Ramon Vega is considering standing as a candidate in February’s FIFA presidential election with the former Swiss international defender telling the BBC he would decide on the matter in the coming days.
“I come without baggage and I have substantial experience from both football and in finance,” Vega said yesterday.
The 44-year-old played for Grasshoppers in his native Switzerland, then Cagliari, Tottenham, Watford and Celtic before ending his playing career with French side Creteil in 2003, having also won 23 international caps.
Since retiring, Vega has worked in the financial sector.
Points come before goals says Vardy
Leicester City’s in-form striker Jamie Vardy says his goal-scoring exploits would be meaningless if the Foxes were failing to pick up points.
Leicester were two goals down to Southampton on Saturday but the England international bagged a brace in the final 25 minutes to ensure the Premier League encounter ended in a 2-2 draw.
Vardy has taken the league by storm this season and leads the scoring charts with nine goals from as many games.
“I’m oozing with confidence but we just need to keep it up now. It’s nothing to do with me really, it’s a team game,” he said.
“As long as Leicester are getting the points, that’s all that matters.”
Rosler out, Evans in at Leeds United
Leeds United have parted company with German manager Uwe Rosler after he spent just five months in charge of the club.
Rosler will be replaced by Steve Evans, the former Rotherham United boss told Sky Sports.
A 2-1 home defeat against Brighton on Saturday left the former European Cup finalists seventh from bottom with 11 points from as many matches.
Leeds have not won a home game since March, the worst run in their history, and Rosler was shown the exit door as swiftly as many of his predecessors.
Player jailed for slamming coach
Emirati footballer Abdullah Qassem was jailed for three months after insulting national team coach Mahdi Ali in a video.
The 29-year-old had made indecent gestures and criticised Ali after the coach had not included him in the team, The National newspaper reported.
Qassem, along with a second unnamed Al-Dhafra player who filmed the rant, were given the three-month sentences by the Abu Dhabi Court of Misdemeanours, the paper said.
The duo were found guilty of using telecommunications services to offend and hurt the feelings of others, and displaying a recording that breached public ethics through the web.
Negredo dropped for Ghent visit
Valencia coach Nuno has left Alvaro Negredo out for tonight’s Champions League Group H match at home to Ghent, the second consecutive game the former Spain striker will not feature in.
Media reports have said Nuno is unhappy with comments Negredo made about tactics but the Portuguese underlined yesterday that the decision not to include him was “purely sporting”.
Negredo, 30, left Manchester City in the close season for a fee of just under €30 million but has yet to reproduce the form that earned him 21 caps.
“All the decisions we take on the squad are based solely and exclusively on sporting issues,” Nuno said.
“We draw up the roster seeking the best for the team and for the game plan. It’s a long season, there are a lot of competitions and everyone will be important.”
Red Bull’s Grella scores fastest goal
New York Red Bulls midfielder Mike Grella scored the fastest goal in Major League Soccer history when his deflected shot found the net after only seven seconds against the Philadelphia Union on Sunday.
Grella beat the previous record by Australian international Tim Cahill, also for the Red Bulls, in 2013 by one second.
The fast start paved the way for an emphatic victory by the Red Bulls as they added three more goals before half-time, including a second by Grella, in the 4-1 win.
The result officially clinched top spot in the Eastern Conference for the Red Bulls.
Bayern confident Guardiola will stay
Bayern Munich are confident coach Pep Guardiola will stay on at the German champions past the end of his current contract next year despite reported interest from other major European clubs, CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said yesterday.
Guardiola joined the Bavarians in July 2013, winning dominant back-to-back Bundesliga titles in his first two seasons.
“There are a lot of things in favour of Bayern but it is clear there are most likely other good-looking brides out there other than Bayern,” Rummennigge said.
“But at the end of the day we are optimistic that Pep will stay.”