Soccer Newsletter - Jan. 24, 2000
English Premier League
Do politicians have the right to micromanage a professional sport club? And no, we aren't talking about the Liberals in Canada dropping pucks and cash on hockey teams. Over in Sheffield Wednesday land, controversial MP Joe Ashton just can't keep his nose out of the Owls' business. Last week, the former vice president of the Premier League's bottom-feeders led a gang of four Sheffield MPs who said that manager Danny Wilson should be fired. When he didn't get any satisfaction from that fight, Ashton turned his focus on Hillsborough chairman Dave Richards. He now wants Richards to hand in his resignation, as he thinks the chair is spending too much time in London on several top FA committees and his poor Owls are being neglected. Hmmm... I suppose there just aren't enough pressing political issues in England these days. But face it, no matter who you point fingers at, Joe, the team just sucks!
(post game note: The controversy didn't seem to affect the team on Saturday as the Owls won their first away game of the season against Tottenham. )
Leeds takes the lead, but there are troubles at the top...
Isn't it a shame when a squad has a year that puts supporters in mind of those great teams of the late 60's early 70's, but it's the news off the field that gets the headlines. Leeds United's defender Jonathan Woodgate and midfielder Lee Bowyer got themselves in trouble last week for an alleged street attack on an Asian kid. On Sunday, the squad played in the Stadium of Light against the upstart Sunderland team. Woodgate and Bowyer were in the line up and were the prime targets of the crowd's taunting. Leeds took the match in spite of jeers to maintain their lead in the league.
(CTVSportsnet will be rebroadcasting this match on Saturday January 29
check local listings at:
retired link)
Upcoming matches:
The big one of course is on Monday as the Gunners meet Man-oh-Man United on the Old Trafford Grounds. Arsenal's flying Dutchmen Dennis Bergkamp and Marc Overmars are grounded with injuries, which puts the odds in the Reds' favour.
See the match on CTVSportsnet Monday. Check local listings at:
(retired link)
African Cup of Nations
A bunch of top club team players seem to have gone missing. Where are they? Why playing in the African Cup of Nations, that's where. France has lost 42 players, Germany 13, the Netherlands and Turkey have 13 players in the tournament, while England, Portugal and Spain each released 11 players.
Egypt is the defending champ and is favoured to repeat. But Morocco, Cameroon, Nigeria, South Africa and Tunisia the five African representatives in the World Cup in 1998, may just give them a run for their money! The tournament is on until February 13th.
UEFA
UEFA's appeals committee reduced the suspension on Yugoslav defender Zoran Mirkovic for his dismissal against Croatia in last October's Euro 2000 qualifier from four to three matches on Friday.
Mirkovic will miss all three of Yugoslavia's first round matches in the Euro 2000 finals against Slovenia, Norway and Spain, but could play in the quarter-finals if Yugoslavia gets that far.
And what was his crime? Mirkovic, who plays his club football in Italy with Juventus club was sent off in the 42nd minute of the 2-2 draw against Croatia for grabbing Robert Jarni as they scrambled for a loose ball. War, as they say, is hell.
SoccerCentral Poll
Who do you think will be the 1999 FIFA World Player?
Gabriel Batistuta (AC Fiorentina /Argentina)
or
David Beckham (Manchester United /England)
or
Rivaldo (FC Barcelona / Brazil)
Tell us in the Soccer Fan forums at:
(retired link)