General Football/Soccer Talk

Inter to be awarded Scudetto



The Italian football federation have unanimously voted to award the 2005/6 Serie A title to Inter, according to reports in Italy. Original champions Juventus were relegated to Serie B following the biggest match fixing scandal in Italian football history.

The decision is expected to be confirmed once the appeal process for the penalised sides is completed.

Juventus, fourth-placed Fiorentina and sixth-placed Lazio were all demoted for their part in the corruption, while second-placed Milan were deducted 44 points and stripped of Champions League qualification.

Inter - who have not won the Scudetto since 1989 - will be favourites to retain the title with only Roma realistic contenders, city rivals AC Milan deducted 15 points for the start of the season.

Serie A appeals begin



The appeals trial in Italy's match-fixing scandal starts on Saturday with four clubs from Serie A hoping to overturn guilty verdicts. Juventus, AC Milan, Fiorentina and Lazio were found guilty of conspiring with referees and linesmen to rig games during the 2004/05 season.

Juventus were stripped of their last two titles and ordered to start next season in Italy's second division Serie B on minus 30 points. Fiorentina and Lazio were also sent down to Serie B with points penalties.

Milan avoided relegation, but were thrown out of next season's Champions League and ordered to begin their next Serie A campaign on minus 15 points. All four clubs have denied any wrongdoing.

The appeals trial starts at 9am (0700 GMT) before a panel of five judges in Rome's luxurious Hotel Parco Dei Principi.

The president of the appeals court, Piero Sandulli, has said he does not know when it will deliver its verdicts.

But Italian media speculate they will arrive after the July 25 deadline set by UEFA for the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) to submit its list of teams for next season's Champions League and UEFA Cup competitions.

Should the appeals process remain unfinished on July 25, the FIGC commissioner Guido Rossi has said that Italy's list to UEFA would reflect the verdicts of the sports tribunal.

In that case, Juventus, Milan and Fiorentina would lose their places in the Champions League to make way for AS Roma, Chievo Verona and Palermo

The Emirates Stadium looks awesome.

Dunga named as Brazil coach



Former Brazil midfielder Dunga is the surprise choice to replace Carlos Alberto Parreira as coach of the national side.

Following what was a disappointing World Cup campaign, Parreira paid the price when he resigned amidst criticism on Wednesday.

Several experienced tacticians had been suggested to take over one of the more coveted roles in football, but it is relative novice Dunga that has been given the nod.

Dunga enjoyed a fine playing career with the national side, captaining Brazil to World Cup glory in 1994.

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) have confirmed that negotiations with Dunga were relatively straightforward, with a deal being struck following a two-hour meeting.

"I want to bring the same determination I had as a player," Dunga told the CBF's website.

"Motivation and will to win are fundamental for anyone who wants to wear the shirt of the Brazilian national team."

Dunga's first game at the helm will be against Norway on August 16, with his first competitive clash to be in next year's Copa America in Venezuela.

Juve's penalty cut, two clubs restored

ROME (AP) -- Fiorentina and Lazio were restored to Serie A, while Juventus had its points penalty in Serie B cut almost in half Tuesday after successful appeals in the Italian match-fixing scandal.

AC Milan also had its points penalty in Serie A cut from 15 to eight. Juventus' sanction was reduced from 30 to 17 points. Fiorentina will begin the new season with a 19-point penalty while Lazio will be penalized 11 points.

The sports court upheld the July 14 ruling stripping Juventus of its last two Serie A titles, but removed the barrier for Milan playing in next season's European Champions League.

Milan's point-penalty for last season was reduced from 44 to 30, placing it third in the standings and making it eligible to enter Champions League qualifying.

Five-year bans for former Juventus executives Luciano Moggi and Antonio Giraudo -- the figures at the center of the scandal -- were upheld.

The pair, who resigned in May along with the entire Juventus board, were accused of creating a network of contacts with federation officials to influence refereeing assignments and get players booked -- allegations that were at the heart of the scandal.

Hundreds of Lazio fans outside the hotel where the verdicts were delivered screamed in delight at the news their team was back in Serie A.

"It's a particularly severe signal for Juventus," Turin Mayor Sergio Chiamparino was quoted by the Italian news agency ANSA. "However, it is better than before. And there are the conditions, so that the adventure in Serie B lasts only one season and there is an immediate climb back into Serie A."

The appeals body decision was announced a few hours after the close of the Milan stock exchange, where some of the clubs involved are listed.

In the July 14 ruling, Fiorentina was demoted to Series B and penalized 12 points to start next season, while Lazio was originally supposed to start the new season in B with a seven-point penalty.

All the clubs appealed, seeking lighter penalties.

Juventus claimed the sanctions were excessive. AC Milan argued that its Champions League ban was unlawful.

