Football news

Albacete B's Belgian youth international Ritchie Kitoko has made a report to the police over racist abuse received from a Daimiel player during a match in the Spanish Tercera division (fourth tier) last weekend.

"He was insulting me throughout the whole match, with racist swearwords, and telling me to go back to my country and so on," Kitoko said.

"You hear a lot of things on football pitches but this is too much. Also, after the game he attacked me and this should never happen. I am very angry, because it is the first time in my life anything like this has happened."

Blatter hopes Spain bid to host World Cup in 2018

Sepp Blatter, president of FIFA, has said it was about time Spain hosted another World Cup.

"I remember the World Cup in 1982," Blatter was quoted as saying in Spanish media yesterday.

"It broke a number of records, the first with 24 countries, 17 stadiums and 14 cities something which has never been repeated.

"It is time for Spain to organise another (World Cup). For this reason I hope they present their candidacy for 2018."

Blatter, was speaking at a meeting for Spanish football representatives in Zurich.

Donadoni hints at Del Piero recall

Italy coach Roberto Donadoni has hinted he may recall in-form Juventus captain Alessandro Del Piero for Euro 2008.

The 33-year-old World Cup winner has not played for his country since giving a poor performance in a goalless Euro 2008 qualifier against France in September.

But calls to bring him back have been mounting as the forward has scored 18 Serie A goals to help third-placed Juventus secure a Champions League qualification slot on their return to the top-flight after relegation over the 2006 match-fixing scandal.

Donadoni suggested Del Piero could be in line for a recall after a journalist promised not to raise the issue in an interview published in yesterday's La Repubblica.

"Thank you because I could easily say, six months ago I didn't know, but today, yes, (I'd take him) at once, the facts speak for themselves," he replied. "But I'll only talk about selections on the pre-established date."

Inter say Ronaldinho price too high

Inter president Massimo Moratti said yesterday Ronaldinho was expensive and the club were unlikely to try to outbid city rivals Milan to sign him from Barcelona.

"The price of Ronaldinho is a little high," Moratti said. "We are following the affair but I don't think we are the most interested. Others have officially said they are. There is no derby to sign him."

Barcelona president Joan Laporta said that the player was worth at least 40 million euros ($62.30 million).

Milan agreed personal terms with the Brazil forward earlier this month but the transfer has stalled over the Spanish club's asking price.

Tottenham confirm €21 million price tag for Modric

Tottenham Hotspur will pay 21 million euros ($33 million) for Croatian midfielder Luka Modric, the Premier League club said yesterday.

The London club announced on Saturday that the 22-year-old would be joining them from Dinamo Zagreb in the post-season transfer window but did not give financial details of the deal.

The move is subject to him obtaining a work permit.

"Agreement has been reached for the transfer of his registration... for a total consideration of 21 million euros payable in instalments over the next four years," the club said in a statement, adding the contract was for up to six years.

Milan's Ronaldo in sex scandal

Milan and Brazil striker Ronaldo has become embroiled in a sex scandal in his home country. He is currently in Brazil while recovering from knee surgery, an injury sustained while playing for Milan against Livorno in February.

Reports in Globo state that Ronaldo spent Sunday night in a hotel in Rio with three transvestites. Among them was Andre Albertino (picture above), who has accused Ronaldo of drugging him and put video footage of the encounter on Youtube.

Ronaldo told police he was the victim of extortion and claims that the three men tried to blackmail him by threatening to drag his name through the mud unless they received a sizeable payment.

Cherno More threaten to boycott cup final

Cherno More Varna threatened to boycott the Bulgarian Cup final against Litex Lovech over the decision to stage the match at the National Stadium in Sofia. "The team will not take part in the final on May 14 and will turn its attention completely to its performances in the league," the Varna-based club said in a statement.

Cherno More said the Professional Football League, who chose the venue, had not paid proper attention to their request for a more neutral ground.

Varna is more than twice the distance from the capital as Lovech.

"Instead of an adequate answer we were asked if we would accept a foreign referee and how many tickets we needed for the match," said Cherno More. "In reply to these questions the management of Cherno More officially congratulates Litex for winning the Cup," they added sarcastically.