Ferguson wary of Beckham ‘media circus’

February 3, 2010

David Beckham’s return to Old Trafford will add some spice to the confrontation between Milan and Manchester United. Sir Alex Ferguson will warn his players not to get caught up in the ‘David Beckham media circus’.

“Our job is to concentrate on the football match and let the David Beckham media circus carry on,” Ferguson told United’s club magazine. “He’s such a high-profile celebrity – not just a high-profile footballer – and we haven’t really seen anybody else return to the club in that situation.”

Beckham is in his second loan spell at Milan. The 34-year-old Los Angeles Galaxy player hopes his performances will persuade England boss Fabio Capello to include him in the squad for this summer’s World Cup.

“I think I told him myself last year when I saw him before our game against Inter that he should be thinking about getting back to Europe if he wanted to go to the World Cup,” said Ferguson.

“It looks like he might just get his wish now. He had a good spell with Milan last time, so it made sense to me to see him back there again.”

Manchester United and Milan will face each other on February 16 and March 10. United starts with an away match. “The European Cup is always special to us and we’ve had some marvellous nights at Old Trafford. I just hope we have another one.

“We’re away from home in the first leg, which won’t be easy, but I’m certain the tie will be decided back at Old Trafford.”

Tags: boss, celebrity, confrontation, David Beckham, Europe, fabio capello, footballer, galaxy player, game, high profile, last time, los angeles galaxy, manchester united, media circus, Milan, old trafford, sir alex ferguson, spice, World Cup

PENDING Gunners face another physical test

January 24, 2010

With the fall-out from William Gallas’s tackle on Bolton’s Mark Davies having barely subsided, Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal are bracing themselves for another bruising confrontation with Stoke.

The Gunners face Tony Pulis’s side at the Britannia Stadium in the fourth round of the FA Cup, buoyed by their success in knocking Chelsea off the top of the Premier League following the 4-2 victory over Bolton in midweek.

But Arsenal’s achievement in finally reining in the eleven-point deficit that had opened up between themselves and their title rivals at the end of November was overshadowed by Gallas?s ill-judged challenge.

The centre-back escaped punishment during the game but referee Alan Wiley was widely criticised for failing to issue a red card to the defender.

Wenger, though, is anxious to put the matter to rest ahead of the meeting the trip to Stoke where the Frenchman’s side can expect to face another full-on physical test.

“I do not want to develop any paranoia,” said Wenger. “But there was too much made about this incident.

“It was a mistimed challenge but without any intention to harm the player. What is more funny is that, when we get kicked, some people say before the game ‘we know how to play Arsenal, we have to kick them’ and nobody in the whole country is upset by that.

“I am always absolutely amazed that people get away with it. When we get kicked and lose the game, the question I get from the press is ‘oh, you did not fancy that?. But nobody is upset or shocked by it. When we are kicked they find that it is absolutely all right.”

Wenger’s concerns appear to be vindicated by the comments of Stoke striker Ricardo Fuller who made no attempt to disguise the tactics likely to employed by the home side as they attempt to reach the last 16 of the tournament.

“It couldn?t be a better draw, because we did well against them here last year,” said Fuller.

“The Britannia, it’s a like a fortress, and if we do play to our strengths, I don’t think Arsenal can deal with the aggressive play.

“It’s been proved in the past that Chelsea and Bolton have roughed them up and tried to bully them.

“We can also be rough and aggressive when we need to, but we have quality too, and so we can mix it up.”

With Arsenal set to enter the most important phase of their league campaign, Wenger will be extremely cautious about fielding some of his key players.

After this meeting the Gunners face a quartet of fixtures – against Aston Villa, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool – that will go a long way towards determining whether they can last the pace in the title race.

Yet while Wenger has no doubt about which is the most important prize at stake, he is also anxious not to suffer a confidence-sapping defeat.

“The Premier League is a priority,” he added. “But to win is the first priority and we want to keep the positive momentum by beating Stoke.

“They are a very difficult side to play against. We need a team that is ready to fight and to play over there so that is why we need some experience in the side.

“We will certainly use the squad. It’s fair to see we will put a team that can get a result but won’t harm our chances at Aston Villa.”

STOKE-ON-TRENT, England (AFP)

Tags: alan wiley, Bolton, britannia stadium, CHELSEA, confrontation, England, fortress, frenchman, gunners, intention, Liverpool, Manchester, mark davies, midweek, paranoia, physical test, premier league, referee, ricardo fuller, STOKE-ON-TRENT, tony pulis, William Gallas

FA charge Arsenal and Hull over brawl

December 24, 2009

Arsenal and Hull City have been charged with failing to control their players by the Football Association (FA) here on Wednesday following their Premier League match on December 19.

