Friday, November 30, 2012

Arsenal to wait for $240M windfall

Lukas Podolski has been a key part of the Arsenal side this season since arriving in the summer.

(CNN) -- Arsenal have tied up a $240 million deal with Emirates as the club looks to end its seven year trophy drought.

The EPL club has extended its shirt partnership with Emirates until the end of the 2018/19 season, while the airline will also continue its hold on naming rights of the stadium until 2028.

The sponsorship, which is estimated to be worth around $48 million a year, has been hailed as a deal 'all about football' by Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis, who insisted money would be available for player investment in June 2013 when the club receives the first payment from Emirates.

The latest agreement, according to Gazidis, will give Arsenal, "the resources in what we believe is a responsible and well managed way, to be able to invest in what we put onto the pitch for our fans."

Manchester United sends DHL packing

In July Manchester United signed a seven-year shirt deal with U.S. car giant Chevrolet worth $72 million a season up until 2021, while Liverpool's four-year shirt deal with Standard Chartered which was signed back in 2009 is worth $128 million in total.

Manchester City signed a 10-year deal with Etihad for naming rights and shirt sponsorship worth a reported mammoth $641 million only last years.

But Arsenal insist that only United's shirt deal is worth more and that their deal with Emirates is the second most valuable in Europe.

However, the club receives around $85 million from sponsorships, which is far less than that of its rivals including Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United.

And while it posted the third-best sales figures for the year ending May 31 of $389 million, it still lags behind its rivals on the field.

The Gunners' inability to win a trophy since 2005 under manager Arsene Wenger has led to supporter frustration with the team's inability to challenge for top honors.

Daniel Geey, an associate for Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP and an expert on finance within football, believes Arsenal's sponsorship deal is a sign of the impact that Financial Fair Play is starting to have on the Premier League.

Fair play? Football clubs seek to beat financial offside trap

"The Arsenal deal will however only begin in time for the 2014-15 season which means the financial uplift is still some time away," Geey told CNN.

"Depending on how the revenues are apportioned between the shirt and stadium deal, only the future Manchester United Chevrolet $72 million a season shirt deal (also starting in 2014-15) is significantly higher in the Premier League.

"It means that in the Premier League alone, there have been some very large recent sponsorship deals with Liverpool's $128 million four-year shirt sponsorship deal with Standard Chartered in September 2009 and Manchester City's reported 10 year $641m shirt, stadium and community deal with Etihad.

"Bearing in mind the latest bumper UK and foreign broadcasting deals that have been announced by the Premier League (forecasted to be around $8bn )and the prospect of some type of salary cap being proposed in the Premier League, it is clear that owners are looking to aggressively maximize revenues whilst to some degree constraining wages.

"It may well be that FFP has had the desired 'belt tightening' effect."

Under the new FFP rules, owners can only contribute a maximum of $55.5 million for the 2013-14 and 2015 seasons together, and $37 million during the period covering 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18.

Current rules state that should clubs incur losses in excess of $60 million over a three-year period, they will be hit with sanctions as well as exclusion from the Champions League and Europa League.


Via: Arsenal to wait for $240M windfall

West Ham vow action on anti-Semitic chanting

West Ham have already banned one fan for life after he was cautioned by police for "racially aggravated gesturing" during their match with Tottenham on Sunday. West Ham's fans are also reported to have aired songs about Adolf Hitler. The FA are to investigate. Tottenham won the game 3-1 with Gareth Bale (left) on the scoresheet.

(CNN) -- West Ham United will ban fans for life if they are found to have aired anti-Semitic chants during their English Premier League clash with Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

The English Football Association (FA) has confirmed they have launched an investigation into chants from the stands during the match at White Hart Lane.

Tottenham have strong links with London's Jewish community and it is alleged West Ham's supporters sang songs about Adolf Hitler and referred to an incident last week which saw several Spurs fans stabbed in Rome.

West Ham confirmed two of their fans had been cautioned by police for "racially aggravated gesturing" on their official website.

Read: Anti-semitic chanting mars Lazio's clash with Tottenham

"One of those fans has since been identified as a season ticket holder and has, this afternoon, been sent a letter containing a banning order from the club," they said. "Any other individuals identified can expect a similar swift and robust response."

It is the latest racism storm to engulf England's top flight, after recent high-profile cases involving Chelsea captain John Terry, who was banned for racially abusing an opponent.

Last week Chelsea's complaint of racist language towards one of their players from Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg was dismissed by the FA due to a lack of evidence.

A statement on the FA's website read: "The FA Governance Department has this morning contacted both clubs and will continue to make enquiries into the matter in the coming days.

"We note the statement issued by West Ham United FC and encourage clubs to identify and ban for life any individuals involved in incidents of abusive chanting.

"There is no place for anti-Semitism or any form of discrimination in football. The FA is committed to working with the clubs, Leagues, fans groups, the police, CPS and community stakeholders to play our part in addressing this unacceptable behavior."

West Ham's Israeli midfielder Yossi Benayoun took to micro-blogging site Twitter to express his dismay at the chanting.

He wrote: "I have a great relationship with the West Ham United supporters, from my first spell at the club and again now I am back on loan here, this why I was very disappointed to hear some of the songs yesterday and it was embarrassing.

"But we need to remember that it was made by a minority group of fans and I'm sure the FA together with West Ham United football club will do everything to find and punish them."

Ahead of Tottenham's Europa League clash with Lazio in Rome last week, a group of their supporters were attacked while drinking in a bar in the city center.

During the match Lazio's fans were alleged to have sung anti-Semitic songs, prompting Tottenham coach Andre Villas-Boas to call on European football's governing body UEFA to act.

Lazio were fined $50,000 in October over racist chanting towards a trio of Tottenham players who are black.

The FA called on UEFA to sanction Serbia after another Tottenham player, Danny Rose, was reported to have been subjected to monkey chants while on duty with England's under-21 team.

Tottenham's close association with the Jewish community has led to some of their fans to identifying themselves as "Yids", a term which at different times throughout history has been used by Jews and also to abuse them.

A portion of the Spurs' support have attempted to "reclaim" the word, using terms like "Yiddo" and calling themselves the "Yid Army."

Peter Herbert, chairman of the Society of Black Lawyers, who referred Chelsea's complaint over Clattenburg to the police, said they were prepared to do the same for this incident.

He told CNN: "We're in discussions with the Metropolitan Police, I understand the FA have already reported it which they should do with such incidents.

"There has to be zero tolerance, if these people can be identified they should be prosecuted and banned from football.

"We've been in conversation with the Met Police this morning and we're waiting for a few more complaints to come in from the Jewish community and we'll make the formal complaint that this should be investigated as a racial incident."

West Ham vowed to track down and ban any more of their supporters who were at fault during Sunday's match.

"West Ham United are in contact with Tottenham Hotspur to assist them with their investigation into the conduct of a small number of supporters and alleged inappropriate chanting during yesterday's match at White Hart Lane," a statement read.

"The majority of West Ham supporters went there and supported their team in the proper fashion. They were let down by a tiny minority.

"West Ham United will take the strongest possible action against any of their supporters, including enforcing life bans from the club, that are found guilty of behavior which is categorically not condoned by West Ham United."


Via: West Ham vow action on anti-Semitic chanting

Referees' union accepts Chelsea 'apology'

Mark Clattenburg has been cleared of racially abusing Chelsea's Nigerian midfielder John Obi Mikel in late October

(CNN) -- Referees' union Prospect says it considers the statement issued by Chelsea regretting its allegations of racial abuse against match official Mark Clattenburg 'as an apology'.

In a joint statement with referees' body Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) and the Premier League, the European champions regretted 'not having given more consideration before issuing a statement' on 28 October accusing the referee or racism.

Last week, England's Football Association said there was 'no case to answer' over allegations that Clattenburg, 37, had racially abused Nigerian midfielder John Obi Mikel during Chelsea's 3-2 home defeat by Manchester United.

This followed a decision by police earlier this month to end their inquiries into the incident because of a lack of evidence.

Read: Clattenburg to face no action over racism complaint

"The use of the word "regrets" in relation to the swift issue of the club's statement publicizing the allegation ... and in relation to the impact on Mark and his family, were tantamount to and accepted by Mark and the group as an apology'," said Prospect in a statement.

The union also revealed that it has now dropped its demand for Chelsea to pay compensation in light of the statement released on Tuesday.

"The club regrets not having given more consideration before issuing a statement on the evening of Sunday 28th October," it read.

"The club also regrets the subsequent impact the intense media scrutiny had on Mark Clattenburg and his family.

"The referees accept that, given Chelsea FC had received a good faith claim from one of their employees, the club had an obligation under FA rules to report the allegation.

"Chelsea FC made it clear they would welcome Mark Clattenburg back to Stamford Bridge in the future and PGMOL would have no issue in appointing him to a Chelsea FC match going forward.

"All parties now believe it is time to draw a line under this incident, learn from it and move on for the good of all Premier League clubs, players and match officials."

The statement followed a meeting on Monday that included Clattenburg, Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck, PGMOL general manager Mike Riley and Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore.

The accusations arose after Chelsea midfielder Ramires claimed that the referee, who missed four weekends of Premier League matches while the FA investigated the allegations, had used racial language towards Mikel.

After being cleared by the FA last week, Clattenburg issued a statement of his own, saying: "To know you were innocent of something but that there was the opportunity for it to wreck your career was truly frightening."

Chelsea's allegations against Clattenburg came shortly after their captain John Terry had received a four-game ban following his racial abuse of Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand in a Premier League game last year.

