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Soccer News

(China Daily)
Updated: 2011-05-19 07:59

England

FA warns Ferguson and Ancelotti

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson (pictured) and Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti were warned about their future conduct by the Football Association (FA) on Tuesday in relation to recent comments about referee Howard Webb.

Both managers made complimentary remarks about World Cup final referee Webb ahead of the Premier League clash between the title rivals at Old Trafford on May 8.

However, in the process, they contravened FA regulations prohibiting managers from making any comments whatsoever about referees before a match.

Ferguson was warned to his future conduct on Tuesday before the FA issued an identical ruling on Ancelotti several hours later.

Scottish boss Ferguson was handed a five-match touchline ban by the FA earlier this term for his derogatory comments about referee Martin Atkinson during United's match at Chelsea's Stamford Bridge ground.

But there was widespread disbelief that he faced the prospect of being punished for praising Webb, with even Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, a long-standing rival of Ferguson, saying: "To me, it doesn't look to be a major problem to say that somebody is good. I would not charge him for that."

United beat Chelsea 2-1 and last weekend gained the point it needed to reclaim the Premier League title from the Blues with a draw at Blackburn.

Ba says racist abuse led to Hammers' dinner bust-up

West Ham striker Demba Ba claimed on Tuesday he'd been racially abused by a fan after police were called to the club's end-of-season dinner at a luxury London hotel.

Ba said the trouble at the Grosvenor House Hotel on Monday started when he was subjected to racist comments from an unhappy fan the day after the London club's relegation from the English Premier League was confirmed.

There had been reports tempers frayed when Senegal striker Ba, on loan from German club Hoffenheim, refused to sign an autograph.

However, Ba insisted he did sign and he and West Ham teammate Danny Gabbidon had been subjected to racist abuse.

"It was a crazy situation," Ba told Talk Sport Radio on Tuesday. "This guy came to me when we were sitting at the table. There were two players per table and Manuel da Costa was with me.

"This guy came and asked for an autograph so I gave him his autograph. Then he asked me nicely how I was feeling so I just said I was tired from the game yesterday and that it was a tough game. And then he just replied 'Oh, we're tired of watching you play every weekend'."

Japan

Japan 'looking forward' despite Copa withdrawal

Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni has told the Blue Samurai to keep "looking forward" on the road to the 2014 World Cup after the team lost out on a chance to compete in the glittering Copa America.

The Japan Football Association (JFA) said on Tuesday it had decided not to take part in the South American championship in July as forming a competitive team had proved too difficult in the wake of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

Zaccheroni had wanted to use the Copa America in Argentina as a key test before Japan, which won a record fourth Asian Cup title in January, launches its regional World Cup qualifiers in September.

Japan was invited to take up on outside guest spot in the four-yearly tournament alongside Mexico.

The Blue Samurai would have played Bolivia, Colombia and host Argentina in Group A but will now be replaced by Costa Rica.

"I feel that the earthquake has turned the year into an exceptional one and forced us to make such a heart-rending decision," the 58-year-old Italian said.

Germany

Former German star Frings released by Bremen

Werder Bremen captain Torsten Frings was told on Tuesday the north German club will not be extending his contract, leaving the former German international midfielder to hunt for a new club or consider a career in coaching.

Having initially spent 4 1/2 years at Bremen between 1997 and 2002, 34-year-old Frings rejoined Werder in July 2005, making a total of 326 league appearances for the club, but he is out of contract at the end of June.

Bremen's director of sport, Klaus Allofs, and coach, Thomas Schaaf, announced in a press conference on Tuesday Frings will not be offered a contract extension.

"We know that he is disappointed. I can understand it," said Allofs, citing "sporting and economic" reasons for the decision.

Allofs added it was not a matter of money, "because there was no contract offered".

But Frings could still have a future at Bremen as a coach.

"Werder Bremen will offer him a job to train as a coach and to acquire the necessary license," said Allofs.

"He will give us his response in the coming days.

"We will make it possible for him to become a coach, but we will also accept his decision if he decides to continue his career at another club."

AFP

(China Daily 05/19/2011 page22)