Soccer Capsules: Mexico squad supports coach over remarks
Comments 0MEXICO CITY — Players from Mexico's national football team voiced support Monday for coach Javier Aguirre, who has been criticized for making disparaging remarks about Mexico.
Aguirre has been widely reported by Mexican media as having made an insulting remark about Mexico's problems with violence and crime during an interview with a Spanish radio station last week.
Mexico captain Gerardo Torrado is among the players standing by their coach.
"He is our coach, our leader, and there is nothing more to say," Torrado said. "I did not hear the remarks, but perhaps he made a small mistake and it has been magnified too much."
While the exact content of Aguirre interview has been variously reported, he none the less made a public apology for his remarks Sunday.
"I profoundly regret having made a remark in a forum and a manner that were not the correct ones," he told local media.
Aguirre steered Mexico to this year's World Cup after returning for his second stint as national coach in April last year. He replaced former England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson of Sweden.
Aguirre represented Mexico as a midfielder in 59 matches before his first stint as national coach from 2001 to 2002. He coached Spanish side Atletico Madrid for three years before rejoining the Mexican team.
U.S. Soccer
Argentina plans U.S. exhibition this year
CHICAGO — Argentina's national soccer team plans to play an exhibition game in the United States this year after the World Cup.
The Argentine Football Association and Cardenas Marketing Network announced a partnership agreement Monday extending through June 2014. The deal includes the AFA's broadcast, marketing and sponsorship rights in the U.S. and gives CMN the right to organize games in Italy, Germany and Spain.
There are four international fixture periods this year after the World Cup, when clubs are required to release players to national teams: Aug. 11, Sept. 3-7, Oct. 8-12 and Nov. 17. CMS spokeswoman Meredith Powell said the match will be played within a fixture period.
Argentina features reigning FIFA player of the year Lionel Messi.
K.C. wins rights to 16-year-old midfielder Luis Gil
NEW YORK — Kansas City has won Major League Soccer's rights to sought-after 16-year-old American midfielder Luis Gil, the first step in a possible trade.
Gil, a member of the U.S. under-17 team, is from California and may prefer that the Wizards trade him to a team closer to home.
The Wizards won the rights during a weighted lottery conducted by the league, spokesman Will Kuhns said Monday. Kansas City had the third-best chance of winning — the only teams in the league last season with poorer records were New York and San Jose.
World Cup
AP Interview: South Africa's top cop on World Cup
PRETORIA, South Africa — South Africa's top cop said Monday that World Cup fans will be safe, and the country will be safer because of the work his force has done to prepare for the tournament which begins in June.
In an exclusive interview with The Associated Press, National Commissioner Bheki Cele said the World Cup's legacy for police has meant new equipment for his force and training for his officers with experts from Britain, France, Germany, the United States and elsewhere.
"The question is, 'Will people be safe in South Africa?'" Cele said Monday. "Starting on the 11th of June, people will be safe in South Africa."
Cele said nothing he can say will be as persuasive as what World Cup fans will experience. He is determined that they go home telling a South African success story.
South Africa's crime rate, among the highest in the world, has been a concern since it won the bid to become the first African host of soccer's World Cup. The tournament kicks off June 11.
"One thing I would never do is to deny that there is crime in South Africa, especially violent crime," Cele said.
But he said crime was decreasing, a point independent researchers also have made. The South African Institute of Race Relations said in a study last year that the number of murders and the rate per 100,000 have declined steadily since South Africa held its first all-race elections in 1994.
The institute, however, said the South African public still believed crime was worsening. That may be because crime, while falling, is seen as intolerably high, and because rates have been so high for so long, the institute said.
The World Cup has focused global attention on South Africa's crime rate and how it stacks up internationally. South Africa's murder rate per 100,000 citizens was 38.60 in 2006, compared to 0.88 in Germany, where the last World Cup was held.
Cele, who took over last year, said preparing for the World Cup has galvanized his force.