AC Milan owner, billionaire businessman and former premier Silvio Berlusconi, was still complaining despite the softening of the penalties.

"I called Berlusconi to have confirmation we were in the Champions League and he told me that, in his judgment, injustice remains because Milan didn't do anything," ANSA quoted Roberto Maroni, a former minister and political ally of Berlusconi as saying.

Soccer federation prosecutor Stefano Palazzi argued for even tougher punishment.

Palazzi called for Juventus to be demoted to Serie C; Milan, Fiorentina and Lazio to be demoted to Serie B with three-point deductions for Milan and 15 each for Lazio and Fiorentina.

With the verdicts still being deliberated, UEFA said Tuesday it granted the Italian federation a one-day extension, till Wednesday, for submission of names of Italian clubs eligible to participate in European club competitions this coming season.

The list is required by UEFA to complete the preparations and seeding for the draws of the Champions League third qualifying round and UEFA Cup second qualifying round. The draws take place Friday at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.

Several Serie A stars -- including Italy and Fiorentina striker Luca Toni and Brazil and Milan playmaker Kaka -- are expected to decide about their club futures based on the outcome of the trial.

Separately, prosecutors in Rome, Naples, Parma and Turin are conducting criminal probes into alleged sports fraud, illegal betting and false bookkeeping.

Damn! I don't know if the Serie B adventure will last only one year...I mean, it's still seventeen points.
Anyways I think there's gonna be a third audience (but UEFA will consider this one). I heard it on TV today while I was watching the news. I hope we get some other points cut, seventeen's still too much if we want to come back to the Serie A in one year.
Milan and Fiorentina penalties =

Soft cocks Should've upheld the penalties just to make life interesting.

Milan angry with Real over Kaka

Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani has launched a stinging attack on Real Madrid after their attempts to lure Brazilian midfielder Kaka to Spain.


Galliani told Spanish sports daily Marca: "For 50 years Real have been the greatest club in the world but now they have thrown all that out the window.

"This Real does nothing to honour its history or its name."

During his campaign to be president Ramon Calderon said he had a personal deal with Kaka and that he would bring him to the Bernabeu when elected.

The announcement came after Kaka had signed a contract extension with Milan until 2011.

"Milan declares war on Real - you can write it like that - and it will do everything it can to make their life impossible," Galliani added.

"Kaka is not going to leave here, but if he did it would not be to Real. No one from this club will sit down and negotiate with them because what they are doing is not how great clubs work together.

"I want to clarify that these remarks are against the current Real (management) and not the club that we all know and love."

That's so FM 06

Blame the lighter penalties on the mafia and the pope.

Gravesen clashes with Robinho



MADRID, Aug 2 (SW) - Real Madrid’s preparation for the new season and their onslaught on the Spanish La Liga has seen a number of key signings.

However an incident at Tuesday’s training session in Austria may change that for veteran Danish footballer Thomas Gravesen.

Gravesen and his Brazilian team mate Robinho came to blows at the training session. It became quite bad and it was left to the remaining squad members to literally climb in and separate the two.

Coach Fabio Capello who has been very much in the news lately for his signings promptly sent both players off the park.

The incident occurred after the former Hamburg and Everton midfielder went in hard with a tackle on Robinho who reacted furiously. This led to the players’ tempers flaring.

Gravesen’s place in the team is very much under threat following the signing of Brazilian Emerson from Juventus following the post – match fixing sale of stars.

It has been rumoured that Galatasaray of Turkey are interested in Gravesen, but the fee that Real Madrid have been asking is around €3 million.

So what if he tackled him.If Robinho isn't enoughy manly to play soccer he shouldnt play it.He thinks just because he is paid big and a star,that his team mates will respect him.This is just a part of the sport.He over-reacted.Gravesen is a "fighting type" of player.He doesn't have regrets on who is tackled and he wont let Robinho push him around.

The thing is, this is training and they are team mates.
I play soccer and at training we never slide tackle or go in too hurt our team mate, we leave that for the game when we play against our rivals.

I have similar feeling. You should never go in recklessly on a teammate. I would be upset as well because fitness is so important a this stage of the season and if Robinho was injured that would not be great news for Real Madrid. There are enough tough tackling guys on other teams and Real would be half way to losing if their own players are taking out each other. I dont think it was intentional, it was just Graveson working hard to impress and make the team. Robinho also has to work hard because that team is loaded with talent and its not as though he was a lock to start to begin with.

Milan get green light for Europe



Serie A giants AC Milan will compete in this season's Champions League, UEFA have announced on Wednesday.

However, the European governing body made it clear that they decided to admit Milan only because of legal concerns and expressed their "deep concern" at the match-fixing scandal that had jeopardised the Italian club's participation.

The Rossoneri were one of four clubs who had been punished in Italy in the recent match-fixing affair but were the only side implicated who, following points deductions and other penalties, were still qualified for European competition in the 2006-07 campaign.

