Giuly Expects Henry Arrival

"We speak on the telephone all the time and we have had a conversation recently. I think he's coming. He will get a great welcome in Barcelona because everybody is excited thinking about him in our shirt. He is one of the world's top players and can only make our team better." - Barcelona midfielder Ludovic Giuly

Italy Consider Banner Ban

The President of the FIGC (Italian FA), Franco Carraro, has suggested banners
may be banned from stadiums in Italy :

"Banners often contain insults and vulgar allegations. I sometimes ask myself if they are worth the bother. The other evening there were 100,000 people inside the Nou Camp and not a single banner. I’m not saying they are always negative, as in fact they represent the passion of the fans in Italy but they can also have unfortunate repercussions. They are banned in Spain and I think we should reflect on the situation here."

Totti Wants Crackdown on Tackles From Behind

Roma captain Francesco Totti has expressed his disappointment at the lack of strong action over tackles from behind following the outcry over the injury he suffered two months ago :

"I thought at least some good would come of my injury but instead I see the tackles from behind continue and go unpunished. There was this huge media campaign when I got hurt, urging a new wave of refereeing to stop this sort of thing happening again but within a week it was back to normal. I think that certain tackles deserve a three or four-match ban, as it’s the only way the situation will change."

Scolari Rules Out England Job

Brazilian Luis Felipe Scolari, currently coach of the Portuguese national team, appears to have ruled himself out of taking the England job following press intrusion after the FA foolishly confirmed they had travelled to Portugal to make an official approach :

"I will not be the next England coach. I was one of numerous candidates. I will be the
Portugal coach until the end of the World Cup. Last night there were 20 reporters
outside my house. I don't like this pressure so I will definitely not be coach of England."

"I am committed to the Portuguese FA until the end of the World Cup and maybe
longer. In the last few days when I was not even the manager of England my freedom was taken away from me and that is not the coaching I am used to. I don't want to be a part of it."

The FA released the following statement in response to Scolari's comments :

It is no secret that Mr Scolari is one of the candidates that The FA has spoken to as part of the recruitment process.

We will now reflect on his announcement before making any further comment as we move forward with the process.

Garcia & Mullins Banned from FA Cup Final

West Ham defender Hayden Mullins and Liverpool midfielder Luis Garcia have had their appeals to play in the FA Cup final rejected. Both players were given three match bans after being sent off in Wednesday's league match at Upton Park. Garcia elbowed Mullins in the back, he was then sent off for retaliating and in turn Garcia was sent off for feigning injury.

Chelsea Fined €14,500

The FA have fined Chelsea £10,000 (€14,500) for failing to control their players.
Several Chelsea players surrounded referee Mark Halsey after a foul by West Brom's Ronnie Wallwork on Claude Makelele during a league match in early March.

Bayern Buy 1860's Share of New Stadium

Bayern Munich have purchased 1860 Munich's share of the Allianz Arena for a paltry €11 million. The 69,000 capacity stadium was built at a cost of €300 million and co-owned by both clubs however 1860 have been forced to sell in order to stave off bankruptcy.

As part of the deal 1860 can buy back their share for €11 million (plus interest) as long as they come up with the money before June 2010.

Levski Sofia Fined For Racism

UEFA have fined Levski Sofia €35,000 for shouting racist abuse at Schalke striker Gerald Asamoah during a UEFA Cup match. UEFA said they were "particularly concerned about Levski's attempts to play down the racist incidents" after the club claimed the chanting was "a folkloric manifestation which can be seen regularly at Bulgarian football matches"

Levski Sofia's president, Todor Batkov, has been banned for two games and fined €3,200 for saying Mike Riley was "a British homosexual" because he demanded the fans stop chanting over the clubs PA system.

Real Madrid President Resigns

Real Madrid president Fernando Martin has resigned after losing a vote of confidence at a board meeting, his first since replacing former President Florentino Perez two months ago. 83 year old director Luis Gomez Montejano will take over the presidency until elections are held.

Zidane Announces Retirement, Again

Zinedine Zidane will retire from football after this summer's World Cup :

"It's my decision and it's final. After the World Cup, I will stop playing football. The World Cup is my last goal. That's the only thing I want to focus on. I want people to be in the know before the World Cup."

Zidane said he would not change his mind as he did after he announced his first retirement after Euro 2004 :

"The context was different then. This is definitive. I'm stopping everything. Afterwards I can play as an amateur but that's up to me. I'm relieved. Now I can look forward to the World Cup. "I didn't want to go on for another year. The past two years I haven't been on top form and that's no good when you play at a club like Real. I'm at an age when it's more and more difficult every year. I don't want to spend another year like last year or even the last two years (struggling with injuries)."