23 November 2005 Vodafone End Deal With United In what is a bitter blow to the heavily indebted Manchester United, Mobile phone giant Vodafone is ending it's €51 million sponsorship deal two years early. The club's commercial director Andy Anson tried to put on a brave face : "The Manchester United shirt is the most iconic in sport. The club feels that, in the current market. there is a genuine chance to attract significant additional investment. initial soundings and discussions with a number of world-class potential partners have been very encouraging and we are confident of securing a new deal in the coming months." 22 November 2005 Capello Dismisses Real Deal Juventus coach Fabio Capello has been quick to dismiss claims made by a Spanish radio station that he has agreed to coach former coach Real Madrid next season : "There is absolutely no truth in that story. I don't know where it came from. It's fantasy football. I've said in the past I don't like these re-hashed stories. I'm only thinking about Juventus." FIFA Sign Pornographic Deal With Coca Cola A month after FIFA President Sepp Bladder complained about the 'pornographic' amounts of money in the game : "Unfortunately, the haphazard way in which money has flowed into the game, reminiscent of a misguided, wild west style of capitalism - is having some seriously harmful effects. What makes this a matter for concern is that, all too often, the source of this wealth is individuals with little or no history of interest in the game, who have happened upon football as a means of serving some hidden agenda. Having set foot in the sport seemingly out of nowhere they proceed to throw pornographic amounts of money at it. What they do not understand is that football is more about grass roots than idols." He announced FIFA and Coca Cola have extended their partnership agreement, from 2007, to cover the next four World Cups in a deal estimated to be worth a condom busting €424,200 million. Grinning like a pervert, at a signing ceremony in Cape Town Bladder said : "Our relationship will go to 2014, 2018, and then up to 2022. This agreement teams us up with one of world football's leading advocates in a long-lasting relationship that bears witness to the enduring appeal of football." Coca Cola chairman Neville Isdell added : "We want to make a sincere and long-lasting commitment. The first leg of the agreement will start with the 2010 World Cup." FIFA Consider Dropping National Anthems FIFA President Sepp Bladder has said the organisation is considering dropping the playing of national anthems after his native Switzerland's anthem was booed by Turkey supporters ahead of their World Cup play-off match in Istanbul : "That was so disrespectful and a slur on a nation's pride. It makes me wonder if it makes any sense continuing to play national anthems. As soon as you have overt nationalism mixed in with passion and emotion, it becomes an explosive situation. That is why we are considering doing away with the anthems." 21 November 2005 Olsen Rewarded For Failure Denmark's national team coach Morten Olsen has had his contract extended until 2006 despite his failure to guide the team to a place at next year's World Cup finals. Huggel Receives Death Threats German club Eintracht Frankfurt have revealed that their Swiss international player Benjamin Huggel received death threats on his homepage following the post match brawl that ensued after Turkey's world cup play-off match against Switzerland. Huggel kicked one of the Turkish trainers, Mehmet Ozdilek, and defender Ozalan Alpay after the match before a brawl ensued though some claim the Turks were responsible. 20 November 2005 Hitzfeld Reveals Man United Approach In an interview with a German weekly former Bayern Munich and Dortmund coach Ottmar Hitzfeld said : "Yes, there has been an offer from (Manchester) United. I want to get back to football and next summer would be a good time to do that. My wife would go to Manchester and I'm ready for a new challenge." Hitzfeld, who guided Dortmund and Bayern to European Cup triumphs in the 90s has also been linked with the German national team and would be an obvious candidate to succeed Wanderlei Luxemburgo at Real Madrid or, if he really fancies a challenge, Roberto Mancini at Inter. 19 November 2005 Portuguese Internationals Invest €40 Million Portuguese internationals Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United), Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea), Paulo Ferreira (Chelsea), Tiago Mendes (Lyon) and Deco (Barcelona) will put €40 million (50%) towards the 'Hotel Alvor Baia' in southern Portugal. The remaining €40 will be provided by construction firm RR Grupo. 400 apartments, bars, swimming pools and health clubs are just some of the facilities planned for the resort near the city of Portimao. England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson is leading another group of investors who are planning a similar project near the neighbouring city of Lagos. 