Soccer News Info

Referees´ rep slams ban on United boss Ferguson

gomblesss@gmail.com — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 05:17:51 +0000

Sir Alex Ferguson was told he’d “got off lightly” by the union representing England’s top referees after receiving a four-game touchline ban for an outspoken attack on referee Alan Wiley.

The Manchester United manager, who admitted a Football Association (FA) charge of improper conduct, publicly labelled Wiley as “unfit” after his Premier League champions were held to a 2-2 draw by Sunderland at Old Trafford on October 3.

But on Thursday he was banned for four games, of which two are suspended until the end of the 2010/11 season, fined 20,000 pounds (33,148 dollars) and warned as to his future conduct following his “grossly improper and wholly inappropriate” comments about Wiley.

However, Alan Leighton, national secretary of officials’ union Prospect, accused the FA of “flunking” the issue by not imposing a harsher punishment upon the 67-year-old Scot and so undermining their own ‘Respect’ campaign, designed to encourage better behaviour towards referees.

“From our point of view it is disappointing. The Football Association had a chance to make a point and they flunked it,” Leighton said. “We don’t think this is sending the right message out to other managers.

“This is not a personal vendetta against Sir Alex but he has a particular stature within the game and if he is seen to be getting off lightly other managers may think what he said was not beyond the pale.”

Peter Griffiths, chairman of the commission which imposed the ban on Ferguson, said after Thursday’s hearing: “Each member of the commission recognised Sir Alex Ferguson’s achievements and stature within the game.

“Having said that, it was made clear to Sir Alex that with such stature comes increased responsibilities.

“The commission considered his admitted remarks, in the context in which they were made, were not just improper but were grossly improper and wholly inappropriate. He should never have said what he did say.”

Ferguson, who will receive the commission’s full findings on Friday, has the right of appeal.

But should he accept the ban, Ferguson is now set to be barred from the dug-out for United’s Premier League matches later this month at home to Everton and away to Portsmouth

The commission said the suspended sanction would be automatically activated should Ferguson be found guilty of a similar charge before the end of the 2010/11 season on top of any sanction imposed for that offence.

Ferguson accused Wiley of not being “fit enough for a game of that standard” and of “walking up the pitch for the second goal needing a rest”.

Soon after the original incident, Ferguson apologised to Wiley for speaking out, although, significantly, not for the content of his remarks.

“I apologise to Mr Wiley for any personal embarrassment that my remarks may have caused and to the FA for going public with my views,” Ferguson said.

“My only intention in speaking publicly was to highlight what I believe to be a serious and important issue in the game, namely that the fitness levels of referees must match the ever-increasing demands of the modern game.”

Following his side’s 2-0 defeat to Liverpool last month, Ferguson questioned whether Andre Marriner, who took charge of the game at Anfield, had the required experience for a match of such significance.

He also accused Martin Atkinson of being in an “absolutely ridiculous” position when he awarded Chelsea the free-kick that led to their winner against United at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

LONDON (AFP)

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Tags: alex ferguson, football association, four games, improper conduct, inappropriate comments, league champions, leighton, manchester united, national secretary, old trafford, outspoken attack, personal vendetta, peter griffiths, referees, respect campaign, Scot, sir alex ferguson, stature, union prospect

Faithless Ferguson sounds a familiar tone (Updates with ban)

gomblesss@gmail.com — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 01:16:38 +0000

Thursday update: Nothing to do with this incident, of course, but worth noting that Ferguson has been banished to the stands, receiving a two-match ban and a fine of 20,000 quid for the comments he made about Alan Wiley in October.

So, the FA has decided to get tough with the United boss. Are they right to do it? Read the full story here.

You might think Alex Ferguson would have realised, after half a century in the professional game, that the view from the manager’s dug-out is rarely objective or entirely accurate.

And if a referee does happen to make a mistake, which he is bound to do in the high-speed hurly-burly of a Premier League match, the Scot might also have come to the conclusion that venting your spleen at the powerless fourth official is a waste of everybody’s time.

But no, it seems not. Week after week, month after month, season after season, barely a match passes without Ferguson complaining about something that didn’t go United’s way.

On Sunday, when he might have been questioning his decision to play only one striker in a cautious approach to the showdown with Chelsea or berating his walkabout defence for failing to defend the key free kick, he found three reasons why John Terry’s goal should not have stood.

