Rooney set for captain´s role in Brazil friendly

November 14, 2009


Wayne Rooney is poised to captain England for the first time in Saturday’s friendly against Brazil after an ankle injury left John Terry struggling to be fit to face the five-times world champions.

The injury forced Terry to skip his usual eve-of-match media duties and although it was Gareth Barry who stood in for him in front of the press, head coach Fabio Capello confirmed that Rooney would take the armband in the event of the regular captain failing to recover.

“If John Terry does not play, Wayne Rooney will be captain,” Capello said. “He is fit and I think he is ready to be captain.”

Capello’s faith in Rooney will come as a surprise to some given the forward’s impetuous streak, which was highlighted as recently as Sunday when he mouthed “12 men” into a television camera at the end of Manchester United’s defeat by Chelsea.

The implied slur on the integrity of match referee Martin Atkinson earned Rooney a rebuke from the Football Association but clearly has not caused Capello to question whether the Manchester United star is ready, at 24 and having recently become a father for the first time, for the responsibility associated with captaining his national side.

Capello maintained that England’s medical staff were confident that Terry would be able to play but, with his Chelsea team-mate Frank Lampard having already flown home, it is highly unlikely that the slightest risk will be taken with the defender’s fitness.

“He has hurt his ankle and we need to check him but I think he will be okay,” Capello said. “But if he is not 100 percent fit, he will not play.”

If Terry is ruled out, Bolton’s Gary Cahill looks set to win his first cap alongside Matthew Upson in the centre of defence with Wes Brown and Wayne Bridge at right- and left-back respectively.

Barry and Rooney will be the only representatives of Capello’s first-choice line-up involved in a fixture that the Italian admits would have been daunting for even his strongest side.

“It is the same in Italy, Germany or England,” Capello said. “There is always a big respect for Brazil. They have won a lot of titles and they always play well. They have a different style and players with a big imagination.

“That’s why it is so important to play against Brazil. We can learn a lot from this match.”

Instead of seeing how his best team can match up to the world’s top-ranked nation, Capello will be able to see how some of his back-up players respond to playing under the unforgiving spotlight of a match against Brazil.

Lampard’s absence will give Michael Carrick an opportunity to restate his case for a central midfield starting role while James Milner and Shaun Wright-Phillips are expected to fill the wide positions.

Saturday evening could be particularly significant for the right winger Wright-Phillips, who currently has Theo Walcott, Aaron Lennon and David Beckham ahead of him in the queue for places on the plane to South Africa.

Capello’s well-established reluctance to partner Rooney with Jermain Defoe means Darren Bent is likely to start up front.

In sharp contrast to the injury problems of England, Brazil are able to call on most of the players who put together a run of 11 straight wins before last month’s defeat by Bolivia in the thin air of La Paz, by which time they were already assured of topping the South American qualifying group for the finals.

Under the guidance of Dunga, captain of the 1994 World Cup winning side, Brazil have re-established themselves as the top-ranked nation in world football.

That has not spared him criticism from some of the most demanding fans on the planet that he has gone too far in sacrificing flair in pursuit of results.

But Lucas, the Liverpool midfielder, believes Dunga has got the balance right.

“Brazil have a lot of quality and skilful players but are also trying to defend well,” he said. “That is the key for any team and we will try to do that against England.

“Dunga has improved us a lot. He has tried to help all the players, we’re stronger tactically, he has improved everything.

“With Brazil, people expect you to play with skill and flair all the time but with Dunga we are looking to play as a team with everyone helping each other.”

DOHA (AFP)

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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.

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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.

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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.”

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Chelsea back Drogba as UEFA comes under pressure

May 8, 2009


LONDON (AFP) – Chelsea on Thursday rallied behind Didier Drogba as the striker came under fire for his furious confrontation with a referee in the wake of the club’s Champions League exit at the hands of Barcelona.

Captain John Terry and manager Guus Hiddink both voiced their support for the Ivory Coast international but that will not help him avoid potentially severe sanctions from UEFA in the aftermath of a match which can only have tarnished the image of football.

Referee Tom Henning Ovrebo had to be smuggled out of Britain on Thursday by police who feared for his safety in the wake of the previous night’s semi-final second leg.

