Sunday International Sports News

Kumble cautioned for remarks
Cricinfo
Anil Kumble, India’s Test captain, has been cautioned by the BCCI for divulging details of the Sri Lanka tour selection meeting to a newspaper.
Kumble told Mumbai Mirror that he had asked the selectors to pick two specialist wicketkeepers for the three-Test series. ‘As captain I am aware that there could be problems if the specialist were to pull a muscle or have a runny stomach on the morning of a Test,’ Kumble said.
‘There was a suggestion that Rahul [Dravid] be the second wicketkeeper, but I persuaded the [selection] committee to view things from Indian cricket’s point of view and advantage.’
Niranjan Shah, the BCCI secretary, censured Kumble for his remarks. ‘I have been informed by the chairman [Dilip Vengsarkar] that Mumbai Mirror, a newspaper in Mumbai, has published some story about the selection meeting which is attributed to you.
‘You are aware that proceedings of the selection committee are not supposed to be divulged and are certainly not meant for public discussion. As a senior player, you should have restrained from such interviews.’


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MCC secretary not in favour
of altered result
Cricinfo
The MCC has heavily criticised the ICC’s decision to alter England’s win in the forfeited Test against Pakistan at The Oval in 2006 into a draw, and will lobby for another reversal.
The MCC is the body responsible for the Laws of Cricket, and secretary Keith Bradshaw felt the decision contravened the spirit of the game and its Laws. It is also reported that the MCC’s cricket committee is opposed to any alteration to Law 21, which states that the result should not be changed.
‘Cricket is the worse for this decision and it was opposed unanimously by the ICC’s cricket committee, on which I sit,’ Bradshaw told the Times. Michael Holding, the former West Indian fast bowler, resigned from the ICC cricket committee following the verdict.
The ICC ruling was termed as ‘unprecedented and dangerous’ by Robert Griffiths, QC, who represented umpire Darrell Hair at his tribunal hearing against the ICC.
‘It had no power to do so under the Laws of Cricket and the decision is a nullity,’ Griffiths, along with fellow barrister Stephen Whale wrote in the Times. ‘But it is deeply troubling that the ICC should take this unprecedented and dangerous step.
It is historical revisionism of the worst kind.
‘Law 21(10) is unequivocal: once the umpires have agreed with the scorers the correctness of the scores, the result cannot be changed. The reasoning is vacuous. It was, officially, ‘based on the view that in light of the unique set of circumstances, the original result was felt to be inappropriate’.
This is even though ICC board member witnesses admitted under oath at Hair’s tribunal that the umpires’ decisions were in accordance with the Laws.’


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Record was out of fear of losing
No1 status: Isinbayeva
Agence France-Presse . Rome
Russia’s Yelena Isinbayeva, who on Friday set a new women’s pole vault world record, said it was competition from American newcomer Jenn Stuczynski that had inspired her to the new milestone.
Speaking 24 hours after clearing 5.03 metres at the Golden League in Rome, Isinbayeva told how fear of losing her long-time No.1 status to the 26-year-old New Yorker had driven her to work harder in training.
‘When Stuczynski jumped 4.90 then 4.92 (at the US Olympic trials on July 6) it made me so angry because everyone started to say: ‘Isinbayeva is finished, we have a new star’,’ the Russian said.
‘It made me angry and I am happy for that feeling because I hadn’t felt it enough since my last world record.’
Friday’s landmark vault was no less than Isinbayeva’s 22nd world record, at two centimetres above the best she achieved when she won gold at the 2005 world championship in Helsinki.
The 26-year-old reigning Olympic champion added that the feat was a result of mastering a new technique.
‘Today I feel happy inside - so, so happy,’ she said. ‘Today I feel like the previous Isinbayeva.
‘Before I was full of problems, but after changes in my technique, my personal life, my coach, my life generally, I think I am stronger now in my personal condition.
‘I run faster, I long jump longer but, more important, inside I feel so happy, so calm.’
Isinbayeva is now determined to uphold a challenge she made to Ukrainian Sergey Bubka, the legendary men’s pole vault record holder, to better his figure of 35 world records.
‘My goal is to jump 36 world records,’ she said confidently.
Isinbayeva will now compete in Stockholm, London and Monaco and then train with the Swedish national team in Japan before the defence of her Olympic gold medal in Beijing.


