Soccer Capsules: WCup bidders can only provide ‘symbolic' gifts
LONDON — World Cup bidders are allowed to provide gifts of "incidental value" to FIFA voters, according to rules of conduct made public for the first time by soccer’s governing body.
FIFA published the regulations on its Web site after it emerged that the England bid team for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments had given luxury handbags valued at about $380 each to the 24 executive committee members.
The bid team maintained it acted within the "spirit and letter of the law."
There is no spending limit in the rules. They state that inducements are banned "except for occasional gifts that are generally regarded as having symbolic or incidental value and that exclude any influence on a decision in relation to the bidding process."
FIFA said Friday the rules were published to make the bidding process transparent.
The document also reveals bid teams can’t offer any "opportunity, promise, remuneration or service" to individuals connected with the process.
Bidders are also warned against unfair collaboration with any other national association or third party "with a view to unfairly influencing the outcome of the bidding process."
Any violations of the rules can be reported to FIFA’s ethics committee.
FIFA will decide the 2018 and 2022 hosts in December 2010. The United States, England, Australia, Russia and Japan plus joint proposals from Belgium-Netherlands and Spain-Portugal are bidding for either the 2018 or 2022 World Cup.
Qatar and South Korea have applied only for the 2022 tournament.
Ronaldo, Messi on FIFA player of the year list
ZURICH — Real Madrid winger Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona forward Lionel Messi are on a 23-player shortlist for this year’s FIFA player of the year award.
Other contenders include Barcelona teammates Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Andres Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez, Carlos Puyol and Thierry Henry. Samuel Eto’o, who won the Champions League title with Barcelona before moving to Inter Milan, is also on the list.
Champions League runner-up Manchester United is represented by Wayne Rooney. Ronaldo, last year’s winner, left United in the offseason and is joined by Madrid teammates Iker Casillas and Kaka.
Brazil forward Marta won the last women’s awards and has been nominated again.
The award ceremony is scheduled for Dec. 21 in Zurich.
MLS
AC Milan expecting Beckham confirmation on Friday
MILAN — AC Milan vice president Adriano Galliani expects the announcement that David Beckham will be joining the club to be made Friday.
"As far as Milan is concerned David Beckham will be here," Galliani told ANSA news agency. "Within a few hours, Galaxy and us will announce this agreement. We are just waiting for the last few documents."
Earlier in the week, Milan said it expected the Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder to confirm that he will be signing for a second loan spell in January.
Beckham was with Milan on loan from January to May 2009, scoring twice in 18 appearances before returning to Major League Soccer.
On returning to the United States, Beckham was met by a hostile reaction from Galaxy fans. But he has since played an important role in helping the side reach the playoffs.
The England midfielder is hoping to use the spell in Italy as a way of preparing for the 2010 World Cup, which would be his fourth.
Elsewhere
UEFA deducts 3 points from Dinamo for fan violence
ZAGREB, Croatia — UEFA has deducted three points from Dinamo Zagreb in the Europa League because of fan violence during a match last month.
The governing body of European football also ruled Friday that the team has to play the next two games behind closed doors. The team is scheduled to face Ajax next week and Timosoara in December.
Croatian football officials expressed dismay with the ruling, particularly because it likely will knock Dinamo Zagreb out of the competition.
UEFA said its decision followed "serious crowd disturbances" at Dinamo Zagreb's away match against Timosoara on Oct. 1.
"The three-point deduction is effective immediately and is taken from the total number of points achieved by Dinamo Zagreb in Group A," UEFA said.
Dinamo officials say they will appeal the ruling.
Dinamo director Damir Vrbanic said they "didn't expect that UEFA will punish our club so harshly, because our club is not responsible" for the fans' behavior.
"Those responsible are the hooligans who call themselves Dinamo fans, while they put to shame both the team and our state whenever Dinamo plays abroad," Vrbanic said.
He expressed understanding for UEFA's decision, saying the problems in Timosoara "were obviously the last drop that spilled over UEFA's glass of patience."
Croatian fans have become notorious for their violent behavior.
Last year, the national team was fined $27,700 by FIFA for fans' racist chants during a match against England.
Croatian Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor pledged her government will no longer tolerate fan violence, adding that "those savages will not get the message" as long as matches and TV coverage aren't suspended following incidents.
