Saturday, January 15, 2011

Babel accepts FA charge


LONDON: Liverpool’s Ryan Babel admitted to a charge of improper conduct on Thursday after posting a mock­ed-up Twitter photo of referee Howard Webb wearing a Manchester United shirt after the Reds’ FA Cup defeat by their bitter rivals last weekend.
Babel – the first player to be charged by the Football Association (FA) for images and comments posted on the social networking site – has requested a personal hearing that will take place on Jan 17.
The picture appeared on the Dutch forward’s official page on Twitter just hours after United beat Liverpool 1-0 in the third round of the FA Cup on Sunday – a match refereed by Webb.
Webb, who refereed last year’s World Cup final, angered Liverpool by awarding United a first-minute penalty from which Ryan Giggs scored before sending-off Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard.
As well as the photo, Babel wrote: “And they call him one of the best referees? That’s a joke. SMH (shaking my head).”
The 24-year-old Dutchman subsequently apologised to Webb, saying: “My apology if they (Babel’s Twitter ‘followers’) take my posted pic seriously. This is just an emotional reaction after losing an important game. Sorry Howard Webb.” 
  

Messi dismisses talk of rift with Barca team-mates

BARCELONA: Argentine star Lionel Messi on Thursday dismissed talk that defeating his Barcelona team-mates Andres Iniesta and Xavi in the race for the Ballon d’Or had strained his relationship with the Spanish pair.
“I don’t care what people say. I have the respect and the recognition of my team-mates. All my colleagues congratulated me and were happy for me and that is what is the most important for me,” he told a news conference.
“I am aware that without my team-mates I could not win these prizes. We know what our relationship is and how we get along. The relationship is the same. I am fine with Andres and with Xavi. I have a good relationship with both.”
Messi was selected ahead of his two Barcelona team-mates at a ceremony in Switzerland on Monday. It was the second straight year that he collected the prize.
The Argentinian forward had been expected to lose out to either one of the two, who won the World Cup with Spain in July, after he endured a modest run at the tournament where he failed to score.
Messi, Iniesta and Xavi received a standing ovation from Barcelona fans on Wednesday when they took to the field before the start of their side’s 5-0 Spanish King’s Cup victory at home over Second Division leaders Real Betis.
The Argentine forward hit a hat-trick in what was his first game since winning the Ballon d’Or. 
  

Yakubu joins Leicester on loan


LONDON: Nigeria striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni (pic) has been drafted in on loan to Leicester for the rest of the season from Everton in a bid to help the Second Division side gain promotion to the Premier League.
Leicester, managed by former Eng­land boss Sven-Goran Eriksson, are currently only four points off a playoff place.
Yakubu, 28, has scored over 100 goals in English football during nine seasons at Portsmouth, Mid­dlesbrough and Everton respectively.
He was Everton’s then club record signing when he joined the Merseysiders for £11.25mil in 2007.
“Yakubu is a tremendous signing for Leicester City,” Eriksson said on Thursday. “He will bring pace, power and experience to the club. He has captained his country, played in major competitions and is a first-class footballer, who I am certain will help us to achieve our aims of moving up the Championship (Second Division).”
The loan move, which is subject to league approval, could see Yakubu make a permanent switch to the Mid­lands club at the end of the season.
Yakubu is Eriksson’s third signing of the January transfer window following Ben Mee and Sol Bamba. 
  

Ex-World Cup ref admits drug smuggling

NEW YORK: Former World Cup referee Byron Moreno pleaded guilty on Thursday to heroin smuggling charges, the US attorney’s office said.
Ecuador’s Moreno, who is being held without bail, admitted one count of heroin smuggling, spokesman Robert Nardoza said, and faces more than five years in prison under federal sentencing guidelines.
Moreno, 41, gained notoriety after officiating a 2002 World Cup match between Italy and hosts South Korea.
Italy were eliminated in extra time, and several controversial calls by Moreno angered Italy, including a debatable penalty to South Korea and the sending off of Francesco Totti with a second yellow card for diving.
In September 2002, Ecuadorean football officials suspended Moreno for 20 games after he added a dozen minutes of stoppage time to a match between two domestic clubs without properly recording it.
He was suspended again the following year and shortly thereafter resigned.
Moreno was arrested last September at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport after arriving on a commercial flight from Ecuador with bags of heroin attached to his body, US prosecutors said.
According to a complaint filed in US court, Moreno “became visibly nervous” during a routine inspection and customs agents found plastic bags of heroin attached to various places on his body.
  