The initial foul on Ashley Cole by Darren Fletcher should not have been given, he said. Wes Brown was impeded in trying to defend the subsequent Frank Lampard free kick and Didier Drogba was offside and obscuring Edwin van der Sar’s view of the ball when it went in.

Of the hat-trick, the initial one appeared to have the most merit but any number of aggressive tackles are deemed fouls these days and Cristiano Ronaldo used to benefit as much if not more than anyone else in that regard.

The marginal contact between Drogba and Brown is also small beer in the current climate where wrestling in the box ahead of free kicks and corners has become an established part of the game. Rest assured that when Steve Bruce was patrolling the centre of United’s defence he would not have allowed himself to so easily be taken out of the game at a vital moment.

TV replays were inconclusive over Drogba’s position and, even if all three moans were justified, people have surely just stopped listening.

“You lose faith in refereeing sometimes, that’s the way the players are talking in there — it was a bad one,” he said, with Wayne Rooney chipping in by apparently mouthing “12 men” at a TV camera as he trudged off at the end.

PHOTO: Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson reacts during their English Premier League soccer match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in London November 8, 2009. REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

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Tags: alan wiley, alex ferguson, ashley cole, cautious approach, CHELSEA, Cole, darren fletcher, didier drogba, Eddie Keogh, Edwin van der, edwin van der sar, frank lampard, free kick, free kicks, half a century, hat trick, john terry, Manchester, offside, premier league, professional game, rest assured that, ronaldo, Scot, small beer, spleen, Steve Bruce, van der sar, wayne rooney, wes brown

Should FIFA throw the book at Maradona for outburst?

gomblesss@gmail.com — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 01:14:22 +0000

Argentina coach Diego Maradona will appear in person before a disciplinary hearing at FIFA headquarters on Sunday to explain his foul-mouthed outbursts (plural) following the win over Uruguay in Montevideo last month.

The result, at the very end of an 18-match campaign, finally clinched Argentina’s place at the 2010 World Cup after they had looked in serious danger of missing out for the first time since 1970. Maradona “celebrated” with an expletive-laden tirade at the hapless touchline reporter who went to interview him.

If he had left it at that, he could perhaps have passed it off as a heat of the moment incident. Instead, he spewed out more obscenities — which he says were aimed at the media — at the post-match press conference, broadcast live on a number of networks in several countries.

FIFA quickly caught on and opened disciplinary proceedings for his unruly behaviour. These could result in a stadium ban which, if applied only to competitive games, would effectively rule him out of part or possibly all of Argentina’s World Cup campaign.

Maradona would basically be restricted to organising training sessions (which so far under his leadership have resembled playground kickabouts) and giving motivational speeches at the team hotel to his players.

Maradona said he was angry at non-stop criticism of his coaching and team selections, reports that he has fallen out with his coaching staff and suggestions that he is not up to the job.

The criticism came after he used more than 70 players and lost World Cup qualifiers to Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil and Ecuador.

The Clarin newspaper also pointed out that when he was on the sidelines, Maradona was perfectly happy to publicly slag off his predecessors Marcelo Bielsa, Jose Pekerman and Alfio Basile.

Some media say they are tired of Maradona giving exclusive interviews to a few hand-picked chums and ignoring the rest, with the added insult that, when he does give a press conference, it is invariably cancelled or delayed.

What should FIFA do? And, if he is banned, should Argentina look for someone else who could actually coach the team from the dugout?

PHOTO: Argentina coach Diego Maradona celebrates after his team won its 2010 World Cup qualifying match against Uruguay in Montevideo October 14, 2009. REUTERS/Andres Stapff

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Tags: added insult, Andres Stapff, Argentina, bolivia, chums, diego maradona, disciplinary hearing, disciplinary proceedings, Ecuador, expletive, heat of the moment, Jose, jose pekerman, Montevideo, motivational speeches, obscenities, paraguay, predecessors, serious danger, team hotel, team selections, tirade, uruguay, world cup campaign, world cup qualifiers

Atlante drawn to face Al Ahli-Auckland winner, possibly FC Barcelona

gomblesss@gmail.com — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 01:11:23 +0000

CONCACAF Champions League champion Atlante will play the winner between Egypt’s Al Ahli and Auckland City of New Zealand in its opening game at the Club World Cup in December.

