Malouda pleads for new Chelsea deal

LONDON (AFP)– Chelsea midfielder Florent Malouda has urged the club to offer him an extension to his contract amid speculation the French international could be sold in the summer, it was reported on Saturday.

Malouda's current deal at Stamford Bridge runs until 2013 but the 30-year-old is keen to add another year to the contract, saying he wants to emulate the longevity of Manchester United veteran Ryan Giggs.

"I just want to feel I am important at the club," he told the Daily Telegraph.

"Sometimes I don't feel so when I see in the media that the club are thinking of selling me, and I know I'm doing great.

"I want to be the Ryan Giggs of Chelsea! I want to extend my contract by one year until 2014. The club have been saying that because I am over 30, I have to wait until the last year of my contract to speak about an extension. Questions come into my mind. Do the club want me to stay?

"I am waiting for a signal from the club. I am much appreciated by the coach. But I need support from the club as well."

Chelsea have only a faint hope of overhauling United in the title race and face a trophyless season, one year after winning a Premier League and FA Cup double.

Despite the disappointing campaign, Malouda has dismissed suggestions that manager Carlo Ancelotti should be fired.

"It's unfair," Malouda said of the speculation surrounding Ancelotti.

"He's one of the greatest managers. He's good tactically. He's brought stability to the club, won the double at the first attempt.

"Because we are now out of three competitions and six points behind United, people outside are saying Chelsea should change everything. But all the big clubs have stability.

"Everybody seems to want to put pressure on Ancelotti but he's really cool. He knows the squad support him. That's the most important thing for him.

"I want Ancelotti to stay. Players come and go but the manager is the key. We can win the Champions League under him one day."

Source

France football manager Blanc denies'race quota'

BORDEAUX (AFP)– France manager Laurent Blanc has denied any knowledge of a controversial alleged proposal by the French Football Federation (FFF) to limit the number of black and arab players by introducing discriminatory quotas.

Reports that French football chiefs, including Blanc, had discussed and approved the introduction of a ceiling on non-whites emerged Thursday via Mediapart.

The influential website claimed:"For the top brass in French football, the issue is settled: there are too many blacks, too many Arabs and not enough white players in French football.

Speaking at a press conference here Friday Blanc categorically dismissed Mediapart's assertions, the 1998 French World Cup winning defender denying that such a policy existed.

Raymond Domenech's successor, speaking publicly for the first time since the report surfaced, said he had"never heard mention of such a project".

He added:"Since around 15 years the playing policy has been discriminatory for a certain number of players, athletic and physical criteria being essential.

"Today, small players are penalised, that's discrimination," he explained, in a reference to youngsters coming through football training centres.

"What upsets me most is to add'colour' to this. When one accuses me of this type of discimination, that annoys me.

"Diversity exists, on the street as in football," Blanc said.

On Thursday a report by Mediapart claimed:"Some top officials at the French football federation's National Development Programme (DTN), including national team coach Laurent Blanc, secretly approved at the start of 2011 the principle of unofficial discriminatory quotas in training centres and schools around the country."

Mediapart added that following a meeting in January, when those involved were told to keep the proposals secret, directives to apply the measures were sent to the numerous training centres around the country.

"According to internal sources at the FFF, who have been shocked by the proposals, instructions were sent to the different managers of training schools, notably the National French Institute at Clairefontaine," added the report.

"The figure of 30 percent was even evoked by the Technical Director during a DTN meeting on January 18, 2011."

The French Football Federation has also denied the Mediapart report.

Source

Bin Hammam denies'vote-buying'in FIFA race

LONDON (AFP)– FIFA presidential candidate Mohamed Bin Hammam on Thursday denied trying to buy votes with financial aid in his campaign to unseat world football supremo Sepp Blatter.

Bin Hammam, in London to meet with senior members of the English FA ahead of the June 1 election, has vowed to double the current financial support paid annually to FIFA members to $500,000.

However the 61-year-old head of the Asian Football Confederation rejected suggestions that the generous increase in money for development projects were a form of vote-buying.

"People want to hear what the candidate is going to help them with," Bin Hammam said.

"The need for the funds is essential for national associations - they need to have development projects, national teams, youth teams, facilities and it all costs money," Bin Hammam said.

"This is not an improper act - people should know what I'm planning."

Bin Hammam's pledges to increase disbursements have been followed by similar pledges from FIFA president Blatter. The 75-year-old Swiss incumbent responded with a vow to set aside more than $1 billion over four years.

Bin Hammam meanwhile said he was"well placed" in his bid to dethrone Blatter, indicating he had received widespread support since declaring his candidacy.

"I have had a lot of support since declaring my manifesto and I think I am well placed," the Qatari said.

"I said when I announce my candidacy that my chances were 50-50 and although I would not change that figure I am feeling confident."

The FA has said it will decide on who to support in the FIFA election on May 19 but Bin Hammam said he would not seek to exploit ill-feeling towards FIFA caused by England's failed 2018 World Cup bid.

"I will not try to misuse this - I am more interested in explaining myself and my manifesto," Bin Hammam said.

"I have a good relationship with the FA and the Premier League and I hope every member association will give me the opportunity to present my vision for the future."

Bin Hammam also said he hoped the final weeks of the election campaign would not be marred by personal attacks.

"I hope it will remain a fair-play one. I'm only interested in doing what I can to promote myself, to speak about my business, my manifesto."

Source

Clinical Stoke deepen Wolves'league drop fears

STOKE, United Kingdom (AFP)– FA Cup finalists Stoke's fine run of form has continued as they dealt a huge blow to Wolves' prospects of staying in the Premier League with a 3-0 win.

Goals by Trinidadian international Kenwyne Jones, Ryan Shawcross and the outstanding Jermaine Pennant easily saw off a woeful Wolves side, who are second from bottom a point adrift of safety with four matches remaining.

The hosts took the lead just after the quarter-hour mark as Jones headed home from a great cross by Pennant, who had beaten a couple of weak challenges down the right flank.

Jones, a record signing for Stoke last August for£8million, wasted a better chance eight minutes later as Shawcross found him with a brilliant long pass but unmolested he shot well wide with just goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey to beat.

Stoke, though, suffered a potential hammerblow in terms of their FA Cup final hopes when winger Matthew Etherington - man of the match in their semi-final demolition of Bolton - had to go off after suffering what looked like a hamstring injury on the half hour mark.

Etherington's injury follows those suffered by striker Ricardo Fuller (ruptured Achilles) and defender Danny Higginbotham (knee), with both of them already ruled out of the FA Cup final clash with Manchester City.

"It (Etherington's injury) is a massive disappointment for us. We won't know the extent until tomorrow when he has a scan," said Stoke manager Tony Pulis.

"But we will do our damnedest to make sure (he is ready) as he has 17-18 days yet. The first week is very important as we will get it sorted out.

"Then he will have 10 days after that to get it as strong as he possibly can to play in the final.

"Having lost Ricardo and Danny it is a massive blow because we haven't got the resources of Manchester City. It would have been tough enough with our best players."

Stoke doubled their lead before half-time as Shawcross bundled the ball past Hennessey from a corner - cruel luck on the Welsh international goalkeeper as he had pulled off a superb double save in giving away the corner.

