Monthly Archives: August 2006

For not the first time, Chelsea has been accused of “tapping up” another team’s players, which means its scouts have been making illegal contact with them. Chelsea signed Leeds United youngsters Michael Woods and Tom Taiwo in March, after making what Chairman Ken Bates describes as an illegal approach. “This is a straightforward dispute over […]

Despite assurances from Juve executives that no one else would be leaving the relegated club, Mino Raiola, Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s agent, confirmed that the striker intends to play elsewhere next season. New coach Didier Deschamps has been trying hard to convince the Swedish striker to stay to no avail. “Ibra will very probably leave Turin,” Raiola […]

A UEFA panel ratified the decision made by the Italian Football Federation to reinstate disgraced club AC Milan to Champions League qualifying. The club was initially banned from the competition and then reinstated on appeal. An emergency panel was called by European soccer’s governing party to determine whether the club, which had been found guilty […]

New Brazilian coach Dunga controversially left off Carlos Alberto Parreira’s ‘Magic quartet,” Ronaldo, Kaka, Ronaldinho and Adriano, from his 22-man squad for the team’s friendly against Norway Aug. 16 in Oslo. Dunga retained just 8 members of Brazil’s World Cup squad — Robinho, Juan, Lucio, Luisao, Cicinho, Gilberto, Gilberto Silva and Fred. Dunga said these […]

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson admits there’s only one Roy Keane, and while his big boots have proven impossible to fill these last few seasons, Ferguson believes new signing Michael Carrick could be the next best thing. “You can’t replace Roy Keane – we’ve been trying for five years. Michael’s an excellent footballer and […]

French World Cup defender William Gallas is in the doghouse at Chelsea after failing to turn in up in Los Angeles as part of the club’s pre-season preparations in the U.S. Both Gallas and new signing Michael Ballack had been given added time off after the World Cup, but a request to have his holiday […]

Finally, The Observer Monthly’s Jason Burke sheds some light on what exactly it means when we say that Juventus, Milan, Lazio, and Fiorentina have been found guilty of match-fixing. Several reports have alluded to the so-called “match-fixing ring” lead by former Juventus GM Luciano Moggi, but few, if any, have gone in-depth into what exactly […]

Patrick Vieira looks to be on his way to Inter Milan, but not before the former Arsenal man fanned the flames of speculation by revealing that interest from Manchester United flattered him. “Every player wants to appear for a club like Manchester United at the highest level,” Vieira was quoted as saying in several reports. […]

Some say there’s tremendous pressure while others say the first day on the job could have been a lot worse for Steve McClaren, the new England coach. Like if they won it all in Germany, for example. Instead, the former Middlesbrough manager’s task will be a more psychological one, says the Telegraph’s Alan Smith. “Following […]

In an effort to stamp out the growing problem of racism in club soccer, players who make racist remarks or gestures on the field will receive bans, while clubs whose supporters chant racist remarks will face fines, according to new disciplinary regulations announced today by UEFA. Any player who insults another on grounds of color, […]