30 September 2005 Iaquinta Extends Contract Vincenzo Iaquinta has signed a three year contract extension with Udinese, tying him with the club until 2010. Iaquinta was recently dropped from the first team squad for refusing to extend his contract, despite the fact that it had two years to run. Following three successive defeats, two in Serie A and one in the Champions League, Iaquinta was recalled to first team action earlier in the week. Arsenal 'Keeper Cleared of Rape Charges Arsenal goalkeeper Graham Stack, currently on loan to Reading, has been cleared of raping a 22 year old girl at his come in east London in September of last year. 28 September 2005 Krankl Resigns Austria's coach Hans Krankl has resigned after being told his contract would not be renewed following the teams failure to claim a place at next year's World Cup finals. 27 September 2005 Brazilian Referee Suspended in Betting Scandal An official FIFA statement read : "FIFA has suspended worldwide and until further notice Edilson Pereira de Carvalho in the light of the Brazilian federal police's decision to open a criminal investigation into his alleged involvement in a match fixing scandal. The Brazilian football association has informed FIFA that it has also opened an investigation into the case and that it will take all the necessary measures to resolve the matter" Police tapped phones and heard the referee make the following comment ahead of a match between Vasco and Figueirense on August 7 which Vasco won 2-1 : "I am going to award a foul in the middle of the field and if anyone protests, I will send them off" These games were declared null and void and will be replayed : Vasco 0 - 1 Botafogo Ponte Preta 1 - 0 Sao Paulo Paysandu 1 - 2 Cruzeiro Santos 4 - 2 Corinthians Vasco 2 - 1 Figueirense Cruzeiro 4 - 1 Botafogo Juventude 2 - 0 Fluminense Internacional 3 - 2 Coritiba Juventude 1 - 4 Figueirense São Paulo 3 - 2 Corinthians Fluminense 3 - 0 Brasiliense Mourinho - Liverpool Are Not Best in Europe "Nobody can prove who is the best team in Europe but I do not believe it was Liverpool last season. Many times the Champions League winner is not the best team in Europe. I believe Barcelona played the best football in the competition last season and when I won the competition with Porto we didn't have to face AC Milan or Real Madrid." - Jose Mourinho Lecce Appoint Baldini In a surprise move Lecce have announced Silvio Baldini as the replacement for Angelo Gregucci, who was sacked as coach on Monday. Lecce are 2nd from bottom in Serie A without having won a game. Former coach Zednek Zeman had been tipped to succeed Gregucci. Queiroz Attacks Supporters Manchester United assistant coach Carlos Queiroz has rounded on supporters who booed coach Alex Ferguson following the teams 1-2 defeat against Blackburn : "People have been crying out for us to use a 4-4-2 formation and we played with that system for the first time and lost. We played what the public wanted and lost. This is why in football stupidity and imagination have no limits." 26 September 2005 Brazilian Takes Over At Maritimo Maritimo have announced Brazilian Paulo Bonamigo as the successor to Rui Rodrigues who was sacked last week following a poor start to their league campaign. The 45 year old has previously coached Atletico Mineiro, Botafogo and Palmeiras. Indonesian Police Arrest 74 Indonesian police have arrested 74 fans of Indonesian team Persija after they went on a rampage following a 2-3 defeat against Persipura in a league championship final. The fans set fire to eight police vehicles, damaged other vehicles, injured 22 policeman and 19 civilians. 25 September 2005 Wenger Wants Points for Goals Following a drop in attendances, viewing figures and goals Arsenal Wenger believes a new points system would encourage attacking play : "What could work is awarding points on the basis of the difference between the goals you score and the goals you concede. You could get an extra point if there is a difference of three, like 3-0 or 5-2. That might encourage teams to keep on attacking when they have the lead. There would be an incentive. It is difficult to impose new rules but the intention should always be to win. The most successful teams have always been attacking ones. Brazil have won more World Cups than anyone and Real Madrid more European trophies - both of them always play to win."