Sepp Blatter: 'We are not in a crisis'

With FIFA facing its worst scandal in its 107-year history, a seething Sepp Blatter denied his organization is in crisis Monday as he moved closer to a fourth term as president of soccer's ruling body and the crisis spread to the vote for the 2022 World Cup.
With his only challenger, Mohamed bin Hammam of Qatar, suspended along with FIFA Vice President Jack Warner because of bribery allegations, Blatter acknowledged two days before the election that the two had done "great damage" to soccer.
During an impromptu and sometimes raucous news conference at FIFA headquarters, Blatter gave staccato answers and lectured journalists to behave with "respect" and "elegance" when questioning his 13-year rule.

“ We are not in a crisis. We are only in some difficulties and these difficulties will be solved -- and they will be solved inside this family.
” -- FIFA president Sepp Blatter

"You are not in a bazaar here, you are in the FIFA house," Blatter scolded one reporter.
Blatter ended another turbulent day by promising to restore order, and dismissed evidence that FIFA's second in command had suggested Qatar "bought" the right to host the 2022 World Cup.
The 75-year-old Swiss executive spoke a day after bin Hammam and Warner were sidelined by an ethics committee over allegations that Caribbean soccer leaders were paid $40,000 each to back bin Hammam's now-abandoned presidential bid.
"Crisis? What is a crisis? Football is not in a crisis," Blatter said. "We are not in a crisis, we are only in some difficulties and these difficulties will be solved -- and they will be solved inside this family."
Highlighting the unease within a sport that has long learned to live with scandal, leading sponsor Coca-Cola joined sporting goods giant Adidas in criticizing the state of soccer.
Coca-Cola said in a statement to The Associated Press that the allegations are "distressing and bad for the sport," adding the company has "every expectation that FIFA will resolve this situation in an expedient and thorough manner."
To make matters worse, Blatter failed to come out in defense of FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke, who admitted he had written an email to Warner saying bin Hammam might have been thinking that "you can buy FIFA as they bought the WC."
When asked for a reaction, Blatter said, "I don't answer this question," before adding, "we will come back inside the FIFA on that."
Qatar's World Cup organizers swiftly and "categorically" denied Valcke's claim. They said they were "urgently seeking clarification" from FIFA and are "taking legal advice to consider our options."
Valcke attempted to clarify his remarks Monday, saying that by using the word "bought" he meant that Qatar was using the "financial strength" of an energy-rich nation to lobby for backing, but did not mean to claim any unethical behavior on its part.
"I have at no time made, or was intending to make, any reference to any purchase of votes," Valcke said in a statement about his email to Warner.
Bin Hammam said he would appeal his provisional suspension, saying the proceedings were "absolutely not compliant with any principles of justice" and had been "defined from the very beginning."
The 62-year-old Qatari, who is suspended from his role as president of the Asian Football Confederation, acknowledged on his personal website that he provided $360,000 for "travel and accommodations" of the 25 Caribbean Football Union members attending a May 10-11 meeting in Warner's native Trinidad.
The crisis was sparked by evidence submitted by Chuck Blazer, the American general secretary of the regional soccer group representing North and Central America and the Caribbean and a longtime FIFA executive panel member.
Blazer said there was "much more evidence" to come detailing what happened when bin Hammam and Warner arranged the May 10-11 meeting.
FIFA's suspension of bin Hammam has met with widespread anger in the Middle East. Yousuf al-Serkal, an Asian Football Confederation vice president and an ally of bin Hammam from neighboring United Arab Emirates, said he didn't believe the charges and saw them as a bid to remove him from the presidential race.
"Bin Hammam has been mistreated," al-Serkal said. "Bin Hammam is the right person who should have been elected."
"All the allegations were just from a report," he added. "I feel sorry for the person I have known for long time as a decent person."
Newspapers in Egypt were especially critical of Blatter. The Al-Dustour daily said bin Hammam had "surrendered to the tyranny of Blatter." Al-Gomhuria called Blatter a "sly fox who cannot be easily hunted" and compared him to that country's longtime president, Hosni Mubarak, who was ousted from office earlier this year.

By: http://www.espn.go.com/

Samuel Eto'o keys Inter in Italian final

Samuel Eto'o scored two goals to lift Inter Milan to a 3-1 win over Palermo in the Italian Cup final on Sunday.
His goals either side of halftime set Inter on its way to the defense of the last of its remaining trophies from the three it won in 2010 and gave the Cameroon striker 37 in all competitions this season.
"It is an enormous win," Inter coach Leonardo said. "It has been a strange year for me and a strange year for Inter, but it was a good game and an important win for us.
"It was a very difficult game, but I am delighted with the attitude of our team. We didn't stop working and didn't stop fighting."
Palermo had a number of chances in both halves, but was unable to find a way past Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar, until Ezequiel Munoz pulled a goal back with two minutes to go.
Munoz was then sent off and in injury time Diego Milito put the seal on the win when he sidefooted in from close range.
The loss meant the 35,000 Palermo fans who flocked to the Olympic Stadium will have to wait another year for a chance to see their team win its first ever trophy, but could content themselves with Europa League action next season.
"We have grown and done some fantastic things over the last four years," Palermo midfielder Giulio Migliaccio said. "We showed how we could play tonight. It was always going to be difficult against Inter, but we can go home with our heads held high."

France

PARIS -- Seven-time French champion Lyon booked a place in Champions League qualifying by beating Monaco 2-0 on the last day of the French league season with goals from Pape Diakhate and Lisandro Lopez.
Lyon's win also sent 18th-place Monaco into the second division for the first time since 1976. Lens and last-place Arles already were demoted.
Third-place Lyon ended the championship with 64 points, four more than Paris Saint-Germain, and will play Champions League soccer for the 13th straight year.
Lille, which secured its first title since 1954 last weekend, celebrated in front of its home fans with a 3-2 win over Rennes courtesy of a hat-trick from Moussa Sow, the league's top scorer.
Second-place Marseille was held to a 2-2 draw at Caen.
PSG needed a win at Saint-Etienne to keep some hope of playing the Champions League, but Antoine Lombouare's team was held to a 1-1 draw at Geoffroy-Guichard and will have to be content with Europa League participation.
Auxerre made sure it will stay in the first division next season with a 2-1 win at Lorient.

Germany

SINSHEIM, Germany -- Mario Gomez and Andre Schuerrle scored in the first half and Germany held on to beat Uruguay 2-1 in an exhibition game.
Uruguay has not beaten Germany since their first meeting in 1928, with Germany winning eight and drawing two since.
The match was a replay of the third-place playoff at last year's World Cup in South Africa, which Germany won 3-2.

Ireland

DUBLIN -- Robbie Keane scored in the 23rd minute to give Ireland a 1-0 win over Scotland and victory for the host nation in the inaugural Nations Cup.
The Tottenham striker took a pass and surged forward to beat goalkeeper Allan McGregor from the edge of the penalty area.
The victory gave Ireland a boost ahead of Saturday's 2012 European Championship qualifier against Macedonia.
Wales and Northern Ireland were the other teams in the Nations Cup tournament.

