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September 2002 More Off-Field Distractions For Ronaldo Ronaldo has signed a contract with Bandeirantes TV station and sports marketing company Traffic. Bandeirantes TV will show Real Madrid's league matches and on Monday's Ronaldo will take part in a program about the Spanish championship. Ronaldo Blames Cuper For Inter Exit An interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport Ronaldo has said that Inter coach Hector Cuper was to blame for his exit from Italy : "I left Inter because of Cuper. I told him so to his face. I told him that I didn't believe in his work and that he wasn't sincere with me because of him I ran risks for my career. I hurt myself four or five times because he didn't follow the advice of doctors and he knew that he made a mistake, that's why I talk of bad faith." Ronaldo was also critical at the lack of support shown by club president Massimo Moratti : "I explained my reasons well to him. He replied that he didn't really understand and that he thought that it was just a ploy by my agent to get more money. In fact I just wanted him to get rid of Cuper. Then Moratti told me 'try to put up with him a little longer, coaches change' but I couldn't put up with him any more. I'd had enough of him acting the boss. With Cuper you just have to obey and as well he never laughs, never talks to anyone." "I always had a marvellous relationship with him but this time he disappointed me because after five years during which I received a lot but also gave a lot to Inter he no longer believed in me and preferred a man (Cuper) who never won anything and who forced me to leave." Ronaldo also said that "60% of the team, maybe more, hate Cuper." 25 September 2002 Bellamy Given Three Match Ban Newcastle striker Craig Bellamy has been banned for three matches by UEFA on Wednesday for head-butting a Dynamo Kiev player during the a Champions League match in the Ukraine on September the 18th. 24 September 2002 ITV - Sleeping With The Enemy Following the collapse of ITV Digital, terrestrial broadcaster ITV have signed a deal with BSkyB to broadcast live Champions League matches from the 2003-2006 seasons. ITV will screen two live Champions League games on Tuesdays and BSkyB will show the remaining games live on the same night. BSkyB have exclusive rights to show all Wednesday night games. Both channels will show the final live. 23 September 2002 France To Host Confederations Cup European Champions France will host the Confederations Cup from June the 18th to 29th, 2003. The competitors will be World Champions Brazil, South American Champions Colombia, African Champions Cameroon, Gold Cup Champions USA, Asian Champions Japan, Oceania Champions New Zealand and one other invited team. FIFA Blame Computer Problems For World Cup Ticket Fiasco In a moment of staggering originality FIFA have blamed computer problems for the ticketing fiasco at this summer's World Cup. There were hoards of of empty seats at many stadia while fans complained about a shortage of tickets. Scottish Refs Sign Sponsorship Deal With Opticians! The Scottish Referees Association have announced a sponsorship deal worth €1.2 million with opticians Specsavers. 20 September 2002 Baresi Returns to Coach Milan Youth Team Franco Baresi has returned to Milan to coach the clubs youth team after resigning from his position as director of sport at Fulham football club in August. Baresi said : "I am delighted to start a new adventure with Milan. It is a new role for me but sooner or later I had to start coaching. It was hard to be far away from the club, the umbilical cord is too short, even if you try to distance yourself from your attachment to the club and the colours." 'Eriberto' Banned Chievo winger Luciano, who played under the name Eriberto, has been banned by FIFA pending an inquiry following his revelation earlier in the month that he has been playing in Serie A under a false identity. 18 September 2002 Former Brazil World Cup Captain Dies Former Brazil World Cup captained Mauro Ramos, or Mauro as he was more commonly known, has died from cancer aged 72. Mauro captained Brazil in their 1962 World Cup triumph and was also a member of Pele's legendary Santos side. 17 September 2002 Brazilian Legend Dies from Liver Failure Dida, a member of Brazil's 1958 World Cup Winning squad, has died from liver failure aged 68. Dida, full name Edvaldo Alves de Santa Rosa, played for Flamengo between 1954-1964 scoring 244 goals and later moved to Portuguesa before ending his career in 1968 with Colombia's Atletico Junior. Beckenbauer - Ballack The New King of Europe "Zidane is more elegant, more agile, but Ballack at 25 is not only five years younger, he is also more dangerous in front of goal and he gets more often into goal-scoring positions. Quite honestly, I think that Ballack will become the new king of European football." - Frank Beckenbauer 16 September 2002 Serie A Round 1 Rescheduled For November The first round of Serie A matches which were cancelled due to the dispute over pay TV contracts have been rescheduled for the 6th of November. |