SOCCER NEWS:NEMANJA VIDIC learned last night that he will be banned from the first leg of Manchester United's Champions League tie against Inter Milan as punishment for being sent off in last month's World Club Cup final. Vidic was also fined €3,400, but his initial disappointment was offset by the knowledge that it could have been significantly worse.
Whereas the United defender received only a one-match ban for elbowing Claudio Bieler, a striker with the Ecuadorian side Liga de Quito, Fifa also ruled that a Gamba Osaka player, Takahiro Futagawa, should be suspended for two matches after he was sent off in the third-place play-off against the Mexican side Pachuca. Futagawa had committed what the organisation described as a “clumsy foul”.
On the face of it, Vidic’s challenge would appear the more serious and his manager, Alex Ferguson, has talked in the past about elbowing being the “worst offence in football”, warning that “someone will lose an eye soon”.
Yet Fifa’s disciplinary committee decided Futagawa committed the more grave offence, fining him €4,700.
The ruling is likely to incite Jose Mourinho, the Inter coach, who has said Vidic should not only be suspended from the game at San Siro on February 24th but also the second leg at Old Trafford on March 11th.
“I’d be surprised if Vidic didn’t get at least two matches – which wouldn’t even be much for a gesture like that, during a match seen by the whole world,” Mourinho said this week.
Ferguson seemed amused when he was informed of those comments yesterday. “That’s a surprise. Why would he say that?” he asked with mock incredulity.
But Ferguson and Vidic are understood to be relieved by the verdict, despite privately expressing disappointment that a Fifa tournament should have any bearing on the Champions League, a Uefa competition.
Fifa will not allow the club to appeal but, tellingly, United would not pursue it anyway, the thinking at Old Trafford being that it would run the risk of Vidic’s punishment being increased.
Vidic has been a key player in United’s record run of 11 Premier League games without conceding a goal.
Another record could topple at Old Trafford today if Edwin van der Sar keeps out Everton’s attack for 72 minutes, taking the United goalkeeper past the Football League record of 1,103 minutes without conceding a goal, set by Steve Death for Reading in 1979.
Meanwhile, Ferguson is confident Owen Hargreaves will be fit for the start of next season.
The midfielder has been forced to undergo two operations in a bid to cure a tendinitis problem in a knee that has plagued him since his arrival from Bayern Munich.
There have been suggestions if surgery does not prove successful for the Calgary-born midfielder he will be forced to retire from the game.
However, Ferguson said the operations have gone well, allowing Hargreaves to begin a long recovery programme.
“Owen had a second operation last week and it was completely successful,” said the United boss.
“It was better than the last one, which was much more difficult.
“This one is completely clear and I am certain he will be ready for the start of next season.”
GuardianService