Thursday’s draw at Abu Dhabi’s Emirates Palace set the pairings and schedule for the annual club championship December 9-19.

Atlante would begin play December 12 against Al Ahli or Auckland with the winner of its match to play European champion FC Barcelona in the semifinals four days later.

The third-place and title match are set for December 19.

CONCACAF General Secretary Chuck Blazer is the chairman of the Club World Cup organizing committee and oversaw the draw.
First Round
Wednesday, December 9
Al Ahli FC (Egypt) vs. Auckland City FC (New Zealand)
Friday, December 11
TP Mazembe (DR Congo) vs. Pohang Steelers FC (Korea Republic)

Second Round
Saturday, December 12
Al Ahli-Auckland winner vs. Atlante FC (Mexico)

Semifinals
Tuesday, December 15
Mazembe-Pohang winer vs. Estudiantes (Argentina)
Wednesday, December 16
Al Ahli-Auckland_Atlante winner vs. FC Barcelona (Spain)

Fifth Place
December 16
Mazembe-Pohang loser vs. Al Ahli-Auckland_Atlante loser

Saturday, December 19
Third Place
Semifinal losers
Championship
Semifinal winners

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates

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Tags: abu dhabi united arab emirates, atlante fc, auckland city fc, barcelona spain, club world cup, concacaf champions league, dhabi united arab emirates, dr congo, emirates palace, fc barcelona, korea republic, league champion, organizing committee, semifinal winners, tp mazembe, winer

Ronaldo hopes to play in ´clasico´

gomblesss@gmail.com — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 01:07:59 +0000

Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo said Thursday he was recovering well from his ankle injury and hopes to play in the “clasico” match at Barcelona on November 29.

“Everything is going very well, I have started running again and I think I will start training with the team next week,” the Portuguese winger told Spanish media at a ceremony at Real’s Bernebeu stadium.

“Of course, I want to play against Barcelona, but I want to play again before then,” including against Zurich in the Champions League on November 25.

Ronaldo injured his right ankle in Real’s 3-0 Champions League victory over Marseille at the end of September and aggravated the problem while playing for Portugal on October 10.

On Tuesday he was ruled out of his country’s crucial World Cup play-off matches against Bosnia-Herzegovina on November 14 and 18 after undergoing medical tests on the injury in Lisbon.

Both Portugal – World Cup semi-finalists in 2006 – and Real had been locked in a battle over Ronaldo with the club insisting that he was not fit enough to travel.

Ronaldo, bought from Manchester United last summer for a world record 94 million euros, is the top scorer in the Primera Liga with five goals and in the Champions League with four.

Spanish media have reported that Real coach Manuel Pellegrini’s job is in jeopardy after the team was eliminated from the Spanish Cup by third division minnows Alcorcon.

MADRID (AFP)

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Tags: alcorcon madrid, ankle injury, Barcelona, champions league, cristiano ronaldo, jeopardy, league victory, Lisbon, MADRID, Manchester, manchester united, manuel pellegrini, Marseille, medical tests, november 14, portugal, primera liga, real madrid, ronaldo, semi finalists, spanish cup, spanish media, top scorer, winger, world record, ZURICH

Nigeria, Switzerland to meet in Under-17 World Cup final

gomblesss@gmail.com — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 01:06:06 +0000

Hosts Nigeria will take on Switzerland in the Under-17 World Cup final on Sunday at the Abuja National Stadium after both teams won their respective semi-finals on Thursday.

Defending champions Nigeria defeated Spain 3-1 while Switzerland trounced Colombia 4-0.

Spain were seeking revenge against Nigeria, who stopped them on penalties in the final of the tournament two years ago in Seoul to win their third Under-17 world championship.

But Stanley Okoro put Nigeria in front after half an hour when he dashed behind the Spanish defence before stroking home from close range.

Striker Sani Emmanuel came off the bench to net a brace for Nigeria and bring his goals tally to five so far at this tournament. Spain pulled a consolation goal back through big striker Borja on 83 minutes.

Switzerland stopped 10-man Colombia with Nassem Ben Khalifa and Haris Seferovic on target in the first half before Bruno Martignoni and Ricardo Rodriguez also scored after the interval.