On Wednesday, the referee will take charge of Southampton against Norwich City as Clattenburg returns to officiating a Premier League game for the first time since the allegations arose.


Via: Referees' union accepts Chelsea 'apology'

Inter star Sneijder dropped

Inter Milan will not allow Wesley Sneijder to play again until he agrees to a

(CNN) -- Wesley Sneijder's future at Inter Milan is in doubt after the Italian club confirmed on Saturday that the Dutch playmaker will not be considered for selection until he agrees to take a pay cut.

The 28-year-old is one of football's highest-paid players, but he has struggled to regain the heights of 2010 when he helped the Netherlands reach the World Cup final after a treble-winning season with Inter.

He has not played for the cash-strapped Serie A side since September 26, at least partially due to injuries, but now Inter technical director Marco Branca says he will stay on the sidelines until he accepts a "contract adjustment."

"The situation with Wes, who is part of the history of this club and a player we all care about, is that we've been discussing a possible -- and for us necessary -- adjustment to his contract for a while," Branca said in quotes reported by Inter's website.

"We want to give the player and his entourage all the time they need to consider the terms of our proposal carefully, so the coach and the club have decided not to use the player in this period until things are clearer. This also allows our coach to give more playing time to the other players."

In the same interview, Branca revealed that Inter coach Andrea Stramaccioni will not have any funds to bolster his second-placed team's title charge during the January transfer window.

"As things stand, the current economic situation -- both generally speaking and in our specific case -- doesn't allow us to budget for any sort of outlay," Branca said.

When asked if Inter could afford to sign highly-rated Brazil midfielder Paulinho, Branca replied: "If there's a 'costs' we can't do it at the moment."

The announcement is likely to spark a January bidding war for former Real Madrid star Sneijder, who has been linked with a move to the English Premier League for the past two years.

Inter's financial problems mirror those of city rivals AC Milan, who have sold several top names since winning the Italian title in 2011.

Branca said Inter would not be rushing Sneijder, who moved to the San Siro in 2009 and has more than two and a half years left on his contract.

"It's a very serious matter. We're patient precisely because we have a certain sort of relationship with Wes, and I'm sure it's the same for him. We're patient and calm as we wait for the situation to evolve."

Stramaccioni's team travel to Parma on Monday, facing the possibility that champions Juventus' four-point lead will be even greater following Sunday's trip to struggling Milan.

In Saturday's only Serie A game, seventh-placed Catania lost 3-1 at Palermo.

Slovenia midfielder Josep Ilicic scored twice in the second half to lift the Sicilian team up to 14th place.


Via: Inter star Sneijder dropped

Ronaldo and Craig - A right to privacy?

Daniel Craig and Cristiano Ronaldo have both been outspoken in their desire to reclaim a right to privacy. Both men have become frustrated with their treatment in public.

Editor's note: "Cristiano Ronaldo: All Access" debuts 1630 GMT on Friday 16 November

(CNN) -- James Bond - licence to kill. Cristiano Ronaldo -- licence to thrill.

One has brought down tyrants, saved Queen and country and entertained generations of fans for over 50 years.

The other has produced moments of magic which have defied all logic with a right foot more deadly than Bond's Walter PPK gun.

But neither 007 nor CR7, have worked out a way to combat their latest enemy - an invasion of privacy.

It's a topic which has left Daniel Craig, the man who produced a stellar performance as Bond in the recent Skyfall epic, both shaken and stirred.

Craig, who first played Bond six years ago in Casino Royale, has seen his life change irreversibly with his public life now constantly afflicted.

Culture shock

While Ronaldo may enjoy a life of glamor, the fact that he cannot even pop out to his local McDonalds without being bothered continues to irk him.

His very public relationship with Russian model Irina Shayk, a celebrity in her own right, has brought extra attention to one of the football's most famous faces.

Both men have their photos plastered across billboards worldwide, their pictures on television commercials broadcast around the globe and their private lives played out on the internet.

So why do the likes of Craig and Ronaldo, who make millions of dollars from their public image, believe they deserve privacy?

For the 27-year-old Real Madrid superstar, who hails from the quiet and picturesque island of Madeira, it has come as something of a culture shock.

Ronaldo admits perceived arrogance has cost him

"Yeah, of course," Ronaldo told CNN after being asked whether he wished he could lead a normal life.

"Not just now, but the last five, six years.

"Sometimes I wish to go somewhere, shopping, McDonalds... not a great example, or to have coffee and people recognize me.

"We are famous and we have to deal with that."

Smart phones

With the advanced technology of smart phones and the advent of Twitter and other social media networks, stars are far more cautious when stepping out of their front doors.

For Craig, who undertook huge lengths to keep his wedding to fellow film star Rachel Weisz a complete secret, the right to privacy is key.

"How could I go into a pub and have a few pints of Guinness and get a bit rowdy and sing a few songs when some tw*t's going to film me and put it all over the internet?" Craig was recently quoted as saying in the British media.

"The difference, and this has changed rapidly in about 10 years, is smart phones.

"They are the f***ing bane of my life. I get people who just take pictures of me with their camera phone while I'm having dinner. I want to get violent and I can't.

'Skyfall' is Bond resurrected and reinvigorated

"They think it's their right to take a photo of me and I find that incredibly intrusive. But every phone has a camera on it, so how do we stop it? We can't."

Risk

It seems as if nobody in the world of celebrities is untouchable with the Duchess of Cambridge just one of the most recent high profile scandals.

The Princess, who was on vacation in France at the time, was snapped by a paparazzo while topless with the photos eventually being published in a French magazine.

That case caused a furore and brought up the question of whether those in the public eye have the right to privacy.

British privacy should start with British press

The Leveson inquiry, which looked into the culture, practices and ethics of the press, allowed celebrities such as Hugh Grant and Sienna Miller to reveal the harassment they had encountered while in the public eye.

But there are those who believe that celebrities can still live a normal life without being encroached upon.

"You can avoid it if you don't crave the attention," said PR guru Max Clifford.

For every sports star like Ronaldo, there is a Paul Scholes or Xabi Alonso, both of whom manage to stay out of the media eye with little fuss.

The key, according to Clifford, is awareness and caution.

"Everyone out there now has phones and can take pictures, in a way, everyone is the press now but you've just got to be sensible," he added.

How a publicist heads off damaging claims against celebrities

"If you don't want to be seen with somebody, then don't take the risk.

"I've told clients over and over again, you can't expect the media to build you up and help your career and then turn around and complain about the attention.

"For famous people, it's part of life and you just have to get used to it and deal with it."

Havoc

Dealing with it sounds simple but it can prove far more difficult, depending how high up you are on the fame scale.

Even the 'Special One', Jose Mourinho, has found it difficult to cope with the intrusion into his private life since leading Porto to Champions League glory in 2004.

Mourinho's world has been turned upside down by the constant attention on Real both in Spain and abroad since moving to Madrid in 2010.

'I hate my social life,' says Mourinho

It has wreaked havoc on his personal life and that of his wife and two children.

"I hate my social life," Mourinho told CNN in an exclusive interview.

"I hate not to be a normal father who goes with his son to the son's football match and being there with the other 20 fathers there watching the game.

"I'm at a football match of kids and I have to be there. The people have to come for photos; the people have to come for autographs; the people have to come to insult me; the people have to go behind the goal of my kid and insult my kid of 12.

"So, you know, I would love to be with my family in the street as a normal person and I can't, so I am a completely different person in my private life."

But for now Mourinho, like Ronaldo and Craig, must endure, as they continue their constant battle to secure a right to privacy.


Via: Ronaldo and Craig - A right to privacy?

Football's addiction to gambling

English football and some of it's most high-profile stars have long battled gambling addiction. The combination of a bloated bank account and boredom can set some players on the road to ruin.

Editor's note: "The Secret Footballer" is a current player who has chosen to write about his life in the English game. His book "I Am The Secret Footballer: Lifting The Lid On The Beautiful Game" is published by Guardian Books. Read more about him at www.thesecretfootballer.com. In the first of a two-part piece on gambling and match-fixing, he reveals how big betting can be the ruin of the rich and famous. Part two to follow on November 20.

(CNN) -- To my mind, gambling is the son of avarice and the father of despair. I have never got in over my head where gaming is concerned but I have witnessed some horror stories that have made the front page of the national press and, away from the blackjack table, I have experienced the sharp decline of the floor beneath my feet when I have invested more than I could afford to lose.

In one walk of life, you are a victim of the times and, therefore, a blight on acceptable living. And a candidate for somebody like Harvard to throw shit loads of money into some groundbreaking research so that they can determine whether or not you have similar brain activity to that seen in cocaine addicts.

Which would mean you can be categorized as suffering from "impulse control disorder" and which would ultimately mean that you can pay for and be treated acceptably.

Read: Down the rabbit hole - Depression in the English Premier League

In another life, a merchant bank will throw serious money at you, start you off on utilities and call you "a trader".

I tend only to bet on the things that are easy to get caught up in. That said, I never really get a buzz from betting, even if I win, which isn't often.

Having grown up on Mike Tyson knocking the heads off anyone who was stupid enough to get in a ring with him, I found myself getting carried away with the pre-fight bravado just like everybody else -- to the point that I wagered 200 on "Iron Mike" to beat Lennox Lewis in 2002.

Tyson wasn't the only man down and out when Lewis connected with a big right hand towards the end of the eighth round and, if the truth were told, William Hill (the English bookmaker), was never in any danger where my bet was concerned.

