Last years ceremony was memorable for a put up job - Ronaldo was asked
what he thought of FIFA President Sepp Bladder's plans for a bi-annual World
Cup and said it was a good idea. Zidane showed off his diabolical dress sense
when he collect his award for World Player of the Year.


23 January 2000

"What I'm going through is not easy for me. The simple route would be to
take a new deal and sit in the reserves but I'm not inclined to do that.".
Arsenal's Nigel Winterburn contemplates leaving Arsenal after loosing his
place to Silvinho.

Man United full back Dennis Irwin has retired from International football.

Liverpool striker Michael Owen went off injured during yesterday's home match
against Middlesbrough. Liverpool are desperately short on cover in attack with
with Robbie Fowler and Titi Camara also out with injuries. I wouldn't be
surprised if they delve into the transfer market.

Hopefully the archive section will be on-line by the end of the week. It's taken
ages to compile the 1998 World Cup squad lists. I will also be making zip files
of last season's Serie A & Premiership Squad lists, the 1998 World Cup Squad
lists and all of this season's transfers available to download (in Excel format)
in the archive section.


21 January 2000

We will be moving to a new server shortly that is why there have been
problems with updates.

"I have not spoken to any of their (Lazio's) directors or presidents from
any other clubs. I have always said I wanted to stay at Barca and I have a
contract until 2003.". Rivaldo.

Dino Baggio has been banned for two games for spitting in the direction of
a referee and gesturing that the ref had been bribed after he was sent off
during Parma's home match against Juventus.


20 January 2000

Lazio are prepared to bid a World record £36 million for Rivaldo.
The Corriere dello Sport claim that Rivaldo has agreed to join Lazio in
July on a 5 year contract worth a staggering £21 million or over £4 million
a year. The deal will make him the highest paid player in the World. Lazio
are now awaiting approval from Barcelona President Josep Nunez. If the deal
is finalised expect Lazio to sell Veron who has been out of favour in
recent weeks due to a string of disappointing performances. Man United
have also been linked with Rivaldo but it's highly unlikely they will
match Lazio's transfer fee or wages.

Roma want to sell the World's most expensive bench warmer, Fabio Junior,
to Palmeiras or Gremio before they make a move for Udinese striker Paolo
Poggi.

Coventry have made the loan signing of Cedric Roussel a permanent move.

England will play Germany on the 7th of October to open their World Cup
qualifying campaign. The venue is still to be arranged. The return leg will
be played in Germany on 1 September 2001.

Issa Hayatou have been re-elected as president of the African Football
Confederation (CAF) to win his fourth four year term as President

Super-Flop Denilson has made his peace with Real Betis following a meeting
with the president Manuel Ruiz de Lopera. Denilson's agent claims he will
see out the remainder of his contract which ends in 2004.


19 January 2000

Celtic's Brazilian defender Rafael Scheidt will miss the next two months of
the season after having his appendix removed.

"When a player says he isn't happy at the club the best thing is to help him
find another one. If he (Rivaldo) isn't happy then we'll have a problem.".
Barcelona President Josep Nunez.


18 January 2000

17 Torino fans were arrested before Sunday's match against Piacenza after
throwing rocks and flare at home fans. Ten Police officers required treatment
for minor injuries after making the arrests. Ironically during the match the
Torino players were subjected to a number of violent fouls.

Edmundo has cliamed that Lazio, Roma and Milan are interested in signing him
and said he would love to return to Serie A. Last season Edmuno helped
Fiorentina to the top of Serie A but following a row with the club in the new
year he became disinterested and Fiorentina finished 4th.

Bryan Robson will decide whether to continue as Middlesbrough manager at
the end of the season after fans called for his head following the clubs
humiliating 4-1 home defeat against Derby "I will assess whether I want to
stay at the club at the end of the season depending on how well we have done.
There's a long way to go and it is my aim to climb the table.".

Holland will place a friendly against Scotland in Arnhem on April 26.

Espanyol have sacked Argentinean coach Miguel Angel Brindisi. Paco Flore
takes over.

Leeds midfielder Lee Bowyer and defender Jonathan Woodgate have been
arrested in connection with an incident outside nightclub which left a 19 year
Asian teenager with serious head injuries. Leeds have promised to take
disciplinary action if the players have broken the clubs code of conduct.

Chelsea's Roberto Di Metteo will be out for 6 weeks with a broken arm.

Bora Milutinovic is new coach of the Chinese national team.

Wimbledon have made a £500,000 bid for Frankfurt striker Fjørtoft.

Frankfurt and Bochum coach Klaus Toppmöller may replace Otto Rehhagel
as coach of Kaiserslautern next season.

Berti Vogts who led Germany to success in Euro 96 is wanted as coach by both
Real Madrid and Real Betis. The latter are also considering Atlético's
Double coach Radomir Antic.


14 January 2000

Lothar Matthaus is reconsidering his move to New York-New Jersey Metrostars
after the club named a new general manager on Wednesday - "I must seriously
consider whether things can continue between me and this club.".

Montpellier striker Nicholas Quedec will have trials with Celtic next week.

Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler is due to have surgery on an ankle and is
expected to be out of action for two months.

Real Madrid super brat Nicholas Anelka will be out for 2 months with a
knee injury that he picked up against Raja Casablanca.