Germany's Miroslav Klose out

Striker Miroslav Klose will miss Germany's 2012 European Championship qualifiers against Austria and Azerbaijan because of bruised ribs.
The German soccer federation says Klose had severe pains Monday morning and that a scan determined he would not be able to train for several days. Germany plays Austria on June 3 and the Azeris four days later.
Klose was injured in Germany's 2-1 victory over Uruguay in a friendly on Sunday.
Klose has scored 61 goals in 109 games for Germany. His eight goals in five qualifiers so far have helped Germany to a perfect 5-0 record in Group A.

By: http://www.espn.go.com/

Barca players parade through city

Barcelona players rode through the Catalan capital in an open-top bus Sunday, showing off the Champions League trophy they won by beating Manchester United in the final.

Thousands of fans greeted the players as the bus -- decked out in the club's red and blue colors with the word "Champions" on the sides -- wound its way through the city.
The players later were introduced one by one before a packed crowd of more than 90,000 fans at Barcelona's Nou Camp stadium, with coach Pep Guardiola carrying the trophy onto the field.
Lionel Messi, who scored in the 3-1 win at Wembley on Saturday night, told the crowd: "I don't have much to say other than to thank you all for your support during this amazing year. Hopefully, there will be many more to come. Long live Barca and long live Catalunya."
The parade came hours after street parties turned violent early Sunday. At least 18 people were hospitalized and more than 80 arrested after revelers attacked officers with bottles, flares and other objects, and destroyed park benches and bus stops.

By: http://www.espn.go.com/

Alex Ferguson wants reporter banned

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has told an aide to ban an Associated Press sports writer after he asked a question about midfielder Ryan Giggs.
Ferguson was speaking at a news conference Tuesday ahead of Saturday's Champions League final against Barcelona when the AP's Rob Harris asked him a question about Giggs, who was named in the British parliament on Monday as the soccer star at the center of a high-profile privacy case.
A judge granted an injunction preventing media from publishing allegations that the player had an affair with reality television contestant Imogen Thomas, but Giggs' name spread all over Twitter and other websites.
On Monday, Member of Parliament John Hemming identified Giggs as the player embroiled in the case during a House of Commons debate.
At Tuesday's news conference with Ferguson, Harris asked about the importance of 37-year-old Giggs to Manchester United. "The most experienced Champions League player in the team is obviously Ryan Giggs. How important is he for the team on Saturday?" Harris said.
"All of the players are important, every one of them," Ferguson replied curtly.
Broadcaster Sky News later broadcast Ferguson's whispered comments to a club media officer.
He was heard saying, "the guy that asked the question about Giggsy ... at the press conference."
She replies: "Which one?"
Ferguson responds: "Him that asked the question ... who?"
The press officer replied: "Oh yeah, I'll tell you later."
Minutes later, Ferguson is heard to ask: "Is he coming on Friday?"
The press officer asks: "The guy with the laptop?"
Ferguson replies: "Aye. Then we'll get him. Ban him on Friday."
It was unclear which event on Friday Ferguson was referring to, although he is due to hold a news conference on the eve of Saturday's game.
Ferguson has a famously prickly relationship with the British media. He has refused to speak to the BBC for several years after a program was broadcast about his son's business activities, and several individual journalists have been banned from attending Manchester United events.
Lou Ferrara, the AP's managing editor for sports, defended Harris.
"Rob was doing his job as a journalist by asking a question," Ferrara said. "Our expectation is that he'll ask more questions, and be afforded the ability to do so, as he covers the world's most popular sport."
Giggs, who is married with two children, was absent from the club's open training session on Tuesday, one of several United players who did not train in front of the media ahead of the final at London's Wembley Stadium.
In suburban Manchester, police said that news photographers' cars parked outside Giggs' home were deliberately damaged Tuesday afternoon. Officers "discovered at least six cars had been vandalized after a group of offenders arrived in a Ford Transit van and attacked the vehicles," police said in a statement.

Julio Grondona admits lack of tests

Julio Grondona, head of the Argentine Football Association, confirmed Wednesday that doping controls were done away with during the World Cup qualifying playoff against Australia in 1993, a move he says was aimed at protecting Diego Maradona and other players.
The acknowledgment of the lack of testing was Grondona's first statement following charges by Maradona in a television interview Monday that the powerful FIFA vice president knew about the arrangement and allowed it to happen.
Maradona also has charged that players were given a "speedy coffee" to perform better during the playoff. Grondona made no comment on those accusations in an interview published Wednesday by the Buenos Aires daily Clarin.
"Maradona didn't play in other qualifying matches, and he came (into these matches) after having problems with drugs," Grondona said in the published story.
Argentina drew the first match in Sydney 1-1 and won the return 1-0 in Buenos Aires to secure a berth in the 1994 tournament.
Maradona and Grondona have been publicly feuding since last year's World Cup, when Grondona declined to renew Maradona's contract as national team coach. Grondona had hired Maradona despite his lack of coaching experience.
The 79-year-old Grondona also has made previous comments about Maradona's well-publicized battle with cocaine and alcohol. Maradona has claimed during the mudslinging that he has been clean for seven years and has promised to sue Grondona.
"Who knows if incorrectly -- out of fear that things might happen -- I tried to do away with doping controls because players came that I don't have in my country and one can't know what they are taking -- or just stopped taking," Grondona was quoted as saying.
Grondona said there were no doping tests for either match, and he said Australia officials had agreed to the deal.
In an earlier interview, Maradona said "we would not have gone to the World Cup" if there had been doping tests.
At the 1994 World Cup in the United States, Maradona was suspended for testing positive for stimulants after a first-round match against Nigeria. FIFA subsequently suspended him for 15 months.
Grondona, who has led the AFA for 32 years, declined to apologize for what happened.
"First of all, I don't have to repent because the majority of the Argentine people accept me." Grondona said. "This is my main motive. I don't feel defrauded. The only thing I think is that in life I look for excellence."
Several of Maradona's teammates have confirmed there were no drug tests for the matches.
Former Australia captain Paul Wade said in published comments Wednesday that Argentina was under so much pressure to qualify for the 1994 finals that he would not have been surprised if they had resorted to taking performance-enhancing drugs.
He added he was "absolutely gutted" after hearing of Maradona's comments.
The feud has even reached Argentina president Cristina Fernandez.
Maradona has criticized Fernandez for allegedly protecting Grondona because of a multimillion dollar television deal under which the national broadcaster shows all national league matches.
To help cash-strapped clubs, the Argentine Football Association in 2009 tore up contracts with its TV rights holders and transferred the package to state-run television. The deal, which offers every league match on free TV, was initially valued at $600 million, but recent reports suggest it was closer to $1 billion.
The arrangement gave clubs such as Boca Juniors and River Plate a much-needed income boost and likely will be a vote-winner for Fernandez, who is expected to seek re-election in October.