Wolves, though, could find no answers in the second-half either as they produced a listless performance worthy more of a side in mid-table security than fighting for its Premier League survival.

It was no surprise when Stoke added a third in the 51st minute as the outstanding Pennant scored striking the ball home from a Jon Walters cross.

Pennant was to exit later to a deserved standing ovation as the match petered out.

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy was bemused by the poor performance but swore that they would fight for every point in their remaining matches.

"That's as poor as we have played here. They were better than us. They stopped us playing.

"It is a difficult time when you are in the bottom three and playing against a good side who have just got to Wembley.

"Playing for Premier League survival should be enough to motivate us. We will play better in the remaining four games."

Source

Getafe president confirms sale to Dubai group

GETAFE, Spain (AFP)– Getafe president Angel Torres on Monday confirmed the sale to the Spanish top flight club to Royal Emirates Group, which is chaired by a member of Dubai's ruling Al-Maktoum family.

"The decision to sell the club is because, logically, the more years that you are in the first division, the greater the risk of getting into debt. It is difficult to compete in this league," he told a news conference.

"Each year that you are in the first division you get into more debt, we could not put more money, the banks were not lending to us, so we had to go out and look for investors," he added.

Getafe, founded in 1945, has only been in Spain's top flight since the 2004-05 season.

The club finished sixth last season but are languishing in 14th place in the 20-club league this term, four points above the relegation zone.

Torres said he managed to negotiate an increase in the club's annual budget to 65 million euros from the current 45 million euros with the new owners so as to be able to recruit new players.

He said the club's name and symbol would remain the same and the jobs of the 140 people who depend directly on the club would be maintained.

Royal Emirates Group announced Thursday it had signed a deal to buy the club for between 70 and 90 million euros.

It said the"purchase contract" was signed in Dubai by Torres and its managing director, Kaiser Rafiq.

But the finality of the deal was cast into doubt on Friday when Torres told reporters at Madrid airport on his return from Dubai that Getafe had"not yet been sold".

"First I have to inform the board of all the things that were done, then I will give a news conference."

Two other Spanish clubs have been bought by Gulf-based buyers over the past year.

Qatari billionaire Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Al-Thani bought Malaga in May 2010 for 25 million euros.

And Bahrain-based Indian tycoon Ahsan Ali Syed bought debt-hit Racing Santander in January for a reported 30-40 million euros. Its players said Tuesday that they are still waiting for promised back-pay from last season.

Source

Mancini wants City to focus on top four fight

BLACKBURN, United Kingdom (AFP)– Roberto Mancini has ordered his Manchester City players to forget next month's FA Cup final and concentrate on securing a Champions League spot.

City moved to within 90 minutes of winning their first major silverware for 35 years after Yaya Toure's goal sank Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-final.

Mancini's men face Stoke in the showpiece final on May 14.

But before then City have four crucial Premier League games against Blackburn on Monday, then West Ham, Everton and Tottenham, which will go a long way to deciding whether they clinch a top-four finish.

Holding off Tottenham's challenge for the fourth and final Champions League place is as vital to Mancini as winning the FA Cup because the club's wealthy owners made that the number one target before the season.

And the Italian has made it perfectly clear that he expects his players to fully focus on the Premier League and not allow their minds to drift towards Wembley.

"I think if we win three or four of our remaining six games we have a good chance and don't have to depend on other teams," Mancini said."If we have the right focus and concentration we will do it.

"It is impossible to think about the FA Cup final now, because we have four very important games before then and it is important to think about them.

"What is important now is to focus on the next four games in the Premier League, and after that think of the final. The win over United is the past.

"Our next two games are against Blackburn and West Ham, two teams who are fighting against relegation and that makes these games very, very dangerous.

"If we think we can go to Blackburn and play at 50 per cent, we might as well stay at home.

"But if we keep the same concentration and focus and realise we can only win if we play at 200 per cent, that will be better."

City are without their main goal threat Carlos Tevez as he recovers from a hamstring problem, while defenders Micah Richards and Jerome Boateng are also nursing injuries.

Blackburn need the points as much as City after an alarming slump in form left them in a relegation fight.

They are without a win in nine league games, but Rovers manager Steve Kean is confident his side can finish the season with a flourish and win over the supporters who continue to question his surprise appointment.

"I do understand the concerns but we are talking about very fine margins," said Kean, who has managed just three league wins in 16 attempts since replacing Sam Allardyce in December.

"I understand the frustrations of the fans, we are frustrated ourselves because we feel as though we have been good enough in a number of those games to just edge it.

"For whatever reason we have drawn or lost. What I would like to say is we are sharing the frustration.

"We are frustrated as well because we would have liked to have beaten Blackpool and Birmingham.

"Hopefully the fans stick with us because we'd like to create an atmosphere in the next two games that's a little bit like we had against Liverpool. The place was bouncing that night, magnificent.

"But it's our job to make sure they see that from us as a team. We don't sit back and dictate, we go and get after a team, show we mean business."

Blackburn hope to welcome back Junior Hoilett after a hamstring strain, but midfielder Keith Andrews is still injured while striker Roque Santa Cruz, who is on loan from City, is ineligible.

Source

Wenger confident Nasri and Clichy will stay

LONDON (AFP)– Arsene Wenger has revealed Arsenal have started negotiations with French internationals Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy to extend their contracts with the Premier League club.

Nasri and Clichy are moving towards the final year of their current deals and Wenger is determined to keep both players at the Emirates Stadium even though they have been linked with moves to clubs in Italy and Spain.

Wenger wants to build his team around the likes of Nasri, Clichy, Cesc Fabregas and Jack Wilshere as he tries to improve a squad that once again looks set to finish without a trophy.

"We are talking to Nasri and his agent already and we have the same situation with Clichy. We have agreed to speak about it during the summer," Wenger said.

"The players have the opportunity here to do it in their own way, with their own philosophy, with their own togetherness.

"When you sign a contract for four or five years, you are committed through your contract to win trophies with the club where you sign.

"It is in no contract that if you do not win a trophy the first year, you can leave."

Source

Kashima routed as J-League football reopens

TOKYO (AFP)– Japan's disrupted J-League resumed on Saturday after it was forced to halt matches by last month's quake and tsunami, with disaster-hit Vegalta Sendai claiming a narrow victory over Kawasaki Frontale.

But fellow quake victims and seven-time champions Kashima Antlers suffered a humiliating 3-0 defeat to Yokohama Marinos, with Shohei Ogura scoring as early as the third minute and the final blow an own goal by Japan international defender Daiki Iwamasa.

Sendai beat Kawasaki Frontale 2-1 in a tense match with defender Jiro Kamata hitting home the decider with just three minutes left on the clock.

"My team got the momentum with the support of the spectators," said Sendai coach Makoto Teguramori.

"I think the feelings of the whole country for our team in the northern coastal area, in the disaster area, got into that winning goal and gave us a win. We really got off to a good start. We want to keep the momentum."

Kashima have had to shift their home games to Tokyo's National Stadium because of damage to their own stadium caused by the 9.0-magnitude quake on March 11.

Their Brazilian coach Oswaldo Oliveira was suspended for one game after the the opener on March 6, and assistant coach Ryosuke Okuno worked in his place Saturday.

