Malaysia’s Fernandes rules out West Ham stake
January 26, 2010
Malaysian aviation tycoon Tony Fernandes on Tuesday ruled out becoming a minority stakeholder in West Ham, after he lost out in a bid to take control of the English Premier League club.
Former Birmingham City owners David Sullivan and David Gold on January 19 said they had won full control of the east London club after acquiring a 50-percent stake in a move they admitted only made sense to them as lifelong supporters.
Sullivan secured an option to buy the remaining 50 percent at any time in the next four years but said he would prefer to attract other wealthy West Ham fans, including Fernandes, to join him in investing in the club.
Asked whether he was interested, Fernandes replied: “No”.
“My main concern is I went for 100 percent of the ownership because I think you need to have one leader. And I’m not sure two leaders is the right thing right now,” he told reporters.
Fernandes, chief executive of AirAsia and the boss of the Lotus Formula One team, said he had strong support from the club’s fans, and would have brought “a new marketing and branding perspective”.
“I’ve received close to about 8,000 emails from West Ham fans and if you look at all the fan websites I was a very popular choice,” he said.
“Why I didn’t go for their bid was because I didn’t think it was the right thing for the club at the time.”
West Ham has been financially crippled by the fallout from the credit crunch and its impact on its former Icelandic owners.
Sullivan and Gold’s acquisition of a 50 percent stake values the club at 105 million pounds (171 million dollars), only fractionally more than its outstanding debts which Sullivan said now stood at 102 million pounds.
That includes 50 million pounds owed to banks and 40 million owed to other clubs for transfers.
The centrepiece of the new owners’ strategy for reviving the club is a move from their current 35,000-capacity home at Upton Park to the nearby Olympic Stadium.
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP)
Tags: 50 million pounds, airasia, birmingham city, centrepiece, credit crunch, david gold, david sullivan, east london, English Premier League, fallout, fan websites, formula one, kuala lumpur, london club, new marketing, olympic stadium, premier league, stakeholder, tony fernandes, upton park, west ham, west ham fansRelated posts
Malaysia to push grassroots football
December 15, 2009
Malaysia said Tuesday it would pour more resources into grassroots-level football, buoyed by the national side reaching the finals of the Southeast Asian Games for the first time in 20 years.
Youth and sports minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek told state media the government had approved a football development fund with a budget of up to 60 billion ringgit (18 million dollars).
“It will be for grassroots development as the Football Association of Malaysia lacks funds for this purpose,” Ahmad Shabery told Bernama news agency.
He said the fund would initially be used for grassroots football development but could later be extended to other sports, without elaborating.
The minister said the fund would provide a stimulus to the sport following Malaysia’s feat in reaching the finals of the Southeast Asian Games this week after a 20 year hiatus.
Malaysia will take on Vietnam in the finals on Thursday.
Critics say the national side has fallen a long way since the heady days of the 1970s and 1980s when they reached two Olympic Games.
The steep decline has been blamed on a failure to nurture talent, poor management, cronyism, corruption and a lack of government support.
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP)
Tags: agency, ahmad, Ahmad Shabery, cronyism, football association of malaysia, football development, government support, grassroots development, grassroots football, grassroots level, heady days, kuala lumpur, Malaysia, Minister, olympic games, poor management, purpose, ringgit, southeast asian, southeast asian games, Sport, steep decline, stimulus, support malaysia, VietnamRelated posts
A referee gets mobbed — for being good!
November 28, 2009
Around the world referees are forever criticised by fans, players, managers and the media but an Uzbekistan official has managed to buck the trend, receiving an unusually warm welcome after being named Asian Football Confederation (AFC) referee of the year.
Fans at Tashkent airport blew horns and trumpets to celebrate the return of Ravshan Irmatov, a candidate to referee at next year’s World Cup, after he won the award for a second successive year.
“I am overwhelmed by this reception. I am thankful to all those who came to greet me,” Irmatov said. “I have seen this kind of reception only for the players and this is unprecedented in Uzbekistan. I hope I will fulfill their expectations.”
In bizarre scenes, fans were jostling through crowds to try to shake hands with Irmatov, who was returning from Kuala Lumpur where he collected his award on Tuesday.
“He made Uzbekistan proud for the second consecutive year and I hope he will continue to fly our flag in the years to come,” excited fan Ulugbek Salimov said
Whatever next? Manchester United boss and frequent referee critic Alex Ferguson treating match officials to fine glasses of wine after games or Serena Williams praising line judges for good calls?
