Who will succeed Blatter?

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Fifa is facing a turning point in its history with the end of president Sepp Blatter's 17-year grip on power.

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London - Fifa is facing a turning point in its history with the end of president Sepp Blatter's 17-year grip on power.

He was only the eighth man to hold the office since Fifa was formed 111 years ago, and in the last 54 years only three men have been president: Stanley Rous of England, who held the post for 13 years from 1961 to 1974; Joao Havelange, who was there for 24 years from 1974-98; and Blatter.

It is unlikely that anyone will remain at the helm for that long if age and term limits for future presidents are instituted as part of reforms.

Here are some of the men who might be candidates:

Michel Platini, France, 59.

The current Uefa president was once close to Blatter but they gradually drifted apart. Platini is considered one of the greatest footballers ever, playing 72 times for France and leading them to victory in the 1984 European championships.

Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, Jordan, 39.

Blatter said the 73 votes Prince Ali collected in the first round of voting proved to Blatter that he no longer had the backing of the world. Prince Ali may take another shot at the position but he is unlikely to run if his mentor Platini does.

Jerome Champagne, France, 56

The former French diplomat worked at Fifa for 11 years and rose to the position of deputy secretary general before leaving in 2010. He was the first to declare his candidacy for the 2015 race but had to pull out because he did not get the required five nominations.

Wolfgang Niersbach, Germany, 64

A former sports journalist, the popular German started to climb within football's inner circles in the late 1980s when then West Germany hosted the 1988 European championships and he worked as chief of media for the organization.

Now the president of the German Football Association, he was elected to the Fifa executive committee this year and would bring a modern reformist approach to Fifa while fostering global cooperation. He also made no secret that he supported Ali in the recent vote.

Domenico Scala, Italy/Switzerland, 50.

If anyone from within Fifa was to stand a chance of a shot at the top job, it could be the authoritative Swiss-Italian businessman, who has been independent chairman of Fifa's Audit and Compliance Committee since May 2012.

He has had a career in banking and in 2004 was named “Young Global Leader” by the World Economic Forum (WEF). He is a long shot, and could well be overseeing the election process, but is not to be ruled out.

Jerome Valcke, France, 54

If Valcke thought he might follow Blatter into the presidential office in the way that Blatter followed Joao Havelange, he probably should think again.

He is seen as too close to Blatter to be a credible alternative. – Reuters



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CAF supports proposed Fifa reforms

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African football says it supports plans to reform Fifa and is determined to safeguard the sports' values and ethics.

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Cairo - African football says it supports plans to reform Fifa and is determined to safeguard the sports' values and ethics in a belated reaction to Sepp Blatter's resignation as Fifa president.

A statement on Wednesday came almost 24 hours after Blatter's dramatic announcement of his intention to step down as soon as a new leader is elected.

A brief CAF statement said: “The Confederation of African Football has taken note of the decision of Fifa President, Joseph Sepp Blatter, to resign upon disposal and convene an extraordinary congress for the election of a new president.

“CAF commits to supporting reforms intended for the consolidation of a Fifa that will be accepted by everyone, and reiterates its determination to cooperate in safeguarding the moral and ethical values that underlie the practice of football, its organisation, administration and development.”

Blatter announced his decision to step down on Tuesday, six days after police raided a hotel in the city and arrested several Fifa officials - and just four days after he was re-elected to a fifth term as president.

He promised to spend the rest of his term reforming the organisation, including a change in the power of the confederations.

While CAF merely noted Blatter's departure, Kenyan football chiefs were divided over his exit.

Football Kenya Federation (FKF), whose president Sam Nyamweya said he voted for the Swiss in Friday's election, saluted Blatter “for his dedicated service to football over the past 40 years, 17 of which he has served as President of the world governing body.”

“Under Blatter, the organisation of Fifa has seen tremendous growth, the world body undergoing massive restructuring which has seen the game expand in leaps and bounds,” the FKF said in a statement.

The regional football governing body for East and Central Africa, CECAFA, called Blatter's timing “unfortunate, coming less than a week after delegates travelled all the way to Zurich to exercise their democratic right.”

But the body added: “We in Cecafa hope his decision (to quit) is good for football and that the new leadership will correct mistakes that have blighted the football body so that Fifa can remain strong to continue developing football worldwide,” said CECAFA general secretary Nicholas Musonye.

Reuters



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Will allies turn on Blatter?

