UK Roundup

Wembley delayed, expected to get OK this week

LONDON (AP) -- The troubled redevelopment of Wembley Stadium appeared to hit another snag Wednesday with officials still expecting to give the long-delayed project the go-ahead later this week.

Officials had hoped to announce final plans for the stadium on Wednesday with criticis calling the project the "most expensive" stadium in the world with a price tag of 750 million pounds (US$1.16 billion).

The final game was played almost two years ago at the historic venue in north London. Since then, it has been overgrown with weeds while various redevelopment schemes have fallen through.

"We are aware of the speculation about an announcement today, but there will be no new developments today," FA spokesman Paul Newman said Wednesday. "All the parties are continuing to carry out the necessary work to complete the detailed documentation."

"They're just trying to tie up a few things, there's a number of people working away at it," F.A. spokesman Adrian Bevington added.

Former British sports minister Tony Banks said he was confident work would begin on the new project within weeks.

Birmingham lost out in a rival bid for the national stadium project and officials from England's second largest city were quick to criticize Wembley's costs.

"The Wembley project has been clouded in financial problems and the location is still in the middle of north London," said Andy Howell, deputy leader of the Birmingham city council.

"It could have been a better all-around project out of London and I think it would have been better in Birmingham."

"On one hand, Wembley needs to move on, but on the other we have got the most expensive stadium in the world."

Critics have also pointed out that the highly praised Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, where the F.A. Cup final has been played since Wembley closed, cost only 190 million pounds (US$ 395 million).

Plans call for a 90,000-seat stadium designed by Norman Foster with a "triumphant arch" replacing the famous twin towers. Plans call for the stadium to be ready in 2006.

UEFA plays down chance of shortened English season

WARSAW, Poland (AP) -- UEFA Technical Director Andy Roxburgh played down the possibility of a shortened English league season, a proposal pushed by England's national coach Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Eriksson has called for a winter break in the English Premier League and placed part of the blame for England's fitness problems during last summer's World Cup on the long season.

"Everyone is of the opinion that the gap between the end of the domestic season and the World Cup was too short, " Roxburgh said as a UEFA national coaches' conference closed Wednesday.

Roxburgh said he was sympathetic with Eriksson's complaints but offered no prospect of quick relief.

"At the same time you have to appreciate that tradition is always important, and in a place like England the tradition has been to play right through the season," he said. "But also there is business involved in the games and you must remember that."

Roxburgh also said most participants were against aiding officials with high-tech interventions.

"Soccer is human business and error is part of the fabric of the game," he said.

Roxburgh said the way to have fewer referee mistakes was to encourage players who can read the game to be referees.

Poland's former national coach Jerzy Engel, fired after his side's disappointing performance in the World Cup, denied newspaper reports that he was to coach the club team Polonia Warszawa

"I have received no such offer and I am waiting for my manager to review foreign offers for me," Engel told reporters.

Sky and ITV win Champions League TV rights

LONDON (AP) -- Rupert Murdoch's satellite broadcaster BSkyB and terrestrial station ITV have won the television rights to cover Champions League soccer in Britain for 2003-06.

The decision by UEFA on Wednesday means every match in the competition will be available live to viewers on British terrestrial or satellite digital television.

BSkyB's satellite channel Sky will mark its debut in covering the competition by broadcasting 14 Champions League matches live each week on its digital platform.

ITV, the current British rights holder, will show two on Tuesday evenings.

There will also be highlights on ITV on Tuesdays and Sky on Wednesdays.

"The Champions League has broadened the horizons of football fans -- far beyond the game's traditional and local base," Vic Wakeling, managing director of Sky Sports, said.

"Every single game played in the competition will now be seen live in the UK and, as fans ourselves, we are excited at the prospect of being involved in this new era of Champions League coverage."

ITV will transmit two British live matches each Tuesday night, one on ITV1 and the other on ITV2, with Sky able to show the other games live that evening.

Sky will then have all Wednesday night games available on an exclusive basis. Both broadcasters will show the final.

The BBC was reportedly disappointed by the decision, who had attempted to negotiate a way around the problem of the complex sponsorship deal which obliges broadcasters to show adverts.

UEFA was reportedly delighted with the deal, which is worth 80 million pounds-a-year (dlrs 125 million) compared to the 60 million pounds-a-year (dlrs 94 million) current agreement with ITV. Sky will pay considerably more than ITV as it has more matches.

Both companies will show promotional "magazine" programs and a UEFA statement said the successful bids were based on "an assessment of the overall revenues to European football, the commercial opportunities offered and the promotion of the competition available through the combination of free-to-air and pay-TV broadcasting".

UEFA slaps three-match ban on Bellamy for violent conduct

NYON, Switzerland (Reuters) -- Newcastle United forward Craig Bellamy was handed a three-match ban by European governing body UEFA on Wednesday for head-butting an opponent in last week's Champions League clash at Dynamo Kiev.

"In the 91st minute, Bellamy deliberately head-butted an opponent in the face," UEFA said in a statement.

"Since the referee did not see the incident, the decision was rendered on the basis of the video evidence as well as the statement made by Craig Bellamy."

The Wales international has until midnight on Saturday to appeal against the disciplinary body's decision.

Newcastle, who were beaten 1-0 by Feyenoord in their second Champions league match on Tuesday, lost the game in Kiev 2-0.