LAGOS (AFP)

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Tags: abuja national stadium, bench, borja, Bruno Martignoni, colombia, consolation, Emmanuel, interval, LAGOS, martignoni, nigeria, okoro, Ricardo Rodriguez, Sani Emmanuel, seoul, Spain, Stanley Okoro, tally, target, World Cup

Faltering England slim down 2018 bid team

gomblesss@gmail.com — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 01:03:40 +0000

England have responded to criticism of their bid to host the 2018 World Cup finals by announcing a reduced management team.

Bid chiefs held a crisis meeting Thursday and announced a new executive board which included Geoff Thompson, a vice-president of world football governing body FIFA, who was omitted from the original line-up.

After starting the bidding process as favourites ahead of Russia, Australia and the joint-venture by Spain and Portugal, England’s 2018 campaign has come under fire in recent weeks.

The bid has been severely criticised by Jack Warner, one of FIFA’s executive committee members, and Football Association chairman Lord David Triesman, also England’s 2018 chairman, has come under pressure over his inability to devote more than two days a week to his role.

Triesman will now head up a streamlined board featuring Premier League chairman Sir Dave Richards, Football League chairman Lord Brian Mawhinney, Lord Sebastian Coe, the London 2012 Olympic Games chief, former player Paul Elliott and chief executive Andy Anson.

Original board members such as Britain’s sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe will join an advisory group headed by Karren Brady, the former Birmingham City chief executive.

Triesman said: “We’ve got to a point where the England 2018 campaign requires focus, determination and where everybody involved has a specific purpose to help us win the bid.

“In our view, these changes reflect a positive development and send a loud message of an absolute determination to bring the World Cup tournament to England.”

According to a report in Wednesday’s edition of The Times newspaper, Warner’s influence is likely to result in “at least another two votes and probably more like another three or four votes” being lost.

England’s bid is also said to be suffering from a lack of financial investment, with the Government’s pledge of five million pounds (5.5 million euros) in direct funding having been cut to a conditional loan of 2.5 million pounds (2.7 million euros).

FIFA are expected to announce their decision on the 2018 hosts in December next year.

England have hosted the World Cup just once, in 1966, when they won the tournament for the only time in their history with a team captained by the late Bobby Moore defeating the then West Germany 4-2 after extra-time in a final at London’s Wembley Stadium.

LONDON (AFP)

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Tags: 2012 olympic games, Andy Anson, association chairman, Australia, birmingham city, body fifa, Britain, chairman lord, Dave Richards, david triesman, england 2018, executive committee members, geoff thompson, jack warner, karren brady, london 2012 olympic games, Lord Brian Mawhinney, Lord David Triesman, lord sebastian coe, loud message, mawhinney, Moore, new executive board, olympic games, original board, paul elliott, premier league, russia, Sir Dave Richards, Spain, wembley stadium, world cup finals

Benayoun and Rieira set for sidelines

gomblesss@gmail.com — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 01:01:40 +0000

Liverpool duo Yossi Benayoun and Albert Riera could both be out of action for a minimum of three weeks with hamstring injuries.

Both players limped out of Monday’s English Premier League draw against Birmingham at Anfield, joining the Merseysiders’ growing injury list.

Daniel Agger and Glen Johnson also suffered injuries against Birmingham while Liverpool’s leading stars of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres still have fitness concerns.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez said of Benayoun and Riera: “We will have to wait and see how they progress but hopefully in three weeks they could be available.

“We are disappointed because there are too many things at the moment that we can’t change,” the Spaniard also told Liverpool’s official website.

“Both players are wingers as well and for them to be out at the same time is bad news for us.”

He added: “Daniel Agger felt something in his back after the Birmingham game and didn’t go with Denmark after we spoke with their doctor and manager.

“I think he could be back training again in a few days,” explained Benitez, whose side have won just one of their last nine matches in all competitions.

“Glen Johnson’s was a strange situation because he finished the game on Monday and then travelled to London to be with England.

“He felt something in his hamstring and came back to us for a scan. Hopefully it’s not too serious and he could be available again in a week.”

Torres didn’t play against Birmingham but Gerrard, also struggling with a groin injury, came off the bench to score the equalising goal in a 2-2 draw.

“With Fernando Torres we are talking about two or three weeks of treatment and working with the physios,” Benitez said.

“I was talking with him this morning and he is doing well. Hopefully he can be running in a few days and we will see how he progresses.

“It was good to have Steven Gerrard back on Monday night. He is feeling okay and should be training fully with the other players we have here in a few days.