By: http://espn.go.com/

Julio Grondona admits lack of tests

Julio Grondona, head of the Argentine Football Association, confirmed Wednesday that doping controls were done away with during the World Cup qualifying playoff against Australia in 1993, a move he says was aimed at protecting Diego Maradona and other players.
The acknowledgment of the lack of testing was Grondona's first statement following charges by Maradona in a television interview Monday that the powerful FIFA vice president knew about the arrangement and allowed it to happen.
Maradona also has charged that players were given a "speedy coffee" to perform better during the playoff. Grondona made no comment on those accusations in an interview published Wednesday by the Buenos Aires daily Clarin.
"Maradona didn't play in other qualifying matches, and he came (into these matches) after having problems with drugs," Grondona said in the published story.
Argentina drew the first match in Sydney 1-1 and won the return 1-0 in Buenos Aires to secure a berth in the 1994 tournament.
Maradona and Grondona have been publicly feuding since last year's World Cup, when Grondona declined to renew Maradona's contract as national team coach. Grondona had hired Maradona despite his lack of coaching experience.
The 79-year-old Grondona also has made previous comments about Maradona's well-publicized battle with cocaine and alcohol. Maradona has claimed during the mudslinging that he has been clean for seven years and has promised to sue Grondona.
"Who knows if incorrectly -- out of fear that things might happen -- I tried to do away with doping controls because players came that I don't have in my country and one can't know what they are taking -- or just stopped taking," Grondona was quoted as saying.
Grondona said there were no doping tests for either match, and he said Australia officials had agreed to the deal.
In an earlier interview, Maradona said "we would not have gone to the World Cup" if there had been doping tests.
At the 1994 World Cup in the United States, Maradona was suspended for testing positive for stimulants after a first-round match against Nigeria. FIFA subsequently suspended him for 15 months.
Grondona, who has led the AFA for 32 years, declined to apologize for what happened.
"First of all, I don't have to repent because the majority of the Argentine people accept me." Grondona said. "This is my main motive. I don't feel defrauded. The only thing I think is that in life I look for excellence."
Several of Maradona's teammates have confirmed there were no drug tests for the matches.
Former Australia captain Paul Wade said in published comments Wednesday that Argentina was under so much pressure to qualify for the 1994 finals that he would not have been surprised if they had resorted to taking performance-enhancing drugs.
He added he was "absolutely gutted" after hearing of Maradona's comments.
The feud has even reached Argentina president Cristina Fernandez.
Maradona has criticized Fernandez for allegedly protecting Grondona because of a multimillion dollar television deal under which the national broadcaster shows all national league matches.
To help cash-strapped clubs, the Argentine Football Association in 2009 tore up contracts with its TV rights holders and transferred the package to state-run television. The deal, which offers every league match on free TV, was initially valued at $600 million, but recent reports suggest it was closer to $1 billion.
The arrangement gave clubs such as Boca Juniors and River Plate a much-needed income boost and likely will be a vote-winner for Fernandez, who is expected to seek re-election in October.

By: http://espn.go.com/

Canadian finale postponed again

The Canadian Championship finale between Toronto FC and the Vancouver Whitecaps was postponed until July 2 because of the threat of more stormy weather Thursday.
On Wednesday night, a relentless lightning and rain storm forced officials to wipe out play in the 60th minute with Vancouver leading 1-0 in the second match in the two-game, total-goals series. Under Canadian Championship rules, the game must be replayed from the start.
The Major League Soccer rivals played to a 1-1 draw in the opener last week in Vancouver.
The Voyageurs Trophy winner will receive a spot in 2011-12 CONCACAF Champions League play.

FIFA says it broke up fixing scheme

United Arab Emirates -- FIFA says it broke up a scheme to rig a soccer game in the United Arab Emirates that it believes is part of a wider match-fixing scandal stretching from Finland to the Far East.
Tipped off on alleged plans to manipulate a March 26 exhibition between Jordan and Kuwait, FIFA sent investigators to the stadium in Sharjah, the emirate just north of Dubai.
FIFA says the game bore all the hallmarks of suspicious matches in Turkey and elsewhere -- local referees were replaced by foreigners and the match ended in a 1-1 draw with both goals coming from penalties.
According to FIFA's early warning system of betting monitoring, online gambling sites were abuzz with action from the match. That prompted FIFA investigators to reveal their presence to organizers at halftime.

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Sepp Blatter put under probe, FIFA says

FIFA placed its own president, Sepp Blatter, under investigation Friday in a widening bribery scandal just days before Blatter faces re-election against Mohamed bin Hammam.
With both candidates now under investigation, it is unclear whether Wednesday's election will proceed.
Blatter is accused of ignoring alleged bribes to Caribbean voters, and soccer's governing body said he must submit a statement by Saturday before appearing at an ethics committee hearing in Zurich the next day.
"I cannot comment on the proceedings that have been opened against me," Blatter said in a statement released by his advisers. "The facts will speak for themselves."
Bin Hammam denies accusations of buying votes. The Qatari official contends there is "increasing evidence of a conspiracy" against him, and he is confident the ethics panel will "see through this tawdry maneuver" to remove him from the race.
Namibian judge Petrus Damaseb, who will chair the ethics hearing, is to deliver the panel's initial findings Sunday night at FIFA headquarters. The candidates could be banned if wrongdoing is found or provisionally suspended if the panel needs more time to study evidence.
Bin Hammam requested on Thursday that FIFA also investigate Blatter in the affair that has thrown the sport's leadership into chaos. British sports minister Hugh Robertson said the election had "descended into a farce" and should be postponed.
Michel Platini, president of European soccer's ruling organization and a former French soccer great, is a contender to be FIFA president in 2015. He said in London on Friday that he expected next week's election to be held.

"To not have elections, you need three-quarters of the assembly who will say, 'No elections,' " said Platini, a FIFA executive member for nine years who has never been linked to scandal. "You know the people who are corrupt; they know who can be corruptible. They know I am incorruptible."
In Moscow, Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin offered support to Blatter, calling the allegations "complete nonsense." Putin was a a key figure in Russia's winning bid for the 2018 World Cup.
Bin Hammam and senior FIFA official Jack Warner were summoned Wednesday to go before an ethics panel on charges of bribing voters during a Caribbean campaign visit.

The allegations were made by American FIFA executive committee member Chuck Blazer. Blatter, who is seeking a fourth term as FIFA president, has described suggestions he "masterminded" the scandal to remove his Qatari rival from the race as "ludicrous."
Up to 25 delegates who have votes in the election were allegedly offered cash bribes at the May 10-11 conference in Warner's native Trinidad, where he is a government minister. Delegates were allegedly offered $40,000 in cash for "development projects."
"Nobody has ever tried to hide the fact that Mr. bin Hammam paid for the delegates' travel and accommodation expenses and covered the meeting's administrative costs," a statement on the Qatari official's blog said Friday.
The meeting was set up after bin Hammam, who travels on a diplomatic passport, missed the CONCACAF regional body's congress in Miami, citing problems getting a U.S. entry visa.

