"I am outraged. I'm totally a stranger to this affair and I do not understand how the press was able to resume his false information without trying to get my position beforehand." On its website, Daniele De Rossi do not go around the bush to defend his honor and to deny any involvement in the scandal that has shaken Italy's football since Wednesday. "I can accept that stain my honor and my image without my defense before the court. Those who join in this matter should take responsibility, " threatens the captain of AS Roma. Friday morning, the agency ANSA ensured that the name of De Rossi returned regularly in several plays not included in the file.
To quell the controversy that was taking shape, Alberto Di Martino, the prosecutor of Cremona, has cleared the vice-captain of the Squadra Azzurra in the hours that followed. "It is a charge a complete fabrication. The judicial police me acted as the 50,000 wiretapping the name of De Rossi is never pronounced.
The most likely hypothesis, according to Italian press, is that Marco Paoloni, guardian of Benevento (since January) in the heart of the scandal, would have boasted of being in contact with the Roma players, including De Rossi. It would have provided to influence the outcome of the Wolf and invented the story to wait several accomplices cheated during the match Inter-Lecce (1-0). That day, he promised a win by three clear goals for Inter, providing three players have contacted the club in Puglia. The failure of the operation would have earned him as physical threat.
Paoloni is also concerned with the starting point of the case, the match Lega Pro (equivalent to National) Cremonese-Paganese, six months ago. At the time keeper of the Cremonese, he drugged five of his teammates, who would have felt bad for the game. The Cremonese beat the Paganese 2-0, last in the standings, and paris would have carried on a rebound to score (which has not occurred) led the team. After the match, several players were hospitalized for severe pain in the belly. Soon, leaders suspected a stranger to the club have poured into the water at the disposal of players Lithium (a powerful sedative). The police had assured when one of them, Gervasoni, had a car accident after the game. His blood tests showed that he had taken a sleeping pill.
Roberto Di Martino, also gave some details about the investigation. "The defendants know many people,"he said. This achieves the players ready, even for little money, to influence a match. There is even talk of a fixed fee. "This would be 400,000 euros for a Serie A match, 120,000 euros for a game in Serie B, and 60,000 for the Lega Pro (3rd div.). "The Italian soccer really did not need it, " summed up Gianluigi Buffon with a sigh
After Totonerro in the 80s, including that shook the legend Paolo Rossi, and Calciopoli which caused the relegation of Juventus to Serie B, Italy thought it had finished with the scandals that pollute his football. It is not. Wednesday morning, the Carabinieri arrested sixteen people during a major operation for their involvement in corruption and illegal paris. Beppe Signori, triple Capocanoniere (1993, 94, 96) under the shirt of Lazio, is the main character in this case wet. The investigation is led by police from Cremona (northern) in cooperation with units of Rome, Naples and Turin, among others. Magistrates have issued seven warrants of arrest while the other nine suspects were under house arrest. Signori is the case. The charges by the prosecutor of Cremona are very heavy, "criminal conspiracy" and "extortion".
Suspicions about Inter-Lecce
It all started after the meeting of Pro League 1st division (equivalent to the National) Cremonese-Paganese (1-0) of 14 November 2010. After the match, several players from the Cremonese were hospitalized for severe pain in the belly. Soon, leaders suspect a stranger to the club have poured into the water made available to players of lithium (a powerful sedative). A player of the Cremonese even had a traffic accident after meeting after dozing at the wheel. The club is then triggers the complaint and investigation that led to the arrests Wednesday.
Investigations, involving 28 people, continued two months ago through wiretapping. Most of those indicted are players or former professional players. Furthermore Signori, Cristiano Doni (former captain of Sampdoria), another former international, is also concerned. The matches were originally suspected of meetings in Serie B Lega Pro or (Italian third or fourth division). But gradually, as their investigation progresses, the police in the city of Cremona began to suspect also certain matches in Serie A.
The day Moggi takes 5 years ...
The meeting Inter Milan-Lecce (1-0) of 30 March is especially in the viewfinder. Marco Paoloni, the current caretaker of Benevento (Pro League first division), had tried unsuccessfully to contact several of Lecce players so that they leave Inter win on a score river. The aim is to bet on a win then the Milanese club with more than one goal difference. Beppe Signori, on the advice of Paoloni, would have gambled and lost 150,000 euros by betting on a card champions of europe 2010 this day. The former striker is not the only one to be duped. The goalkeeper would have guaranteed the outcome of the meeting with several other individuals (advertising, sports event organizers ...), justify his conviction for complicity in the team Lecce, several of his former partners.
