"I’m totally against those who buy under-age lads in another country. We should go to our politicians and tell them that we must bring our children up in our training centers and not sell them at 13-14 years of age to another club."
— UEFA President Michel Platini. (Reuters)
[IRAN] First, Iran began 2010 World Cup qualifying without a national team coach. Now, two coaches have been reported to have been selected to Iran in its fight to qualifying for the World Cup finals for the fourth time. Iranian-American Afshin Ghotbi appeared to have landed the job, but reports out of Tehran on Sunday suggested that former Iran star Ali Daei had been picked to lead Team Melli.
[WINNERS & LOSERS] Real Madrid got a boost from Sergio Aguero of neighboring Atletico Madrid in Spain’s La Liga race when the Argentine teenager scored twice and set up two other two goals to lead Atletico Madrid past Barcelona, 4-2. The English Premier League race tightened when Arsenal was held to a 1-1 tie by Aston Villa at home. The race also tightened in Italy, where Inter Milan lost for the first time this season in Serie A.
