FIFA president Sepp Blatter is set for a series of meetings in the Middle East ahead of a Palestinian bid to suspend Israel from world soccer’s governing body, Palestine FA chief Jibril Rajoub said yesterday.
Accusing Israel of hampering its soccer activities, the Palestine FA said last week it would submit its proposal at the May 28-29 FIFA Congress in Switzerland.
“I am going to meet Blatter in Cairo on Tuesday to discuss the draft resolution that we have requested – that either Israel honour its commitments or it will be suspended from FIFA,” he said.
Next month, Blatter will meet Arab soccer chiefs in Bahrain to discuss the bid and will also visit the Palestinian territories.
Miura 48, extends scoring record
The goals may not be as frequent now and the famed celebratory dance not as slick, but 48-year-old Kazuyoshi Miura again proved his worth yesterday by extending his record as the oldest goal-scorer in Japanese football.
The former Japan international out-jumped his marker to score with a looping header in the 14th minute of Yokohama FC’s 3-2 loss to Jubilo Iwata yesterday.
Kazu, who has played in Brazil, Australia, Italy and Croatia, produced a beaming smile as he performed his traditional goal celebration, the Kazu Dance.
“I managed to get a good jump on the ball,” he said.
“It was a good header.”
Raul makes modest start with Cosmos
In a run-down stadium on the industrial outskirts of Florida’s Fort Lauderdale, record Real Madrid goal-scorer Raul made his belated debut for US second division side New York Cosmos on Saturday.
While former Spain team-mate David Villa enjoyed a debut with New York City in front of 40,000 fans at Yankee Stadium last month, fewer than 12,000 turned up to watch Raul play.
Raul, 37, signed in October with the Cosmos, who play in the North American Soccer League, a tier below Major League Soccer.
“Football is the same thing, same dimensions in the goals,” said Raul after his side’s 1-0 win.
“Yes, it’s different, but I’m taking it as a life experience.”
Ref makes U-turn
Referee German Delfino has controversially overturned his own penalty and red card decision in an Argentine championship match at Velez Sarsfield and admitted his performance was “messy”.
Delfino awarded a penalty to Velez and sent off Arsenal defender Dany Rosero Valencia for handball in Saturday’s match at El Fortin.
As the penalty was about to be taken, however, Delfino was told over his intercom that the handball was by Velez striker Mariano Pavone and proceeded to overturn his decision and call Valencia back onto the field, sparking a furious reaction from the Velez players.
Blues are closing in says Hazard
Eden Hazard believes Chelsea have the Premier League title in their grasp.
Hazard scored a penalty and set up Loic Remy’s winner – either side of Charlie Adam’s 65-yard strike – in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Stoke which saw the Blues take a seven-point lead at the top of the standings.
Jose Mourinho has targeted five wins and one draw in the remaining eight games and Hazard is optimistic Chelsea will win a first Premier League title in five years.
Hazard told Chelsea TV: “We are confident.
We are first in the league and we take game after game. We have the title in our hands. We want to bring the trophy to Stamford Bridge.”
Pearson hails Cambiasso display
Leicester boss Nigel Pearson would have had the “outstanding” Esteban Cambiasso down as his man of the match in Saturday’s 2-1 win over West Ham even if the veteran Foxes midfielder had not scored his fine goal.
Cambiasso netted with a sweet strike in the 12th minute to put his side 1-0 up at the King Power Stadium, hitting the ball first time from just outside the box after it had sat up for him from a ricochet.
And Pearson said of the 34-year-old former Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Argentina player: “Even if he hadn’t scored the goal, I would still have said he was man of the match.
“And with the goal, I think it is pretty obvious he was. I think he was outstanding.”
Hodgson sees Barkley as a senior
Roy Hodgson thinks Ross Barkley should not go to the European U-21 Championship this summer.
Barkley is one of several players with senior England caps who is eligible for this summer’s tournament in the Czech Republic.
Although he has not had the best of seasons, Barkley’s presence would boost the quality in Gareth Southgate’s squad, but Hodgson believes it would be detrimental to the player.
Everton Roberto Martinez feels Barkley should not move back down to the youth ranks.
“I agree with Roberto for the simple reason that I think that was a tough tournament in Brazil last year,” said Hodgson.
“Ross is part of our national team and he has proved himself a worthy one.”