Santa Cruz rejoins Blackburn on loan



LACKBURN, England (AP): Paraguay striker Roque Santa Cruz rejoined former club Blackburn on Friday on a six-month loan deal from Manchester City.
The 29-year-old Santa Cruz spent two years at Ewood Park before signing for City in June 2009 for a reported fee of 18 million pounds ($30 million).
He failed to establish himself as a first-team regular at City, and has featured just once in the Premier League this season. Santa Cruz is in contention to start for Blackburn in its league match at Chelsea on Saturday.
"I feel like I am coming home. This has been the easiest decision of my career," Santa Cruz said. "I want to get playing and scoring again, and this is a real chance for me to prove myself after a frustrating period. Everyone knows what Blackburn means to me."
Santa Cruz, who is Rovers' first signing since the club was taken over by Indian poultry giant Venky's in November last year, scored 29 goals in his first spell at Blackburn. The former Bayern Munich striker managed just four goals in 18 months with City.
"When he was here the first time, he had a fantastic time and showed his quality," Blackburn manager Steve Kean said. "I think he feels he has got a little bit of business to finish.
"Hopefully he will go and do that until the end of the season. He's coming back to a place that was special to him and I am sure he is going to deliver as good, if not better."
Santa Cruz found himself frozen out at City, with manager Roberto Mancini preferring Carlos Tevez and Mario Balotelli up front.
The big-spending northwest club also recently signed Bosnia striker Edin Dzeko for a reported fee of 27 million pounds ($42 million).
  

Asian Cup: Iraq desperate to avoid early exit


DOHA, Qatar (AP): Iraq coach Wolfgang Sidka is hoping that his team won't create an unwanted piece of history at this year's Asian Cup.
The defending champion has never failed to make it out of the first round since the tournament took on its current format in 1968, but after a loss to Iran in its opening match, the 2007 winners are in danger of being the first.
Iraq plays the United Arab Emirates on Saturday needing at least a point to stay in the tournament, but the team's German coach tried to play down the pressure on his players.
"More than 50 percent of teams are under pressure, including our team," Sidka said Thursday. "The first match was very tough, they won the title three times, we are the defending champion.
"It's a tough competition, the most important in Asia, and sure you're under pressure, but I'm also very sure we have the right answers."
A loss on Saturday would send the Iraqis home early, four years after the team celebrated an emotional first victory in the tournament after a 1-0 win over Saudi Arabia in the final in Malaysia.
But Sidka, the 56-year-old former Bahrain coach who took charge of Iraq in July last year, is still focusing on reaching the knockout stage, and says there is as much pressure on the opposition as his own side.
"We are full of confidence," Sidka said. "Our target is to reach the quarter-finals first. We have a very important match with UAE, and we have to do well, we know this. "It's a crucial match for us but also for UAE. They're under pressure also. It's important that you concentrate over 90 minutes and you keep your nerve. Fight with your heart, but with a brain, that's also very important."
Midfielder Mahdi Kareem, one of the stars of Iraq's surprise win four years ago, also stressed the importance of keeping a cool head in the game at the Al-Rayyan Stadium.
"We are under pressure of course," Kareem said. "We have to prepare ourselves psychologically more than physically now. "We lost the first match but we will try to compensate for that in the next match. There is a lot of pressure on us but our morale is good."
Iraq will be up against a team only four places lower in FIFA's rankings. A UAE side featuring several young players failed to break down the famously stingy North Korean defence in an opening 0-0 draw, but coach Srecko Katanec was encouraged by his side's performance.
"We played a very good game the first game so we are ready for the second one," Katanec said. "We played well in the first game and we are ready for Iraq. We know them and they know us."
  