"I was very disappointed that we couldn't give a win to our supporters who had expected us to win today. Our players are a bit nervous recently and rush too much," said Okuno.

"We couldn't play our normal game. It's really disappointing. We must do our best day by day looking forward to our next game."

Kashiwa Reysol took top spot in the table with two straight wins after beating Omiya Ardija 1-0 thanks to a lone goal by Brazilian Reandro Domingues, who struck home a rebound off goalkeeper Takashi Kitano in the 55th minute.

In other games, Shimizu S-Pulse secured their first win of the season, beating Avispa Fukuoka 1-0 with forward Genki Omae scoring a direct free kick from 17 metres in the 80th minute.

Vissel Kobe failed to keep the lead set by Yoshito Okubo as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Ventforet Kofu.

Source

West Ham's Parker wins football writers award

LONDON (AFP)– West Ham midfielder Scott Parker has been voted Footballer of the Year by the English Football Writers Association.

Parker topped the poll of journalists ahead of Tottenham defender Gareth Bale, who was last week named the Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year.

The former Chelsea and Newcastle player has been in fine form for the Hammers this year, earning a recall to the England squad despite having to cope with the death of his father.

He will receive his trophy at a gala dinner at the Lancaster London Hotel on May 12.

Football Writers Association chairman Steve Bates said:"Scott Parker has been so consistent this season with his performances in a West Ham team battling for Premier League survival and as such has forced himself back into the England national set-up.

"He has been an inspirational figure for the Irons and hopefully his professionalism will be rewarded with West Ham staying up at the end of the season.

"In what was one of the tightest votes of recent seasons, Scott is certainly a worthy winner and follows in the footsteps of a long line of superb footballers who have been given this prestigious honour."

He is the first West Ham player to win this honour since Bobby Moore in 1964.

Source

Aston Villa manager Houllier in hospital

LONDON (AFP)– Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier is recovering in hospital after being taken ill on Wednesday night.

The 63-year-old Frenchman is said to be in a comfortable condition and was well enough to speak to the Premier League club's chief executive Paul Faulkner.

But he could be kept in hospital for a few days and assistant boss Gary McAllister is likely to be in charge for Saturday's home clash with Stoke.

McAllister was also expected to take charge of training on Thursday.

Villa made no immediate comment but were set to release a statement later Thursday on Houllier's condition.

Houllier had open heart surgery in October 2001 while he was managing Liverpool, after suffering severe chest pains during a match against Leeds.

When he took the position at Villa, Houllier revealed he had consulted his heart surgeon before accepting the job.

He said he had returned to speak to Dr Abbas Rashid, the man who led the team who performed an 11-hour operation on the Frenchman, and was given a clean bill of health.

He has had a rocky ride this season with some Villa supporters calling for him to be sacked, but results have improved in recent weeks and Villa have climbed into the top half of the Premier League.

Current Liverpool boss Kenny Daglish revealed that his club's former doctor was at the hospital with Houllier.

"Of course our thoughts are with him," Dalglish said."We don't know too much about it and there is no point in us being speculative but your health is more important than anything, so we wish him well.

"Doc (Mark) Waller is there, who was the club doctor here when Gerard fell ill in 2001, so he's got a good guy beside him and I'm sure the people there will do everything they can to help."

Tony Pulis, manager of FA Cup finalists Stoke, also sent Houllier his best wishes ahead of Stoke's visit to Villa Park this weekend and admitted the pressure of leading a top Premier League club can get to anyone.

"Everyone in football will wish Gerard a swift recovery, we hope he is well. I don't know how bad it is but I am sure he will get well looked after," Pulis said.

"Pressure is part of the job, you get used to it. Irrespective of what medical care you get, nothing stops you from getting excited on the touchline or carrying the pressure on your shoulders if things aren't going too well.

"If it's just happened, Gerard will have the team prepared and Gary McAllister works closely with Gerard so there shouldn't be too much disruption for them."

Source

FIFA'needs evolution not revolution': Blatter

PARIS (AFP)– Sepp Blatter set out his manifesto for re-election as FIFA president on Wednesday by emphasising the need for"stability, continuity and reliability" in the role.

In a letter sent to all 208 FIFA member nations and seen by AFP, Blatter also promised to provide more than $1 billion in development projects over the next four years.

The 75-year-old Swiss, who is seeking a fourth term in office, is standing against 61-year-old Mohammed bin Hammam, president of the Asian Football Confederation, in the June 1 election.

"FIFA is my life, football is my life. I have all the motivation, experience, ideas and energy needed to complete my mission," wrote Blatter.

"I have decided to stand for my fourth and final term as president because in these uncertain times FIFA needs stability to secure all that we have achieved so far and to make essential changes to our beautiful game."

Bin Hammam has vowed to make FIFA more transparent if elected, in the wake of criticism surrounding the process by which Russia and Qatar were respectively awarded the right to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

Blatter, however, has pointed to his successes as FIFA chief, including an increase in FIFA revenue since he took office in 1998 and the investment of $1.6 billion in projects such as the Goal! campaign.

He also highlights the success of the 49 global football tournaments to have taken part during his tenure, as well as the first men's World Cup"on African soil" in South Africa last year.

"In these challenging times FIFA needs first of all stability, continuity and reliability," wrote Blatter.

"We do not need revolution within FIFA but the continuous evolution and improvement of our game and our organisation."

Source

Woman in Ferdinand stalker case detained

LONDON (AFP)– A woman found guilty of stalking Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand was detained on Tuesday after she fled a court hearing before her conviction, authorities.

Susanne Ibru, 38, was convicted by Macclesfield magistrates on Monday after a one-day trial where she was accused of harassing Ferdinand outside his home on three occasions between February and June last year.

Ibru, who conducted her own defence and cross-examined Ferdinand in the witness box, left the court before District Judge Nicholas Sanders gave his guilty verdict.

Sanders later issued a warrant for Ibru to be brought back to court for sentencing, saying it was"quite clear" that she was guilty.

"Mr Ferdinand is a high-profile footballer and whilst there will always be occasions where he is exposed to public and press scrutiny, the fact is that when he is in the privacy of his own home with his family he has a right to expect to be left alone," Sanders said.

Ibru was detained in Warrington, Cheshire early Tuesday police said.

The court heard that Ibru, from Peckham, south London had made a 400-mile round trip to Ferdinand's home in Cheshire on three occasions last year.

Ferdinand told the court he was upset by the visits from the woman, whom he had never met.

"At first I was angry and upset but then disturbed, really, because I have got a young family and this was not the time or the place to be coming to speak to me," the player said.

Source

Alves urges Guardiola to stay at Barcelona

MADRID (AFP)– Barcelona defender Dani Alves said on Monday he hopes Pep Guardiola will stay on as coach of the Spanish champions after his contract with the club expires at the end of next season.

Guardiola, 40, hinted he may leave the club in an interview with Italian television channel Rai this month, saying:"I think my time is ending here in Barcelona."

"Next year will be my fourth consecutive as Barca coach. A club like this must have a lot of courage to keep a coach for all this time because players tire of coaches and vice versa," he added.

But in an interview published on Monday in daily newspaper El Mundo, Alves said he and the rest of the squad want him to stay on.

