Soccer Capsules: Toluca is the team to beat in Mexico
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexican football is a merry-go-round of different champions, so even though Toluca is the favorite when the Apertura season opens on Friday that may not count for much.
Like most Latin American countries, Mexico divides the season into two parts: the Apertura — Spanish for opening — and the Clausura, which means closing.
Toluca is the defending champion of the Clausura tournament, which ended in May, and many are picking the club to triumph again. If it does, it will be the first club since Pumas in 2004 to win back-to-back titles. Since that double, eight different clubs have won either the Clausura or Apertura titles.
In that span, Toluca has won three titles — more than anyone else — which has moved it among Mexico's elite clubs. Chivas Guadalajara leads with 11 titles overall, while America and Toluca have 10.
Toluca has essentially the same team that won in May. It also has one of Mexico's most highly respected coaches in Jose Manuel de la Torre, who has been mentioned as a possible successor to take over Mexico's national team following the resignation of Javier Aguirre after the World Cup.
"Finishing as champion is the goal. I take it as a personal challenge," said midfielder Antonio Naelson. "We want to start as well as possible. If we did it once we can do it again because we are a good team and injury free."
Monterrey, America and Cruz Azul are likely to be Toluca's main challengers.
Monterrey, which won the Apertura a year ago, has much the same team, with coach Victor Manuel Vucetich returning. It will be strengthened by the return of Chilean striker Humberto Suazo after a six-month loan to Spain's Zaragoza. The club has also signed defender Ricardo Osorio.
"I always try to do things right," Suazo said. "This will be no exception. I'm relaxed and happy to be back and eager to show the fans I have more to give."
America has a new coach in Manuel Lapuente, replacing Jesus Ramirez, and a new striker in Matias Vuoso, who will try to make up for the absence of Salvador Cabanas. Cabanas survived a gunshot wound to the head six months ago in a Mexico City bar, but has not returned to the pitch.
"We have some great players," Colombian defender Aquivaldo Mosquera said. "You'll see it in every game."
Cruz Azul, which plays the curtain raiser of the new season on Friday at Estudiantes of Guadalajara, had an unsuccessful Clausura. Despite this, the club has made few changes, with the main addition being midfielder Gonzalo Pineda from San Luis.
Cruz Azul has been close to adding to its haul of eight titles in recent seasons, and was the losing finalist in three of the last five championships.
"Nothing bad lasts for 100 years and at any time were are going to break this bad run," Argentine forward Emanuel Villa said.
Chivas, Mexico's most popular team, looks weak. Top goalscorer Javier Hernandez has moved to Manchester United while Omar Bravo, another scoring threat and the No. 2 goalscorer in the club's history, has signed for Kansas City of the MLS. Striker Omar Arellano will be looked to for goals.
Hernandez, nicknamed "Chicharito," scored 10 goals last season, the joint most alongside Herculez Gomez of the U.S. and Johan Fano.
"With Chicharito gone, we have tried to think in the medium-term," said coach Jose Luis Real. "It will probably cost us in the short-term, but our young players are top quality."
On Friday, Estudiantes plays Cruz Azul in the first of the weekend's matches.
On Saturday it's: Chiapas vs. Necaxa, Guadalajara vs. Puebla, Pachuca vs. America, Tigres vs. Queretaro, San Luis vs. Monterrey, Atalante vs. Santos.
On Sunday, Morelia takes on Atlas and Pumas hosts Toluca.
Agent says Mexico made offer to Pellegrini
SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — The agent for Manuel Pellegrini says the former Real Madrid coach has been contacted by Mexican football officials about taking over as coach of Mexico.
Former coach Javier Aguirre resigned this month following Mexico's 3-1 loss to Argentina in the round of 16 at the World Cup.
Jesus Martinez, the agent for Pellegrini, said in a radio interview on Thursday that Mexican officials made an offer to Pellegrini, who was fired by Real Madrid after last season.
"This is true. There is an offer from Mexico that is being talked about," Martinez told radio Agricultura.
Martinez called Mexico "a possibility" for Pellegrini, who is a Chilean.
Nestor de la Torre, national team director for the Mexican federation, refused to confirm that an offer had been made to Pellegrini.
"We haven't mentioned names, and we will not do it," De la Torre told The Associated Press. "We're not going to talk about this case."
De la Torre said the official process of finding a coach would begin on Monday in a meeting with owners of Mexico's 18 first-division clubs.
He said Mexico would not be rushed into naming a replacement before the Aug. 11 friendly against World Cup winner Spain in Mexico City. The games is part of Mexico's celebration of 200 years of independence from Spain.
The Mexican federation will be under pressure to get the pick right.
Mexico has slipped to No. 24 in the FIFA ranking, a fall of seven places during the World Cup. It was ranked No. 17 before the World Cup. This despite the fact that Aguirre reportedly earned $4 million annually, making him one of the highest paid coaches in world football.
Aguirre was Mexico's fourth coach in four years and the fifth since Argentine Ricardo La Volpe was released after the 2006 World Cup.