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Sepp Blatter quit as Fifa head as it emerged that he is being investigated by the FBI and US prosecutors.

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Sepp Blatter quit as the head of world football as it emerged that he is being investigated by the FBI and US prosecutors over corruption allegations.

The 79-year-old, who had appeared untouchable following his re-election as Fifa president last week, finally bowed to massive pressure over the scandal engulfing the sport.

Sources told ABC News that the FBI was investigating Fifa in the same way it would have conducted an old-fashioned inquiry into organised crime in New York.

One source said investigators were hoping to get lower-ranking officials to give evidence against Blatter: ‘Now that people are going to want to save themselves, there’s probably a race to see who will flip on [Blatter] first.’

Another source added: ‘We may not be able to collapse the whole organisation but maybe you don’t need to.’

Investigators will also focus on Jerome Valcke, Fifa’s secretary general since 2007.

Last night it was claimed that Mr Blatter was also on the verge of being targeted by investigators in his native Switzerland.

He was re-elected on Friday even though seven of the governing body’s top officials had been arrested two days earlier as part of the US investigation into corruption. But yesterday he performed a sensational U-turn – hours after his right-hand man Mr Valke was linked directly to the payment of a £6.5million bribe. Mr Valcke immediately denied he was responsible for the alleged payment over South Africa’s bid to host the 2010 World Cup.

Announcing his intention to quit after 17 years as Fifa president, a clearly shaken Mr Blatter said he would call an extraordinary Fifa congress ‘as soon as possible’ to elect a new president. ‘It is my deep care for Fifa and its interests, which I hold very dear, that has led me to take this decision,’ he said.

‘I have been reflecting deeply about my presidency and about the 40 years in which my life has been inextricably bound to Fifa and the great sport of football. I cherish Fifa more than anything and I want to do only what is best for Fifa and for football.’

His announcement in Zurich came as:

* Fifa admitted it paid $10million (£6.5million) destined for the South Africa World Cup to an account controlled by disgraced former vice-president Jack Warner, following a letter from the South African FA to Mr Valcke.

* It emerged Mr Blatter would face FBI questioning if he attends the women’s World Cup due to begin next week in Canada.

* US investigators revealed that more charges are likely against senior Fifa officials.

* Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein of Jordan, defeated by Mr Blatter last week, emerged as the early frontrunner to succeed him.

* There were new questions over whether the 2018 and 2022 World Cups would go ahead as planned in Russia and Qatar respectively, with England emerging as favourite to host the 2018 tournament if it is stripped from Russia.

Even in his resignation speech, Mr Blatter sought to defend his role, saying: ‘While I have a mandate from the membership of Fifa, I do not feel that I have a mandate from the entire world of football – the fans, the players, the clubs, the people who live, breathe and love football as much as we all do at Fifa.’

His announcement was immediately welcomed, with FA chairman Greg Dyke hailing it as ‘great news for football’ and calling for reform of Fifa.

‘This is the start of something new,’ he said. ‘Clearly there’s a smoking gun of some sort. He’s not been honourable in years. Now he’s gone, let’s celebrate.

‘Fifa needs a root and branch examination, we need to know where the money is being spent.

‘It’s been a corrupt organisation for something like 30 years and at long last we’ve got a chance to change it.’ While no timetable has been set for the election for Mr Blatter’s successor, officials have said it could take place any time between September and March.

Mr Blatter will continue in his role until then. His resignation comes after nine Fifa officials and five others were charged with high level corruption by the FBI.

They included several in the ‘inner circle’ that voted on who would host the next two World Cups. Seven were arrested in dawn raids at their £1,000-a-night hotel in an operation Mr Blatter had suggested was timed to undermine his re-election bid.

The cases have been built with the help of officials who turned supergrass. Conservative MP Damian Collins, who has long campaigned for reform of Fifa, said Mr Blatter must not be allowed to ‘escape the investigation of past wrongdoing’.

Culture Secretary John Whittingdale, who had called for Mr Blatter to stand down, said: ‘This is only the beginning of the process of change we need to see from Fifa.

‘I sincerely hope this is the first step to a new Fifa that can command the confidence and respect of the football world once again.’

Daily Mail



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How to cancel a World Cup

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It has never been done before but, in theory, withdrawing the right to host a World Cup from a host should be easy...

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London - It has never been done before and no defined procedure for doing it exists but, in theory, withdrawing the right to host a World Cup from a host nation should be an easy thing to do.

