News from before April 2001
Dinamo Bucharest wants ref banned for five years
BUCHAREST, March 30 (Reuters) - Romanian champions Dinamo Bucharest asked soccer chiefs on Friday to ban a referee from officiating their matches for the next five years after his decisions appeared to have cost them the title this season.
Dinamo's executive director Cristian Borcea told Reuters the club objected to Sorin Corpodean's performance in a derby match against Rapid Bucharest and in particular a penalty he awarded Rapid in the game's final minutes, which squared the match 2-2.
``We are deeply frustrated,'' Borcea said. ``He changed the match result, which has now killed our hopes of the title.''
The referees' commission has ruled Corpodean's decisions in the game were unsatisfactory and banned him for the next four games of the season. But Borcea says this is insufficient.
``Dinamo is totally unsatisfied that Corpodean will be out for only four rounds while we lose our last chance of the title,'' he said.
Last month, league leaders Steaua Bucharest asked for foreign referees to take charge of their games after widespread allegations that the league is riddled with corrupt officials but the Romanian federation (FRF) rejected their request.
The FRF, which sacked the referees' panel head when he asked for independent control of match officials in a bid to clean up the league, said local referees were ``as good as foreigners.''
Under FRF rules, a club can ask for a referee to be suspended for up to a season.
Spanish Referee in Uruguay-paraguay Game Mobbed At Airport
March 29, 2001
MONTEVIDEO (EFE) - Some 500 enraged people tried attack Spanish referee Jose Garcia Aranda on Thursday at Montevideo's Carrasco International Airport as he was checking in for his Madrid flight.
Garcia Aranda refereed the Wednesday World Cup qualifying game here, which Uruguay lost to Paraguay 0-1.
Eyewitnesses, including a local Channel 4 television reporter, told EFE that what started with a show of disapproval for Garcia Aranda soon degenerated into a mob incident, which was only brought under control by airport security guards.
As the Spanish referee was waiting to check in by the United Airlines counter at 7:00 p.m. (2200 GMT), he was spotted by people who were waiting for incoming or outgoing flights who immediately started showing their anger over his call of Wednesday's game.
When the soccer officials and security personnel accompanying Garcia saw the increasing violence of the mob, they quickly swept the referee to safety inside the airline's offices.
Somebody even threw stones at Garcia, hitting instead a security guard who was trying to shield him, the witnesses added.
The referee was taken to the private VIP Room to wait for the departure of his Madrid flight.
The Spanish referee was harshly criticized by the local press for his performance in the Wednesday game, which left the Uruguayan national team with little chance of qualifying for the World Cup competition.
Uruguayan media were unanimously critical of the performance of the first European referee to arbitrate a South American qualifying game and described his performance as "very bad."
The referee "turned his back on the rules of the International Soccer Federation (FIFA), and directed the game badly and from afar, justifying this by his upcoming retirement," said the country's top daily, El Pais.
"There is a single code of rules, but he used another. He handed out more yellow cards for talking than for beating, ignoring FIFA rules," it added.
"Garcia Aranda's arbitration was bad. The plan to exchange South American-European referees was not a happy one in this first instance; the permissive Spaniards showed (a rather low) technical level," said El Observador.
However, local media concurred that deficient arbitration was not the cause of Uruguay's defeat, as the national team "made mistakes consistently and (he) had no effect on the outcome."
The daily La Republica said, "Garcia Aranda unleashed violence." The Spanish referee "gave the impression of rewarding violent play with grumbling, because he talked too much and overlooked repeated Paraguayan fouls. Uruguay had 14 and Paraguay had 30 fouls," the daily concluded.
Bulgarian teams must play again after referee error
SOFIA, March 21 (Reuters) - Bulgarian second division clubs Dunav Rousse and Dobrudzha Dobrich have been ordered replay a match after the referee failed to dismiss a player for his second bookable offence, a senior soccer official said on Wednesday.
The match, which ended in a 1-1 draw on March 14, will be replayed on Sunday because referee Stefan Spassov did not sent off Dobrudzha's Kostadin Zelenkov.
``The sports and technical commission of the Bulgarian Football Union annulled the result of the match at its meeting last night and recommended the referee's commission to seek responsibility from the referee,'' a union spokesman said.
Dobrudzha are fourth and Dunav are 13 in the 15-team second division.
Maradona Sued for Slander By Former Referee
March 20, 2001
BUENOS AIRES (EFE) - Former Argentine soccer referee Javier Castrilli on Tuesday filed a slander lawsuit against former soccer star Diego Armando Maradona for publicly calling him a "clown" and "arrogant."
Castrilli, who is currently responsible for security at sports events in Buenos Aires province, filed the suit in reaction to Maradona's statements, which were published earlier this year by the Ole and Cronica newspapers and broadcast on Buenos Aires' Mitre radio.
If found guilty, Maradona could face between one month and one year in prison or a fine ranging between $1,500 and $90,000.
In his suit, which he filed before Judge Ana Bulacio, Castrilli includes Maradona's statements.
"In Argentina you pretend to be honest. You gather more than 10 reporters at a press conference and they give you a political post," Maradona said of the former referee, according to the suit.
"It is shameful. They say that (Castrilli) is going to bring order like he did on the soccer field, but on the field he was a clown," he added.
Furthermore, the suit notes that Maradona said Castrilli, considered one of the toughest referees in the history of Argentine soccer, "wanted to promote himself while refereeing soccer games in order to obtain a political post and he finally achieved it. He was always arrogant. He did it all thinking about his political career."
"Please, stop giving political posts to anyone," the former soccer star said.
Maradona also criticized Boca Juniors club president Mauricio Macri for seeking political office after making a name in soccer.
Figo calls for fair treatment from referees
MADRID, March 19 (Reuters) - Real Madrid should complain more in order to get fair treatement from referees, Portuguese international Luis Figo was quoted as saying on Monday.
``If you don't ask you don't get in Spanish football,'' newspapers reported Figo as saying after Sunday's 1-0 defeat at Real Mallorca.
``The (refereeing) decisions in our recent matches have not been normal. Other teams cry to the referee and get better decisions.
``In the game against Mallorca there were so many fouls in the second half that we only played 15 minutes.''
Real's defeat to Mallorca left them five points clear at the top of the Spanish first division as their two closest rivals, Deportivo Coruna and Valencia, also lost away from home, while Barcelona could manage no better than a 1-1 draw at Numancia.
Coach Vicente del Bosque refused to look for excuses, however, and admitted: ``We didn't play well.
``It was a mediocre game and out worst performance of the season.''
UPDATE 1-Referee stops play after PSV fans revolt
EINDHOVEN, Netherlands, March 15 (Reuters) - Spanish referee Antonio Lopez Nieto halted play in the UEFA Cup second leg match between PSV Eindhoven and Kaiserslautern for some 15 minutes on Thursday after angry PSV fans broke through a gate.
PSV coach Erik Gerets and his team tried to calm the fans, who were angry about a penalty against their team and a red card shown to captain Mark van Bommel.
Play was stopped in the 74th minute with the score 1-0 to Kaiserslautern after Mario Basler converted the penalty.
Kaiserslauten coach Andreas Brehme said during the disturbance: ``There is a danger that someone could get killed out there.''
Play resumed after the fans were persuaded to return behind the gate
Hagi faces long ban for attack on referee
By Steve Bryant ISTANBUL, March 12 (Reuters) - Galatasaray's Gheorghe Hagi faces a llengthy suspension for attacking a Turkish referee in a league match at the weekend, officials said on Monday.
The 35-year-old Romanian midfielder spat at referee Erol Ersoy during his club's 2-1 win over Genclerbirligi after a goal by striker Hasan Sas had been disallowed.
Hagi also stamped on the official's feet and had to be dragged from the pitch by team mates and coach Mircea Lucescu.
He then compounded the offence by launching a verbal attack on the referee.
``The ref's a thief. He came to steal three points from us but couldn't. He does this all the time. The Federation want Fenerbahce to win the league,'' Hagi said before renewing threats to give up playing altogether.