It is an interesting change and maybe Irish and Egyptian supporters should forget their gripes about missing out on South Africa and get behind their officials at the World Cup. Oh wait, they didn’t make that cut either!
PHOTO: Referee Ravshan Irmatov from Uzbekistan gestures during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games qualifying round soccer match between Qatar and Japan in Doha October 17, 2007. REUTERS/Fadi Al-Assaad
Tags: 2008 beijing olympic, alex ferguson, asian football confederation, Doha, fadi, Japan, kuala lumpur, line judges, Manchester, manchester united, olympic games, Qatar, referee, reuters, serena williams, South Africa, Tashkent, tashkent airport, warm welcomeRelated posts
AFC warns Australia, China after brawl
August 7, 2009
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has warned Australian and Chinese football authorities over their players’ bad behaviour after fining them for a brawl at an under-19 women’s game this month.
“The Australian and Chinese teams, and the (China Football Association), have been given stern warnings to ensure that these offences are not repeated in future matches,” AFC said in a statement late Thursday.
The AFC also imposed fines totalling 12,000 dollars over the brawl at the AFC U-19 Women?s Championship 2009 match played in Wuhan, China, on August 3.
Australia’s Jessica Seaman was suspended for four matches and fined 3,000 dollars after “she was found guilty of violating the AFC disciplinary code,” AFC said.
Seaman was sent off for violent conduct during the match, which China won 2-1.
The Australian U-19 women?s team were fined a total of 4,000 dollars for disciplinary offences, the AFC said.
“The Australian team were found guilty of initiating a scuffle at the end of the match and also of throwing bottles at the spectators. The team head coach was also found guilty of misbehaviour during the post-match press conference,” AFC said.
The China women?s U-19 team were fined 2,000 dollars for involvement in the post-match scuffle while the China FA was fined 3,000 for failing to control spectators.
The incident was the latest blow to China’s football reputation following an incident in July when players attacked a referee in a local tournament.
One player from Tianjin city was banned for life for chasing referee He Zhibiao some 30 metres and knocking him to the ground.
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP)
Tags: AFC, Asian, asian football confederation, Association, Australia, australia china, Australian, bad behaviour, China, china women, chinese football, disciplinary code, football association, head coach, Jessica Seaman, kuala lumpur, match, misbehaviour, referee, reputation, seaman, spectators, stern warnings, Tianjin, violent conduct, Wuhan, wuhan china, ZhibiaoRelated posts
Neville injured and out of Asian tour
July 24, 2009
Manchester United captain Gary Neville has suffered a groin strain and will take no further part in the current Asian tour, the club said on Friday.
The injury-prone 34-year-old defender has already left Seoul for Manchester to undergo treatment on what was described as a minor injury.
Neville trained at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on Thursday but departed Friday ahead of the match against FC Seoul. He will also miss the game in China on Sunday against Hangzhou Greentown.
The England international was an unused substitute in United’s first tour game against a Malaysian XI in Kuala Lumpur before getting 62 minutes under his belt against the same side earlier this week.
SEOUL (AFP)
Tags: asian tour, captain gary, captain Gary Neville, China, china on sunday, Cup Stadium, England, england international, gary neville, greentown, groin strain, hangzhou, kuala lumpur, Manchester, manchester united, match, Neville, seoul, tour game, world cup stadiumRelated posts
Fergie suggests Ronaldo may play for United again
July 21, 2009
Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson believes Cristiano Ronaldo could play for the club again one day, as he praised the Portugese star’s commitment during his six-year spell at Old Trafford.
“He may come back, you never know,” Ferguson told the Press Association in Kuala Lumpur where the team are on a pre-season Asian tour.
“Sometimes it happens that way. He loved United. If you look back at the six years he had with us, he never missed training.”
Ronaldo became the world’s most expensive player when he moved to Real Madrid on a six-year deal worth around 94 million euros (81 million pounds) and he made a low-key debut against Shamrock Rovers in Ireland on Monday.
Still just 24, Ferguson was quoted as saying Ronaldo’s best was yet to come, describing him as the top player in the world by a long shot.
“His best is yet to come. He’s only 24. He came to the right club at the right part of his career,” he said.
“He could have gone to Real Madrid, Barcelona or other clubs. But he came to the right one and appreciates that. It was always his intention to make his move.
“There’s no doubt he’s a huge loss and I think it’s a challenge for us. It won’t be the same without Ronaldo, it can’t be.