Pellegrini, who was replaced at Real Madrid by Jose Mourinho, said in an interview this month that he hoped to coach another European club team and eventually wanted to coach Chile.
U.S. Soccer
Henry scores in 1st game for New York Red Bulls
HARRISON, N.J. (AP) — Thierry Henry got into a New York state of mind for his Red Bulls debut, boarding a commuter rail train at the World Trade Center about 2½ hours before his first match.
"I was on the PATH train with my friends and with all the fans," the French star forward said. "For me, it was the quickest way to come to the game, and that's how I came. It was cool."
Henry then cooly scored in his inaugural match for his new team, getting a goal midway through the first half of a 2-1 exhibition loss to old rival Tottenham on Thursday night.
"It was amazing to see the fans, walking with them to the stadium," he said. "I would say that the reception was tremendous every time I touched the ball."
Henry scored after Estonian national team regular Joel Lindpere played the ball through the legs of defender Alan Hutton, familiar to American fans for his confrontation last season with U.S. forward Jozy Altidore.
A former Arsenal star who left Barcelona to sign with Major League Soccer last week, Henry cut in front of Verdan Corluka at the 6-yard box in the 24th minute and put New York ahead when he slotted the cross past goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini.
"He'll be a massive hit here in New York I'm sure," Spurs manager Harry Redknapp said. "He's a world-class player still. He could play on any team in the Premier League in England. He's still good enough."
Robbie Keane, tightly marked by Tim Ream, tied the score in the 62nd minute, tapping the ball into an open net after Andros Townsend's corner kick was fumbled by goalkeeper Greg Sutton, who replaced starter Bouna Coundoul at the start of the second half.
Jeremy Hall then headed a backpass in the 72nd under pressure from Gareth Bale, who intercepted the one-hopper and put it past the dismayed goalkeeper.
A 32-year-old with a French record 51 international goals, Henry is the highest-profile player to join MLS since David Beckham signed with the Los Angeles Galaxy three years ago. A World Cup and European champion with France, and a Champions League winner with Barcelona, he lost his place in Barca's starting lineup last season and decided to move to New York, where he long wanted to live.
"He was a tough player over there," Keane said. "I'm sure he'll be a tough player over here, as well."
Playing his first match since France was eliminated from the World Cup with a loss to South Africa on June 22, Henry showed the quick pace and scoring instincts that made him a star since he first became a regular with Monaco in the mid-1990s. He played the first half, and had some deft, quick exchanges with Lindpere. He had a freeing backheel pass and a bicycle kick that went wide.
Just as important for the Red Bulls, he helped draw a crowd of 20,312 — about 5,000 short of a sellout, to Red Bull Arena, the $200 million stadium that opened in March.
MLS spokesman Dan Courtmanche said Adidas is projected to sell 50,000 Henry Red Bulls jerseys this year, second in MLS history behind the slightly more than 300,000 David Beckham Los Angeles Galaxy jerseys sold when he arrived in 2007.
"This is a massive, massive impact for us," Red Bulls coach Hans Backe said. "But to be realistic, too, one player can't in a way change the team totally. He needs his teammates around him to feed him with the right killer passes."
Henry scored 226 goals for Arsenal from 1999-07, topping the Premier League in scoring four times, and said last week he is reluctant to even speak the name of Tottenham, the Gunners' north London rival.
He'll have to wait to pair with Juan Pablo Angel, who missed the match because of a sprained ankle.
Ten Spurs were missing following World Cup duty, including forward Peter Crouch and regular goalkeeper Heurelo Gomes. Cudicini returned during the preseason after injuries sustained in a motorcycle crash while en route to training in November.
Red Bulls supporters sang "Chelsea reject!" at him.
"Fantastic," Redknapp said. "Where did they get that one from?"
Notes: While on loan to Sunderland last April and playing against Hull, Hutton threw the ball at Altidore, who responded with a head butt that earned him a red card and a season-ending suspension.
-- Ronald Blum
Convey selected to replace Bornstein as All-Star
NEW YORK (AP) — MLS All-Star coach Bruce Arena has selected San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Bobby Convey as an All-Star to replace injured Chivas USA defender Jonathan Bornstein.
Convey will be a member of the 23-man roster that will take on 2009 English Premier League champion Manchester United on July 28 in Houston.
Bornstein injured his right knee on Sunday in the 23rd minute of Chivas USA's SuperLiga match against the Houston Dynamo. He is expected to miss 2 to 3 weeks.
Convey has appeared in all 14 of the Earthquakes' matches and has assists on eight of the team's 18 goals this season. This is Convey's third career All-Star selection (2001, 2004).
World Cup
China talks of bid for World Cup in 2026
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The four Asian countries bidding to host the 2022 World Cup already have enough to be concerned about with demands for stadiums, hotels and transport networks and strong contenders from other confederations. Now, they have to worry about China.
China's Football Association has signaled it may bid for the World Cup in 2026, raising speculation that such a move could undermine the hopes of Japan, South Korea, Qatar and even Australia which are in the running to host the 2022 tournament.