“Sometimes a break (for international matches) comes at a bad time because you don’t like to see your players flying all over the world, but this time it gives us a chance to get some players back.”

LIVERPOOL (AFP)

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Tags: albert riera, anfield, bad news, benayoun, Birmingham, daniel agger, England, English Premier League, equalising goal, Fernando Torres, few days, fitness concerns, glen johnson, groin injury, Liverpool, liverpool manager rafael benitez, many things, monday night, rafael benitez, Spaniard, Steven Gerrard, strange situation, wingers

Barca clash to decide Real coach’s future: press

gomblesss@gmail.com — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:19:00 +0000

Manuel Pellegrini’s job as coach at Real Madrid is safe only until the end of the month when they are to play the ‘classico’ against arch-rivals Barcelona, press reports said on Thursday.

“Pellegrini has credit until the match at Camp Nou,” said sports daily AS two days after big-spending Real were eliminated from the Spanish Cup by third division side Alcorcon, prompting jeers from fans.

Club officials have issued the Chilean coach with an “ultimatum,” rival sports daily Marca reported, adding the outcome of the match on November 29 could decide Pellegrini’s future at the club.

Real president Florentino Perez is beginning the fear that the team on which he spent over 250 million euros (370 million dollars) over the summer, with the recruitment of stars like Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka, will not bear fruit under Pellegrini, the two newspapers said.

Top-selling daily El Pais meanwhile highlighted in a lengthy article published Thursday the “tactical errors of the Madrid coach”, who the paper said spends more time “managing the dressing room than aligning the best team”.

Rival paper ABC blamed Pellegrini’s “constant rotation” of players for Real’s poor form.

Despite the absence due to injury of Ronaldo, Real is in second place in the Spanish league, one point behind defending champions Barcelona, and has a good chance of making the knockout stage of the Champions League.

But the club is vulnerable to an accident in the European competition as its group includes a resurgent Marseille, as well as AC Milan, and a defeat to Barcelona would allow the Catalan side to extend their lead over Real in the Spanish league.

In that case Pellegrini, 56, would not withstand for long the unhappiness of fans and Real officials despite his appeals for calm, Spanish media said.

MADRID (AFP)

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Tags: ac milan, arch rivals, barca, camp nou, catalan side, club officials, dressing room, good chance, knockout stage, lengthy article, manuel pellegrini, real madrid, ronaldo, spanish cup, spanish league, spanish media, ultimatum, unhappiness

England hit by Lampard injury ahead of Brazil clash

gomblesss@gmail.com — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:05:48 +0000

England’s preparations for their friendly clash with Brazil suffered a serious setback on Thursday when Frank Lampard was ruled out of the match with a thigh injury.

The Chelsea midfielder suffered a strain to his left thigh while training in temperatures above 30 degrees on Thursday morning.

After a lengthy assessment by England’s medical staff, it was decided he would leave Qatar and fly back to London immediately for further treatment.

Head coach Fabio Capello decided against calling up a replacement for Saturday’s meeting with the five-times world champions in Doha’s Khalifa International Stadium.

Lampard’s withdrawal further depletes an England squad which was already missing half of Capello’s first choice line-up.

Full-backs Glen Johnson and Ashley Cole, Rooney’s United team-mate Rio Ferdinand, Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard, goalkeeper David James and Aston Villa striker Emile Heskey were all unable to travel to Qatar because of various injuries.

Capello is also without Theo Walcott and Aaron Lennon and lost the services of David Beckham after his club, LA Galaxy, made the Major League Soccer play-offs.

The injury to Lampard could mean an opportunity for Tottenham’s Tom Huddlestone to make his first appearance for England, although Manchester United’s Michael Carrick represents a more experienced option for Capello to slot in alongside Gareth Barry in central midfield.

Jermaine Jenas is another possibility for that place while Shaun Wright-Phillips, James Milner and Ashley Young are all vying for roles on the flanks.

DOHA (AFP)

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Tags: Aaron Lennon, ashley cole, central midfield, choice line, coach fabio capello, David Beckham, Gareth Barry, James Milner, jermaine jenas, la galaxy, Major League Soccer, Michael Carrick, rio ferdinand, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Steven Gerrard, striker emile heskey, theo walcott, thigh injury

Soccer News Info

Referees´ rep slams ban on United boss Ferguson

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