Soccer Capsules: Suarez's two goals put Uruguay into Copa America final
QUARTERFINALS
Saturday, July 16
At Cordoba, Argentina
Peru 2, Colombia 0, OT
At Santa Fe, Argentina
Uruguay 1, Argentina 1, Uruguay won 5-4 on penalty kicks
Sunday, July 17
At La Plata, Argentina
Paraguay 0, Brazil 0, Paraguay won 2-0 on penalty kicks
At San Juan, Argentina
Venezuela 2, Chile 1
SEMIFINALS
Tuesday, July 19
At La Plata, Argentina
Uruguay 2, Peru 0
Wednesday, July 20
At Mendoza, Argentina
Paraguay vs. Venezuela, 8:45 p.m.
THIRD PLACE
Saturday, July 23
At La Plata, Argentina
Peru vs. Paraguay-Venezuela loser, 8:45 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Sunday, July 24
At Buenos Aires
Uruguay vs. Paraguay-Venezuela winner, 8:45 p.m.
LA PLATA, Argentina (AP) — Luis Suarez scored in the 53rd and 58th minutes to lead Uruguay past Peru 2-0 on Tuesday and into the Copa America final.
Uruguay, which reached the semifinals of last year's World Cup, will be looking for a record-15th Copa America title in Sunday's final against either Paraguay or Venezuela, which meet in the other semifinal Wednesday in Mendoza. The final will be played Sunday in Buenos Aires.
Peru, which was the worst team in South American World Cup qualifying just a year ago, has been one of the surprises of the South American championship and has played without its top two forwards Jefferson Farfan and Claudio Pizarro.
Suarez added some spark after a disappointing first half of few chances and little sustained possession.
"The first half was tough because we knew Peru would be very defensive," Liverpool striker Suarez said. "We had to try to take advantage of some chance to score. The goal in the first few minutes was a big blow to Peru."
Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez took Suarez off after the two goals, saving him for Sunday.
"It is one thing with Suarez, it is another without him in the final," Tabarez said. "He (Suarez) is a great forward, an elite player among forwards in the world. ... He often determines the outcome as he did today."
Sergio Markarian, who was born in Uruguay, took over Peru's team a year ago and has improved it quickly.
"We played in this tournament against teams that had almost 100 percent of their players playing abroad," Markarian said. "You could tell in their experience, sense of how to play the match. ... But we are working hard to get better."
Diego Forlan set up the first goal in the 53rd, taking a long, low shot that Peru keeper Raul Fernandez dived to his left to save. But Suarez swarmed on the rebound and sent the ball into the open net from a sharp angle with Fernandez sprawled on the ground.
Suarez struck again five minutes later when he took a pass near midfield that split two defenders, then broke for goal. When Fernandez came out to stop him, he stepped around to his right and rolled the ball into an open net.
Peru's Juan Vargas was shown a red card in the 69th minute.
Peru had its best scoring chance in the 84th when Uruguay keeper Fernando Muslera leaped high to stop Paolo Guerrero's long shot. The ball slipped from Muslera's hand, but he covered up quickly just inches from the goal line.
Uruguay, which is tied with Argentina with 14 Copa America titles, won its last Copa trophy in 1995. It was the runner-up in 1999, losing to Brazil which had won four of the last five Copa America titles entering this tournament.
Uruguay, a country of only 3.5 million, is fielding nearly the same team it did a year ago, when it also went further in the World Cup than South America's two giants.
Brazil and Argentina both lost on penalties in the Copa America quarterfinals. Brazil lost to Paraguay and Argentina went down against Uruguay.
Chile, which had been the best team in the group stage, was upset by Venezuela 2-1 in the quarterfinals.
Venezuelans cheer Copa America feat, look to semis
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela's unprecedented run to the Copa America semifinals has cut across the country's deep political divisions.
The national team's 2-1 victory over Chile on Sunday night dominated talk in Caracas, pushing aside speculation about President Hugo Chavez's cancer treatment in Cuba.
Fans poured onto the streets immediately after the win, and fireworks filled the sky above the city of about 5 million people. In anticipation of the semifinal Wednesday against Paraguay, fans are proudly wearing the burgundy national jerseys that give the team its nickname "Vinotinto" (red wine).
It's a rare show of common cause in a country where supporters and opponents of Chavez feud bitterly.
"Sports unite us. Politics divide us," said Daniel Farinez, a 30-year-old security guard who has closely followed the matches in Argentina. The country seems "super united," he said.
