Croatia’s big shock; Gigi Becali on brawling; fines of the week; plus Larissa Riquelme on politicsMan of the week
Croatia’s FA head Vlatko Markovic – „shocked” by 17 arrests in Croatian football, including his deputy on corruption charges. „It’s a tragedy … my FA is transparent, one of the best organisations in Croatia.” (2010: Markovic denies winning re-election through bribery and intimidation after rival Igor Stimac says he „raped democracy” by „running around with bin bags of cash” – and shrugged off the critics. „Write this down: I’m fucking sick of you reporters. Understand? Write that down.”)
Meanwhile
Dinamo president Zdravko Mamic says his club’s image is untouched by the scandal. Mamic, who called a press conference to deny allegations around their 7-1 defeat to Lyon („this is the most transparent club in Croatia”), told hecklers who interrupted it: „I’ll maul you, one by one, face to face. You donkeys, you better pray to God that I stay here, because when I leave I’ll beat you like cats.”
Other press conference themes: a) on claims he openly admitted match-fixing in the past: „Lies. I never once said that”; b) on the press: „You love me, I sell papers, but you write 95% lies”; and c) on claims he has a drug problem: „I’ve never even had a cigarette. I only drink because of you people.”
Other news: Fifa’s week
11: Days between Sepp’s deputy Julio Grondona celebrating being cleared of his latest fraud charges („In my 32 years in office I’ve been charged more than Al Capone – and never once been punished. Now just let me get on with my mandate. Four more years: I am all about peace, patience and balls”) and the case being reopened. Grondona denies wrongdoing.
Meanwhile
$540k: Target amount for last week’s Match Against Poverty in Hamburg – the previous year’s total donated to help children hit by deprivation. Zinedine Zidane: „I think our message is getting through.”
$1m: Sepp’s Fifa salary, declared in April. „Or perhaps a bit more… I’m not ashamed. Compared with many companies, we’re like children as far as salaries are concerned.”
Last week’s movers
• 8 Dec: New Preston chairman Peter Ridsdale: „Phil Brown and I have a meeting of minds. I’ve known Phil a long time, but not as intimately as it’ll become in our working relationship here… Together as a team we will address the issues that face us.” 14 Dec: Sacks him.
• 10 Dec, Argentina: Banfield president Carlos Portell. „Yes I met the coach but not to discuss his job – we met because we always meet. Ricardo La Volpe has a contract until September 2012, and he’s more keen than ever.” 14 Dec: Sacks him. La Volpe: „I can’t believe it. I asked him about the rumours and he told me: ‘be quiet, you’re fine’. I was a moron to take this job.”
AGM of the week
Spurs – owned by offshore based Enic for offshore based billionaire shareholders Joe Lewis and Lord Ashcroft– restating their case for taxpayers to fund infrastracture work for their new stadium. Public money would give Spurs „the confidence to commit further”.
Future news
Brazil: Organisers of the Future Champions elite U-17 tournament said they „had no option” but to expel Boca Juniors after a Boca youngster reacted to a bad result by shoving a referee and bursting into tears. Spokesman: „The tantrum led to chaos. One of our staff became ill in the excitement.”
Discipline news
Brazil: Third division São Bento say fining players $2 for every pound overweight is „only fair… Our players abuse themselves. You can’t just pull them by the ear away from food – they only learn financially.” Goalkeeper Henal: „The hard part will be keeping my mouth shut at parties. I love pork and lasagne.” Other new club fines: $10 for „looking at phones during teamtalks” and $20 for „wearing a hat in the cafeteria”. Henal: „I don’t mind the one about the hat. That’s about respect. I’m fine with that one.”
Gigi’s week
• Romania: CFR Cluj owner Arpad Paszkany on Steaua owner Gigi Becali’s claim that his club buys referees. „Total coward. He hides behind a microphone. Let’s solve this like men, in a ring, with fists and feet, no rules. The ratings would be immense. I would take Becali. We’d see what a man he is.”
• Becali, live on GSP TV: „You want in the ring, let’s get in the ring, bitch. I’ll break your arms and legs. Let’s take guns too. Let us shoot with guns.”
• Cluj captain Ricardo Cadu: „I don’t really want to get involved. If they get in a ring I think Mr Paszkany would win. But I like Becali. He’s funny. Away from football, he’s a really good person.”
Louis Latest
France: Montpellier president Louis Nicollin on his controversial past in football. „It’s my club, I own it, so I do what I want. If that makes people happy fine, if not, who cares. But I’m much less angry these days. I’m calmer now. All is well.” (Nov: Nicollin pays tribute to opponents Saint-Etienne: „They are pathetic imbeciles. They’ll get theirs. What a bunch of dickheads.”)
Love news
Romania: Vointa Sibiu striker Iulian Popa says he is „unclear” why he took a referee’s hand and „kissed it tenderly” at the end of their game against CS Mioveni. „The moment just took me. I didn’t see it coming. I’m sorry I put him in an awkward spot.” The official took no action „due to being overwhelmed”.
Plus: Larissa
Paraguay: Football model Larissa Riquelme says she plans to enter politics next year in a bid to change her image. „It’s time for a new direction. I feel such love from the people and in politics I can set an example to youth. Of course, I would not leave modelling. I will combine the two.”
