Ferdinand Demands Tougher Action From UEFA

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand claims UEFA are not doing enough to combat racism in football :

"It is time for UEFA to stop paying lip service to the problem. UEFA should look at imposing huge fines or deducting points within tournaments or competitions. The fines handed out after the England-Spain game were a joke. For too long now, European football authorities have not taken the problem of racism in the game seriously and refuse to acknowledge how widespread the problem is. I talk to a lot of European players and know there are big problems in Spain, in Italy and in Eastern Europe."

"Just look at what happened to Samuel Eto'o. He was racially abused against Zaragoza and what happened? Zaragoza were fined a paltry €9,000 by the Spanish Football Federation. If he had reacted to the fans that were abusing him by gesturing to them, he would have been fined a couple of weeks' wages at the very least but, yet again, nothing happens to the fans that abused him."

"If UEFA really is serious about kicking racism into touch it should adopt some of the
penalties called for in the (European Parliment) resolution and get on with punishing those who defame the game we all love with their backward, racist views."

UEFA's director of communications William Gaillard responded :

"I understand the reasons for his frustration because racism is a very ugly phenomenon and I think we need to stamp it out. At the same time I think a professional football player should do a little bit of homework to understand how the game is organised because he quotes two instances - the Spain against England friendly 18 months ago and then the Zaragoza-Barcelona match. He should know both these games were not under UEFA jurisdiction. All international friendlies are played under FIFA jurisdiction while of course Spanish league games are played
under the authority of the Spanish football association. We cannot interfere. This is just the way the jurisdiction is."

FIFA Back Down in World Cup Image Row

FIFA president Sepp Bladder has agreed to lift restrictions on the use of World Cup photographs on the internet following a meeting with the World Association of Newspapers in Paris (and the threat of legal action). WAN's chief executive officer, Timothy Balding, said :

"In eliminating limits on the number of pictures that can be posted on internet sites and in permitting their free publication during the course of World Cup matches, FIFA is upholding the traditional values of the free press and preserving the full free flow of information to the media and their audiences."

Celtic Legend Johnstone Dies

Celtic legend Jimmy Johnstone has died at the age of 61 after a long battle with motor neurone disease. Johnstone was part of the Celtic side that won nine league championships in a row (between 1966 - 1974) and the European Cup in 1967, beating Inter in the final.

Johnstone scored over 100 goals for Celtic, won 23 caps for Scotland and in 2002 Celtic fans voted him the clubs greatest ever player.

FA Confirm Curbishley Talks

The FA director of communications Adrian Bevington has had to confirm talks where
held with Charlton coach Alan Curbishley after a newspaper printed a photo showing
him together with the FA's chief executive, Brian Barwick :

"Charlton have been very good in the fact that they have granted us permission to speak to Curbishley. We would have preferred to have this process conducted with an element of privacy. We will be seeing a wide number of people with some names having already been reported and some haven't been reported."

Curbishley, in a statement on Charlton's website, said :

"Last Friday I attended an informal and I stress the word informal meeting with Brian Barwick. The meeting was arranged at the request of the FA to discuss the vacancy for the job of England manager. I attended the meeting with the full knowledge and approval of my chairman, Richard Murray. I am disappointed that the news of what was supposed to be a private and informal meeting has leaked out to the media."

Curbishley is regarded as one of the best coaches in the Premiership despite alarming drops in Charlton's form in each of the past two seasons. Last season the club were pushing for a UEFA Cup place before a disastrous run of form saw them take just 7 points in their last ten games. This season the club were in second place after 9 rounds but have slipped to mid-table.

Ronaldo Attacks Pele & Platini

In an interview with Brazilian newspaper O Globo Real Madrid's overweight striker Ronaldo hit back at two of the games all time greats, Pele and Michele Platini, following recent criticism.

During a visit to China Pele suggested :

"Ronaldo has shown he is a good player, and has won a lot of titles but he tends to get distracted. He could have been a better player if he hadn't been affected by off the field problems."

To which Ronaldo responded :
 
"At the World Cup, I will make a lot of people eat their words (still obsessed with food). I was disappointed with Pele, he's a two-bob opportunist."