The winning bids for 2018 and 2022 will be announced Dec. 2, with a European country expected to be chosen for the earlier of those. The emergence of China as a contender for 2026 could work in favor of the U.S. bid for 2022.
"If China throws its hat in for 2026, it blows everything wide open for 2022 because in many ways China is arguably the last great footballing frontier," said Simon Chadwick, a sports marketing expert at Coventry University in England.
"From the Chinese government's perspective, bidding for the World Cup is an important thing," he said. "From FIFA's perspective, there is considerable appeal in China bidding for 2026 because I think it's a very important marketplace. I would argue China is much more important marketplace than the (U.S.) was in 1994."
CFA head Wei Di first hinted at a bid last week after returning from the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, telling the country's leading sports newspaper Titan Sports that China has the venues and the rail network needed to host a big event — something he communicated to FIFA president Sepp Blatter.
"Mr. Blatter told me China is becoming more and more influential and it's an irresistible trend that China will finally host a World Cup," Wei said.
He also came out in favor of the United States winning the 2022 bid and took aim at Qatar, over fears that an Asian winner would jeopardize China's chances in 2026.
FIFA rules dictate that no continent can host the World Cup twice in a row.
"Qatar is so hot. Even though the country is rich enough to build venues with air conditioning system. But what's the population of that country? How can they fill their venues with people?" Wei told the newspaper.
Strict protocol prohibits candidates from discussing rival World Cup bids ahead of the vote in December for the 2018 and 2022 editions, but the contest for countries wanting to host the 2026 World Cup isn't even open yet, so China isn't bound by those guidelines.
"I'd rather hope U.S could win the bid, which means we'll have higher chance of success bidding for 2026," Wei was quoted as saying. "If FIFA decided to let an Asian country host the 2022 World Cup, then China will have to wait at least until 2030."
Wei this week reaffirmed China's interest in hosting the 2026 tournament during a press conference in Beijing but said, according to the Asian Football Confederation website, "I never said I don't want other Asian countries not to win it in 2022."
The talk of China bidding for 2026 World Cup brought a less than supportive response from AFC President Mohamed Bin Hammam, a native Qatari who was at the news conference.
Bin Hammam said the AFC is supporting the four Asian bidders for the 2022 tournament and that he "didn't want to jeopardize their chances."
Reaction from the four bidders to the Chinese threat has been mostly mixed, with only Japan acknowledging that a Chinese bid poses challenges. Qatar and Australian football officials declined to comment.
"I think any country has to take it seriously when a country with so huge a population and such strong economic growth puts itself forward as a candidate," Motoaki Inukai, chairman of Japan's bid and president of the Japan Football Association, said of a China bid. "For FIFA, China is definitely important when it comes to the development of football."
But South Korean officials dismissed a threat posed by China and said its intentions will not influence FIFA delegates when they choose the 2022 World Cup host.
"Since the Chinese haven't even formally registered a bid yet, I don't think the fact that they've shown interest in hosting the World Cup in 2026 will weaken our chances," said Han Sung-joo, chairman of South Korea's World Cup bidding committee.
If China does manage to win the 2026 bid, it would hail a starling turnaround for a nation that has languished in Asian football despite its massive population and interest in the sport. In its favor was China's successful staging of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, which highlighted the country's ability to host a major event.
Its domestic league has been marred by corruption and the national squad was knocked out of 2010 World Cup qualifying last year, failing to make the top 10 sides in Asia. In its only World Cup appearance, when the finals were co-hosted by South Korea and Japan in 2002, China lost all three group games and failed to score a goal.
Although football remains hugely popular in China, many fans have given up on the local teams and instead closely follow the professional leagues in England, Spain, Germany and Italy.
But there are signs that China is attempting to improve its footballing image — to reflect is growing economic might and the passion for the sport that has been undaunted despite its recent troubles.
Newly appointed national team coach Gao Hongbo has set qualification for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil as a target in his quest to revitalize the beleaguered team. And Wei has vowed to clean up the local league and improve the performance of the national side by scheduling more matches and improving training techniques.
"In China, there is already a strong predisposition toward football," Chadwick said. "It's a captive audience and nobody has engaged that captive audience. I think 2026 is the opportunity for FIFA to engage that captive audience."
-- Michael Casey
FIFA delegation in SKorea to inspect World Cup bid
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A FIFA delegation arrived in South Korea on Thursday, the second leg of its tour to inspect bidders to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
The five-member team, led by Chilean football federation president Harold Mayne-Nicholls, landed at Seoul's Gimpo International Airport on Thursday to start a four-day trip.
The team is to inspect stadiums, communication facilities and a national football training center in South Korea, before traveling on to Australia on Sunday. The FIFA team inspected Japan before coming to South Korea.
FIFA will choose the 2022 World Cup host on Dec. 2.
South Korea, which co-hosted the 2002 World Cup with Japan, is competing with Australia, Qatar, Japan and the United States for the 2022 World Cup.