Babbel tells players not to be afraid
STUTTGART, Germany — Stuttgart coach Markus Babbel, seeking to cling to his job, urged his players not to be afraid of Bayern Munich when the two sides meet Saturday in the Bundesliga.
"Not being afraid is the key to victory," Babbel said Friday. "One must not be afraid. If you are afraid, they will dismantle you. It would be fatal to come out with fear."
Stuttgart has lost five of the last six in the Bundesliga and Babbel has barely kept his job this week after Stuttgart lost to second-division Greuther Fuerth in the German Cup.
Babbel, who played for Bayern and Liverpool before ending his career in Stuttgart, also appealed to local media to use such battle-cry headlines as "Beat the Bayern," to give his team an extra motivational push.
"Three would be very, very important in this situation. It would be a bit calmer after that. We need results, we need points," said Babbel, who took Stuttgart from the bottom half of the standings last season to a third-place finish and a berth in the Champions League.
This season, Stuttgart has fallen 14th.
Meanwhile, former Stuttgart standout Mario Gomez, who is now only a substitute at Bayern, said he expected a "mixed reaction" for his homecoming, and "maybe a few whistles."
Gomez scored 24 goals in the Bundesliga last season for Stuttgart but has not featured in Bayern's starting lineup in five weeks.
"We miss Mario, no question," Babbel said. "Here he was the star. There he is only one of many."
Gomez said he would not turn out to be a flop in Bayern.
"I did not come to Bayern to sit on the bench," Gomez said. "But I can't lie to myself and I am not pleased (with my performance) either."
Liverpool loses Gerrard, Johnson but Torres fit
LIVERPOOL, England — Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard and defender Glen Johnson have been ruled out of Saturday's Premier League match at Fulham, but striker Fernando Torres is expected to play.
Gerrard is still recovering after injuring his groin while playing with England this month.
"At this moment, he's working with the physios," Benitez said. "He has to keep working and we'll decide next week how he progresses.
"Johnson has a small tear in his calf, so we will lose him for maybe one week."
However, Torres is improving after scoring against Manchester United last week following manager Rafa Benitez's gamble to start him.
"He's been training and working with the physios," Benitez said. "We will see if he is a little bit better this weekend. It's a difficult situation because if you play games, you often don't have too much time to get fit again."
Midfielder Alberto Aquilani could play at Fulham despite picking up a virus after making his debut in Wednesday's League Cup loss at Arsenal.
"His ankle is coming on well," Benitez said. "The problem we have now is that he has a virus, so it will be difficult for him to be available. We will see this afternoon how he feels, but he was a little bit sick yesterday."
Liverpool is fifth in the Premier League standings, six points behind leader Chelsea.
Sol Campbell says he wants to join Newcastle
LONDON — Former England defender Sol Campbell wants to join Newcastle when he resolves his contract dispute with Notts County.
Campbell walked out on Notts County in September blaming broken promises after playing only one game in a lucrative five-year deal.
The 35-year-old center back is preparing to take the fourth-tier club to a Football League tribunal to force them to release him from his contract so he can resume his playing career.
"I have been approached by several clubs and, yes, it is correct to say that Newcastle are one of them," Campbell told ESPN on Friday. "People might be surprised to hear me say that I would be very interested in a move there, but I have my reasons.
"Also, Newcastle are a big club and could be heading back to the Premier League. It appeals."
Campbell is currently being allowed to train at former club Arsenal.
"If we can sort it all out at the tribunal I would hope to be playing within weeks from now," Campbell said. "I am training every day with Arsenal, feel fit, as fit as ever, and now I really need some matches.
"But to sort out the mess at Notts County, a Football League tribunal seems to be the only way out."
Trapattoni leaves Reid out squad to face France
DUBLIN — Ireland coach Giovanni Trapattoni again left out midfielder Andy Reid when he picked his squad Friday for next month's World Cup playoff against France.
Trapattoni picked nine midfielders in a 25-man squad for the two-legged playoff.
Sunderland's Reid, recognized as one of his country's most creative players, has not played for Ireland since Trapattoni took charge after the team failed to reach last year's European Championship.
Damien Duff played in Ireland's last group qualifier and is likely to add to his 78 international appearances on the left of midfield.