UEFA and Turkish champions Galatasaray are eight points behind Istanbul rivals Fenerbahce, who lead the league with 57 points. Galatasaray have one game in hand.
Turkish officials said they would act on the basis of the report from the match referee, which they were expecting to receive shortly.
Hagi has found himself in trouble with authorities for bad behaviour on the pitch with increasing regularity recently and this incident could see him banned for as long as seven months.
That could signal an end to his glittering career, which has included spells at Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona.
His contract at the Turkish club ends in June and he has already spoken of returning to Romania to take up coaching.
Hagi, who joined Galatasaray in 1996, missed two Champions League matches this season for ``unsporting behaviour.''
He was also sent off in last season's UEFA Cup final, in which the Turkish side beat Arsenal on penalties.
Hagi apologised for his behaviour at the weekend, but refused to back off from criticising referee Ersoy, one of Turkey's most experienced officials.
``I apologise. I lost myself...but this referee provokes us,'' newspapers quoted Hagi as saying.
``He's always a problem for us. He's trying to send Hagi off to prove he's a big referee. If you ask me, he's no referee, just a guy who wears black.''
Golden
Goal integrated into Laws of the Game
International F.A. Board
wants referees to apply rules more strictly
Football's law-makers will instruct referees to apply the Laws of the Game more strictly as a means against players who hold their opponents or pull them by their shirts.
The International Football Association Board, holding its 115th annual general meeting in Edinburgh (Scotland) on Saturday, 10 March, decided that relevant mandatory instructions would be issued to match officials throughout the world.
The stance taken by the International F.A. Board follows an increase in offences of this type since the introduction of a ban on tackles from behind, which the referees are also asked to sanction more strictly, and a ban on simulating fouls, with the fouled player frequently reacting and the situation tending to escalate.
Moreover, the Board decided to add the Golden Goal provisions to the Laws of the Game as a method of determining the winning team along with taking kicks from the penalty mark.
In future, not only the coach but also other team officials, such as the assistant coach, may -- one at a time -- convey tactical instructions to the players during a match. They eventually have to return to their bench but no longer need to do so immediately. The change was advocated by FIFA on the recommendation of its Technical Committee.
Regarding disciplinary action, only a player or substitute or substituted player may be shown the red or yellow card. A player who has been sent off must leave the vicinity of the field of play and the technical area. Red and yellow cards may not be shown to team officials, who in case of indiscipline are to be reported to the relevant bodies by the referee.
The celebration of goals is only to be considered as a punishable offence if it borders on provocation or leads to time-wasting. Contrary to current regulations, it will no longer automatically be a cautionable offence if a player takes off his shirt to celebrate a goal. In this respect, the International F.A. Board and FIFA recognise the natural and emotional joy of scoring goals.
The amendments to the Laws come into force on 1 July this year.
The Board also discussed the experiment in England by which free kicks are advanced by 9.15 metres (10 yards) when a player of the penalised team fails to respect the required distance or delays the restart of the game. The Board felt the results of the ongoing experiments were not yet sufficiently conclusive and extended the tests for another year, albeit under slightly modified circumstances. FIFA will also conduct such tests at this year's U-17 World Championship in Trinidad and Tobago from 14 - 30 September as part of the education of young players to respect the Laws of the Game.
The experiment with two referees to officiate matches, on the other hand, has been abandoned as it has not yielded sufficiently positive results.
The International F.A. Board acknowledged the importance of artificial turf and endorsed the quality concept recently introduced by FIFA. It was also stated that official FIFA qualification matches may be played on appropriate artificial surfaces because the quality of this type of surface has improved significantly.
Furthermore, the meeting reiterated that advertising and clubs' logos on goal nets are not allowed.
The International F.A. Board is constituted by: The Football Association (England), The Scottish Football Association, The Football Association of Wales, The Irish Football Association and FIFA, each of which is represented by four delegates. FIFA has four votes on behalf of all affiliated national associations in membership. The other member associations each have one vote. For a proposal to succeed, it must receive the support of at least three-quarters of those present and entitled to vote
Ferguson resists elite referees proposal
By Jeremy Butler
MANCHESTER, England, March 12 (Reuters) - The introduction of foreign referees to the premier league would be ``a slight'' on the current group of English officials, Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson said on Monday.
He also claimed a proposal to bring in full-time professional referees could be fraught with financial implications.
The two ideas were floated by FIFA president Sepp Blatter at the International Football Association Board's annual meeting in Edinburgh on Saturday. Blatter said FIFA was now studying plans for their introduction in all major leagues.
Ferguson said: ``I don't think it will happen. What does that say about your own referees?
``I think it would be a slight to your own referees and it's something we could do without.''
The United manager has never been afraid to criticise the performance of the current match officials, and once stood on the touchline wearing a stopwatch to publicly make a point about checking referees' time-keeping.
But he warned that changing the status quo by appointing fully-paid professionals would cause several problems.
``We've been on about full-time referees for a long time and the idea has merits, but then there is a price to pay for it,'' he said.
``Do you put them all on long contracts? Do you give them a pension, cars and all the various benefits they get in their normal jobs?
``Will they want to give up jobs to take a career in football when you have to retire in your late forties? That's a big responsibility.
``What happens when you get to 47? Most people have to work until they're 65. Think about it. You maybe have 18 referees in the English premier league. To put them all on three or four year contracts is a big step. What happens if someone doesn't do well or gets injured?''
In spite of Ferguson's concerns, Blatter is keen to push through the measure as soon as possible and it is likely to receive FIFA executive committee approval.
Referee assaulted in Greek second division match
ATHENS, March 11 (Reuters) - Fans and officials of Greek second division club Kavala attacked the referee at the end of their 5-1 home defeat by Nafpaktiakos on Sunday.
Police attempted to protect referee Papapanagiotou, but several fans were able to break through their cordon before he could be escorted to the safety of the dressing room where he was treated for light injuries.
A delegation from world body FIFA and Europe's UEFA is due in Athens on Monday to discuss the state of the game in Greece with local football authorities.
Sanchez faces FA rap after outburst at ref
By Jon Bramley LEICESTER, England, March 10 (Reuters) - Wycombe Wanderers manager Lawrie Sanchez faces punishment from the Football Association after being sent off in his side's shock 2-1 FA Cup quarter-final win at premier league Leicester City.
Sanchez watched Roy Essandoh's injury-time winner from a television monitor after referee Steve Bennett banished him from the touchline 17 minutes from time after Wycombe were denied a strong penalty claim.
Defender Steve Brown's cross appeared to be handled by City's Stefan Oakes in the penalty area but Bennett brushed away Wycombe's appeals. A furious Sanchez strode up the touchline to confront the linesman, who was only 15 yards from the incident.
Bennett said later he would be reporting Sanchez to the FA over the incident but refused to elaborate.
He also red-carded Brown after a second booking for removing his shirt during Wycombe's goal celebrations at the end.
Sanchez, who scored Wimbledon's winner in their 1-0 FA Cup final victory over Liverpool in 1988, was still fuming in a post-match news conference and his comments could land him in even hotter water with the FA.
``You have to question why the referee and linesman are out there,'' he said.
``Sure, they can send a guy off for taking his shirt off but when push comes to shove and they have to give a decision for a little club like us at a premier league ground they don't give it.
``It was so obvious. The linesman was only 15 yards away...but never mind that that decision could have cost my club over a million pounds and could have stopped my career as a manager.
``It's not good enough and it wasn't even a hard decision to make.
``Something has got to be done about the standard of refereeing in this country. Referees should have their livelihoods on the line like we all do.''
Leicester manager Peter Taylor said: ``I thought it was a penalty. I can sympathise with Lawrie.''
FIFA chief Blatter calls for professional referees again
By Mike Collett
EDINBURGH, March 10 (Reuters) - FIFA president Sepp Blatter called for full-time professional referees again on Saturday, saying they should be introduced as soon as possible in every major professional league.
While Blatter has long advocated the idea, he revealed that world governing body FIFA were now studying plans for their introduction.
Blatter, attending the International Football Association Board's annual general meeting in Edinburgh, added that a top referee from a country which perhaps did not have a professional league could officiate in a country which did.