"I think Venezuela is going to end up the champion," he added. "Venezuela is a team that's inspired."
The satirical Venezuelan website El Chiguire Bipolar — which translates as "The Bipolar Capybara" — posted a parody quoting politicians on both sides of the divide urging the country to put a stop to "the unity and the happiness surrounding soccer so that President Chavez can be talked about again."
"It's important for Venezuelans to remember the differences that we've worked so hard to emphasize," the parody quoted one politician as saying. "It's time for Venezuelans to hate each other once again."
Chavez himself cheered the team's victory over Chile in messages on Twitter. He said he watched the match along with former Cuban President Fidel Castro.
"I pay supreme tribute to our boys of the Glorious Vinotinto!!" read one message. "Viva Venezuela!! We will live and we will win!!"
A crowd watched Sunday's match on a big-screen television set up in one Caracas plaza, and similar gatherings were being planned for Wednesday.
Venezuela has long been known for its standout baseball players, but interest in soccer has recently grown as the national team has improved.
The Venezuelan sports newspaper El Meridiano summed up a widely held view in a headline Tuesday: "Better physical preparation, tactical discipline and multiplication of talent placed Venezuela at the doors of a final."
After Venezuela's opening 3-3 draw against Paraguay, some fans said they expected a tough contest in the semifinals.
"The game is going to be very tight tomorrow. Paraguay is a strong team," said Alberto Vazquez, a 60-year-old retiree who was wearing the Venezuelan team jersey in a Caracas plaza.
"We have hopes of at least getting third place," Vazquez said. He added that if Venezuela were to be champion, there would be "four or five days of celebrations."
-- Ian James
Maradona blames Batista, Grondona for Copa flop
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Diego Maradona has chided his successor as Argentina's national team coach, saying if he were Sergio Batista he "would stay home" and not venture outside.
Maradona spoke publicly for the first since Argentina was knocked out of the Copa America quarterfinals, warning in a Tuesday radio interview that Lionel Messi and other top players could get frustrated with losing and stop playing for the national team.
He also criticized Julio Grondona, the president of the Argentine Football Association, blaming him for many of the problems that surround Argentina's national team.
"If I had won only one game in the Copa America, I would have quit," Maradona said.
Argentina defeated an inexperienced Costa Rica team in the Copa America, drew two other matches and was beaten by Uruguay in the quarterfinals.
By comparison, Maradona won four of five matches in the 2010 World Cup — against Nigeria, South Korea, Greece and Mexico — before losing 4-0 to Germany in the quarterfinals.
Grondona dismissed Maradona after the World Cup, partly because the famous Argentine star declined to fire some of his assistant coaches.
"I can't talk a lot about (the Copa America) because I didn't see the games." Maradona said. "When the players come on the field, it's like a knife being twisted inside me."
He said from the little he knew of the matches, players were "1,000 percent happier" playing for him than Batista.
He said his "biggest fear" was that Messi and other top players "would get bored and not want to come and wear the Argentina shirt."
Maradona also continued his running battle with Grondona.
"Here Don Julio (Grondona) does what he wants, and if they don't realize he's doing a bad job, what can I do?" Maradona said. "God help them."
He also rejected any suggestion he would return as Argentina coach. He has signed to coach Dubai team Al Wasl.
"I had to go to Dubai to find a job, unfortunately far from my country," Maradona said.
U.S. Soccer
New stadium, new name, new attitude for MLS in K.C.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Davy Arnaud remembers gazing into the stands at Arrowhead Stadium on a crisp March day and nearly being able to count the number of fans.
The midfielder was playing for the Major League Soccer club in Kansas City against Costa Rican club Deportivo Saprissa. It was a quarterfinal of the CONCACAF Champions League, and Arnaud estimates there were about 400 people that day — which means nearly 80,000 empty seats were staring right back at him.
"I've seen it in a lot different times, for sure," Arnaud said.
Fast forward six years and Arnaud's place on the team is about all that's remained the same.
The club has changed its name from the Kansas City Wizards to Sporting Kansas City, a rebranding this season designed to forge a new identity while emulating its European counterparts. The team practices in a plush facility in Kansas City, Mo., and plays in Livestrong Sporting Park, a $200 million stadium on the Kansas side of the state line that opened a few weeks ago to rave reviews.
Just about every game at the soccer-specific stadium has been close to a sellout, a far cry from the days at the home of the NFL's Chiefs. Local television ratings are booming, sponsors are coming on board and the club is becoming a fixture on talk radio shows.