A fiery match at the Emirates Stadium was inflamed further shortly before half-time when Arsenal’s Samir Nasri appeared to tread on the ankle of Hull’s Richard Garcia.

Stephen Hunt then clashed with Nasri and a mass confrontation ensued, with Gunners keeper Manuel Almunia running the length of the field to get involved.

Referee Steve Bennett eventually restored order and then booked both Hunt and Nasri.

Arsenal won the match 3-0. The clubs have until January 13 to respond.

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: arsenal, confrontation, emirates, Emirates Stadium, football association, gunners keeper, HULL, hull city, london, Manuel Almunia, premier league, referee, Samir Nasri, Stephen Hunt, steve bennett

Hull boss Brown furious at FA charge

December 24, 2009

Hull manager Phil Brown has hit out at the English Football Association after his club were charged with misconduct following last weekend’s brawl at Arsenal.

Brown’s team and Arsenal were both hit with the FA Charge of failing to control their players after a mass confrontation involving 21 of the 22 players on the field at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

The row started after Arsenal’s Samir Nasri appeared to tread on the ankle of Hull midfielder Richard Garcia late in the first half.

But Brown, whose side lost 3-0, has defended the reaction of his players and made it clear the club will be contesting the charge.

“There was an incident for some reason, and I can’t answer the accusations against Nasri. He decided to light the touchpaper,” Brown said.

“It was there for everybody to see. It needed to be dealt with more severely and hasn’t been.

“Why we are up for a charge I don’t know. I defend the players to the hilt. As far as I am concerned that lad has gone in there with the intent to start a fight, to start a ruck.

“Maybe it was because Arsenal were hitting a brick wall in terms of the way they were playing, I don’t know.

“We were doing our job to the best of our ability and maybe that’s why they’ve decided to light the touchpaper, I’ve no idea.

“For us to come under criticism yet again is absolutely scandalous, and we’ll be defending it.”

HULL, England (AFP)

Tags: accusations, arsenal, boss, brick wall, confrontation, emirates, Emirates Stadium, England, english football association, hilt, HULL, hull england, lad, midfielder, phil brown, Richard Garcia, ruck, Samir Nasri, touchpaper

Villa´s Reo-Coker in hot water after O´Neill row

September 18, 2009

Aston Villa midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker is in hot water with Martin O’Neill after being sent home from training following a bust-up with the Premier League club’s manager.

Reports on Friday claimed Reo-Coker had become engaged in a shoving match with O’Neill after expressing unhappiness at being substituted during last Sunday’s 1-0 win at local rivals Birmingham.

The former West Ham star is also said to be frustrated by O’Neill decision to use him primarily as a right-back rather than in his preferred midfield role.

When Reo-Coker arrived for training at Villa’s Bodymoor Heath complex on Friday, he was told to stay away until Monday.

O’Neill confirmed that he had been involved in a disagreement with Reo-Coker, but said it was a verbal rather than physical clash.

“There was a mishap on the training ground. It’s a common occurrence between players but on this occasion, unfortunately, it was between the manager and a player,” O’Neill told Villa’s website.

“There was a bit of a contretemps and that is unfortunate. Nigel didn’t train this morning (Friday) and obviously won’t play tomorrow (Saturday).

“There were no fisticuffs. There was no wrestling to the ground as reported in one newspaper. That was a figment of the onlookers’ imagination.

“But there was enough for me to treat the incident seriously enough. I have dealt with the issue how I see fit and that’s the end of it.

“Come Monday, we’re back to normal again. I am the custodian of this place – my rules apply.”

Reo-Coker was linked with a move to Tottenham during the close-season and his confrontation with O’Neill will undoubtedly cast a doubt over his long-term future at the club despite his manager’s assurance that he won’t bear a grudge.

BIRMINGHAM (AFP)

Tags: aston villa, Birmingham, clash, confrontation, custodian, disagreement, figment, fisticuffs, grudge, hot water, martin o neill, Martin O'Neill, midfielder, mishap, nigel reo coker, Nigel Reo-, onlookers, premier league, Reo, unhappiness, west ham

In Argentina, fans from the same team fight

July 9, 2009

The English hooligan problem was at its worst outside Britain, when fans went to international matches abroad. Violence in Argentine football, by contrast, has reached a point in recent years where it is rarely even a confrontation between the hardcore fans of rival teams.