South Korea became the first Asian country to reach the semifinals of the World Cup during the 2002 tournament. During this year's World Cup in South Africa, South Korea advanced to the round of 16 for the first time on foreign soil.
Australia 2022 bid ethics cleared by FIFA
ZURICH (AP) — FIFA has cleared Australia's 2022 World Cup bid of wrongdoing, rejecting claims that illegal gifts were provided to the world soccer governing body.
FIFA says it reviewed the allegations but decided there were "no grounds to open a formal case."
FIFA said Thursday that it considered the matter closed, even though it reminded Australia's soccer federation about bidding rules.
FIFA started investigating last month after The Age newspaper reported some FIFA executive members were given jewelry and offered travel expenses.
The Australian federation said the pearl cufflinks and necklaces were presented at a private dinner after the FIFA Congress in Sydney in May 2008 — eight months before official campaigning began.
Elsewhere
SAfrica may have to drop Bafana Bafana nickname
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South Africa may have to drop its Bafana Bafana nickname because of copyright issues.
The South African Football Association is involved in a dispute with a local businessman who acquired the rights to the name in 1994. SAFA made a reported $10 million profit from the name during the World Cup.
"I want to avoid saying we are very angry about it," South African Football Association president Kirsten Nematandani said Thursday. "We are worried about it. We are concerned."
He said the future of the nickname was being discussed "at a national level."
Nematandani suggested the Bafana Bafana name, which SAFA uses on much of its official literature and is the popular term in South Africa for the national team, would have to be changed despite being "a national asset."
SAFA began an extended legal battle in 1997 to claim rights over Bafana Bafana, but South Africa's Supreme Court of Appeal dismissed in 2002 a SAFA motion that it had rights over Bafana Bafana.
There is no indication the current owners of the brand will sue SAFA for using the term, but the country's soccer association is unable to market it and make money from it.
The issue has also reached South Africa's parliament in Cape Town.
On Tuesday, the chairman of the influential parliamentary committee on sport said Bafana should be changed if the copyright issue wasn't resolved, forcing SAFA to address the problem.
"We brought it up because we felt that it was not doing us any good as an association," Nematandani said at SAFA's headquarters next door to the Soccer City stadium — the venue for the World Cup final.
Speaking at a press conference to outline new South Africa coach Pitso Mosimane's vision for the future of the national team, Nematandani said the public could be asked to choose a new nickname.
"It clearly has to be done the right way, but we cannot go on in this way. It is not proper, it is not correct," the SAFA president said. "The name of Bafana Bafana came from the public and we are throwing the ball back to the public."
Bafana Bafana means "the boys, the boys" in Zulu.
It is thought to have been used in the early 1990s by journalists in Soweto to refer to the national team after it was readmitted into international soccer after apartheid.
It was quickly picked up and is the affectionate name by which South African fans refer to their team.
In an Internet poll, it was voted one of the words of the recent World Cup — along with vuvuzela.
-- Gerald Imray
Premier League using technology for player ratings
LONDON (AP) — While FIFA talks of introducing technology to soccer, England's Premier League has signed its first official technology partner in a move they hope helps further popularize the sport in the United States.
Cameras will be installed at every Premier League stadium to provide material for analysis by video game publisher Electronic Arts in time for a planned overhaul of the league's official player ratings system for the 2011-12 season.
FIFA's lawmaking panel has yet to reconsider the use of goal-line technology since the World Cup, so the cameras cannot be used to aid officials with the sort of controversial decision that involved England at the tournament.
But they will be able to track players' movements for what EA Sports and the Premier League hopes will be enhanced analysis of the game including shooting speed and distance covered.
The stats may help the sport compete with baseball and football in areas previously resistant to its appeal.
"As someone who lives in the United States and went over there in the 1970s, but also someone who understands American sports very well, Americans need to statistically analyze everything and this is where soccer befuddles them sometimes because it's too fluid," EA Sports global president Peter Moore said Thursday. "That U.S. consumer that is used to waking up the next morning and being able to look at every baseball box score."
The Premier League will continue to provide its existing player index, which placed Frank Lampard top in 2009-10, for next season. The new cameras should be at all 20 clubs for the Aug. 14 kickoff so that EA and the league can spend a full year working on how to improve the index.
"We're going to be collecting a lot of that information by camera, a lot of new information as well," Premier League director of sales and marketing Richard Masters said. "The challenge for us is to work out how that information can be used to enhance the performance of the performance index. How do you make it more objective?
"It's an important part of how we market the league. We need to be providing an enhanced product."
EA's deal with the Premier League will see the EA Sport name and logo attached to the player index and team of the week, which are published after each full round of weekend action.
Neither party would disclose the financial details of the arrangement.
"We're not discussing dollars or pounds or euros but it's a great deal for us," Moore said.
Moore, a British-born Liverpool fan, said EA's involvement will lead to far more accurate ratings.