Read: The Secret Footballer reveals life inside the English Premier League

And in that brief remembrance of fights past can be found my saving grace where would-be gambling addiction is concerned. When it comes to staking my life on the outcome of any given sporting event, I haven't got a f***ing clue what I'm doing.

I recognize that fact and I am not ashamed to admit it.

Whether confessing that important piece of information to either my colleagues urging me to join in a game of high-stakes poker or to my father in a best-of-three pool match down the pub, I can honestly say that I have saved both a fair amount of embarrassment and incalculable amounts of money by putting my cards on the table at the outset.

Despite that, it is probably fair to say that I have been exposed to gambling and its downfalls slightly more often than the average person.

When you are trapped on a coach or in a plane or in sunny climes with 20 millionaires, one of two things will happen: the conversation turns to women -- and, by extension, wives -- or, as if by magic, somebody produces a pack of cards. Either way, somebody always takes a pasting.

Read: The gambling game: Soccer's battle with betting

From that moment on, anything can happen. And in my time as a footballer, I have seen it all -- from players losing tens of thousands of pounds on the turn of a card, and their families staging interventions, to their more fortunate contemporaries winning $250,000 in a Las Vegas casino after popping down to the lobby to buy a phonecard.

"Card schools" are not as prolific among professional football ranks as you might think.

In fact, I'd go so far to say that, with each crop of new players which comes through, another few card schools fall by the wayside. These days, it seems there are more important vices to spend one's money on, like prostitutes and fast cars.

But I did play at one Premier League club which had developed a fairly serious card school.

I judge the level of seriousness by the fact that, as the team bus pulled in to our London opposition's stadium, several of the team were missing from the pre-match walk on the pitch -- historically used to check what stud is needed for the turf but, instead, is now used as a chance to upload pictures of empty stadiums on to Twitter.

Those players had remained on the bus, wrapping up their last hand and making sure that the bus driver didn't clear anything away. We went into that match very confident and I am convinced we would have won, save for two individuals who produced less than average performances.

Back on the bus, the card school reassembled while I made the rest of the players' cups of coffee.

Walking back and forth along the bus, delivering their caffeine fix for the long journey home, I began to notice that the two players who had played so badly were also the two players who had between them lost tens of thousands of pounds since we had set off from home the day before.

The running total was being kept by another player and he flashed me a sheet of paper as I walked past, only because he wanted to show me he was significantly up.

I resented having to give the coffees out, let alone my wages. The experience gave me an added incentive not to get involved; it was clear a player could not function on the pitch with such a heavy financial burden hanging over him.

But it didn't stop there.

With no money left to gamble one of the players threw an expensive piece of jewelery onto the table. The bet was several thousand, all in. The other players looked at him and, without the expertise of a certified gemologist, it was decided a second piece should also be thrown in. He lost the lot.

Around six weeks later, the defeated player still hadn't paid his debt. Worse, his car was spotted every day outside a betting shop that was close to our training ground.

One day, a member of the same card school came in looking a little shell shocked and proceeded to tell the players assembled for breakfast in the canteen what he had witnessed at the same betting shop after training the previous day.

I'll let him tell the story because I can remember it almost word for word, it has become a bit of a cult tale in football circles (I have changed all the names, including any business names etc):

"We finished training and thought we'd get a takeaway. "'Nobby' said: "Let's just stop in at the betting shop and see what's on'. So he put on an accumulator. He picks five horses and we go to get the food. We come back and three of the horses have won so we hang about.

"Then the next one wins and the other one wins. Nobby cleaned up, thousands and thousands! So I say: 'Nobby, class, mate. You can pay off the lads, get your stuff back and give that money to your missus'. She'd been badgering him about a new runaround, as I recall. But he says: 'Na, mate. I'm on a roll, ain't I?'

"So he puts a bit on the next one. Doesn't win. And the next one. Doesn't win again. I can't get him out of the place, so I drive to his house and tell his missus what's happening. She grabs the kids and makes me drive her back. By the time we get there, he doesn't have anything left, mate. Not a f***ing thing."

It's worth bringing this story up because a lot of people don't know when to stop.

The trick is in never getting started. Yet that last sentence is easy for me to type from the comfort of my office and with the kids safely tucked up in bed.

I have never experienced a gambling addiction ... but I know a man who has. On a pre-season tour, I once roomed with a guy who had a genuine gambling addiction.

We had never spoken to each other in the whole time I had been at the club, simply because we were very different people, and that wasn't about to change off the back of one trip in the sun, despite the manager's best efforts.

We were away for a week and, I promise you, the only thing we said to each other was: "Have you got the room key?" But there was another reason as to why we couldn't strike up a meaningful conversation.

He had an extraordinary inability to detach himself from one of two laptop screens, which were open on two separate online bookmakers' sites, or -- if we were coming back from training -- his iPhone, on which he had the mobile app versions running continuously.

One night, I woke up to go to the bathroom and saw him feverishly placing bets on college basketball. It must have been about 3am and quite what he knew about college basketball is anyone's guess.

I have thought many times as to whether I should have said something but I have concluded anything I could had said would have fallen on deaf ears.

Shortly after our return, his family stepped in and he began to go to meetings for his gambling problems. As far as I know, he has never relapsed.

I have thought about him a lot in the intervening years because, for a long time, I didn't have much sympathy for those who frittered away their money at the "bookies".

I couldn't understand how a person could continue on the path to ruin while their kids needed food, clothes and education.

But one man's gambling is another man's harmless flutter and the level of the stakes are, of course, extremely circumstantial.

Betting on a game is against the rules for professional footballers, even when they are betting on their own team to win.

Anyway, a football team can't legislate for somebody being sent off or an opposing striker having the game of his life or a freak spate of injuries in the first 10 minutes -- unless they take action to account for such things and I have certainly never seen how that could be the case.

That said, I do know players have manipulated the system to their advantage.


Via: Football's addiction to gambling

Oviedo rescued by richest man

Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim invested in Real Oviedo after fans came close to reaching required fundraising targets.

(CNN) -- Real Madrid and Barcelona both comfortably won on Saturday, but for once Spain's two most dominant football clubs were overshadowed by a third-tier team which has been saved from extinction after receiving a huge injection of cash from the world's richest man, Carlos Slim.

Just over a decade ago Real Oviedo played in La Liga alongside Real and Barca, but mismanagement from the club's directors took the Asturian team to the brink of bankruptcy in recent years.

Needing to raise 1.9 million ($2.4 million) by November 17 or go bust, Oviedo's current board announced a share issue earlier this month to attract investment.

Remarkably the scheme took off as fans from all over the world bought the 11 ($13) shares after Oviedo's precarious position was highlighted on the social media website Twitter thanks to the efforts of Spanish football expert and long-time Oviedo supporter Sid Lowe.

Read: 'Monsters' Barca and Real hurting La Liga

Over the past two weeks those fans have bought more than $1.9 million in new shares in the club, and Slim was so impressed -- he described the gesture as "extraordinary" -- that the Mexican tycoon has now pumped in a further $2.5 million to become Oviedo's majority shareholder.

"This challenge and ambition is strictly a sports investment and one that looks to benefit the club and its fans,'' said an Oviedo statement regarding Slim's intervention.

"(The investment) will try to support Oviedo's players so they can reach their goals and the club can reach the division that corresponds to its history and values.''

In September Slim bought 30% stakes in two Mexican football teams, Pachuca and Leon, and he plans to use Oviedo "to create synergies and exchanges between Spanish, Mexican and Latin American football.''

Read: Can Twitter help save Spanish soccer club?

According to Forbes magazine, Slim is the world's richest person with a net worth of $69 billion, having made his fortune in the telecommunications industry.

His widespread interests include providing financial backing for Mexican Formula One driver Sergio Perez.

"Naturally, I have reservations, doubts & concerns," tweeted Lowe on Saturday. "But with c. 2m of shares bought by 13,000+ ppl round world & Slim buying 2m Oviedo safe."

"1.93m raised by small shareholders alone," added Lowe. "They're the real heroes."

Meanwhile, La Liga leaders Barcelona beat Real Zaragoza 3-1 to move six points clear of Atletico Madrid, who travel to Granada on Sunday.

Lionel Messi scored two more goals to move to 78 for this calendar year, putting the Argentina star seven short of Gerd Muller's all-time record.

Champions Real Madrid trounced Athletic Bilbao 5-1 to stay third, six points behind their arch-rivals.

Cristiano Ronaldo played despite the eye injury he suffered last weekend, but this time the Portugal star was unable to add to his scoring tally as the spoils were shared by Karim Benzema, Sergio Ramos, Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira after an early own-goal by Jon Aurtenetxe.

In Italy, leaders Juventus were held to a 0-0 draw by fifth-placed Lazio.

Second-placed Inter Milan can close to within two points of the Serie A champions by beating Cagliari on Sunday.

Napoli joined Inter on 27 points after being held 2-2 by AC Milan, who came from two goals down as young striker Stephan El Shaarawy netted twice.

In Germany, Bayern Munich moved eight points clear despite being held 1-1 away to struggling Bavarian rivals Nuremberg.

Second-placed Schalke failed to take advantage, losing 2-0 at Bayer Leverkusen.

Eintracht Frankfurt stayed third after a 4-2 win at home to Augsburg, a point above champions Borussia Dortmund -- who beat Greuther Furth 3-1.


Via: Oviedo rescued by richest man

Real and Barca hurting La Liga

Barcelona's Lionel Messi (left) and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo (right) -- widely considered the two best players in the world -- shake hands before the 'El Classico' derby between Spain's two biggest clubs. But is the huge wealth of Barca and Real damaging the rest of Spanish football?