``The game has changed so much in terms of speed, tactics, technically and in every other way that we must have referees who are fitter and stronger than they are now,'' Blatter said.
``When we have professional referees there will be no upper age limit as there is now.
``There is money in the game to pay for referees to go full-time. When this happens they will be treated with more respect and as a colleague by players, coaches, technical staff and everyone else including, I believe, the fans.
``I think they will be better at their job and that can only be better for football.''
Blatter said that a recent study had shown that 250 million people worldwide were directly involved in the sport and that a total of 1.3 billion people -- or a fifth of the world's population -- had an interest in football.
``There is absolutely no doubt that football now is one of the biggest social and cultural forces on the planet and of course, it can only be as good, or bad, as society itself,'' he said.
``But it is up to the referee to make sure that matches are played according to the laws of the game and are as good a product as it can be.
ICE HOCKEY MODEL
``We can look at a sport like professional ice hockey in Switzerland where the standards of refereeing rose dramatically when professional referees were introduced a few years ago.
``The FIFA Executive Committee are behind this idea. Of course, some of the referees may not want to turn professional, but I think we need to have a new structure in place for the new century.''
FIFA is considering grading countries into three bands with the biggest professional leagues like England, Italy, Spain and Germany in Group One and the smaller countries in Group Three.
Technical and financial support would be given to the smaller countries to develop better referees who could also officiate in other countries according to the FIFA plan.
David Davies, executive director of the English Football Association, cautiously welcomed the idea.
``It is not a new idea, but with referees under an unprecedented level of scrutiny I think having professional referees would help,'' Davies said.
``FIFA are talking about a career structure and fast-tracking former players to become referees while they are still quite young and this is a good idea.
``I also think it is inevitable that at some time in the future overseas referees will officiate at games in foreign countries. I think this will happen sometime in the future, but it may not be as far away as all that.''
FIFA tell referees to lighten up over goal celebrations
By Mike Collett
EDINBURGH, March 10 (Reuters) - Players who take off their shirts to celebrate after scoring a goal will no longer be booked by referees, FIFA's secretary general Michel Zen-Ruffinen said on Saturday.
Zen-Ruffinen, himself a former international referee, said that Saturday's meeting of the law-making International Board had agreed to tell referees to stop yellow carding players who celebrate after scoring a goal.
``The game is all about scoring goals and as long as the players celebrate within the confines of the pitch and do nothing obscene or provocative to the fans, then referees should lighten up,'' said Zen-Ruffinen.
``Although this ruling will not be incorporated into the laws of the game, referees will be instructed to use their common sense and take a rather more laid-back approach to celebrations from next season,'' he said.
The International Board, which is composed of the four British associations from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and four representatives from FIFA, world soccer's ruling body, were meeting for the 115th time since 1886 to make changes to the laws of the game.
Although they did not actually make any major changes to the statutes this year, they did agree on a number of significant points which will be mandated to referees from July 1.
David Taylor, the chief executive of the Scottish FA who hosted the meeting, said that the experiment with advancing 10 metres at free-kicks for dissent would continue in the English professional game for another season.
But Adam Crozier, the English FA's chief executive, said there would be a major amendment to the experiment.
``The free-kick will only be advanced as far as the 18-yard line because our research shows that the defending team actually gains an advantage if the free-kick goes into the penalty area as the space is closed down so much, the attacking team loses its advantage,'' he said.
The experiment will also be carried out at the under-17 world championship in Trinidad and Tobago in September and is likely to be added to the laws next year.
However, a proposal from the Welsh FA that shirt-pulling should earn an automatic yellow card was not accepted by the Board because they felt it took away the referee's discretion in the matter.
NO MORE TUNNEL RED CARDS
Referees will also be instructed not to show the red and yellow cards to team officials and coaches but only to players, substitutes and players who have already been substituted.
They will also no longer be empowered to ``send off'' players in the tunnel but to include relevant incidents instead in their match reports.
If they have to caution any player during the half-time break, the player will in future be shown the yellow card on the field before the second half starts.
And in future players who have been sent off will no longer be able to see out the rest of the game sitting in the dug-out, but will have to leave the vicinity of the field of play entirely.
The other notable development from Saturday's meeting was the ending of an experiment in using two referees to officiate matches.
``Frankly, the idea does not work,'' said Zen-Ruffinen. ``And there are no plans to continue with the experiment or to re-introduce it at any time in the foreseeable future.''
French referees refuse to officiate at replay
PARIS, March 3 (Reuters) - French referees have refused to take charge of the first division replay between Strasbourg and Metz after the first game was abandoned when an official was hit by a missile.
``It's a bolt from the blue, a really scandalous decision that opens the door to everything...It's sad that a referee being hit can lead to a match being replayed,'' said Bernard Saules, president of France's national union of referees.
``French referees will not referee that match. But we might not stop there,'' sports daily L'Equipe quoted him as saying.
He added that officials could boycott all matches on French territory for one day in protest against the decision.
The French National League disciplinary committee, which earlier overturned a decision to replay the match behind closed doors, ruled on Friday that the game would be restaged after all.
Strasbourg were docked three points for their role in the December game. The two teams must each pay a fine of 100,000 French francs ($14,170).
Strasbourg were lea ding 1-0 on December 21 when assistant referee Nelly Viennot was struck by a flare thrown by a spectator witnesses said was a Metz fan.
Strasbourg were penalised for a lack of effective security at their home ground.
Magilton gets one-game ban for abusing referee
LONDON, March 8 (Reuters) - Ipswich Town midfielder Jim Magilton was given a one-match ban and fined 5,000 pounds ($7,343) on Thursday for swearing at a referee.
The Northern Ireland international was reported for using foul and abusive language to an official after Ipswich's 4-1 premier league defeat at Chelsea on January 20.
He was found guilty at an FA disciplinary hearing in London and will miss the league game against his former club Southampton on April 2.
($1-.6809 Pound)
UPDATE 2-FA will take no action on Barthez kick
LONDON, March 6 (Reuters) - The English Football Association (FA) will take no action over an incident on Saturday in which Manchester United goalkeeper Fabien Barthez kicked Leeds United defender Ian Harte.
Barthez escaped with a booking in the 1-1 premier league draw and then saved the subsequent penalty attempt by Harte.
``The matter is now closed,'' an FA spokesman said on Tuesday. ``The referee dealt with everything in the match.''
The incident sparked a row between rival managers David O'Leary of Leeds and Alex Ferguson from the league leaders.
On Monday, Leeds captain Lucas Radebe accused referees of leniency towards Manchester United.
Ferguson made it clear he did not agree.
``Leeds have been given more penalties than anybody else this season and Ian Harte is renowned throughout Europe as being a diver,'' he said.
``If the video people want to study Barthez then they should study Harte as well. He kicked him and then threw himself to the floor.''
O'Leary retorted in kind.
``Maybe the great man's memory is going,'' O'Leary said. ``Maybe he's had a bad week.
``He said on Saturday that Fabien Barthez should have been sent off. It smells of some sort of smokescreen to me but who am I to question it.''
UPDATE 3-We do not control referees - Ferguson
ATHENS, March 6 (Reuters) - Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has hit back at accusations that referees show leniency towards his team.
``The idea that we are controlling referees has no foundation,'' Ferguson insisted at a news conference on Tuesday on the eve of United's Champions League game against Panathinaikos.
``If you look at the statistics for sendings off and penalty kicks these are great barometers. Our discipline is fantastic... this is something we have to point out from time to time,'' he said.
Ferguson's comments followed a suggestion that match officials were easy on his side in the wake of an incident involving United goalkeeper Fabien Barthez in Saturday's 1-1 premier league draw at Leeds United.
Barthez appeared to kick out at Leeds defender Ian Harte and conceded a penalty. The Frenchman was booked but Leeds felt he should have been sent off. Instead, he saved Harte's spot kick.
Leeds manager David O'Leary and his players were incensed, sparking a row with Ferguson.
On Monday, Leeds' captain Lucas Radebe accused referees of leniency towards Ferguson's team.
