Former Australian national coach Frank Farina was fined and disqualified from driving after being found guilty of a drink-driving charge.
Farina, 45, was sacked as coach of A-League club Brisbane Roar after he was charged by police with the drink-driving offence while on his way to club training last month.
He appeared in the Brisbane magistrates court yesterday where he pleaded guilty to the charge and was fined 500 dollars (450 US), disqualified from driving for three months and had a conviction recorded.
It was Farina’s second charge of driving under the influence of alcohol in two-and-a-half years, which prompted the Brisbane Roar club to replace him with Ange Postecoglou.
Bayern miss ‘Robbery’ – Hoeness
Team manager Uli Hoeness has said Bayern Munich are not the same without their playmakers Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben as they prepare for their crucial Champions League showdown with Bordeaux tonight.
Robben and Ribery – who the German media have labelled ‘Robbery’ due to their ability to unlock defences – are both struggling with injury, but Dutch star Robben may be fit to face Bordeaux said coach Louis van Gaal.
“I am not normally someone who is concerned about injuries,” admitted Hoeness.
“But Bayern without Franck Ribery or Arjen Robben is not the same team. When they return, we will return very quickly to a higher level.”
Freiburg mourn president Stocker
Tributes have been paid to Freiburg president Achim Stocker, who died on Sunday.
Stocker was the Bundesliga’s longest-serving president, having led the club from the Black Forest for the last 37 years.
The 74-year-old suffered a heart attack on Wednesday and passed away just before Freiburg played Hoffenheim, a game they lost 1-0.
“Achim Stocker will always remain in our hearts,” a club statement read.
Hoffenheim coach Ralf Rangnick added: “His death overshadows this game. He was such a lovely man.”
Totti to sign new Roma deal soon
Roma captain Francesco Totti is widely expected to seal a new deal this week. The 33-year-old has been in talks for months but his proposal to become a director once his playing days are over caused discussions to stall.
Roma have been the subject of countless takeover bids in recent years, meaning there is no guarantee who will actually be in charge of the club when Totti chooses to retire.
However, according to Il Corriere, lawyer Antonio Conte has managed to include the clause as part of his new contract, allowing Totti to either preside over youth or first team affairs as a technical director.
The new deal will keep Totti at the club for the rest of his career, although it sets a preliminary date for his retirement as a player in 2014.
Samp official defends Cassano
Sampdoria director general Beppe Marotta has leapt to the defence of Antonio Cassano after he slammed a section of the club’s fans for jeering him. Cassano was so irritated he even threatened to walk out on Sampdoria after their goalless draw against Bari on Sunday.
“I believe that this expression should be accepted, because it arrives from a player often accused of not wanting to speak with the media,” Marotta said.
“It’s an outburst, that of Cassano, and it comes at the end of a not so wonderful game, which upset a minority of the supporters.
“I believe Cassano’s comments were designed to protect the group. If one day he should want to leave, we could only be grateful for what he has done for Samp.”
Juventus now linked with Sagna
Juventus have reportedly turned their sights to Arsenal’s France international Bacary Sagna as they continue their search for a right-back.
Alessio Secco, the Bianconeri’s director of sport, wants to bring in a top-class flank defender in January. Juventus have been involved in some high-profile transfer deals during the winter in the past few years.
They signed Momo Sissoko from Liverpool in January 2008 but negotiations for Sagna are likely to be tough as the latter is a first-team regular at Arsenal, unlike Sissoko who was out of favour at Anfield.
It seems more likely the Bianconeri will step up their interest in long-time targets Rafinha and Juan Camilo Zuniga.
Pearson returns as Hull chairman
Hull have confirmed the appointment of Adam Pearson as the club’s new executive chairman. Pearson’s return to the club for a second spell had been anticipated after the resignation of Paul Duffen last week.
Among his immediate concerns is the position of manager Phil Brown who is under heavy scrutiny in light of Hull’s poor run of results in the league.
Pearson has not given any long-term guarantees but has assured Brown he will at least be in charge for Sunday’s clash with Stoke at the KC Stadium.
Speaking before his appointment, Pearson told the Hull Daily Mail: “Phil is the manager of Hull City and he still will be next Sunday.
“It’s a results business but he retains my full support.”