(CNN) -- Spain's football duopoly of Real Madrid and Barcelona has become so dominant that sponsors have lost interest in backing other Spanish clubs.

"Having two monsters like Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, the world's leading concert in football, overshadows the other clubs," financial expert Jose Maria Gay de Liebana told CNN.

"Sports sponsorship companies are more inclined to be the third or fourth sponsor of these two great clubs, Barcelona and Madrid, rather than be the first sponsor of a club without universal screening," he added.

Gay de Liebana told CNN that the apparent advantage of having global brands in the top tier of Spanish football -- known as La Liga -- is in fact a serious detriment to many clubs.

According to Forbes Magazine's 2012 rankings, Real Madrid is the richest club in the world by revenue -- $695 million -- and second only to Manchester United in market value.

Burden

Meanwhile, Barcelona -- widely recognized as the best football team in the world with a pedigree of stars such as Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta -- is the second richest club in the world by revenue.

Gay de Liebana says the presence of these two football behemoths combined with billions of euros of debt - estimated at $4.5 billion for Primera Division teams -- and liabilities has meant Spanish football clubs can no longer cope with this burden.

Traditionally local governments in Spain have had a role to play in the financial management of football clubs. In the past, teams such as Valencia and Madrid, as sporting institutions, have received subsidies from local authorities, according to Spanish football expert Sid Lowe.

But in the current economic climate, state investment in football clubs is not a high priority for many politicians as the central government in Madrid grapples with a spiralling national debt and chronic unemployment of over 25%.

Spain -- the eurozone's fourth largest economy -- is likely to be the next bailout casualty of the debt crisis in the 17-nation currency union.

The government in Madrid has already requested a rescue package for its ailing banks, which require almost 60 billion euros ($76.4 million) in support following an audit in September.

Real Oviedo's plea

Further down the feeding chain of Spanish football the financial situation is even more dire -- so much so that one Spanish club in the third division -- Real Oviedo -- has turned to football fans for help.

Earlier this month the Asturias-based team launched a campaign, whereby fans could effectively buy shares at approximately 11 euros [$13] each in exchange for a token stake in the club.

Word of Real Oviedo's plight went viral on Twitter and football fans across the globe responded by purchasing shares and raising more than one million euros ($1.2 million) in nine days.

Gay de Liebana argued that the current state of Spanish football clubs is the result of poor financial regulation and supervision.

When asked whether other teams might also stand on the precipice of extinction, he said: "I absolutely know it will happen... The next few months -- and I hope I am wrong -- will be tragic for some clubs."


Via: Real and Barca hurting La Liga

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Magic Messi moves in on record

(CNN) -- Lionel Messi continued his incredible year by moving ever closer to Gerd Muller's record goal total by firing Barcelona into the next round of the Champions League.

The Argentina star scored twice to take his 2012 tally to 80 as Barca recorded a 3-0 win at Spartak Moscow.

Muller scored 85 goals in 60 matches for Bayern Munich and Germany back in 1972 but his record is under increasing threat.

Barca has six matches left before the turn of the year with Messi requiring six goals to surpass Muller and break yet another record.

"My aim was just to get the ball, create chances and that we win the game, that is what is important," Messi told reporters.

"We knew we couldn't afford to make mistakes after what happened against Celtic and that we had to go out strongly even though it is difficult to play away in this competition."

Messi passes Pele's goal milestone

Tito Vilanova's men face Levante on Sunday before further games against Athletic Bilbao, Benfica, Real Betis, Atletico Madrid and Real Valladolid.

After eclipsing the achievement of Brazil legend Pele, who scored 75 goals from 53 matches in 1958, Messi moved up a gear in the Russian capital.

With Barcelona already leading through Dani Alves' 16th minute effort, the diminutive striker fired home following a mix-up in the Sparktak defense.

On the synthetic playing surface, Barcelona's tiki-taka football proved too much for the home side to cope with.

And with just six minutes of the first period remaining, Messi grabbed his second of the evening with a neat finish after eluding the Spartak defense.

"Everyone talks about Leo, the goals and the records but it is more his awareness and tactics," Vilanova told reporters.

"The way he defends and attacks and helps the team in all areas.

"The team showed how great they are as this was a difficult game in the cold on an artificial pitch although some of them have played on it before, and they played an excellent match.

"It was important for us not to have to qualify in the final game which will not be easy against Benfica."

Messi leads Ballon d'Or nominations

Led by Xavi, who made his 125th Champions League appearance, the Catalan giant could have had several more goals had it not been for wastefulness in front of goal.

Pedro Rodriguez and Cesc Fabregas both had chances to extend Barca's lead as Spartak fell away.

Meanwhile, Benfica kept alive its hopes of qualifying for the next stage with a 2-1 win over Celtic in Group G's other game.

The Portuguese side took an early lead through Ola John only for Georgios Samaras to pull Celtic level.

But Ezequiel Garay's fiercely struck volley secured victory for Benfica, who face a trip to the Camp Nou to play Barcelona in its final group game.

Should Benfica suffer defeat , Celtic can secure a place in the last 16 with victory over Spartak Moscow.

Barca's unbeaten run ended by Celtic

Chelsea could become the first defending champion to be knocked out in the Group Stage after it lost 3-0 to Juventus in Turin.

The defeat is Chelsea's heaviest in the competition since they were beaten 5-1 by Barcelona 12 years ago.

The Blues will go into the final round of Group E matches in third place after goals from Fabio Quagliarella, Arturo Vidal and Sebastian Giovinco sealed the win for Juventus.

"We showed much better spirit than the last games," Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech told ITV.

"The first half it was very difficult, we did well and created chances, but if you create a chance you need to take it.

"That was the difference. They went ahead with a lucky deflection, the second goal was another deflection but they did very well and deserved to win. We didn't cope very well.

"We said before the game that we have our destiny in our hands, not any more. Now we need to do our bit , we need to win our last game and hope our fate is kind.

"Being realistic, Juventus played very well and they need a point and Shakhtar are already through. It is a very sad moment."

Chelsea must hope that the Italians slip up and it records victory over Nordsjaelland to sneak through.

Shakhtar Donetsk's 4-2 triumph over Danish side Nordsjaelland means the Ukrainian champion is guaranteed a place in the last-16 of the competition.

Controversy

A Luiz Adriano hat-trick and a Willian double gave Shakhtar all three points and means it tops the group from Juventus.

But it wasn't all plain sailing for Shakhtar after it scored a hugely controversial goal to go to 1-1.

With a drop ball signaled by the referee, Shakhtar kicked the ball back to the Nordsjaelland goalkeeper, only for Adriano to intercept and score.

With the Danes fuming, the visitors were ready to allow a Nordsjaelland player to walk the ball into the net in a gesture of sportsmanship.

But one defender took exception and put in a tackle much to the fury of the home side.

And while Nordsjaelland did grab another goal eventually, it never really recovered as Shakhtar eased home.

In Group F, Thomas Muller secured Bayern Munich's place in the next round following a 1-1 draw with ten-man Valencia.

The Spaniards, who had Antonio Barragan sent off, had looked set to snatch victory when Sofiane Feghouli scored with 17 minutes remaining.

But Muller hit back just five minutes later to claim a point and send both teams through to the next stage following BATE Borisov's defeat by Lille.

The French side claimed a 2-0 win in Belarus courtesy of goals from Dijbril Sidibe and Gianni Bruno.

Pilkington punishes Manchester United

Galatasaray kept its hopes of making it out of Group H alive following a 1-0 win over Manchester United.

Buruk Yilmaz, the only Galatasaray player to score in the competition so far, took his tally to five to move level with Cristiano Ronaldo at the top of the scoring charts.

The Turkish side sits second in the group with United having already qualified after winning its first four games.

"It was difficult conditions and the pitch wasn't great," Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher told Sky Sports.

"It was an intimidating atmosphere. "It was difficult to hear but you have to deal with that. The big problem was the pitch.

"I thought first half especially we did enough. I thought the young players did fantastic and they'll only get better playing in an atmosphere like that.

"As soon as they got the goal they slowed the game down. They started to foul and make tactical fouls."

But Romanian side Cluj, which faces United at Old Trafford in its final game, still has a chance of making it through to the knockout phase.

It won 3-1 against Braga with Portuguese striker Rui Pedro scoring a hat-trick to leave it within touching distance of the next round.


Via: Magic Messi moves in on record

Wonder goal puts Milan in last 16

Philippe Mexes celebrates his stunning second goal for AC Milan in their 3-1 victory at Anderlecht.

(CNN) -- A wonder goal from French international Philippe Mexes helped seven-time winners AC Milan into the last 16 of the European Champions League with a 3-1 win at 10-man Anderlecht Wednesday.

With an effort reminiscent of Zlatan Ibrahimovic's incredible goal for Sweden against England earlier this month, Mexes scored with an acrobatic bicycle kick to put Milan 2-0 ahead in a vital game.

Anderlecht conceded a 70th minute free kick after Bram Nuytinck was shown red for bringing down Alexandre Pato as he burst clear.

Ricardo Montolivo took the kick to set up Mexes to control the ball on his chest before unleashing his strike from outside the penalty area and into the home goal.

With Group C winners Malaga held 2-2 at Zenit St Petersburg earlier in the day, both teams sought three points to seal the runners-up spot.

Stephan El Shaarawy put the Serie A side ahead just after half time before Mexes added his stunning effort.

Tom De Sutter pulled one back for the Belgian side, but Milan had Pato to thank for a late third to seal the victory.