The English FA said it would take no action over the incident. ``The matter is now closed,'' an FA spokesman said. ``The referee dealt with everything in the match.''
Ferguson said: ``Leeds have been given more penalties than anybody else this season and Ian Harte is renowned throughout Europe as being a diver.''
``If the video people want to study Barthez then they should study Harte as well. He kicked him and then threw himself to the floor.''
O'Leary retorted in kind.
``Maybe the great man's memory is going,'' O'Leary said. ``Maybe he's had a bad week.
``He said on Saturday that Fabien Barthez should have been sent off. It smells of some sort of smokescreen to me but who am I to question it.''
Before the Leeds game, United players had committed 301 league fouls -- the fewest in the premier league this season.
They fill third place in the top division's fair play standings behind Ipswich Town and Southampton.
UPDATE 1-FA waiting for referee's report on Barthez incident
LONDON, March 6 (Reuters) - English Football Association (FA) officials are waiting for a referee's report on an incident involving Manchester United goalkeeper Fabien Barthez before deciding on any possible disciplinary action.
Barthez kicked Leeds United defender Ian Harte in Saturday's 1-1 premier league draw but escaped with a booking. He then saved the subsequent penalty attempt by Harte.
``We are still waiting for the referee's report,'' a FA spokesman said on Tuesday.
The incident sparked a row between rival managers David O'Leary of Leeds and Alex Ferguson from the league leaders.
On Monday, Leeds captain Lucas Radebe accused referees of leniency towards Manchester United.
Ferguson made it clear he did not agree.
``Leeds have been given more penalties than anybody else this season and Ian Harte is renowned throughout Europe as being a diver,'' he said.
``If the video people want to study Barthez then they should study Harte as well. He kicked him and then threw himself to the floor.''
O'Leary retorted in kind.
``Maybe the great man's memory is going,'' O'Leary said. ``Maybe he's had a bad week.
``He said on Saturday that Fabien Barthez should have been sent off. It smells of some sort of smokescreen to me but who am I to question it.''
Irish matches cancelled in animal virus alert
DUBLIN, March 6 (Reuters) - Irish soccer fixtures have been wiped out for a second successive weekend because of Britain's foot-and-mouth crisis, football authorities said on Tuesday.
The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) said in a statement that it had cancelled all fixtures for the coming weekend, following FAI talks with the Republic of Ireland's Department of Agriculture about the foot-and-mouth alert.
``The cancellation is a repeat of last weekend's ban on matches and takes in all FAI Cup and ... League games as well as junior and under-age matches at all levels, countrywide,'' the FAI said.
``It is still of national importance that we continue to cooperate fully with the authorities in the current crisis and help the efforts to keep the foot-and-mouth epidemic out of the country,'' FAI president Pat Quigley said in the statement.
``We will continue to keep in touch with the Department and will constantly monitor developments in the coming days,'' FAI chief executive Bernard O'Byrne said.
The Irish government has adopted major precautions to guard against the disease reaching the country, deploying around 1,000 police and troops on its border with Northern Ireland -- where one outbreak has been discovered -- to enforce a ban on animal movements.
More than 70 outbreaks of the highly contagious disease have been confirmed in Britain.
Many Irish sports organisations have bowed to government appeals to postpone events which would have drawn large crowds.
Brescia loses two home games for attack on referee
March 6, 2001 MILAN, Italy (AP) -- Brescia was banned Tuesday from playing at home for two upcoming Italian League games because fans attacked the referee and linesmen following last weekend's loss to Lazio of Rome.
Brescia fans hurled glasses, newspapers and a stone at officials Saturday night following the 1-0 loss at home.
The referee's lip was injured in an attack outside the stadium when he was struck by a magazine with a hard, plastic cover
International board bid to improve discipline
LONDON, March 2 (Reuters) - Football's law-makers are to discuss ways of improving discipline on the pitch and curbing unsporting behaviour when they meet in Edinburgh next week.
Amendments to curb shirt-pulling and holding will be high on the agenda of the International Football Association Board, when it meets on March 10 for its annual general assembly.
The board is made up of representatives from the associations of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as well as from the game's ruling body, FIFA.
A proposal from the Welsh FA states that ``a player who deliberately holds an opponent or pulls the shirt of an opponent must be sanctioned for unsporting behaviour.''
The proposal is being made because since the ban on tackles from behind and simulating fouls, players have increasingly resorted to holding opponents or pulling their shirt.
The fouled player frequently reacts and the situation tends to escalate.
The board will also discuss the conclusions of an experiment in England by which free-kicks are advanced by 9.15 metres (10 yards) if a player of the penalised team fails to respect the required distance or shows any dissent.
Other items for discussion will include the two-referees experiment, perimeter advertising or logos on goal nets and the golden goal rule.
Minor league game suspended after bomb explodes on field
February 25, 2001 FOGGIA, Italy (AP) -- A fourth-division Italian soccer game was suspended with five minutes remaining Sunday after homemade bomb exploded on the field.
The game between Foggia and Tricase, two teams from the southeast region of Puglia, was first delayed when several fans ran on the field and tried to attack the Foggia goalkeeper midway through the second half.
With Foggia down 1-0 in the Serie C2 game, the referee suspended game when the bomb exploded.
Violence continued outside the stadium, while both teams remained inside the locker rooms.
Italian soccer chief asks UEFA about Liverpool referee
By Simon Evans
MILAN, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Italy's football federation (FIGC) have written to UEFA about the controversial refereeing of AS Roma's UEFA Cup exit at the hands of Liverpool.
Roma won 1-0 at Anfield on Thursday but lost on aggregate after trailing 2-0 from the first leg in the Olympic Stadium last week.
Spanish referee Jose Maria Garcia-Aranda sparked controversy with just 13 minutes left after appearing to award a penalty for handball -- pointing twice to the spot -- only to change his mind.
FIGC commissioner Gianni Petrucci said on Friday he had written to UEFA outlining the federation's ``perplexity'' at Garcia-Aranda's decision, ANSA news agency reported.
AS Roma striker Marco Delvecchio strongly criticised the refereeing.
``It was a scandal, what happened out there was a scandal,'' Delvecchio told the Italian media.
``Twice we asked the referee for a penalty and twice he said yes -- then the English players arrived and he changed idea. Incredible,'' said the Italy international.
Three Roma players were booked for protesting the decision, and when Damiano Tommasi was red-carded with just five minutes remaining for a second bookable offence, the tournament favourites were out.
Coach Fabio Capello was also puzzled by Garcia-Aranda's decision.
``Twice he clearly indicated a penalty for the handball by (Markus) Babbel -- not just once, twice. (Gabriel) Batistuta didn't realise and he took the ball over to take the corner so the referee left it.
``Everyone saw that he gave a penalty, it means nothing that a player didn't hear the whistle and took the ball somewhere else.
``At Rome we reduced our chances of qualification -- in Liverpool it was the referee,'' said Capello.
But the former AC Milan coach appeared to rule out any possibility of an appeal against the decision.
``Roma have said we accept the decisions of referees even when they do as they did tonight,'' he said.
Italian television lingered on replays showing the referee pointing to the spot, while the Italian press missed no chance to pin the blame for Roma's exit on the Spaniard.
``Roma eliminated by the referee'' read the headline in the daily Corriere dello Sport.
Gazzetta dello Sport gave Garcia-Aranda a mark of three out of 10 for his performance adding that the evaluation was ``dedicated to those who want foreign refs to take charge of our most important matches.''
ANSA offered a reminder that Thursday was not the first time Garcia-Aranda had been under fire from an Italian team.
After Inter Milan lost the UEFA Cup final to Germany's Schalke 04 on penalties at San Siro in 1997, with two controversial decisions against the Italian club. At the time, Inter's then director Sandro Mazzola described the Spaniard as ``Schalke's 12th man.''
UPDATE 1-Romania rejects Steaua bid for foreign refs
BUCHAREST, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Romanian soccer bosses rejected top club Steaua Bucharest's demand on Wednesday to have foreign referees take charge of their games because of a scandal over corrupt refereeing.