Preparations have included recruiting 55,000 new police officers. New equipment worth about $88 million includes six helicopters, 10 mobile command vehicles, body armor and water cannons.
Some 200 Interpol officers will be in the country during the monthlong tournament, along with up to eight officers from each of the 31 countries sending teams. Cele said they will work as advisers with South African police and not have arrest powers.
Cele said he set three priorities when he took the post: improving police stations and other infrastructures in impoverished areas; improving officers' skills and supplying them with cutting-edge technology.
The World Cup has allowed South African police to make advances in all those areas, he said.
"We are working with everybody that is willing," Cele said. "Our police will be better skilled after 2010."
With just over 100 days until the tournament starts, Cele said police were finalizing details such as where officers would be deployed and ensuring they had training that corresponded to their assignments.
Cele spoke like an experienced soccer fan about an early match he would like to see pitting Portugal against Brazil in his hometown of Durban, one of nine host cities.
"But I'm not sure if I'll be there," he said. "My major task is to make sure that people enjoy 2010. So it can't be me that is enjoying."
-- Donna Bryson
Pele says World Cup games should have 5 officials
MEXICO CITY — Pele says FIFA should field a match official behind each goal to assist the referee at the World Cup and avoid scandals like Diego Maradona's infamous handball at the 1986 tournament.
Pele said Monday that he is in favor of five match officials being used in each game at the World Cup in South Africa this June, but he opposes video replays. Stopping play would slow the game and could impede a possible counterattack, he said.
UEFA introduced the experiment of using five match officials in the Europa League this season.
Pele spoke Monday in Mexico City where he is promoting the Copa Libertadores, South America's top club competition.
"It was decided not to use modern technologies, but we do propose using two referees behind the goals, and FIFA is considering this," said Pele, who has been working with a FIFA committee that oversees officiating.
Pele, a three-time World Cup winner with Brazil, raised the possibility of having referees behind the goals for international games at FIFA meetings with president Sepp Blatter and German legend Franz Beckenbauer in the fall, after Thierry Henry's blatant handball helped France beat Ireland and qualify for the World Cup.
It's a proposal that's been floated since the 1986 World Cup when Maradona, now coach of Argentina, scored a goal against England with an unpenalized handball which he referred to as the "Hand of God."
Pele said Monday he's looking forward to a scandal-free World Cup, and that while it's difficult to name favorites, he has a lot of confidence in his homeland and has been impressed with Spain as well. He also said England, Italy and Argentina are likely to be contenders.
"The reality is that there isn't a team that can say, 'We're the team most likely to win the World Cup.' It's very, very even," he said.
However, Pele said he was not optimistic about Mexico's chances.
"The Mexican soccer team needs to do more exchanges with Latin America and Europe," he said. "I think that would give them more experience and confidence."
Pele also said that Brazilian striker Robinho, who recently returned to Brazilian club side Santos from Manchester City on loan, deserves a place in the national squad.
Pele began playing for Santos, based in Sao Paulo, when he was 15 and played for the team for almost 20 years. He joined the national team a year later and won his first World Cup when he was just 17.
-- Martha Mendoza
Capello visits unfinished WCup base with officials
SUN CITY, South Africa — England coach Fabio Capello inspected the team's World Cup base Monday with a top-level delegation of FIFA and South African officials after it emerged that the complex is unfinished.
Around half of the bedrooms at the Royal Marang Hotel at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Campus near Rustenburg are yet to be completed three months before the England squad arrives.
Capello, who has previously raised concerns about the standard of the training pitches, toured the facility with FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke, South Africa 2010 chief executive Danny Jordaan, South African Football Association president Kirsten Nematandani and African Football Confederation president Issa Hayatou.