"There's no doubt in my mind how far we've come just in the time I've been in the league," said Arnaud, the club's captain and elder statesman. "It's pretty phenomenal when you look at it."
The success on the business front has translated to the pitch, where Sporting Kansas City is riding an 11-match unbeaten streak against MLS teams. Omar Bravo and Matt Besler were recently selected as All-Stars, and Brazilian standout Jeferson arrived this week from Brazil as only the third designated player in club history.
He's expected to make his debut Wednesday night when Sporting plays a friendly against Premier League club Newcastle United.
"I feel very fortunate to be in Kansas City, where the infrastructure is laid out for you," said Jeferson, who had offers to play for other clubs in other countries but chose Sporting in part because of the facilities. "Myself and many other players in Brazil don't have that available to us."
It wasn't long ago that players in Kansas City didn't have it available to them, either.
The club was successful almost from its start in 1996, with charismatic players like Preki carving out a niche among local soccer die-hards. But despite winning the league title in 2000, the franchise was always a bit of a red-headed stepchild on the city's sports landscape, taking a backseat to the Chiefs and Royals — regardless of the fact neither of those teams was consistently competing for championships.
Things started to change in 2006, when a group of five local investors purchased the club from Lamar Hunt for about $20 million and made a commitment to keeping soccer in Kansas City.
They immediately set about upgrading the infrastructure, which included the construction of a new training facility in Swope Park and the financing of a new stadium near Kansas Speedway, pouring into the franchise the kind of money that Hunt was reluctant to spend — and with the kind of passion that had so often been missing.
"I think being local means a lot to our community," said Robb Heineman, a venture capitalist and one of the five principal owners. "People are buying in. Even if they're not necessarily soccer fans, they're fans of what we're trying to create, and they'll give us a chance to make them soccer fans."
That's been evident in the spinning turnstiles at Livestrong Sporting Park, which Heineman believes will "define the American-soccer experience" by combining the unique intimacy of soccer-specific European stadiums with premium seating and upscale amenities that have become the norm in the United States.
Throughout the facility, Cisco Connected Sports Solutions offers high-definition video, interactive fan services and digital content. There are more than 150 WiFi access points and 330 high-definition televisions, as well as the ability for fans to order food and beverages without leaving their seats.
The result has been a significant uptick in attendance.
After averaging 10,287 fans for 15 home dates last season, when games were played in the cramped confines of a minor league baseball stadium, Sporting Kansas City has averaged 18,107 through the first five games in its new digs. And for the first time since 2004 — and the second time ever — the club is averaging more fans for its home games than for those played on the road.
Former player and current coach Peter Vermes believes those figures illustrate a couple of points: The franchise has established a consistent and growing fan base in Kansas City; and people no longer view the team as just another entertainment option, but as a must-see attraction for even the casual sports fan.
"When I came as a player in 2000, if someone would have told me back then we'd have a training facility like we have, a $200 million stadium, we'd be bringing players from different parts of the world like we are now, I would have said you're absolutely nuts. There's no chance," Vermes said. "The progression that soccer has made in this city from the youth all the way up is absolutely incredible."
It doesn't hurt that the club has found some success between the white lines.
After getting off to a dismal start and at one point losing five straight games in April and early May, the club has been nearly unbeatable over the past two months. Sporting's only defeat since May 21 was to the Richmond Kickers in the U.S. Open Cup, and it has climbed into fifth place in the Eastern Conference.
The club plays 10 straight home games beginning Wednesday night, and 12 of the next 13 at their sparkling new stadium. That includes a high-profile visit from Landon Donovan, David Beckham and the Los Angeles Galaxy on Sept. 5, and a matchup with the conference-leading Philadelphia Union on Sept. 23.
"As an organization we're all jelling," Heineman said during a visit to the team's training facility Tuesday. "We have the stadium, and our performances on the road the last month have been much improved. All of us are trying to march to the beat of the same drummer."
-- Dave Skretta
Sounders add Manchester United to exhibition list
SEATTLE (AP) — Erik Friberg had to be a Manchester United fan growing up in Sweden. His father, a die-hard United supporter, wouldn't have it any other way.
So consider Peter Friberg the slightest bit torn come Wednesday night when his son takes the field for the Seattle Sounders FC against Manchester United in an exhibition on the Red Devils' American tour.