18 November 2005 Reaction to Keane's Departure "Roy Keane has been a fantastic servant for Manchester United. The best midfield player in the world of his generation, he is already one of the great figures in our club's illustrious history. Roy has been central to the success of the club in the last 12 and a half years and everyone at Old Trafford wishes him well in the rest of his career and beyond." - Alex Ferguson "I did not always agree with his commitment but as a quality player, as an influence on the side and as a brain on the pitch he was very influential in the success of Manchester United. He's not the player he was but he would be the first to admit that. He was a world-class player and he's still a top-level Premier League player but no central midfield player at 34 can be as good as he was at 24 or 26. You have to accept that." - Arsene Wenger Former Manchester United striker Frank Stapleton : "It is a reaction to what happened a few weeks ago, when he criticised his team-mates publicly, plus a combination of the fact that maybe they weren't ready to renew his contract at the end of the season. He probably said 'I'll go now rather than wait'. At this stage of his career Roy knows it is very straightforward. He wouldn't have thought twice about saying 'right, let's call it a day now, let's move on' and the club have obviously made the decision not to renew his contract. In the period that he has been there he has had unbelievable success but in my mind no player has ever been bigger than Manchester United. The club will go on and look to get stronger." Former Manchester United striker Lou Macari : "It's a real bolt out of the blue. I've always thought of Roy Keane as a major part of Manchester United. There is always a place for Roy Keane in the team, and it is only when the likes of Keane, Paul Scholes and the Nevilles have all gone that people will realise their value. Trying to replace Roy Keane is almost impossible and no matter what he will say over the next few weeks and months ahead, Roy will be gutted that he is no longer a Manchester United player." Keane Quits Manchester United Roy Keane has left Manchester United 'by mutual consent' after a controversial and glittering career in which he won 8 championships, 4 FA Cups and the European Cup, although he missed the final due to suspension. Keane's departure follows his controversial interview with the clubs satellite television channel in which he blasted team-mates following a 4-1 loss at Middlesbrough. The interview never aired. A statement by the club read : "Manchester United has today reached agreement with Roy Keane for Roy to leave the Club with immediate effect. The agreement allows Roy to sign a long term deal with another club to enable him to secure his playing career beyond what would have been the end of his contract at United in the summer." Keane said : "It has been a great honour and privilege for me to play for Manchester United for over 12 years. During my time at the Club I have been fortunate to play alongside some of the best players in the game and in front of the best supporters in the world. At all times I have endeavoured to do my best for the management and the team. Whilst it is a sad day for me to leave such a great club and manager I believe that the time has now come for me to move on. After so many years, I will miss everyone at the Club. I send my best wishes for the future to the management, players, staff and supporters of the club." Keane made 66 appearances for Ireland before walking out on the eve of the 2002 World Cup after hurling a tirade of abuse at the then coach Mick McCarthy : "Who the fu*k do you think you are having a meeting about me? You were a crap player and you are a crap manager. The only reason I have any dealings with you is that somehow you are the manager of my country, and you're not even Irish you English cu*t. You can stick it up your bollocks." Probably the most controversial incident of his career was a 'feud' with Manchester City defender Alf-Inge Haaland. In 1997 a foul by Haaland left Keane with cruciate ligament damage and he missed most of the season. Three years later Keane exacted revenge with a knee high foul and supposedly said "Take that you c*nt". Haaland never played again though attributed that to an injury to his other knee. Keane admitted in his autobiography that his intent was to hurt Haaland. No stranger to red cards and violent fouls, Keane was sent off in a FA Cup semi-final in 1995 for stamping on Gareth Southgate (then at Aston Villa) and in 2002 earned a three match suspension for elbowing Sunderland midfielder and fellow Ireland team-mate Jason McAteer. The following season he was sent off for throwing the ball at Alan Shearer in a stunning 4-3 loss at St James' Park. Beckham had to restrain Keane from attacking Shearer, who had a wry smile on his face as Keane was lead away. Ronaldo Extends Contract Cristiano Ronaldo has become the latest player to extended his contract with Manchester United. He is now tied to the club until 2010. 17 November 2005 Hoyzer Jailed Former referee Robert Hoyzer has been jailed for 2 years and five months for his part in Germany's match-fixing scandal in addition to his life ban. Hoyzer accepted bribes from a Croatian betting ring to fix four matches. The three Croatian brothers responsible for the match fixing were also given jail severances. Ante Sapina was given two years and 11 months, Milan Sapina one year and 4 months and Filip Sapina 11 months. Another referee, Dominik Marks, was given a suspended 18 month sentence for his part in the scandal.