"Following the visits, we are confident that the Bafokeng Sports Campus will be ready and thoroughly tested in time for the World Cup," Niall Carroll, CEO of Royal Bafokeng Holdings, said in a statement. "Construction remains on schedule and the primary pitches will be comparable to that of the Bafokeng Sports Palace, rated as one of the best in the country.
"We continue to work closely with the FA, FIFA and (logistics organizer) MATCH and remain confident the Bafokeng Sports Campus will meet the highest standards in every area."
The visit came a day after a group of English reporters witnessed building work continuing at the site.
FIFA will be confirming the bases for the 32 finalists on Tuesday ahead of the June 11-July 11 tournament.
-- Rob Harris
Japan to prepare for World Cup with 4 friendlies
TOKYO — Japan will prepare for the World Cup with friendlies against Serbia, South Korea, England and Ivory Coast.
The Japan Football Association said Monday that the team will play home matches against Serbia on April 7 and South Korea on May 24 before departing for a training camp in Switzerland.
Coach Takeshi Okada's team will face England in Austria on May 30 and Ivory Coast on June 4 in Switzerland.
Japan, making its fourth straight World Cup appearance, is in Group E with the Netherlands, Denmark and Cameroon.
League News
Ferdinand, Vidic set to return to Man U defense
LONDON — Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic are fit and available again to resume their central defensive partnership as Manchester United aims to bounce back from Saturday's loss to Everton with a victory over West Ham on Tuesday.
The Ferdinand-Vidic linkup was one of the strengths behind United's three consecutive league titles. But they have rarely played together this season because of injuries.
With Ferdinand back from a four-game suspension and Vidic finally over a leg injury, manager Alex Ferguson was able to name both in his squad on Monday and, after some poor defending against Everton on Saturday, the duo is expected to start against West Ham at Old Trafford.
Although the defeat left United four points behind Chelsea and allowed Arsenal in third to close to within two points of Ferguson's team, the manager is convinced his team will revive its push for another title.
"The league has been wide open this season, it's been funny like that," he said. "Teams have dropped points you don't expect them to drop, but the very nature of the league suggests we still have a good chance.
"We've got a big match on Tuesday night. It's a massive game for this club and hopefully we can get the result we need."
While defensive lapses let United down, the performance of top scorer Wayne Rooney was another big disappointment.
Despite his 25 league and cup goals including 13 in his previous 15 matches, Rooney made little impact against the club where he started his career as United threw away the lead in the first half.
With the League Cup final against Aston Villa at Wembley on Sunday looming, Ferguson might be tempted to give Rooney a rest and field Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Owen against West Ham, but he has named his top striker in the squad.
Nani is suspended, however, and Ryan Giggs is still recovering from a broken right arm.
West Ham comes off a 3-0 victory over Hull, only the first time this season Gianfranco Zola's team has won two games in a row. The result lifted the team to 13th in the standings and four points above the relegation zone.
-- Robert Millward
Villa brace leads Valencia to victory over Getafe
VALENCIA, Spain — Two goals from David Villa were enough for Valencia to beat Getafe 2-1 in the Spanish league on Monday night.
Chori Dominguez burst past Getafe defender Cata Diaz to find Villa in the 39th minute for the opener at the Mestalla Stadium.
The hosts made it 2-0 shortly after the break after David Silva stole the ball to set up his Spain teammate, who lobbed goalkeeper Jordi Codina for his league-leading 17th goal of the season.
Valencia was reduced to 10 men in the 61st after Alexis picked up a second yellow card for fouling Pedro Leon. Getafe striker Manuel Del Moral took advantage of a defensive lapse in the 75th to cut the deficit.
Barcelona leads with 58 points, Real Madrid has 56, Valencia 46 and Sevilla 42.
Getafe is eighth with 32 points.
Barcelona beat Racing Santander 4-0 on Saturday while Madrid thrashed Villarreal 6-2 on Sunday.