Steaua, which was prepared to fund the move itself, had asked for foreign officials following last week's controversial sacking of the head of the Romanian referees' panel by domestic soccer chiefs over his plans to crack down on corrupt officials.
But Nicolae Grigorescu, who replaced Ion Craciunescu after the Romanian federation (FRF) dismissed him just two weeks into the job, said there was no need to import referees from abroad.
``We refused Steaua's demand because we have good referees who can officiate their matches,'' he said. ``It would be offensive to our referees to have foreigners in charge.''
Steaua coach Victor Piturca said the club had made the request for its opening games when the season resumes after the winter break because domestic officials could not be trusted.
``It doesn't matter which country they come from. The important thing is that they are not Romanian,'' he said.
Top Romanian players, including Gheorghe Hagi, have joined fans and the media in condemning the dismissal of Craciunescu, who accused the FRF and club bosses on its board of corruption.
``It seems like the FRF has something to hide,'' agreed Steaua president Viorel Paunescu.
The FRF had accused Craciunescu of insubordination in his efforts to crack down on dubious refereeing because he wanted to give his panel independent control over the appointment of match officials.
Steaua resume their domestic campaign on March 10 as league leaders. They are chasing their first title for three years.
Juventus chief says referees should be fined for errors
MILAN, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Juventus director general Luciano Moggi says referees could perform better if they faced fines for their mistakes.
``I know refereeing a match is very difficult as you have to take a decision in few seconds,'' Moggi said.
``But in the case of really big errors we need to find some innovation to deal with the problem.
``A referee who makes a huge mistake could even be fined. Probably then there would be greater concentration and few errors.
``I think this would be logical -- players and other people who work for clubs are fined when they make mistakes, so why not also the referees?''
Juventus's rivals have long claimed that the Turin club have benefitted from referees' mistakes and there was a huge outcry last season when Parma had a goal disallowed in a crucial game at Juve's Delle Alpi stadium.
But this season Moggi has been keen to highlight decisions which have gone against Juventus and also mistakes which might have helped their rivals.
``We saw lot of mistakes, for example during Roma-Bari, Roma-Lecce and even Atalanta-Juventus,'' Moggi said.
Senegal referee Ndoye banned for one year
JOHANNESBURG, Feb 17 (Reuters) - Leading African referee Falla Ndoye of Senegal has been banned from officiating for one year after a poor performance in an African Nations Cup qualifying match last month.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) said on Saturday that Ndoye will not be allowed to referee any matches in African club competitions for 12 months, starting March 1.
Ndoye was tipped to be one of Africa's contingent of referees at next year's World Cup finals in Japan and South Korea.
The ban comes after Angola protested to CAF over the referee's performance at their match against Burkina Faso in Ouagadougou on January 14 when Angola had a legitimate-looking goal disallowed and lost 1-0.
``We reviewed the video tape of the match after the Angolan protest and, based on his performance, Ndoye is suspended for one year,'' said CAF spokesman Viken Djizmedjian.
The result of the match, however, will stand.
Ndoye is the second referee suspended this month.
Last week CAF slapped a one-year ban on Tunisian official Mourad Daami for his behaviour at last year's African Champions League final in Ghana.
Daami, a guest of Tunisian club Esperance, tried to persuade the match officials to abandon the game after a crowd riot.
Romania's former referees' chief loses more powers
BUCHAREST, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Romania's former referees' chief Ion Craciunescu, sacked last week in a row over an attempted crackdown on dubious refereeing, has been stripped of his last remaining official powers.
Romanian football federation (FRF) vice-president Dumitru Dragomir said on Tuesday that Craciunescu, former head of the referees panel, had been thrown off the list of authorised match monitors.
Dragomir added that two other former FIFA referees who stood up for Craciunescu after his controversial dismissal have also been removed from the list.
``I put people I like on the list of FRF observers,'' Dragomir said, adding that Craciunescu's blueprint for a crackdown had failed ``to comply with FRF requirements.''
Craciunescu, who last week blamed the ``vested interests'' of club bosses on the FRF's board for his dismissal, was defiant after the latest twist to a scandal gripping Romanian soccer.
``I'm not surprised that the FRF has dropped me as an observer,'' he told Reuters.
``This proves that club presidents from the FRF board not only control refereeing but also the observers' body,'' he said.
Craciunescu, who fought to give his National Championship Commission (CCN) independent control over referees, and vocal supporters Ioan Igna and Adrian Porumboiu will be barred from monitoring referees when the season resumes on March 10.
Porumboiu, who turned down the job as CCN chief before Craciunescu was appointed, was bemused by the decision.
``I was a FIFA referee for 10 years, I officiated World Cup, European and Champions League matches,'' Porumboiu said.
``And now I'm told I'm not able to monitor Romanian championship matches.''
Galatasaray coach unhappy with refereeing
LA CORUNA, Spain, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Galatasaray coach Mircea Lucescu said he was unhappy with the refereeing in his side's 2-0 Champions League defeat by Deportivo Coruna on Tuesday.
German official Hartmut Strampe sent off Galatasaray defender Vedat Inceefe and awarded a penalty to Deportivo for Ahmet Vildirim's second half handball.
Deportivo took advantage to run out comfortable winners and revive their hopes of making it through to the quarter-finals.
``The referee was very strict with the sending-off of Vedat but just after he didn't follow the same criterion with Mauro Silva (of Deportivo),'' said Lucescu.
``The penalty was non-existent. The crowd refereed the game. ``Deportivo played at a high level, though.''
The result left Galatasaray top of group B with seven points, one clear of Deportivo and AC Milan who drew 1-1 at Paris St Germain.
``The group is very even now,'' said the Galatasaray coach. ``Whoever qualifies will go through in the last minute of the last game.''
Deportivo coach Javier Irureta said he expected his side to complete the job and make it through to the last eight if they can beat PSG in their next game.
``Winning the next game at home to PSG should be enough,'' he said.
``We were the better side tonight. We took the initiative, although we lacked a bit of composure on the key chances.''
Sacked Romanian referees' chief appeals to UEFA
BUCHAREST, Feb 16 (Reuters) - The head of Romania's referees panel, dismissed this week by domestic soccer bosses over an attempted crackdown on dubious refereeing, has appealed to European governing body UEFA.
Ion Craciunescu, who blamed his dismissal on the ``vested interests'' of club presidents on the Romanian soccer federation (FRF) board, told Reuters on Friday he was continuing his fight.
``I have sent both the Romanian Sport Ministry and UEFA the draft of the new regulations I proposed to improve refereeing in Romanian soccer, which were refused by the FRF,'' he said.
Craciunescu, who was sacked after just two weeks in the job, had unveiled plans to safeguard the neutrality of referees by giving his National Championship Commission independent control over the appointment of match officials.
But the FRF, whose 15-man board includes eight club presidents, said the proposals broke federation rules and refused to surrender its grip on refereeing appointments.
Craciunescu described his appeal as a final attempt ``to align Romanian refereeing as closely as possible with European standards.''
Professional referees inevitable says French chief
PARIS, Feb 16 (Reuters) - Soccer referees are destined to become full-time professionals at some point in the future, French Football Federation (FFF) president Claude Simonet said on Friday.
But Simonet told the FFF website that the sport needs time to prepare for such a radical change.
``The idea of referees becoming professionals, which looks to be inevitable, was first talked about (in France) last year,'' Simonet said.
``But such a change cannot be made by throwing dice in the air or mouthing off.
``We need first to think of all the methods of establishing contracts and other details.
``Professional referees? Sure. But at what level? How can the independence of referees be guaranteed? How should they be paid?''
Simonet said the FFF had recently created working groups to discuss the issue.
Simonet also said he was concerned by the ongoing deadlock between the European Commission and soccer's governing bodies over the transfer system.
``I am, I must say, very anxious,'' Simonet said.
He added that he believes the EC was not qualified to rule on issues such as labour laws, which still vary in different countries.
``Nobody seems to include or understand the duality which exists between a contract of employment and a sporting contract,'' he said.