Football has been in turmoil since a series of arrests last week of officials from the world governing body Fifa on US Department of Justice allegations of bribery.

Swiss prosecutors have also announced their own criminal investigation into the award of the 2018 World Cup to Russia and the 2022 tournament to Qatar.

The scandal has prompted calls for Fifa to re-examine the awards - something that Qatar and Russia have firmly resisted.

The only other occasion on which a men's World Cup was moved was when Colombia opted out of hosting the 1986 tournament but in that case, it withdrew citing economic problems.

“We're in uncharted waters,” said one former senior Fifa official.

But the former official said it was possible for a country to lose the right to host the tournament.

According to Article 85 of Fifa's statutes, which deals with “unforeseen circumstances and force majeure”, the organization's Executive Committee has the “final decision on any matters not provided for in these Statutes”.

Any wrongdoing around the bidding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups - which Russia and Qatar deny - could be seen as “unforeseen circumstances” warranting a rethink, the former official said.

The 25-member Executive Committee usually makes decisions on the basis of a simple majority.

There is some precedent. In May 2003, the Executive Committee opted to move the Women's World Cup from China, due to an outbreak of the SARS virus.

While this decision came within weeks of China saying it was ready and willing to host the games, the context of health risks and the fact Fifa agreed to allow China host the 2007 games in return for the move, mean this experience is not seen as comparable to the current situation.

Fifa rules also allow members - the 209 national football associations which are its members - to introduce motions for the body to vote on.

Majority Voting

This right could be used by a member to propose Fifa taking back one or both World Cups.

This has never happened before so it is unclear how a vote would be structured. On most issues, Fifa works on the basis of a majority of voting members backing a motion.

However, the bar for a vote to withdraw a tournament could be higher if votes on the expulsion or suspension of members were taken as a guide.

The decision on whether to hold a vote on suspending or expelling a member from Fifa requires a three-quarters majority of the valid votes cast, the statutes say.

Only two opportunities will arise in the next year to introduce such motions - at the “extraordinary elective Congress” due to take place between December this year and March next year or at the ordinary annual Fifa Congress which will take place in May 2016.

Sports executives and officials said it would be politically difficult to push through a vote on removing the tournament either at the executive committee or Congress, especially if no definitive proof of wrongdoing was produced.

In the case of Qatar, removing the tournament would likely be seen as a political snub to the Arab world, while Russia, already at odds with the West over Ukraine, would see it as a diplomatically hostile move.

While billions of dollars of contracts have already been agreed in relation to the tournaments, this may not be a major bar to relocating the games.

An official at one television group with rights to both tournaments said they expected to have the rights irrespective of where the matches were held. The shift in the 2003 women's World Cup did not nullify all the TV contracts that had been signed.

Andrew Woodward, a consultant who previously led sports sponsorship for Visa said groups which had signed sponsorship deals would also likely be untroubled by a move.

“They don't care where the tournaments are held. Sponsors do 95 percent of the exploitation of their sponsorship in the year leading up to a World Cup,” he said.

Some companies have contracts which are more location specific. British-based Byrom Plc has contracts to provide accommodation services to Fifa at the 2018 World Cup via its Swiss-based subsidiary Match. It said that if the tournament were cancelled in Russia, it would not seek compensation.

Fifa has certain agreements directly with the host nations but Woodward said it was possible such contracts could be voided if wrongdoing in the bidding process was established.

Reuters



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Warner on Interpol’s most wanted list

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Interpol put disgraced Fifa executive members Jack Warner and Nicolas Leoz on their most wanted list.

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Interpol on Wednesday put disgraced Fifa executive members Jack Warner and Nicolas Leoz on their most wanted list and issued an international alert.

Four heads of sports marketing companies have also been put on the list. All six are wanted by US authorities investigating more than $150 million (135 million euros) of bribes paid to football officials.

Warner, a former Fifa vice president, is in Trinidad and Tobago. Leoz, an executive member, is reportedly under house arrest in his native Paraguay.

“At the request of US authorities ... international wanted persons alerts have been issued for two former Fifa officials and four corporate executives for charges including racketeering, conspiracy and corruption,” the Lyon-based international police body said in a statement.

Three of the sports marketing bosses are Argentine nationals, Alejandro Burzac and Hugo and Mariano Jinkis.

The other is Brazilian national Jose Margulies -- also known as Jose Lazaro, according to Interpol.

Interpol stressed that the so-called “red notice” issued against the six was not an international arrest warrant and it cannot force national authorities to hold the suspects.