In the weekend's other games, it was: Deportivo La Coruna 2, Xerez 1; Mallorca 1, Sevilla 3; Malaga 2, Espanyol 1; Athletic Bilbao 4, Tenerife 1; Osasuna 1, Valladolid 1; Zaragoza 1, Sporting Gijon 3; and Almeria 1, Atletico Madrid 0.
Elsewhere
Ronaldo says he will retire at the end of 2011
SAO PAULO — Former world player of the year Ronaldo says he will retire after the 2011 season.
The 33-year-old Brazilian striker extended his contract with Corinthians on Monday and said he plans to play two more seasons before putting an end to a successful career of more than 17 years.
"I've already made up my mind, these will be my last two years," Ronaldo said. "I'll give my best and I'm hoping to have some fun and win many significant titles."
Ronaldo said that after retiring he will become an ambassador for Corinthians, Brazil's second most popular club behind Flamengo. He said one of his main goals is to help Corinthians win the Copa Libertadores, the only major competition the club is yet to win in its 100-year history.
"We have very passionate fans and every day I'm more in love with this club," he said.
Ronaldo won the FIFA player of the year award in 1996, 1997 and 2002 and spent 15 years in European football before returning to Corinthians in the beginning of 2009 to recover from the third serious knee injury of his career.
He won the World Cup in 1994 and 2002, and remains hopeful of playing in one final World Cup with Brazil before retiring.
"This upcoming World Cup is still a possibility for me," said Ronaldo, the all-time scoring leader in World Cup finals with 15 goals. "But for 2014 it's impossible, times goes by for everyone."
Ronaldo scored 62 goals in 97 internationals with Brazil, but he hasn't been called up to the national team since the 2006 World Cup, when Brazil lost to France in the quarterfinals. The striker also played in the 1998 World Cup, when Brazil lost to the French in the final.
Ronaldo played most of his career in Europe with PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and AC Milan. He returned to Brazil after being released by AC Milan in 2008 following an injury to his left knee.
Ronaldo has played sparingly with Corinthians this year and is preparing for the team's debut in the Copa Libertadores on Wednesday against Uruguay's Racing in Sao Paulo.
-- Tales Azzoni
Tevez should return in time to face Chelsea
MANCHESTER, England — Carlos Tevez' agent said the Manchester City striker is hopeful of returning to England in time to play against Chelsea on Saturday even though his newborn daughter is in intensive care in his homeland.
The forward has been in Argentina for more than a week after his wife, Vanesa, prematurely gave birth to their second child. City manager Roberto Mancini said he wanted Tevez back for Saturday's game against the Premier League leader at Stamford Bridge.
"When your child is in intensive care it's a very serious matter, " said Kia Joorabchian, who looks after Tevez' contracts and business affairs.
"He hopes to be back for the Chelsea game. He hopes things will get better, for his daughter's sake and because he wants to get back and play. He loves to play. Obviously he's having to go through a very difficult period but he's dealt with them before and will continue to do so."
Joorabchian said the baby's health appears to have improved over the weekend.
"He was determined to get back for the Liverpool game (a 0-0 draw on Sunday) but unfortunately the situation didn't get much better," the agent said. "However, she has got better over the weekend."
Joorabchian said Tevez had been keeping fit by training with the Argentina national team and the agent refuted reports that the striker had not kept in touch with City.
"The club have been informed on a daily basis," he said. "Carlos Tevez has given 100 percent to the club since the day he arrived. He has been keeping the club informed on a daily basis — including the manager. They have exchanged messages once or twice."
Tevez will miss Wednesday's FA Cup fifth round replay at Stoke.
Former owner Al-Fahim quits as Portsmouth chairman
PORTSMOUTH, England — Former Portsmouth owner Sulaiman Al-Fahim resigned as non-executive chairman of the Premier League club on Monday.
Portsmouth spokesman Steve Double said the board had accepted Al-Fahim's resignation.
The Abu Dhabi businessman is one of four people to take over Portsmouth this season. The club is now deeply in debt and in danger of going out of business with 13 league games left in the season.