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Queiroz takes charge as
Portugal coach
Reuters/Bdnews24.com . Lisbon
Manchester United assistant manager Carlos Queiroz has been named Portugal coach for the second time, the Football Federation said on Friday.
Queiroz, who fills the post left vacant by Brazilian Luiz Felipe Scolari, will sign a four-year contract. He is scheduled to be formally presented at a news conference on July 16.
‘I am very proud and honoured to be able to go back and serve my country,’ the FPF quoted Queiroz as saying on its website (www.fpf.pt). ‘This is a very special position that any professional would want,’ he added.
‘The first big objective is to qualify for the World Cup in South Africa (in 2010).’
His first game in charge will be a friendly against Faroe Islands next month ahead of their World Cup qualifying campaign against Sweden, Denmark, Hungary, Albania and Malta.
Scolari stepped down after Euro 2008, following 5-1/2 years in charge, to join Premier League Chelsea who will again be one of the main challengers to champions United for the title.
United tried hard to keep their assistant manager at the club but must now prepare for the campaign without Queiroz, who added, ‘I want to thank Manchester United for the agreement reached, which made my return to Portugal possible’.
His first spell in charge ended when the country failed to qualify for the 1994 World Cup finals but FPF president Gilberto Madail said he was delighted with the appointment.
‘Carlos is without doubt a benchmark of excellence for Portuguese football coaches and my first choice for the job,’ he was quoted as saying on the FIFA website (www.fifa.com).
Since his first spell in charge of his country Queiroz has enjoyed mixed success in coaching and management.
Short stays with the New York Metrostars, Japan’s Grampus Eight and the United Arab Emirates preceded a stint in charge of South Africa who he helped qualify for the 2002 World Cup. However, he left in March before the finals in South Korea and Japan after a quarter-final exit at the African Nations Cup and a dispute with the team’s technical director, Jomo Sono.
Queiroz then became assistant manager alongside Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, who won the English Premier League title at the end of his first season in 2002/03.
His contribution caught the attention of Real Madrid who appointed him as manager for the 2003-04 season, but after a good start he was sacked following an early exit from the Champions League and a fourth place Primera Liga finish.
Queiroz returned to his old job as Ferguson’s assistant at United the following season and went on to help the club win a Premier League and Champions League double last term.
‘Carlos is one of the best coaches in world football,’ Ferguson said on United’s website (www.manutd.com).
‘His attention to detail, ability to innovate and will to win have been a key factor in the team’s recent successes. He has played an important role in building and blending the exceptional squad of players at the club,’ he added.


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Pele unveils statue of Banks
‘Cristiano should see
out his contract’
Agence France-Presse . London
Brazilian football legend Pele unveiled a statue on Saturday of Gordon Banks, the England goalkeeper who made what is often dubbed the best save ever from a downward header by the Brazilian at the 1970 World Cup.
Pele, 67, was joined by South African Nobel Peace Prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu for the event at the Britannia Stadium, home of Stoke City FC, the northern English club where Banks played between 1967 and 1972.
‘It has to be the biggest, doesn’t it, because how many people get a statue in their honour?’ 70-year-old Banks told the BBC.
‘It’s very big for me and very emotional.’
Banks said that he hadn’t expected to be honoured in such a fashion.
‘Normally they only erect statues for people who are dead,’ he told the Daily Telegraph.
Banks, who was part of England’s 1966 World Cup winning side but lost an eye in a car crash in 1972, won 73 England caps and also played for Leicester City and Chesterfield.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown was among those who paid tribute to Banks ahead of the statue’s unveiling, describing him as an example to the whole country. ‘It will be a fitting tribute to a footballing great,’ Brown said of the statue.
A Banks XI and a Pele XI, featuring former English league players including Ian Rush, John Barnes, Luther Blissett, Jan Molby and Matt Le Tissier, is also playing a charity game at the stadium as part of the celebrations.
Stoke City will play in the Premiership next season after a 23-year absence from top-flight football.
Meanwhile, Pele denounced FIFA president Sepp Blatter’s belief that some top players are treated like slaves by their clubs.
Blatter was giving his assessment of Cristiano Ronaldo’s standoff with Manchester United over a move to Real Madrid when he said that players seeking a transfer should be allowed to leave.
The top-earning Portugal winger concurred with Blatter’s ‘modern slavery’ comments, which upset football’s first black superstar.
‘You are a slave if you work without a contract or you don’t get paid,’ said Pele, a three-time World Cup winner with Brazil, which abolished slavery 120 years ago. ‘If you have a contract then in any job you have to finish the contract.
‘I think that when he finishes his contract, then he should be free to go wherever he wants to go.’


