Gascoigne arrested twice in two days

February 9, 2010

Former England star Paul Gascoigne has been arrested for the second time in two days, police confirmed Tuesday.

The ex-midfielder was taken into custody along with another man by police called to the Blackwell Grange Hotel in Darlington, northeast England, on Monday night.

Gascoigne was later released without charge after being questioned on suspicion of a public order offence.

The 42-year-old was previously arrested at the weekend on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, police said on Monday.

Gascoigne, who has struggled with alcoholism and depression, was arrested after officers were called to a disturbance at a takeaway restaurant in Leeming Bar, Yorkshire, northern England, on Sunday evening.

As well as his drink-related problems, Gascoigne has admitted heavy use of cocaine and has undergone treatment for bulimia and obsessive compulsive disorder. He was sectioned three times under the Mental Health Act in 2008.

Gascoigne – known to fans as “Gazza” – made 57 appearances for England in an international career that included a starring role in his country’s run to the semi-finals of the 1990 World Cup.

He played for Newcastle, Tottenham, Lazio, Rangers and Middlesbrough as well as having a spell in China.

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: alcoholism, alcoholism and depression, blackwell grange hotel, bulimia, China, driving under the influence of alcohol, england star, Gazza, hotel in darlington, international career, lazio, leeming bar, london, mental health act, middlesbrough, midfielder, NEWCASTLE, northeast england, northern england, obsessive compulsive disorder, paul gascoigne, semi finals, sunday evening, use of cocaine, yorkshire

Guti criticises foreign players

November 12, 2009

On Thursday, Real Madrid midfielder Guti commented on his stressed relationship with Real Madrid manager Manuel Pellegrini and said things are not going well with Florentino Perez at the helm.

The midfielder spoke to Intereconomia TV, in an interview scheduled to be broadcast on Sunday evening in Spain. The midfielder has not featured in the famous white shirt for four weeks now and has been out of favour with coach Manuel Pellegrini since he has fallen out towards the Chilean during half-time in their 4-0 defeat against Alcorcon a fortnight ago.

“It’s a difficult situation for both of us,” he said, in regards to his relationship with Pellegrini.

“Some foreign players do not understand what it means to play for Real Madrid,” he declared. “They are not aware of the club’s standards and values.”

Guti, currently the subject of increasing speculation about his future at the club, will surely find himself closer to the exit door after this interview in which he also admitted that he likes to party until six in the morning.

“I’m a guy who never stops, day and night. I like to enjoy the night with my friends,” he added.

“When I am 60-years-old, I won’t be going to a disco until six in the morning, but I am now,” he said in the interview with Maria Zabay, according to La Gaceta.

Paul Haring

Tags: coach, disco, favour, florentino perez, fortnight, guti, helm, la gaceta, MADRID, manuel pellegrini, Maria Zabay, midfielder, Paul Haring, real madrid, relationship, Spain, speculation, sunday evening

Schalke not bankrupt insists Magath

October 25, 2009

Schalke 04’s coach Felix Magath insisted on Sunday the Royal Blues are not in danger of bankruptcy despite reported rising debts of nearly 300 million euros which must be explained to Bundesliga bosses.

German broadsheet Die Welt on Sunday has been leaked documents claiming the Gelsenkirchen-based club have debts of around 280 million euros, but Magath insisted nothing is wrong as his side prepare to play Hamburg on Sunday.

“This is all silly stuff: these old, old things have already been discussed over and over again: it’s the same thing,” said Magath having joined Schalke in June after coaching Wolfsburg to the German league title last season.

“Nobody here has anything to hide.”

The club are expected to reply formally to die Welt’s claims after Sunday evening’s game at their Veltins Arena stadium against Hamburg.

It was widely reported at the start of the season that Schalke are 136.5 million euros in debt, but die Welt are claiming the actual scale of the problem is more than double.

Schalke must explain their financial situation to the German Football League (DFL) at the end of October to have their Bundesliga licence renewed and the DFL refused to comment on the issue on Sunday.

BERLIN (AFP)

Tags: 5 million, bankruptcy, berlin, Bundesliga, coach, debts, dfl, die welt, felix magath, financial situation, german football league, german league, Hamburg, schalke 04, silly stuff, sunday evening, veltins arena, Wolfsburg

Mind how you go, sir — a lesson with the South African police

June 16, 2009

FIFA president Sepp Blatter, World Cup organiser Danny Jordaan and just about everyone else involved in the 2010 finals have been playing down the risk of violence and crime in South Africa and in hundreds of reports over the last five years I have always been prepared to give them the benefit of the doubt.

That was until last night when I was effectively “mugged” by two uniformed police officers who demanded “pounds or dollars” before they would let me go on my way. In the end I handed over 200 rand (about 15 pounds) — and they showed their “gratitude” in the most astonishing way.