Ireland finished second to Italy in its qualifying group and can clinch a place at next year's tournament with victory over 1998 World Cup winner France.
"We performed strongly throughout the qualifying group stages," Trapattoni said. "We were undefeated in all 10 games and this is a reflection of how we have played and also the mental strength of this team.
"France have a strong squad, but we go into this playoff knowing that we are only 180 minutes away from qualifying for the World Cup."
Ireland hosts France on Nov. 14. The return match is four days later.
German court upholds stadium ban
FRANKFURT — Germany's supreme court ruled Friday that fans suspected of violence can be banned from stadiums even if there is no evidence of their direct involvement in any acts of aggression.
In a benchmark ruling, the court said being a member of group with a history of violence is enough ground for clubs to exclude such fans from their stadiums.
The ruling rejected an appeal by a Bayern Munich fan with a season ticket who was banned from attending games after his group of fans was involved in an altercation with supporters of MSV Duisburg following a game in March 2006.
Although he was never charged, the fan received a two-year national stadium ban.
The German football federation welcomed the ruling, saying the possibility of a nationwide stadium ban was an "important preventive measure to ensure security at stadiums."
Between 2,900 and 3,000 fans are currently covered by the stadium ban in Germany, according to the football federation.
Football authorities tell players not to spit
BUCHAREST, Romania — Romanian football authorities have told all first-division clubs to instruct players to not spit during matches to lessen the risk of spreading swine flu.
The Professional League of Football published a letter Friday telling clubs to take "into account the ... spread of the new cases of swine flu in many counties."
The statement advised coaches who could not refrain from spitting to wear protective masks.
Romania has more than 440 reported cases of swine flu, and no deaths.
This week, authorities in England warned players to avoid spitting to lessen the risk.
Hamren ruled out as Sweden coach
STOCKHOLM — The Swedish Football Association has scratched Rosenborg coach Erik Hamren off its list of candidates for Sweden's vacant coaching job.
The association says negotiations to release Hamren from his contract with the Norwegian club failed Friday. Chairman Lars-Ake Lagrell says "the parties are too far from each other" for the talks to lead anywhere.
Sweden's pool of candidates is shrinking. Former England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson ruled himself out because of his contract with English fourth-tier side Notts County, and Fulham manager Roy Hodgson also turned down a Swedish approach.
The Swedes are looking for a replacement for Lars Lagerback, who resigned this month after Sweden failed to qualify for the 2010 World Cup.
Guti left out of Madrid team after Pellegrini spat
MADRID — Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini left Jose Maria "Guti" Gutierrez off of the team for Saturday's Spanish league match against Getafe only days after two exchanged heated words.
Guti and Pellegrini argued at halftime of Madrid's 4-0 loss to third-tier Alcorcon in the first leg of the fourth round of the Copa del Rey and did not reappear for the second half.
Pellegrini says he has a "good" relationship with Guti and that he didn't have any problem with him.
Guti said Friday that he had "connected" with Pellegrini better than most coaches and denied reports he had directed profanities at the Chilean, who is under pressure following a poor run of results.
Puyol signs three-year extension with Barcelona
BARCELONA, Spain — Barcelona has signed captain Carles Puyol to a three-year contract extension that keeps the defender with the Spanish champions through 2013.
Barcelona says on its Web site that the 31-year-old Spain international's buy-out clause was set at €10 million ($14.8 million).
Puyol said he was "very happy" to remain at the Camp Nou, where he has played since 1999. He helped the Catalans become the first Spanish club to win league, Copa del Rey and Champions League titles in the same season.
The Lleida native was also a member of Spain's European Championship winning team last year and has played 79 times for his country.
Barcelona striker Henry set to return vs Osasuna
BARCELONA, Spain — Thierry Henry has been selected to play for Barcelona against Osasuna in the Spanish league on Saturday after two weeks out because of a leg injury.
The France striker practiced with his teammates on Friday. He has missed the Spanish champion’s last three league games.
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola says Henry will help the team defend the Champions League and Copa del Rey titles.
Former Czechoslovakia striker Vesely dies at 65
PRAGUE — Frantisek Vesely, a striker who helped Czechoslovakia win the 1976 European Championship, died unexpectedly at home Friday, his former club Slavia Prague said. He was 65.