Al-Fahim said the 10 percent shareholding in the club he had retained would now be given to the Portsmouth Supporters' Trust.
Meanwhile, Portsmouth chief executive Peter Storrie is hopeful that new owners, reported to be a South African consortium, will be in place before the club returns to the High Court March 1 to defend a winding up order from the government's Revenue and Customs authority for unpaid tax.
"It's going to be a hectic few days," he said. "I am heavily in discussions and not been off the phone all day today again. The next couple of days could prove crucial, it's going to be a very busy next 48 hours."
Ireland selects 3 newcomers for Brazil friendly
DUBLIN — Ireland coach Giovanni Trapattoni called up newcomers Marc Wilson, Greg Cunningham and James McCarthy for next month's friendly against Brazil.
Wilson is a 22-year-old central defender with Portsmouth, Cunningham a 19-year-old defender at Manchester City and McCarthy a 19-year-old midfielder with Wigan.
The match at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium on March 2 will be Ireland's first since losing to France in a World Cup qualifying playoff in November. The Irish were eliminated 2-1 on aggregate after France striker Thierry Henry's handball set up an equalizer in their second-leg 1-1 draw.
"I look forward to working with my squad again after the disappointment of Paris," Trapattoni said. "The priority now is to build on the progress made during the last campaign and prepare ourselves over the coming months mentally and tactically for an important Euro campaign."
Manchester United defender John O'Shea is sidelined with the leg injury he picked up in the game against France. Trapattoni has left out Celtic defender Darren O'Dea and Hibernian's Liam Miller and Anthony Stokes.
Ron Jans appointed new Heerenveen coach
AMSTERDAM — Ron Jans has been appointed coach of Dutch league club SC Heerenveen, the club confirmed.
Jans, who has been at the helm of fellow Eredivisie side FC Groningen since 2002, signed a two-year contract with the Dutch Cup defending champion.
The 51-year old former Groningen striker is expected to move to his new club at the beginning of next season.
Heerenveen chairman Yme Kuiper said Monday that Jans is "the type of coach that best suits this club,".
Earlier this month, Jan de Jonge stepped down at Heerenveen after a string of poor results. De Jonge came up through the club's ranks to take over from Trond Sollied in September.
Heerenveen, which beat last-placed RKC Waalwijk on Saturday, is 13th in the 18-team league standings with 10 rounds to go.
UEFA to honor Portuguese legend Eusebio
NYON, Switzerland — UEFA will honor Portuguese legend Eusebio for his contributions to European football at a ceremony Tuesday in Lisbon.
The "president's award" will be delivered by UEFA chief Michel Platini on the pitch of the Estadio da Luz ahead of a Europa League match between Benfica and Hertha Berlin.
The 68-year-old Eusebio was one of Europe's greatest goal scorers, leading Benfica to the 1962 European Cup and scoring nine times in the 1966 World Cup before Portugal was eliminated in the semifinals by eventual winner England.
Platini said Eusebio embodied "fair play and respect," serving as an example to future footballers.
Last year's honoree was England's Bobby Charlton.
Mourinho banned, fined after Sampdoria draw
MILAN — Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho was given a three-match touchline ban and fined €40,000 ($54,500) after making a handcuffs gesture and insulting officials during the 0-0 draw with Sampdoria.
The Italian football association confirmed the penalty Monday, citing Mourinho's actions including the crossing of his wrists during Saturday's match.
The Milan side held on for the draw with nine men after two defenders — Walter Samuel and Ivan Cordoba — were sent off in the first half. Inter leads the Serie A standings with 55 points from Roma in second on 50 points and AC Milan third with 48.
Earlier this year, Mourinho was fined €18,000 ($24,500) for questioning the impartiality of a referee in the Jan. 24 Milan derby.