The publication of the red notices came a day after the spectacular resignation of Fifa boss Sepp Blatter as the New York Times reported the 79-year-old was the focus of an FBI corruption probe.

ABC News also said Blatter was the subject of an investigation, which it said was part of the larger probe that led to the arrest of seven Fifa officials in a luxury Swiss hotel. – AFP



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SA did not buy votes - Mbalula

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South Africa have denied that a payment of $10m to former Fifa vice president Jack Warner a bribe.

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South Africa have again denied that a payment of $10 million to former Fifa vice president Jack Warner during their successful bid for the 2010 World Cup was a bribe.

Sports minister Fikile Mbalula on Wednesday told a news conference that neither South Africa's government nor the 2010 World Cup bid and organising committee bought votes for the right to host the finals. - Reuters

*More to Follow



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Safa officials ducking media

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Safa officials skipped a scheduled press conference set to address bribery allegations surrounding the World Cup.

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Johannesburg - South African Football Association officials will no longer be appearing at a scheduled press conference to address allegations around a possible bribe paid during the 2010 World Cup bidding process.

Media invited to a mid-day conference in Johannesburg to be addressed by sports minister Fikile Mbalula and members of the 2010 World Cup local organising committee but reporters have been told only the minister will be speaking to the press.

It means that organising committee chairman Irvin Khoza and high profile chief executive officer Danny Jordaan remain to address allegations that the South African bid team agreed a $10 million inducement to former FIFA vice president Jack Warner and other CONCACAF members in return for their votes.

Mbalula has already held a press conference in the last days to deny any wrong dong on the part of the South African government. – Reuters



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Baxter gets smiling send-off

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Kaizer Chiefs and Stuart Baxter part ways as friends ... or so they want us to believe, writes Matshelane Mambolo.

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Such was the measures they went to in trying to convince everyone that their parting was amicable, you couldn’t help but suspect Stuart Baxter was not leaving Kaizer Chiefs on good terms.

Inside their Taung Village conference centre that was so full many had to make do with standing throughout the over two hour briefing, Chiefs chairman Kaizer Motaung, team manager Bobby Motaung and Baxter appeared to be trying too hard to quell the recent speculation that all was not well be-tween club and coach.

The England-born Scotsman quit his job despite still having a year to go on his contract and surprisingly immediately after leading Amakhosi to a second league title via a record-breaking 69 points haul.

And suggestions have been that part of Baxter leaving prematurely was because of his unhappiness at the club having allowed his favoured striker Kingston Nkhatha to leave for SuperSport United mid-season while David Zulu was signed without his consent.

And that they were at such pains attempting to quell these speculations when they officially announced the end of their three-year relationship yesterday actually only served to confirm there is a truth to those murmurings.

While they both admitted that ‘tensions’ are part and parcel of any football club and that those actually serve to spur teams on, the two parties implied that it was the very same tensions that led to their ending a relationship that yielded two championships and three knockout trophies.

Said Baxter: “Tensions drive football clubs and they push us to perform until you think you cannot do that (stand the tensions) then you are better off moving. But there’ll be no finger pointing for me, I don’t want to spoil what has been a beautiful three years for me.”

Motaung insisted the parting was amicable: “This is not a parting of acrimony. We have sat down as matured people and agreed that maybe it is time to change and also time to move on. But I must emphasise that there has not been any acrimony. There are tensions everywhere in a work situation, even at Barcelona or Real Madrid. It’s natural.”

While he is clearly leaving before he had intended to, Baxter departs Chiefs a contented man and more because he “changed perceptions” about himself than winning the titles he did.

And he was quick to express his gratitude to Motaung for providing him the platform to redeem his standing in South African football following his failed stint as Bafana Bafana coach.

“Let me thank the chairman, for he showed courage to ask me to come back here knowing that you guys were sharpening your knives for me. So I was glad to come back and maybe put a few things right. We worked very hard over the three years and I hope that I will look back and see that I changed the situation to be better than when I found it.”

Many will agree that local football’s view of Baxter has changed for the better and should he be appointed Safa Technical Director as has been suggested, the appointment will not be frowned upon given his achievements with Chiefs.

And the man himself has not ruled out the possibility of working in the country in time to come.

“I would have no problem working in South Africa in the near future,” he said. - The Star



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Just another normal day at Fifa

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Sepp Blatter returned to his office at Fifa's headquarters tried to put on an air of routine after the drama of his resignation.