In the formidable Group D, Manchester City exited the competition as they were held to a 1-1 home draw by 10-man Real Madrid.

It is the second successive year the English Premier League champions have failed to progress from the group stages and with a round of matches still remaining.

Borussia Dortmund have won the group after their 4-1 drubbing of Ajax Amsterdam, with Real advancing to the last 16 in second place.

Real went ahead through Karim Benzema in the ninth minute, allowed time and space by City defender Maicon to convert an Angel Di Maria cross.

Jose Mourinho's men had ample opportunities to make the game safe, with Cristiano Ronaldo wasting the best chance.

The home side improved in the second half and were rewarded for their efforts when Alvaro Arbeloa clumsily pulled down Sergio Aguero to concede a penalty and earn his marching orders for a second yellow card.

Aguero converted from the spot in the 73rd minute, but Roberto Mancini's side could not press home the advantage of an extra man.

German champions Dortmund continued their impressive form in Amsterdam with Marco Reus putting them ahead early against their Dutch counterparts.

Mario Goetze capped a fine display with the second goal while Poland striker Robert Lewandowski scored either side of half-time.

Striker Danny Hoesen grabbed a late consolation for the hosts who are still battling Manchester City for the Europa League spot for third place in the group in the final round of games.

In Group B, Schalke and Arsenal booked their passage to the knockout stages with home victories over Olympiakos and Montpellier.

Royal Blues Schalke needed a late strike from Christian Fuchs to seal their 1-0 win and stay one point clear of the EPL side at the top of the section.

Arsenal beat the French champions 2-0 with Jack Wilshere, returning to his best form after injury, setting them on their way just after half time.

German international Lukas Podolski fired a magnificent second goal for the Gunners on 63 minutes.

Big-spending Paris Saint Germain qualified for the group stages for the second time with a 2-0 win at Dynamo Kiev.

Ezekiel Lavezzi scored both goals for PSG, who are still pressing Porto for top spot in Group A. Porto thrashed bottom club Dinamo Zagreb 3-0 to stay a point clear.


Via: Wonder goal puts Milan in last 16

Benitez takes over Chelsea hot seat

Rafael Benitez will take immediate charge of Chelsea after the sacking of Roberto Di Matteo.

(CNN) -- Chelsea moved quickly to replace the sacked Roberto Di Matteo Wednesday as Rafael Benitez was appointed as interim manager until the end of the season.

The English Premier League side made the announcement on their official website, just hours after the departure of Di Matteo, who had led them to European Champions League glory for the first time earlier this year.

Former Valencia and Liverpool manager Benitez will be thrown in at the deep end, with Chelsea taking on EPL reigning champions and leaders Manchester City Sunday.

"The owner and the Board believe that in Benitez we have a manager with significant experience at the highest level of football, who can come in and immediately help deliver our objectives," read the club statement.

"The 52-year-old Spaniard is due to meet the players at the training ground in Cobham tomorrow (Thursday)," it added.

Read: Cech wants 'racism saga' sorted

Benitez, who will be the ninth manager under owner Roman Abramovich, has been out of work since being sacked by Inter Milan in December 2010.

He guided Valencia to two Spanish titles and the UEFA Cup and spent six years at Liverpool, highlighted by their Champions League triumph in 2005 and reaching the final in 2007.

Former Barcelona manager Pepe Guardiola has been linked with the Chelsea job, but is currently on a year-long sabbatical after leaving the Catalan giants at the end of last season.

Di Matteo, who also won the FA Cup with Chelsea during his brief spell in charge, paid the price for a poor recent run of results, culminating in a 3-0 defeat to Juventus Tuesday which leaves their participation in the knockout stages of this season's Champions League in considerable doubt.


Via: Benitez takes over Chelsea hot seat

World Cup hosts Brazil fire coach

Mano Menezes has been relieved of his duties by the Brazilian Football Association ahead of the 2014 World Cup.

(CNN) -- Just under two years before hosting the World Cup, Brazil sacked coach Mano Menezes as the South American country signaled a change of direction in its quest for unprecedented sixth title.

Menezes had hoped to lead Brazil to victory on home soil but his failure to win over his critics with his muscular type of play appears to have cost him.

The 50-year-old, who replaced the legendary Dunga following the 2010 World Cup, had come under heavy scrutiny following his side's failure to win a historic first Olympic gold at London 2012 -- losing in the final to Mexico despite fielding a star-studded line-up.

The news was greeted with joy by former Brazil striker and World Cup winner Romario,.

"Today is a historic day, Brazil needs to celebrate,'' Romario said on his Facebook page. "Finally the federation did something good for Brazilian football. It took a while to happen, but it did.''

Brazil also failed to deliver at the 2011 Copa America, bowing out at the quarterfinal stage.

"As it has been announced, I'm not the national coach anymore," Menezes wrote on Twitter.

"My thanks to all the people who worked with me on this project, specially the players that were called up during this period and all those who believed in our work."

Brazil name little-known Menezes as replacement for Dunga

Menezes was often criticized for his side's style of play with fans yearning to a return to the "joga bonito" ('beautiful game") style for which Brazil teams are so well known.

Whereas past sides, most notably that of 1970, were known for their flair and skill, Menezes' side was more functional than entertaining.

Although his team won six of its eight matches since the Olympics, with 26 goals coming in the process, Menezes struggled to justify his switch away from the freeflowing, samba-style football associated with Brazil.

But the decision came as a surprise with Brazil slowly beginning to look more impressive with several key players returning to form.

The attacking trio of Oscar, Neymar and Hulk provided a real threat, while Ramires and Paulinho had recently shone in the center of midfield.

The form of Paris Saint-Germain defender Thiago Silva and the return to the side of Real Madrid's Kaka had looked to have given Brazil a new found lease of life.

But after a difficult reign, Menezes was relieved of his duties following talks with CBF president Jose Maria Marin.

"I gave him the news myself," Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) national squad director Andres Sanches told reporters.

"Nobody likes to receive news of these kind of things in any circumstances, but everyone in football knows that these things happen.

"A new coach will be announced in January."

New man

Former Palmeiras manager Luis Felipe Scolari, who led Brazil to World Cup glory back in 2002, is the current favorite with Corinthians coach Tite and Santos boss Muricy Ramalho also in contention.

Brazil will host the Confederations Cup in six months' time before taking center stage for the World Cup a year later.

The new manager's first game in charge will be against England at Wembley on February 6.


Via: World Cup hosts Brazil fire coach

Messi and Ronaldo battle for Ballon d'Or

Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta are the three contenders for the prestigious Ballon d'Or.

(CNN) -- Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo could be forgiven for feeling a sense of deja vu after he was pitted against chief rival Lionel Messi of Barcelona in the race for football's prestigious Ballon d'Or.

The pair will go up against Messi's Spanish teammate Andres Iniesta after the original shortlist was whittled down from 23 to three.

The trophy will be presented in Zurich on January 7 following votes from journalists, national team captains and coaches.

Magic Messi moves in on record

Messi, the darling of the football world, has won the top accolade on the previous three occasions and could become the first man to win the prize four times.

While Real Madrid star Ronaldo amassed an astonishing 46 goals in La Liga last year, Messi scaled unprecedented heights by finishing with 50 goals in the league alone.

The 25-year-old is now chasing Gerd Muller's all-time record of 85 goals in a calendar year, which the former Bayern Munich and Germany striker set back in 1972.

Messi needs just four more strikes to surpass Muller's record and rewrite yet another chapter of European football.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Daniel Craig - A right to privacy?

But Portugal's Ronaldo, who won the prize in 2008, enjoyed an outstanding year, firing Real to the La Liga title under new manager Jose Mourinho.

Iniesta, 28, has wowed fans with his mesmerizing skills while playing alongside the talented Xavi for both Barcelona and Spain.

The diminutive midfielder, who has won two European Championship Finals and a World Cup, is one of the most pleasing to watch in the game.

Like Messi, he has also won five La Liga titles as well as three Champions League successes.

Ronaldo admits perceived arrogance has cost him

Both Iniesta and Ronaldo will start as underdogs in the final voting process, which also has a category for Coach of the Year.

Spain's national manager, Vicente Del Bosque, is one of the final three candidates after leading his country to victory at Euro 2012.

Former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola is also nominated, while Real Madrid's Mourinho, who steered his side to the La Liga title last season, completes the list.

Best player - men: Lionel Messi (Barcelona/Argentina), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid/Portugal), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona/Spain)

Best player - women: Marta (Brazil), Aby Wambach, Alex Morgan (both United States of America)

Best men's coach: Vicente del Bosque (Spain), Pep Guardiola (ex-Barcelona), Jose Mourinho (Real Madrid)

Best women's coach: Bruno Bini (France), Norio Sasaki (Japan), Pia Sundhage (Sweden)

Most beautiful goal of the year: Radamel Falcao (Atletico Madrid/Colombia), Miroslav Stoch (Fenerbahce/Slovakia), Neymar (Brazil/Santos)


Via: Messi and Ronaldo battle for Ballon d'Or

Scolari "obliged" to win World Cup for Brazil

Luiz Felipe Scolari first took over Brazil in 2001, turning around their 2002 World Cup qualification campaign and leading them to a record fifth tournament win in Japan and South Korea.

(CNN) -- Luiz Felipe Scolari is "obliged" to win the 2014 World Cup following his appointment as coach of the Brazil national football team for a second time on Thursday.

