Benitez Looking to Deal Early

"I would like to sign players before the World Cup, if you can do that it may well be cheaper, and it would be better if players were here for pre-season training straight after the World Cup. We would hope to do things before the tournament, we have our targets but if not then we will have to wait. There is not much you can learn from the World Cup you do not already know and you do find that players there who are really motivated for the World Cup but afterwards they may have used up all their energy and will not be as good again." - Rafael Benitez

Hiddink Appointed Russia Coach

Guus Hiddink will take charge of the Russian national soccer team after his contract with Australia ends at the World Cup finals. Hiddink announced his intention to leave PSV at the end of the season and was seen as a candidate for the England job. Hiddink will sign a 30 month contract at €2 million a year.
 

French In Hooligan Crackdown

Under new measures introduced by France's interior minister Nicolas Sarkozy hooligans face upto two years in jail and a €30,000 fine for repeat offences. Sarkozy said :

"We cannot even tolerate a handful of individual racists, idiots, thugs, who have no respect for sport, for athletes, for spectators, who allow themselves to disrupt matches, insult players and wreak havoc on sporting institutions."

Hoeness Accuses Ballack of Greed

"It's clear that Michael is not moving to learn a new language or learn a new culture. He's going to learn about a new kind of money. I've got no resentment towards Michael but I just wish he was completely honest and said 'I'm going because I want to earn more money'." - Bayern Munich manager Uli Hoeness

According to reports, Chelsea are poised to make Ballack their highest paid player with a weekly salary of 121,000 pounds (178,000 euros, 210,000 dollars).

Mourinho Hits Out At Betting Culture

Speaking after news that Wayne Rooney had run up gambling debts of £700,000, Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho said :

"My culture is not about betting. Bookmakers in Portugal are illegal so you cannot bet in my country. I can  understand if you do it for fun and it does not interfere with your home balance. If someone gets a salary of £1000 a month and bets £600 it is a drama. It is something that I don't like a lot. I like fun betting but to  bet money that I have had to work hard to get? For me? No way! I know the stories of last season when one or two players were caught in the bookmakers. I spoke with them and tried to understand what was going on and at that time I felt there was no difference between what they were betting in bookmakers and what they could bet between themselves on a football result on the radio. When it is about fun, then no problem but it is not my culture and I am not in love with betting or horses."