"We follow him with our eyes shut. He is very intelligent, he always knows what he is doing. To not follow Guardiola would be foolish. Since we are not foolish we will follow him until he gets tired of us," he said.

"Everyone has their cycle and one day his will come to an end. We hope his cycle will last for a very long time because we can't imagine Barca without Guardiola," the 27-year-old Brazilian international added.

Guardiola, who spent most of his playing career at Barcelona, coached Barcelona's B team before taking control of the first-team squad in June 2008 from Dutchman Frank Rijkaard.

The former Spanish international midfielder has won eight trophies, including successive La Liga titles and the 2009 Champions League, since taking over Barcelona's senior team.

Barcelona held Real Madrid to a 1-1 draw on Saturday, leaving them eight points ahead and well placed to clinch their second straight league title.

The two sides will meet again on Wednesday in the King's Cup final at Valencia's Mestalla stadium, with Real coach Jose Mourinho aiming to win his first trophy with the club.

Barcelona and Real will also face off twice in the Champions League semi-finals, with the first leg at the Bernabeu on April 27 and the return leg on May 3 at Camp Nou.

Source

Ferdinand blasts Balotelli after Wembley taunt

LONDON (AFP)– Rio Ferdinand has blasted Mario Balotelli for taunting Manchester United fans after Manchester City's FA Cup semi-final win at Wembley.

Balotelli infuriated Ferdinand and his team-mates after the final whistle on Saturday as he waved the badge on his shirt in the direction of United supporters in celebration of City's progress to the final.

The City striker also winked sarcastically at Ferdinand as the players left the field and the pair had to be separated by their team-mates.

Ferdinand, writing on micro-blogging website Twitter, said:"If you score a goal and give a bit to opposing fans I kind of accept that but at the final whistle (you should) go to your own fans and enjoy it, not opposing fans.

"If I offended anyone, I apologise, emotions obviously running high."

The defeat ended United's bid for the treble but Ferdinand wants his team-mates to bounce back by winning the Premier League and Champions League.

"Disappointed we didn't get the win we were looking for," he said."Now let's go and win some silverware."

Ferdinand did have something to celebrate after his wife gave birth to his first daughter just hours before kick-off.

The England defender left United's hotel on Friday to make the 200-mile journey back home to Cheshire.

He was just in time to be at wife Rebecca's side for the birth before racing back to London for the match.

"We had a baby girl named Tia Ferdinand!" he said."Want to thank the ambulance service and all the Wythenshawe Hospital staff for helping my baby arrive safely."

Source

'Gladbach coach targets three wins from four

BERLIN (AFP)– Bundesliga bottom side Borussia Moenchengladbach can still avoid relegation by winning three of their last four league games, insists coach Lucien Favre.

The five-time German champions -- whose last league title was in 1977 -- edged closer to the drop on Friday night with a 1-0 defeat at Mainz thanks to a late goal from Andre Schuerrle after'Gladbach striker Mike Hanke was sent off in the second-half.

"We can still avoid the descent into the second division, we must win three of our last four games," said Swiss Favre, who took charge in mid-February with his side bottom of the table -- where they have been since November 20.

They are four points from safety with seven points separating the league's bottom five teams.

But'Gladbach -- European Cup finalists in 1977 and two-time UEFA Cup winners -- have their work cut out in their bid to avoid the drop: on consecutive weekends they face league leaders Borussia Dortmund next Saturday, Hanover, Freiburg and Hamburg, all of whom are in the top eight.

Source

Ferguson gives a boost to City's Mancini

MANCHESTER, United Kingdom (AFP)– Sir Alex Ferguson believes it's now only matter of time before mega-rich Manchester City realise their potential and are challenging on a regular basis for silverware.

The Manchester United manager has seen his side dominate for over two decades during his trophy-laden spell in the Old Trafford hot-seat.

Since their Abu-Dhabi-based takeover three years ago, neighbours City have signalled their intent recruiting the likes of Carlos Tevez, Yaya Toure and Edin Dzeko with the promise of further big-name arrivals to follow.

Ferguson believes that the blue half of Manchester will soon be challenging amid their revolution that sees them bidding to end a 35-year-wait for a trophy.

"It's obvious with the money they've invested they have got big plans," said Ferguson.

"There's no question about that. There's nothing wrong with that. You try and do the best with what you've got.

"They have a strong squad and their position at the moment is fair. This is where they wanted to be, in the Champions League next season and they have a good chance of that.

"It's between five of them, with Tottenham probably in the same position. It's between those two.

"You would expect Chelsea, Arsenal and ourselves to be in there. So no doubt there's been a definite improvement there."

Opposite number Roberto Mancini is under pressure to deliver for Manchester City as they look to break their barren run and fill their trophy cabinet.

Ferguson can empathise with the Italian, having only kick-started 20 years of dominance at Manchester United with their FA Cup Final win over Crystal Palace in 1990.

Ferguson explained:"It was a big moment for us, but we were confident. It was a fantastic final, one of the better ones, 3-3 in a cup final and we won the replay.

"But winning the first trophy at any level is important. I've experienced that of winning the first trophy in Aberdeen, St Mirren and here."

Manchester United remain in contention for the treble with the veteran Scot warning his side are peaking at the right time as they look to edge themselves over the finishing line.

"We have got momentum at the moment. We are winning games at this point of the season, the consistency of the team is good.

"We are playing well and as I've said we have a great determination of our players that has given us a good chance.

"We are fighting for very corner which is a great attitude to have at this time of the season."

Meanwhile, Owen Hargreaves could have played his last game for Manchester United after Ferguson revealed the midfielder is unlikely to return before the end of the season.

The injury-hit Hargreaves has endured chronic injury problems since his arrival from Bayern Munich in 2007.

A key member of the Premier League and Champions League-winning squads during his debut season, he had to battle through a tendinitis problem in both knees, which eventually required surgery.

Hargreaves, 30, lasted just five minutes of a surprise start against Wolves at Old Trafford this season before pulling his hamstring.

Now the England midfielder has sustained a shoulder injury which Ferguson does not believe he will recover from. Hargreaves' contract expires in the summer and there must now be major question marks over him ever playing for club again.

Ferguson added:"It's a shoulder injury. It has just brought his season to an end.

"He has just carried bad luck all the time he has been here. I am pretty sure he won't be playing this season.

"His contract is up at the end of the season but I don't know what is going to happen."

"(United chief executive) David Gill had a discussion with the boy last week. But no more than that. We have to make a decision."

Source

Domenech case adjourned until 2012

PARIS (AFP)– Lawyers for ex-France coach Raymond Domenech and the French Football Federation (FFF) exchanged strong words on Thursday after the case between the two parties was postponed until January 13, 2012.

Domenech, sacked for misconduct after France's dismal display at last year's World Cup in South Africa, is seeking 2.9 million euros in compensation.

His former employers at the FFF, meanwhile, are seeking to reclaim World Cup bonuses that Domenech refuses to yield.

Thursday's conciliation hearing reached no conclusions and the case will now be heard at an employment tribunal early next year.

Lawyers for the two parties expressed their disappointment after the meeting.

"On the misconduct charge, the conciliation hearing did not allow us to learn much," FFF lawyer Elisabeth Angles d'Auriac told AFP.

