Controversial World Cup ball jabulani defended by developer

Stars from England, Brazil and Italy have joined forces to criticise the controversial new ball to be used in the World Cup, but the developer insists there will be no cause for concern once the tournament gets under way in South Africa.

The adidas 'jabulani' ball has caused concern at training camps across the globe as the world's best players try it out ahead of the June start of the World Cup.

England goalkeeper David James says the ball is "horrible", Brazil forward Luis Fabiano calls it "weird" and Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon fears its "unpredictability" could ruin the World Cup.

However, Dr Andy Harland, who developed the ball at Loughborough University's Sports Technology Institute in England, said that much of the criticism was due to the unfamiliar effects arising from teams playing at altitude as part of their pre-World Cup training.

"I've seen nothing that's concerned me," he told Sky Sports News. "This ball has been around since December and been used since then around the world with very few comments.

"Teams have gone to altitude and you've seen comments come out in those circumstances."