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15 - 30 November 2002 14 November 2002 Gallas Tips Bright Future For Cole Chelsea and France defender William Gallas claims that team-mate Carlton Cole has the makings of a quality striker : "Carlton has all the qualities needed for a great career. If you give him the ball in the air - he heads it and if you play it to his feet he keeps control and uses his pace to get past people. He's the same style of player as Titi Henry. He's big, powerful, fast and skilful. He can really become a great player." Schiaffino Dead Aged 78 Juan Alberto Schiaffino, the legendary Uruguayan forward, has died aged 78. Schiaffino scored the equalising goal in Uruguay’s 2-1 World Cup final victory over Brazil in 1950 and joined Milan in 1954 for a then World record fee of €114,000. Schiaffino helped the Rossoneri win 2 Championships, the UEFA Cup and Latin Cup - the predecessor of the European Cup. 11 November 2002 Jorgensen Praises Milan For Serie A "Milan is the team this year which has trained to change the way of playing but Juventus, Inter, Roma, Lazio they're still playing 'we don't have to concede a goal and then we'll score in the last minute. And for small teams it's difficult to go out and play offensive football because if you lose two games in a row in Italy it's a disaster." "I think the changes have to come from big teams like Juventus, Milan and Inter and until now I've only seen Milan try really hard to change it and I think Inter are trying to change but I don't know if they have the players to do it." Bundesliga Stars To Play Charity Match A Bundesliga XI will take on a foreign XI on the 16th of December to raise money for victims of the August storms. The match will take place in Schalke's Parkstadion stadium. The German government has estimated the cost of the flood damage at €9.2 billion. Over 300,000 people were effected by the flooding. Referees Given Permission To Sue The Italian FA (FIGC) have given permission for referees to take legal action against club officials, coaches and players who make defamatory comments about their officiating. Eriksson Staying Put For Now Sven Goran Eriksson had denied claims that he was about to resign as England following the dismissal of FA Chief Executive Adam Crozier and FA Vice Chairman Frank Pattison : "No. I have not said anything in those days. I read a lot about my going to Spain, Italy, Portugal. I said nothing because I wanted to know what was happening. It is important to have a boss. Who should I ask when I need anything? Today I got that decision and I am happy with that. I regret that Crozier went away. He was a good man who did an excellent job for the FA." Heading Killed Astle A coroner's court has ruled that former England and West Brom striker Jeff Astle died as a result of repeatedly heading a football. South Staffordshire coroner Andrew Haigh said : "Sadly in 1997 he showed signs of brain deterioration. The trauma caused to the front of his brain is likely to have had a considerable effect on the cause of death." Astle's widow, Lorraine added "He underwent a brain scan last year and it revealed Jeff had suffered an injury to the front part of his brain. This would be the same part of the head that he used to head the ball during his playing career. It was known throughout the game that he was one of the hardest headers of a football and this was in the days when a ball was made of leather - it would have been like heading a bag of bricks." Astle scored 174 goals in 361 games for West Brom but is 'best' remembered for missed an open goal in a World Cup clash against Brazil in 1970. He retired from football in 1977 and became a window cleaner before singing songs on BBC/ITV football comedy show Fantasy Football League. Uruguayan World Cup Winner Dies Eusebio Tejera, who played as a defender in Uruguay's 1950 World Cup winning team, has died aged 80. Bosnich Tests Positive For Cocaine The English press have claimed that Chelsea's Australian goalkeeper Mark Bosnich has tested positive for cocaine. Venables Reveals Shopping List Leeds coach Terry Venables wants to bring in Australian midfielder Brett Emerton (Feyenoord), Brazilian midfielder Kleberson (Atletico Paranense) and Senegal wingback Ferdinand Coly (Lens). Despite the sale of Rio Ferdinand to bitter rivals Manchester United Leeds are still thought to be €63 million in debt. Venables will attempt to raise money for his targets by selling Olivier Dacourt and Lee Bowyer. Financial Problems For Lazio Lazio could be forced to sell off their star players following revelations that Cirio, the food company owned by Lazio president Sergio Cragnotti, has debts of around €150 million. The President of Italian League and vice-president of Milan, Adriano Galliani, denied suggestions that Lazio would go the way of Fiorentina who were declared bankrupt and demoted to Serie C : "A new Fiorentina affair? Let's not get carried away. I'm in constant contact with Mr. Cragnotti and as far as the league are concerned, Lazio have nothing to worry about. I've got no direct information about the crisis at Cirio but the problem with the company will stay within the company." 