“He’s the best player in this world by absolutely miles, streets ahead of Lionel Messi, and Kaka,” Ferguson added.
Madrid courted Ronaldo all through last summer but he decided to stay and try to help United defend their 2008 Champions League title, featuring in their final loss in May to Barcelona.
Although United retained their English Premier League title, Ronaldo has said he made up his mind to leave in May 2007.
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP)
Tags: alex ferguson, asian tour, Barcelona, best player, boss, champions league, English Premier League, fergie, Ferguson, intention, Ireland, kaka, kuala lumpur, lionel messi, MADRID, Manchester, manchester united, no doubt, old trafford, portugese, real madrid barcelona, ronaldo, shamrock rovers, six yearsRelated posts
Fergie says Tevez not worth 25 million – report
July 21, 2009
Sir Alex Ferguson has hit back at Carlos Tevez, saying the Argentinian striker wasn’t worth the 25 million pounds that rivals Manchester City paid for him, reports said on Tuesday.
The 25-year-old international signed a five-year contract with City after his two-year deal at United ran out at the end of last season.
Tevez, a fan favourite at Old Trafford, has claimed Ferguson never got in touch to try to persuade him to stay.
But Ferguson told English dailies in Kuala Lumpur, where United are on an Asian tour, that this was not true.
“We made contact with Carlos. We sent him texts and spoke to him when he was in Argentina,” he said.
“Our chief executive, David Gill, made an offer to (agent) Kia Joorabchian and we spoke to Tevez before we played Inter Milan (in March) and told him we had spoken to Kia, but we never heard back.”
In the end Tevez went to big-spending City, where he will play alongside Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor next season.
Ferguson drafted in Michael Owen on a free transfer to replace him, and made clear he felt Tevez was not worth what City manager Mark Hughes paid.
“In my opinion, I don’t think he was worth 25 million pounds,” he said.
“He was popular with the supporters. The fans quite rightly have their heroes and I was happy to go along with the deal as long as it was the right one but, quite simply, he is not worth 25 million.”
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP)
Tags: alex ferguson, Argentina, asian tour, Carlos, carlos tevez, chief executive, CITY, David Gill, emmanuel adebayor, english dailies, fergie, inter milan, kia, kia joorabchian, kuala lumpur, manchester city, Mark Hughes, michael owen, Milan, old trafford, rivals, sir alex ferguson, strikerRelated posts
Fergie backs Foster despite pre-season howler
July 20, 2009
Sir Alex Ferguson has reiterated his belief that young goalkeeper Ben Foster will one day be England’s number one despite his schoolboy error in the opening match of their Asian tour.
Foster came on as a second-half substitute in their win over a Malaysian XI on Saturday but got off to the worst possible start when he failed to control a Darron Gibson backpass and Amri Yahyah pounced to score an equaliser.
Ferguson though had sympathy for the 26-year-old.
“That was Ben’s first game for three or four months, he dislocated a finger ligament at the end of last season and we had to operate,” he said.
“I’ve said it before but, in the long-run, I think he’ll be England?s goalkeeper. I?m absolutely certain of that.”
Before that happens he needs a decent run as first choice keeper and with Dutch great Edwin van der Sar, 38, still commanding that position, Foster knows he needs to make the most of any opportunity that comes along.
“Ben has a challenge to take the position of Edwin van der Sar, who, as everybody accepts, is one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time,” added Ferguson.
Foster, who has been capped twice by England, signed a new four-year contract with the Premier League champions earlier this month and said he was delighted to be at the club long-term.
“The team spirit here is fantastic and working alongside Edwin and Tomasz (Kuszczak) has been a great influence on my career,” he said.
Foster had surgery on his thumb in May which ruled him out for the final month of last season, meaning he missed the Champions League final against Barcelona and England’s World Cup qualifiers against Kazakhstan and Andorra.
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP)
Tags: amri yahyah, Andorra, asian tour, Barcelona, ben foster, darron, darron gibson, Edwin, Edwin van der, edwin van der sar, equaliser, Ferguson, first choice, first game, Foster, Goalkeeper, goalkeepers, kazakhstan, kuala lumpur, kuszczak, league champions, ligament, premier league, schoolboy, score, sir alex ferguson, team spirit, Tomasz, tomasz kuszczak, world cup qualifiersRelated posts
Park to join Man Utd in Seoul
July 20, 2009
Park Ji-Sung will join his Manchester United teammates in Seoul later this week after his no-show in Malaysia on the first leg of their pre-season Asian tour, the club said.
