8 December 2005 Glazer's Try Put Brave Face on Champions League Exit A spokesman for the Glazer family said : "It was a disappointing result but has no bearing on the family's long-term ownership of Manchester United. There is enough slack in the investment to deal with the situation. We are still second in The Premiership, the show must go on. It is not my place to comment on the Sir Alex's or anybody else's future at Manchester United." Pirlo Reveals Free Kick Secrets Milan midfielder Andrea Pirlo said : "I have always been fascinated with the dead-ball aspect of the game, ever since I was a child. I would practice all of the time with mixed results." "I've been inspired by Juninho. I saw the way he makes contact with the ball and copied him. I spoke to Coach Carlo Ancelotti one day with the idea of striking the ball with the three small toes of my foot. It is also important to place the ball in a certain way." Coach Suspended For Chinning Player Duisburg coach Norbert Meier has been suspended indefinitely for head-butting Koln player Albert Streit. Duisburg fined Meier €10,000. Meier later apologised in person to Streit. Nine Month Jail Term for Match Fixer Steffen Karl has been jailed for nine months for his part in the German match fixing scandal. The 35 year old, who plays for regional team Chemnitz, admitted he accepted a bribe of €8,000 after meeting Ante Sapina, the head of a Croatian mafia betting ring, and one of the three brothers jailed for masterminding the match fixing. 7 December 2005 Vieri Wins Bidone d'Oro Christian Vieri has won the Bidone d'Oro (Golden Bin). The awarded is voted for by listeners of a radio sports programme in 'recognition' for his abysmal performances for Milan this season. Inter midfielder Santiago Solari finished second and Antonio Cassano finished third. Rivaldo won the inaugural award in 2003 while at Milan and Juve fop Nicola Legrottaglie succeeded him last year. Galliani's Famous Last Words After speculation linking Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti with Real Madrid, Milan vice-president said : "Carlo and I have a pact – if they send one of us away then the other will follow. In other words, we'll leave together. Carlo and I are inseparable and will remain united for better or for worse." Lyon Sue FIFA Lyon will sue FIFA for compensation after defender Eric Abidal fractured his foot while on international duty for France in a friendly against Costa. Chairman Jean-Michel Aulas said : "We have decided to take FIFA to a French court with the support of the G14 and the union of French professional clubs. This is against French and European laws. FIFA are taking advantage of their dominant position. Such a system leaves the clubs powerless and does not respect them." Abidal has been ruled out until February. The G14, a group which represents Europe's most powerful clubs, are also backing Charleroi who are suing FIFA after midfielder Abdelmajid Oulmers was ruled out for 8 months after tearing ankle ligaments while on international duty with Morocco. 6 December 2005 World Cup Prize Money Winners - €15.90 million Runners-up - €14.61 million Semi-finalists - €14.00 million Last Sixteen - €1.95 million All 32 finalists will receive €3.90 million for reaching the group stages. 5 December 2005 Albertini Announces Retirement Former Milan and Italy midfielder Demetrio Albertini has announced his retirement from football. The 34 year old, who was turfed out of Milan by Carlo Ancelotti, has spells with Atletico Madrid, Lazio and most recently a brief spell with Barcelona. He has been without a club since the summer and plans to follow in the footsteps of several Milan team-mates and become a coach. Sacchi To Step Down Arrigo Sacchi will quit his role as Real Madrid's director of football at the end of the year citing personal reasons. Chip-in Ball Put on the Shelf Addidas issued the following statement : "Adidas confirms that the so-called smartball technology that uses the ball as an information carrier (to help referees ascertain whether a ball has cross the goal-line) will not debut at the 2006 FIFA World Cup. It will also not be tested at the FIFA Club World Championship in Tokyo this December." "In consultation with the international football federation FIFA, and in close cooperation with development partner Cairos Technologies AG in Karlsbad, Germany, it has been decided to focus on the further development and testing of the system before using it at tournaments on the highest professional level." FIFA have yet to explain why this technology, which it's rumoured will cost each club €400,000, was even considered given in 99% of cases action replays would resolve any dispute. Benitez Rules Out Real Madrid Liverpool coach Rafael Benitez insists he has no interest in the vacant coaching position at Real Madrid : "I am happy at Liverpool, I am Liverpool's manager and I have a job to do here." 4 December 2005 Luxemburgo Sacked A statement on the clubs website read : "The Management Group has taken the decision that Vanderlei Luxemburgo will not continue coaching Real Madrid, according to a declaration by the Sporting Management. The Club has already been in contact with Luxemburgo and with Raul Gonzalez, captain of Real Madrid, to communicate the news. Juan Ramon Lopez Caro (B team coach) will take provisional control of the team." The timing of the dismissal is curious given Real are 6 points behind Barcelona in La Liga and through to the knockout stages of the Champions League. 2 December 2005 Vucicevic Banned for Treating Baldness 180 Munich defender Nemanja Vucicevichas been banned for 6 months by the DFB (German FA) for taking finasteride, a prohibited substance used to treat baldness. Vucicevichas actually does have a receding hair-line but the drug was banned by WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) last November as it is used as a masking agent i.e. to hide traces of drugs. Xavi Out for 6 Months Barcelona midfielder Xavi has been ruled out for six months after tearing knee ligaments in training. Xavi faces a race against time to be fit for next year's World Cup. 1 December 2005 Barton's Brother Jailed for Murder 17 year old Michael Barton, the brother of Manchester City midfielder Joey Barton, was sentenced to 17 years and eight months and his cousin Paul Taylor 23 years and eight months for the brutal axe murder of a black teenager Anthony Walker. Barton gave the axe the Taylor who used it to beat the 18 year old walker to death in McGoldrick Park, Huyton, Merseyside on the 29th of July.