"But in the case of the bonuses, which has nothing to do with the misconduct charge, the demands made for sums to be paid are confirmation of the provocative behaviour of Raymond Domenech."

Domenech's camp was quick to respond, with his lawyer, Jean-Yves Connesson, accusing the FFF of erring in their bid to recover bonuses and image rights payments related to the 2010 World Cup.

"The only argument raised by the FFF is an interview with (France World Cup captain) Patrice Evra announcing that the squad would give up their bonuses on June 22, after the last France match (at the World Cup)," said Connesson.

"We've not quite arrived at a legal aberration in this case, but that takes the biscuit!

"The federation is creating the principle of renunication by proxy. It's like me speaking on behalf of an employee and declaring that he's giving up his bonuses. It's not on."

Domenech, dressed in a black suit and a white shirt, was present at the 45-minute hearing in Paris but he left without speaking to reporters.

The 59-year-old led France to a runners-up finish at the 2006 World Cup in Germany but the rest of his tenure, which began in 2004, became synonymous with failure.

After a group-stage exit at the 2008 European Championship, France were eliminated at the same stage of last year's World Cup with only a single point and a single goal to their credit.

Their showing in South Africa was overshadowed by a training ground strike by the players, who were protesting after Chelsea forward Nicolas Anelka was excluded from the squad for clashing with Domenech.

The FFF were particularly aggrieved that Domenech read out the players' statement to the media explaining why they had elected to go on strike.

He was also criticised for refusing to shake hands with South Africa coach Carlos Alberto Parreira after France's final group game.

Source

Real Madrid announce China pre-season tour

MADRID (AFP)– Real Madrid announced on Wednesday that they will play two pre-season friendly matches in China next August.

In a statement on their website, Real revealed they will play Guangzhou Evergrande in Guangzhou on August 3 before tackling Tianjin Teda in Tianjin three days later.

It will be the nine-time European champions' first tour to Asia since 2005, when they also visited China.

"This is more than just a typical pre-season tour for us," said Emilio Butragueno, the former Real forward who is now their director of institutional relations.

"We have more than 100 million fans in China and it is a great opportunity for us to get out here to meet with the fans and thank them for their support."

Source

Man U, Barca poised to reach Champions League semis

PARIS (AFP)– Both are heading for domestic glory - but it is dreams of continental crowns which are intruding on the minds of Sir Alex Ferguson and Pep Guardiola as they bid to steer their teams into the Champions League semi-finals on Tuesday.

Both Manchester United and Barcelona have one foot in the last four after contrasting first legs - yet both coaches are warning their teams they must take nothing for granted after drawing first blood.

Barca, eight points clear in La Liga, thrashed Ukraine's Shakhtar Donetsk 5-1 at the Nou Camp so their passage appears assured - but Guardiola has counselled that injuries and complacency mean they must tread carefully in the return.

Sir Alex meanwhile is only too aware that a 1-0 advantage over Chelsea - even if garnered away from home - does not mean he and his troops can start plotting a potential rematch of a 2009 final lost to the Catalan club.

United, sitting on a seven-point lead over Arsenal in the Premier League - though the Gunners have a game in hand - appear set for domestic glory. A 19th title, and 12th for their long-serving manager, would be an English record, taking the Red Devils ahead of Liverpool.

But while United are heading for a hat-trick of Premier League crowns, Ferguson also wants his own Champions League treble after 1999 and 2008 - the second coming at Chelsea's expense.

After Wayne Rooney secured a first win at Stamford Bridge in almost a decade United are cast in the role of favourites - but their manager says they must concentrate on ramming home their advantage.

Ferguson rang the changes for Saturday's win over Fulham but complained afterwards that"we were a bit casual and lackadaisical."

He conceded that"at this stage of the season winning is the name of the game" - a philosophy which applies equally to the Chelsea return, even if a draw would suffice.

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti must hope his misfiring£50 million striker Fernando Torres can break his duck at Old Trafford after 648 goalless minutes since arriving from Liverpool.

Ancelotti benched Torres for Saturday's win over Wigan but has the luxury of having experienced alternatives in Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka.

Chelsea captain John Terry, whose missed penalty in Moscow cost the Londoners a first European crown in Moscow three seasons ago, insists one goal will open the floodgates for the Spaniard.

"It's just a case of getting that first goal, getting that off your shoulders, and then you can move on," he said.

Ancelotti was being coy ahead of the game regarding his choice of strike force for a game which could now make or break the Blues' season.

"Maybe he will score the most important goal of our season at Old Trafford, who knows. But I do not know who is in the side yet," Ancelotti remarked.

Chelsea did triumph in the league at Old Trafford last season 2-1 and a repeat would send them through - but the impetus appears to be with their rivals, particularly given that only twice in Champions League history has a team prevailed in a knockout tie after losing a first leg match at home.

Awaiting the winners will likely be German surprise package Schalke 04, who thumped holders Inter Milan 5-2 at San Siro in their first leg.

Inter's looming demise with the architect of their win, Jose Mourinho, having moved on to plot Real Madrid's re-ascent to the European summit, will be a boon to Barcelona, meanwhile, as they seek to send Shakhtar packing - before moving on to a probable match-up against Real.

The Italians knocked the Catalan club out in last year's semis, preventing Guardiola's"blaugrana" from potentially becoming the first side to reclaim the trophy since the Champions League format was introduced 19 seasons ago.

AC Milan were the last club to win the European Cup back to back in 1990.

Barca call up Thiago Alcantara, Andreu Fontas and Jonathan dos Santos with Eric Abidal, Carles Puyol and Bojan Krkic all injured, while midfield star Andres Iniesta is suspended.

Striker Pedro insisted Sunday that"we will not change the way we play" despite the first-leg lead.

Source

I.Coast's Eboue gets off the mark for Arsenal

PARIS (AFP)– African players' review following weekend matches in Europe:

ENGLAND

EMMANUEL EBOUE (Arsenal)

The Ivory Coast defender scored his first goal this season to help Arsenal beat Blackpool 3-1 at Bloomfield Road on Sunday. Eboue ran onto Andrei Arshavin's pass and smashed in a powerful strike that gave Richard Kingson no chance. It was his first Premier League goal since he scored against Blackburn in March 2009.

DIDIER DROGBA (Chelsea)

The Ivory Coast striker has now scored just once in his last 13 apperances after being held without a goal in Saturday's 1-0 win over Wigan at Stamford Bridge. Drogba started ahead of Fernando Torres but struggled to make an impact in the 90 minutes, leaving Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti with a tough call as he decided whether to play both forwards against Manchester United in the Champions League on Tuesday.

JOHN OBI MIKEL (Chelsea)

The Nigeria midfielder was substituted at half-time after a lacklustre display in his side's 1-0 win over Wigan at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. With Chelsea struggling to breakdown the league's bottom club, Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti sent on Yossi Benayoun in place of Mikel and Chelsea eventually found a winner through Florent Malouda.

PETER ODEMWINGIE (West Brom)

The Nigeria striker scored his 11th goal of the season as Albion secured a crucial 3-2 victory at Sunderland on Saturday. With Albion trailing 1-0, Odemwingie struck in the 29th minute with a cool finish from Jonas Olsson's cross and then provided assists for Youssuf Mulumbu and Peter Scharner's goals in a win that lifts Roy Hodgson's team clear of the relegation zone.