McGregor in doubt to play Celtic following attack
GLASGOW, Scotland — Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor is in doubt for Sunday's Scottish Premier League game against Celtic after being injured in an attack when leaving a nightclub.
Although McGregor's injuries were not disclosed from Saturday's attack, there were reports Monday he needed treatment at a hospital for an eye problem.
Police are investigating the assault.
The incident may also prevent him returning to the Scotland team for the first time since being involved in an all-night drinking session a year ago. The Scots play the Czech Republic on March 3 in Glasgow.
Scotland coach Craig Levein said Monday that Rangers manager Walter Smith had told him McGregor was in doubt to play Celtic.
Germany to start and end Euro campaign vs. Belgium
FRANKFURT — Germany will start its qualifying campaign for the 2012 European Championship at Belgium and end it at home against the same nation.
According to a schedule published Monday after a meeting between the five national team coaches in Group A, Germany's opening match at Belgium on Sept. 3 will be followed four days later with a home game against Azerbaijan.
The final two games for the three-time European champions will be at Turkey on Oct. 7, 2011, and against Belgium four days later at home. Group A also includes Austria and Kazakhstan.
Euro 2012 will be co-hosted by Poland and Ukraine.
Bruce fined for criticizing referee
LONDON — Sunderland manager Steve Bruce has been fined by the Football Association for his comments about a referee who sent off defender Michael Turner at Manchester City.
After Sunderland's 4-3 defeat in December, Bruce described Andre Marriner's decision to show a red card to Turner for a foul on Gareth Barry as "obscene", "a joke" and "an outrage".
After the FA turned down Sunderland's appeal against the red card, Turner was eventually banned for four games and Bruce was asked to explain his comments.
The FA fined Bruce 2,500 pounds ($3,875; €2,850) on Monday after finding him guilty of improper conduct and warned him about his future conduct.
Sao Paulo coach hospitalized after minor stroke
SAO PAULO — Sao Paulo coach Ricardo Gomes has been taken to hospital after sustaining a minor stroke just hours after his team's 2-0 loss to archrival Palmeiras.
The Sao Paulo team doctor says Gomes is doing well and is expected to make a full recovery, but won't be back with the team for two weeks.
Gomes was still in the team's changing room after Sao Paulo's defeat at the Palestra Italia stadium Sunday when he told doctors he wasn't feeling well. He complained of a headache and numbness in his arm.
The former AS Monaco coach was later taken to hospital and briefly admitted to an intensive-care unit.
Fan killed in skirmishes between rival supporters
SAO PAULO — A fan has been killed and 17 more were injured in skirmishes involving rival supporters of Brazil soccer clubs Palmeiras and Sao Paulo.
Police say at least six confrontations broke out late Sunday after Palmeiras' 2-0 win over Sao Paulo at Palestra Italia stadium.
The man who died was among four fans shot during a fight in the city of Jundiai, in the outskirts of Sao Paulo. The injured are hospitalized in stable condition.
Police say nearly 60 people were detained after the confrontations.
Capello arranges South American ref for friendly
WEMBLEY, England — Paraguayan referee Carlos Manuel Torres will take charge of England's friendly with Egypt at Wembley on March 3 as coach Fabio Capello looks to gets his World Cup squad used to officials from another region.
The Football Association said Monday Capello asked for South American officials to recreate World Cup conditions even in a friendly on home turf.
A FIFA referee since 1998, Torres will have two countrymen as linesmen although he is not on the list of officials for the World Cup.
See archived 'Sports' stories »
We want our site to be a place where people discuss and debate ideas that foster stronger communities. We built this for you. Please take care of it. Tolerate broad thinking, but take action against obscene or hateful material. Make it a credible and safe place worth preserving and sharing.
E-Mail
Delicious
Digg
Facebook
FriendFeed
LinkedIn
MySpace
Copy to Clipboard
Reddit
Slashdot
StumbleUpon
Tumblr
Twitter
Yahoo! Buzz