UEFA then met to decide whether to admit the club into this season's edition of a competition they have won six times - only Real Madrid, with nine wins, have done better.

Milan will join the competition in the third qualifying round.

The statement from UEFA made it clear the body was admitting Milan into next year's competition with great reservations - the Rossoneri will start the forthcoming Serie A season with an eight-point deduction.

A statement issued by UEFA read: "The UEFA Emergency Panel, being competent to decide on the matter, came to the conclusion that it had no choice but to admit AC Milan for the UEFA club competitions 2006-07 for formal reasons because of an insufficient legal basis in the regulations which would allow not admitting AC Milan under specific circumstances.

"The UEFA Emergency Panel made a clear statement to the club that 'this admission is far from being given with the utmost conviction. AC Milan takes the advantage of the fact that UEFA lacks of legal grounds to refuse the club's admission. In this respect, AC Milan is herewith informed that the necessary adaptations will be made to the regulations concerned. The UEFA Emergency Panel is deeply concerned that AC Milan has created the impression of being involved in the improper influencing of the regular course of matches in the Italian football championship'.

"From the statement of AC Milan the panel concluded that 'the club has obviously not yet properly perceived the troubles it is in and the damage it already caused to European Football. UEFA and the club's opponents will observe with the utmost attention the future attitude of AC Milan around UEFA club competition fixtures. UEFA will not hesitate to intervene severely, should AC Milan be involved in any activities aiming to arrange improperly the outcome of a match'."

Milan will face either Red Star Belgrade or Cork City in the Champions League third qualifying round over two legs on August 8 and 23.

I will be rooting for Red Star if Milan play against them, even though I think Milan will win.

What is the other possible team that will play agains Milan? I hope they kick Milan's ass and all the players get injured.

It says it in the article that dadamafia posted.

Milan will face either Red Star Belgrade or Cork City in the Champions League third qualifying round over two legs on August 8 and 23.

lol I was too lazy to read...I noticed it was even the last line
Anyways, what the hell is Cork City? I suppose it's some team from Wales or something.

Milan is gonna play Red Star. Cork City lost to then 3-0.

I really don't get something.Why do people out of europe and thoose who talk English say Red Star ?And why don't they call it Crvena Zvezda thats how the team is called in Serbia.

Crvena Zvezda

Thats why they call it Red Star, I'm getting tongue tied pronouncing that as I type.


For the Ronaldo fans(like me)...

Ronnie back to work

The Brazilian striker began his personal shape-up program at Valdebebas

On 15 July, the Madridista forward was successfully operated of his left leg patella tendon at Rio de Janeiro, under the supervision of Doctor Alfonso Del Corral. Sixteen days later and much to everybody's surprise, Ronaldo was back at Real Madrid City to begin his pre-season on his own.

The smile cast on Ronaldo's face as he left the premises at Valdebebas indicated how optimistic the Madridista feels and his positive progression after the surgery he sustained over two weeks ago. Just 15 days ago, the Brazilian international successfully submitted himself to a micro-surgery intervention and the removal of the calcium build-up on his patella tendon, located on the left leg tibial area of the player.

After the operation, Alfonso Del Corral, Head of Real Madrid's Medical Services, had diagnosed a minimum three-week period before the goalscorer could get back to work. Obviously, this term has been cut short as Ronaldo arrived on Monday ready to put shoulders to the wheel in this very personal pre-season that the number 9 has started at Valdebebas.



Shortly before 6 pm, Ronie arrived driving his own car and made his way to the facilities of Real Madrid City.

His first stop was at the Medical Area, where the doctors checked up on the state of his left leg patella tendon. After ascertaining that it was healing well, Ronaldo set foot in the gymnasium, where recovery specialist José Luis San Martín awaited ready to begin working. Ronaldo exercised approximately during one hour under the close scrutiny of San Martín, in what was his first physical session to check how his leg responded. The first impression left all parties quite satisfied.



Ronie appeared to be very happy after his first day back to work. Asked regarding the state of his leg, the Brazilian striker answered, “I feel great and the progress is real.” The Real Madrid attacker confessed he was already “anxious to get back to work,” hoping to be perfectly ready in little time to join his team-mates for training. Remember that Ronaldo did not travel with the rest of the squad to the first pre-season phase in Austria. But he doesn''t wish to stay put. Since Monday, the forward of the Whites will work daily at Valdebebas, progressively increasing the training pace.

Red Star >>>>>>> Crvena Zvezda as a name.

That's because your not Serbian Jae.

Yeah but Crvena Zvezda sounds like something someone would say if they were choking.

I agree with Jae...Red Star is a way better name than Crvena Zvezda. How do you Serbians pronounce it anyways? I'm getting confused with all those consonants.