It's the only exhibition game this season for Seattle, but Man U adds another notch to the notoriety the young Sounders have created in Major League Soccer. In its inaugural season, the Sounders hosted Chelsea and FC Barcelona in exhibitions. Last year, it was Argentina's Boca Juniors highlighting the docket.
Now comes the richest franchise in the world.
"It's been my team since I was a little kid," said Friberg, Seattle's first-year midfielder. "It's my favorite team. It's a big game to me to play."
Friberg isn't alone in considering Wednesday night a marquee opportunity. Only two members of Seattle's current roster — goalkeeper Kasey Keller and midfielder Mauro Rosales — have ever gotten the chance to play against Manchester United. Keller is the only one to play a competitive match against the Red Devils during his lengthy career in Europe, his fondest memory being a 1-0 shutout of Man U while playing for Leicester City at Old Trafford in January 1998.
But Keller is the exception. Servando Carrasco spent most of this week talking about the performance of girlfriend Alex Morgan for the U.S. in the Women's World Cup, but was also relishing the chance to see the field against Man U.
"To be able to compare yourself with the best players in the world is a great opportunity for all of us, especially us young players," Carrasco said.
Even Seattle coach Sigi Schmid, who's held various coaching spots on different U.S. national teams, was excited at the chance to coach against Sir Alex Ferguson.
"It's an honor and a privilege certainly. I've been an admirer of his for a long time," Schmid said.
It'll be a mishmash of lineups for both sides as Seattle is wrapping up a hectic stretch of four matches in less than two weeks, while Wednesday night is just Man U's second preseason match after a 4-1 win over New England last week. Across all competitions, Seattle's unbeaten in its last 11 matches and surged into second place in the MLS Western Conference.
Keller, likely making his final appearance against a European side, would simply like to see how well his teammates can compete and not be concerned with the final score.
"Can we defend well as a team, can we make it difficult for them? That's what I'm looking for, not thinking a result. They're going to make a lot of changes, we're going to make a lot of changes. It's not set up for a result," Keller said. "I'm sure Alex (Ferguson) is telling them 'don't lose.' That's their mentality coming into this game. 'You guys are played a lot more than they are, you're expected to go get the result now go get it.'"
This is Man U's third trip to Seattle, but the time spent in the Pacific Northwest this time is serving as the bulk of its training on the American tour. The six days in the Northwest is the longest stint in one place during Man U's tour all leading up to its Premier League opener Aug. 14 at West Bromwich Albion. The Red Devils used the Seattle Seahawks vacant practice facility — thanks to the NFL lockout — on the shores of Lake Washington for the majority of their training and included a brief trip south to Portland, Ore., for a day of practice.
Ferguson said the focus of their training in Seattle centered on their speed of play.
"It gives us a good idea of how the strength of the MLS is now. It's improving, there's no question about that," Ferguson said. "It'll be a tough game for us. But we need that. We need to be stretched."
United also welcomed new goalkeeper David de Gea, who joined the team Sunday night. De Gea is coming over from Atletico Madrid and will compete with Anders Lindegaard for the starting spot after the retirement of Man U keeper Edwin van der Sar.
"Every season we go about it the same way," Man U winger Nani said. "Every player has to be ready to start the season. I'm happy with the players we've got. It is fantastic group."
From Seattle, the Red Devils head to Chicago for an exhibition Saturday night against the Fire. They'll play the MLS All-Stars at Red Bulls Arena on Wednesday and close out their American tour with a rematch of May's Champions League final against FC Barcelona outside Washington.
But the experience in Seattle might be a little different than what United has found in their past U.S. visits. About 65,000 are expected for the match, and the majority will be in the green and blue of Seattle — with a smattering of red throughout the stadium.
"I'm sure there's going to be some red in there and some Man U fans in there, but our fans are going to come out in droves as well," Schmid said. "It's a soccer celebration for our fans. It's a soccer celebration for them to be able to see the quality of players that Man United has and the international stars that they have. For us, it's a privilege, but on the same token, the team wants to play well."
-- Tim Booth
Sellout crowd expected for Wambach's homecoming
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) — Abby Wambach is coming home to an anticipated full house in Rochester in the U.S. women's soccer star's first game since a World Cup final loss to Japan last weekend.
The Sahlen's Stadium ticket office reported Tuesday morning that there are about 100 tickets left for the Women's Professional Soccer league game Wednesday night between Wambach's magicJack and the Western New York Flash. The downtown Rochester stadium's capacity is 13,500, though temporary bleachers have been added that would boost the total to about 15,000.
