29 October 2004

Trautmann To Receive OBE

German goalkeeper Bert Trautmann is to receive an OBE. 82 year old Trautmann was a prisoner of
war but became a hero after playing on for Manchester City 18 minutes after breaking his neck
making a save against Birmingham in the 1956 FA Cup final which Man City won 3-1.


27 October 2004

Ashley Cole in Pizza Missile Throwing Shame

English tabloid The Sun claim that Arsenal defender Ashley Cole threw a slice of Pizza at Alex Ferguson
after Arsenal's 49 match unbeaten run in the league came to an end at Old Trafford. It's said that Cole,
in retaliation to a horrendous foul by Van Nistelrooy, was aiming for the Dutchman by missed and
hit Manchester United coach Alex Ferguson instead, forcing him to change his suit before giving a
television interview.


19 October 2004

Mutu Admits To Taking Cocaine

Adrian Mutu has declined a follow-up test after testing positive for cocaine. Gordon Taylor, the head of the
players union said :

"He will not be going ahead with the second test. He has tested positive for cocaine. There will be a hearing
at the Football Association, which we hope can be held as quickly as possible to get the matter dealt with."

Mutu, who has a degree in law, has frequently made the back pages of newspapers for off field discretions.
He was reported to have beaten up his now ex wife Alexandra, was caught having sex with a porn star in
May and in September was involved in an early morning car chase in Bucharest after refusing to hand his
license over to Police. He was given a three-month ban and told to seek professional help.

Former Chelsea coach Claudio Ranieri said :

"Mutu had all the skills and flair, but to win championships things have to be right between the ears."


17 October 2004

Hamburg have sacked Klaus Toppmoller following Saturday's 2-0 defeat to Armenia Bielefeld.


11 October 2004

Four Dead in World Cup Qualifiers

Four people have died and another three are in critical condition following a stampede after a
powercut during a World Cup qualifier between Togo and Mail.


Woodgate Out For Another 10 Weeks

Jonathan Woodgate's Real Madrid debut will be delayed by a further 10 weeks following another
left thigh muscle injury.


10 October 2004

Desailly Joins Qatari Foreign Legion

Marcel Desailly, released by Chelsea at the end of last season, will join Al-Gharafa in the Qatari league.
Two of Desailly's former French international team-mates, Frank Leboeuf and Christophe Dugarry,
play in Qatar.


Naybet To Observe Ramadan

"As an act of respect for my faith, I don't eat or drink from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan.
I hope my performances don't suffer too badly but the truth is that I do sometimes feel a little below
my best. For many years I lived in Spain but I have never deserted my beliefs or been persuaded it is not
possible to observe the tradition. Although it makes things difficult, it is something I have to do.
It is my intention to stick to Ramadan. I hope people understand my situation." - Noureddine Naybet


8 October 2004

River Plate Fury As Barca Try To Sign 12 Year Old

River Plate president Jose Maria Aguilar has accused Barcelona of 'player piracy' after the Catalan club
offered the family of 12 year old River Plate youth player Erik Lamela €120,000 for four years and his
father a contract. Argentinean law will leave the decision with the players father.


6 October 2004


FIFA have shown an incredible level of hypocrisy by fining the French, Italian and Dutch football federations
for their leniency in punishing players for doping offences. Having eventually signed with WADA
(World Anti Doping Agency) FIFA still refuse to implement WADA's mandatory two year ban for
athletes who fail drugs tests.


England Legend Says Owen Should Be Dropped

Geoff Hurst who scored a hat-trick in England's World Cup final victory over Germany in 1966 says
Real Madrid bench warmer Michael Owen should be dropped :

"When Sir Alf Ramsay was manager of England, there were two stipulations before he would consider
you for selection. You had to be playing regularly for your club and you mustn't be in dispute with
them. On that basis Michael fails because he isn't playing every week for Real Madrid. Eriksson has
Wayne Rooney available again and also Jermain Defoe, who has scored goals regularly with every
club he has played for, also for England at junior levels and now with the senior team. On that basis
I would select Jermain with Rooney."


Father Bets His son Against Australia

A father from the Solomon Islands, Filia Mamae, was willing to put up his 8 year old son in exchange for
$100,000 as a bet on the Solomon Island's match against Australia. Mamae would get the money if
the Solomon Islands won but give up his son if they lost. The chairman of the National Advisory Council
on Children, Peter Forau, said he was appalled and that it was incomprehensible for a father to even
contemplate using his child as a bet.


5 October 2004

Panathinaikos Announce Replacement For Shum

Zdenek Scasny has succeeded Itzhak Shum as coach.


Chelsea's Sponsors Jump To Arsenal

Arsenal's new 60,000 seater stadium at Ashburton Grove will be known as the Emirates Stadium
after Emirates Airlines paid the club a massive €144 million in a 15 year deal. The airline will also
be Arsenal's shirt sponsor for 8 years once the stadium opens in 2006. Emirates Airlines deal with
Chelsea expires at the end of this season. Emirates Airlines chairman Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed
Al-Maktoum said :

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to sponsor such a major new stadium and club and
represents a win-win partnership for both Emirates and Arsenal."