YOUSSUF MULUMBU (West Brom)

The Congo midfielder bagged his side's second goal in their 3-2 victory over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Saturday. Mulumbu scored in the 54th minute from Peter Odemwingie's pass to equalise for the visitors, who eventually took the points thanks to Paul Scharner's winner.

ASAMOAH GYAN (Sunderland)

The Ghana striker's barren run without a goal for Sunderland stretched to five matches after Saturday's 3-2 defeat at home to West Bromwich Albion. Gyan scored in Ghana's recent 1-1 draw against England at Wembley, but his last club goal came back in February in a loss to Tottenham.

FRANCE

GERVINHO (Lille)

Lille were badly hit by the sending off of Ivorian striker Gervinho after 37 minutes for a foul on Monaco's Adriano, as the ten-man French league leaders fell 1-0 at the Riveria side to just their fourth defeat of the season.

BENJAMIN MOUKANDJO (Monaco)

Benjamin Moukandjo played a key role in Monaco's 1-0 success over Lille. An early effort from the 22-year-old Cameroonian striker was deflected out but he helped set up South Korea's Park Chu Young to score after 12 minutes in a crucial victory which ensured his team move out of the relegation zone.

DENNIS OLIECH, KAMEL CHAFNI (Auxerre)

Kenyan striker Dennis Oliech netted the equaliser to put relegation candidates Auxerre 1-1 with visiting Saint Etienne after a pass from Moroccan midfielder Kamel Chafni from the right wing after 42 minutes. The game finished 2-2 as Auxerre remain third from bottom.

PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG (Saint Etienne)

Gabon international striker Aubameyang scored his first goal for European hopefuls Saint-Etienne and their second of the night in a 2-2 draw at Auxerre following a pass from Emmanuel Riviere.

SPAIN

SEYDOU KEITA (Barcelona)

After Almeria took the lead in the second half, Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola was forced to bring on some more familiar faces, like Keita, and the team began to create a greater threat eventually winning 3-1. In the mid-week Champions League game against Shakhtar Donetsk he produced a solid performance and scored the fourth goal in the 5-1 win.

CARLOS KAMENI (Espanyol)

Espanyol'keeper Carlos Kameni had little to do in a scoreless draw against Hercules but he was solid when he needed to be and the only worrying moment for Espanyol was when he blocked a Javier Portillo shot and knocked it back into play and was lucky to pick up the rebound.

ITALY

KEVIN-PRINCE BOATENG (AC Milan)

A now permanent fixture in the Milan first team, the Ghana midfielder produced a critical contribution to the league leaders' 2-1 win at Fiorentina. Boateng escaped down the right onto a Zlatan Ibarhimovic through-ball to send an inch perfect cross for Pato, who slotted the winning goal. Boateng was substituted late on with Milan leading 2-0.

SAMUEL ETO'O (Inter Milan)

The Cameroon captain had a quiet game in the 2-0 win over Chievo and was even sacrificed before the end of the game. He had had few chances and no notable shots on goal at that stage but it still seemed likely that coach Leonardo had replaced him to give him a breather with a view to resting him ahead of Wednesday's Champions League second leg clash away to Schalke 04.

KWADWO ASAMOAH (Udinese)

The Ghana midfielder was involved in the most controversial moment of his side's 2-1 defeat at home to Roma that hit their Champions League qualification hopes. Asamoah jumped up to challenge for a ball that gently brushed his arm before going in. It was disallowed for a handball, however television replays clearly showed that Asamoah's handball was due to being fouled by Simone Perrotta. Not only did Udinese have a potential winner chalked off and they were denied a penalty, but Roma went straight up the other end and scored the winner with the last kick of the match.

GERMANY

DIDIER YA KONAN (Hanover 96)

Ivory Coast striker Didier Ya Konan netted his 13th league goal of the season after converting a penalty at the end of the first-half in Hanover's 2-0 win at home to ten-man Mainz which put his side third in the German league.

PAPISS DEMBA CISSE (Freiburg)

Senegal striker Papiss Demba Cisse netted a second-half penalty to claim his 20th goal in his 27th league match of the season on Saturday to become the Bundesliga's top-scorer. The 25-year-old has scored in each of his last three games and his side went on to enjoy a 3-2 win over Hoffenheim which leaves them eighth in the table.

afp11

Source

Bayern's Robben apologises for red card

MUNICH, Germany (AFP)– Bayern Munich's Dutch star Arjen Robben has apologised to his team-mates and fans for receiving a red card after the final whistle following his side's 1-1 draw with Nuremberg.

Bayern's play-maker is now suspended for Bayern's crunch Bundesliga clash with second-placed Bayer Leverkusen next weekend having been sent off at Nuremberg by referee Knut Kircher on Saturday.

Robben was furious after his team conceded a late equaliser which saw them drop to fourth in the German league and slip further behind in their bid to finish second in the table to secure a Champions League place next season.

The Dutchman admitted he lost his head after exchanging heated words with Kircher, despite the game being over.

"I don?t know what I said any more," admitted the 27-year-old after the second red card of his career.

"I was very angry, very disappointed, but I should be sorting that out with my team-mates and not with the referee.

"I want to apologise to the fans and the team. I shouldn?t have done that."

Robben is reported to have apologised to Kircher at the Nuremberg stadium.

His last dismissal was in March 2006 while playing for Premier League side Chelsea against West Bromwich Albion.

Robben will now appear before the German Football Federation (DFB) disciplinary committee next week which will determine the exact length of his ban.

"Hopefully it won?t be too bad," he said.

Source

Man United face Fulham without banned Rooney

LONDON (AFP)– Sir Alex Ferguson faces a striking dilemma as Manchester United seek to turn the screw in the Premier League title race against Fulham on Saturday without the banned Wayne Rooney.

Rooney's superb hat-trick against West Ham last week and the winning goal in the midweek Champions League victory over Chelsea provided hard evidence that the England striker is rediscovering his best form after a protracted slump.

But frustratingly for Ferguson, United will be deprived of Rooney's services against the Cottagers this weekend following the 25-year-old's expletive-laden tirade at Upton Park which led to a two-match ban.

The suspension -- which also rules Rooney out of next week's FA Cup semi-final clash with Manchester City -- means Ferguson will have to juggle his resources once more.

Ferguson could pair Javier Hernandez with Dimitar Berbatov in attack or ask either player to play the lone striker role. Alternatively, fit-again Michael Owen is waiting in the wings.

But whatever permutation he chooses, Ferguson will be buoyed by the fact that United have not found goals hard to come by this season.

Berbatov and Hernandez, along with the suspended Rooney, have all hit double figures, and could conceivably finish with more than 20 goals apiece.

"I said at the start of the season if we can get two strikers who can score 20 goals we're in with a chance of winning something," Ferguson said.

"I think what's kept us going is that there's been a decent goal threat from us. We have forwards who can win matches."

The fact that United are still fighting on three fronts -- League, FA Cup and Champions League -- has fuelled heady talk of a possible repeat of the club's historic 1999 treble.

However Ferguson insisted he was misquoted in an interview with an Italian newspaper this week where he said the club were targeting a repeat of their annus mirabilis 11 years ago.