I covered the Spain-New Zealand match for Reuters in Rustenburg on Sunday evening and drove the 120-miles back to my hotel in Sandton City after the game.

I left Rustenburg at midnight, made good time without incident, dropped off my travelling companion at his hotel and was nearing Sandton when I saw a flashing light about 200 metres ahead and realised a policeman was indicating by torchlight for me to stop. I did.

After the usual pleasantries of, “How are you tonight sir,” and a check of my driving licence and passport, they quickly cut to the quick, ordered me out of the car and asked me where I had been and if I had been drinking.

I told them “Rustenburg” and no I hadn’t been drinking as I was driving. Seeing my Confederations Cup accreditation tag around my neck they asked me what I thought of the game which Spain won 5-0.

I thought we might have a plesant discussion about Fernando Torres’ 17-minute hat-trick, but they didn’t seem too bothered about that. They then asked me where I was going.

When I told them the name of my hotel, which was only about five minutes drive away, they told me I would never find it.

I told them I had a very reliable SatNav. They told me it was useless and I would get lost. Only they knew where my hotel was and after giving me directions asked me for their money.

“Where are our dollars or pounds, sir ?” they asked in a more threatening manner.

I gave them their cash and they let me go.

A minute later I saw their blue light flashing in my mirror again. This time I was rather more concerned.

They pulled me over again and the younger of the two said: “You will get lost sir,” and in no uncertain terms indicated I follow them again.

Bizarrely, they took me directly to the hotel — blue lights flashing all the way.

“Good night sir,” they shouted as the car park barrier raised, “and be careful, it is very dangerous on the roads in South Africa at night.”

You can say that again.

PHOTO: Dancers perform during the opening ceremony of the Confederations Cup at Ellis Park stadium in Johannesburg, June 14, 2009. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings

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Tags: accreditation, benefit of the doubt, confederations cup, Danny Jordaan, driving licence, ellis park, Fernando Torres, five minutes, flashing light, gratitude, hat trick, johannesburg, Mike Hutchings, New Zealand, pleasantries, policeman, reuters, Rustenburg, Sandton City, Sepp Blatter, South Africa, Spain, sunday evening, torchlight, travelling companion, uniformed police officers, violence and crime, WC Qualifying South-Africa, World Cup

New deal for Chelsea´s Ballack

May 31, 2009

LONDON (AFP) – Chelsea’s German midfielder Michael Ballack, only a substitute for Saturday’s FA Cup final win over Everton, has agreed a one-year contract extension, the BBC reported on Sunday.

"I haven’t signed yet but I have agreed for another year," Ballack, 32, said, adding he expected AC Milan’s Carlo Ancelotti to succeed Guus Hiddink as coach next season at Stamford Bridge.

"I haven’t worked under him and I don’t know him very well but you can see from the work he has done at Milan that he is a successful manager," Ballack told BBC Sport.

"It’s not done yet but it looks like he will be coach."

Ancelotti is set to reveal if he is to take charge after the Serie A season ends Sunday evening as interim manager Hiddink, who replaced the sacked Luiz Felipe in February, returns to his job as Russia coach following four months in London.

Ballack, signed by Jose Mourinho in 2006, has seen Chelsea win two FA Cups since but insisted that next season he wants to target bigger prizes with Manchester United having dominated the English Premiership since his arrival in England.

"What we need at Chelsea is consistency," he insisted. "There is not much that we need to change to win the Premier League next season. We have a great team, which is the most important thing, but we have to change the manager again and we will need a bit of time to adapt.

"Every coach works with different methods and the players have to get to know him – hopefully we won’t need too much time because if we do we will be a little bit behind," said Ballack, who indicated he did not think a new coach would need to go on a spending spree.

"I don’t think we need to buy anybody because we already have a lot of good players on the bench.

"That is for the club to decide but, if you look at the performances over the last couple of years in reaching finals, we have a really good squad and are heading in the right direction."

Tags: ac milan, bbc, carlo ancelotti, CHELSEA, contract extension, England, English Premier League, english premiership, everton, FA Cup, fa cup final, fa cups, heading in the right direction, hiddink, interim manager, Jose, jose mourinho, london, Luiz Felipe, Manchester, Michael Ballack, midfielder, Milan, new deal, quot, russia, spending spree, stamford bridge, sunday evening

Cris rallies Lyon prior to PSG showdown

April 24, 2009

PARIS (AFP) – Lyon captain Cris has issued a rallying call ahead of the visit of Paris St-Germain on Friday night, when the reigning champions will look to re-assert their faltering title credentials.