Now, factions who support the same team fight each other. At stake is control over a number of money-spinning ventures linked to their clubs.

It might appear paradoxical at first that just when Huracan have produced a stylish attacking team which nearly won the Argentine league title, their hardcore fans should to go war with each other.

Two men died and a number of people were injured in recent fighting in the Buenos Aires barrio of Parque de los Patricios just hours after the team’s 3-0 home win over Arsenal had put them a point clear at the top of the standings. (They then unluckily lost the title decider to Velez Sarsfield.)

Fighting between groups from the same set of fans has nothing to do with on-field performance, except that a more succesful team generates higher crowds and therefore more business for the gangs (control of parking in the area, the sale of food, resale of match tickets and even drugs.)

La Zavaleta, a faction that had been marginalised a few years ago and kept quiet while Huracan languished in the National B championship (second tier), wanted a piece of the action but the powerful Jose C Paz and El Pueblito groups were reluctant to let go and violence ensued.

The government and the Argentine Football Association via its president Julio Grondona, tried to argue that the killings had nothing to do with football because they occurred far from the ground and were committed by criminals who don’t care about the game.

They are constantly criticised by the media and by organisations representing victims of football violence for not taking preventative measures.

Thugs seem able to carry all kinds of illegal items into grounds under the very eyes of the police.

Unusally, the Jose C Paz faction posted an apology for the violence on a website although it went on to say La Zavaleta needed to be taught a lesson.

The lesson clubs never seem to learn is that as long as they give favours to hardcore fans and allow them to exercise power in and around the clubs, the violence will not go away.

PHOTO: River Plate fans are arrested by the Argentine police near the Monumental stadium before their Argentine First division soccer match against Velez Sarsfield in Buenos Aires September 9, 2007. They were arrested following a fight between two different River Plate fan factions. REUTERS/Marcos Brindicci

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Tags: Argentina, argentine football, argentine league, arsenal, barrio, confrontation, England, faction, factions, field performance, football association, football violence, gangs, hardcore fans, julio grondona, killings, preventative measures, rival teams, stake, team fight, two men

Chelsea faces UEFA disciplinary on June 17

May 22, 2009

GENEVA (AFP) – UEFA said Friday that Chelsea as well as Didier Drogba and Jose Bosingwa will face European football’s disciplinary body on June 17 following incidents in the Champions League tie against Barcelona.

The governing body said it had started disciplinary proceedings against the London club over the “improper conduct of players and the throwing of missiles by their supporters”.

Drogba and Bosingwa also face proceedings “for being in breach of the principles of sportsmanship by insulting the referee by making offensive comments,” UEFA added in a statement.

Drogba faces potentially severe sanctions over his confrontation with Norwegian referee Tom Henning Ovrebo after Barcelona’s injury-time goal sent the London side crashing out of the Champions League semi-final last month.

His case was further aggravated by him screaming an obscenity into a television camera about the official.

UEFA examined both the referee’s and the delegate’s reports before it decided to refer the case to its Disciplinray and control Body.

The club and both players have until May 29 to file their submissions in the case.

Tags: Barcelona, champions league, CHELSEA, confrontation, delegate, didier drogba, disciplinary body, disciplinary proceedings, Drogba, governing body, improper conduct, injury time goal, Jose, jose bosingwa, league tie, london, london club, missiles, obscenity, offensive comments, referee, sportsmanship, television, television camera, tom henning, Tom Henning Ovrebo, uefa, UEFA Champions League

UEFA decision on Drogba could take weeks

May 11, 2009

GENEVA (AFP) – UEFA said Monday that Chelsea striker Didier Drogba might have to wait weeks for a disciplinary decision following his outburst during the club’s Champions League tie against Barcelona.

A spokesman for European football’s governing body told AFP that Drogba’s case was likely to be reviewed by a regular meeting of UEFA’s Control and Disciplinary body.

Chelsea are no longer involved in European competition this season and there is no urgency for a ruling, he explained.

“This can wait for a while.”

The next plenary meeting of the control body is scheduled for July 23.

Drogba faces potentially severe sanctions over his confrontation with Norwegian referee Tom Henning Ovreba after Barcelona’s injury time goal sent the London side crashing out of the Champions League semi-final last Wednesday.