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Guzan joins Villa
Agence France-Presse . London
Aston Villa are set to sign US goalkeeper Brad Guzan after agreeing a fee with his current club Chivas USA.
Villa manager Martin O’Neill agreed a fee in the region of 2 million pounds for Guzan during the January transfer window but the deal fell through after he failed to obtain a work permit.
This time around the Birmingham outfit have again reached agreement with the Major League Soccer club for Guzan who played against England as a second-half substitute at Wembley in May.
And Guzan’s increased number of international appearances – he has been involved in five of the last eight internationals – means Villa are more hopeful of gaining Home Office approval.
In addition to his appearance against England, he has started against Sweden and Barbados and came off the bench against Switzerland, South Africa and Spain in internationals since October 2007.
A Villa spokesman said, ‘Aston Villa can confirm that a fee has been agreed this morning for Brad Guzan and he will become a Villa player subject to gaining a work permit.’
Guzan will become Villa’s second summer signing after Chelsea midfielder Steve Sidwell who moved from Stamford Bridge for around 5 million pounds earlier this week.


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Cristiano ordered to return
to MU by July 28
Cristiano’s the Real
deal: Beckham
New Age Desk
Sir Alex Ferguson has ordered Cristiano Ronaldo to return to Manchester United in two weeks to finally put an end to the ongoing saga surrounding his future.
According to the Daily Mirror, Fergie was said to be furious at Ronaldo agreeing with FIFA chief Sepp Blatter that the United winger had been treated like a slave by his club, for not allowing him to complete his dream move to Real Madrid – who intended to unveil him on July 7.
United embark on a 10-day pre-season tour of South Africa next Thursday and return on July 28, the day Fergie wants Ronaldo back at their Carrington training base for clear-the-air talks.
Although Ronaldo will not be able to join in pre-season training after undergoing ankle surgery, Fergie wants him under his wing to begin his recuperation and end the circus surrounding his future. United have lost patience with Ronaldo and took exception to his claim that he had been treated like a modern-day slave.
Despite United’s firm stance, Ronaldo’s desire to join Real is stronger than ever following an interview on Portuguese TV in which he admitted he wanted a fresh challenge. He refused to pledge his future to the Reds.
There is a belief among the United hierarchy that getting Ronaldo back to Manchester as soon as he is able to begin his rehab would go a long way to ending the destabilising effect of the constant speculation concerning where he will be playing next season.
Meanwhile, David Beckham believes the potential signing of Cristiano Ronaldo would be a great coup for Real Madrid in their pursuit of the Champions League. The protracted saga over the Portugal international shows no sign of abating with the 23-year-old remaining firmly in the spotlight after agreeing with FIFA chief Sepp Blatter’s assertion that he is the victim of ‘modern slavery’.
The former England skipper agrees that Ronaldo would represent a top signing for the Spanish side as they look to supplant Manchester United as European champions.
The 33-year-old told Marca, ‘Every club wants to have the best players in the world, and it is normal that they all want someone as good as Cristiano, because he is a decisive player who will help them win titles.
‘Manchester United won the Champions League with him, which is the best example. He would be a great signing for the club and for the fans, who always want to see the best.
‘The truth is that every player like that wants to play in the Bernabeu some time, to feel the support of the Madrid fans. Real Madrid and the Bernabeu are a unique experience in football.
‘Who knows (what will happen with Ronaldo)? In football anything can happen, but that two clubs such as Manchester United and Real Madrid want you is an honour.’


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Klinsmann’s debut threatens
to overwhelm city
Associated Press . Berlin
Juergen Klinsmann’s debut as coach of Bayern Munich is threatening to overwhelm the small city where it will take place.
Sixth-tier SV Lippstadt celebrate their 100th anniversary by playing Bayern on Sunday. The match will be broadcast by two TV stations and extra stands have doubled the stadium capacity to 8,000.
‘Basically you can multiply everything involved by 10, including the hours we are all volunteering,’ SV president Forusan Madjlessi said.
City and club officials have scrambled to meet catering and beer demands, stage a show programme, and take advantage of the spotlight by luring sponsors and advertising.
Lippstadt is the hometown of Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who played for SV before going on to become a two-time European player of the year.
Lippstadt are no stranger to top teams but the difference this time can only be Klinsmann, since Bayern stars such as Franck Ribery, Luca Toni and Lukas Podolski have yet to join the team after the European Championship.
Klinsmann will coach for the first time since a 3-1 win over Portugal gave Germany third place at the 2006 World Cup and ended what is often called in the country ‘the Klinsmann revolution.’
Bayern hope Klinsmann can also help the slumping four-time European champions.
With some unorthodox methods, Klinsmann shook up the whole German football system and instituted attacking football on the national team. The philosophy was to pressure opponents and dictate how the game is played.
With just two weeks of training, and few regulars in the team, that fast demanding style of play is unlikely to be on display Sunday.
‘We won’t force anyone to go from zero to 200,’ Klinsmann said. ‘We will approach the match like a very intensive training session. We want to offer the spectators in the stadium something.’