UPDATE 1-EC ``referees'' in rift over transfer rules
By Mike Collett
BRUSSELS, Feb 16 (Reuters) - Soccer officials, lawyers and European Commission experts held a series of meetings on Friday in a bid to thrash out a compromise deal on a new transfer system.
The Commission, which said it was acting as ``referee'' between the parties, has said a new system must be agreed by the end of the month or it will impose regulations to bring the transfer regime into line with EU competition and labour laws.
Commission officials met FIFA and UEFA representatives, as well as those from European leagues and clubs, at an EU office in Brussels.
The venue for the talks was changed at the last minute to ``allow participants to discuss the issues in peace and without media pressure,'' Commission spokeswoman Amelia Torres said.
Separate talks took place between FIFpro, the international players' union, and the EC. FIFpro do not agree with proposals covering players' contracts put forward by UEFA and FIFA.
RIFT OVER THREE KEY ISSUES
FIFA/UEFA and FIFpro are at odds over contract stability, sanctions against players who break their contracts unilaterally and compensation levels for players when they move clubs.
``The Commission's position is all about acting as a referee on this issue,'' said Torres.
``We have been asked to sort out this dispute within the football family. What the Commission is trying to do is to find a compromise that is satisfactory to all the parties and, at the same time, respects EU law,'' she added.
UEFA spokesman Mike Lee said a planned meeting with FIFpro did not take place on Thursday night but that UEFA and FIFA were ready to talk with the players' representatives at any time.
Ahead of Friday's talks, Lee said UEFA was fully confident that the joint FIFA/UEFA proposals represented ``the best way forward for football.''
FIFA and UEFA want to ban players for up to a year if they break their contracts, for example, by quitting a club one year into a five-year contract.
The EC now accepts the principle of sporting sanctions but says these should be ``proportionate'' -- and a 12-month ban would be excessive.
Commission sources indicated a compromise might be found around a six-month ban. Clubs would also be liable to sanctions if they induced a player to break his contract early.
Torres declined to detail what rules Brussels might impose on the sport if there were no deal by the end of the month.
``Let's wait until the end of the month and see what happens then,'' she told reporters.
(Additional reporting by Ian Geoghegan)
Youth charged with attacking goalie
February 14, 2001
MEDINA, Ohio (AP) -- A youth soccer player was charged with deliberately kicking a goalie in the face seconds after a game, leaving him unconscious and with a broken cheekbone.
The 17-year-old player from a Youngstown club was charged Tuesday with felony assault and will be tried as a juvenile, said Anne Eisenhower, juvenile supervisor for the prosecutor's office.
The suspect's name was withheld because he is a minor. He could be sentenced to juvenile detention until his 21st birthday if convicted.
The confrontation happened last week at Pinnacle Soccer, an indoor facility in nearby Granger Township, in a game between the Cleveland Whitecaps and Sons of Italy. The teams are composed of top players ages 18 and younger from northeast Ohio.
Whitecaps goalkeeper Brad Delsky, a 17-year-old senior at Solon High School, was kicked seconds after he dived and deflected a final shot at the end of the game, which his team won 5-3.
A game official said the player who kicked Delsky took the last shot at the goalie and had traded kicks with him earlier in the game. George Djischeff, president and founder of the Sons of Italy team, said the boy has been dismissed from the team.
Djischeff said Wednesday he could not make the teen available for comment but agreed to pass along an interview request.
Hagi slams Romanian bosses over refereeing fiasco
By Radu Timofte
BUCHAREST, Feb 14 (Reuters) - Gheorghe Hagi wants nothing to do with soccer in his home country of Romania unless powerful club bosses release their stranglehold on the game -- and particularly the selection of referees.
Hagi told Reuters that the Romanian Soccer Federation's (FRF) decision to sack an official who tried to crack down on dubious referees had shattered the prospect of him returning as a manager when his days as a player end in turkey at the end of the season.
``I'll have no contact with the FRF as long as club presidents sit in armchairs (as members of its board) and decide on the major problems of Romanian soccer like refereeing,'' he said.
Hagi, who still shows flashes of brilliance for Galatasaray, was speaking in the wake of the FRF sacking of its disciplinary chief Ion Craciunescu over a plan to give his National Championship Commission (CCN) panel independent control in the appointment of referees.
Craciunescu, who had been in the job for only two weeks, was incensed by the decision and blamed his dismissal on the ``vested interests'' of club bosses, eight of whom sit on the FRF's 15-man board and monitor referees officiating their own teams' games.
Hagi, whose talented left foot and mercurial presence helped Romania to the brink of the 1994 World Cup semifinals, agreed, adding his voice to mounting fury with the FRF inside Romania.
``Such people stop Romanian clubs from becoming truly competitive in Europe and on the world stage,'' he said.
CAREERS
Many presidents are also members of the Professional Clubs League (LFP), which runs the first division championship and the domestic and international careers of referees.
``Unfortunately, the local championship now means nothing. It lives only by the national team's results achieved by my generation in the last decade,'' said Hagi, who last month said he might coach a top Romanian club or even the national side.
The Romanian media and fans have declared war on the FRF, its president Mircea Sandu and the LFP, blaming them for shackling Craciunescu's efforts to clean up refereeing.
``Our championship is not competitive and the obscure interests of several clubs make many matches a mournful parody,'' wrote the Romania Libera daily under the headline: ``The FRF, directed by a League of presidents, sacrificed Craciunescu.
``Sandu is out for the count,'' the paper added.
Romanian soccer has been dogged in recent years by bribery scandals involving referees, club bosses, coaches and players.
European soccer's governing body UEFA banned Romanian referee Florin Chivulete for a year in October, after the former FRF liaison officer allegedly tried to offer prostitutes in traditional costume to officials in charge of an Intertoto game.
A straw poll of disillusioned fans to find their choice as Craciunescu's successor threw up an unlikely candidate to run a new independent refereeing commission -- Chivulete.
``We'll watch no soccer in Romanian stadiums, but we'd be happy to watch one of his folkloric shows,'' one supporter joked.
Romania sacks top official over referee plan
By Radu Timofte
BUCHAREST, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Romanian soccer chiefs sacked the head of the sport's disciplinary panel on Monday after just two weeks in charge, accusing him of insubordination in his efforts to crack down on dubious refereeing.
Ion Craciunescu, who had unveiled plans to give his CCN disciplinary commission independent control over the appointment of referees, strongly attacked the decision, saying it was driven by the ``vested interests'' of several clubs' presidents.
His six-member CCN team resigned in protest at the move, which the Romanian soccer federation (FRF) said it had been forced to take because Craciunescu's proposals broke FRF rules.
``The FRF board decided to sack Craciunescu,'' federation president Mircea Sandu said. ``Craciunescu's first actions, including new rules for the appointment of referees, failed to comply with FRF regulations.''
Craciunescu had proposed independence for the CCN and the right to nominate officials for Romanian first division matches in addition to appointing the list of eligible referees for international games organised by UEFA and FIFA.
He accused Romania's powerful club presidents of seeking to defend their influence over referees in their role as members of the FRF board, which currently appoints match officials.
``Some clubs presidents, members of the FRF board, have monopolised Romanian refereeing and they dont want to lose their stranglehold,'' Craciunescu said. ``I just wanted to relieve the Romanian referees from such interference.''
The FRF's 15-member board includes eight club presidents, who monitor the referees officiating their own teams' matches.
Many of them are also members of the Professional Clubs League, which runs the first division championship and the domestic and international careers of referees.
``How can anyone dare to whistle correctly against a team run by a leading FRF board member?'' Craciunescu said.
``Referees' mistakes always decided the teams which qualified for the lucrative European club competitions and those which have been relegated,'' Craciunescu said.
One of his first moves was to ban controversial referee Florin Chivulete from both domestic and international games.
European soccer's governing body UEFA banned Chivulete for 12 months last year after the former FRF liaison officer allegedly offered prostitutes to officials in charge of an Intertoto game between Ceahlaul Piatra Neamt and Austria Vienna.
Ceahlaul president Gheorghe Stefan, himself an FRF board member, was also banned by UEFA for his role in the scandal.
