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VICE Sports World News Roundup: December 17

Start your day with VICE Sports. Here's our morning roundup of the sports news from around the world.
Photo Credit: KIYOSHI OTA/EPA

Good morning, America. Welcome to the VICE Sports World News Roundup. Be sure to stop by daily for your morning headlines.

It's the 17th of December, 2015, and Sepp Blatter is still, technically, president of FIFA.

Vladimir Putin has said Sepp Blatter deserves the Nobel Prize. Here are the quotes, courtesy of the Guardian:

"Whether there are signs of corruption in FIFA, the investigation must show. As for Joseph Blatter, he is a very respected person, he has done a lot for the development of world soccer," Putin said.

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"He has always tried to treat football not as a sport but as an element of cooperation between countries and peoples. He is the one who must be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize."

Meanwhile, according to the BBC, which cites numerous media reports, "between 50m and 100m Swiss francs ($50.1m-100.2m; £34m-£67m) has been frozen" in FIFA bank accounts by Swiss authorities. The money may have to do with the ongoing investigation by the U.S. Justice Department.

U.S. soccer legend Abby Wambach played her final game last night. Wambach failed to score as the U.S. women lost 1-0 to China, the team's first home defeat since 2004.

To the surprise of no one, Barcelona has made it to the finals of the Club World Cup. Suarez scored a hat trick in last night's win over Chinese Super League club Guangzhou Evergrande.

There is heavy speculation in Germany that Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola will leave the club for Manchester City when his contract runs out at the end of this season. The German club is already rumored to have signed Carlo Ancelotti, who most recently took Real Madrid to it's last Champions League victory, to replace Guardiola.

A big question surrounding Chelsea's probable firing of Jose Mourinho is: who will take over? Guardiola seems out of the question. The latest rumors link Guus Hiddink with the role.

The water in and around Rio de Janeiro is still full of large amounts of shit and other things that nobody wants to swim in, not least the world's best athletes. The BBC Reports: "Nearly 70% of sewage in Rio is spilled raw into its surrounding waters." But what will they do about it before the Olympics? (Hint: Nothing).

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Photo of the Day

The Pipe Masters, surfing's coolest competition, is happening right now on the North Shore. Dig this pic of Jordy Smith and that barrel.

Photo Credit: KELLY CESTARI / WORLD SURF LEAGUE/ EPA

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