8 November 2002 Man United Sue Lazio Over Stam Fee Manchester United has begun legal proceedings against Lazio in a bid to recover the £12 million in transfer fees that they are still owed by the Roman club following the sale of Jaap Stam. 7 November 2002 Rio de Janeiro To Name Street After Ronaldo The Rio de Janeiro council have approved a decree to re-name General Cesar Obino Street after Ronaldo. The street in the Bento Ribeiro area of the city is where Ronaldo lived and first played football as a child. More Off Field Problems At Bayern A week after Oliver Kahn was fined for partying in a disco while recovering from injury Bayern team-mate Bixente Lizarazu faces the same fate after fighting with team-mate Niko Kovac in training. Teddy Prendergast To Retire In 2003 Jamaican referee. Teddy Prendergast, the imbecile who disallowed a valid goal for Belgium in the World Cup, will retire early next year. Reggina Appoint New Coach Reggina has named Luigi De Canio as their new coach following the dismissal of Bortolo Mutti. Schwarz Given Coaching Role At Sunderland Former Sweden international Stefan Schwarz has been given a role with Sunderland's coaching staff and will work the clubs young players. 6 November 2002 Puyol Signs New Contract With Barca Barcelona's World Class defender, Carles Puyol, has ended speculation about his future by signing a contract that will keep him at the underachievers until 2007. Signorini Dies Aged 42 Former Genoa defender Gianluca Signorini has died aged 42 after a battle with what is commonly known as Lou Gehrig's Disease (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis). Signorini retired from football in 1995 after a career which saw him play for Livorno, Parma, Roma and Genoa. At his request his wife dressed him a his Genoa shirt shortly before he died. A minutes silence was observed in memory of Signorini before Wednesday's Serie A games. G-14 Want Salary Cap The G-14 or more precise G18 (Ajax, Arsenal, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Dortmund, Inter, Juventus, Leverkusen, Liverpool, Lyon, Manchester United, Marseille, Milan, PSG, Porto, PSV, Real Madrid and Valencia) have agreed on a salary cap : "For each 12-month accounting period as from season 2005-2006 onward, subject to a minimum allowable amount for total staff costs of €30 million the amount of total staff costs of each member club will be limited to 70% of its audited turnover." read a statement. Basically the clubs want to limit the amount of turnover that can be used to pay for wages to 70%. Gilberto To Sue Atletico Mineiro Arsenal midfielder Gilberto Silva has instructed his solicitor to start legal proceedings against former club Atletico Mineiro for unpaid wages, thought to stand at around 50%. Chievo For Sale Chievo president Luca Campedelli has said he is willing to listen to offers for the club affectionately named 'The Flying Donkeys'. Campdelli, who at 35 years of age is the youngest Serie A president, denied rumours that the club had already been sold : "You can't say that I have sold the club already, rather I have opened the door to those who want to acquire it." 5 November 2002 Ireland Coach Mick McCarthy Resigns Mick McCarthy ended a six year spell in charge of the Republic of Ireland national team today by announcing his resignation. Despite guiding Ireland to the second round during the summers World Cup finals pressure has been mounting on McCarthy after the fall-out with Ireland captain Roy Keane and a poor start to their Euro 2006 qualifying campaign. Police Foil Plot to Kidnap Posh Spice Scotland Yard have foiled a plot to kidnap Victoria Beckham, wife of England captain David Beckham. Scotland Yard said that officers had arrested four men and one woman on charges of theft and conspiracy to kidnap. Scotland Yard were acting on a tip-off from tabloid newspaper The News of the World. 1 November 2002 Five Match Ban For POAK The Union of Greek Professional Soccer Clubs (EPAE) have announced that spectators will be banned from attending PAOK matches as punishment for fan violence last weekend in the teams 1-1 draw with Olympiakos. PAOK have also been fined €30,000. Olympiakos were also fined, €10,000 for abusive language by fans and for throwing flares onto the pitch. |