No further details were immediately given.
Vesely played 34 times for Czechoslovakia from 1965-77, including at the 1970 World Cup in Mexico. He scored one of his three international goals in the 3-1 semifinal win over the Netherlands at Euro 1976 in Belgrade. The team later beat Germany in a penalty shootout to win the title.
Vesely played a record 920 matches for Slavia from 1965-80 and scored 250 goals. He also played for Rapid Vienna.
Vesely is survived by his wife and a son, also Frantisek. Funeral arrangements were not immediately given.
Agent: Union failed to support jailed Marlon King
LONDON — Marlon King's agent says England's players union failed to support the Wigan striker during his trial and jailing for punching a woman in the face.
Tony Finnegan says the Professional Footballers' Association should help King find employment when his 18-month jail sentence is over.
Wigan owner Dave Whelan gave King notice when he was jailed on Thursday that the club is terminating his contract.
But Finnegan said Friday that "it's easy to say 'why didn't the union didn't support him?' Why is the union there, then?"
League preview
Man United struggling ahead of Blackburn match
LONDON — Manchester United's chances of emulating Chelsea by beating Blackburn and taking over first place in the Premier League on Saturday look slim because of a spate of injuries and the Blues' imperious form.
United may struggle even for victory with Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand both fighting calf problems and possibly set to join Darren Fletcher, Gary Neville, Park Ji-sung and Danny Welbeck on the sidelines.
And with Chelsea going into its game at Bolton on a streak of 13 goals in three matches following last weekend's 5-0 win over Blackburn, even victory for United is unlikely to be enough to regain the top spot.
The defending champions slipped to second place with a surprise 2-0 loss at Liverpool that seriously dented aspirations for a record fourth straight title.
"We went to Anfield last season and lost, yet went on to win the league," United defender Jonny Evans said. "While Liverpool deserved to win at the weekend, we all know it is a long season.
"It is going to be a good game on Saturday, and a chance for us to get back on track in the league."
United did beat Barnsley in the League Cup on Wednesday but conceded plenty of chances to the League Championship side.
Welbeck scored the second goal but is ruled out because of a knee injury, while Neville is suspended following his red card in the match.
Darren Fletcher is out for a fifth match because of a groin injury, Park has not played for more than a month and Ryan Giggs could also miss out injured.
"We face an uphill fight to get players fit for tomorrow," Ferguson said.
Chelsea has no such worries ahead of its game at Bolton, the team it beat 4-0 in the League Cup this week.
"They know whatever went wrong cannot be repeated or they will lose 4-0 again, and can have a different approach to the game," Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech said. "Psychologically they know it can't really get worse."
Midfielder Joe Cole is back from 10 months out and set up two goals in Wednesday's game, Salomon Kalou has scored three goals in his last two games and the team has not conceded for three matches.
Chelsea can also recall John Terry, Frank Lampard, Ricardo Carvalho and Nicolas Anelka after resting them on Wednesday, and Ashley Cole may return from an ankle problem.
Liverpool ended a four-match winless streak by beating United and, although a second-string side lost at Arsenal 2-1 in the League Cup, it gets the first real test of its revival at Fulham on Saturday.
"We knew how important the game against United was and how much the fans enjoy it if we beat them," Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano said. "But it was just three points and we have to keep going.
"We can't afford to be thinking about beating United and then, in this instance, go to Fulham and not play at the same level."
Jamie Carragher, Fernando Torres and Jose Reina are all set to return to the side to face a Fulham team unbeaten in five games after a slow start to the season.
But captain Steven Gerrard and defender Glen Johnson have been ruled out
Also Saturday, third-place Arsenal hosts fourth-place Tottenham in the north London derby, while Aston Villa is at Everton, Wigan is at last-place Portsmouth, Wolves are at Stoke and West Ham is at Sunderland.
Hull is at Burnley for what several British newspapers suggest could be Phil Brown's last game as Tigers manager.
Brown has survived despite only narrowly avoiding relegation last season and a run of just three wins in 32 matches, but Hull is again languishing in the relegation zone and has the worst goal difference in the division.
Manchester City is at Birmingham on Sunday.
-- Stuart Condie