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Sepp Blatter returned to his office at Fifa's headquarters tried to put on an air of routine after the drama of the resignation of the longtime world football boss.

“Everything continues as before. The president is still president, until the election of his successor,” said a Fifa spokesperson at the Zurich headquarters where dozens of television cameras waited at the entrance.

But the spokesperson said that “no media activities” were expected the day after Blatter stunned the world with his resignation declaration.

Blatter has said he will keeping working until an election is held and that is not expected until December at the earliest.

The 79-year-old Swiss official announced his resignation at the headquarters. The press conference was arranged with such speed that barely a dozen journalists turned up.

Staff entering the ultra modern marble and glass complex, which includes a meditation room as well as gyms and football pitches, refused to discuss the turbulent events.

“It's tough,” said one of the Zurich employees who spoke on condition of anonymity. Fifa now has 1 400 staff around the world.

Some carried local newspapers such as 20 Minutes, whose front page headline said “Blatter abandons.”

An AFP reporter was allowed in to the grounds at 8:00am. Children from a local French school were preparing for a match in the Fifa pitch and nothing indicated a multi-billion dollar organisation in the midst of a corruption crisis.

“It's just a coincidence that we are here today,” said one teacher.

At 9.20am, a security official asked the AFP reporter to leave, giving an indication that maybe events are not so routine. “It is a special day,” the official said to justify the order to leave Fifa's calm complex. – AFP



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Benitez named new Real coach

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Rafael Benitez will take charge of Real Madrid next season after the club confirmed he had signed a three-year deal.

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Rafael Benitez will take charge of Real Madrid next season after the club confirmed he had signed a three-year deal with the Spanish giants on Wednesday.
 
"Real Madrid will present today, Wednesday, June 3, Rafa Benitez as the new coach of the first team for the next three seasons," the club said in a statement.
 
Benitez will give a press conference at 1100GMT at the club's Santiago Bernabeu stadium.
 
The appointment brings Benitez's coaching career full circle as he returns to the club where he made his first steps as a youth team coach in the early nineties.
 
Benitez is also returning to Spain for the first time in over a decade after making a name for himself with two league titles in three years at Valencia between 2001 and 2004.
 
However, commentators and fans have been skeptical at his appointment at the expense of the well-loved Carlo Ancelotti, who was sacked by the club last week.
 
Ancelotti ended a 12-year wait to land Madrid's much desired 10th Champions League last season, but paid the price for failing to deliver a major trophy this season with eternal rivals Barcelona on the brink of sealing a treble.
 
Moreover, Benitez has failed to land a league title in the 11 years since he swapped Valencia for Liverpool.
 
The 55-year-old's greatest achievement in that time came in winning the Champions League in his first season at Liverpool. However, he delivered only the UEFA Super Cup and the FA Cup in 2006 in the five years that followed at Anfield.
 
Benitez then had a nightmare experience following in the footsteps of Jose Mourinho at Inter Milan where he lasted just six months and another short-lived unhappy spell at
 
Chelsea followed as he was never accepted by the fans despite winning the Europa League in 2013.
 
A two-year spell with Italian giants Napoli also came to an unsatisfactory end on Sunday with a 4-2 home defeat to Lazio which ensured they did not qualify for next season's Champions League.
 
Benitez could face a frosty reception from Real's horde of 'galacticos' who were very much against Ancelotti's sacking.
 
"Great coach and amazing person. Hope we work together next season," World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo posted on his official Twitter days before the Italian's dismissal.
 
Meanwhile, a host of other players including Sergio Ramos, James Rodriguez and Toni Kroos also took to social media to thank Ancelotti for his time at the club.
 
In contrast to the affable Ancelotti, Benitez is known for being a strict disciplinarian and obsessive tactician which will put new demands on the most expensively assembled squad in football history.
 
Former Liverpool winger Ryan Babel caused a stir last week when he tweeted: "Benitez on his way to Real? He will make Ronaldo a great defender..."
 
However, another of Benitez's perceived faults during his time in England, his persistent squad rotation, has helped him to land his dream job.
 
Whilst Barcelona boss Luis Enrique gave his players a rest at every opportunity early in the season, Ancelotti rotated very little even in Madrid's easiest games and consequently saw his side run out of gas at the business end of the season.