He said that the data and technology used in the development of 18 editions of EA's FIFA soccer game and 22 editions of its Madden NFL game allowed it to successfully predict six months ago that Spain would win the World Cup and pick six of the last seven NFL Super Bowl winners.
EA predicts that Chelsea will retain the Premier League title in 2011 by two points from Manchester City. Moore stressed that the prediction is likely to change as player trading continues until the end of the summer transfer window.
"Pure data, pure telemetry, very objective to move the game forward," Moore said. "In the United States for many years there's been the technology element of being able to rate performance on an objective basis, rather than the 'let's give him 6 out of 10' mentality that you've seen over the years."
FIFA confirmed this week that goal-line technology will be discussed at October's International Football Association Board meeting, but only to decide if it is on the agenda for its subsequent meeting in March.
IFAB this week approved the continuation of an experiment using extra officials behind the goals. That could be permanently adopted instead of video technology.
The debate on goal-line technology was rekindled at the World Cup last month when England was denied a goal against Germany because officials failed to see that a shot by Lampard crossed the line after bouncing off the crossbar.
Had the goal been awarded, the score would have been 2-2 after 38 minutes. Instead, Germany went on to win the second-round match 4-1.
"Even baseball now allows video replay — and baseball's been played as long as soccer's been played at a professional level — for controversial home run calls," Moore said. "And that's the equivalent of a goal.
"It is a little part of why we're starting to think ourselves we need to help bring the game on a par to where we're seeing other sports around the world."
-- Stuart Condie
Fulham's move for Jol broke down over Ajax refusal
LONDON (AP) — Fulham's attempt to hire Martin Jol as manager broke down over Ajax's refusal to release him from his contract.
Jol said Thursday that he will stay in Amsterdam and Fulham said it did all it could to bring Jol to west London, even agreeing to a contract with the Dutchman.
"Ajax were not willing to allow him to leave under any circumstances," Fulham said in a statement. "When Fulham commenced negotiations with Martin Jol, the club was informed that an exit clause existed in his contract with Ajax.
"Subsequent negotiations revealed that the clause was no longer valid and Ajax position remained steadfast in their desire to keep their manager."
Fulham thanked Ajax for its conduct in negotiations, which have now ended.
British bookmakers now rate David Jones, the manager of English second-tier side Cardiff, as favorite for the Fulham job. Former England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson is next, followed by United States coach Bob Bradley.
Whoever comes in has a tough act to follow in west London.
Roy Hodgson saved Fulham from seemingly certain relegation in 2008 after returning to his native England, and guided the Cottagers to an all-time best seventh place a year later.
Fulham dipped to 12th last season but made it to only the second major final in the club's 131-year history before losing 2-1 to Atletico Madrid in Hamburg.
But Hodgson's success raised his profile further and he joined Liverpool on July 1.
Jol spent three years in charge of Tottenham in the Premier League until he was fired in October 2007.
"I can't leave the club at the moment," Jol said Thursday. "I came here last summer to be successful, build a good team and have fun.
"And those three things are also important for me in the coming season."
Jol added that he is happy to stay in Amsterdam despite concerns over the former European power's financial position.
Jol has made no secret of wanting to strengthen Ajax's squad but has had trouble getting money for players from the cash-strapped club. Fears that it would not be possible made him take Fulham's approach seriously.
"The club and I share one another's concerns. Everybody knows that Ajax has financial problems," Jol told the Ajax website.
Ajax has sold forwards Marko Pantelic and Dennis Rommedahl in recent weeks along with midfielders Kennedy Bakircioglu and Gabri but has not bought any players to replace them.
It also faces the strong possibility of losing last season's top scorer, Uruguay striker Luis Suarez, after his high-profile World Cup campaign that included three goals and an extra-time, goal-line handball against Ghana that helped Uruguay reach the semifinals, where it lost to the Netherlands.
Right back Gregory van der Wiel and goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg, who both starred for in the Netherlands' run to the World Cup final, also could leave during the transfer season.
Jol's final few months with Tottenham were also dogged by reports of unhappiness with the amount of control he had over finances and player signings.
The club spent heavily on players against his wishes, according to British newspapers, and the previously improving team suddenly faltered. He was fired in October 2007 despite having taken the north London club to two straight fifth-place finishes in his only two full seasons in charge — the team's highest position since 1990.
But despite Tottenham being in the relegation zone when he left, Jol remained popular with supporters for his achievements and forthright demeanor.
Fans chanted his name in support at White Hart Lane as news of his impending departure filtered through during his final game in charge.
He spent the 2008-09 season at Hamburg, taking the team to fifth place in Germany's Bundesliga as well as the semifinals of the UEFA Cup and German Cup.
Jol said he is now turning his focus to next week's Champions League qualifier against Greek club PAOK.
"And we want to strengthen the team," he said. "We are going to look to the future with the club and do our best to quickly get the team up to the desired level."
In his first season in charge of Ajax, Jol led the club to second place in the Dutch league and won the domestic cup.