4 October 2004

Dugueperoux Returns To Strasbourg

Former Strasbourg coach Jacky Dugueperoux has replaced Antoine Kombouare as coach. Dugueperoux
previously coached the club between 1995-1999 and has been in charge of recruitment.


Lehmann Has Delusions of Grandeur

Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lemon claims he will replace Germany's other past it goalkeeper in time for the
2006 World Cup :

"I am convinced that I will be in goal for the 2006 World Cup. I am at the peak of my career in terms of
experience and sporting ability."


Panathinaikos Fire Shum

Panathinaikos have fired Itzhak Shum despite the fact that Panathinaikos were top of the league
by two points over rivals Aigalelo and AEK with three wins out of three matches. The Greek press
have speculated that the clubs poor start to their champions league campaign and conflict with the
club's director Velimir Zajec was the reason for Shum's dismissal.


Cahill Blasts Ref Over Redknapp Tackle

Everton midfielder has spoken of his fury over a Jamie Redknapp foul that left him in agony and referee
Graham Poll's failure to send off the Spurs midfielder :

"What's the game coming to? You can't celebrate but you can kick people. You have to ask the question
what do you have to do - I got a yellow for celebrating and then other people will walk away scot-free.
I can't understand why he was so high up on my knee - he had the ball. I was worried that it could be
more serious. It's very uncharacteristic, he's been on the treatment table as much as me. I did my
anterior cruciate two years ago. It was very worrying, so that was why I was so upset. It did flash
through my mind that I'd done it again as I had quite a bit of pain."


8 October 2004

Dortmund Announce Record Debts

Dortmund have reported the highest ever debts in the history of German football. The clubs
debts increased from €73 million in 2002-2003 to €118.80 last season. The club also posted
losses of €67.7 million following a €3.3 profit the previous season. Chairman Gerd Niebaum
said :

"We have probably made some misjudgements."

No shit.


Betis Reject Chelsea Offer For Joaquin

Betis president Ruiz de Lopera has confirmed that Chelsea made an approach last December, rejecting
a €30 million bid :

"On December 30 I had a meeting in Madrid with representatives of Chelsea and they offered €30 million
for Joaquin. This was euro and not pesetas, but I rejected the proposal because I understood that this
was not best for Betis. This shows my grace and how much trivialities do not bother me. People say
we are looking to sell Joaquin and make money. Why should we sell? So Betis can present a profit,
who do we owe money to? During my time as president we have invested €186 million in footballers
without considering the cost."


7 October 2004

Fury As Spain's Coach Calls Henry 'Black Shit'

Journalists and reporters overhead Spanish national team coach Luis Aragones refer to Henry, when
talking to Arsenal team-mate Jose Antonio Reyes, as "that black shit".

When talking to Jose Antonio Reyes during training at the Las Rozas headquarters Aragones said :

"Tell that negro de mierda (black shit) that you are much better than him. Don't hold back, tell him.
Tell him from me. You have to believe in yourself, you're better than that negro de mierda ."

When questioned Aragones denied his comments were racist :

"I am a citizen of the world. Some of my best friends are black, including those I have known since
childhood. The fact I make a joke in order to motivate a player does not mean I am racist in the
slightest."

Reyes also foolishly tried to defend his coach :

"I was dancing with the coach. It was a jokey moment, nothing more. Things that happen within the
team should stay on the training pitch. Luis and I both knew who he was referring to. But he was just
joking."

AS editor Alfredo Relano wrote :

"Luis used inappropriate words, more inappropriate still when he was in front of millions of eyes and
ears hidden behind the television cameras. I'm aware that Luis is not a racist but you cannot speak
as he spoke. I'm sure he chose his words without any wish to offend but his obscene, outdated
language gives him, and us, a problem. A national team coach has a representative role and he has
to know this. He must also know that speaking like this is out of order, whether it is in private or in
public, whether the cameras are present or not."

Marca on the other hand tried to defend Aragones :

"It goes without saying that Aragones's intention was not to bring racist overtones to the matter.
The coach expressed himself in his own way, with vehemence, to get the message through loud and
clear to Reyes."

Henry's team-mate and close friend Robert Pires was furious :

"He (Aragones) should be sued for racial aggression. He shouldn't be allowed to get away with it.
He needs to be cornered on this. What he said is not funny at all."


4 October 2004

Barca's Injury Crisis Mounts

Brazilian defender Edmilson has became the third Barcelona player, after Thiago Motta and Gabri, in
recent weeks to suffer a cruciate knee ligament injury. All three are expected to be out for six months.

Barcelona club doctor Jordi Ardevol :

"It is not normal that every two weeks we are getting cruciate ligament injuries."


1 October 2004

Police Called to Stop Fight on Arsenal Bus

Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira got into a heated argument with 'Ralph' Lauren on the team bus following
the club's Champions League match against Rosenborg. Vieira blamed the defender for Rosenborg's
equaliser. Police were called as the players became 'physical'. Trondheim police officer Erik Svensson
said :

"Two police officers had to go on the bus and then it was calmed down."

Rosenborg's head of security Hallgeir Stokken said :

"There was an argument between two players which turned into a physical confrontation. I have been told
that other Arsenal players had to step in to separate them."