2007년 12월 14일 금요일

Brazilian club Bahia fined and suspended for stadium collapse that killed 7

SAO PAULO, Brazil (AP) -- Brazil's top sports tribunal fined Bahia $45,500 and suspended the club from playing at home for seven matches because of a stadium collapse that killed seven people last month in the nation's worst soccer disaster.

The sports tribunal said Bahia -- the 1988 national champion -- was responsible for securing fan safety during the Nov. 25 match against Vila Nova, which ended 0-0 and marked Bahia's return to the Brazilian league's second division.

Seven fans died and 40 others were injured after a seating section at the Fonte Nova stadium in the northeastern city of Salvador collapsed late in the match. Victims fell nearly 50 feet through a 10-foot wide hole that opened in the concrete stands.

About 60,000 people were at the stadium, and many didn't realize the section of bleachers had given way.

Bahia state officials later said the stadium will be torn down.

In a report issued Nov. 1, architects had flagged the stadium as being in the worst condition of 29 Brazilian soccer stadiums surveyed ahead of the 2014 World Cup -- although Brazilian officials said they did not plan to host Cup games at Fonte Nova.

2007년 12월 10일 월요일

Spirited Barcelona claw back Real

MADRID (AFP) - Barcelona showed real character to stay within four points of leaders Real Madrid with a 2-1 win over struggling Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday maintaining their flawless home record.

Cristian put Deportivo ahead after just two minutes to stun the home crowd but a 40th minute penalty from Ronaldinho restored parity and Xavi struck the winner to make it a perfect eight home wins in the league.

Barcelona, who welcomed Samuel Eto'o and Deco back from injury, stay second and coach Frank Rijkaard will want to stay close to Real ahead of 'El Classico' at Camp Nou on December 23.

"It was not a brilliant game but we won and Eto'o and Deco came back from injury so it was very important," explained Rijkaard.

"We are slowly getting players back from injury and we have a lot more options now and the team is gaining confidence.

"We want to win and play well but we are not at our best at the moment."

Atletico Madrid are a point behind Barcelona in third after a hard-fought 1-0 win over derby rivals Getafe.

Uruguayan international Diego Forlan settled a game full of incident with four sending-offs in 14 minutes.

"It is three vital points," said Atletico manager Javier Aguirre.

"Sometimes you can't win 4-0 playing beautiful football and you need to fight and get physical."

Villarreal slip to fourth after as the wheels appear to be starting to come off their title bid following a 1-0 home defeat by Real Betis.

"Betis did not deserve to take the three points," lamented Villarreal coach Manuel Pellegrini. "We played well against a team that scored with their only chance in the match.

"We tried everything but it is difficult against a team with ten men behind the ball."

With Thierry Henry still out due to a back complaint Barca coach Rijkaard started with Eto'o, Ronaldinho and Lionel Messi in attack.

For Cameroon striker Eto'o it was his first match since badly injuring his knee on August 28.

With Real defeating Athletic Bilbao on Saturday the pressure was on Barcelona and they had a horror start with Cristian firing La Coruna ahead after just two minutes to stun the home fans.

Barcelona had won all seven league matches at Camp Nou and responded with all-out attack.

Five minutes before half-time Messi was adjudged to have been brought down in the area and Ronaldinho converted the subsequent spot-kick.

Xavi then popped up with the decisive goal on 71 minutes to guide Barca back to within four points of Real.

Atletico are also emerging as potential title contenders but they needed to fight their way to the points against Getafe in a stormy encounter.

On 64 minutes, Atletico saw Argentine Kun Aguero sent off for two yellow cards - one for diving and the other an intentional handball.

Seven minutes later Getafe defender Lucas Licht was issued his marching orders and his goalkeeper Pato joined him minutes later after handling outside the area.

Seconds later Atletico winger Jose Antonio Reyes was shown a straight red for a crude tackle as emotions ran high.

Finishing in the top four looks a tall order for Sevilla although they got back on the right track with a 3-1 win over Real Murcia on Sunday.

Brazilian Luis Fabiano moved into double figures for the season, to top the scoring charts, with a brace (4, 89) and Italian Enzo Maresca converted a 58th minute spot-kick.

Sevilla move ninth but just qualifying for Europe is the aim for the back-to-back UEFA Cup winners although they are still in the Champions League.

2007년 12월 7일 금요일

Real Madrid rules out move for Barcelona's Ronaldinho

MADRID, Spain (AP) -- Real Madrid has no plans to make a move for FC Barcelona's Ronaldinho.

Ronaldinho's future at the Camp Nou came under question following reports in Spain that the Brazil midfielder is upset with a lack of playing time. So far, he has been linked with a move to Chelsea or AC Milan in the January transfer window.
"We have many really good players and a player like Ronaldinho we wouldn't sign, we don't have room," Madrid sporting director Predrag Mijatovic told Spanish television station Cuatro.