Benitez will get his first taste of the demands at Los Blancos on a gruelling pre-season tour to Australia and China for friendlies against Roma, Manchester City, Inter Milan and AC Milan in July. – AFP



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Van Persie keeping his options open

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Robin van Persie is keeping his options open over his future at Manchester United as he enters a final season of his contract.

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Amsterdam - Robin van Persie is keeping his options open over his future at Manchester United as he enters a final season of his contract with the club, Dutch media reported.

The striker returned from injury towards the end of the season but was no longer able to command a regular place in the team.

“The club must do its homework and so must I. It's a new situation,” he told reporters in an interview with several Dutch newspapers ahead of Friday's friendly international between the Netherlands and the U.S. in Amsterdam.

“I'm going to calmly and relaxed sit down and consider everything.

“I still have ambitions of playing every week. I feel top fit and I think I can still go on for several years. Take note of my words,” said the 31-year-old, who moved to Old Trafford from Arsenal in 2012.

Van Persie said he should have had six or seven more goals than the tally of 10 he netted for the club last season.

“People don't accept that I just scored 10. Actually that's a compliment because they expect more of me on the basis of what I can do. I was the club's second highest goal scorer together with Juan Mata and behind Wayne Rooney (14 goals).

“It's not good that a top club like Manchester United does not have a scorer with 20 or more goals behind his name each season and that is why we only finished fourth.”

Van Persie struggled with an ankle injury through the season, blaming a hectic pre-World Cup training programme, as he battled to get fit for Brazil, and then a lack of a break after the tournament last summer.

“After I came back from injury I realised that I would not automatically get back in the starting line-up,” he said. “But I didn't have a problem with that because they were playing well at the time.

“These things happen. We are living in an adult world. Louis van Gaal is not the coach of Robin van Persie but of Manchester United with 25 in the squad.” – Reuters



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Blatter’s exit ‘a big relief to sponsors’

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Coca-Cola, Visa and Adidas have hailed Fifa boss Sepp Blatter’s resignation as a positive move.

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New York - Fifa president Sepp Blatter's decision to resign amid corruption allegations at soccer's governing body is a relief for corporate sponsors who have called for more transparency at the organisation, sports marketing experts said on Tuesday.

Blatter, 79, announced the decision at a hastily arranged news conference in Zurich, six days after police raided a hotel in the city and arrested several Fifa officials, and just four days after he was re-elected for a fifth term as president.

Sponsors Coca-Cola, Visa, Adidas, Hyundai Motor Company and Anheuser-Busch InBev SA called the resignation a positive step, but some sponsors said they expected Fifa to do more to clean up its act.

“This is a significant first step towards rebuilding public trust, but more work lies ahead,” Visa said in a statement.

Branding experts said the news eases concerns of sponsors, who have been in a tough spot: On one hand, they have signed long-term agreements with Fifa, and the World Cup presents a lucrative opportunity. But the recent corruption investigation could taint their brands and reputation with consumers.

However, the news does make it easier for companies to stick with their sponsorships.

“They're not going to be as stressed because I think one of the major linchpins and major challenges was Sepp Blatter himself,” said Miro Copic, a professor of marketing at San Diego State University and chief executive of the consulting firm BottomLine Marketing.

“There are marketing teams out there who are just breathing a sigh of relief.”

But the resignation could also be a precursor to more sponsor demands.

“I think the sponsors are going to do a lot more,” said James Gregory, chairman at Tenet Partners, a brand strategy and consulting firm in New York. “They are going to have to make sure this doesn't happen again.”

Others said the resignation does not necessarily signal broader change.

“There will be a new leader, which is positive, but it is very difficult for one person to change the culture of an organisation,” said Susan Liautaud, a lecturer in public policy at Stanford University.

Still, Blatter stepping down removes one major obstacle, experts said.

“Problem solved,” said Andrew Woodward, who was director of public relations for Visa until 2011. “This was the major hurdle and changes everything.”

Reuters



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Rodgers is safe, but must improve

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Brendan Rodgers will remain Liverpool manager following showdown talks with the club’s hierarchy.

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Brendan Rodgers will remain Liverpool manager following showdown talks with the club’s hierarchy.

The 42-year-old met chairman Tom Werner and Fenway Sports Group chief executive Mike Gordon yesterday to review a season which saw last year’s Barclays Premier League runners-up fail to qualify for the Champions League.

Those talks have been described as ‘progressive’ and Rodgers, whose future was in doubt, will stay. Sportsmail understands a full review of the campaign was undertaken and an agreement was reached that improvements must be made.