"I said we're in every competition and we've got to do our best," Ferguson said."It doesn't matter if you can't win a thing. When you go out on that field you have to win the game -- that's the attitude of Manchester United."

A victory for United would give them a 10-point lead over Arsenal, who visit Blackpool on Sunday on the back of a catastrophic sequence of results which has all but extinguished their hopes of ending a six-year trophy drought.

Arsenal's last victory in the league came way back on February 23 against Stoke. Since then the Gunners have lost a League Cup final and been dumped out of the Champions League and FA Cup.

Three consecutive league draws means that the fate of the title is out of their hands, and another slip up against Blackpool could prove terminal.

With third-placed Manchester City travelling to Anfield to face Liverpool on Monday, all eyes will be on Chelsea and Tottenham on Saturday, who will seek to banish their midweek Euro disappointments in the race for fourth place.

Spurs saw their Champions League campaign all but extinguished in a 4-0 first leg quarter-final defeat against Real Madrid, while Chelsea crashed 1-0 at home to United at Stamford Bridge.

Spurs have an awkward home tie against Stoke, knowing that only a victory will do as they attempt to keep pace with fourth-placed Chelsea, who are a healthy five points clear of their London rivals.

Chelsea meanwhile face Wigan at Stamford Bridge, with manager Carlo Ancelotti insisting his team will not be distracted by next Tuesday's looking return fixture with Manchester United at Old Trafford.

"Our focus is to play against Wigan and to win, to take confidence and three points in the table, then we don?t have a problem physically," Ancelotti said."We?ll have time to focus for the game at Old Trafford."

Fixtures

Saturday (1500 GMT unless stated):

Blackburn v Birmingham, Bolton v West Ham, Chelsea v Wigan, Man Utd v Fulham, Sunderland v West Brom, Tottenham v Stoke, Wolves v Everton (1245)

Sunday:

Blackpool v Arsenal (1330), Aston Villa v Newcastle (1600)

Monday:

Liverpool v Man City (2000)

Source

Ghana footballers fight for Olympic survival in Sudan

JOHANNESBURG (AFP)– Ghana are in danger of making a shock early exit from the 2012 London Olympic Games qualifying competition, as they head for Sudan this weekend trailing by one goal.

The west African country, which has made six appearances at the Games and took the 1992 bronze medals in Barcelona, was not expected to have much trouble with opponents who struggled to make the second round.

But after scraping a solitary-goal success over war-ravaged Somalia, the Sudanese went to Accra two weeks ago and triumphed 1-0 via an additional-time goal from Martin al-Khalees.

It was no more than the east Africans deserved in a competition restricted to under-23 footballers until the finals as they squandered several chances before a cross led to the lone goal.

Ghana will not find the sauna-like weather nor the partisan crowd to their liking in Omdurman -- a venue few visiting football teams leave celebrating a victory.

All is not lost for the talented Black Meteors, though, with the inevitable complacency in the squad disappearing after the stunning first leg scoreline, and Sudan will do well to make the last-16 phase.

Cameroon and South Africa are other'big name' countries in uncomfortable positions after failing to maximise home advantage against Tanzania and Libya respectively.

A Mark Pangwoh brace earned 2000 Sydney gold medalists Cameroon a 2-1 home victory over Tanzania, but the central Africans may rue conceding a late first half goal and the failure of Parfait Essengue to convert a penalty.

South Africa were sitting pretty midway through the second half at home to Libya with a four-goal advantage, but a bizarre own goal and a last-minute strike from Sami al-Ghulla transformed the landscape.

This tie will be staged in Bamako, capital of Mali and the new'home' of Libyan football as conflict rages between pro- and anti-Moamer Kadhafi forces further north.

The other southern Africa contenders enjoy home advantage, but most have their work cut out with Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique and Swaziland needing to cancel two-goal deficits and only the Swazis scored on the road.

Angola are slightly better off having held Senegal goalless in Dakar while the Congo-Uganda tie could swing either way with the visitors to Brazzaville ahead thanks to a Karim Ndugwa goal.

A Mohamed Chalili brace helped Algeria defeat Madagascar 3-0 and it is hard to see the islanders turning the tables in Antananarivo while the Democratic Republic of Congo look a safe bet having triumphed 2-1 in Burkina Faso.

But the'bankers' of the 14-fixture schedule must be Nigeria, runners-up to Argentina at the 2008 Beijing Games, who thumped Equatorial Guinea 5-0 at home and rendered the return leg largely meaningless.

Zambia are already through to the third round after completing a 3-0 overall victory over Rwanda in Kigali last weekend while Benin received a bye when Gambia withdrew.

Source

Lebron James gets piece of Liverpool

BOSTON, Massachusetts (AFP)– LeBron James, a two-time NBA Most Valuable Player now chasing an NBA crown with Miami, is branching out to other sports -- at least in business.

Fenway Sports Marketing (FSM), sister company to baseball's venerable Boston Red Sox, said Wednesday it had signed James to a long-term deal to handle his marketing.

As part of the bargain, James has obtained a small piece of storied English Premiership club Liverpool, FSM president Sam Kennedy said.

"Liverpool is one of the most important clubs in all of sports and I am excited to be affiliated with this incredible organization," James said.

FSM is owned by Fenway Sports Group, which is also the parent company of the Red Sox and Liverpool FC and a co-owner of Roush Fenway Racing.

"Eighteen championships," James said of Liverpool's success."I see myself trying to do the same things they have."

The Wall Street Journal reported that James's minority stake in Liverpool marks the first time a professional athlete at the top of his game has taken an ownership interest in a team of such global reach.

"We believe this will be a powerful collaboration," said Tom Werner, an FSM co-owner with John Henry."There are very few athletes who can match his global reach, appeal and iconic status.

"We're very excited that LeBron will be part of the Liverpool FC family. LeBron and Liverpool each has a powerful presence internationally, with particular strength in Asia.

"But we feel the business opportunities for both working and being identified together in emerging international markets will result in unforeseen opportunities that neither would have been able to realize alone."

The deal comes as part of a partnership between FSM and"King" James's own sports-marketing firm, LRMR Branding and Marketing. FSM will handle global marketing for James.

"What FSM does for Roush Fenway, Liverpool and the Red Sox, we will now do for LeBron James," Kennedy said."We will aggressively pursue business opportunities for him."

James, the two-time reigning NBA Most Valuable Player, joined the Miami Heat this season and together with All-Star teammates Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade has the club a title contender for the upcoming NBA playoffs.

"These guys, like me, have a passion for sports," James said."You can see the drive and commitment they have for their teams. For me, this is about being in business with an organization that loves sports as much as I do."

Kennedy said FSM is not looking to get into representing individuals, but the chance to build a brand with an athlete of James' caliber was too good to miss.

"We are fortunate to have blue-chip brands like the Red Sox, Liverpool and Roush Fenway," Kennedy said."This represents the next step in our evolution, to represent one of the most recognizable athletes on the planet."

Fenway Sports Group, founded as New England Sports Ventures, completed their takeover of Liverpool in October, to the bitter disappointment of former co-owner Tom Hicks, who believed he could sell the club for more despite it's load of debt.

"LeBron shares our love of all sports and we are very excited to make him part of the Liverpool family," said Ian Ayre, managing director of Liverpool FC."We look forward to working with LeBron, LRMR and FSM, and exploring the business opportunities this new relationship could bring forth."