Lyon’s bid for an eighth straight Ligue 1 crown received a serious setback when they lost 1-0 at title rivals Bordeaux on Sunday evening, a result which knocked them down to third place, four points behind leaders Marseille.

“We’re having a very difficult season because we’ve had a change of coach, a change of culture and lots of injuries,” Cris said.

“We’ve produced some very average performances. Today we’re paying for it and we’re in third place because of the season we’ve had.”

Lyon’s home form this term has been less than impressive. They have dropped 17 points at Stade Gerland, but Cris has encouraged his side to maintain belief that they can overhaul Bordeaux and Marseille.

“We need to show another side of our game in the six matches that remain because I believe that we can still take the title,” the Brazilian said. “We’re not completely dead yet.”

Cris says that his team-mates are itching to get back onto the pitch after the disappointment in Bordeaux, with coach Claude Puel admitting the defeat had let “frustration” ferment in the squad.

“I think that, against Bordeaux, we put a lot into the game and made a good start to the match that we should have been rewarded for,” Puel said.

“The next match against Paris is of crucial importance. It’s a match we must win to continue our adventure. We have to produce six cup finals, we know that.”

PSG go into the game in fourth place, one point behind Lyon, having been knocked out of the UEFA Cup at the quarter-final stage by Dynamo Kiev last week.

Midfielder and captain Claude Makelele sympathised with Lyon’s plight, and warned that Puel’s men could not be discounted from the title race just yet.

“Lyon are going through a difficult time,” the Frenchman said.

“They’ve dominated the league for a while but the other teams have got stronger, have bigger ambitions and have shown that they are capable of causing them problems.

“But Lyon are still the favourites with Marseille and Bordeaux and I don’t think they’ll stay where they are. For me, they’re the favourites for the title.”

Tags: Bordeaux, captain Claude Makelele, captain Cris, Claude Makelele, claude puel, cris, difficult season, disappointment, dynamo kiev, ferment, four points, frenchman, Germain, Kiev, Ligue 1, Lyon, Marseille, midfielder, PARIS, paris st germain, plight, rivals, setback, stade gerland, sunday evening, team mates, title credentials, UEFA Cup

Man Utd complete signings of Serbian starlets

January 2, 2009

MANCHESTER, England (AFP) – Sir Alex Ferguson believes Serbian winger Zoran Tosic can make an impact at Manchester United this season after wrapping up a double deal for the 21-year-old and his Partizan Belgrade team-mate Adem Ljajic on Friday.

United revealed late last year that they had reached agreement with Partizan to sign the duo in a transfer thought to be worth around 17 million pounds (17.6 million euros) and the Premier League champions have now concluded contract negotiations with both players.

Tosic, capped 12 times by Serbia, will link up with United immediately while 17-year-old striker Ljajic will spend the rest of the season on loan at Partizan.

But although Tosic will be ineligible for Sundays FA Cup third round tie at Southampton, United manager Ferguson is confident that the left winger will quickly challenge for a place in his starting line-up at Old Trafford.

Ferguson said: "We have been watching Tosic for over a year and in that time, he has become a regular in the Serbia national team.

"Hes a winger and we like wide players here at Manchester United, so we are very hopeful that he will do well for us.

"He hasnt played since December 10, however, so he will need some time to adjust to the speed of the game over here and get used to the training.

"But once he gets himself accustomed to the pace, then I am sure he will play a part for us this season. Ljajic is another good player with real quality and he will come over to Manchester in time for next season.

"That is it for Manchester United in this transfer window, though. We are done now with our business for this season."

Ferguson is likely to make a series of changes for the trip to the south coast for Sundays repeat of the 1976 FA Cup Final against Championship strugglers Southampton.

Cristiano Ronaldo is set to be rested, while Carlos Tevez is not due back from attending family business in Argentina until Sunday evening.

Despite reports suggesting that Tevez is close to signing a permanent deal at Old Trafford, Ferguson insists that the club are no closer to thrashing out an agreement with the players representatives, who continue to own the Argentinian.

Ferguson said: "Im not going on about the Tevez contract because it is never-ending. Chief executive David Gill is dealing with it, but there is nothing to report."

The FA Cup clash starts a busy January for United, who also have a Premier League clash at home to Chelsea on Jan 11 in-between a two-legged League Cup semi-final against Championship club Derby County.

And England defender Rio Ferdinand, who will miss the Southampton game, is facing a battle to fit for the Chelsea clash after being laid low with a back injury since pulling up in the pre-match warm-up at Stoke on December 26.

Ferguson said: "Rio is still not training because we need to give his back the time to settle. It has happened a few times now, but he is tall, with a long back, so it can happen.

"He definitely wont be involved against Southampton or Derby, but we hope he will be back for the big one against Chelsea."

Written by: AFP