-- Staurt Condie
Coach, players questioned by police after brawl
SAO PAULO (AP) — Former Brazil coach Emerson Leao and three of his Goias players were taken to a police station for questioning after a fight with reporters in a Brazilian league match.
Leao and the players were not arrested, but authorities said they will face a criminal process for their role in the brawl after Goias' 2-2 draw with Vitoria on Wednesday in Salvador.
Television reports showed Leao arguing with a radio reporter and shoving him out of the way. Striker Rafael Moura was later seen throwing a hard punch at the reporter, sending him to the ground.
Other players and reporters got involved as Vitoria fans loudly cheered from the stands, and police had to intervene to keep the fight from escalating. Goias team directors and security guards also were in the melee.
The fight apparently began because Leao was upset with the refereeing and didn't want to be interviewed after the match. Goias was leading 2-0 before Vitoria rallied for a tie late in the match.
Leao was heard complaining that the reporter, Roque Santos, was "putting the microphone to my mouth." He raised his finger near the reporter's face before pushing him away.
Santos was upset, and some players came to help separate the two. But others went after the journalist, throwing punches and trying to kick him. Moura ran at full speed toward Santos and struck him with a powerful right-handed punch.
Leao later tried to go after Santos but was unable to get near him.
Santos went to the police station to talk to authorities after the match. He told local media that he went to interview the coach to ask what happened to his team.
Santos said he plans to sue Leao, Moura and the other two Goias players allegedly involved, midfielder Romerito and striker Marcao. Moura reportedly tried to apologize to Santos for punching him.
Leao did not talk to other reporters after the brawl. Goias president Syd de Oliveira accused local media of "provoking" Leao and his players.
"Everyone saw that the reporter struck Leao with the microphone when the coach was trying to talk to the referee," Oliveira told local media.
Leao, a former Brazil goalkeeper who coached the national team in 2002, is known for his temper on and off the field. He's had confrontations with fans, team directors and the media throughout his coaching career. In 2008, he was attacked and beaten by a group of men connected to his former team Santos when he visited the club.
Goias is 14th in the 20-team Brazilian league standings.
-- Tales Azzoni
Maradona swears loyalty to Venezuela's Chavez
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Diego Maradona heaped praise on President Hugo Chavez during a visit to Venezuela on Thursday, saying he'll support the socialist leader until he dies.
"It's an honor to be at his side because his fights for his ideals, for the people, for his country," Maradona told journalists at the presidential palace as he stood alongside Chavez. "I'm with him until death."
Maradona also said he plans to travel to Cuba to visit Fidel Castro "if everything goes well" after meeting with Argentine Football Association president Julio Grondona next week, when he's expected to announce that he'll remain the coach of Argentina.
He told journalists that Castro looks healthy and mentally alert — something that probably doesn't sit well with some officials in Washington.
"I saw him doing very well on television, very lucid," said Maradona, adding that U.S. officials "want to see him dead."
Chavez warmly welcomed his guest.
"We admire you," Chavez said, calling his guest "a defender" of Latin America.
Maradona was mobbed by dozens of enthusiastic fans when he arrived on Wednesday at Simon Bolivar International Airport. Adoring fans waved Venezuelan and Argentine flags.
Maradona and Chavez are friends who share a love for sports and leftist political ideals.
Maradona has repeatedly boasted of his friendships with Chavez and Castro. During one visit to Venezuela he praised Chavez — a self-proclaimed "Marxist" — as a great leader who was needed by the poor in Latin America.
The football great has a tattoo of Argentine-born revolutionary Ernesto "Che" Guevara on his right shoulder and another of Castro on his left leg. And he's expressed the desire to get another tattoo — of Chavez.
Maradona lived for several years in Cuba while recovering from drug addiction. There he made friends with the Castro brothers, who have become Chavez's closest allies.
-- Christopher Toothaker
Adriano hoping to link up with Totti and Vucinic
ROME (AP) — New AS Roma striker Adriano said he hopes to form a potent three-pronged attack with Francesco Totti and Mirko Vucinic.
Adriano has signed a three-year contract with Roma, which finished second last season, two points behind champion Inter Milan.
"I like the idea of the trident. We would have to work hard, but it could be possible for us to play together, Totti in the middle and me and Mirko (Vucinic) either side." The Brazilian told reporters on Thursday. "The understanding between us would improve with time."
Adriano previously had three spells with Inter and scored 48 goals in 123 games. He also scored six times in 15 matches for Fiorentina and hit 23 goals in 37 games with Parma.
His spells with Inter ended on a sour note, however, as he struggled with problems off the pitch following the death of his father, while his weight rose to more than 100 kilograms (220 pounds).
"I felt sad and alone," Adriano said. "Then I went back to Brazil and I improved as a man thanks to my family and my friends. Now I am fine."
For Brazil he has made 49 appearances and scored 27 goals. He was part of the team that won the 2004 Copa America and the 2005 Confederations Cup and scored twice in the 2006 World Cup.
However, despite joining Flamengo in 2009 in an attempt to win back his place in the Brazil squad, he was overlooked by coach Dunga for the World Cup in South Africa.
