31 March 2005 UEFA 'Punish' Chelsea Despite some strong words in the press in recent weeks UEFA have, somewhat predictably, handed out what amounts to a trivial punishment for a trivial crime i.e. Jose Mourinho's claims that Frank Rijkaard entered the dressing room of referee Anders Frisk at half time during the Barcelona vs Chelsea Champions League clash in February : A UEFA statement read : "Having listened to evidence presented by the disciplinary inspector and by Chelsea FC, the Control and Disciplinary Body decided to impose a two-match suspension and a fine of CHF 20,000 (Swiss Francs = €13,000) on Chelsea FC manager Jose Mourinho." "As far as the touchline ban is concerned, Article 70 paragraph 2 of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations states : A team manager/coach who is suspended from carrying out his function may follow the match for which he is suspended from the stands only. He is not allowed in the dressing room, tunnel or technical area before and during the match nor is he allowed to get in contact with his team." Chelsea were fined €48,400. Security official Les Miles and Assistant coach Steve Clarke were 'reprimanded'. Chelsea have three days in which to appeal against the decisions but are unlikely to take any action. Carlos Alberto Attacks 'Midget' Owen Azerbaijan's legendary Brazilian coach Carlos Alberto has launched an attack on Michael Owen after mistakenly believing the striker claimed he would score five goals against Azerbaijan. Carlos Alberto, who captained his country to World Cup success in 1970 and scored a fantastic team goal in Brazil's 4-1 final thrashing of Italy said : "I have been in this life for 45 years. This man, what's his name, the number 10, the small one who doesn't play in the Real Madrid first team, said that if Poland beat Azerbaijan 8-0, England should score at least eight goals and he'd score five of them but he must respect everyone. Who is Michael Owen anyway? What has he ever won in football? He plays for Real Madrid but is always on the bench. It is not right for him to say that he can score five goals against Azerbaijan. Where are those five goals tonight? He didn't score one. Sven-Goran Eriksson is a good man, he should teach him to respect everyone. Who is he anyway? Who is he?" "I have a history in football but what is the history of this guy? He ought to clean his tongue. I don't accept this, he is not a man. I would say this to his face if he was here. I hope he is back on the bench when Real Madrid play this weekend. This man, this midget, I refuse to talk about him any more. I will talk about Beckham, Rooney, Ferdinand or Lampard, but not this midget. This midget ought to clean the boots of Beckham as they are so wet tonight." 30 March 2005 Leverkusen Give-up on Donovan Leverkusen's business leader Wolfgang Holzhauser said : "We will not stop Landon from leaving. This time around there will be no loan deal. He will be sold. He has great potential but just has not been able to fulfil it here." Rooney Assault Charges Dropped 22 year old student Patrick Hanrahan has withdrawn his assault claim against Wayne Rooney after selling his story to the Sun. A greater Manchester police spokeswomen said : "We were informed that the complainant did not want to pursue the allegation. We took a retraction statement from him and officers will not be pursuing the matter any further." Mourinho To Quit in 13 Years "My plan is to work for 13 more years, so if I can spend four of them with the Portuguese national team, I have nine years in English football left." - Jose Mourinho 28 March 2005 Owen Claims He Has Nothing To Prove "I don't have to make any points out there now, I've been successful at Madrid, scored goals and the fans are pleased with me. The players respect me, and I think I've already proved myself. It's been virtually a full season now and I've had a decent season. It has been a good start for me out there and I've scored plenty of goals. I know people say 'you haven't played all the games', but I've played over 40 games and more than half of them have been starts. I'd like to think I will have played over 50 games by the end of the season and that's not bad in anyone's book." - Michael Owen Casillas Reveals Man United Approach "For a long time Manchester United have been interested in me. An offer has been put to my agent but for me money is not everything in life. There are a lot of questions to be answered before I could leave Madrid but I like the Premiership and United is one of the few clubs that I would go to if I were to leave Spain. That is because of its history, tradition, supporters and the way they treat their players. I've spoken with Sir Alex Ferguson several times after matches and I know that he likes me. I have a year left on my contract but I need to know as quickly as possible what a new contract would say because I have a lot of important decisions to make." - Iker Casillas Robben Out for a Month Chelsea winger Arjen Robben will be out for a month after picking up an ankle injury in the opening minutes of Holland's World Cup qualifier against Romania n Saturday. His father, Hans, said : "His ankle is very painful. It will take four weeks to heal - minimum." The player spoke of his frustration : "It is difficult to say how many weeks I will be out, but it is clear that it is not good. I am starting to get really angry about these injuries." 26 March 2005 Five Killed In Iran WCQ Five fans were trampled to death and a further 40 injured in a crush following Iran's World Cup qualifier against Japan. Over 100,000 spectators left the stadium after Iran's 2-1 victory. The five that were killed tried to use an unauthorised exit. Another man died of a heart attack brought on by the excitement. Juventus Sign Record Sponsorship Deal Juventus have signed a five year shirt sponsorship deal with Libyan petrol company Tamoil worth a record €110.54 million. Tamoil have the option of signing a five year extension for a further €130.90 million. The contract will bring in Juventus €22.11 a season. Bayern previously held the most lucrative shirt sponsorship deal with T-Mobile earning €17.02 million a season. Real's deal with Siemens brings in €14.11 million a season while Manchester United earn €13.10 million from Vodafone. 