7/9/02
Derby and Joan and Mrs Ronaldo
Italian Clubs Accept RAI Deal
Italian clubs have accepted a US$30 million offer from state broadcaster RAI to broadcast a popular highlights package and coverage of the Italian Cup. The deal represents an approximately 30% cut on last year's agreement. Serie A clubs Chievo, Atalanta, Como, Modena, Piacenza, Perugia, Brescia and Empoli - has provoked a two-week delay to the start of the Italian have rejected a 53 million euro offer by Stream and Telepiu TV stations and are still seeking pay-for-view deals for live matches as Italian soccer faces hard financial times ahead.
Derby Players Threaten To Strike
English Division I side Derby County, who are around £30 million in debt, have been threatened by a mass walk out by the playing staff over unpaid wages for August. Defender Danny Higginbotham, who joined the club from Manchester United for US$6 million, served 14 days notice on his employers for 'breach of contract'. Derby, who are losing US$1.6 million a month and were relegated from the Premiership last season, are awaiting the outcome of rival takeover bids to settle the future of the club. The club's bankers, Co-op bank has promised to release funds to pay the playing staff, but the possibility remains of the once-proud club following Italy's Fiorentina into extinction. Last month, coach John Gregory, had to pick up the team's £2,000 hotel bill after an away game.
Mrs Ronaldo
Atletico Madrid are interested in signing Ronaldo's wife for their women's team, according to the daily sports paper 'As'.
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Scum
Norwich City fans sporting shirts or badges upon which is written 'Blue Scum' will not be admitted to Carrow Road say police and Norwich FC officials. The term 'blue scum' may be a reference to local rivals Ipswich.
Alex back at Shimizu with a Bang
Alessandro "Alex" Santos has returned
to his former club in the J.League
, Shimizu S-Pulse, after nearly signing in late August with Charlton
in the Premier League. After a one-week trial run, the south London club
was ready to sign the fleet-footed Brazil-born Japan international. British
authorities, however, nixed the deal when they refused to issue Alex a
work permit. Alex failed to meet Home Office criteria for non-EU players
because he has yet to appear in a sufficient number of international matches.
Alex would have been the eighth Japanese currently playing club football
in Europe.
In his first match back in Japan, Alex put in a stellar performance. He
drilled home a left-footed bullet at the ten-minute mark of the second
half, which helped lead Shimizu over JEF Ishihara 3-0.
Ahn Japan Bound
South Korean heartthrob and forward Ahn
Jung Hwan looks bound for the J-League, if only for a short stay.
Formerly of Perugia in Italy's Serie A, South Korean international Ahn
scored the overtime goal that sent Italy out of the World Cup in a match
marred by questionable officiating. Following the match, Ahn's boss, Perugia
chairman Luciano Gaucci, was quoted after the loss as saying, "I am not
going to pay the salary of a guy who has been the ruin of Italian soccer."
Although Gaucci later retracted his statement and attempted to make up
with Ahn, the latter wanted no more of Perugia and its petulant owner.
In spite of some interest from other teams, however, he was unable to
find another European club by the August 31st signing deadline. Hence
the move to Japan. Ahn was quoted as being "excited about playing in the
J-League," but he reiterated that his long-term goal is to move back to
Europe.
Recent rumors in the Japanese press have linked him with Shimizu S-Pulse.
Though "nothing has been decided yet," Ahn could soon be teaming up with
Alex up front in what may become a deadly "I want a European club contract!"
duo.
Chung Mong Joon Throws Hat in Ring
Fifty-year-old South Korea soccer boss Chung Mong Joon ended months of speculation when he formally announced that he would be running for president of South Korea. The MIT graduate and son of the founder of the Hyundai chaebol, or conglomerate, has seen his star rise as a result of his association with the Korean national team. He was also in the spotlight on 7th September when South Korea played host to North Korea in a friendly. Recent polls have him beating rival Lee Hoi Chang in a two-man race.