Ronaldinho was a substitute in the Catalan club's last two games, both draws. It's the first time he hasn't started when healthy since arriving from Paris Saint-Germain in 2003.

Barcelona is second in the Spanish league table with 28 points, four behind Madrid.

2007년 12월 2일 일요일

Real Madrid still team to beat

Real Madrid continued its 100 percent home record on Saturday as they bounced back from its midweek Champions League defeat with a 3-1 victory over in-form Racing Santander.

A seventh successive La Liga triumph at the Bernabeu this season rarely looked in doubt after Real scored twice inside the opening 10 minutes through captain Raul and an own goal.

Raul than curled home his eighth goal of the season from a second-half free-kick to make it 3-0, and although Pedro Munitis pulled a goal back almost immediately, it was not enough to save Racing's nine-match unbeaten run. It also kept Real top of the table.

Espanyol and Barcelona shared a 1-1 draw in a fiercely contested Catalan derby on Saturday night.

Andres Iniesta struck on six minutes to give Barcelona the lead, but substitute Ferran Corominas equalized half-way through the second period to extend Espanyol's unbeaten run to 10 matches and frustrate their city rivals, Sevilla slipped to a third successive Primera Liga defeat of the season when they lost 1-0 to Andalusian rivals Almeria.

The double UEFA Cup holders lost out to an 86th minute goal from Peru defender Santiago Acasiete after Dani Alves was sent off for the second time in a row.

On Sunday, Villarreal visit Real Valladolid, Real Mallorca duel with Real Murcia and Real Zaragoza make the trip to Recreativo Huelva. Getafe host Levante, Osasuna travel to Deportivo La Coruna, Real Betis meet Atletico Madrid while Athletic Bilbao go to Valencia.

2007년 11월 22일 목요일

FIFA has concerns over 2010 World Cup preparations but no `red light'

DURBAN, South Africa (AP) -- FIFA said Thursday it has some concerns about South Africa's preparations for the 2010 World Cup, while stressing there was no "red light" -- for now -- to getting venues ready on time.

In the run-up to Sunday's preliminary draw for the World Cup, a two-week strike by construction workers at Durban's new soccer stadium raised concerns about delays at several sites, but FIFA said the situation was under control.


"For sure we are looking at what is happening," FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke said. But, he added, "We are still on track today."

"For the time being there is no red light. There are some concerns on some stadiums," he said.

Striking workers had threatened to disrupt Sunday's preliminary draw.

Danny Jordaan, the head of the 2010 local organizing committee, said he was convinced workers would not threaten the deadlines for finishing stadiums, even though some lag behind schedule.

"We will not fail the delivery of stadiums on time," he said. "We don't doubt the commitment of the workers to make up time."

However, he did not question the right to strike.

"The point is there are always competing interests," Jordaan said. "We have a duty to deliver to FIFA all infrastructure on time."

The deadline for completion of World Cup venues is October 2009, while the five stadiums for the June 2009 Confederations Cup have to be ready by this coming October.

South Africa was awarded the 2010 World Cup three years ago. Since then, there have been concerns about delays in stadium and infrastructure construction, lack of public transportation and high crime rate.

Jordaan said runaway costs were forcing organizers to reassess the budget and could lead to spending cuts.

"Does it constitute a crisis? Definitely not," Jordaan said.

A group of experts is currently investigating where cuts can be made, and a report will be presented to the board of the organizing committee on Friday. Budgets have been affected by the price of steel and the exchange rate.

The South African government is investing some $5.9 billion in the World Cup, including $2.6 billion in stadiums, transportation and supporting infrastructure.

2007년 11월 18일 일요일

England alive! Israel beats Russia 2-1 in European Championship qualifier

RAMAT GAN, Israel (AP) -- As Dmitry Sychev's 90th-minute drive headed toward the goal, it appeared England would be virtually eliminated from European Championship qualifying.

Then the ball bounced off a post and Omer Golan scored in injury time, giving Israel a 2-1 victory over Russia on Saturday night that could allow the England to join next summer's 16-nation field.


All the English have to do is tie or beat Croatia on Wednesday at Wembley. And Croatia has little incentive to play all out, having clinched a berth because of Israel's victory.

"We have been given another chance to qualify, and that has to motivate every player on Wednesday evening," England midfielder Steven Gerrard said. "If we don't get there it will be so frustrating, and we have to make sure we have the right mentality on Wednesday."

Croatia (8-1-2) clinched a berth despite a 2-0 loss at Macedonia and leads Group E with 26 points, followed by England (7-2-2) with 23. Russia (6-2-3) is third with 21 but England has the tiebreaker because of a better goal difference in splitting its two games against the Russians.

Russia, which had put itself in control of gaining a berth with a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over England in Moscow last month, could have virtually eliminated the English with a victory over Israel but now must win at last-place Andorra on Wednesday and hope the English lose.