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Blatter won’t apologise for
‘slavery’ comment
The Guardian . London
Sepp Blatter has no plans to apologise for claiming that Manchester United’s desire to hold on to Cristiano Ronaldo is tantamount to ‘modern slavery’, despite attracting widespread criticism for his remarks. The FIFA president, who also suggested clubs should not keep contracted players against their wishes, has been urged to retract his comments by senior figures in football, but last night there was no indication that he would bow to outside pressure.
‘Not at the moment,’ said a FIFA spokesperson when asked whether Blatter planned to clarify his comments or issue an apology. ‘For the moment we are not commenting on what he said. We never comment on interviews that have been done. What he has said is obviously on the record. He has no plans to follow up on that. For the time being, we have not heard or seen that he is planning to make additional comments.’
Premier League managers were not slow to add their own thoughts today. Steve Bruce and Harry Redknapp both condemned Blatter for his remarks, insisting he had overstepped the mark and demonstrated a complete lack of understanding over the transfer system. ‘I don’t agree with Sepp Blatter’s comments on them being slaves because I believe they have the best job in the world,’ said Bruce, Wigan’s manager. ‘If they are slaves, what the hell are the rest of us? They have got a good job.’
‘It’s rubbish, isn’t it?,’ added Redknapp in response to Blatter’s comments. ‘You can sign somebody at a football club who turns out to be a disaster. He might not be playing, might be no good, but you have to pay him for four years. So when somebody does fantastically, you’re supposed to just let them go? It doesn’t work like that. You sign a contract and it has to be mutual agreement, if the club receives a good offer, that’s how it works. It’s not slavery, is it? That’s absolute nonsense.’


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I’m not moving to Real:
Van der Vaart
Reuters/Bdnews24.com . London
Hamburg SV playmaker Rafael van der Vaart dismissed reports he would move to Real Madrid in a 20 million euro ($31.54 million) deal and expects to spend the season in the Bundesliga.
‘I’ve checked out these reports and they’re all untrue,’ van der Vaart said upon returning to training in Hamburg on Friday.
‘There’s been no contact with Real Madrid. At the moment I’m assuming I’ll spend another year at HSV.’


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TVE and Mediapro to show
C1 in Spain
Agence France-Presse . Madrid
Spanish public television TVE, a network of local television channels, and the media group Mediapro have won the rights to broadcast the European Champions League from 2009 to 2012, UEFA announced on Friday.
‘Spain’s public broadcaster TVE has secured a major package of rights which includes the exclusive broadcast of the Tuesday first-choice live match each match-week on TVE1,’ the Union of European Football Associations said.
‘The Federation of Regional Radio and Television Stations has obtained the exclusive free-to-air rights to the first-choice Wednesday live match,’ it said.
‘Mediapro has emerged as the winner of the pay TV rights which include exclusive coverage of the remaining live matches. As a result, the match will be shown every Wednesday on the primary channel of each regional broadcaster which is part of the FORTA network.’
The decisions mark a change from last season, when the Antena 3 and Canal+ channels shared the first-choice matches while the others were broadcast by the Digital+ pay television, part of Sogecable, a subsidiary of media giant Prisa. Mediapro and Sogecable are in the midst of a cut-throat battle over the rights to broadcast football matches.
Mediapro, which owns the terrestrial channel La Sexta, negotiated with the clubs to hold the rights from 2009, to the annoyance of Sogecable which has previously been the leader in broadcasting football in Spain.


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Missing club chief freed,
wife taken hostage
Agence France-Presse . Sofia
The missing president of Bulgaria’s Litex Lovech football club, Angel Bonchev, was freed on Friday but his wife was taken hostage by his kidnappers while paying part of his ransom, the interior ministry said.
Bonchev, 47, who disappeared on May 22 while parking his car, was found ‘in a helpless condition and with no identity documents’ in a Sofia neighbourhood and hospitalised ‘with grave mental disorder,’ the ministry said in a statement.
Interior minister Mihail Mikov also told the national television late Friday that Bonchev’s wife was taken hostage while trying to free him. ‘His wife was captured while delivering money to his kidnappers,’ Mikov said.
Police have so far refused to confirm reports that Bonchev was kidnapped. They also did not specify Friday if the kidnappers had now demanded a ransom for his wife. But the national television reported that they wanted 3 million leva (1.5 million euros) to free him and were now requesting 2 million leva (one million euros) for his wife.
Bonchev, who is also a former wrestling international and motorcycling federation chief, did not have any obvious signs of torture when he was taken to hospital late Friday, doctors said.
But they feared he might have suffered a brain haemorrhage.
Bonchev’s team Litex Lovech won the Bulgarian Cup in May and finished fourth in the league this season.


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