Scolari led "La Selecao" to a record fifth World Cup triumph in Japan and South Korea 10 years ago and the former Portugal coach will be expected to win the trophy once again when Brazil hosts the tournament in two years time.

"We have the obligation to win the title; we are not favorites at the moment but we intend to become favorites during the competition," Scolari told a press conference after it was announced he would replace the sacked Mano Manezes.

"Third or fourth place is no good for a country that has won five World Cups."

Read: Menezes sack ahead of 2014 World Cup

Scolari, who had an eight-month spell in charge of English Premier League team Chelsea, is not the only World Cup winner returning to the fold.

Carlos Alberto Parreira, the coach of Brazil's victorious USA 1994 squad, has been named the team's technical director.

Scolari will be under pressure to deliver in 2014, with fans eager to avoid a repeat of the 1950 World Cup when Brazil lost out to Uruguay in the final match of the tournament.

But Scolari was bullish, declaring: "If you don't like pressure, it's better to go and work in the Bank of Brazil, or outside on the corner or sit in an office and do nothing.

Read: Can Benitez banish Chelsea's blues?

"It would not be right if there was no pressure and the players thought the target was just to play at the World Cup. This would be one of our most important titles -- the sixth title, at home at our second opportunity."

Scolari's first spell as Brazil coach began in 2001. The team was struggling to reach the 2002 World Cup with just five matches of the qualification competition remaining.

But Scolari turned it around and one year later, led by the attacking talents of Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho, Brazil lifted the trophy.

"It would have been the first time that Brazil would have missed a World Cup, that was when I felt under pressure," the 64-year-old said when asked about his last spell in charge.

Scolari has been out of football since being sacked by Palmeiras in September, with the club relegated to Brazil's second tier following his departure.

Prior to his two-year spell in Sao Paulo, Scolari spent a year coaching Bunyodkur in Uzbekistan following his dismissal from Chelsea in February 2009.

Scolari's last international role was with Portugal, who he led to the final of Euro 2004 and the semifinals of the 2006 World Cup.


Via: Scolari "obliged" to win World Cup for Brazil

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Bayern Munich stretch Bundesliga lead

Anatoliy Tymoshchuk celebrates his goal in Bayern Munich's victory at Freiburg with teammates Thomas Mueller and Rafinha.

(CNN) -- Bayern Munich took a commanding 10-point lead in the Bundesliga with a 2-0 win at 10-man Freiburg Wednesday.

The Bavarian giants were always in command once Thomas Mueller had given them the lead after just 12 minutes.

The German international slotted home a penalty after Oliver Sorg's handball to concede the early spot kick.

The home side's chances of a comeback suffered a major blow just six minutes later as their Senegal defender Fallou Diagne was sent off when he pulled down Bayern's Xherdan Shaqiri as he burst clear on goal.

A 79th minute strike from Anatoliy Tymoschuk sealed the three points for the visitors, who face a major test at reigning champions Borussia Dortmund Saturday.

Dortmund, so impressive in the European Champions League, continued their faltering domestic league form by being held 1-1 by Fortuna Duesseldorf Tuesday, and they trail Bayern by 11 points going into the weekend clash.

Bayer Leverkusen took advantage of Dortmund's slip up to move into second in the standings with a 4-1 win over Werder Bremen, their fourth win in their last five league games.

Gonzalo Castro put the visitors on the way with a double before Nils Petersen cut the deficit for Bremen in the 54th minute.

But late goals from captain Simon Rolfes and Jans Hegeler clinched the thumping victory.

In other games Wednesday, Borussia Moenchengladbach beat VfL Wolfsburg 2-0 while VfB Stuttgart beat bottom side Augsburg 2-1.

Hoffenheim lost 4-2 at Nuremberg to drop into the bottom three.

In Spain's Copa del Rey, league leaders Barcelona eased into the last 16 with a 3-1 home win over Alaves for a 6-1 aggregate win.

Alaves were tied 1-1 at halftime in the Camp Nou before a David Villa double in the second half sealed victory for Barca, who rested Lionel Messi.

Sevilla also went through 6-1 on aggregate with a 3-0 away win at Espanyol.


Via: Bayern Munich stretch Bundesliga lead

Quickfire goal from van Persie leaves Utd top

Robin van Persie celebrates his quickfire goal after just 33 seconds for Manchester United against West Ham.

(CNN) -- Robin van Persie scored after just 33 seconds as Manchester United maintained their slim advantage at the top of the English Premier League Wednesday with a 1-0 win over West Ham.

The Old Trafford faithful had barely settled in their seats when the Dutch striker picked up a pass from Michael Carrick and saw his shot deflect off James Collins to loop over visiting goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen.

It was the quickest goal of the EPL season and left United a point clear of neighbors and defending champions Manchester City, who won 2-0 at Wigan.

United have fallen behind in many games this season before recovering and manager Alex Ferguson was delighted by their defensive display.

"If we can keep clean sheets more often than not it will a good foundation to challenge for the title," he told Sky Sports.

Recalled Mario Balotelli gave City a second half lead at Wigan before James Milner sealed the three points with a thumping strike from outside the penalty area.

Balotelli's performance earned scant praise from his manager Roberto Mancini.

"I think Mario can do better. He scored one important goal but can continue to improve. For me, he did not play very well," he told Sky Sports.

Rafael Benitez is still searching for his first win and first goal since taking charge of Chelsea as interim manager following the sacking of Roberto Di Matteo.

Read: UEFA mulls Champions League expansion

His side were held 0-0 at home by West London rivals Fulham, off the back of the same result against Manchester City Sunday.

It left Chelsea seven points adrift of leaders Manchester United in third place in the standings and Benitez was again subjected to barracking by home supporters unhappy at his appointment.

West Bromwich Albion slipped back to fourth with a first defeat in five games, beaten 3-1 at Welsh side Swansea.

Spanish midfielder Michu scored his eighth EPL goal of the season to put Swansea ahead and they were two up inside 10 minutes when Wayne Routledge netted.

Routledge added his second and the home side's third just before the interval, but there was still time for West Brom to pull one back when on-loan Romelu Lukaku scored in injury time at the end of the half.

Tottenham Hotspur took closer order in fifth with a 2-1 home win over Liverpool at White Hart Lane.

Aaron Lennon was set up by Gareth Bale for an early opener for Spurs. Bale then put the home side two clear after just 16 minutes when he crashed home a deflected free kick.

In the second half, the pair were involved in a bizarre incident as Lennon smashed a clearance into Bale's face and it found its way into the Tottenham goal, but Liverpool could not force an equalizer.

Everton and Arsenal are just behind them in sixth and seventh after they shared a 1-1 draw at Goodison Park.

Theo Walcott put the Gunners ahead in the first minute, but Belgian international Marouane Fellaini curled home a leveler midway through the first half.

Newcastle's miserable recent run continued with a 2-1 defeat at Stoke while Southampton remained in the drop zone after a 1-1 draw at home to Norwich.

It was referee Mark Clattenburg's first match in charge since being cleared of racially abusing Chelsea's John Obi Mikel.


Via: Quickfire goal from van Persie leaves Utd top

Revamp of UEFA competitions up for discussion

The European Champions League, won by Chelsea in 2012, is currently a 32-team competition.

(CNN) -- UEFA has exchanged "initial thoughts" with Europe's top clubs about revamping its two major competitions.

One idea up for discussion is to double the European Champions League in size to include 64 teams as part of a proposal which would see the second-tier Europa League scrapped.

"We exchanged initial thoughts, but the discussions are to follow," a spokesman for the European Club Association (ECA), which represents 207 European clubs, told CNN in a statement. "For the time being there's nothing concrete.

"As a principle, ECA is happy with the competition structure as it is," added the spokesman. "However, we are open to discuss changes or improvements in light of the 2015-18 competition cycle. We will get together with UEFA at some point to discuss."

The Europa League has become very much the poorer relation of the two competitions with Europe's governing body earning about 800m more from the Champions League.

And while Chelsea made 49m by winning the Champions League in 2012, Europa League winners Atletico Madrid earned just 8.5m in prize money.

"We're discussing it," UEFA president Michel Platini told French newspaper Ouest France. "We will make a decision in 2014. Nothing is decided yet.

"There is an ongoing debate to determine what form the European competitions will have between 2015 and 2018."

Read: Football grapples with anti-Semitism storm

Formerly known as the the UEFA Cup, the Europa League has been much-maligned since it was rebranded in 2009.

A prolonged qualification process means a team reaching the Europa League final might have played as many as 20 games, in addition to domestic fixtures.

Breakaway "Super League"

Often high-profile clubs take the decision to play second-string teams in the competition, preferring to focus on their domestic league and the chance of qualifying for the Champions League.

Earlier this season, UEFA asked managers and players to refer to the Europa League as "prestigious", "rich in heritage" and "dramatic".

In the Ouest France interview, former French international Platini also dismissed the idea of Europe's biggest football clubs, such as Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Manchester United, forming a breakaway "Super League".

"It's a question that is regularly brought up," said the UEFA president. "I can't see how it could work outside the UEFA framework. Who will referee them? In what stadiums will they play?"

Read: Time for football to get tough on racist abuse?

Meanwhile Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis is to join the ECA's executive board after David Gill, CEO of the Gunners' Premier League rivals, decided to stand down from the European club organization.

Gazidis will replace Gill on the UEFA Professional Football Strategy Council, with the United executive concentrating on his candidacy for election to the UEFA Executive Committee in the coming year.

"I am pleased to welcome Ivan Gazidis on the ECA executive board," ECA chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said in a statement.