The South Korean is an icon in his home country and has been crucial to United building a huge fan base there since his move to the club in 2005 from PSV Eindhoven.
He missed a similar tour two years ago with a cruciate knee ligament injury and his failure to arrive with the rest of the squad in Kuala Lumpur last Friday raised fears that he may be injured again.
But the club has clarified that he was given a few extra days off due to his role in South Korea’s international fixtures last month and will join the team on Wednesday ahead of their match with FC Seoul on Friday.
The 28-year-old is one of the few Asians to have made it big in England and Sir Alex Ferguson said he hoped the region would produce more top class players soon.
“There are very few Asian players currently making it in the Premier League and also across Europe. I hope to see more from Asia soon,” he said, pointing to the Japanese and Korean leagues as having the best prospects.
United play a Malaysian XI later Monday in the second match of their tour, after beating the same Malaysian side 3-2 on Saturday.
The Jakarta leg was cancelled after bomb blasts in the Indonesian capital on Friday.
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP)
Tags: Asia, asian players, asians, bomb blasts, cruciate knee ligament, Eindhoven, England, Europe, fan base, indonesian capital, jakarta, ji sung, knee ligament injury, kuala lumpur, last friday, Malaysia, man utd, manchester united, premier league, seoul, sir alex ferguson, south korea, south korean, SungRelated posts
Man Utd cancel Indonesia trip after bomb blasts
July 17, 2009
Manchester United cancelled the Indonesian leg of their pre-season tour to Asia after a bomb exploded at the Jakarta hotel where they were due to stay next week.
“Following the explosions in Jakarta — one of which was at the hotel the team were due to stay in — and based on advice received, the directors have informed the Indonesian FA that the club cannot fulfil the fixture in Jakarta on the 2009 Asia tour,” the club said in a statement.
They were due to fly to Jakarta after their match in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday evening and play an Indonesia XI in front of a sell-out 100,000 crowd.
The club said it was trying to reorganise that leg of the tour, which also includes matches in South Korea and China.
“We are working on a revised itinerary outside Indonesia with the promoters and we will make a further announcement when these decisions have been made,” the statement added.
“We are deeply disappointed at not being able to visit Indonesia and thank the Indonesian FA and our fans for their support. Our thoughts go to all those affected by the blasts.”
It would have been the first ever trip to the sprawling country by the team which was booked into the Ritz-Carlton hotel.
But the hotel, along with the JW Marriott, was hit by explosions that have left at least nine people dead and more than 40 injured, many of them foreigners, police said.
Two blasts shook the Ritz-Carlton and the nearby Marriott in the upscale Mega Kuningan business district in the centre of the city around 8:00 am (0100 GMT), sending a huge plume of smoke into the sky.
A third explosion was reported near a shopping complex in the north of the Indonesian capital several hours later, but police later denied initial reports that it was also caused by a bomb.
The team have a huge following in Asia, with everyone from poor street vendors to wealthy businessmen donning Red Devils shirts.
The huge fan base and the commercial opportunities it offers makes their visit as much about business as football, and a chance to play in Indonesia for the first time was earlier cited by Ferguson as important for the club.
“Our fans in Asia generate money for the club, there are no two ways about it,” said United chief executive David Gill before they left Manchester.
Ferguson has brought a 22-man squad, but a glaring omission was Park Ji-Sung.
The South Korean was not on the team list on United’s website and was not seen arriving in Kuala Lumpur. No reason was given for his absence.
Also missing was defender Nemanja Vidic. Again, United gave no reason for the Serbia international’s absence although an ankle injury forced him out of a World Cup qualifier against the Faroe Islands last month.
The only other familiar face not to travel was Brazilian full-back Rafael Da Silva, although he too was suffering with an ankle problem.
Other than that United has a strong squad, with Michael Owen set to make his debut after his shock move from Newcastle earlier this month.
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP)
Tags: Asia, asia tour, blasts, business district, Carlton, China, commercial opportunities, David Gill, English Premier League, explosions, fan base, faroe islands, Ferguson, Indonesia, indonesian capital, initial reports, jakarta hotel, jw marriott, kuala lumpur, Manchester, manchester united, michael owen, NEWCASTLE, plume of smoke, red devils, ritz carlton hotel, saturday evening, shopping complex, south korea, street vendors, Sung, wealthy businessmenRelated posts
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