Bin Hammam contends Blatter broke ethics rules by not reporting apparent corruption attempts. FIFA's ethics rules require officials to "report any evidence of violations of conduct."
Bin Hammam, Warner and two Caribbean Football Union officials were ordered to go before the ethics panel based on Blazer's explosive file of evidence.
Warner, a senior FIFA official for 28 years, allegedly said "the FIFA president would have had no issue" with the payments.
Support from the Caribbean has long been seen as crucial to unseating Blatter, who took the presidency in 1998 when bin Hammam helped manage his campaign.
Blazer, the highest-ranking American in FIFA, has been an executive committee and CONCACAF regional body colleague of the men he accuses for more than 15 years.
Blatter is the eighth current member of FIFA's 24-man ruling panel under investigation for alleged corruption. Two former members were suspended after a British newspaper investigation into vote-trading leading to the 2018 and 2022 World Cup votes.
FIFA was sifting through evidence Friday while also preparing for next week's gathering of 208 soccer nations in Zurich. Blatter has called for accusations made in a British Parliamentary inquiry this month to be resolved before election day.
Lawmakers published claims two weeks ago from a Qatari bid whistleblower that African soccer president Issa Hayatou of Cameroon and Jacques Anouma of the Ivory Coast received $1.5 million bribes to vote for the emirate's successful 2022 bid.
The former head of England's failed 2018 bid, David Triesman, told the inquiry that Warner asked for money to build an education center and buy 2010 World Cup broadcast rights for Haiti. Warner denied the allegation.
Triesman said three other FIFA voters made improper requests for inducements: Nicolas Leoz, South America's soccer president from Paraguay; Ricardo Teixeira, who heads Brazil's 2014 World Cup preparations; and Worawi Makudi, a bin Hammam loyalist from Thailand. They have all denied the accusations.
FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke and legal director Marco Villiger will take the lead on making decisions on whether any officials should face separate ethics investigations.
The ethics panel suspended Nigerian Amos Adamu and Reynald Temarii from Tahiti last November following an undercover sting by The Sunday Times. Adamu is appealing his three-year ban for bribery to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and Temarii accepted his one-year sanction for breaking FIFA loyalty rules.

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Chelsea, Carlo Ancelotti part ways

Chelsea parted ways with manager Carlo Ancelotti on Sunday, less than two hours after the Blues finished second in the Premier League.
After Sunday's 1-0 loss to Everton, Chelsea finished with 71 points, their worst season since Roman Abramovich bought the club in 2003.

Ancelotti won the Premier League and FA Cup titles last year in his first season in charge, but the London club failed to win a trophy this season and was knocked out of the Champions League in the quarterfinals.
"This season's performances have fallen short of expectations and the club feels the time is right to make this change ahead of next season's preparations," Chelsea said in a statement. "Chelsea's long-term football objectives and ambitions remain unchanged and we will now be concentrating all our efforts on identifying a new manager."

Diego Maradona: Argentina given drugs

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina -- Diego Maradona says Argentina players took banned drugs before a qualifying match for the 1994 World Cup.

He accuses FIFA vice president Julio Grondona, the head of Argentina's Football Association, of being in on the scheme.
Maradona says there were no drug controls for the 1993 qualifier against Australia in Buenos Aires. He claims the team doctor put a banned stimulant in their coffee.
Argentina won 1-0 and advanced to the tournament in the United States, where Maradona was later expelled for a positive drug test and the team lost in the quarterfinals.
Maradona said Monday on television that Grondona had to know all about it. Grondona had no immediate comment.

Diego Forlan sought by Dubai club

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- The Dubai soccer team that hired Diego Maradona as coach is now pursuing Diego Forlan, the Uruguayan striker who was honored as the best player at the last World Cup.
Al Wasl said Tuesday it is awaiting a response from Forlan's team, Atletico Madrid. Al Wasl says it has made an "improved bid" after its initial offer was rejected by the Spanish club.
Al Wasl did not say how much it is willing to pay the 32-year-old player, who won the Golden Ball award at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

The club is intent on bolstering its roster now that Maradona has signed a two-year contract. Maradona has been out of coaching since leading Argentina to the 2010 World Cup quarterfinals.

Alex Ferguson wants reporter banned

LONDON -- Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has told an aide to ban an Associated Press sports writer after he asked a question about midfielder Ryan Giggs.
Ferguson was speaking at a news conference Tuesday ahead of Saturday's Champions League final against Barcelona when the AP's Rob Harris asked him a question about Giggs, who was named in the British parliament on Monday as the soccer star at the center of a high-profile privacy case.
A judge granted an injunction preventing media from publishing allegations that the player had an affair with reality television contestant Imogen Thomas, but Giggs' name spread all over Twitter and other websites.
On Monday, Member of Parliament John Hemming identified Giggs as the player embroiled in the case during a House of Commons debate.
At Tuesday's news conference with Ferguson, Harris asked about the importance of 37-year-old Giggs to Manchester United. "The most experienced Champions League player in the team is obviously Ryan Giggs. How important is he for the team on Saturday?" Harris said.
"All of the players are important, every one of them," Ferguson replied curtly.
Broadcaster Sky News later broadcast Ferguson's whispered comments to a club media officer.
He was heard saying, "the guy that asked the question about Giggsy ... at the press conference."
She replies: "Which one?"
Ferguson responds: "Him that asked the question ... who?"
The press officer replied: "Oh yeah, I'll tell you later."
Minutes later, Ferguson is heard to ask: "Is he coming on Friday?"
The press officer asks: "The guy with the laptop?"
Ferguson replies: "Aye. Then we'll get him. Ban him on Friday."
It was unclear which event on Friday Ferguson was referring to, although he is due to hold a news conference on the eve of Saturday's game.
Ferguson has a famously prickly relationship with the British media. He has refused to speak to the BBC for several years after a program was broadcast about his son's business activities, and several individual journalists have been banned from attending Manchester United events.
Lou Ferrara, the AP's managing editor for sports, defended Harris.
"Rob was doing his job as a journalist by asking a question," Ferrara said. "Our expectation is that he'll ask more questions, and be afforded the ability to do so, as he covers the world's most popular sport."
Giggs, who is married with two children, was absent from the club's open training session on Tuesday, one of several United players who did not train in front of the media ahead of the final at London's Wembley Stadium.
In suburban Manchester, police said that news photographers' cars parked outside Giggs' home were deliberately damaged Tuesday afternoon. Officers "discovered at least six cars had been vandalized after a group of offenders arrived in a Ford Transit van and attacked the vehicles," police said in a statement.

Porto wins Europa League title

Porto proved it doesn't need Jose Mourinho to produce something special.
Eight years after Mourinho led Porto to the 2003 UEFA Cup title, another young Portuguese coach helped the club to victory in the same tournament that helped launch the Special One.

