31 January 2006
Mikel Speaks on Transfer Saga
John Obi Mikel's solicitors issued the following statement :
"For the last nine months, Mikel has been the subject of legal
proceedings, complaints before FIFA and media attention. He is caught in
the middle of a dispute between Manchester United and Chelsea. He is
intent that the situation should change. Mikel is very concerned that
Manchester United have failed to accept his decision as to where he wants
to play or to enter into any sort of constructive dialogue to resolve this
dispute. He has already put himself in the hands of the footballing
authorities and calls upon them to intervene, to which end we are willing
to meet whenever, wherever and with whoever, in order to break this
deadlock. Whatever agenda the respective football clubs involved in this
dispute have, they must not be allowed to damage Mikel's career."
The player, currently playing in the African Cup of Nations with
Nigeria, wants to join Chelsea.
Roma Supporters Banned
Roma's home league match against Cagliari, due to
be played on the 8th of February, will be played in an empty stadium as
punishment for their supporters displaying
Neo-Nazi and anti semitic slogans during last weeks
3-0 win over Livorno.
Chelsea Fury At Manchester United Leak
Chelsea are furious after news of a letter sent by Manchester United to
FIFA was leaked to BBC Radio Five Live. In the letter United called for
transfer sanctions and competition bans against Chelsea for 'sabotaging'
Nigerian midfielder John Obi Mikel's move to the club.
A statement issued by Chelsea read :
"It is outrageous that private correspondence has been deliberately
leaked in this way in an attempt to smear Chelsea's name and, more
importantly, to undermine an active FIFA process and pressurise Mikel. For
the record Chelsea informed FIFA at the time that these allegations were
without foundation. As far as Chelsea is concerned this whole issue is a
matter for FIFA, which is the correct and most competent authority to
decide on it."
FIFA are waiting for notification from Norway that formal legal
proceedings are closed.
28 January 2006
Wenger Brings Keown Back to Highbury
Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown, who formed a phenomenal central
defensive partnership with Arsenal's legendary captain Tony Adams, has
made a surprise return because Arsene Wenger claims the players need to
know 'the culture of the club' :
"I have a very young squad and I've said for some time now that the
team needed a bit more experience in the dressing room. Martin has the
experience and he can help the young players and that's why I brought him
in. He has a re-assuring presence. I wanted people around who know the
culture of the club, who have been the winners. I want them to get that
culture into the young players and to push them through. Martin is not
here full time. He is doing his coaching badge and needed somewhere to go
for experience."
25 January 2006
Capello Laughs At Real Rumours
Juventus coach Fabio Capello has dismissed rumours linking him with a
return to Real Madrid next season :
"Some of them are rubbish, some of them are lies and the rest are just
not true."
The Spanish press claim Capello has given Real Madrid's president an
ultimatum - to get rid of Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos, Michel Salgado and Ivan
Helguera before he would return to the Bernabeu.
Chelsea Report €206 Million Losses
Chelsea have announced record losses of €206 million for the last
financial year. The club's chief executive Peter Kenyon said :
"The
rise is down to some exceptional items that were necessary to help us in
our aim to break-even by 2009-10. We terminated the Umbro contract which
had a huge impact on these figures, but we have not yet seen any of the
financial benefit of our new adidas contract. Similarly these figures do
not include any of the monies from our new sponsorship deal with Samsung,
which was the biggest in Premiership history."
Player Stays At Club After Chinning Fan
St Etienne striker Frederic Piquionne has apologised
to a fan he head butted in the club's car park following an abandoned
match on the 15th of January but rejected calls for him to quit from
the fan group his victim was a member of :
"It's their choice. I now have to prove them it was a human mistake. I
also want to tell them my job in St Etienne is not finished"
The fan suffered a broken nose.
Copa Del Rey Match Abandoned After Linesman Hit
The second leg of the Copa Del Rey quarter-final match between Valencia
and Deportivo was abandoned just before halftime on Wednesday after one of
the linesmen was busted open by an object thrown from the crowd. The
referee, Carlos Megia Davila, immediately ordered the players off
the pitch and the match was officially abandoned minutes later.
24 January 2006
Eriksson Reveals Get Out Clause
"Since Brian (Barwick, FA Chief Executive) came
into the job, one year ago, we always had discussions about this - what's
going to happen after the World Cup in 2006. We had a private agreement
that, at a certain point, we would talk about it. We had an agreement
which, more or less, allowed me to leave after the World Cup. So we'd been
talking about it for one year. I remember the first time I had a meeting
in Brian's office, one of the issues was after the World Cup in 2006. If I
felt I was being sacked,
I wouldn't sit next to Brian today." - Sven Goran
Eriksson
Atletico Ready to Cash-In On Torres
Atletico Madrid's president, Enrique Cerezo, has said the club
are willing to listen to
offers for star striker Fernando Torres :
"As president and club administrator, I am obliged to listen to offers
for Fernando Torres just like of any other player of our club. You study
the offer and then you see what happens. We are not a club that sells and
we have no intention of selling Torres for the sake of it. Fernando has a
contract with Atletico and there's nothing that stops him from completing
it."
Torres has been linked with Milan and Chelsea in the past. The striker,
whose contract expires in 2008, has a buy out clause of €91.20
million.
Juve Dominate Italian Oscars
Not surprisingly Juventus dominated the Italian Oscars, the annual awards ceremony organised by the
Italian Footballers' Association. The winners were :
Player of the Year : Alberto Gilardino (Milan)
Best Foreign Player
:Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Juventus)
Most Loved Player : Zlatan Ibrahimovic
(Juventus)
Best Goalkeeper : Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus)
Best
Defender : Fabio Cannavaro (Milan)
Best Referee : Pierluigi
Collina,
Agents Claims Camoranesi Is for Sale
Andrea Pastorello, the agent of Juventus midfielder Mauro Camoranesi,
says the club will sell his client in the summer following the of Marco
Marchionni from Parma :
"It would be typical of Juve's transfer policy to
let Camoranesi leave. An offer in the region of €15 million would
doubtless be accepted by the Bianconeri directors. It has happened in the
past with other important players. Camoranesi is highly-regarded by Milan,
but also by Inter, who are known for their interest in wide men.
Then it's worth pointing out that Real Madrid and Barcelona are also keen
on him. I've not had any interest so far from Manchester United or any other English clubs,
though."
Filippini Twins Given Bans
Treviso's 'Not so Fabulous' Filippini twins
have both been handed bans. Emanuele Filippini has been given a four match
ban for pushing and insulting a referee and his brother, Antonio, was banned for two
matches for insulting the same referee.
