A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Gascoigne avoids being imprisoned
FORMER England international Paul Gascoigne avoided jail yesterday despite being caught driving while more than four times over the legal alcohol limit.
The 43-year-old was given an eight-week sentence, suspended for a year, when he appeared at Newcastle magistrates’ court, having been arrested after driving erratically.
Gascoigne, who has experienced regular alcohol-related and psychological problems since retiring from the game, was also banned from driving for three years and given an alcohol treatment order.
The former Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Lazio, Rangers, Middlesbrough and Everton midfielder admitted drink-driving at a hearing in October and was warned that he could be jailed.
A separate drink-drive charge, which Gascoigne denies, will be heard next week at Northallerton Magistrates Court.
Qatar temperatures already a concern for 2022
THE Asian Football Confederation’s former general secretary has urged Fifa to change the timing of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to avoid the searing summer heat.
Peter Velappan said temperatures reaching 40 degrees during the desert state’s summer months would pose a danger to players.
Velappan added that plans to cool stadiums and training grounds with air conditioners were “not a solution”.
He also warned that some European countries might boycott the tournament due to concerns over the heat.
“Qatar is a nice country but there is no way football can be played in June and July there. No player will ever want to play in these conditions,” said Velappan.
“I would strongly recommend that Fifa reschedule the tournament to January/February. Fifa is obliged to do everything possible to provide the best for the teams and the football fans.”
Ghana facing suspension by Fifa
WORLD Cup quarter-finalists Ghana were flirting with international suspension yesterday after Fifa told government authorities to stop interfering in the country’s Football Association (GFA).
Fifa, which briefly suspended Nigeria over political interference in the sport in October, warned Ghana that continued action would have “adverse consequences” after the GFA’s offices were raided on Tuesday.
“Fifa hopes that the Ghanaian authorities will reconsider their actions and thus avoid the deepening of a crisis which will only bring adverse consequences for the football lovers in Ghana,” said Fifa.
Soccer’s governing body added that the matter would be referred to its emergency committee, which has the power to impose a suspension, if the situation did not change by Sunday.
Suspension would mean that the national team would be grounded and that the country’s clubs would also be unable to take part in international competitions.
Adverse weather holds SPL back
THE Scottish Premier League have announced that Saturday’s matches at Celtic Park and Tannadice have been postponed on the advice of police.
Celtic’s home clash against Kilmarnock and Dundee United’s meeting with Motherwell have fallen foul of the dangerous conditions following recent snowfall.
Hamilton’s clash with Hibernian is also in doubt but the SPL expect the other three games to go ahead.
MOTHERWELL manager Craig Brown appears to have left the door open for a move to Aberdeen, despite yesterday insisting he would be staying at Fir Park.
The former Scotland boss and his assistant Archie Knox met with Dons chairman Stewart Milne, chief executive Duncan Fraser and director of football Willie Miller on Tuesday to discuss the managerial position at Pittodrie, made vacant by Mark McGhee’s departure last week.
Zidane and Materazzi shake on it
MARCO Materazzi shook Zinedine Zidane’s hand last month for the first time since the Frenchman’s infamous headbutt on him in the 2006 World Cup final, the Italian said yesterday.
They accidentally met at a Milan hotel when Inter Milan defender Materazzi was going to meet former coach Jose Mourinho, who was in the city for Real Madrid’s Champions League game with AC Milan.
Rumours have since persisted that Zidane, a Real adviser, bumped into Materazzi and the former Italy international has now confirmed the speculation. “What was said stays between us. Let’s say I did most of the talking and when at the end he held out his hand, I shook it firmly until he looked me properly in the eye,” Materazzi said. “It’s what I wanted. For me it was great, I don’t know about him.”
Gibbs sidelined for three weeks
KIERAN Gibbs will be out for three weeks because of the injury the left-back suffered to his right ankle in Arsenal’s 3-1 Champions League defeat of Partizan Belgrade on Wednesday.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said there “is a big uncertainty” as to whether captain Cesc Fabregas will be fit for Monday’s game with Manchester United, Gael Clichy should return for the trip to Old Trafford following illness.
Uefa plan to share all the spoils
THE ENGLISH FA faces a battle to protect its €215 million annual income from television and sponsorship after Uefa put in motion plans to centralise the sale of marketing and broadcast rights for European Championship and World Cup qualifiers.
Uefa plans to follow a model such as that used by the Premier League, where broadcast rights are sold collectively and then distributed among member clubs. The move could shrink the earning power of Europe’s biggest soccer nations as it would see all monies generated from television and commercial deals shared between the 53 member associations.
The plan was a primary element of talks at the Uefa executive- committee meeting that began in Prague yesterday. It is believed that England, Spain, Germany, France and Italy have serious concerns about how the situation may develop.
“The big-five nations are up in arms about it,” said a source with knowledge of the proposals.