The draw has the potential to be record-setting in the WPS' three-year history. The league's attendance record stands at 14,832, set in the WPS' first game in 2009 at Los Angeles. Second on the list is a crowd of 8,076 that turned out in Rochester in May to watch Wambach make her first trip home this season in a 3-0 loss to the expansion Flash, who are led by Brazilian star Marta.
The 31-year-old Wambach is from suburban Pittsford. The first 1,000 fans will receive Wambach bobbleheads.
Also on hand for the game will be U.S. teammates Alex Morgan, who plays for the Flash, and magicJack's Megan Rapinoe.
The owner of south Florida-based magicJack, Dan Borislow, told the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle he expects Wambach to be tired, but will want to play.
Wambach led the U.S. with four goals in Germany, upping her World Cup career total to 13 which puts her third on the all-time scoring list.
She's had a busy schedule since returning to the U.S. on Monday. Joined by her U.S. teammates, Wambach was interviewed on ABC News "Good Morning America" on Tuesday. Later in the day, she and goalie Hope Solo were scheduled to appear on the "Late Show With David Letterman."
On Wednesday afternoon, Wambach, Morgan and Rapinoe are scheduled to attend what's billed as "a homecoming rally" at a mall outside of Rochester.
Torn Achilles' sidelines Rapids F Casey for season
COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (AP) — The Colorado Rapids will be without leading goal scorer Conor Casey for the rest of the season after the standout striker tore his Achilles' tendon in a game over the weekend in Seattle.
Casey will have surgery Wednesday in Denver to repair the tendon. He's expected to be sidelined for around eight months.
The injury occurred in the 38th minute of a 4-3 loss to the Sounders on Saturday. Casey slowly limped off the field and then into the locker room.
An MRI on Monday revealed the degree of the injury.
Casey, who turns 30 next week, has six goals this season for the defending MLS Cup champions. A Denver native, he is the Rapids' all-time leading goal scorer.
Elsewhere
Singaporean convicted of match-fixing in Finland
HELSINKI (AP) — A man from Singapore was sentenced to two years in prison Tuesday for bribing players in the Finnish soccer league in a case FIFA described as a breakthrough in the global effort against match-fixing and illegal betting.
The verdict against Wilson Raj Perumal and nine players from the local team in Rovaniemi, near the Arctic Circle, highlighted the reach of the billion-dollar betting scams that have rocked the sport this year.
Perumal was high on FIFA's list of suspects when he was arrested in February while using a false passport in Finland, triggering a probe that exposed the worldwide extent of match-fixing.
"The most significant part of the Finnish investigation has been the arrest of Perumal and the identification of his network and the way in which he operated internationally," FIFA security director Chris Eaton told The Associated Press. "His arrest has enabled us to put a more global context — and perhaps to alert a lot more people who otherwise didn't understand it — to the realities of match fixing as a global criminal activity."
FIFA has linked Perumal to "a conspiracy to fix matches in Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe and Central and South America," Eaton said.
Perumal has been linked to some notorious suspected fixes — involving a Zimbabwe national team tour of Asia, and a fake Togo team playing in Bahrain — including matches handled by a referee from Niger who's at the center of another FIFA global probe.
Perumal's case prompted FIFA to forge stronger links with Interpol and authorities in Asia, considered a hotbed of soccer corruption and illegal betting.
Yet it was in Finland, a faraway and unlikely setting, where Perumal's activities were exposed.
The Lapland District court said Perumal, who was also convicted of forgery and trying to flee from officials guarding him, netted about $210,000 for fixing results in Finnish league matches from 2008-11. The scam focused on the RoPS team from Rovaniemi.
The court handed suspended sentences ranging from six months to 20 months to seven Zambian and two Georgian players of the Rovaniemi team for accepting bribes of $15,000 to $56,000 each to affect the outcome of matches.
The court said 24 Rovaniemi matches were fixed, and that Perumal's involvement was proven in seven. It said he also fixed two other Finnish league matches, involving the Oulu and Mariehamn teams.
Perumal was "an associate" in a group of six people from Asia and Eastern Europe specializing in "manipulating football games globally," the ruling said. The syndicate allegedly made up to $2 million per game for match-fixing worldwide.
Perumal's role "included organizing games and tournaments, communicating with players, referees and other key persons, and developing new ideas regarding match-fixing," the court said.