 

 

Radamel Falcao scored in the 44th minute, giving Porto and 33-year-old coach Andre Villas-Boas a 1-0 victory over Braga on Wednesday night in an all-Portuguese final of the Europa League.
"You can dream about goals, and we dreamed the most about winning this tournament," Villas-Boas said. "I believe we always felt obliged to win the Europa League. We sort of felt we owed it to ourselves."
After winning the 2003 UEFA Cup, Mourinho led Porto to the title in the 2004 Champions League, Europe's top club tournament. He went on to win the English Premier League with Chelsea in 2005 and 2006, then won consecutive Serie A titles with Inter Milan 2009 and 2010. He also led Inter to the 2010 Champions League title before switching to Real Madrid.
In winning the continent's No. 2 club competition, which was renamed last season, Villas-Boas became the youngest coach with a European title. In his first season at Porto, he has downplayed comparisons to Mourinho and said he wasn't the key factor in the club's success.
"I'm just a gear in a very effective club, with super talents. That's the reality," Villas-Boas said. "Players are decisive in the game of football."
Having gone into coaching as a teenager, Villas-Boas said he doesn't plan to emulate figures such as Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson by remaining on the sidelines for decades.
"I hope to have a very short career," he said with a laugh, adding that he only expects to stay at the top level for about another decade.
"It's very stressful." he said. "I have ambition to leave a mark on the game, and I have an ambition to win much more, don't get me wrong. ... I am ambitious, and the people around me are ambitious. But everyone has their own prospects."
Falcao played little part in the match before breaking away from his marker to score, heading a perfect cross from Fred Guarin into the top corner.
"The big secret of this team is that we're a big family, a family that gets on well," Falcao said. "We're a very humble team. ... We always play for the good of the entire team, and when we play like that, each player will give his best."
Porto also won this season's Portuguese league with a 30-0-3 record. It tries to complete a treble when it plays Guimaraes in Sunday's Portuguese Cup final.
"There's only one trophy missing, which is the Portuguese Cup," Villas-Boas said. "I do hope my team can win another trophy."
Substitute Mossoro nearly scored for Braga one minute into the second half but his low shot was saved by Helton.
Braga was playing in its first major European final after ousting another Portuguese power, Benfica, in the semifinals.
"The difference lies in the details, small details that may change the result of a match," Braga coach Domingos Paciencia said. "It's not easy to lose, but I think our players have every reason to be proud of our efforts."
Villas-Boas will enter next season hoping to match Mourinho's feat of following the No. 2 title with a victory in the Champions League, which has been the exclusive domain of England, Spanish and Italian clubs since Porto's win.
"If you think that Porto 2003-2004 was amazing, Porto is back in a final in 2011, and that is something very, very good and important," Villas-Boas said. "The only thing we have to regret today was that the spectacle wasn't up to the Portuguese standards."

By: espn.go.com

FIFA RANKING - United States ranked No. 22

World Cup winner Spain stayed at the top of the FIFA rankings in May after a quiet month on the international scene left the top 10 unchanged.
The Netherlands remained No. 2, followed by Brazil, Germany and Argentina.
The only movement in the top 20 saw No. 13 Chile switch places with Japan.
The United States leads CONCACAF at No. 22 going into the Gold Cup, which starts June 5.
Senegal soared 11 places to 40th to return to the top 50 for the first time since January 2009.
Afghanistan reached its highest place since the rankings were introduced in 1993, climbing 10 places to 164th.
Only seven matches -- all friendlies -- have been played since the April rankings.

English FA won't vote in FIFA election

Unable to choose between two candidates tainted by allegations of corruption scandal, the English Football Association said Thursday it will not vote in the election to choose the next FIFA president.
Sepp Blatter's campaign for a fourth term has been overshadowed by allegations that six members of the FIFA executive committee received or demanded bribes during the bidding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
Blatter's challenger is Mohamed bin Hammam, who helped to deliver the 2022 World Cup to his homeland of Qatar, which is alleged to have paid two of the accused FIFA executives $1.5 million to vote for the Gulf nation.
"The FA board has today agreed to abstain in the vote for the presidency of FIFA," FA chairman David Bernstein said in a statement. "There are a well-reported range of issues both recent and current which, in the view of the FA board, make it difficult to support either candidate."
Blatter was elected FIFA president in 1998 and is seeking a fourth four-year term. Having been re-elected unopposed in 2007, Blatter is facing his first challenger since he beat Issa Hayatou in 2002.
"I think it is a little bit strange when the No. 1 one association in the world, i.e. the FA, have two candidates in front of them and cannot make a decision which one to support," Blatter said shortly before the FA announced its decision.
According to evidence presented to the British parliament by The Sunday Times newspaper, executive committee members Hayatou and Jacques Anouma were paid $1.5 million to vote for Qatar last year. Blatter said he wants FIFA's corruption investigation to produce its findings before the June 1 election.
David Triesman, the chairman of the FA until last May, also told lawmakers last week that four long-standing FIFA executive committee members -- Jack Warner, Nicolas Leoz, Ricardo Teixeira and Worawi Makudi -- engaged in "improper and unethical" conduct in the 2018 bidding, which was won by Russia.
The FA is still unhappy that England only received two votes in last December's vote for the 2018 World Cup.
One FA board member, Roger Burden, was acting chairman at the time of the vote but withdrew his application to take the job on a full-time basis because he said he could no longer trust FIFA.
"The FA values its relationships with its international football partners extremely highly," said Bernstein, Burden's successor as FA chairman. "We are determined to play an active and influential role through our representation within both UEFA and FIFA. We will continue to work hard to bring about any changes we think would benefit all of international football."
Blatter said he tried to persuade Bernstein to back him at a meeting at Wembley Stadium in April.
"He asked me what FIFA can do for England and I put it the other way, 'What can England do for FIFA with their efficient Premier League?" Blatter said in Zurich. "They should ask, 'What can we do for FIFA?' They have a lot of rights but it's also a responsibility for them. I think Mr. Bernstein got the message but I don't know if the whole board is on the same track.
"I think he understood exactly what I said. The importance of the FA in the world of football and in the family of FIFA is very important."

Carlos Tévez gives the triumph him to the Manchester City before the Stoke City

The Argentinean Carlos Tévez author of two of the three goals of his equipment, took to the Manchester City to the triumph before the Stoke City and to the third seat of Liga of England from where he separated to the Arsenal for want of a day for the closing of the competition.
In the pending encounter of the thirty seventh day of the Premier postponed because of the end of Glass that faced protagonists such,
' apaché
The Tévez

By: http://www.libero.com.pe/
marked the first one and third goal to the 14 and 65 minutes, respectively, and Joleon Lescott wrote down the second to the 57 minutes. the Manchester City demonstrated an evident superiority before an adversary anchored in the equator of the table and without objectives in game. Argentinean added his twentieth first goal in the Premier and pursued to the Bulgarian of the Manchester United Dimitri Berbatov in the top of the classification of goleadores of the competition.

Pepe commented that Barcelona him " seeded " roche with Alves

Pepe
" Everybody saw that I did not touch
Pepe

knows clearly that the red one that saw in central defense of Real Madrid reviewed the present time of his square, his situation and after remembering his expulsion before Barcelona he confessed that there was intention on the part of the azulgranas " to throw it " during the games of going in the semifinal of the Champions League to Alves We could have passed the eliminatory one, but it did not depend on us. The Barza looked for the form to throw to me and later it made his work ". the Bernabéu plotted the course of the semifinal: " That expulsion changed everything to it. In Liga Messi it did the goal to us of penalti and in the end of Glass it did not do too much ", indicated.

