Ireland’s bid to have their Euro 2012 qualifier against Andorra played in Barcelona has been rejected by UEFA.
The Andorran FA, backed by their Irish counterparts, had requested that the game on October 7 be played in the Catalonian city in order to accommodate an anticipated large travelling support.
However, the governing body has ruled that the game must take place at the Estadi Comunal in Andorra.
World Cup on schedule – Rousseff
Preparations for the 2014 World Cup are proceeding at a good clip, with nine of 10 stadiums likely finished next year, Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff said.
“The renovation and construction of the stadiums is proceeding at an adequate pace,” Rousseff said during her weekly press conference.
In June, FIFA had expressed concern over what it said was the slow pace of building and transportation improvements ahead of the World Cup.
But Rousseff told reporters that earlier problems that had slowed the construction of the Itaquerao Stadium in Sao Paolo have been resolved, and that conditions now are in place to begin work on a stadium in Natal in northeastern Brazil.
British spotters for Sofia match
British police officers will assist their Bulgarian counterparts in fighting hooligans at the Euro Championship qualifier between England and Bulgaria tomorrow.
“We have established joint measures to prevent hooliganism on the margins of the Bulgaria-England match,” Biser Ivanov, head of the police unit dealing with football hooligans, said.
In total, 12 so-called “spotters,” tasked with pinpointing known hooligans in a crowd, will travel to Bulgaria for the game.
However, they will not have powers to arrest offenders themselves and will merely cooperate with the local police.
Liverpool sign Uruguay’s Coates
Liverpool have signed Uruguay international defender Sebastian Coates “on a long-term contract” from Nacional.
The 20-year-old Copa America winner passed a medical and secured a work permit to complete a move that will see him join Uruguay team-mate Luis Suarez at Anfield.
The centre-back, who made his debut for Uruguayan side Nacional two years ago, said Suarez had been key to his decision to sign for Liverpool.
“Luis told me a lot about Liverpool but about the fans more than anything else. He told me how passionate they are about the club and how supportive they are,” Coates said.
Elia joins Juventus
Juventus have completed the signing of Holland winger Eljero Elia from Hamburg. The 24-year-old joins the Turin club for a fee of nine million euros and has signed a four-year contract.
“I know a lot about Juventus. This is the biggest club in Italy,” Elia said.
“For me it was very important that the coach wanted me in making this decision.”
Elia had been linked with a move to the Premier League, with Arsenal and Liverpool among the clubs reportedly keen, but instead opted to become the third Dutch-man to play for Juve. He follows in the footsteps of Edgar Davids and Edwin van der Sar.
Di Canio in tunnel bust-up
Swindon are investigating the circumstances surrounding an extraordinary on-field bust-up between manager Paolo di Canio and striker Leon Clarke at the end of their Carling Cup defeat to Southampton at the County Ground Tuesday night.
After his side were beaten 3-1 at home by their Championship opponents, the hot-headed Italian could be seen remon-strating with Clarke as the team left the pitch.
The former West Ham striker appeared to manhandle Clarke towards the tunnel and the pair seemed to be pushing and shoving before being separated.
Clarke refused to go into the dressing room and left the ground still wearing his kit while Di Canio went home without attending his usual press conference.
Evans shrugs off numbers game
Jonny Evans is reading nothing into his newly-acquired Manchester United no.6 shirt.
With Wes Brown now at Sunderland, the shirt that has also been worn in the past by Gary Pallister suddenly became vacant.
Nemanja Vidic was not keen to give up his number 15, so after due consideration, Alex Ferguson opted to pass the shirt on to Evans.
It was not a decision the Northern Ireland international had to think about.
“I am not superstitious at all. It doesn’t bother me,” he said.
“I got a phone call one day and they said the manager wanted to know if I wanted the no.6 shirt. I said: ‘Why not?’ It’s more of a defender’s number than 23 and looks a bit nicer.
“Tom Cleverley’s got no.23 now and I’m sure he’ll take good care of it.”