"Roma means so much to me," Adriano said. "I know I did unpleasant things and I can't repeat them, but now I am here to get back to the level I used to be. I want to show what sort of player I am and try to get back in the Brazil team."
Adriano has been on a strict fitness regime since joining Roma in June, but has promised to be fit for the start of the season.
"I would rather not look at the scales," he said. "I stopped for three months, but I can say that within a month I will be near my best physical form."
Sanchez Flores hopeful Simao stays at Atletico
MADRID (AP) — Atletico Madrid coach Quique Sanchez Flores hopes Simao Sabrosa remains with the Europa League champions, while fellow Portugal midfielder Tiago looking unlikely to stay.
"He was an important element in last year's team," Sanchez Flores said of Simao on Thursday. "If Simao stays, that would be great, but it's up to the club and the player to take the decision."
Tiago appears set to return to Juventus after joining Atletico on loan in January.
"I'm left with nothing but a good impression and nice image of him," Sanchez Flores said. "Whether he stays or not, whatever happens, I'd just like to say his work with the club was admirable."
Simao and Tiago played in the 2-1 win over Fulham in the Europa League final in May.
While the club's two Portugal internationals futures were uncertain, Sanchez Flores said negotiations with Deportivo La Coruna over the transfer of left back Filipe Luis continued.
"I can't talk about him like a signing because the deal hasn't been closed yet," the former Valencia and Getafe coach said. "It's still being negotiated."
Sanchez Flores said the team's preseason training had started well, with World Cup Golden Ball winner Diego Forlan and Argentina striker Sergio Aguero still on holiday.
Atletico can win another trophy when it plays Champions League winner Inter Milan in the European Supercup final on Aug. 27. Atletico opens the Spanish league season three days later against Sporting Gijon.
"The players are in good shape, with a lot of desire," he said. "Let's not forget they've all returned with the extra motivation that comes with starting a new season with a final."
UEFA excludes debt-hit Mallorca from Europa League
NYON, Switzerland (AP) — Debt-ridden Mallorca said it was surprised to be excluded by UEFA on Thursday from playing in this season's Europa League.
The Spanish club went into voluntary administration in May with debts of a reported €60 million ($77 million).
The UEFA control and disciplinary body said Mallorca did not fulfill "the necessary admission criteria as the license of the club was not granted in accordance" with the competition's regulations.
Mallorca said in a statement on it's website that UEFA's decision came as a "surprise," especially since UEFA offered no "legal arguments."
Mallorca disputed it was not conforming to regulations, saying it received its UEFA license on May 14.
It said it would wait until it received the full decision from UEFA before deciding on how to proceed. Mallorca has three days to appeal Thursday's decision to the UEFA appeal panel. It can then go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport if it proves unsuccessful there.
Villarreal takes Mallorca's place for the Aug. 6 draw.
Mallorca finished fifth in the Spanish league last season, and was in the Champions League hunt until the final round of games.
Riera expected to complete Olympiakos switch
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Liverpool winger Albert Riera is expected to complete a move to Greek side Olympiakos on Friday.
More than 1,000 Olympiakos fans gathered at Athens Airport on Thursday to greet Riera, who has publicly expressed his frustration at being unable to establish himself as a first-team regular at Anfield.
The Greek club has made no official statement about the likely deal.
The 28-year-old Riera failed to make Spain's squad for this summer's World Cup, although fellow Liverpool players Fernando Torres and Pepe Reina were included.
Olympiakos finished second behind Panathinaikos in the Greek league last season, and lost out on a Champions League spot to PAOK in the playoffs.
Brazil's Cruzeiro to sign Argentine striker Farias
SAO PAULO (AP) — Cruzeiro says it has reached a deal to sign Argentine striker Ernesto Farias from FC Porto.
The 30-year-old Farias, who has won two Portuguese titles in his three seasons with Porto, is expected to sign a three-year contract with the Brazilian club.
He previously played for Argentine clubs Estudiantes and River Plate, as well as for Italian team Palermo.
Farias was acquired in exchange for the full transfer of defender Maicon, who has already been playing for Porto for a year.
Cruzeiro, a two-time Brazilian champion, is currently sixth in the 20-team Brazilian league standings.
Mourinho could be Madrid's only galactico signing
MADRID (AP) — New coach Jose Mourinho may turn out to be Real Madrid's biggest offseason signing as the Spanish giant looks to bolster its squad without signing superstar players.
Madrid official Emilio Butragueno says Madrid is "strengthening the team and it doesn't necessary have to be achieved with super-famous players."
Madrid has so far spent a reported €40 million ($52 million) on Angel Di Maria, Pedro Leon and Sergio Canales compared with over €250 million on "galacticos" Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Karim Benzema and Xabi Alonso last summer. It has gone trophyless for two straight seasons.
Butragueno told Marca Radio that Maicon's excessive wage demands may impede the Brazil defender's move from Inter Milan.