Romanian soccer has been dogged in recent years by bribery scandals involving referees, club presidents, coaches and players. In 1999, Rapid Bucharest lost the national title after a bitterly disputed refereeing mistake.
``Nobody wants to clean up soccer and the FRF turns a blind eye to the phenomenon,'' Craciunescu said.
Scottish FA considers using foreign referees
By Phil Gordon
GLASGOW, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Foreign referees could be brought in to handle future games between Glasgow rivals Celtic and Rangers, the Scottish Football Association (SFA) said on Friday.
Don McVicar, the SFA's head of referee development, backed the idea by his predecessor, George Cumming - now head of FIFA's referee department - that importing officials could reduce the pressure felt by Scottish referees.
The Glasgow rivals meet on Sunday at Celtic Park in a Scottish premier league game just three days after their League Cup semifinal in which three players were sent off and 11 booked.
``Times change and you can't halt progress,'' McVicar told the Daily Record newspaper. ``If it was felt it was for the good of the game, it would be looked at.
``I would be happy to look at such a situation, if that is what the football bodies, including the SFA, wanted. It is worth exploring.''
FIFA official Cumming, a former Scottish referee and top-level player, said: ``I can forsee a situation where there would be a swapping of referees.
``Perhaps a top Scots referee going to do an Italian league game and one of their officials coming to an Old Firm game.''
Five players have now been sent off in three games between Celtic and Rangers this season.
The man who will handle Sunday's league encounter, Hugh Dallas, was hurt by missiles when he last refereed a derby at Celtic Park in May 1999 and sent off three players.
Referee Taylor cleared of misconduct by FA
LONDON, Feb 6 (Reuters) - English premier league referee Paul Taylor was cleared of misconduct by the Football Association (FA) on Tuesday.
The official appeared before an FA disciplinary commission after remarks he was alleged to have made to Notts County player Sean Farrell in a second division match against Wigan in October were reported by the player.
The commission found him innocent of the charges after a four-hour meeting in Birmingham.
The official is in his first season as a premier league referee. He caused controversy in his first match by reporting Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger for threatening behaviour after a game at Sunderland.
Wenger subsequently won his appeal against a 12-match touchline ban.
Referee Taylor could be struck off list
LONDON, Feb 6 (Reuters) - English premier league referee Paul Taylor could become the first official to be struck off the national list if found guilty of misconduct by a Football Association (FA) disciplinary commission in Birmingham on Tuesday.
Hertfordshire-based Taylor was charged with misconduct for alleged remarks to Notts County player Sean Farrell in their match against Wigan at Meadow Lane last October.
Taylor will be accompanied by a legal representative while Farrell brings two witnesses to the incident on October 14.
The official is in his first season as a premier league referee and courted controversy by reporting Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger for threatening behaviour during his first match, an opening day clash at Sunderland's Stadium of Light.
Wenger subsequently won his appeal against a 12-game touchline ban for misconduct and had his fine reduced to 10,000 pounds ($14,660) at a hearing at FA headquarters in Soho Square, London last Friday. Taylor gave evidence at the hearing.
Southampton's Hassan Kachloul also appears before a disciplinary panel on Tuesday charged with violent and threatening behaviour.
The Moroccan striker appeared to aim a headbutt at Leeds United's Lee Bowyer after being sent off in a premier league match at the Dell on December 9.
Leicester City defender Matt Elliott could face a three-match ban if found guilty of misconduct by the FA today.
Scotland international Elliott's elbow conected with Coventry City's Craig Bellamy during a match on December 10.
UPDATE-1-Referee Taylor cleared of misconduct
LONDON, Feb 6 (Reuters) - English premier league referee Paul Taylor was cleared of misconduct by the Football Association (FA) on Tuesday.
Taylor had been accused of using insulting remarks toward Notts County player Sean Farrell, who reported the incident after a 2-2 draw with Wigan in a second division game at Meadow Lane last October.
But after a four hour meeting in Birmingham on Tuesday he was cleared. ``On hearing the evidence the commission decided the charge had not been proven,'' the FA said in a statement.
Taylor is in his first season as a premier league referee. He caused controversy in his first match by reporting Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger for threatening behaviour after a game at Sunderland.
Wenger was banned from the touchline for 12 matches but last week had his appeal against the ban upheld and his fine reduced to 10,000 pounds ($14,650).
($1-.6828 Pound)
African digest-Coach banned for year for swearing at ref
JOHANNESBURG, Feb 6 (Reuters) - A digest of African soccer stories over the last few days:
GAMBIA - A first division coach has been given a one-year suspension for swearing at a referee, Gambian newspapers reported on Monday. Ebrima Jallow from Bakau United was banned by the Gambia Football Association as part of its policy of ``protecting referees from the fury of players and coaches who may not agree with their decisions.'' Jallow was found guilty of swearing at referee Sulayman Faal after he sent off one of Bakau United's players in a match against rival club Steve Biko last month.
KENYA - Tusker FC retained their East and Central African Club Championship title in Nairobi over the weekend, but needed a penalty shootout to overcome compatriots Oserian Fastac. Tusker won 3-0 on penalties in the all-Kenyan final after reserve goalkeeper Victor Waweru, brought on just before the end of extra time, saved twice in a dramatic finish to the two-week tournament. St George of Ethiopia finished third after winning the bronze medal play-off game 1-0 against SC Vila of Uganda, also on Saturday.
SENEGAL - National coach Bruno Metsu said he had settled a financial wrangle with the Senegalese sports ministry and withdrawn his threat to resign. The French-born coach said last week he would quit his post unless unpaid salary and outstanding hotel bills were settled by authorities. Metsu told reporters in Dakar that he received the necessary assurance after talks at the ministry over the weekend. ``Everything has been arranged,'' he said after Senegal beat Mali in a friendly match in Dakar on Sunday.
EGYPT - The world's most capped international Hossam Hassan broke his goal scoring drought on the weekend as he helped stretch Zamalek's lead at the top of the Egyptian first division. The Cairo team beat Maaden 3-1 in their latest league encounter to move to 42 points from their 16 league matches, comfortably ahead of traditional rivals and defending champions Al Ahli. Veteran striker Hassan, who broke Lothhar Matthaeus's record as the most capped international last month and has now made 155 appearances for Egypt, scored the last goal in the win. Hassan has not scored for his country in the last six matches and still faces the prospect of being dropped ahead of the World Cup qualifier in Namibia on February 27.
SOUTH AFRICA - The threat hanging over the coaching career of Bruce Grobbelaar seems to have had no effect on his South African club SuperSport United. A 5-1 win over Lamontville Golden Arrows in Pretoria on Sunday moved the side up to fourth place on the standings and within three points of the leaders Jomo Cosmos. Grobbelaar could face a lifetime ban from football after a British appeal court overturned his 1999 libel victory against The Sun newspaper which alleged Grobbelaar had been party to match-fixing while playing for English club Liverpool. But the former Zimbabwean international has warned he would fight any effort to bar him from continuing his coaching career.
Nigerian FA aims for peace with striking referees
LAGOS, Feb 5 (Reuters) - The Nigerian Football Association (NFA) has called on striking referees to return to their jobs.
``We're calling for a truce,'' said NFA chairman Dominic Oneya, himself an ex-referee, on Monday.
A peace meeting between the parties, arguing over who appoints referees, has been scheduled for the capital Abuja on Tuesday, he said.
The referees boycotted the weekend's first division matches in protest at a ``lack of respect and regard for our members'' by Alhassan Yakmut, head of the NFA League Department.
Last week, the Nigerian Referees Association (NRA) ordered its members to stop officiating at league matches until further notice.
``Yakmut set in motion a machinery to monopolise the appointment of referees for league matches,'' said an NRA statement.
``He has thrown into the waste bin the statute which says the Referees Committee shall appoint referees for league matches and has continued to criticise our members for no just cause,'' it said.
Oneya said he was confident the problem would be resolved at the Tuesday meeting.
Lyon president punished for criticising referee
PARIS, Feb 5 (Reuters) - The French league's disciplinary committee has banned Olympique Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas from his team's dressing rooms for one month for criticising a referee at the end of a French first division match in November.