The best one of history: Batiste affirmed that to Messi only him lack world-wide title

 Batiste Lionel is demonstrating it ". " Of the age, it is in favor way to be greatest. Both they are great players.
The technician of the Argentina selection of soccer, Sergio Batista declared that Lionel Messi goes " way to be greatest ", nevertheless said that it needs a world-wide title to be the best one of history.
" For being the best player of history, to Messi it needs a title of the world ", declared
Batiste compared to Diego Maradona with the " flea ", the DT indicated that " the ' 10 ' demonstrated to be the best one of the world,
Batiste clarified even though " to be the best player of history, to Messi it needs a title of the world ", reviewed.
" Hopefully it has it. It is what it wants, to gain a title with the Argentine selection ", wished to be the trainer who will direct it in the next America Glass commented.

by: http://www.libero.com.pe/

Milan would offer 40 million euros by Javier Pastore

Club AC Milan of Italy would be arranged to pay 40 million euros by happens of the player of Palermo, Javier Pastore indicated a Portuguese newspaper.
The newspaper To Ball published that
The objective for
The data Pastore, of 21 years, is being followed by the Chelsea,

Pastore would be in coqueteos with the recent champion of the Calcium and that would pay 40 million euros so that the ex- Hurricane happens to " the rossonera " institution. the Milan is that it can try to revalidar the Italian championship, but to go by the conquest of Liga de Campeones although they do not want to contract players who are " individualistic ", but that plays for the equipment. Real Madrid and Barcelona

Chelsea deflated by title loss - Cech

Goalkeeper Petr Cech has admitted Chelsea suffered a hangover from surrendering the Barclays Premier League title in their disjointed draw with Newcastle.

There was a sense of transition Sunday's 2-2 draw, with Chelsea parading their new kit, manager Ancelotti making six changes which seemed to hint at next season's line-up, and a subdued lap of honour in which the Italian waved at the end of what looks set to be his final home game in charge.

"It seemed to me that in each of us there was still disappointment from not winning the title, as on Saturday Manchester United captured it," Cech told his personal website, www.petr-cech.cz.

"We wanted badly to win the last match of the season at Stamford Bridge and conceding in the last minute is not the best way to reward our fans, who have supported us all year. It somehow sums up our season in the way that there was always something missing for us to finish the job."

If the team that started against Alan Pardew's hinted at the shape of things to come, serious work is needed during the summer to improve on their performance.

Nevertheless, Cech insisted it was not all doom and gloom, with a draw ultimately proving enough to secure second place the league.

Josh McEachran also made his long-awaited first league start, the 18-year-old clearly possessing the talent to become a regular for many years.

Cech said: "Despite the bad result, I found two positives in it. The first one was that Arsenal were beaten, which means we have definitely secured second place in the league.

"The second positive is the performance of our young midfielder, McEachran. He started the game and did really well.

"Josh only recently turned 18 but if he follows the path he has been on, he is surely destined to become a big player at Chelsea. He is enormously talented, so it is up to him."


by: http://www.football.co.uk/

When everything began

This Sunday anniversary of the victory of the United is marked the 20 before Barcelona in the end of the Recopa of the UEFA, encounter that initiated everything for Ferguson in the bench of the English set.
This Sunday anniversary of the party is marked the 20 that began everything for Sir Alex Ferguson in the bench of the Manchester United FC. Before defeating to the FC Barcelona in the end of the Recopa of the UEFA in Rótterdam, the ' Network Evils' had been 23 years without raising an European title. That victory by 2-1 opened the faucet and since then more trophies have been obtained many.
" It was a great passage to the front, is no doubt of that. The tactical exposition of Barcelona in the end put the very difficult things to us in the first part. They played with two ends and without front center, and filled the center of the field with more players. Once we organized ourselves in the rest, we were better. It was one night wonderful for us ", said Ferguson to the official magazine of the club Inside United.
The 44,000 spectators of Of Kuip saw like the men directed by Johann Cruyff, between whom they were Michael Laudrup, Ronald Koeman and a great number of international Spaniards, could not hold the English pressure. The United went ahead in the 68 ' by means of Mark Hughes, who played before his ex- equipment and finished off a lack hurled by Steve Bruce.
Seven minutes later, the own Hughes did the second when beating to Carlos Busquets (father of Sergio). For want of ten minutes for the end, Koeman reduced distances with a lack launching. In spite of the expulsion of Nando, Barcelona continued tightening and had many occasions to obtain the tie. " They were the ten worse minutes of my life ", recognized Ferguson. But the United took the title and changed its luck.
Everything what had gained the United in the 20 years previous to that end of Holland was four FA Cups, including the one of the previous season. Since then, it has conquered other four, in addition to 13 titles of league, Supercopa of the two UEFA 1991 and the UEFA Champions League. It can add another one more if it defeats to Barcelona in the end that will dispute the 28 of May in London.
The present group of the club must much to those employees of 1991, who were the one who laid the the foundations of these recent successes. Ryan Giggs is been all these years in the equipment of Sir Alex Ferguson. If the United is able to win, will be people who remember the first time that both sets saw the faces in a continental end. But, how it would be now the European panorama if Clayton Blackmore had not removed that right ball in the line of goal 20 years ago?

by: es.uefa.com

Rejected the resource of Madrid

The Committee of Appeal of the UEFA has misestimated the request of the Spanish club with respect to its protests in relation to the away game of the semifinal of the UEFA Champions League before Barcelona.
In its meeting of this Monday in Nyon, the Committee of Appeal of the UEFA has rejected the resource of Real Madrid CF against the decision taken by the Committee of Control and Discipline of the UEFA with respect to the protests of the Spanish club in relation to the away game from the semifinal of the UEFA Champions League between Real Madrid and the FC Barcelona. The protests spilled by Real Madrid were against the behavior of the players of Barcelona during this party.

by: es.uefa.com

Manchester City v Stoke City: Preview

Manager Roberto Mancini will wait until Saturday morning before deciding what role captain Carlos Tevez will play in Manchester City's first FA Cup final for 30 years.

Tevez has been struggling with a hamstring injury and even though he made a substitute appearance in Tuesday's win over Tottenham, Mancini knows the South American is far from 100% and must choose whether to start with him against Stoke or put him on the bench.

Gareth Barry (hamstring) has recovered, meaning the only absentees will be Kolo Toure, who remains suspended, and Jerome Boateng (knee).

Mancini has warned his players beating Stoke will be harder than disposing of Manchester United in the semi.

After clinching a coveted top-four berth by beating Tottenham on Tuesday, Mancini's men are now odds-on to end their 35-year trophy drought at Wembley.

But Mancini is trying to dampen down expectations. In their own semi-final destruction of Bolton, and by putting Arsenal to the sword at the Britannia Stadium last weekend, Mancini realises Tony Pulis' outfit are a more complete team than many give them credit for.

"Saturday will be harder than United," he said. "Stoke are a strong team and a very difficult team.

"If we want to win we need to play very well. We should pay attention in every situation. We cannot concede anything. To think Stoke are an easy team would be a mistake."

Injured Stoke pair Robert Huth (knee) and Matthew Etherington (hamstring) are due to have fitness tests.

