SPORTS EDGE

                                                                                         Sports
                                                                                        Football
                                                                      The perks of being World Champion
                                                                                         Afp, Rome

A picture of the Italian national team shirt is seen embossed with the first 'FIFA World Champions Badge.' FIFA is awarding the badge to the current world champions who will wear it on their jersey for the following period to be subsequently taken over by all future champions. Photo: AFP

Italy will wear a world champions badge on their shirts when they tackle Cyprus in a World Cup 2010 qualifier on Saturday.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter unveiled the new badge at a ceremony in Coverciano in Italy on Tuesday to honour the current world champions, who earned World Cup glory in Germany two years ago.

Italy will thus become the first world champions to wear the badge, which will subsequently be worn by all World Cup holders.

"Wearing a badge to mark the team's triumph in 2006 is a way to proudly commemorate, day after day, the title of world champion," said Blatter.

Italy coach Marcello Lippi, back at the helm two years after quitting his national team post following the penalty shoot-out victory over France in Berlin, was pleased to be making history.

"Italy have the honour of being the first team in the history of the World Cup to wear FIFA's new badge. It is a source of great pride for the whole of Italian football," he said.

There are two different versions of the badge, white on a golden background and gold on a white background.