Source

Boss Nerlinger says Bayern will improve defence

BERLIN (AFP)– Bayern Munich's director of sport Christian Nerlinger said Wednesday the Bavarian giants will strengthen their defence at the end of the season, but dismissed reports they will rebuild their team.

"We must act to improve the defence and we will make one or two changes this summer," Nerlinger told German magazine Sport Bild.

"In total, there are three positions we have to think about."

Having been dumped out of both the Champions League and German Cup, as well as being 14 points behind leader Dortmund in the Bundesliga, Bayern face a season without silverware.

Coach Louis van Gaal will be replaced by current Bayer Leverkusen boss Jupp Heynckes at the end of the season.

Bayern are reported to be interested in signing goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, from Schalke, plus defenders Fabio Coentrao of Benfica and Ajax's Gregory van der Wiel.

Nerlinger would only say both Coentrao and van der Wiel are'interesting players' and dismissed last week's reports here that Bayern have a budget of 60 million euros to spend on a new-look team.

"It's not as if we have a team that needs to be completely redesigned," said Nerlinger.

"We have a solid foundation with world-class players, we just need to make some improvements."

Source

Rooney charged over foul-mouthed TV outburst

LONDON (AFP)– England's Football Association (FA) has charged Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney following his foul-mouthed outburst into a television camera during Saturday's 4-2 win over West Ham at Upton Park.

An FA statement read:"The FA has charged Manchester United's Wayne Rooney for the use of offensive, insulting and/or abusive language.

"This charge relates to an incident during his side's fixture with West Ham United at the Boleyn Ground on Saturday April 2, 2011.

"Rooney has until 6pm (1700 GMT) on April 5 to respond to the charge."

As Rooney celebrated with United team-mates after completing his hat-trick from the penalty spot - United having been 2-0 down earlier - the England star was caught uttering a series of audible expletives towards the camera.

Rooney's swearing was beamed around the world by Sky Sports with the game televised in more than 200 countries and the incident prompted an on-air apology from the broadcasters.

While the England player said the emotion of giving his side the lead after they trailed 2-0 at half-time had prompted his outburst, England's FA took a different view.

Widespread press reports Sunday had quoted an FA spokesperson as saying:"We will look at it. We obviously don't condone foul and abusive language."

FA director Sir Trevor Brooking had also said the governing body would have to investigate Rooney's behaviour at Upton Park.

Rooney apologised for his outburst in a statement released by United on Saturday evening.

He said:"I want to apologise for any offence that may have been caused by my goal celebration, especially any parents or children that were watching. Emotions were running high and on reflection my heat-of-the-moment reaction was inappropriate. It was not aimed at anyone in particular."

It is not the first time Rooney has been in trouble for ranting into television cameras.

He also upset England fans during last year's World Cup when he turned to a camera and verbally attacked them for jeering at the end of a 0-0 draw with Algeria in the group stages.

Source

Portugual's Queiroz to coach Iran

TEHRAN (AFP)– Carlos Queiroz of Portugal has signed a contract to coach Iran through to the end of the 2014 World Cup, the ISNA news agency reported on Monday.

"Carlos Queiroz has signed a contract with the Iranian football federation to coach'Team Melli' up to the end of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil," ISNA said, without giving any financial details of the deal.

ISNA quoted Queiroz as saying:"I am here in Iran to help the team make it to the 2014 World Cup. This is my most important aim and I hope with everyone's help we can make it."

Queiroz takes over from Tehran-born US national Afshin Ghotbi, whose contract was not renewed after Iran were knocked out of the 2011 Asian Cup by South Korea.

The 57-year-old former Manchester United assistant boss was most recently coach of Portugal, whom he took to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

He was sacked from that role in September 2010 after a disciplinary feud sparked by a six-month ban for insulting officials from the country's anti-doping body.

Iran begin their long quest for a fourth World Cup after appearances in 1978, 1998 -- when they memorably beat the United States 2-1 -- and in 2006, when they play the Maldives in their opening qualifier on Wednesday.

Source

Berlusconi takes moral high-ground over Leonardo

ROME (AFP)– AC Milan president and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi sprang to the defence of his former coach Leonardo after the Brazilian received an angry reception at the San Siro.

Inter Milan coach Leonardo was roundly jeered by Milan fans at Saturday night's derby, won by 3-0 by Milan, for his supposed treachery in switching city colours this season.

A huge banner was unveiled at one end of the stadium depicting Leonardo as the historical Judas Iscariot in a parody of the famous Last Supper frescoe painted by Leonardo Da Vinci and housed in the city's Santa Maria delle Grazie church.

But Berlusconi, who is involved in defence trials against accusations of fraud, corruption and paying for sex with underage prostitutes, insisted that he is a better man than the club's fans and defended his former coach.

He even took no offence at claims Leonardo had described him as a narcissist.

"He's right, I am a narcissist," he said on Sunday."You can't talk about unfaithfulness," added the 75-year-old, who is accused of hosting orgies with underage prostitutes at one of his Milan homes and whose last wife Veronica Lario left him over his playboy antics.

"It's the professionalism of football and you can't use this term to describe a player, an official or a coach who moves from one team to another," he said.

And when asked why the fans didn't see things from his point of view, the under fire Prime Minister added:"Not everyone is as good a person as me."

Source

Schalke's Metzelder to miss Inter trip

GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany (AFP)– Schalke 04 have injury worries ahead of their Champions League quarter-final at holders Inter Milan on Tuesday as Germany defender Christoph Metzelder has a broken nose.

Metzelder suffered the injury in his side's Bundesliga match at St Pauli which was abandoned a minute from time with the score at 2-0 to Schalke after an assistant referee was hit in the back by a cup filled with beer.

The victory looks likely to be awarded to Schalke by the German Football League (DFL), while St Pauli could be fined and forced to play their next league match behind closed doors.

Injuries to both forwards Mario Gavranovic (ankle) and Peer Kluge (pulled stomach muscle) in the match mean the Royal Blues have a few concerns ahead of their Champions League match at Inter's Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.

"At least with Chris we have the hope that he can maybe play with a face mask," said Schalke coach Ralf Rangnick.

"But the success at St Pauli will make make things a bit easier for us at Milan."

Source

Injured Real trio doubtful for Spurs clash

MADRID (AFP)– Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho said injured trio Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcelo appear unlikely to be fit to play Tottenham in the Champions League next week.

"According to the information that I have from the medical service, Cristiano can only play at Bilbao (on April 9), Marcelo can only play at Bilbao and Karim can only play at Bilbao," Mourinho told a news conference on Friday.

The three players, who trained apart from the rest of the squad on Friday morning, would therefore to be unavailable for the Champions League quarter-final first leg clash with Tottenham in Madrid on Tuesday.

They would also miss Saturday's league match on Saturday against Sporting Gijon.

Portugal striker Ronaldo suffered a recurrence of a thigh injury last week, while Brazil winger Marcelo is also fighting his way back from injury.

France forward Benzema suffered a thigh injury during France's scoreless draw with Croatia in a friendly Tuesday in Paris.

Real are second in Spain's Primera Liga, five points behind arch-rivals Barcelona.

Source