Huth is having sugar injections after coming off in the victory over Arsenal which stretched their run to one defeat in nine games.

Goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen, a regular in cup games, is expected to retain his place but Ricardo Fuller, Danny Higginbotham and Mamady Sidibe are ruled out through injury.

Pulis believes the power of the people could see his club lift the Cup for the first time in its history.

Pulis has nothing but praise for the club's raucous supporters as they prepare to face City.

Stoke may be the underdogs but go into the final showdown in a rich vein of form after only one defeat in nine games.

Pulis said: "We have built a community club over the last five and a half years that the supporters have really grasped and taken us forward.

"It has not been the players, it has not been the chairman or coaching staff, it has been the whole community that has done this.

"The FA Cup is about dreams. I have watched City a couple of times and they are a very good side with excellent players. I am sure next year they will move up an extra gear.

"They are an emerging force and we know what sort of task we are facing. But we are determined the players are relaxed and the supporters have a great day."

Blackburn Rovers v Manchester United: Preview

Blackburn have been boosted by the return from injury of three players ahead of the Ewood Park clash with Barclays Premier League champions-elect Manchester United.

Defender Phil Jones, who was a late omission from the team that drew against West Ham last week with a back problem, has recovered while Michel Salgado (knee) and David Dunn are also fit after missing the trip to Upton Park.

Ryan Nelsen and Vince Grella are definite absentees and Ruben Rochina is a doubt after dislocating his shoulder in the reserves' win against United on Wednesday, a game in which the young Spaniard scored both Rovers' goals.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson intends to give Javier Hernandez a proper rest this summer after the Mexican's incredible efforts for the club this season.

Hernandez is once again expected to lead the United attack at Blackburn when a single point will be enough for the Red Devils to claim a record 19th league title with a game to spare.

The 22-year-old has been a major influence over the past couple of months and took his tally to 20 for the season with his 36-second opener against Chelsea last week.

However, by the time Hernandez has fulfilled his commitments for United and then appeared for his country at the Gold Cup in June, Ferguson accepts his striker will need a break.

So, rather than pushing him straight on a pre-season tour of the United States, as he had planned, it seems Hernandez can expect to be excused from duty.

"Once he plays in the Gold Cup, Javier will be given a proper rest and we will take it up from there," said Ferguson.

"His performances in training and in games suggests there is no tiredness at all, but we will keep monitoring that.

"If we get the result he will get the rest. If we don't then he will play next Sunday."

Ferguson is planning to rest keeper Edwin van der Sar for Saturday's trip.

After totting up 42 appearances already this term, Ferguson feels it is time the 40-year-old had a break.

"I may rest Edwin," he said.

"Given the programme of the last few weeks and the fact he has played in every game, it is important to take the opportunity to give him a break."

Hearts 0-3 Celtic: Report

Neil Lennon was attacked by a fan at Tynecastle as Celtic kept their Clydesdale Bank Premier League title hopes alive with a 3-0 win over Hearts.

When Gary Hooper scored his second goal in the 49th minute - after Jambos midfielder David Obua had been sent off by referee Craig Thomson before the break for raising a hand to Charlie Mulgrew - a supporter came out the main stand to grapple with the Parkhead boss.

The equipment of Guardiola ties before Levante (1-1), and sum his

The FC Barcelona has proclaimed champion of League by third
consecutive time, after tying in Valencia before Levante by 1-1.
Those of Guardiola lived a very calm party, and with the goal of
Keita, champions saw themselves from minute 27. Caicedo for the local
equipment tied just before the rest. As the result were worth to them
to both, the rest of the party was intrascendente. Therefore,
Barcelona proclaims champion of League for want of two days for the
end of temporad, number 21 of its history.

No early comeback for Dann

Birmingham defender Scott Dann will resist the temptation to rush back into action for the finale of the battle for Barclays Premier League survival.

Dann has been sidelined since tearing his hamstring during the Carling Cup semi-final, first leg clash with West Ham at Upton Park in early January. The former Coventry player is edging closer to full fitness but will concentrate on ensuring he is ready for the start of next season.

Dann said: "I think at this stage of the season, it would be pointless trying to rush back into it for one game. I want to be out there playing but it's not worth the risk so close to the end of the season."

He added: "I'm fit and doing everything now. I'm back out working with the ball. I'll be training with the lads before long but, as for match time, I don't think so.

"Hopefully the lads can get the points to make them mathematically safe.

"The rehab has gone well but when I did the injury, I knew I'd be out for the rest of the season.

"I just set my mind on getting myself fit, pushing myself hard so I'll be ready for the start of next season."

Dann formed an impressive partnership with Roger Johnson before the setback and missed the Carling Cup final triumph over Arsenal.

Vidic not jumping the gun

Nemanja Vidic will only allow Manchester United to start their title party when he knows it is impossible for Chelsea to wreck it.

Although Carlo Ancelotti's men have little chance of overhauling the Red Devils following Sunday's defeat at Old Trafford, mathematically it is still possible. United require a point from their final two games against Blackburn and Blackpool and Vidic is not taking anything for granted.

"We will only start to celebrate when we have the trophy," said the United skipper. "A big part of the job is done but it is not finished. We still have to perform at Blackburn."

Vidic does not need any reminding that Ewood Park was where United surrendered their crown last term.

Coming in the wake of their Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich, a goalless draw turned the Red Devils' dressing room into a morgue.

The difference could not be more marked if United were to match that result this time around, confirming, as it would, a record 19th league championship.

Not that Vidic has any intention of settling for such a result.

"A draw would be enough but Manchester United do not play like that," he said. "We always try to win and Saturday will be no different.

"We know Blackburn are a good side on their own ground. We drew there last year. They are a strong, so we will have one week to prepare if we are to win the league."

Everton v Manchester City: Preview

Everton boss David Moyes would love the riches of Manchester City, but claims there is no room for jealousy.

Moyes is focusing only on his own side as he prepares for the visit of Roberto Mancini's expensively-assembled FA Cup finalists in the Barclays Premier League.

Moyes recognises the continuing progress of the Eastlands outfit under the ownership of Sheikh Mansour.

But while City can take a significant step towards their season's ultimate goal of Champions League qualification with victory at Goodison Park, Moyes is not worrying about his own club's relatively meagre resources.

The Scot said: "I think all managers would look and say there is a bit of envy because of what they have got, but you can't do that.

"You have got to get on with your own job and look at your own team and what you can do.

"The players play for Everton and they play against whoever is put out.

"We look at Manchester City and acknowledge they have a team full of talent, but so do we and hopefully we will be able to show that."

Moyes sees parallels between Everton and City as both have spent large portions of their histories in the shadow of more illustrious neighbours.

That, he believes, makes for feisty encounters between the sides.

"We have always been, in both cities, underdogs," said Moyes, whose side have actually dominated recent meetings with City, winning six of the last seven.

"Both of us have been fighting to overhaul the biggest teams in the city and so from that point of view there is a game on.

"But Manchester City in recent years have become one of the biggest clubs not just in our country, but the world.

"It will make for a good game and hopefully a competitive one."