Ovrebo turned down four strong penalty appeals by Chelsea, who lost on the away goals rule after Andres Iniesta scored in the 93rd-minute of the second leg to level the scores at 1-1 on the night and on aggregate.

At the end of the game, the Norwegian official was confronted by a furious Drogba and had to be escorted down the tunnel by a group of Chelsea stewards who had difficulty restraining the striker.

Fearing reprisals from furious fans, police changed Ovrebo’s hotel before organising his exit from the country, according to former international referee Graham Poll.

Poll revealed: “This morning he’s being smuggled out of our country under police escort – this is a referee of a football match. That is a disgrace.

“When he booked in a hotel they had to change the hotel he was staying at because of the fear that maybe fans would find him.”

Ovrebo’s situation has worrying echoes of the hounding of Swedish referee Anders Frisk, who retired from the game in 2005 after receiving death threats in the wake of another ill-tempered meeting between Chelsea and Barcelona.

Drogba’s extremely intimidating behaviour towards Ovrebo was aggravated by the fact that he went on to scream obscenities into a television camera, forcing some broadcasters who were carrying the match live to apologise to viewers.

“Are you watching this? It is a disgrace. It is a fucking disgrace,” Drogba shouted.

Hiddink, who attempted to restrain Drogba, acknowledged that the striker’s conduct was close to the limit of what is acceptable but said he understood his frustration over what he described as the worst refereeing performance he had seen in his long career.

“”People say he should be in control. The moment a player starts hitting then he is going beyond where he should go,” Hiddink said.

“I can understand his emotion and his behaviour after the game. I will protect that.”

Hiddink added: “There is an overall feeling of being robbed, of there having been an injustice. That’s why they were so hot and angry.

“Of course the players make mistakes, coaches make mistakes and referees can make mistakes, that’s why we talk about giving the benefit of the doubt.

“But if you have seen three or four situations waved away, then it’s the worst I have seen.”

Terry appeared to suggest that Ovrebo’s handling of the match was influenced by a perceived desire by UEFA to avoid another all-English final.

“The word conspiracy is maybe the wrong one. It’s difficult when players are so high on emotion after a game. People are saying we should not have reacted the way we did but the fact is that six decisions went against us. For the ref not to give one of them is unusual.”

Terry added: “I’m fully behind Didier. The fact is the referee is the one who should face the consequences.”

UEFA will wait until they see Ovrebo’s match report before deciding what action to take.

The governing body’s General Secretary, David Taylor, dismissed any suggestion that Chelsea’s exit reflected the governing body’s desire to avoid another all-English final.

Ovrebo undeniably made a string of errors but Barcelona were also victims of his poor decision-making with Eric Abidal sent off 25 minutes from the end for tripping Nicolas Anelka, who actually tripped himself up.

Taylor, who was at the match at Stamford Bridge, said he was angered by the implication that UEFA would try to influence the outcome of a match.

“If anything it’s a media conspiracy against UEFA,” he said. “It does make me angry. It really annoys me because it’s a load of rubbish.”

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Chelsea rally behind Drogba over ref ran

May 7, 2009


LONDON (AFP) – Chelsea captain John Terry and manager Guus Hiddink have rallied behind Didier Drogba as the Ivory Coast striker faces potentially severe punishment by UEFA over his furious confrontation with the referee after the club’s Champions League exit.

A stoppage time goal from Andres Iniesta earned Barcelona a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday and put the Catalans into a Rome final with Manchester United.

Chelsea’s players were left incensed over referee Tom Henning Ovrebo’s performance and Drogba, who had been substituted late in the game, stormed on to the pitch at the final whistle to harangue the official, who had to be escorted down the tunnel by a group of stewards.

Drogba then aggravated his extremely intimidating behaviour by screaming obscenities into a television camera, forcing some broadcasters who were carrying the match live to apologise to viewers.

“Are you watching this? It is a disgrace,” Drogba shouted.

Hiddink, who attempted to restrain Drogba, acknowledged that the striker’s conduct was close to the limit of what is acceptable but said he fully understood his frustration over what he described as the worst refereeing performance he had seen in his long career.

“Of course I can fully understand his reaction – full of adrenaline and emotion,” said Hiddink. “People say he should be in control. The moment a player starts hitting then he is going beyond where he should go.

“I can understand his emotion and his behaviour after the game. I will protect that.”