For Guido Salvini, the prosecutor of Cremona, the "manipulation and their frequencies are enormous. Some days, more than five games at a time were rigged. " Mario Macalla, president of the Italian Football League, announced this morning that it was forming a civil party "so that those responsible for this scandal to pay for the bad image they give of our football. " Ironically, it is precisely this Wednesday that the prosecutor in the "Calciopoli" has required five years in prison against the former general manager of Juventus Luciano Moggi for his role in this matter. The Italian press are already seeing in this new scandal an earthquake of the same size. Italian football will recover there?
To stay ahead, we must know not to stay on its laurels. And renew itself. After a season full of success - punctuated by a double-Liga Champions League - Pep Guardiola does not rest its laurels. This summer, the Catalan coach wants to bring new blood into his team to continue its harvest of trophies. As the days by reading the European press, we see more clearly the strategy of Barca summer. Offensive as usual. If Javier Pastore (Palermo), Neymar (Santos), or Ezequiel Lavezzi (Napoli) were discussed, "Pep" has three specific players in mind according to the press on Tuesday: Giuseppe Rossi (Villarreal), Alexis Sanchez (Udinese) and Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal).
In the spirit of Guardiola, it requires new offensive players to support the famous trio MVP (Messi, Villa, Pedro) next season. Giuseppe Rossi, the Italian striker's yellow submarine where he scored 18 goals in La Liga this season, and Alex Sanchez, author of 12 goals in Serie A during the past year, have the ideal profile. Both have already expressed their desire to come play in Catalonia. But except surprise, the Catalan club would afford one of his two attackers. For Cesc Fabregas, this is not new: for some years now, his name is up to each transfer window. Return to the Barca captain of Arsenal, brought to the Masia, seems increasingly relevant.
Not a central defender
If Pep Guardiola wants to strengthen his midfield and attack, a defender could also join the training champion of Europe during this offseason. According to El Mundo Deportivo, it would not, however, a central defender but a left side. Guardiola is convinced that Eric Abidal and Javier Mascherano can replace Gerard Pique Carles Puyol and when needed. They have shown this season. However, it lacks the world left and Barca would have Jose Enrique, the Newcastle side, its priority.
To achieve their goals, the Blaugrana will have to break the bank. Just for Fabregas, the English tabloid - the Mirror - evokes the $ 31 million with a player and more (Thiago). And Alexis Sanchez, Barca would be willing to put 27 million euros on the table, again with a player in the balance (Bojan) according to the Italian daily Corriere dello Sport El. To achieve its ends, the Catalan club will then make concessions. And not just financially. For if these pearls come, we must also make room. Players likely to be bargaining chips have already been clearly identified: Bojan Krkic, Jeffren and Thiago Alcantara, three promising young that do not leave unaffected the transfer market. Barca is preparing for a discreet facelift to keep her skin radiant.
While FC Barcelona will start Saturday at the conquest of its fourth Champions League, rumors of a departure from Josep Guardiola Catalan club are going well. The idea, mentioned repeatedly by the technician Blaugrana in a grueling season, is now defended by Johan Cruyff.
Being the coach of a team touted as the world standard is not easy. In addition to being high, the requirements are necessarily permanent and daily stressful, especially when the media attention does not turn away. Such is the life of Josep Guardiola since his arrival on the bench of FC Barcelona in the summer of 2008. Three years later, the 40-year-old Catalan is presented as one of the best coaches in the world who could win this Saturday's second Champions League as a technician, two years after Rome conquered the face of same opponent as one who stands on the road blaugrana at Wembley: Manchester United.
Expected that a match could well strengthen the historical dimension even legendary "Pep" in case of stuttering history and victory of Leo Messi et al. But also sign the departure of one who has won nine titles in 36 months of the year. An a priori idea as preposterous Guardiola has extended his contract until 2012 last February 23, but still defended by one of its illustrious predecessors button Blaugrana, Johan Cruyff. "It has been several years that Guardiola is working hard and it does not surprise me that he stopped, whatever the result on Saturday, said the former Dutch star Barca in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport. If left, this is only because it is very hard to take long-term pressures. For this reason, I think it would take a year off. "
"I'm getting old, I began to lose patience"
In terms of pressure, the former resident of the Dream Team Catalan has been used in recent weeks with the sequence of four clasicos in the space of 18 days. Challenging peaks while the tension reached its climax, sometimes bellicose attitude of the enemy Madrid did not help to defuse
occasionally unhealthy. "I'm getting old, I began to lose patience
Guardiola would have said to relatives, reports El Pais, tired of these heated exchanges through the media with Jose Mourinho. "Pep is a romantic person so if you interrogate the legacies of the dispute with Real Madrid, he would tell you it feels like a worse person, "noted the newspaper in one of his Spanish employees.