His case was further aggravated by him screaming into a television camera that the official had been a “fucking disgrace.”

UEFA said in a statement last week that it was examining both the referee’s and the delegate’s reports and was gathering additional evidence.

Meanwhile, a special meeting of UEFA’s Control and Disciplinary Body on Monday afternoon was due to examine Manchester United’s appeal against Darren Fletcher’s Champions League Final suspension.

Fletcher was given a red card during his club’s game against Arsenal, and would have to sit out the final against Barcelona in Rome on May 27 unless he wins the appeal.

Tags: arsenal, Barcelona, champions league, CHELSEA, confrontation, darren fletcher, delegate, didier drogba, disciplinary body, disgrace, geneva, governing body, injury time goal, league tie, london, Manchester, manchester united, monday afternoon, outburst, referee, ROME, sanctions, striker, television camera, uefa, UEFA Champions League

UEFA to rule on Drogba next week

May 8, 2009

GENEVA (AFP) – UEFA said Friday it will decide next week whether or not to take action against Chelsea striker Didier Drogba for his onslaught on the referee at the end of the Chelsea-Barcelona Champions League tie on Wednesday.

Drogba faces potentially severe sanctions over his furious confrontation of Norwegian referee Tom Henning Ovreba after Barcelona’s injury time goal sent the London side crashing out of the competition at the semi-final stage.

His case was further aggravated by him screaming into a television camera that the official had been a “fucking disgrace.”

A UEFA spokesman told AFP that UEFA has received the referee’s report and that the “disciplinary body is examining the referee’s report to see if they will open a disciplinary case or several cases.”

He added that this decision would be made next week as “they are collecting information and proof.”

If the department gives the nod for a probe, a disciplinary committee will then meet to decide which sanctions to impose.

Drogba on Thursday apologised for his actions, in a statement published on Chelsea’s website, he said: “I was very upset at what happened during the game, but having seen the pictures on TV I accept that I overreacted.”

Tags: apologised, champions league, CHELSEA, Chelsea Barcelona, confrontation, didier drogba, disciplinary body, disciplinary case, disciplinary committee, disgrace, geneva, injury time goal, league tie, london, nod, onslaught, referee, sanctions, spokesman, television camera, tom henning, Tom Henning Ovreba, uefa, UEFA Champions League

No point in physical Chelsea battle: Guardiola

May 6, 2009

LONDON (AFP) – Barcelona supporters need not worry over their side becoming embroiled in a physical battle with Chelsea in their Champions League semi-final second leg match, as coach Josep Guardiola realises it could cost his side a place in the final in Rome.

Barca players have been complaining of Chelsea’s hard tactics ever since last week’s goalless draw at the Nou Camp, but they showed exactly what can happen if they are given room to roam as they breezed past Spanish rivals Real Madrid 6-2 at the Bernabeu last weekend.

That result in itself show that Chelsea possibly went about their game plan correctly in the first-leg, but it is Guardiola who aims to get the upper hand this time around.

“If we try to challenge Chelsea’s physical style it will play into their hands,” he said.

“We won’t avoid confrontation, but we know that is one of their big strengths and we need to use our own style of play if we are to get through.

“I only know one way of playing, I will attack and try to score. I do not waste one second thinking of what Hiddink is saying about his set-up. I have to worry about our state of mind and how we go into the game.”

Forward Thierry Henry is rated as “doubtful” for this second-leg encounter, but took part in training at Chelsea on Tuesday and showed no signs of discomfort.

His inclusion in the session seems to suggest he will start, and Guardiola has warned his players they must match Chelsea in every department if they are to break up the English domination of the final stages of this competition.

“Whoever makes it through deserves to be in Rome,” he said. “It will not be down to refereeing decisions, it is down to the team who wants it most.

“I hope it is not two English sides in the final, but if it is then that is because they both deserve to be there.

“I’m convinced my side will turn up at their best for this game, and the Real Madrid result will have had a positive influence on us.”

Brazilian Sylvinho, 35, will feature at full-back for Barcelona, who have trouble at the back due to missing pair Carles Puyol and Rafa Marquez. Puyol is suspended, while Marquez is injured, and Gerard Pique and Eric Abidal are set to step in for them.

Former Arsenal player Sylvinho is confident the Spaniards can cope without the influential duo.

“Whoever plays, we are all ready,” he said. “We know that changes will be made in defence but we are all focused and together as a unit. It is up to Guardiola to solve the problem, and we know it will be tough, but we can get through.”