Disgraced FIFA president Sepp Blatter will return to the headquarters of soccer’s governing body on February 16 when his appeal against his ban from the sport will be heard, according to his advisor.
Blatter, head of soccer’s scandal-plagued governing body since 1998, was banned in December from all football-related activity for eight years by the ethics committee of FIFA, mired in the worst graft scandal its 111-year history.
Blatter’s case will initially be dealt with by FIFA’s own Appeal Committee. If unsuccessful, he will go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne.
Vidic retires
Former Manchester United captain and defensive rock Nemanja Vidic announced his retirement yesterday, saying it was time to call it a day.
The 34-year-old Serbian central defender moved to Inter in 2014 but his contract with the Serie A club was terminated by mutual consent this month.
“The time has come for me to hang up my boots,” he said in a statement yesterday.
“The injuries I have had in the last few years have taken their toll.”
Fan favourite Vidic was at the heart of the Man. United defence between 2006 and 2014.
Liverpool told Teixeira costs £53m
Liverpool appear to have been priced out of a January move for forward Alex Teixeira after Shakhtar Donetsk chief Sergei Palkin set the fee at £53m.
The Reds opened negotiations last week after chief executive Ian Ayre flew out to Shakhtar’s winter training camp in Florida.
However, after a £24 million offer was declined talks have continued but the two parties are so far apart in their valuation of the 26-year-old Brazilian it now seems unlikely there will be any deal done before the transfer window closes.
Palkin said: “At the end of the season we will sit down at the negotiating table. Teixeira has a compensation charge in his contract – the price is £53m.”
Bolton supporters want to buy club
The Bolton Wanderers Supporters’ Trust has written to Eddie Davies in an effort to buy the struggling Championship club.
Davies, Bolton’s owner, has been mulling over a bid from Sports Shield consortium, led by former Trotters forward Dean Holdsworth, but no deal has yet been struck.
The BWST has now made its move, promising to “raise sufficient funding to secure the future of the club for the benefit of the supporters”.
Wanderers’ accounts were frozen when HM Revenue and Customs served them with a winding-up petition over £2.2 million of unpaid tax.
Striker Eder makes switch to Inter
Inter have signed in-form striker Eder ahead of tomorrow’s derby meeting with Milan.
Eder has left Sampdoria on an initial two-year loan deal, although the 29-year-old has agreed to remain at the San Siro until at least 2020 if the switch proves successful.
The Italy international, who has scored 12 Serie A goals this season, told inter.it: “I’m extremely happy to be here.
“Many years of sacrifice have earned me the chance to join a big club like Inter.”
The Brazil-born player built his reputation at Empoli before joining Samp in January 2012.
He scored 49 goals in all competitions for the Marassi outfit and was called up by Italy last March.
Dembele signs new Tottenham contract
Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Mousa Dembele has signed a new contract that will run until 2019.
Belgium midfielder Dembele, who joined Tottenham from Fulham in 2012 in a 15 million pound deal, has made 143 appearances for the club and scored nine goals.
“The way we’re playing at the moment, the way the club is developing, everything is very good,” Dembele, 28, told re-porters yesterday.
Dembele, who has more than 60 caps for Belgium, has helped keep Tottenham on the fringes of the Premier League title race this season, scoring four times in 20 appearances.
Sunderland close in on midfielder Khazri
Sunderland are set to complete the signing of Bordeaux midfielder Wahbi Khazri.
A statement on Bordeaux’s official website confirmed the departure of the player. Reports in France claim he has signed a four-and-a-half year deal with the Premier League side.
Black Cats boss Sam Allardyce turned his full attention to Khazri after admitting defeat in his battle to sign Andre Ayew from relegation rivals Swansea City.
And he will consider the capture of Khazri a victory after reports this week that both Everton and Aston Villa were also tracking the player.