Even before these events, Guardiola did not fail to open the door to a departure in an interview granted to the Italian television channel Rai Sport in early April: "When you're in a club like this it is not possible to stay very long. Next year it will be my fourth year in a big club, it takes courage. And then the players get tired of the coach and vice-versa. (...) As I understood as a player, you should know to leave at a time. "The time she has already rung?
2-0 by Switzerland at Wembley, the British conceded a draw (2-2) in this match of qualifying for Euro 2012. Players Fabio Capello suffered defensively before missing huge opportunities late in the game. Fortunately for them, the Three Lions their heads Group G after a draw against Bulgaria Montenegro (1-1).
The Blues are not alone to suffer in June. The British also had the worst problems that Saturday afternoon in their den Wembley. Gone totally off their early game, the players Fabio Capello has had to resort to concede a draw against the Swiss (2-2). A blessing in disguise in the light of the first half-hour when the English defense sank on two set pieces after Joe Hart had long delayed maturity. The porter, however, English can not on a free-kick brushed Barnetta hit in front of goal ... but nobody touches. Surprised, Hart can only see the damage (0-1, 25e).
In the process, of Leverkusen winger did it again, again on a free-kick hit directly offset this time. Walcott, placed in the wall, deftly shifts slightly and can counter the strike. Surprised again, this time with a personal responsibility as demonstrated not only covered the first post, Hart tries a balancing act to save the disaster, the ball spinning in vain at the rim of the right post (0-2, 34th ). Wembley, showered, is hardly reassuring when Wilshere is fouled in the area by his fellow Arsenal, Djourou, following a nice hook inside. Lampard scored the penalty whistled logically, the ball going under Benaglio, left the right side (1-2, 37e).
Young, a valuable input
The second period is then clear English, highlighting Bent. The hinge Helvetian Djourou-Senderos passed, nothing can be beautiful on a collective action concluded by Young, came at the break. Winger Aston Villa enjoys a superb ball to Milner piqued Baines which gives him head. Young up a perfect half-volley to complete an action in one-touch football ultra fast (2-2, 51e). England pushes Bent but then magnifying the inevitable. Young is launched and takes his chance to thirty feet, Benaglio relaxes and distracts. Bent back on the ball while the object is empty, but strikes at the top!
The English are content with a draw against an opponent who has fought for over thirty years (May 1981, 2-1). Fortunately for them, Montenegro has missed the opportunity to top Pool, conceding a draw against Bulgaria (1-1) in the evening. Three years after a pitiful elimination in Euro 2008 qualifiers, England may well tremble again ...
The time has not rung to the final assessment of his career. But William Gallas has agreed to look into the past to a point in a lengthy interview with L'Equipe headlined "I'm not the head of a con". They had heard little since the fiasco of the 2010 World Cup. Almost a year after the central defender expressed his regrets. "We made decisions that were wrong, but at the time, we were in our bubble, oblivious. We did not realize," defends the Tottenham player. His biggest regret? The image that will remain indelible in the minds of many people when they look back at his career. "This image haunts me, and I know she will sue me. It's hard to live because I do not think it matches what I really am. I'm sixteen at the top level and a decision An error has screwed up everything. " He rejects the idea that he could be a leader in the strike, his "biggest mistake" as a footballer: "You said I was a cheerleader, which was not the case."
Like all partners of the bus of shame, the shadow of Knysna will indeed never far away. Especially because unlike some, this episode will surely be the last of the former Marseille player or with the Blues of Chelsea. The back to the 84 caps, who opposed the FFF in the history of premium image rights, had not yet given up on the France team. Laurent Blanc's speech has raised hopes. Its very accomplished season with Tottenham, where he signed the performance of high-level too. "When I saw that I had found my level, I thought we would remember. Then there is a choice of coach. But we were told that the best would be selected, and I think this season, j 'I was one of the best French players in my position. Well, that's how I have not been called for X reasons, "he slips without wanting to expand on these reasons before conclude on the Blues: "This time, in my head, I drew a line on my international career."
"The problem, Samir Nasri, knows"
Left to take stock of the various complicated stories that punctuate his career, Williams Gallas is also reneged on his quarrel with Samir Nasri. Since the refusal of the Blues midfielder to shake his hand before the clash between Tottenham and Arsenal this season in the league, this story is gossip. Any part of the publication of the book where Gallas was pointing the finger at the attitude of some players during the defeat at Euro 2008, without naming names. Nasri felt targeted because his elder spoke of an incident between him and Thierry Henry for a reserved seat in the team bus. And since then he has a grudge against Gallas, who is not ready to apologize, far away. Best defender confirmed and signed: "If I told the truth about this case on the way he behaved ... loose there in the sports daily. We tried to make me out to the ugly duckling but the pictures show the opposite. I do not want to keep the controversy. The problem, Samir Nasri, knows him. He must not lie to himself. "
Finally, Gallas talks about his departure from Arsenal. It sends again a few regrets. But it also shows edge vis-à-vis his former club: "When I was captain, I wanted to convey a message, and it never occurred. On the form, I was clumsy but on the merits, I was right. Today, others say the same thing as me, "said Gallas, based on last year to support his thesis:" This season shows, unfortunately for them , there is something missing in this team. It was a bit too easy to say that all problems of Arsenal came from William Gallas. " The day of reckoning was also the settling of scores.