Parma defender Stefano Torrisi will be out for six months after tearing
cruciate knee ligaments against Juventus last Sunday.

During a private dinner Ronaldo told Man United coach Alex Ferguson that he
would like to play in England at some stage of his career. Ronaldo is due to
start his rehabilitation following knee surgery.

FIFA President Sepp Bladder insisted Man United's participation in the
World Club Championships would not help England's big to stage the 2006
World Cup, he said "This competition has no influence on the decision for the
World Cup 2006, nor has the performance of any of the teams.".


13 January 2000

In a recent survey conducted with 250 Italian teenagers, most of them could
not name the Italian President or Prime Minister but 65% knew who Andrii
Shevchenko was and knew he used to play for Dynamo Kyiv and plays for
the Ukraine national team.

Ex Milan and Atletico Madrid coach Arrigo Sacchi gave the following advice to
Jose Mari as he was being chased by Milan and Roma "If you want to
live well, go to Roma. If you want to become a great player, go to Milan."

Lazio have been fined over £8000 after a television cameraman was hit by a
flare thrown by a fan during Sunday's home match against Bologna. Also last
Sunday an Udinese fan had to have his hand amputated after a flare exploded
in his hand.

Inter coach Marcello Lippi has made the following comments regarding the
teams disastrous league campaign :

"We've no more alibis, and there's no defence for me. If they put everyone
here at Inter on trial, I would get a life sentence - and that's only because
the death penalty doesn't exist in Italy. I haven't lost faith. There are
the right technical and mental qualities in this team to overcome the
difficulties we have at the moment. As for myself, I feel bitter and
disappointed for the state of affairs, I realise all too well that I'm not
repaying the faith which people have shown me. But I feel that I'm
supported. Sooner or later, the good times will come for us too, they
have to."

Emirates airlines will become the new shirt sponsors for Manchester United
in a deal worth £30 million over four years.


12 January 2000

Check back later today for a transfers round-up.

Roma have completed the signing of Nakata. Emerson will join next season.
Ex Roma coach Zdenek Zeman has quit as coach of Turkish club Fenerbahce.

Andreas Moller could be out for six weeks after tearing a muscle during
training. Leonardo will be out for a month with a muscle injury.


Man United embarrassment, Massimo Taibi, has joined Reggina on loan until
the end of the season.

Piacenza have sacked coach Gigi Simoni. The club lie 2nd from bottom and
have the worst attack in Serie A having scored a miserable 9 goals in 16
games.

Milan striker George Weah has joined Chelsea on loan until the end of the
season.

Parma midfielder Dino Baggio has been banned for one game (on top of his
suspension for a red card) for spitting in the direction of the referee and
gesturing that he had been bribed in Sunday's match against Juventus.

Milan vice president Adriano Galliani has said the club will not sell George
Weah to any Italian Club "If Weah decides to leave he will not be able to
play for another Italian side as the club has no intention of helping the
opposition". Weah has been made a scapegoat by Milan coach Alberto
Zaccheroni in recent weeks for the clubs recent poor performances. Roma
coach Fabio Capello is a known admirer of his ex star striker.


9 January 2000

Roma gave several Serie A referees Rolex watches as Christmas presents
according to the Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper. League President Franco
Carraro said "it was a very serious episode". The watches will have to be
returned. Inter Milan have given each referee a muscle exerciser. No idea as
to what disciplinary measures will be taken against the clubs but they are
likely to escape with fines.


8 January 2000

A director for the Uruguayan hospital in which Maradona is being treated
says the player has a severe heart condition. Maradona was admitted to
hospital on Tuesday following a cocaine overdose.

Perugia's reserve goalkeeper Angelo Pagotto has tested positive for cocaine.

Patrick 'Kluivert, Kluivert can we cross the road' Kluivert has been banned
for 5 matches for throwing a punch at Rayo Vallecano player Jesus Costa in a
league match last month. Milan target (why?) Jose Chamot was also banned
for 5 matches for his part in a brawl with Sevilla player Juan Gomez.

Gremio are targeting Ranger's Argentinean midfielder Gabriel Amato and
River Plate's Leonardo Astrada. Rangers have also said they will let overrated
Italian defender Sergio Porrini leave the club.


5 January 2000

Maradona is in intensive care in a private clinic in Uruguay suffering with heart
problems. His condition is not thought to be serious and he is expected to have
a short stay.

Hertha Berlin have signed a three year £10 million sponsorship deal with
telecommunications company o-tel-o.

According to an Italian newspaper Roma have signed Emerson.
Bayer Leverkusen however are annoyed with Roma's 'illegal approaches'
and would prefer to sell him to Milan or Parma.

According to another source Nakata has not signed for Roma and would
prefer a move to Milan.


4 January 2000

Bayer Leverkusen will seek help from FIFA as they try to prevent Roma
from negotiating with their Brazilian midfielder, Emerson, who is contracted
with the Germans until 2002.


2 January 2000

'Sick note' Darren Anderton, the injury plagued Tottenham midfielder, has
refused to sign a new contract and is available on a free transfer under the
Bosman ruling. Anderton has hit out at the clubs lack of ambition. Team-mate
Sol Campbell has also made similar comments in the past as it's thought there
will be no shortage of signatures when his contract expires at the end of the
2000-2001 season.