Harold Mayne-Nicholls, the former head of the FIFA technical committee which warned world football’s governing body against holding the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, is considering running for its presidency next year.
If he did, Mayne-Nicholls would be the third candidate in the race with the incumbent and favourite, Sepp Blatter, and former FIFA deputy general secretary Jerome Champagne.
Mayne-Nicholls told keirradnedge.com: “A decision is not necessary before January 28 next year.
“That means four months to check everything so that the people who have contacted me – and whom I have contacted – can assess the best way forward.”
BFU consider neutral venues option
Bulgarian clubs whose supporters cause trouble will be forced to play at neutral venues instead of behind closed doors, the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) said.
“Visiting fans are not to blame for the violations committed by the home club’s supporters,” the BFU said after discussing the problem with fans’ organisations, clubs and interior ministry officials.
The BFU said that instead of excluding all fans, it would require punished teams to serve their “bans” in one of three Bulgarian cities –Veliko Tarnovo in the north of the country and Blagoevgrad and Sliven in the south.
Unhappy Cech eyes Chelsea exit
Chelsea’s Czech goalkeeper Petr Cech has said he would look for a solution to his plight if he continues to be left on the bench at the Premier League club.
Cech, who has been at Chelsea since 2004, has not started a Premier League game this season having fallen behind Thibaut Courtois in the pecking order.
“I have not spoken to anyone, but I think they know me well enough at the club (Chelsea) to know that the situation is definitely not the way I would have imagined,” Cech told Czech radio.
“With the Euros (in 2016) and the national team in mind, there is no time for me to sit on the bench and not to play.”
Di Matteo targets CLeague spot
A Champions League spot for next season remains Schalke 04’s target for the current campaign despite their poor start, new coach Roberto Di Matteo said yesterday.
The former Chelsea manager, who won the Champions League in a caretaker position for the English club in 2012, has been tasked with turning Schalke’s season around after they sacked predecessor Jens Keller on Tuesday.
“The Champions League qualification (for next season) remains the aim of the club,” Di Matteo, who signed a deal to 2017, told reporters in Gelsenkirchen.
“I have my work cut out to get out of this mini crisis.”
Ozil out for up to three months
Germany midfielder Mesut Ozil has been ruled out for up to three months after he was diagnosed with a partial tear of a knee ligament, the German football association said yesterday.
Ozil will miss the World Cup winners’ upcoming Euro 2016 qualifiers against Poland and Ireland as well as matches against Gibraltar and Spain later this year.
“The 25-year-old complained about pain in his left knee when he arrived in Frankfurt (to join the Germany team) on Tuesday,” the DFB said in a statement.
“The scan today revealed a partial tear of his exterior ligament in his left knee. He will be out an expected 10-12 weeks.”
Ozil is the latest big-name absence from coach Joachim Loew’s squad along with Bastian Schweinsteiger, Sami Khedira, Mario Gomez and Marco Reus.
Menez injury concern for Milan
Milan forward Jeremy Menez could be set for a spell on the sidelines after suffering a recurrence of a thigh injury.
The Frenchman did not train yesterday and will undergo further tests in the coming days to assess the extent of the problem.
A statement from Milan read: “Milan announce that Jeremy Menez is suffering from a problem in his right adductor muscle.
“The player will undergo further tests over the next few days.”
Menez recently recovered from a swollen tendon in his right leg and played all 90 minutes of Saturday's 2-0 triumph over Chievo.
Grant, Kluivert on Ghana shortlist
Former Chelsea manager Avram Grant and Dutch international Patrick Kluivert feature on a shortlist of five coaches to be interviewed for the vacant Ghana post, the country’s football association said.
The others to be assessed by the Ghana FA are Michel Pont, assistant coach for Switzerland at this year’s World Cup, former Italy midfielder Marco Tardelli and Spanish coach Juan Ignacio Martínez.
Pont, Kluivert and Tardelli will be interviewed in Accra on Oct. 17, and Grant and Martinez the following day. Two managers have also been placed on standby in case of a withdrawal, former Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster and ex-Argentina international Ricardo Gareca.