Aston Villa will have to find a new coach for next season. The French manager Gerard Houllier, 63, decided to quit the Birmingham club by mutual agreement with its leaders. Suffered a heart attack in late April, the former national technical director of the FFF would feel more able to lead a team to that level.
When alerts are increasing, there is urgency. Gerard Houllier's health, fragile late April when he suffered a cardiac arrest, became so serious that it has become essential for him to sixty-three, to take a step back compared to land English. According to the Birmingham Mail on Tuesday, the French manager will no longer be on the bench at Aston Villa next season.
A reasoned decision by reading the latest medical tests and he spent making a mutual agreement with its leaders, who should formalize the new in twenty-four hours. Arrived in September to replace Martin O'Neill, and return of sensation he had not experienced since leaving Lyon in 2007, Gerard Houllier had committed until 2013 for what was supposed to be, without doubt, last challenge of his coaching career.
Makoun and Pires for nothing
"From Lyon, it started to itch,"he said at the time on RTL. I had other proposals, but this one seemed like the best. "But neither his good will, or the arrival of club players like Jean Makoun and Robert Pires have enabled Villans finish beyond the ninth place in the Premier League. A failure for a team of ambitious and Aston Villa for Gerard Houllier, whose choices have often been criticized. The pressure had become too heavy to bear, especially for a man who in 2001 already had undergone surgery, heart while leading Liverpool. Absent the last matches of the season, the former technical director of the French Football Federation has, for good, perhaps, did his time on the benches. At least at this level of demand there.
At 36, and three days after a final Champions League final against FC Barcelona lost Paul Scholes announced his retirement Tuesday sports. The former England international, who won the Champions League in 1999 and 2008 and titrated to 10 times with Manchester United, the player will one he has worn the jersey 676 times. A bond that lasted, including the staff Scholes Mancunian.
A page was turned to Manchester United. After Edwin van der Sar, the last bulwark of the Red Devils for six years in which Sir Alex Ferguson paid a glowing tribute - "It is remarkable in every way. In the locker room at halftime and before games, he always been absolutely fantastic, "said the middle-aged Dutch Scots manager - another guardian of the temple Mancunian has played his last professional match on Saturday in the final of the Champions League. Contrary to Ryan Giggs who in February agreed to extend the pleasure until 2012, Paul Scholes said today stop. At 36, after a career devoted entirely to Manchester United, England midfielder is bowing out.
"I'm not a man of many words but I can honestly say that playing football is everything I always wanted to do and have had a long career at Manchester United was a real honor. This was not a decision I made lightly, but I think it is time now for me to stop playing, "he soberly explained the England international (66 caps, 14 goals) on the site Mancunian club. "Having been part of the team that allowed the club to get his 19th title is a great privilege," added the player to one club which he has worn the jersey 676 times from 1994 to 2011.
A place in the staff
Nicknamed perhaps a little pompously "Zidane Red" for his bald head and his ball control, Scholes was born in football along with Giggs, Beckham and Neville brothers in a golden generation in early 1990 young shoots broods at the time by Eric Cantona. A generation that will deflect the protective shadow of the "King" in 1999 to win the Champions League, concluding a successful first decade (English champions in 1996, 1997 and 1999, winning the Cup in 1996 and 1999, the Intercontinental Cup in 1999). The next will be equally successful, with five new Champion titles (2000, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2009), another Cup (2004), a League Cup (2009) but above a second League Champions (2008). As in 2009, Scholes has been denied after his career triple in the competition with Barcelona but will boast to say goodbye to one tenth and final title.
A record long as your arm for those who have unfortunately not as successful in breeding. This does not diminish the esteem held by Sir Alex Ferguson. "What can I say about Paul Scholes that I have not already said?" Responded the manager on the club website. "It's absolutely incredible player will be missed." The player, not the man because a final farewell match at Old Trafford in August, Scholes integrate the staff of Manchester United. "Paul has always been fully committed to this club and I am delighted he is joining the staff next season, welcomes Ferguson. Paul has always been an inspiration for players of all ages and we know that this will continue in his new role. " Or how to perpetuate the spirit Red Devils ...