Elyaniv Barda gave Israel the lead in 10th minute, but Diniyar Bilyaletdinov tied it in the 61st.

"Of course we are very, very disappointed," Russia coach Guus Hiddink said. "We were close. We were the team who was dominating the game."

The English enter Wednesday's game missing Wayne Rooney, Michael Owen and John Terry because of injuries and Rio Ferdinand due to a suspension.

"It will be difficult, but I am convinced we will get the result we need," England coach Steve McClaren said. "I always believed it would come down to the Croatia game and, thankfully, it has."

2007년 11월 9일 금요일

Bayern Munich draws 2-2 with Bolton in UEFA Cup group stage

LONDON (AP) -- Bayern Munich allowed a late goal Thursday and settled for a 2-2 tie with visiting Bolton in the UEFA Cup group stage.

Bolton midfielder Kevin Nolan collected a quick throw-in and hooked the ball over Bayern defenders Lucio and Christian Lell before tapping it to Kevin Davies, who scored past Bayern goalkeeper Oliver Khan in the 82nd minute.

"We didn't think that this is a team playing internationally that can also shoot goals," Kahn said.

Lukas Podolski scored twice for four-time European champion Bayern, which is in the UEFA Cup after 10 years in the Champions League because it finished fourth in the German league last season.

Other winners Thursday were Tottenham, Everton, Panathinaikos, Villareal, Fiorentina, Spartak Moscow, Sparta Prague, Bordeaux, Zenit St. Petersburg and Helsingborg. The 1991 European champion Red Star Belgrade lost 3-0 at Greek side Aris.

Ricardo Gardner scored in the eighth minute for Bolton, which is 19th in the English Premier League. Bolton was playing its first European match with new manager Gary Megson, who took over on Oct. 25.

Podolski scored in the 30th and 49th minutes, both set up by Franck Ribery.

"Naturally I'm disappointed over the result, but not the way we played," Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld said. "We were too careless, that really makes me mad."

Red Star -- which lost in injury-time to Bayern 3-2 in the first round -- conceded goals in the 89th and 90th minutes against Aris. Athanassios Papazoglu scored twice and Sergio Kolce added the other.

Tottenham beat Hapoel Tel Aviv 2-0, including Robbie Keane's 10th goal of the season on a volley off a cross from Steed Malbranque. Malbranque helped set up the second, sending a crossing pass to Dimitar Berbatov, who put a header past goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama.

Spurs, a two-time UEFA Cup champion, lost 2-1 at home to Getafe in its opening group match. It has since replaced coach Martin Jol with Juande Ramos, who guided Sevilla to consecutive UEFA Cup titles.

In the other Group G game, Aalborg scored in the 86th minute to draw Anderlecht 1-all.

Fiorentina extended its overall unbeaten streak to 21 matches with a 6-1 rout of Swedish side Elfsborg in Group C.

Martin Jorgensen scored twice and Christian Vieri, Marco Donadel, Per Kroldrup and Samuel Di Carmine also found the net for the Viola.

Elfsborg forward James Keene was carried off on a stretcher in the 21st minute after getting hit by the ball in the face and head. He did not need hospital treatment.

Karol Kisel scored two goals, including the winner, in Sparta Prague's 3-2 victory at Toulouse in the other group game.

Roman Pavlyuchenko scored on a penalty kick after Bayer Leverkusen forward Stefan Kiessling fouled Morais Welliton in the 63rd minute, launching Spartak Moscow's 2-1 win. Santos Mozart converted another penalty in the 77th after Maxym Kalynychenko was fouled by Leverkusen goalkeeper Rene Adler.

Bayer Leverkusen, which is sixth in the German league, scored in injury time.

Villareal won its first group game, 2-1 over Mlada Boleslav behind goals from Sanit Carzorla and Nihat Kahveci.

Mikel Arteta converted a penalty kick in the 83rd minute and Victor Anichebe added another six minutes later for Everton to win 2-0 at FC Nuremberg in Group A. Russian league leader Zenit defeated Larissa 3-2 in the other group game, Fatih Teke scoring the winner in the 78th minute by glancing in a cross from Alejandro Dominguez.

Henrik Larsson scored for Helsingborg in its 3-2 win at Galatasaray in Group H. Christoffer Andersson and Razak Omotoyossi added the other goals for the Swedish team. Bordeaux beat Austria Vienna 2-1 in the other group match with a penalty kick in the 88th minute by Brazilian forward Wendel.

Rennes earned a 1-1 tie with FK Brann with an 88th-minute penalty kick from Bruno Cheyrou, and Dinamo Zagreb drew 0-0 at FC Basel in Group D.

Panathiniakos won 1-0 at FC Copenhagen behind a goal from Dame Ndoye, and Aberdeen and Lokomotiv Moscow tied 1-all in Group B.

The top three clubs from each group advance to the knockout stage. The next round is Nov. 29.