Aulas made derogatory remarks about referee Bertrand Layec after Lyon's 2-2 draw at home against Sedan on November 28
English FA drops 12-game suspension of Wenger
February 2, 2001 LONDON (AP) -- Arsenal coach Arsenal Wenger will not have to serve a 12-game suspension and instead will be fined $15,000 and reprimanded.
The English Football Association, which had issued the suspension after Wenger made contact with an official last summer following the opening day of the season, changed its mind after a two-day hearing this week.
The FA said Friday it dropped the more serious charge of ``threatening behavior.'' Wenger denied deliberately pushing the official, Paul Taylor, and said he was trying to break up an argument between Arsenal's Thierry Henry and Sunderland's Darren Williams.
``I've been in football for 18 years and I've never had a disciplinary problem,'' Wenger said before the hearing.
Taylor was the fourth official, whose duties include keeping order on the benches.
Angry French referees refuse to cover match replay
PARIS, Jan 29 (Reuters) - French referees will refuse to officiate at a replay of a first division match between Racing Strasbourg and Metz after violence at recent matches, their union said on Monday.
In the most serious incident, a match between Strasbourg and Metz in December was abandoned after assistant referee Nelly Viennot was hit by a firecracker.
The French National League disciplinary committee have ordered the match to be replayed behind closed doors but referees said they would not take part.
``This match was a much too bitter pill to swallow and we won't swallow it,'' Bernard Saules, head of the referees' union, said on Monday. ``We won't referee it.''
Last weekend, referees staged a protest against the recent violence with officials holding up the kick-off at one match and handing out leaflets to players at another.
French Soccer Federation (FFF) officials met referees to discuss the problem on Monday and said they would look at ways of improving refereeing.
Neville reported by referee after United cup defeat
LONDON, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Manchester United defender Gary Neville has been reported to the English Football Association (FA) following Sunday's FA Cup fourth-round defeat by West Ham.
The England international was involved in a confrontation with match officials near the players' tunnel after the 1-0 loss at Old Trafford.
A spokeswoman for the FA said on Monday that it had yet to to receive referee Paul Durkin's match report but had spoken with the official.
``He confirmed there was an incident at the end of the game,'' the spokeswoman said.
United manager Alex Ferguson said Neville was angry because not enough stoppage time had been played at the end of the game.
``Gary was going on about time added on,'' Ferguson was quoted as saying in the Sun newspaper on Monday.
Soccer refs get raise to curb corruption
January 23, 2001 BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) -- Romanian soccer referees will have ttheir salaries doubled in an effort to curb corruption in the sport.
``From now on, referees will have only one master: the rule book,'' said Ion Craciunescu, who heads the commission for refereeing.
Accusations of game-fixing and corrupt refereeing have plagued Romanian soccer for years, with such stars as Gheorghe Hagi urging a cleanup.
Under the new rules, which take effect immediately, a referee will earn $500 a game. Linesmen will get $250 and the reserve referee $150.
The first-division clubs also will allocate money to cover any taxes on these wages.
``I know it sounds like a lot of money for Romania, but the referees should be paid according to soccer wages, not national wages,'' Craciunescu said.
In Romania the average wage is just $100 a month, but soccer players and coaches can make as much as $100,000 a year.
Bastia coach banned six months
PARIS, Jan 25 (Reuters) - Bastia coach Frederic Antonetti received a six-month touchline ban -- three months suspended -- on Thursday for jostling and threatening the fourth official during a French first division game against Strasbourg earlier this month.
Bastia president Francois Nicolai condemned the ban imposed by the French League (LNF) disciplinary committee by saying his side were paying ``for the sins of other clubs.''
Antonetti was sent off by referee Pascal Vileo following the incident with fourth official Daniel Galletti on January 13.
Bastia won 3-1.
Romania ban referee after scandal with women
BUCHAREST, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Romania on Friday extended a ban on referee Florin Chivulete after he was accused of offering women to match officials, ruling him out of domestic as well as international soccer.
Last October, European body UEFA banned Chivulete for a year after the former Romanian Soccer Federation (FRF) liaison officer allegedly tried to offer prostitutes to officials in charge of an Intertoto game between Ceahlaul Piatra Neamt and Austria Vienna.
Chivulete said he was innocent, saying the women offered to the French referees were members of a folk ensemble. Last year UEFA also banned Ceahlaul and its president from all UEFA-related functions for one year.
``We decided to ban Florin Chivulete from local championships for the same period he remains suspended by UEFA,'' the national federation's disciplinary commission (CCN) chief Ion Craciunescu said.
``Chivulete slammed Romanian referees' image abroad. It's not normal for him to act in local championships while being banned from international matches.''
On Friday, the referee contested the CCN's decision, saying he would appeal against it to Romanian soccer authorities.
``The CCN's decision is illegal and Craciunescu has made an abuse,'' Chivulete said. ``I'm punished twice for the same accusation.''
French referees plan to delay games
PARIS, Jan 25 (Reuters) - French referees plan to delay the start of first and second division games this weekend as part of a protest against violence.
The referees, represented by UNAF (National Union of French Referees) said they planned to delay kick-offs by between 10 and 20 minutes -- upsetting television schedules.
``Some matches will start 10 minutes late, others 20 minutes late,'' first division referee Bertrand Layec was quoted as saying by the website of sports daily L'Equipe. ``UNAF will guide the operation.''
The referees have been angered by several recent incidents, including assistant referee Nelly Viennot being hit by a flare thrown from the crowd during a match between Strasbourg and Metz.
Bastia coach Frederic Antonetti was sent off after allegedly jostling the fourth official in a match between Bastia and Strasbourg.
Referees threaten to refuse to officiate at replay
PARIS, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Angered by what they see as a lack of support in their campaign against violence, French referees may refuse to officiate at the first division match between Strasbourg and Metz.
The French League (LNF) disciplinary committee on Thursday ordered the match -- which was halted on December 21 after an assistant referee was hit by a missile -- to be replayed behind closed doors on a date to be fixed.
Nelly Viennot, the only woman official to handle French first divsion matches, was taken to hospital after being hit by a flare thrown from the crowd during the original match, which was abandoned by the referee with Strasbourg leading 1-0.
Bernard Saules, president of the National Union of French Referees (UNAF), told radio station RTL on Friday that his group planned to fight back.
He said the referees would refuse to handle the Strasbourg-Metz replay.
``I think the 20 first division referees will all be unavailable for the replay,'' he said.
``There is a climate of suspicion that cannot go on and we need to take immediate action.''
Referee admits ending Cup match early after crowd trouble
MURCIA, Spain, Jan 11 (Reuters) - The referee in Wednesday's third round, first leg King's Cup match between Murcia and Real Zaragoza has said that he blew time more than a minute early because of crowd trouble.
Referee Esquinas Torres said in his report on the match in Murcia, won 3-2 by Zaragoza, that he ended the game in the 88th minute because objects were being thrown on to the pitch and were endangering both players and officials.
After Zaragoza went ahead against the second division side midway through the second half a shower of objects including glass bottles, lighters and oranges rained down on the pitch.
At the end of the match, Esquinas Torres and his assistants had to be escorted from the pitch by the police.
Some 200 fans were later involved in confrontations with the police outside the ground.
``It is a very sad day for Murcia because we were trying to improve the image of an historic club and now these incidents have done a great deal to damage it,'' club president Joaquin Romeu said.
Spanish referees to carry shirt advertising
MADRID, Jan 11 (Reuters) - Spanish referees will be the first in Europe to wear advertising on their shirts, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) announced on Thursday.
After being given the go-ahead by FIFA, referees in the first and second division will carry the name of broadcasting platform Quiero on the front of their shirts during league and cup matches.
This weekend's league matches will see the start of the experiment.
``We have asked FIFA if we can be the pioneers in this initiative and they have agreed that referees can carry advertising on their shirts until they make a definitive decision on the matter in March,'' federation president Angel Maria Villar told reporters.
The four-year contract with the company is worth a total of 800 million pesetas ($4.58 million).
The RFEF said the money generated by the intiative will go to the referees and to the establishment of a new training school for the officials.