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International roundup FIFA's Blatter still confident over transfer talks
MADRID (Reuters) -- FIFA president Sepp Blatter said on Sunday he was confident of reaching agreement over a new transfer system acceptable to the European Union, despite reports of a rift with UEFA. "I'm confident and convinced that in the next two weeks before the end of January we'll have a solution," said Blatter, who was in Madrid for the presentation of Luis Figo's award as European Player of the Year. "With all the contacts we've made, I'm sure this will go the right way." British Sunday newspapers reported that UEFA have demanded that FIFA drop proposals which would allow players to leave clubs in mid-contract. According to the reports, UEFA has summoned 13 member leagues to a meeting in Switzerland on Monday to discuss a response to FIFA's proposals. Blatter insisted it was FIFA's duty to be at the head of negotiations with the European Commission, who say the existing transfer rules break EU law on competition and the right of workers to move between jobs. But he denied that FIFA were trying to impose a new system without consulting UEFA. "UEFA naturally wants more protection for professional clubs," said Blatter. "We can't forget, though, that without footballers there is no football. FIFA have to ensure that the system cares for over 200 national federations." He added: "We've presented a paper to the Commission and said we want to negotiate. That is not the same as an imposition. "This is a discussion document. It's not a question of it being accepted or rejected. "We want to be diplomatic." Blatter drew a comparison with the changes brought into effect by the Bosman ruling, when players in the European Union were granted freedom of movement at the end of their contracts. "We all accept that we have to find agreement with the European Commission to avoid the failures of the Bosman situation, when football wouldn't negotiate and it became a battle between politicians. "Now, FIFA is at the head of those negotiations and we're practically at the conclusion." Blatter also spoke about the recent stadium accident in Brazil during the Joao Havelange Cup, when around 100 people were injured after a fence behind one of the goals collapsed. "The events in Rio illustrated the dangers of inefficient stands," said Blatter. "Fans can't be put behind fences." In a wide-ranging question and answer session with reporters at Real Madrid's Bernabeu stadium, Blatter added that plans for the Club World Championship, to be staged in Spain in August, would be finalized in March. He also said that any players who used false passports to play in Europe were guilty of fraud. "It's very bad," said Blatter. "It's fraud. There's a moral aspect to this, in changing your nationality, and it must be punished." Blatter paid tribute to both Figo and his club Real Madrid but refused to be drawn on any comparison between the Portuguese international's France Football prize and FIFA's world award, which is voted for by national team coaches and which went to France's Zinedine Zidane. "Real Madrid have a lot of merit because they were one of the founder members of FIFA in 1904 representing Spanish football," he said. "Figo's award is a great honor but I can't compare it to FIFA's award. Maybe we should make that all coaches in the FIFA award have to vote because I think this time only 150 did." On the subject of the row over the FIFA Player of the Century awards to both Pele and Diego Maradona, Blatter said the organization's centenary of 2004 could offer an opportunity to provide a definitive answer. "In 2004, we will have the chance to choose a footballer, coach, club and national team of the century," he said. Maradona might be kept out of UKGLASGOW -- Diego Maradona may not be allowed into Britain to make his football comeback in a friendly match for Dundee, a Scottish newspaper said on Sunday. The Sunday Mail said Argentina's former World Cup winner would be denied entry because of a firearms conviction in his homeland. Maradona, 40, is visiting Italy, where he was handed a US$25 million tax demand by the finance police. He has been talking to the Scottish Premier League club about appearing alongside his compatriot Claudio Caniggia -- who plays for Dundee -- in a "one-off" friendly match. The Home Office, which handles visitor visas, would have to ban Maradona, the newspaper said, because he was convicted several years ago of wounding four men by firing an airgun from the home in Buenos Aires. A Dundee spokesman told the Sunday Mail: "There has been contact between the club and the Home Office over the last few days and these talks are likely to continue." The Home Office said it had received no application for Maradona to visit Britain and a spokesman said he could not speculate about what the response might be if one were made. Under Home Office guidelines, anyone convicted of an offence involving violence or firearms would normally be refused entry. Britain's Home Secretary, Jack Straw, relented last year to allow boxer Mike Tyson to visit Scotland for a fight in Glasgow, despite his rape conviction which ought to have barred him. Dundee also countered Maradona's denials from Italy that he would play for the club. "We never stated there was a binding contract between Dundee FC and Maradona," the spokesman was quoted as saying. "We did receive correspondence from him stating his desire to play in a one-off glamour friendly for the club. "We made this clear last week when news of a possible game was broken by his representatives. Further talks have still to take place to establish further details, but we believe there is still a desire for such a game." Meanwhile, one Scottish anti-drugs campaigner said that allowing Maradona -- just released from a clinic in Cuba where he was recovering from years of drug abuse -- to play in Dundee would send out the wrong message. Alistair Ramsay, the leader of the Scotland Against Drugs campaign, stated: "I hope the Scottish public would react as they did to Mike Tyson -- by not turning up [at the stadium]." Bosnia draws with Yugoslavia; Romania beats Hong KongNEW DELHI, India -- Bosnia became the first team to reach the quarterfinals of the Millennium Cup soccer tournament on Sunday after battling to a 1-1 draw with Yugoslavia in Group A. Bosnia's four points from three matches are enough to ensure a spot in the next round. Yugoslavia, which got the equalizer three minutes from the end, has played just one game and needs only a draw against Bangladesh on Tuesday to also advance. Also Sunday, Romania bounced back from its shock defeat to Jordan by beating Hong Kong 4-2 in the western Indian port of Margao in Group C. Romania now has three points, as does Jordan. If Jordan beats Hong Kong on Tuesday, Jordan and Romania will advance to the quarterfinals. Yugoslavia wasted several early scoring opportunities and Bosnia surged ahead against the run of play in the 75th minute with a brilliant effort by substitute Mirsad Beslija. Bosnia was three minutes from victory when midfielder Dusan Petkovic scored with a low free-kick to give Yugoslavia the draw. The Romanians, left scoreless against Jordan, found their form against Hong Kong. Zaharius Livia (fifth minute), Sasu Marius (25th), Lucian Sanmanteau (59th) and Luca Loan (61st) were the goal scorers for Romania. Kwok Yue-Hung kept Hong Kong in the game by scoring twice, in the 23rd and 44th minutes. Strasbourg's Hemdani joins MarseilleMARSEILLE, France -- Strasbourg midfielder Brahim Hemdani has signed a 4-1/2 years contract with Olympique Marseille, a Marseille official said on Sunday. He replaced Swede Klas Ingesson who has joined Italian side Lecce. The transfer fee was not disclosed. Strasbourg, beaten 3-1 at Bastia on Saturday, is bottom of the French league. Marseille, which drew 1-1 with Toulouse at home, is 15th.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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