Perumal's conviction is a second major defeat for fixers this year. A court in Bochum, Germany, jailed members of a Croatian-led syndicate who claimed to have fixed around 300 matches, including a World Cup qualifier and games in around a dozen European leagues.
Match-fixing scandals are also being investigated in Turkey, Italy, South Korea, Israel, Greece and El Salvador.
Eaton said FIFA had been "looking for Perumal for some time" before he showed up in Finland.
"We couldn't find him, quite frankly," Easton said. "He was not in Singapore. History will show that his arrest was, in fact, fortuitous. There was no police interest (in Finland) in Perumal for match-fixing. The interest was that he was in Finland on a false passport."
Prosecutors have said three other match-fixers were involved in the Rovaniemi case but they have not been able to establish their identities. They have also launched an investigation into Zeddy Saileti, a Zambian who played 16 seasons for RoPS before retiring in 2009. According to Tuesday's ruling, the players convicted in the case said that Saileti "instigated" the match-fixing at RoPS.
RoPS chairman Risto Niva said Saileti is believed to be in Zambia.
"These convictions are a very good thing," Niva told AP, adding that RoPS can now move on and "start fresh."
It wasn't immediately clear whether Perumal, who confessed to some of the charges, would appeal. His defense lawyer Pertti Poykko said Perumal did not want to comment on the verdict.
In Finland, first-time offenders who are sent to prison normally serve only half of their sentence, minus time served during the investigation. This means Perumal, who has no criminal record in Finland, could be released as early as February or March next year.
Last week, the Zimbabwe Football Association identified Perumal in its 160-page report into alleged match-fixing on national team tours to Asia from 2007-09. Officials, players and coaches were accused of taking bribes from betting syndicates to fix 15 matches. jZimbabwe captain Method Mwanjali and other players gave sworn statements admitting taking between $500 and $1,500 to lose matches by specific scores on a 2009 tour to Thailand and Malaysia.
FIFA President Sepp Blatter has said Zimbabwe players are facing life bans, and a FIFA team will visit the country next month to discuss likely sanctions, Eaton said.
Perumal came to worldwide media attention last September for allegedly sending a fake Togo team to Bahrain for an exhibition that the unwitting host easily won 3-0.
The referee in Bahrain, chosen by match organizers, was Ibrahim Chaibou of Niger. He is suspected of taking bribes to manipulate a string of international exhibitions, often by awarding penalties for hand ball violations. FIFA is investigating the exhibitions.
South Africa's 5-0 victory over Guatemala in May 2010 and Nigeria's 4-1 victory over Argentina last month are under suspicion.
FIFA said it was studying betting patterns during the Nigeria-Argentina match which "forms part of a wider ongoing FIFA investigation."
-- Graham Dunbar and Jari Tanner
Premier League hopes for goal technology by 2012
LONDON (AP) — The Premier League is hopeful technology will be used to rule on contentious goals from next year.
England's topflight has invested in the Hawk-Eye ball-tracking system, which is used in tennis and cricket, and chief executive Richard Scudamore is satisfied that the technology already exists to be deployed in football.
But a decision on allowing high-tech aids for referees won't come until FIFA's rule-making body, the International Football Association Board, meets to assess results from new trials in July 2012 — weeks before the English season starts.
"The whole point of the game is about scoring goals," Scudamore wrote in a document being sent to British legislators on Wednesday. "Players strain every sinew to either create or deny them, fans shout themselves hoarse exhorting their teams to score them, managers' and players' careers can be defined by them.
"The technology is available, it is the fairness that is important and the Premier League would introduce it tomorrow if it could. Now FIFA is constructively engaged we are hopeful the 2012-13 season is a realistic aim."
FIFA President Sepp Blatter hopes to have a system in place by the 2014 World Cup in Brazil after a mistake at the 2010 tournament persuaded him to end his long-standing opposition to technology.
In the last-16 stage, Frank Lampard's shot did not count for England despite bouncing down off the cross bar beyond the goal line. Blatter apologized to English officials after watching Germany's 4-1 win in South Africa.
Nine goal-line technology systems were tested at FIFA before the 125th IFAB annual meeting in March, but their accuracy was deemed unacceptable. Hawk-Eye, which has since been bought by Sony, did not take part in the trials.
UEFA President Michel Platini continues to champion the use of additional referees' assistants. The five-official system will be deployed at the 2012 European Championship after being tested in continental club matches.
-- Rob Harris
Guardiola wants Sanchez before Fabregas
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola's main priority this offseason is to reinforce the team's attack with Chile forward Alexis Sanchez, but confirmed the club is also negotiating with Arsenal for midfielder Cesc Fabregas.
