Former Lazio great Giorgio Chinaglia, who died in the US in April last year, will be buried in Rome after his family finally settled a series of red tape issues which held his body in Florida.
Reports said that Chinaglia’s body arrived in Italy yesterday and he’ll be buried next to Lazio coach Tommaso Maestrelli.
The public will be able to salute Chinaglia in a memorial service at the Christ the King church in Rome, today.
Dunga labelled a donkey
Internacional and former Brazil coach Dunga says he has no problem in being labelled a donkey, suggesting it might even be something of a compliment.
“Calling me a donkey doesn’t offend me because they are one of the most hard-working animals,” the former Brazil captain told reporters.
Dunga was greeted with chants of “donkey, donkey” as his side were held to a 2-2 draw by Vitoria in a Brazilian championship match last week.
“We’re always under pressure and we always have to try and improve,” he added.
“It’s not the first, nor the last, time that it’s going to happen.”
Bayern ‘showing no emotions’
Bayern Munich’s 2-0 win over Hanover may have taken the defending champions up to second in the Bundesliga, but it was anything but to the liking of their director of sport Matthias Sammer.
The Bavarians needed 45 minutes to get warmed up and Sammer slammed the team’s apparent lack of hunger and desire.
“We are playing lethargically at times, playing football without any emotion,” he said.
“When you are struggling in the first half, then you’ve got to help each other out and bring a bit more emotion into play.
“It’s not that we are not working, just we’re not showing any emotions at all.”
Referees have it tough – Holloway
Ian Holloway conceded Premier League referees have an impossible job. The Crystal Palace boss has only just started a two-match touchline ban so he wisely opted to keep his counsel after watching his side reduced to 10 men in a 2-0 loss to Man. United on Saturday.
Referee Jon Moss opted to dismiss Kagisho Dikgacoi for bundling down Ashley Young just before the break when TV replays showed the first contact took place outside the box.
“It is a weird feeling to see how partisan United fans are,” said Holloway.
“They were shouting for stuff before we even kicked off. If you are in the middle and you have that whistle, it is very hard... I am glad I don’t have it.”
Ronaldo extends Real contract
Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo has agreed a contract extension with Real Madrid.
Spanish media reported Ronaldo’s new deal extends his contract by three years to 2018 and lifts his net annual salary to €17 million.
Ronaldo joined Real from Manchester United in 2009 for what was then a world record fee of €94 million.
The 28-year-old has scored 203 goals in 203 official games for the Spanish giants, helping them to a La Liga title in the 2011-12 season and a King’s Cup triumph in 2011 but falling short in the UEFA Champions League.
Barcelona hit with injury to Alba
Barcelona left-back Jordi Alba will be sidelined for around three weeks after he damaged a hamstring in Saturday’s 3-2 La Liga win at home to Sevilla.
“Jordi Alba had more tests to assess the exact extent of the injury he picked up during the first half of the match against Sevilla,” Barca said yesterday.
“Medical staff confirmed the player sustained a tear in his right hamstring,” they added.
“The estimated time he will be out of action is approximately three weeks.”
Alba, who was replaced by Adriano in the 14th minute of the clash at the Nou Camp, will miss Barca’s Champions League Group H games against Ajax and Celtic.
Police smash match-fixing ring
Australian police arrested 10 people, many of them British, across Melbourne yesterday as part of an operation to smash a “multi-million dollar” match-fixing ring centred on the second tier Victorian Premier Soccer League.
Police said their investigation into match-fixing in the 12-team league started in August and had been prompted by information provided by the national governing body, Football Federation of Australia.
Those arrested could face sentences of up to 10 years in prison if found guilty.
The FFA said those arrested were nine players and a coach from the Southern Stars club.