"His experience and distinct football knowledge will add a lot of value to ECA and European club football as a whole," added the German international striker, who is also chairman of Bayern Munich.

"At the same time, I would like to thank David Gill for his invaluable contribution to ECA over the last three years,"

"On behalf of the ECA Executive Board, I wish him all the best for his future professional and personal life."


Via: Revamp of UEFA competitions up for discussion

QPR earn point upon Redknapp debut

Harry Redknapp's QPR are still the only one of English football's 92 clubs without a league win all season.

(CNN) -- New Queens Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp believes he squeezed the most out of the Premier League's bottom side as his reign began with a 0-0 draw at Sunderland.

Even a win would not have been enough to lift the London club off the foot of the table but the draw did increase their tally to five points from 14 games after avoiding defeat for the first time in seven away games.

"I don't have a magic wand and all I can do is get the best out of what I've got -- and I got that tonight," said the former Tottenham Hotspur manager after the game.

Touted as a potential England manager earlier this year, Redknapp replaced Mark Hughes last week after the Welsh coach was dismissed with QPR making the worst start to a season in over twenty years of the Premier League.

Redknapp has identified a lack of hard work as lying behind the fact that QPR are still the only one of English football's 92 clubs to have failed to win a league match all season.

"You can't win football matches if you get outworked by the opposition -- and everybody worked their socks off, which was important. You can't ask for any more, so that is encouraging for the future."

"I am feeling a bit more optimistic. They showed a good attitude, there's a good spirit in the dressing room and they realized they can get good reward for working hard."

Elsewhere, Aston Villa climbed out of the bottom three after a late Christian Benteke was enough to win 1-0 at home to Reading and move up to 17th in the table.

In Germany, the three teams closest to league leaders Bayern Munich suffered disappointing evenings.

Second-placed Borussia Dortmund, who have been performing so well in the Champions League, failed to make up ground on the Bavarians after they were held 1-1 at home by a late goal by Fortuna Dusseldorf, who were reduced to ten men in the dying moments.

Seeking a fifth straight win, Borussia now trail Bayern, who can extend their lead when traveling to Freiburg on Wednesday, by eight points ahead of the enticing clash between the top two in Munich on Saturday.

After the final whistle in Dortmund, Dusseldorf's director of sport Wolf Werner stopped his team's jubilant players from talking to German Sky Sports, angrily claiming that the broadcaster had "belittled" the team in the past.

Schalke stayed third in the table after losing 3-1 at Hamburg, while fourth-placed Eintracht Frankfurt suffered a surprise 3-1 defeat at home to Mainz.

There was just one game in Serie A in Italy, where fifth-placed Lazio won 3-0 at home against Udinese.


Via: QPR earn point upon Redknapp debut

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Referees' union accepts Chelsea 'apology'

Mark Clattenburg has been cleared of racially abusing Chelsea's Nigerian midfielder John Obi Mikel in late October

(CNN) -- Referees' union Prospect says it considers the statement issued by Chelsea regretting its allegations of racial abuse against match official Mark Clattenburg 'as an apology'.

In a joint statement with referees' body Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) and the Premier League, the European champions regretted 'not having given more consideration before issuing a statement' on 28 October accusing the referee or racism.

Last week, England's Football Association said there was 'no case to answer' over allegations that Clattenburg, 37, had racially abused Nigerian midfielder John Obi Mikel during Chelsea's 3-2 home defeat by Manchester United.

This followed a decision by police earlier this month to end their inquiries into the incident because of a lack of evidence.

Read: Clattenburg to face no action over racism complaint

"The use of the word "regrets" in relation to the swift issue of the club's statement publicizing the allegation ... and in relation to the impact on Mark and his family, were tantamount to and accepted by Mark and the group as an apology'," said Prospect in a statement.

The union also revealed that it has now dropped its demand for Chelsea to pay compensation in light of the statement released on Tuesday.

"The club regrets not having given more consideration before issuing a statement on the evening of Sunday 28th October," it read.

"The club also regrets the subsequent impact the intense media scrutiny had on Mark Clattenburg and his family.

"The referees accept that, given Chelsea FC had received a good faith claim from one of their employees, the club had an obligation under FA rules to report the allegation.

"Chelsea FC made it clear they would welcome Mark Clattenburg back to Stamford Bridge in the future and PGMOL would have no issue in appointing him to a Chelsea FC match going forward.

"All parties now believe it is time to draw a line under this incident, learn from it and move on for the good of all Premier League clubs, players and match officials."

The statement followed a meeting on Monday that included Clattenburg, Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck, PGMOL general manager Mike Riley and Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore.

The accusations arose after Chelsea midfielder Ramires claimed that the referee, who missed four weekends of Premier League matches while the FA investigated the allegations, had used racial language towards Mikel.

After being cleared by the FA last week, Clattenburg issued a statement of his own, saying: "To know you were innocent of something but that there was the opportunity for it to wreck your career was truly frightening."

Chelsea's allegations against Clattenburg came shortly after their captain John Terry had received a four-game ban following his racial abuse of Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand in a Premier League game last year.

On Wednesday, the referee will take charge of Southampton against Norwich City as Clattenburg returns to officiating a Premier League game for the first time since the allegations arose.


Via: Referees' union accepts Chelsea 'apology'

World Cup hosts Brazil fire coach

Mano Menezes has been relieved of his duties by the Brazilian Football Association ahead of the 2014 World Cup.

(CNN) -- Just under two years before hosting the World Cup, Brazil sacked coach Mano Menezes as the South American country signaled a change of direction in its quest for unprecedented sixth title.

Menezes had hoped to lead Brazil to victory on home soil but his failure to win over his critics with his muscular type of play appears to have cost him.

The 50-year-old, who replaced the legendary Dunga following the 2010 World Cup, had come under heavy scrutiny following his side's failure to win a historic first Olympic gold at London 2012 -- losing in the final to Mexico despite fielding a star-studded line-up.

The news was greeted with joy by former Brazil striker and World Cup winner Romario,.

"Today is a historic day, Brazil needs to celebrate,'' Romario said on his Facebook page. "Finally the federation did something good for Brazilian football. It took a while to happen, but it did.''

Brazil also failed to deliver at the 2011 Copa America, bowing out at the quarterfinal stage.

"As it has been announced, I'm not the national coach anymore," Menezes wrote on Twitter.

"My thanks to all the people who worked with me on this project, specially the players that were called up during this period and all those who believed in our work."

Brazil name little-known Menezes as replacement for Dunga

Menezes was often criticized for his side's style of play with fans yearning to a return to the "joga bonito" ('beautiful game") style for which Brazil teams are so well known.

Whereas past sides, most notably that of 1970, were known for their flair and skill, Menezes' side was more functional than entertaining.

Although his team won six of its eight matches since the Olympics, with 26 goals coming in the process, Menezes struggled to justify his switch away from the freeflowing, samba-style football associated with Brazil.

But the decision came as a surprise with Brazil slowly beginning to look more impressive with several key players returning to form.

The attacking trio of Oscar, Neymar and Hulk provided a real threat, while Ramires and Paulinho had recently shone in the center of midfield.

The form of Paris Saint-Germain defender Thiago Silva and the return to the side of Real Madrid's Kaka had looked to have given Brazil a new found lease of life.

But after a difficult reign, Menezes was relieved of his duties following talks with CBF president Jose Maria Marin.

"I gave him the news myself," Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) national squad director Andres Sanches told reporters.

"Nobody likes to receive news of these kind of things in any circumstances, but everyone in football knows that these things happen.

"A new coach will be announced in January."

New man

Former Palmeiras manager Luis Felipe Scolari, who led Brazil to World Cup glory back in 2002, is the current favorite with Corinthians coach Tite and Santos boss Muricy Ramalho also in contention.

Brazil will host the Confederations Cup in six months' time before taking center stage for the World Cup a year later.

The new manager's first game in charge will be against England at Wembley on February 6.


Via: World Cup hosts Brazil fire coach

Football grapples with anti-Semitism storm

West Ham have already banned one fan for life after he was cautioned by police for "racially aggravated gesturing" during their match with Tottenham on Sunday. West Ham's fans are also reported to have aired songs about Adolf Hitler. The FA are to investigate. Tottenham won the game 3-1 with Gareth Bale (left) on the scoresheet.

(CNN) -- Violent attacks, the chanting of Adolf Hitler's name and anti-Semitic abuse -- not dark memories of the 1930s but four days in the life of English Premier Leage club Tottenham Hotspur.

It has been an annus horribilis in football's fight against discrimination with Chelsea and Liverpool notably dragged through the mud, but Sunday's game against West Ham at Spurs' White Hart Lane stadium -- as fans made Nazi salutes -- gave the impression English football had reached a new low.

As well as the salutes, there were also accusations of anti-Semitic abuse, including hissing to mimic the sound of gas chambers, a reminder of the deaths of six million Jews during the Holocaust.

White Hart Lane is situated in north London, which is home to a large Jewish community, an association that has led some of Tottenham's fans identifying themselves as "Yids", a term which at different times throughout history has been used by Jews and also to abuse them.

Read: West Ham vow to ban fans guilty of anti-semitc chanting

Some Spurs supporters have attempted to "reclaim" the word, using terms like "Yiddo" and calling themselves the "Yid Army".

However, critics argue the word's use by Tottenham fans creates an opportunity for a dangerous undercurrent of anti-Semitism in European soccer to be exploited.

Read: Anti-semitic chants mar Spurs' tie with Lazio

Just days before Sunday's game, Lazio fans had chanted "Juden Tottenham" in a Europa League match against Spurs in Rome.