Key pair Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta are both getting closer to full match fitness after playing for just over an hour in last week's disappointing draw at Wigan.

John Heitinga could also come back into contention after two games out with a hamstring injury.

Meanwhile, Mancini has warned Manchester City not to ease off as they close in on the Champions League.

A place in Europe's number one club competition could be secured as early as Saturday evening should City overcome Everton at Goodison Park and Tottenham lose to Blackpool in the later game.

More likely, City will have to wait until next Tuesday's home encounter with Spurs to confirm their new exalted status.

Not that Mancini is getting stressed about that. He is just imploring his team to retain their focus.

"It is important to reach the Champions League by the end of the season, it doesn't matter whether it is Saturday or Tuesday or any of the four games we still have left," he said.

"We need another four points. Then we would be 100% sure.

"It was the first target we had when we started the season and at this moment we have a big chance.

"But we have done nothing yet."

Micah Richards could return to the Manchester City squad.

The full-back has been missing for six weeks with a hamstring injury but Mancini is ready to hand Richards a place on the bench.

Pablo Zabaleta and Nigel de Jong have recovered from minor knocks but Carlos Tevez (hamstring) is not expected to be involved.

http://www.football.co.uk

Alan Smith: Barcelona’s daring attitude against Real Madrid reaps beautiful Champions League results

The killer strike when it came encapsulated everything that we love about this Barcelona side. More than that, it required the kind of audacity no other team in the world would dare to show, or indeed have the ability to produce on a grand stage such as a Champions League semi-final.

Barca’s insistence on playing out from the back must be heart-stopping at times, not just for their fans but for their manager too. Pep Guardiola, for instance, must have gone nuts when a risky square pass resulted in Real Madrid grabbing an equaliser.

But what could he say? It’s in Barca’s DNA. That daring attitude had already created Pedro’s exquisite opening goal when their goalkeeper, Victor Valdes, rather than playing safe with a thump upfield, decided to dink a cheeky ball out to Daniel Alves. If Valdes had got it wrong, Real would have regained possession in a dangerous position.

But Valdes didn’t get it wrong. He got it spot on, floating the ball inches over the head of a Real player to release the full-back up the right flank.

From there, Alves had the time to look inside and pick out Andres Iniesta, who had drifted into space

40 yards from goal. Real’s Lassana Diarra was closest to Iniesta but nowhere near close enough to prevent the visionary midfielder from picking his spot.

Barcelona v Real Madrid: Five Cristiano Ronaldo no-shows

Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo did not register a single shot on goal against Barcelona. And it wasn't the only time the world's most expensive player has failed to deliver on the big occasion.

Barcelona advances to Champions League final

BARCELONA, Spain – Barcelona players jumped in celebration, throwing Eric Abidal into the air. After four tense games against Real Madrid over 18 days, they were going to Wembley for the Champions League final.

"Football justice was served," Xavi Hernandez said. "The best team got through."

Pedro Rodriguez scored off a perfect through pass from Andres Iniesta in the 54th minute, Abidal made an emotional return from surgery to remove a liver tumor and Barcelona completed a 3-1 aggregate win in the home-and-home, total-goals series with a 1-1 tie Tuesday night.

Seeking its fourth Champions League title and third in six years, Barcelona plays Manchester United or Schalke in the final on May 28.

Madrid coach Jose Mourinho apparently was absent. Following his ejection during Barcelona's 2-0 win at Madrid last Wednesday, he was said to be watching from the team hotel.

Mourinho accused referees of a conspiracy to assist Barcelona, and Cristiano Ronaldo echoed those complaints, saying Belgian referee Frank De Bleeckere took away a goal from Madrid that should have counted.

"If things don't improve we should just stay home and let Barcelona play by themselves," Ronaldo said. "Next year they should just give the cup directly to Barcelona."

While last week's match was dominated by fights, diving and accusations of feigned injuries, this was a cleaner and crisper match. Barcelona controlled the ball once again, as it did in its previous meetings with Madrid this year — a 5-0 league win in November, a 1-1 league draw on April 16, a 1-0 overtime win by Madrid in the Copa del Rey final four days later and in last week's match.

"The last 20 days have been really hard, a lot of tension," Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola said, adding that Madrid was "probably the best team in the world apart from my team, maybe."

Rodriguez gave Barcelona a three-goal lead in the home-and-home, total-goals series, scoring his 21st goal of the season when he gathered Iniesta's pass alone inside the area and beat goalkeeper Iker Casillas with a low, left-footed shot.

Madrid scored its first goal at Camp Nou since 2007 in the 64th. Alonso stole the ball and fed Angel Di Maria, whose shot hit the near post and came right back to him. Maria squared the ball to Marcelo, who scored on Real Madrid's only shot on goal.

Before a crowd of 95,701 in Europe's largest stadium, Barcelona had 64 percent possession and completed 631 passes to 261 for Madrid. The Blaugrana had 11 attempts on goal to just three for Madrid — which didn't have its first until the 53rd minute.

"Another (setback), like always," Casillas said. "We're not going to get upset because it will just be used against us."

Mourinho faces an uncertain future following a disappointing first season that produced just one trophy: the Copa del Rey. Los Blancos trail Barcelona by eight points in the Spanish league with four games remaining and have been criticized by former Real great Alfredo Di Stefano for their defensive tactics.

"Mourinho is right — after the (last) game he said it was impossible for us to go forward," assistant coach Aitor Karanka said. "He's feeling angry about what we've seen in the last few games with the referees."

At the end of the match, Barcelona players tossed Abidal into the air. Abidal replaced captain Carles Puyol in the second-half injury time, and was greeted by a loud ovation in his first appearance since surgery on March 17.

"It's such an important day for me, I worked a lot to get here," Abidal said. "They were very difficult weeks after the operation but these are things that happen in life."

For the first time in five meetings between the rivals this year, Real Madrid managed not to have any players ejected — although five were given yellow cards.

Casillas kept the visitors close with a number of big saves in the first half on Lionel Messi, who was fouled 11 times during the match. While Gonzolo Higuain put the ball into the net past goalkeeper Victor Valdes in the 47th minute, it was called off when Ronaldo was whistled for a foul by De Bleeckere. Ronaldo went down under a challenge from Gerard Pique and, in falling, clipped the heel of Javier Mascherano with his back.

"That would have been the first step in the comeback," Xabi Alonso said. "We're upset, hurt to not go through because of so many wrong decisions."

Madrid's players were all visibly upset after the game.

"Barcelona is very well protected — we knew something would happen," Ronaldo said. "(Higuain's) goal was legal. Pique pushed me and I fell on top of Mascherano, who never went to the ground in England, but here he's learned that trade like the rest of them."

Manchester United takes a 2-0 lead into Wednesday night's second leg at Old Trafford, and the final could be a rematch of the 2009 championship that Barcelona won 2-0. Before then, Abidal has four league games to regain sharpness and give Barcelona a chance to start its first-choice 11 for the first time since mid-January.

The usually reserved Abidal opened up to a psychiatrist as part of his recovery program.

"I don't know if it's little time," he said of his return, "but the most important thing is that this was my obsession."