News round-up: Soccer news from around Europe
FERDINAND CASE: The English FA were yesterday reprimanded by FIFA president Sepp Blatter for the delay in dealing with the Rio Ferdinand case and warned about their failure to implement rules on immediate suspensions for red cards.
Ferdinand has been charged with misconduct for failure/refusal to attend a drugs test on September 23rd and it is almost certain to be December before he appears before an FA disciplinary hearing.
Blatter said the case of the Manchester United defender had already taken far too long.
He also warned that unless the FA fell into line with rules about immediate suspensions for sendings-off they could be reported to FIFA's disciplinary body who have the ultimate power to suspend a national association from international football.
Speaking about the Ferdinand case at a media briefing in London, Blatter said: "What I am not happy about with this case is the speed, or rather the non-speed, of dealing with it.
"Such a case should be dealt with immediately so we can have a decision and avoid all the discussions that happen when a decision is made far away from the date when it occurs.
"In our doping regulations it's obvious that somebody refusing or not undergoing a doping test is considered to be sanctioned as though it would have been a positive test. But before taking any stand with the case of the English player we want to know how the association will deal with the case."
Regarding red cards and suspension, the FA have insisted they will not change their rules until the end of the season, which means that any players sent off do not start a ban for a further 14 days and virtually any grounds of appeal are considered.
In the last few weeks, however, FIFA have written to all 204 national associations, telling them to fall in line with a decision agreed at their congress in Doha, which limits the grounds of appeal to cases of mistaken identity and ensures an automatic one-match ban comes into force for the very next game.
"Any red card, given for whatever reason, then the player must be suspended for the next match in the same competition, and any appeal must be held before that match," Blatter said.
IRELAND: Gary Breen has been ruled out of next week's friendly with Canada after Sunderland revealed the 29-year- old defender may be out for several weeks after he picked up a knee injury during Saturday's draw with Coventry.
"Gary got a bang on the knee," said Sunderland manager Mick McCarthy. "He thought he would be able to continue but when he stood up and tried to run, he could tell it wasn't right.
"It will be assessed. I will not know whether the problem is serious until we have been through that process."
NETHERLANDS: Ruud van Nistelrooy and Clarence Seedorf have both been recalled to the Dutch squad for their Euro 2004 play-off against Scotland.
Manchester United striker van Nistelrooy was dropped for their qualifier against Moldova after reacting angrily to being substituted in the 3-1 defeat by the Czech Republic in September.
He spat on the ground and kicked a water bottle in disgust after being replaced by Pierre van Hooijdonk, but later apologised to Holland coach Dick Advocaat.
SEXISM: A Scottish soccer manager faces FA punishment after he criticised the country's first woman referee and said she should be at home making dinner.
The Scottish FA said it would investigate third division Albion Rovers boss Peter Hetherston after he was quoted making sexist comments about assistant Morag Pirie, following his side's 1-0 defeat at Montrose on Saturday.
"I knew it wasn't going to be our day when I found out we had a woman running the line. She should be at home making the dinner for her man," Hetherston was quoted as saying.
