Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld is angry that his team must play a World Cup match “in the middle of the jungle”
The Swiss will face Honduras in their final Group E game in Manaus, located in the heart of the Amazon rain forest, and also play France in Salvador, another tropical venue.
“In Salvador it’s very hot, Manaus is much worse because you are playing in a humid, tropical climate, with 95 per cent humidity, and a temperature between 30 and 40 Celsius,” Hitzfeld said.
“I find it almost irresponsible that one has to play football in such a place, in the middle of the jungle.”
Smalling issues costume apology
Manchester United defender Chris Smalling has apologised for making an “ill-thought out and insensitive decision” after a picture emerged of him wearing what appeared to be a suicide bomber costume at a party.
The front page of yesterday’s edition of The Sun showed the 24-year-old England international wearing a head dress and items resembling a mock circuit board, mobile phone and cables on his chest. He was also wearing bottles of the liqueur Jagermeister and the energy drink Red Bull.
Smalling’s management com-pany insisted the player’s outfit, worn at a private party, had simply been an “attempted comedy play” on the drink.
Swedish club seal Libyan deal
Swedish club Ostersund are to receive over half a billion crowns ($76 million) to educate Libyan footballers.
Daniel Kindberg, chairman of Superettan (second-tier) side Ostersund, said the five-year deal, funded by the Libyan state, would bring 60 Libyan players to the town from the beginning of March to the end of November, increasing to 250 players in the second year.
The players will move to Ostersund where they will study English, computers, sports management and sports administration as well as play football.
Higginbotham calls it a day
Former Derby and Stoke defender Danny Higginbotham has announced his retirement only a week after joining Skrill North side Altrincham.
The 35-year-old made the switch to his home town club from Chester in a bid to reignite his love of the game, but that has now been extinguished, with the Gibraltar international deciding to call time on his career.
“I realise this will come completely out of the blue to a lot of people, but, believe me, it is not a decision that has been taken lightly. It is a massive step to hang up your boots and accept you are finished, but it’s one I could not avoid,”Higginbotham said.
Defoe set to join Toronto – reports
Tottenham Hotspur striker Jermain Defoe is poised to sign for Major League Soccer side Toronto FC, British and Canadian media have reported.
The MLS club posted messages on their website and Twitter warning fans to expect “a bloody big deal” on Monday.
British newspaper the Guardian and Canada’s Toronto Star said the 31-year-old Defoe would be loaned back to Tottenham until March 1 before the start of the MLS season on March 15.
Defoe, whose former Tottenham team-mate Ryan Nelsen is head coach at Toronto, has made few Premier League starts this season, despite the north London club’s goal-scoring problems.
No crowd rise for Cagliari-Juve
The attendance restrictions at Cagliari’s Stadio Sant’Elia will not be softened ahead of Sunday’s Serie A clash with champions Juventus as previously hoped, La Gazzetta della Sport reported yesterday.
Cagliari are only allowed a maximum crowd of 4,798 fans to attend games at their much-maligned stadium.
But reports this week suggested that town officials were looking into the possibility of erecting a further 1,000-2,000 seats in the Curva Nord ahead of Juventus’ visit this weekend.
However, La Gazzetta dello Sport yesterday claimed that this proposal has been ditched due to rules on public security and with there not being enough time before the game to initiate it successfully.
Coach Rossi sues Fiorentina
Delio Rossi is suing Fiorentina for €200,000 after they sacked him for hitting forward Adem Ljajic on the bench.
Rossi lost his job at the Serie A club on May 2, 2012 when Ljajic, now with Roma, verbally abused the coach as he came off the pitch following a substitution.
Rossi lost his cool, slapping and attempting to punch the Ljajic in the dug-out.
Reports in Italy said that Rossi, who has since also been axed by Sampdoria, is suing Fiorentina for damages, claiming unfair dismissal.
“There is no legal battle. I simply asked for the ‘just cause’ ruling to be dismissed. I just asked for what I am owed,” Rossi said.