And after Michele Platini accused the player of being fat :

"Ronaldo isn't the player he was because he has too many years and he's carrying too many kilos."

The striker said :

"I care nothing for Platini. I have a French team-mate friend (Zinedine Zidane) who has surpassed everything he ever did (everything apart from being consistently brilliant) and he has always told me that Platini is jealous. All I want is for people to treat me with respect and that is not what is happening. I am not saving myself for the World Cup. I want to do a lot to arrive in Germany full of confidence. I want to rediscover my happiness."

Wenger Accuses Critics of Racism

Responding to criticism from West Ham coach Alan Pardew and the chief executive of the PFA for the lack of English players in Arsenal's team, coach Arsene Wenger has accused the duo of racism :

"It's really disappointing. We need to kick racism out of football and racism starts there. When you are a manager you cannot accept those kind of remarks. It's a regressive way of thinking. I would never tell a player he couldn't play because he didn't have the right passport. It's just not acceptable. We are doing nothing wrong. Is there a rule we are not respecting? No. What about when Alan Pardew calls me at the beginning of the season and asks if he can have (French striker Jeremie) Aliadiere on loan. Does he check if he's English? Of course not."

Wenger, one of the few coaches against UEFA's new policy which by 2008 will require 8 players from a squad of 25 to be home-grown said :

"The new UEFA rule is also regressive, it's just to protect the national teams, not make football. I'll have to adapt and respect the new rule but it's sad for the game."

Pardew & Taylor Blast Wenger's Foreign Policy

West Ham coach Alan Pardew has criticised Arsene Wenger for his foreign player fetish after Arsenal progressed to the quarter-finals of the European Cup without an English player in the team :

"I saw a headline saying that Arsenal are flying the flag for Britain (as the only British club left in the Champions League). I kind of wondered where that British involvement actually was when I looked at their team. It's important that top clubs don't lose sight of the fact that it's the English Premier League and English players should be involved."

Gordon Taylor, chief executive of the Professional Footballers Association, added :

"It's an English club but not an English success. It's probably a greater reflection of
youngsters from France and elsewhere in Europe. It's hard to say that it speaks volumes for English football when none of the players are home-grown."

Mourinho Confirms Ballack Approach

"Ballack is worth at least 25 million pounds and I want him. He said he needs time before making a decision. I respect that and now it is up to him. Ballack is very fit and scores a lot of goals. In Europe I only know Lampard and Ballack who play at this level. Together they would be the dream pairing in Europe." - Jose Mourinho


10 March 2006

Champions League QF & SF Draw

QF1. Arsenal vs Juventus
QF2. Lyon vs Milan
QF3. Inter or Ajax vs Villarreal
QF4. Benfica vs Barcelona

Semi-Finals
SF1. Winners of QF1 vs Winner of QF3
SF2. Winners of QF2 vs Winner of QF4

Final
Winners of SF2 ('home' team) vs Winners of SF1

Rooney Signs Record Book Deal

20 year old Wayne Rooney has signed the biggest sports publishing deal in history with Harper Collins for €30 million. Rooney has to 'write' a minimum of five books and will be paid an advance of €7.30 million plus royalties. Rooney's first book, an autobiography (did I mention he was 20?), will be released after the World Cup at the end of July.

Rooney, a renowned speaker, gave a taste of things to come with these comments :
 
"It will be good for people to hear things from me for once. When they talk to me, people say 'I didn't expect you to be how you are'. Hopefully I can put that across to people. They think I'm a different person to what I am. I'm just a normal young lad who plays football. I'll be talking about my life in football and other things as well. There will be a few surprises in there."

A Wayne Rooney annual will be published in the Autumn and another book focusing on the rest of his career will be published in due course. Ideas for the fourth book do NOT include a pop-up book entitled 'My Cousin Shrek' and the controversial 'MILFS'.

Benitez Wants More Money
 
"We need to work harder in terms of looking for players. It is important to strengthen and buy new players. We will start working now. The scouting department is working for improving the team." - Rafael Benitez

Benitez has spent almost €100 million since taking over as Liverpool coach at the start of last season.