Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
Ferguson charged over referee remarks
LONDON (AFP) - Alex Ferguson was charged Monday with improper conduct by the Football Association (FA) for publicly labelling referee Alan Wiley "unfit".
The Manchester United manager made his comments after the Premier League champions were held to a 2-2 draw by Sunderland at Old Trafford on October 3.
Ferguson apologised for the remarks but that didn't stop the FA from pressing charges against the Scot which could lead to a possible touchline ban and fine.
Ferguson accused Wiley of not being "fit enough for a game of that standard" and of "walking up the pitch for the second goal needing a rest".
The FA said Monday in a statement: "Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has been charged with improper conduct.
"The charge relates to media comments made by Ferguson about referee Alan Wiley following United's match against Sunderland at Old Trafford on October 3. He has until November 3 to respond to the charge."
Ferguson, in his apology, said: "I apologise to Mr Wiley for any personal embarrassment my comments may have caused and to the FA for going public with my views.
"In retrospect I accept that they could be deemed as expressing those views in an inappropriate form. It was never my intention to bring the focus of intense media interest on Mr Wiley and I will apologise to him personally when I return from an overseas trip during the international break," he said.
The Manchester United manager made his comments after the Premier League champions were held to a 2-2 draw by Sunderland at Old Trafford on October 3.
Ferguson apologised for the remarks but that didn't stop the FA from pressing charges against the Scot which could lead to a possible touchline ban and fine.
Ferguson accused Wiley of not being "fit enough for a game of that standard" and of "walking up the pitch for the second goal needing a rest".
The FA said Monday in a statement: "Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has been charged with improper conduct.
"The charge relates to media comments made by Ferguson about referee Alan Wiley following United's match against Sunderland at Old Trafford on October 3. He has until November 3 to respond to the charge."
Ferguson, in his apology, said: "I apologise to Mr Wiley for any personal embarrassment my comments may have caused and to the FA for going public with my views.
"In retrospect I accept that they could be deemed as expressing those views in an inappropriate form. It was never my intention to bring the focus of intense media interest on Mr Wiley and I will apologise to him personally when I return from an overseas trip during the international break," he said.
France to face Ireland in World Cup playoffs
ZURICH (AP)—France will face Ireland in a two-leg playoff for a spot at next year’s World Cup in South Africa, while Portugal was drawn Monday to play Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Also, Russia will face Slovenia and Greece will play Ukraine. The draw featured the eight best runners-up from European qualifying.
France got perhaps the toughest test of the four seeded teams. The French will travel to Dublin for the first leg and host the Irish for the crucial return.
“I don’t think they wanted to play us either,” France technical director Gerard Houllier said. “Both teams start with an equal chance. A lot of Irish and French players play in the Premier League so it’s going to be a good game.”
Portugal, Russia and Greece must all play at home first before facing their lower-ranked opponents on the road.
The matches will be played Nov. 14 and 18.
The draw for the World Cup finals will be made on Dec. 4 in Cape Town. Next year’s 32-nation tournament is scheduled for June 11-July 11.
FIFA was criticized when it decided last month—with just two rounds of qualifying left—to seed the playoff draw and ensure that the highest-ranked nations would not face each other.
Ireland coach Giovanni Trapattoni suggested FIFA acted to protect marquee attractions, such as Portugal winger Cristiano Ronaldo and France striker Thierry Henry.
Also, Russia will face Slovenia and Greece will play Ukraine. The draw featured the eight best runners-up from European qualifying.
France got perhaps the toughest test of the four seeded teams. The French will travel to Dublin for the first leg and host the Irish for the crucial return.
“I don’t think they wanted to play us either,” France technical director Gerard Houllier said. “Both teams start with an equal chance. A lot of Irish and French players play in the Premier League so it’s going to be a good game.”
Portugal, Russia and Greece must all play at home first before facing their lower-ranked opponents on the road.
The matches will be played Nov. 14 and 18.
The draw for the World Cup finals will be made on Dec. 4 in Cape Town. Next year’s 32-nation tournament is scheduled for June 11-July 11.
FIFA was criticized when it decided last month—with just two rounds of qualifying left—to seed the playoff draw and ensure that the highest-ranked nations would not face each other.
Ireland coach Giovanni Trapattoni suggested FIFA acted to protect marquee attractions, such as Portugal winger Cristiano Ronaldo and France striker Thierry Henry.
Phillies beat Dodgers on Rollins’ double in 9th
PHILADELPHIA (AP)—They were one out from defeat. A moment later, Jimmy Rollins(notes) put the Fightin’ Phils within one win of the World Series.
Rollins lined a two-run double with two outs in the ninth inning off All-Star closer Jonathan Broxton(notes) and the Philadelphia Phillies rallied past the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-4 Monday night for a 3-1 lead in the NL championship series.
The defending champions can earn their second consecutive pennant with a victory at home in Game 5 on Wednesday night. Cole Hamels(notes), last year’s NLCS and World Series MVP, will take the mound for the Phillies. Clayton Kershaw(notes) or Vicente Padilla(notes) will start for Los Angeles.
“This is big,” Rollins said. “The pressure’s all on them.”
Trailing 4-3, the Phillies started their rally with one out in the ninth when pinch-hitter Matt Stairs(notes) walked on four pitches against Broxton. Stairs hit a two-run homer off Broxton in Game 4 of the NLCS last year at Dodger Stadium.
Broxton then hit Carlos Ruiz(notes) with a pitch, but pinch-hitter Greg Dobbs(notes) hit a soft liner to third for the second out.
Rollins lined a two-run double with two outs in the ninth inning off All-Star closer Jonathan Broxton(notes) and the Philadelphia Phillies rallied past the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-4 Monday night for a 3-1 lead in the NL championship series.
The defending champions can earn their second consecutive pennant with a victory at home in Game 5 on Wednesday night. Cole Hamels(notes), last year’s NLCS and World Series MVP, will take the mound for the Phillies. Clayton Kershaw(notes) or Vicente Padilla(notes) will start for Los Angeles.
“This is big,” Rollins said. “The pressure’s all on them.”
Trailing 4-3, the Phillies started their rally with one out in the ninth when pinch-hitter Matt Stairs(notes) walked on four pitches against Broxton. Stairs hit a two-run homer off Broxton in Game 4 of the NLCS last year at Dodger Stadium.
Broxton then hit Carlos Ruiz(notes) with a pitch, but pinch-hitter Greg Dobbs(notes) hit a soft liner to third for the second out.
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