"We need a forward. We have more players in midfield than in attack," Guardiola said Tuesday in his first news conference since lifting the Champions League trophy at Wembley Stadium earlier this summer.
"Bojan (Krkic) and Jeffren (Suarez) both want to leave, so the attack is more important."
While Barcelona will keep the main core of last season's championship squad, it will be challenged by a Real Madrid side that has bolstered its bench with a number of offseason signings.
"The number of games on the calendar is scary," said Guardiola, whose team will add the Club World Cup to its domestic and European competitions this season.
Guardiola highlighted that Sanchez's versatility suits Barca's offensive system which requires its forwards to constantly exchange positions to make its short passing game click.
"(Sanchez) is a young player who can play in all three positions in attack," Guardiola said. "He was the best fit for the profile of player we were looking for. We hope we can be lucky enough to bring him here."
Barcelona sports director Andoni Zubizarreta added that a deal with Sanchez's Italian club Udinese was "in the final stretch."
Guardiola is entering his fourth season at the helm of the Catalan giants, and reaffirmed that the club would "try to the very last minute" to also bring in Fabregas.
"Last season Arsenal didn't want to negotiate (for Fabregas). This year they have accepted to negotiate and we are working at it," Guardiola said. "The club has the money to sign him. We will try to the very end to bring him here. Until Aug. 31 there is time."
The former Barcelona player turned coach insisted that Fabregas' arrival would not create a logjam in a midfield already stocked with Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta and youngster Thiago Alcantara, who recently led Spain to the under-21 European championship.
"The midfield is our foundation," he said. "We can never have too many players. Cesc can help us in many ways."
Zubizarreta said that Bojan, who has struggled to break into the starting lineup since Guardiola's arrival, is close to leaving for Roma.
"A deal will be closed very soon," Zubizarreta said.
After a preseason tour in the United States, Barcelona opens the season on Aug. 14 against Real Madrid in the first leg of the Spanish Supercup.
Barcelona will then begin its campaign for a fourth straight Spanish league crowns under Guardiola.
-- Joseph Wilson
UAE player in trouble for backheeled penalty
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A United Arab Emirates soccer player whose backheeled penalty in a friendly against Lebanon has become an Internet sensation, faces possible sanctions for being "disrespectful."
Video of Theyab Awana's goal in UAE's 7-2 victory Sunday has become popular on YouTube.
Awana approached the ball to kick what would be a typical penalty, but spun and hit past the goalkeeper with his right backheel. Awana struted away smiling and several Lebanese players angrily screamed at him.
UAE manager Esmaeel Rashed told The National newspaper the move was "disrespectful" and that Awana could be punished. A meeting is set for late Tuesday in which the team will decide what action to take against Awana, including a possible suspension or fine.
"This should have not happened," Rashed told the newspaper. "I think what happened is disrespectful. We cannot accept anyone in our team who does not respect the opponent."
UAE coach Srecko Katanec was visibly angered by the shot and took Awana out of the match soon afterward.
"We will resolve this inside our team and there will be no more talking about it," Katanec said. "This is not respect, OK? I am unhappy. My reaction was normal. I took him out."
Rashed has said Awana has apologized to the team for the shot.
-- Michael Casey
Odemwingie recalled by Nigeria coach Siasia
ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Striker Peter Odemwingie was recalled to Nigeria's squad on Tuesday for next month's friendly against Ghana after ending a public spat with coach Samson Siasia.
Odemwingie was included in a 22-man squad for the match against the Black Stars in London on Aug. 9. Fenerbahce forward Emmanuel Emenike was also selected after he was arrested this month in Turkey in connection with a match-fixing investigation. He was released without charge.
Odemwingie was dropped for two games by Siasia after the West Bromwich Albion striker left a Nigeria training camp without permission in March. He missed June's 4-1 friendly win over Argentina and a 2-2 draw in Ethiopia in African Cup of Nations qualifying.
Last week the Nigeria Football Federation said Odemwingie and Siasia had settled their differences and the player was back in contention.
Siasia also called up midfielder Emmanuel Ekpo, who plays for Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer, and uncapped goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim in Tuesday's squad.
Siasia, who previously said Odemwingie would not be part of the national team until he apologized for leaving the camp, said there were "no problems" between him and the striker.
"We are now on the same page and things can move ahead in the best interest of Nigerian football," the coach said.