Newcastle signs Gosling after his Everton exit
NEWCASTLE, England (AP) — Premier League newcomer Newcastle has signed Dan Gosling following the midfielder's exit from Everton on a legal technicality.
The 20-year-old Gosling left Everton when his contract expired at the end of last season and a tribunal ruled that he could move without a transfer fee despite his age placing him outside the usual conditions for a free transfer.
Everton had not put its verbal offer of a new contract to him in writing.
Gosling says "it's a brilliant move for me."
Smeltz back from China, stays with Gold Coast
GOLD COAST, Australia (AP) — New Zealand striker Shane Smeltz is back with Gold Coast United in Australia's A-League after his transfer to China's Shandong Luneng fell through due to what he described as "personal issues."
Smeltz scored New Zealand's goal in the 1-1 draw with 2006 champion Italy at the World Cup last month and has been one of the A-League's most prolific scorers, netting 40 goals in 65 matches since 2007.
The 28-year-old Smeltz spent several days in China before returning to Australia.
Smeltz, who has two years left on his Gold Coast contract, could still leave the club before the Aug. 31 transfer deadline, with overseas clubs apparently interested in him after his World Cup performance.
South Korea defender Lee set for move to Al Sadd
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea defender Lee Jung-soo said Thursday he will join Qatari club Al Sadd from Japan's Kashima Antlers.
"I've been given an opportunity to play in a different football culture and I've decided to take the challenge," Lee told Kashima's official website.
The 30-year-old Lee scored two goals for South Korea during the World Cup, against Greece and Nigeria, to help qualify the team for the knockout stages, where it lost to Uruguay in the last 16.
Lee's agent said earlier on Thursday that the defender planned to sign a formal contract over the weekend to join Al Sadd.
Vittek joins Tukish side Ankaragucu
LILLE, France (AP) — Slovakia striker Robert Vittek has joined Turkish side MKE Ankaragucu from French club Lille for an undisclosed fee.
Vittek, who spent five months on loan with the Turkish club last season, played 38 matches with Lille and scored seven goals.
The 28-year-old Vittek, who also played for Bratislava and Nuremberg, scored four goals at the World Cup in South Africa as Slovakia reached the second round of the tournament.
Lille confirmed the move on Thursday but didn't give any details about the player's new contract.
Paraguay's Alcaraz completes move to Wigan
WIGAN, England (AP) — Wigan has completed the signing of Antolin Alcaraz after the Paraguay defender was granted the work permit he needs to play in the English Premier League.
The 27-year-old Alcaraz agreed to join Wigan in May, signing a three-year contract. He arrives on a free transfer after his contract with FC Brugge expired.
Alcaraz scored Paraguay's opening goal at the World Cup in the 1-1 draw against Italy, and helped Paraguay reach its first ever quarterfinal, where it lost 1-0 to eventual champion Spain.
Wigan manager Roberto Martinez said Thursday that Alcaraz was "one of the very best at this summer's World Cup."
Germany defender Westermann signs for Hamburg
HAMBURG, Germany (AP) — Germany defender Heiko Westermann has left Schalke to sign for Bundesliga rival Hamburger SV.
Hamburg says Westermann signed a four-year contract on Thursday after terminating his contract with Schalke.
Westermann missed the World Cup with an ankle injury.
Mallorca signs keeper Aouate to 2-year extension
PALMA DE MALLORCA, Spain (AP) — Mallorca has signed Dudu Aouate to a two-year contract extension that keeps the Israel goalkeeper at the Spanish club until 2013.
The 32-year-old Aouate helped Mallorca to a fifth-place finish last season, his first at the club.
Aouate also played at Spanish clubs Racing Santander and Deportivo La Coruna after moving from Maccabi Haifa in 2003.
Tax office seizes Bolivian federation assets
LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — Tax authorities in Bolivia have impounded assets of the country's football federation and frozen its bank accounts, looking to recover a reported $3.4 million in unpaid taxes.
Roberto Ugarte, president of the national tax authority SIN, said on Thursday that three vehicles and two properties had been seized. Urgate said the assets would be auctioned if the tax bill was not paid.
The move comes days before an election in which the two most powerful men in Bolivian football are running for re-election to their positions: Carlos Chavez as the president of the Bolivian Football Federation and Mauricio Mendez, president of Bolivia's professional league.
Leaders of three of Bolivia's nine regional associations have gone on hunger strikes, hoping to apply pressure to postpone the election.
Woman suffers severe burns at match in Germany
MOENCHENGLADBACH, Germany (AP) — Police say a woman sustained severe burns when she was hit by fireworks lit by fans at an exhibition match in Germany between Istanbul rivals Galatasaray and Fenerbahce.
Police in Moenchengladbach say the 19-year-old woman was taken to a special clinic Wednesday night with third-degree burns to her back. Two other people were treated for light burns.
The match, which Fenerbahce won 1-0, was interrupted for 10 minutes at one point because of smoke from the fireworks. More than 34,000 people attended the match.
Police said several people suspected of throwing fireworks were arrested.