A comprehensive battle plan for next season was drawn up and all sides agreed to move forward together, with Rodgers staying in charge.

The decision to stick with the Northern Irishman comes after it had been reported he would face severe questioning as to how a club who were on the verge of winning the title last season have regressed.

After selling Luis Suarez to Barcelona, Liverpool ended the season in sixth place, exited the Champions League at the group stage and bowed out of the last 32 of the Europa League. They also lost in the semi-finals of both the FA and Capital One Cups.

After his side’s final-day 6-1 humiliation at Stoke, Rodgers had said: ‘If the owners want me to go, then I go.’

Werner, who arrived in Liverpool on Monday, also had the signature of main target James Milner high on his agenda. The 29-year-old, who has had talks with Liverpool, looks set to leave Manchester City on a free transfer. Arsenal are also interested but Milner favours Liverpool because of the prospect of playing more in central midfield and Anfield bosses hope to tie up a deal this week.

Burnley forward Danny Ings is also set for a move to Anfield while Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke is another possible target. – Daily Mail



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Bacra want perfect send off for Xavi

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Barcelona legend Xavi Hernandez will play his last game for the club in the Champions League final against Juventus.

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Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta says that the team's determination to complete the treble with victory over Juventus in the Champions League final is rooted in a desire to give club legend Xavi Hernandez the perfect send-off.

“It will be the greatest way for him to leave the club,” said the Barcelona captain's team-mate. “This is a game where you almost don't need extra motivation but that is certainly one. He has been a unique player and for him to sign off with that as the final image would be perfect.”

Xavi allowed Eric Abidal to lift the trophy in 2011 after the Frenchman recovered from an operation to remove a tumour on his liver in order to play in the final. And two seasons before, Carles Puyol had captained the side as Barça beat Manchester United.

This time it will be the 35-year-old veteran of 776 appearances for the club raising the European Cup in the event of a Barça win, and, if he manages it, he will complete an incredible hat-trick of trophy-lifts in his final three games - two weeks ago he lifted the league trophy, and last week he collected the Copa del Rey from the king of Spain.

Xavi's chances of starting the final will rest on his close friend Iniesta's fitness. He did not train in Tuesday's session but, asked about the calf strain that saw him finish Saturday's Copa del Rey final with strapping around his right leg, he said: “It's not entered my thinking that I will not play on Saturday.”

If Iniesta makes the starting XI, Xavi will start a record 151st European Cup game on the bench. Asked to compare the Barcelona captain with his opposite number in the Juventus midfield, Andrea Pirlo, Iniesta added: “Pirlo is a model for any player but for me Xavi is the number one.”

In what was almost certainly his last press conference as a Barcelona player, Xavi backed coach Luis Enrique, whose future remains uncertain going into the last game of a campaign that could deliver only the second treble in Barcelona's history.

“I hope he stays,” said Xavi. “You will have to ask him what plans he has, but the first season as a Barcelona coach is always difficult.”

Luis Enrique had some words of his own for Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini who had said of Lionel Messi's wonder goal at the weekend: “He couldn't score that type of goal in Italy. In Spain they attack better than us but we are better at defending.”

Luis Enrique replied: “I have absolutely no doubt that Messi could have scored that goal against any team, from any league in the world. There shouldn't be any doubt about him being the greatest player of all time.” – The Independent



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Mourinho slams Chelsea youngster

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Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho delivered a damning assessment of midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek's performance in their 1-0 tour win over Sydney FC.

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Sydney - Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho delivered a damning assessment of home-grown midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek's performance in their 1-0 tour win over Sydney FC.

The teenager, viewed as one of the brightest young prospects with the English champions, replaced Diego Costa before halftime but was substituted himself half an hour later.

“He has to learn that at 19 you have to run three times as much as the other guys,” Mourinho told a news conference.

“You have to play in your limits and you don't have to play like a superstar with the ball at your feet because this is not the under-18s.

“I don't accept that a player ... when we don't have the ball, doesn't press, he doesn't have intensity and he is waiting for other people to recover the ball,” added Mourinho following Chelsea's final match of the season.

“I don't accept that in superstars and I don't accept that in a 19-year-old kid. He has to learn what it takes to play for us.”

Loftus-Cheek has been brought into the first-team squad this season but made only sporadic appearances for the Londoners.

Earlier this year the Portuguese said that he expected the teenager to play a more prominent role next term. – Reuters



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