Nigeria will use the Ghana friendly to prepare for a Cup of Nations qualifier away in Madagascar in early September. Two-time African champion Nigeria is three points off Group B leader Guinea in the race for an automatic place at the 2012 continental championship in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.
Atletico signs young striker Lopez
MADRID (AP) — Atletico Madrid reinforced its attack on Tuesday with striker Adrian Lopez a day after the Spanish player won a legal dispute to break with his former club Deportivo La Coruna.
"I am happy to join a great club," Adrian said. "My goal is to reach the top in all the competitions we participate in."
Earlier this summer, Adrian won the Golden Boot award as he led Spain to the under-21 European Championship with a tournament-high five goals. The 23-year-old will possibly have to replace Argentine standout Sergio Aguero, who has said he wants to leave the club.
Deportivo, which was relegated last season, had tried to exercise an option to renew Lopez against his wishes, but a judge ruled in favor of the player.
Atletico will play in the Europa League after finishing in seventh place in La Liga last season.
Turkish federation postpones Super Cup game
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — The Turkish Football Federation has postponed the Turkish Super Cup final between Fenerbahce and Besiktas because both teams are implicated in a match-fixing probe.
Federation president Mehmet Aydinlar said Tuesday that the scheduled league start on Aug. 5 will also be evaluated after the federation receives evidence of alleged match-fixing collected prosecutors. The Super Cup final had been set for July 31. No new date has been set.
Prosecutors have charged about 30 people, including the president of league champion Fenerbahce and the deputy chairman and coach of Besiktas, in a probe involving 19 games that were allegedly fixed.
Ibrahim Akin of Istanbul Buyuksehir Belediye Spor, one of the suspects, reportedly said Tuesday that his confession confirming match-fixing was made under duress.
Blackburn calls off India trip after Mumbai bombs
BLACKBURN, England (AP) — Indian-owned Premier League club Blackburn on Tuesday called off a preseason trip to the country after last week's terror attack in Mumbai.
Blackburn, owned by poultry firm Venky's, was due to fly to the subcontinent on Wednesday ahead of a friendly on Friday in Pune, which is 150 kilometers (93 miles) from Mumbai.
But those plans have been abandoned after the triple bombing in India's financial hub last Wednesday killed 20 people.
"Safety is always our top priority and after detailed discussions with our security and legal advisers we have been left with no option other than to postpone," Blackburn said in a statement. "While everyone is obviously disappointed, we all accept the circumstances and the reasoning. We are now looking forward to the trip to India in a few weeks time."
Sion threatens away-match boycott in FIFA dispute
SION, Switzerland (AP) — FC Sion president Christian Constantin says the club could boycott away matches next season because of a FIFA transfer ban that stops offseason signings from playing. Constantin says Sion has no legal obligation to travel to its away games, including a July 31 visit to Neuchatel Xamax, because the case is so serious.
FIFA banned Sion from registering new players in 2011 after it induced goalkeeper Essam el-Hadary to break his contract with Egyptian club Al-Ahly in 2008. Sion claims it served the punishment cumulatively over several transfer windows.
The Swiss league backed FIFA last Friday, the day before Sion's opening match at home to Zurich. Sion won 1-0 despite being without six new signings, including former Barcelona midfielder Gabri Garci.
Villarreal signs midfielder Camunas
VILLARREAL, Spain (AP) — Villarreal has bolstered its squad with attacking midfielder Javier Camunas after reaching a deal with fellow topflight club Osasuna. Villarreal announced on Tuesday that Camunas will sign a three-year contract after he passes a medical exam. Spanish media reported the transfer was worth €2.3 million ($3.3 million).
The 31-year-old Camunas said it "will be nice to play in the Champions League" this season. Last season, Villarreal finished the Spanish league in fourth place.
Camunas, who scored seven goals in two seasons for Osasuna. could help replace Giuseppe Rossi if the Italy striker ends up leaving the club this summer.
Sporting says defender Valdes heading to Roma
GIJON, Spain (AP) — Sporting Gijon says it has reached a deal with Roma to send Spanish defender Jose Angel Valdes to the Italian club.
The Spanish club announced Tuesday that Valdes would be joining new coach Luis Enrique, a fellow Gijon native, at Roma next season. The 21-year-old Valdes played for Sporting in Spain's first division during the past two seasons.
Spanish media reports said Roma paid €4.5 million ($6.4 million) for the young left back, who had also drawn interest from Spanish champion Barcelona.