Bellamy is now set to miss both the home and away games against group E favorites Juventus, plus the home fixture with Kiev -- before returning for their final game away to Feyenoord on November 13.

Ferdinand: I should not have been booked

MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) -- Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand believes he should not have been booked in his side's Champions League win at Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday.

The England international was shown the yellow card following a clash with Leverkusen striker Thomas Brdaric, who collapsed to the floor after being pushed from behind.

The 23-year-old Ferdinand, who joined United from Leeds for 30 million pounds ($47 million) in July, was booked after the referee Jan Wegereef had consulted with the fourth official, but he claims to have been harshly treated.

Ferdinand told the club's official Web site: "He backed into me before the free kick, so I brushed him off. There was no need for him to go down. He was definitely acting."

United manager Alex Ferguson agreed with Ferdinand and criticized the German side for diving.

"They overdo the acting to get free kicks and that makes them quite difficult to play against," Ferguson said. "I didn't really see the Rio incident but I have never seen the fourth official intervene like that before, certainly not from 50 yards away.

"You need a strong referee when teams are looking to make the most of contact but the rest is about discipline and making sure you don't lose your cool."

UEFA investigates alleged racism at Fulham, Liverpool

NYON, Switzerland (Reuters) -- European soccer's governing body UEFA has launched investigations into complaints of racism in Champions League and UEFA Cup games involving Liverpool and Fulham.

Fulham have made an official complaint against alleged racist abuse after their 1-0 first round first leg win over Croatia's Hajduk in the UEFA Cup on September 19.

Liverpool's 2-0 Champions League defeat in Valencia on September 17 will also be investigated after allegations of racist abuse aimed at Liverpool players.

UEFA said evidence would be considered by its disciplinary committee on October 10.

Ferguson protects van Nistelrooy

MANCHESTER, England (AP) -- Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson said Wednesday he will protect his Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy this week as tries to overcome a hamstring injury.

Van Nistelrooy scored two goals in Man United's 2-1 Champions League away win over Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday night but limped off at halftime.

With only three strikers to choose from, Ferguson said he could ill-afford to lose his main goal threat.

"He took both goals pretty well last night, so we hope it's not too serious," Ferguson said.

"I am really pleased for him because after scoring so many goals last year there were great expectations on his shoulders.

"He has had a slow start but these goals have come in one of the hardest countries of all to score."

Portsmouth denies Ravanelli offer

PORTSMOUTH, England (AP) -- Portsmouth chief executive Peter Storrie denied suggestions Wednesday the club has made a firm offer to sign Italian striker Fabrizio Ravanelli.

The veteran forward has been linked with a move to the first division club in recent days and his agent, Giovanni Palladini, said Tuesday that Pompey had made a formal approach to Derby County for the 33-year-old.

But Storrie denied such an approach had been made, although he admitted Portsmouth was still on the lookout for a potential signing.

"It is absolute nonsense. We haven't spoken to any players or made any players offers to come here," Storrie said.

"That is not to say we are not interested in players, but absolutely no firm talks or any offer has been made to any player.

"No talks have taken place whatsoever. When we do show some interest in a player it will be by signing him and it will then be clear to everyone."

Wise admitting career over if not for Millwall

MILLWALL, England (AP) -- Dennis Wise admitted Wednesday he would have quit soccer if Millwall had not offered him the chance to resurrect his career.

The 35-year-old midfielder, who has had a checkered career often associated with on-pitch violence and controversy, looked like a gamble most clubs were unwilling to take after his sacking by Leicester City last week.

Leicester dismissed Wise after an incident that left teammate Callum Davidson with a fractured cheekbone during a preseason tour of Finland. Wise fought the dismissal, which was confirmed last week by the English Football Association.

But first division Millwall offered him a deal until the end of next season and Wise took it gladly.

"If no one had come in for me I would have packed it in because I didn't want to play park football," Wise said.

"I've got to be realistic because I'm 35 years old but I never thought my career was over."

Bradford denies role in failed Ward deal

BRADFORD, England (AP) -- Bradford City denied Wednesday the proposed transfer of Ashley Ward to Portsmouth broke down because the clubs failed to reach an agreement over payment of the player's wages.

Reports suggested Pompey lost interest after failing to secure a "compromise" over Ward's wages.

But Bradford managing director Shaun Harvey denied this had even been discussed.

"We understand that there has been interest from Portsmouth, but that has not manifested itself in formal negotiations. We were having conversations with Portsmouth but that never got as far as discussing players' wages," Harvey said.

"The real issue I think, is that Portsmouth have decided to look elsewhere."

Birmingham fan charged after running on to pitch

BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) -- A Birmingham soccer fan who ran on to the pitch during his club's match with Aston Villa on Sept. 16 was charged in court on Wednesday.

Michael Peter Harper, 26, of Solihull, central England, was charged with affray -- or fighting -- and making an incursion onto the playing area.

The match, won 3-0 by Birmingham, was marred several times when fans ran on to the field. One pitch invasion came after Villa goalkeeper Peter Enckelman made a blunder by failing to control a throw-in and then watched the ball roll into the net behind him.

Harper was bailed by Birmingham magistrates for two weeks and was to appear before the same court on Oct. 9.

He may face further charges after police interview Villa officials.

 

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