three football players in Switzerland in a match-fixing case was an “own goal by Swiss justice.” Switzerland's Football Association said the country “desperately needs” to update its criminal code after the players were cleared by a federal court Tuesday. The Swiss League players were prosecuted for swindling linked to betting on second-tier matches played in 2009 following an international investigation led from Bochum, Germany. Goalkeeper Darko Damjanovic, who allegedly recruited players for a Croatian crime syndicate, was suspended indefinitely by the Swiss FA in 2010. However, a judge acquitted Damjanovic and two others, saying there was no obvious victim of bets placed online. The Swiss FA called Wednesday for a national law against sporting fraud to be passed. Germany to visit US Germany will play the United States on May 29 in a friendly that will bring together Juergen Klinsmann and his former Germany assistant Joachim Loew. Loew took over Germany when Klinsmann quit after leading the team to third place at the 2006 World Cup at home. Klinsmann is now in charge of the US. The venue has yet to be determined. Germany will play a second friendly in America on June 2, against an unnamed opponent. The Germans are likely to be without several stars since some club seasons will still be going. Real Madrid's Mesut Oezil and Sami Khedira have the final round of the Spanish league on June 1. — Agencies