25 March 2005 Baldini Quits Roma Franco Baldini has quit as Roma's sporting director after being summoned by the FIGC (Italian FA) for making comments about Milan and Juventus which he repeated in his resignation speech below : "I thank the club and in particular president (Franco) Sensi for having his support but my decision is irreversible. The strongest teams in the league are using all means at their disposal to remain at the top." Emre Regret At Inter Move "The Rossoneri contacted me when I decided to move to Italy but I picked Inter instead. Inter are now a side with no future. They will never be as good as Milan. Boss Roberto Mancini has his own ideas. He's told me I'm a good player but that he knows what side he wants to pick. I understand that but I didn't think he would be so rigid or unwilling to change. He just picks the same players all of the time. I am leaving. I have understood that Inter will never win anything whereas if I was at Milan, I would have already won the Champions' League and Lo Scudetto." Emre Belozoglu 24 March 2005 Klinsmann Banking on Fitness For World Cup Success "We want to play at a high tempo and put the opposition under pressure to force a mistake. It is vital that the players recognise that we are helping them for now and the rest of their career. Over the next few months we will work on tempo, speed and stamina." - Germany coach Jurgen Klinsmann Rogerio's Mother Freed The mother of Sporting Lisbon striker Rogerio has been freed. Ines Fidelis Regis was kidnapped from home on Monday. The agents of Brazil's anti-kidnapping force located her in the north littoral of Sao Paulo. A 19 year old women was arrested. This was the fourth kidnapping of a Brazilian players mother over the past six month. Last November Santos striker Robinho's mother was released after 41 days after a ransom was paid. In February Grafite, who plays for Sao Paulo, was kidnapped but found a day later. The mother of Porto striker Luis Fabiano was kidnapped two weeks ago. Lazio Avoid Bankruptcy Lazio have staved off bankruptcy after striking an agreement with the inland revenue. Under the agreement the club will pay a total of €134 million over 23 years, this includes interest at 2.5% on the €115 million they owe. Kovac Receives Juve Offer "We offered him a two-year contract extension with an option on a third year, but he's apparently received an offer from Juventus which we can't and won't match. Regretfully we've had to accept the fact that Robert will leave the club at the end of this season." - Bayern Munich general manager Uli Hoeness Benitez Kills Real Speculation "It is very nice that every so often my name is being linked with different clubs in Spain but I can tell the Liverpool fans I have no intention of leaving. I have a five-year contract and intend to stay for it. The difference is in Spain you get two or three defeats in a row and find that you have a big problem. Over there you are told if you do not win your next match then you are sacked but at Liverpool it has not been anything like that, and that is the sort of thing that gives me the strength to stay here. The board and everyone have been totally supportive of me, and not put any extra pressure on me. The club have not given me any targets this season, even though deep down I know what my own are and that is a Champions League spot." - Rafael Benitez Chelsea Fear Unfair Trail "These various statements have called into question publicly the integrity of our manager, assistant coach, security officer and the club as a whole and we cannot allow these to stand unchallenged. These individuals have used deliberately inflammatory language which Chelsea finds unjust and unhelpful. The use of such language, and the nature of the public statements as a whole, give us grave concern about our chances of receiving an impartial and fair hearing. Our defence has been dismissed before it has even been considered. Our witnesses have been branded as liars without any opportunity to be heard or defend themselves. That offends all principles of justice both in England and across Europe Chelsea has co-operated fully with the enquiries related to the charges against us. Chelsea fully adheres to, and respects, the processes of UEFA and is under no illusion about the seriousness of these charges. We will defend these in the correct and proper manner and within the guidelines laid down by UEFA." Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon Beckham's Paparazzi Fury "He (Brooklyn) was going to a football school and I was working and Victoria was looking after Cruz and paparazzi show up and harass him and chase him into his football school. This is a six year old little boy. Of course that affected him and it was the same with Romeo (aged 2). He was going to his nursery and there were press taking pictures of him while he was playing with the other kids, and for me it is crossing the line with my children. I'm at the point where I don't know what to do because it is my children now. Me and Victoria have always accepted that we are in the limelight and there are always going to be people who want to take pictures of us, but when it comes down to little children, being out on their own, in their school, for me it is crossing the line." Beckham hinted that the paparazzi's harassment of his children may force him to leave Spain : "I love Spain as a country, I love the fans and they have been incredible to me since I moved there but what I do get over there, I've not had anywhere else before, except perhaps America one time." Beckenbauer Worries Platini "Beckenbauer is occupied with the World Cup until 2006 and after that he can do what he likes but it would be a shame if he decided to run in the same year I am standing. He could have put himself forward for the post ten years ago." Michel Platini