No spitting rule in Romania amid swine flu fears

October 31, 2009

The Romanian Football League on Saturday called on players not to spit pitchside amid fears of potentially spreading swine flu.

“Following information linked to the spread of the H1N1 virus the League is recommending that officials of top flight clubs ask players and technical staff no longer to spit on the grass nor expel water used to rinse out their mouths,” the statement said.

“We suggest that coaches unable to desist (from spitting) wear a protective medical mask,” the League went on, adding, with a hint of irony, that they could also use a sealable receptacle for expelled saliva.

The League statement came at the end of a week which saw Romanian health authorities order the first school closure in the country after discovering 20 cases of swine flu among pupils in the northeastern town of Iasi.

More than 400 swine flu cases have been registered in Romania, none fatal.

Swine flu has become an increasing concern in football with last week’s French first division clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Marseille postponed after three Parisian players were diagnosed with the ailment.

Saturday’s second division French rugby match between Lyon OU and Tarbes was also called off after five Tarbes players were diagnosed as showing symptoms. Top flight side Castres had two matches postponed earlier in the season.

Spanish second division team Real Betis requested on Thursday that its game Sunday be postponed after 13 players became sick with the virus, which has also hit English Premier League sides Blackburn Rovers and Bolton.

However, UEFA said on Friday that European matches would go ahead as scheduled as long as clubs had sufficient fit players, barring any major logistical problem for local authorities.

The body made the statement ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League match between Dynamo Kiev and Inter Milan in the Ukrainian capital.

Ukraine had earlier confirmed its first swine flu deaths, prompting Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko to order schools and cinemas closed and ban public gatherings for three weeks to contain the spread of the virus.

BUCHAREST (AFP)

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Hoeness insists Ribery “bazaar” is over

July 14, 2009

Bayern Munich manager Uli Hoeness is insisting that haggling over the possible sale of the club’s midfield star Franck Ribery is over and the Frenchman will stay at the German club, TZ newspaper reported Tuesday.

Ribery is not for sale, Hoeness said: This is not a bazaar, he is going to stay and that’s it. We are not in the market for bargaining even for 70 million euros or more.”

The 26-year-old, a member of the Bayern squad for the past two years, is known to have been attracted by the lure of Real Madrid, but the high-spending Spanish club baulked at the 80 million euro price tag set for the France international.

Last week, Real Madrid resigned themselves to the fact that they would not be able to recruit him. Real’s director general Jorge Valdano said: “We have the feeling that Ribery will not quit Bayern this season,

“Bayern finds many ways to say no, sometimes saying it categorically, sometimes by talking of a transfer fee of 80 million euros, which is another way of saying no.”

In recent days the former Olympique Marseille star, who is contracted to Bayern until 2011, has been trying to rediscover the favour he enjoyed with fans, telling German media he is committed to the ex-Bundesliga champions.

Meanwhile, Ribery is having treatment to a knee injury which forced him to pull out of training on Monday.

Some German sports commentators have interpreted the ailment as a sign by the player he wants to leave.

But Hoeness dismissed the idea, saying: “If he’s hurt, he’s hurt- just like any other player.

BERLIN (AFP)

Tags: ailment, Bayern, bayern munich, berlin, Bundesliga, director general, favour, France, france international, franck ribery, frenchman, german club, german media, german sports, Jorge Valdano, knee injury, LA Liga, MADRID, Marseille, midfield star, Olympique, olympique marseille, real madrid, spanish club, sports commentators, treatment, uli hoeness

Don´t panic, Pienaar tells struggling South Africa

June 15, 2009

JOHANNESBURG (AFP) – Don’t panic. That was the the message Everton playmaker Steven Pienaar had for his teammates after South Africa’s disappointing start to the Confederations Cup.

The midfielder who played a central role in his Premier League side’s run to the FA Cup final, was sorely missed in Sunday’s 0-0 draw with Iraq, ill health keeping him on the bench until the last five minutes.

The result has left the Confed Cup hosts in a hole of their own making – they need to take all three points in their next Group A game against New Zealand on Wednesday to keep them in the race for the semi-finals.

The good news for coach Joel Santana and Bafana Bafana’s fans is that Pienaar has recovered from his ailment and is expected to start in Rustenburg where his creative expertise will be warmly welcomed.

Assessing the hosts’ predicament in this warm up to next year’s World Cup the 27-year-old told fifa.com: “We are definitely disappointed because we expected a lot from this game (against Iraq).

“If you can get three points in the opening game, it normally takes a lot of pressure off a team.

“Now we have our backs against the wall. But we just have to stay focused and there’s still two games, so we’ll have to give everything then.”

He conceded South Africa had been poor in the first half against the well organised 2007 Asian Cup champions.

“It was difficult for the guys to break them down,” he said.

“We knew the first game was going to be difficult, everyone was expecting a win, so we’re just disappointed now. But I’m glad it’s over now and we can look forward to the next game, hopefully a bit more relaxed.”

Turning to his own level of readiness for Wednesday’s encounter with the All Whites Pienaar reported: “I was ill the whole week, that’s why I started on the bench. I feel much better now and things should be okay.”

Man of the match was Teko Modise who concurred with his midfield colleague.

“The next match will be very difficult because the pressure is getting higher and higher,” the hugely popular Orlando Pirates star stated.

“We need to secure the next six points available,” – no mean feat given waiting for them in Bloemfontain on Saturday are tournament favourites and European champions Spain.