International Roundup

FIFA takes no action against referee Moreno

ZURICH (Reuters) -- FIFA decided not to impose any sanctions against retired Ecuadorian referee Byron Moreno on Friday, announcing instead they were "closing the book" on the controversial official.

In a statement, FIFA said it had to acknowledge the absence of proof of any violation of FIFA regulations from a disciplinary perspective.

The game's governing body added that it had taken into account statements from the Ecuadorian and Italian football authorities, plus material evidence provided by Moreno himself.

FIFA's Disciplinary Committee examined allegations about Moreno's integrity following his handling of the World Cup second round match between South Korea and Italy last year and a domestic Ecuadorean championship match in September.

Moreno was suspended by the Ecuador Football Federation for 20 matches on September 10, and announced his retirement as a referee soon afterwards.

Italians incensed

The Ecuadorean was involved in huge controversy at the World Cup and is blamed by Italian fans for their team's second-round exit from the competition when they were beaten 2-1 by South Korean in extra time.

He awarded an early penalty to the hosts, which was saved, disallowed a Damiano Tomassi goal that would have won the game for Italy and then sent off striker Francesco Totti in extra time for diving.

The incensed Italians heaped abuse on Moreno after the match, labelling him a disgrace.

In September, Moreno, who was standing in local council elections in Quito, was suspended for 20 matches by Ecuadorean officials after his handling of a first division match between Liga de Quito and Barcelona of Guayaquil.

After signalling six minutes of injury time in the game, he instead played 13, during which time home side Liga de Quito scored twice to win 4-3.

He also awarded two hotly-disputed penalties, sent off two players and caused confusion by first awarding a goal and then disallowing it.

Barcelona president Leonardo Bohrer claimed that it was unethical for Moreno, a candidate in the elections for places on the Quito city council, to continue refereeing in the run-up to the poll and demanded his suspension.

PSG's Fiorese given two-match ban

PARIS (Reuters) -- Paris St Germain striker Fabrice Fiorese was handed a two-match ban by the French Professional League (LFP) on Friday for feigning a foul and an injury during a first division match last month.

Fiorese admitted in a recent interview he had pretended to have been brought down inside the box during PSG's 1-1 draw against Girondins Bordeaux.

Referee Damien Ledentu awarded a penalty for the incident and he was fooled again when Fiorese collapsed on the pitch, faking an injury following a foul by Bordeaux defender Marco Caneira.

As a result, Caneira was sent off by Ledentu.

PSG president Laurent Perpere said he would appeal against the decision by the LFP's discipline committee.

"Normally, faking is only punished by a booking on the pitch and does not lead to a match ban," he said.

"It doesn't seem an adequate sanction to us," he added.

Csertoi replaces Tamasi as Gyori coach

BUDAPEST (Reuters) -- Former Gyori ETO striker Aurel Csertoi was confirmed as the club's new coach Friday, the Hungarian first division side said Friday.

The 37-year-old Csertoi, who played 11 internationals for his country, replaces Zsolt Tamasi, who resigned from the position Wednesday.

Tamasi said he could not work with the club's new technical director, the former Ferencvaros player and coach Zoltan Varga, who was appointed last week.

Varga, sacked as manager 16 months ago when Tamasi took charge, recommended Csertoi as Tamasi's replacement.

Csertoi played for Gyori in the nineties and coached second division club Papa in the last campaign.

Gyori ETO is fifth with 27 points after 17 games in the Hungarian league championship.

Thailand FA confirms new deal for coach Withe

BANGKOK (Reuters) -- Former Aston Villa and England striker Peter Withe has had his coaching contract with Thailand extended by a year, the Football Association of Thailand (FAT) said Friday.

Withe, who coached the national team for three years until his contract ran out in October, agreed a new one-year deal last month.

"Peter Withe has performed well, but we don't have the money to hire him for a longer term, or pay penalties if we cut short the contract," FAT secretary-general Worawi Magudi said in a statement.

"So we decided to renew the contract just for another year."

Withe's salary was previously paid by the English Football Association as part of a programme to help developing nations.

After his contract ran out, the FAT entered talks with International Management Group (IMG) about a sponsorship deal that would pay the Englishman's wages.

Withe rejected an initial offer, believed to be half his previous salary.

He has coached the Asian side since 1998, when the team was in disarray.

During his tenure, however, Thailand have won gold at the 1999 SEA Games, the Kings Cup in 2000 and reached the World Cup 2002 qualifying rounds for the first time in their history.

Thawatchai Satchakul, a Thai team manager, said the Thai FA was considering hiring four or five foreign coaching assistants to work with Withe.

"It is very likely that these people will come from Brazil," he added.

FC Wil to decide future on Sunday

ZURICH (Reuters) -- FC Wil will decide Sunday whether it will remain in business for the rest of the season, sports director Armando Mueller said Friday.

Wil, who finished fourth in the Nationalliga in its first year after promotion, need 500,000 Swiss francs (US$365,000) to complete the final round of the season.

The club's executive committee will meet Sunday to discuss the future, with an announcement to be made the following day.

"We still have made no decision," Mueller told the Swiss daily Blick.

Wil's finance chief Urs Gebert told TagBlatt: "The way forward is still hard. But we are not thinking of giving up."

First team players are owed 10,000 Swiss francs each after not receiving bonuses for October and November.

 

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