Barcelona aims for record unbeaten run


MADRID (AP): Barcelona is looking to close out the first half of the Spanish league season on Sunday against Malaga by setting a club record of 28 games without a loss.
The Spanish champion's 5-0 Copa del Rey win over Real Betis on Wednesday allowed it to match its previous record of 27 games from the 1973-74 season.
Lionel Messi's ninth hat trick took his season total in all competitions to 31 goals in 27 games, two days after edging teammates Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez for his second straight FIFA player of the year award.
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola cautioned his team about overconfidence going into the match at the Camp Nou stadium against last-place Malaga, which has made a number of January signings as it looks to distance itself from the relegation zone.
Barcelona, which has now scored five or more goals eight times this season, is going for a 13th straight league win, which would leave it two shy of matching another record.
"The best way to maintain our respect for opponents is to play the way we do from Minute 1. Some teams win 4 or 5-0 and start to do stupid things," Messi said Thursday. "There's still the second half of the season to go with a lot of difficult games - the match in Madrid - but the good thing is it will all depend on us."
Barcelona leads Real Madrid by two points after 18 matches. Madrid plays at Almeria on Sunday.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi will also use Sunday's games to maintain their pursuit of Hugo Sanchez's record 38 goals in a season.
Ronaldo has 22, while Messi has 18 league goals.
Ronaldo has scored 12 in his last six matches to single-handedly lead Madrid, whose coach, Jose Mourinho, is keeping his fingers crossed that some transfer window reinforcements may still come despite the club saying that was unlikely.
Sports daily Marca has linked a number of strikers to the club, including Emmanuel Adebayor of Manchester City and Miroslav Klose of Bayern Munich.
Madrid has lost only once in the league this season - to Barcelona - and it knows every point counts up until the next one, at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in April.
Third-place Villarreal will be looking to recover its defensive stability after blowing leads in two successive games - in a 4-2 league loss to Madrid and then a 3-3 cup draw against Sevilla - when it plays Osasuna on Saturday.
Villarreal signed fullback Cicinho on-loan from AS Roma until the end of the season on Thursday to replace injured defender Angel Lopez.
Levante may field new arrival Wellington against last-place Zaragoza in a meeting of teams looking to avoid the drop. Levante signed the 18-year-old Brazilian striker on loan from Arsenal until the end of the season.
Sevilla plays fifth-place Espanyol looking for a third straight win to continue its climb up the table, where it currently sits 10th.
In Saturday's other games, it's: Getafe vs. Real Sociedad; Sporting Gijon vs. Hercules; and Athletic Bilbao vs. Racing Santander.
On Sunday, Valencia plays Deportivo La Coruna, and Mallorca is at Atletico Madrid on Monday.
  

AFC takes action against Kuwait, Saudi Arabia


DOHA, Qatar (AP): The Asian Football Confederation fined Kuwait $1,000 for allowing an unauthorized photographer from its football federation into the team's dressing room at an Asian Cup match.
The AFC also referred a complaint against Saudi Arabia to its disciplinary committee, following the team's failure to send a player to a Jan. 12 news conference.
The complaint against Saudi Arabia comes in the wake of the AFC fining Qatar $2,000 for refusing to send a player to a Jan. 6 news conference. Complaints have also been filed against Iraq and North Korea on the same issue but so far no action has been taken.
  

Beckham to watch from stands as Spurs host United


LONDON (AP): David Beckham will look on from the stands at White Hart Lane on Sunday as Tottenham attempts to inflict a first defeat of the season on Premier League leader Manchester United, the former England captain's old club.
Spurs have been unable to secure a loan deal this week for the 35-year-old midfielder, who - as it stands - will only be at the London club to train until Feb. 10 before returning to the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp will instead turn to star players Rafael van der Vaart and Gareth Bale in a bid to end United's 20-match unbeaten run, which has left the 18-time champions provisionally two points clear of Manchester City.
City hosts Wolverhampton and third-place Arsenal is at West Ham.
  

Ex-World Cup ref pleads guilty in NY drug case


NEW YORK (AP) - A former World Cup referee arrested in New York City has admitted to heroin smuggling charges.
A U.S. attorney's office spokesman said Byron Moreno pleaded guilty Thursday in Brooklyn federal court to one count of heroin smuggling.
Prosecutors say Moreno was caught in September at Kennedy Airport with bags of heroin attached to his body after a flight from his native Ecuador.
He faces up to 63 months in prison under federal sentencing guidelines. No sentencing date was set, and he is being held without bail.
Moreno's attorney did not immediately return messages for comment.
Moreno raised the ire of Italians in a 2002 second-round match in which South Korea eliminated Italy. Italian players and officials have long labeled his calls against them suspicious.
  

