Football News Thread !

[KeXasthur]

Let's keep this thread for football news.

Real set to sell Robinho
MADRID: Real Madrid are set to sell off the Brazilian Robinho at the end of the current season, given the lack of confidence in the midfielder’s game, his lack of commitment to the team and his lack of popularity among fans.
“The decision was virtually final in January, but his game and attitude in recent matches and the booing of the fans ended up convincing the sports management,” a senior Real Madrid official told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa on condition of anonymity.
“Everyone is tired of waiting for Robinho’s revival, and nobody trusts him any longer,” According to the official, Robinho would only remain at the Spanish club in two scenarios – if a coach was hired who explicitly said he wanted the Brazilian in the team, or if there was no “decent” offer for him.
What is then a “decent” offer for Real Madrid? The club official said “around 18mil euros” (US$23.5mil).
In recent weeks there was talk that the Spanish giant would ask for 30mil euros (US$39.2mil) for the young Brazilian, the same amount Real Madrid paid Santos for him one-and-a-half years ago.
However, the Spanish institution is aware that the player has suffered a substantial devaluation since then, and that it is utopia to think that any team may match that amount.
It is also a fact that Robinho has lost the freshness with which he arrived at Real Madrid and now looks lost, without a place on the pitch, without confidence and taking erratic decisions in play.
However, beyond that, the club is annoyed at his off-the-pitch attitude. An incident in which Robinho allegedly arrived for training “in bad shape” following a night of partying was made very public. He denied it, but the club never said it was not true.
“We do not have to give any explanations. Robinho is a professional who knows perfectly well what he has to do. We have talked about his situation with his people, with his agent and his father.
“He has to train to convince the coach and that’s all,” Real Madrid sports manager Pedja Mijatovic told dpa.
Robinho has turned himself into some sort of an “island” in the changing room, and he barely mixes with his team-mates since the departure of Ronaldo – his best company so far. Almost none of the club’s current players would be upset if he left. – Reuters



http://thestar.com.my/sports/story.a...635&sec=sports

[KeXasthur]

Sevilla coach still in shock over bottle incident



MADRID (AFP) - Sevilla coach Juande Ramos said Friday that he is still in shock two days after being knocked unconscious by a bottle thrown from the crowd during a Spanish Cup quarter-final against Real Betis.

"I'm still in shock and I'm trying to get over it. The match was heated but I never could imagine that something like that could happen," he told radio Cadena Ser.

"I don't remember anything after being struck, nor what happened on the pitch," he added.

Ramos was hit by the bottle of water at Betis' Manuel Ruiz de Lopera stadium after Sevilla had taken a 1-0 lead on a 56th-minute goal by Frederic Kanoute.

He stumbled on the pitch before falling to the ground and was then carried off on a stretcher but regained consciousness minutes later although the game was called off.

Ramos attended his team's training session on Thursday morning after spending the night under observation.

The Spanish football federation's competition committee is expected to announce any punishments Friday. The Spanish media have suggested that Betis' stadium could be closed for 12 matches.

"I will accept whatever they decide. After something this serious, serious measures must be taken," said Ramos.

The incident comes just a month after a policeman died in crowd trouble in Sicily following a game between Catania and Palermo. 2007-03-02 13:48:35
Source:

[KeXasthur]

Lille to decide next week whether to launch CAS protest



LILLE, France (AFP) - Lille have said they will wait to hear UEFA's reasons for rejecting their appeal to have their Champions League last 16 first leg match against Manchester United replayed, before deciding whether or not to take their case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

UEFA on Friday threw out Lille's appeal against the UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body's veto of the French club's original claim there was a technical refereeing error in the match which United won 1-0 at Lens's Stade Felix-Bolleart.

Ryan Giggs scored the only goal of the game in the 83rd minute with a clever quickly-taken free-kick while Lille were still organising their defensive wall.

Unaware of the rules regarding free-kicks, the French team appealed to UEFA to have the result nullified and the game replayed.

However, UEFA ruled against Lille and on Friday also threw out the French team's appeal against that original decision.

Lille have three days to decide whether or not to take their case to CAS and have said they will wait for UEFA's reasons, due next week, before taking a decision.

"The reasons will only be published next week. That is when Lille will take the decision on whether or not to appeal to CAS," said the club.

Lille believe that the referee should have indicated clearly to everyone that he had authorised the free-kick to be taken quickly, and hence feel the goal should not be allowed to stand.

During a meeting that lasted two and a half hours, Lille had the opportunity to question the Dutch referee Eric Braahmaar and also questioned three Manchester United players - Giggs, Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes - over the telephone.

Lille's statement claimed the United players replied to most questions by saying they could not remember while the referee defended his position.

Lille also claimed that they were punished for their sense of fair-play in retreating the full 10 yards away from the free-kick.

The second leg of the tie is on Wednesday at Old Trafford. 2007-03-02 21:03:34