"There is a hardcore of racist and anti-Semitic fans in British football who really don't seem to have any regard for common sense or decency," Peter Herbert, the chairman of the association of black lawyers, a group which has threatened to take legal against Spurs fans who continue to use the term "Yid", told CNN.

"Despite the fact there are people in hospital having been abused on Wednesday night in Rome, they seem to add to that distress with these comments. We're in discussions with London's Metropolitan Police.

"I understand the FA have already reported it, which they should do with such incidents," added Herbert. "There has to be zero tolerance -- if these people can be identified they should be prosecuted and banned from football."

"As bad as the Holocaust"

That has already happened to one West Ham fan.

"Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed that five supporters were arrested during Sunday's match at White Hart Lane outside of the stadium for unrelated incidents and two more were cautioned for racially aggravated gesturing inside the ground.," said a West Ham statement.

"One of those fans has since been identified as a season ticket holder and has been sent a letter containing a banning order from the club. Any other individuals identified can expect a similar swift and robust response."

Given what had happened on Thursday in Rome, third-tier Scunthorpe United manager Brian Laws will probably wished he had chosen his words more carefully in describing his team's performance on Saturday "as bad as the Holocaust".

"Anti-Semitism has no place in football or society in general," said the Board of Deputies of British Jews, which works to promote and defend the religious and civil liberties of British Jewry.

"For football fans to use Holocaust imagery and chants glorifying Adolf Hitler is grossly offensive to the Jewish community and is a stain upon the character of British football."

Herbert, who reported the racism allegations recently made by Chelsea against Mark Clattenburg to the police before the investigation was dropped and the referee was later cleared by the FA, suggests the use of the term "Yid" encourages an extreme reaction from a vocal minority.

"What you have to understand is that if only one person is offended it's one too many.," said Herbert.

"All these chants, intentional or unintentional, have to stop. If this happened in athletics or rugby it wouldn't be tolerated, why should it be tolerated in football?"

"We'll sing what we want"

But not all Spurs fans want to see the back of the word "Yid" and recent matches have seen the team's followers chant "We'll sing what we want" in direct response to Herbert's threat.

"I've never had any problem using it," said Spurs supporter Richard Arrowsmith, who is not Jewish.

"It's a word Spurs fans regularly shout to each other. If I'm wearing a Spurs shirt in the street, it's quite common for another passing Spurs fan to shout ' Yiddo' .

"I was probably about seven or eight and it was the first Spurs game I went to. We used to have a drummer at White Hart Lane and the song used to go 'boom, boom, boon, boom-boom-boom, Yids!'

"I looked around and saw pretty much every Spurs fans clapping along and joining in with it ... It's something we've really made our own, it's a collective term for our fans now. It's an accepted word for Spurs fans in the modern age."

Arrowsmith rejected the idea that Spurs fans' use of the term encourages anti-Semitism, saying that particular argument removes any responsibility from the abusers.

"It's a pretty weak argument," he said. "It's been compared to another argument which suggests if girls wear short skirts they're inviting bad things to happen to them.

"No Spurs fan goes to the game thinking 'if I chant the word Yid I'm going to incite some racial hatred'. No one goes to the game thinking they are going to get some racial abuse."

But British comedian and author David Baddiel disagrees.

"The idea that Spurs fans are reclaiming the Y-word and are entitled to because so many of them are Jewish is simply not true," said Baddiel, who is Jewish and a Chelsea fan, recently writing in the Daily Mail.

"There are only 250,000 Jews in Britain as a whole and I'd say about three or four per cent of Tottenham's crowd is Jewish.

"That means well over 90% of those chanting 'Yid Army' are not actually Jewish and that is just one of several reasons why it cannot be right."

Poisonous atmosphere

As the FA investigate what happened on Sunday, academic Clifford Stott called for England's governing body to deliver a reasoned response.

"The authorities need to respond by empowering the majority of those fans who aren't abusing other supporters,"said Stott, who has advised governments and police forces internationally on crowd management policy and practice.

"If the lessons of the past are anything to go by, solutions reside in working with fans' grassroots organizations to respond constructively to any criminal action that occurred. The key message is that an indiscriminate response is counterproductive.

"Don't forget there is already sufficient legislation to deal with anti-Semitic or racist chanting at football grounds

"Where this has happened then clearly it must be condemned and if the evidence exists for criminal sanctions to follow.

"But a knee-jerk response can escalate the problem and it is important to keep what happened in perspective."

Without attempting to excuse the actions of West Ham's fans, Stott explained how a unique set of circumstances had combined to create Sunday's poisonous atmosphere.

"Those chants -- inexcusable as they are -- followed the news about what happened in Rome and what the Society of Black Lawyers has been saying about the illegitimacy of Spurs fans' expression of their identity.

"In 12 months I doubt if and when this fixture is played again that those chants would be repeated."

Meanwhile, Herbert wants football's European governing body UEFA to use its regulations to empower referees in future to prevent a repeat of the abusive incidents that recently occurred in Serbia involving England's Under-21 team as well as Rome and north London.

"We'd like to see a proactive stance on this, a vigorous approach, prosecute where possible, ban people from grounds and if incidents like that do happen, call a halt to the game.

"There is a UEFA rule which is never used where a referee can call off the game. That's the sort of initiative which has to happen.

"Do you want to watch a football game or do you want to listen to this abuse?"


Via: Football grapples with anti-Semitism storm

Monday, November 26, 2012

West Ham vow action on anti-Semitic chanting

West Ham have already banned one fan for life after he was cautioned by police for "racially aggravated gesturing" during their match with Tottenham on Sunday. West Ham's fans are also reported to have aired songs about Adolf Hitler. The FA are to investigate. Tottenham won the game 3-1 with Gareth Bale (left) on the scoresheet.

(CNN) -- West Ham United will ban fans for life if they are found to have aired anti-Semitic chants during their English Premier League clash with Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

The English Football Association (FA) has confirmed they have launched an investigation into chants from the stands during the match at White Hart Lane.

Tottenham have strong links with London's Jewish community and it is alleged West Ham's supporters sang songs about Adolf Hitler and referred to an incident last week which saw several Spurs fans stabbed in Rome.

West Ham confirmed two of their fans had been cautioned by police for "racially aggravated gesturing" on their official website.

Read: Anti-semitic chanting mars Lazio's clash with Tottenham

"One of those fans has since been identified as a season ticket holder and has, this afternoon, been sent a letter containing a banning order from the club," they said. "Any other individuals identified can expect a similar swift and robust response."

It is the latest racism storm to engulf England's top flight, after recent high-profile cases involving Chelsea captain John Terry, who was banned for racially abusing an opponent.

Last week Chelsea's complaint of racist language towards one of their players from Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg was dismissed by the FA due to a lack of evidence.

A statement on the FA's website read: "The FA Governance Department has this morning contacted both clubs and will continue to make enquiries into the matter in the coming days.

"We note the statement issued by West Ham United FC and encourage clubs to identify and ban for life any individuals involved in incidents of abusive chanting.

"There is no place for anti-Semitism or any form of discrimination in football. The FA is committed to working with the clubs, Leagues, fans groups, the police, CPS and community stakeholders to play our part in addressing this unacceptable behavior."

West Ham's Israeli midfielder Yossi Benayoun took to micro-blogging site Twitter to express his dismay at the chanting.

He wrote: "I have a great relationship with the West Ham United supporters, from my first spell at the club and again now I am back on loan here, this why I was very disappointed to hear some of the songs yesterday and it was embarrassing.

"But we need to remember that it was made by a minority group of fans and I'm sure the FA together with West Ham United football club will do everything to find and punish them."

Ahead of Tottenham's Europa League clash with Lazio in Rome last week, a group of their supporters were attacked while drinking in a bar in the city center.

During the match Lazio's fans were alleged to have sung anti-Semitic songs, prompting Tottenham coach Andre Villas-Boas to call on European football's governing body UEFA to act.

Lazio were fined $50,000 in October over racist chanting towards a trio of Tottenham players who are black.

The FA called on UEFA to sanction Serbia after another Tottenham player, Danny Rose, was reported to have been subjected to monkey chants while on duty with England's under-21 team.

Tottenham's close association with the Jewish community has led to some of their fans to identifying themselves as "Yids", a term which at different times throughout history has been used by Jews and also to abuse them.

A portion of the Spurs' support have attempted to "reclaim" the word, using terms like "Yiddo" and calling themselves the "Yid Army."

Peter Herbert, chairman of the Society of Black Lawyers, who referred Chelsea's complaint over Clattenburg to the police, said they were prepared to do the same for this incident.

He told CNN: "We're in discussions with the Metropolitan Police, I understand the FA have already reported it which they should do with such incidents.

"There has to be zero tolerance, if these people can be identified they should be prosecuted and banned from football.

"We've been in conversation with the Met Police this morning and we're waiting for a few more complaints to come in from the Jewish community and we'll make the formal complaint that this should be investigated as a racial incident."

West Ham vowed to track down and ban any more of their supporters who were at fault during Sunday's match.

"West Ham United are in contact with Tottenham Hotspur to assist them with their investigation into the conduct of a small number of supporters and alleged inappropriate chanting during yesterday's match at White Hart Lane," a statement read.

"The majority of West Ham supporters went there and supported their team in the proper fashion. They were let down by a tiny minority.

"West Ham United will take the strongest possible action against any of their supporters, including enforcing life bans from the club, that are found guilty of behavior which is categorically not condoned by West Ham United."


Via: West Ham vow action on anti-Semitic chanting

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