Rooney's brother selected by Red Bulls


BALTIMORE (AP) - Wayne Rooney's younger brother John has been selected by the New York Red Bulls in the second round of the Major League Soccer draft.
Having already signed with MLS, the younger Rooney worked out for scouts last week in Florida and was taken by the Red Bulls on Thursday.
John is a 20-year-old midfielder who has played for Macclesfield Town in England's League Two. He joins a squad that includes Thierry Henry and Rafael Marquez.
Wayne Rooney is the star forward for Manchester United and England.
  

Juventus striker Toni injures knee in Italian Cup


TURIN, Italy (AP) - Juventus striker Luca Toni suffered a distortion to his right knee during an Italian Cup win over Catania on Thursday.
The Italy international limped off after 18 minutes of the 2-0 victory.
The club says on its website that the 33-year-old Toni will be examined on Friday, though it is likely he will miss the Serie A match against Bari on Sunday.
Toni recently joined Juventus from Genoa during the winter break.
  

Real Madrid confirms its looking to sign striker


MADRID (AP) - Real Madrid is looking to sign a striker on-loan to replace the injured Gonzalo Higuain, director general Jorge Valdano said after Thursday's 3-1 Copa del Rey quarterfinals win over Atletico Madrid.
Higuain is unlikely to return from back surgery before April leaving Karim Benzema as the Spanish club's lone striker.
Valdano says it's "certain" the club is "exploring the market" in search of a player that "can help us for six months."
Coach Jose Mourinho says he would welcome any reinforcements as Benzema has struggled to find the back of the net this season with nine goals in 27 appearances.
Manchester City's Emmanuel Adebayor and Bayern Munich's Miraslov Klose are among those Madrid is reportedly looking at signing.
  

Saudi Arabia makes shock Asian Cup exit


DOHA, Qatar (AP) - Three-time winners Japan and Saudi Arabia experienced contrasting fortunes on an eventful day at the Asian Cup on Thursday.
For only the second time since 1984, Saudi Arabia will not appear in the tournament final after a shock 1-0 loss to Jordan sent the team crashing out in the first round.
Japan, which needed a last-minute strike to scrape a draw against Jordan in its opening game, once again relied on a late goal as Keisuke Honda's 82nd-minute penalty earned his side a 2-1 win over Syria in the day's second game.
That was enough to send Japan top of Group B ahead of Jordan, which also has four points, and Syria on three points. The top two go through to the quarterfinals.
Saudi Arabia was definitely eliminated and has only pride to play for in its final match against Japan on Monday, when Syria faces Jordan.
Saudi coach Nasser al-Johar, brought in for a fifth stint after Jose Peseiro was fired in the wake of the opening loss to Syria, blamed his team's loss to Jordan on bad luck, but that was unlikely to appease critics in his home country, who were already upset by Saudi Arabia's failure to qualify for last year's World Cup.
Falling at the first hurdle in Qatar was unthinkable for Saudi Arabia, the most successful nation at the Asian Cup with three runner-up finishes to go with its three titles.
However, despite dominating possession, the Saudis failed to break down a defense-minded Jordan side, and then saw goalkeeper Waleed Abdullah hopelessly out of position as Baha' Abdelrahman's deep cross from the left floated over his head and into the net in the 42nd minute.
"We were not lucky tonight but I believe we were good," Al-Johar said. "Jordan were lucky today as the goal that we conceded went in by luck because the ball was meant to be a cross."
Saudi Arabia's only other first-round exit since its 1984 debut came in 2004 when it was beaten by Iraq in its final group game. Iraq's coach was Adnan Hamad, who was now in charge of Jordan. "I don't want to talk about history," Hamad said. "Actually we played a very difficult team, and they needed to win this match, so I would like to thank my team for their outstanding performance.
"Our goal was to reach the next stage and we still have that target. We still haven't qualified."
Japan, one of the pre-tournament favorites, was also yet to guarantee its place in the next round, but was grateful to its star player for getting the team out of trouble against Syria.
Honda stepped up to score a penalty eight minutes from fulltime after Syria equalized with a controversial spot kick of its own in the 76th.
Sanharib Malki was flagged offside by the linesman before he was brought down by Japan goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima in the box, but the referee overruled his official, pointed to the spot and Kawashima was sent off, prompting prolonged arguments from several Japan players.
Firas Al Khatib eventually converted the penalty, but Honda had the final say.
"It was not a tough game," Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni said. "With 10 players we played like with 11 players.
"We could have scored (more) in the first half, but we didn't and it was still a one-sided game for Japan."
Syria also ended the match with 10 men after Nadim Sabag was sent off for his second yellow card in stoppage time of what developed into a bad-tempered encounter.
On Friday, Australia plays South Korea in one of the most hotly anticipated matchups of the group stage.
Australia captain Lucas Neill insists his side is fully focused on the game, but says the players have also been concerned by events in their homeland where flooding has caused devastation in Queensland.
"Football is not the biggest thing when people back home are losing homes and family members," the defender said.
The Socceroos will wear special shirts in the warmup before the game, advertising the number to call to make donations for the flood relief appeal.
Australia cruised to a 4-0 win over India in its first match, while South Korea beat Bahrain 2-1. India faces Bahrain in the other Group C match on Friday.
  