Hiddink felt Chelsea might have had as many as four penalties, so found it hard to understand why Ovrebo had failed to award at least two of them, and questioned why the Norwegian had been given such a big match.

“In big games like this you need top-notch referees who have had big experience in leagues like Spain, Italy, England and Germany,” he said.

“There is an overall feeling of being robbed, of there having been an injustice. That’s why they were so hot and angry.

“Of course the players make mistakes, coaches make mistakes and referees can make mistakes, that’s why we talk about giving the benefit of the doubt.

“But if you have seen three or four situations waved away, then it’s the worst I have seen.”

Terry put the penalty count at six or seven and appeared to suggest that Ovrebo’s handling of the match was influenced by a perceived desire by UEFA to avoid another all-English final.

“Not one player made one mistake in the two legs,” Terry said. “The referee has made four or five or six big errors and now we’re out of the competition.

“The word conspiracy is maybe the wrong one. It’s difficult when players are so high on emotion after a game.

“People are saying we should not have reacted the way we did but the fact is that six decisions went against us. For the ref not to give one of them is unusual.”

Terry added: “I’m fully behind Didier. The fact is the referee is the one who should face the consequences.”

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Drogba faces rap over ref confrontation

May 7, 2009


LONDON (AFP) – Didier Drogba could be facing a lengthy ban from European football after angrily confronting Norwegian referee Tom Henning Ovrebo at the end of Chelsea’s controversial Champions League semi-final second leg match with Barcelona here on Wednesday.

A stoppage time goal from Andres Iniesta earned Barca a 1-1 draw on the night and on aggregate and sent the Catalans into a final meeting with Manchester United at the end of this month on the away goals rule.

Chelsea had legitimate grounds for complaint after being denied at least two good penalty appeals by the referee – who was still considered good enough by UEFA to officiate at last year’s Euro 2008 championships – but that will not be regarded as any excuse by UEFA when they come to judge Drogba’s conduct.

Ovrebo had to be escorted from the pitch by a platoon of stewards with Drogba apparently bent on a physical confrontation.

To compound his intimidating behaviour, the Ivory Coast international then turned to a television camera and screamed into it, describing the official as a “f-ing disgrace.”

Chelsea are also likely to be in hot water with UEFA after infuriated fans threw flags at the officials and the Barcelona bench on the final whistle.

However, Drogba is unlikely to be punished by his club as manager Guus Hiddink said he understood that emotions after such a match run high.

“I can fully understand the players reaction as long as they don’t touch him (the referee),” said Hiddink, who won the European Cup – the predecessor of the Champions League – with PSV Eindhoven.

“Emotions are running high as they have seen several occasions the referee turn down appeals.

“There is loads of energy and adrenalin out there.”

The Dutchman, though, stopped short of backing up claims by Chelsea players that they had been conspired against by UEFA, who did not want a second successive all-English final.

“Yeah, well you can never prove this. It was said out of emotion.

“Three occasions they saw that no penalty was awarded, like for instance when (Florent) Malouda) was grabbed inside the box…that was a clear penalty.”

Hiddink, who has insisted that he is just a temporary replacement for the sacked Luiz Felipe Scolari and will return to coach Russia at the end of the season, said that whilst the penalties should have been awarded, his team also had to accept they had other chances slip by – most notably Drogba scuffing a chance in the second-half.

“I am still very disappointed but it is not easy to analyse a game when the adrenalin is still flowing.

“We should have scored in certain open situations.

“However, there were three clear penalties. The boys feel – well I won’t say what they really feel – that it was an injustice.

“One should ask UEFA why they put this referee in to run this game. Yes the red card for (Barcelona defender) Eric Abidal was difficult to call but there was a clear handball by Barcelona defender Gerard Pique.

“If the referee was blocked off from seeing it clearly he always has the assistant referee to consult with. The Drogba shirtpulling incident in the second-half, well we can let that one go because that cancels out the Thierry Henry moment in the first leg (Henry was fouled in the area but Barcelona didn’t get a penalty).”

Pique, who most likely will play against his former club Manchester United in the final as Barcelona will be missing three first choice defenders in Abidal, fellow fullback Daniel Alves and the injured Rafael Marquez, for his part admitted the ball had hit his arm.

“The ball touched my arm. The referee decided it wasn’t a penalty and one has to respect the referee’s decisions.”

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