Japan defeats Syria 2-1 in Asian Cup


DOHA, Qatar (AP) - A 10-man Japan beat Syria 2-1 to stay unbeaten at the Asian Cup on Thursday.
Japan moved to the top of Group B on goals scored. It and Jordan each has four points, one more than Syria. Only the top two advance to the quarterfinals.
Midfielder Keisuke Honda scored the winner from the penalty spot in the 82nd minute after a foul on striker Shinji Okazaki.
Japan midfielder Makoto Hasebi opened the scoring off a pass from Daisuke Matsui in the 35th, but Syria striker Firas al-Khatib leveled with a penalty in the 76th after Japan goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima was sent off for bringing down striker Sanharib Malki in the box.
Japan's players fiercely protested the referee's decision to award a penalty and hand a red card to Kawashima, claiming the linesman flagged offside before the foul was called.
Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni said the referee, Torky Mohsen of Iran, overruled the linesman's call because "the Syrian player was not offside and that our player was the last to play the ball."
Six minutes after the controversy, Mohsen awarded Japan a penalty after Syria defender Bilal Abduldaim fouled Okazaki.
Syria was also reduced to 10 in injury time when Nadim Sabag received a second yellow card.
"It was not a tough game," Zaccheroni said. "With 10 players we played like with 11 players."
Zaccheroni said the team recovered from the embarrassing 1-1 draw against Jordan on Sunday in the opening match and showed improvement.
"We could have scored (more) in the first half, but we didn't and it was still a one-sided game for Japan," he said. He added he felt "the potential for Japan to go to the next round."
Syria stunned Saudi Arabia 2-1 on Sunday but squandered momentum by playing very defensively.
Despite the loss, Syria coach Tita Valeriu was satisfied.
"I was not hoping for a draw, I was hoping to win the match," Valeriu said. "We played very well and we were looking for three points, but we'll do our best (to get them) in the next game (on Monday against Jordan)."
The Romanian was confident Syria can beat Jordan to reach the quarterfinals for the first time.
"After the match with Jordan we will qualify to the next stage," Valeriu said.
Lineups:
Syria: Mosab Balhous, Belal Abduldaim, Ali Dyab, Feras Ismail, Nadim Sabag, Abdulkader Deka, Jehad al-Hussien (Abdulfattah al-Agha, 77), Abdulrazak al-Husein, Wael Ayan, Samer Aouad (Firas al-Khatib, 45), Mohammed al-Zino (Sanharbin Malki, 64).
Japan: Eiji Kawashima, Yasuyuki Konno, Yuto Nagatomo, Atsuto Uchida, Yasuhito Endo, Daisuke Matsui (Hajime Hosogai, 90), Shinji Kagawa (Shinji Okazaki, 65), Ryoichi Maeda (Shusaku Nishikawa, 75), Makoto Hasebe, Keisuke Honda, Maya Yoshida.