Duo in close race for Barca presidency

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Josep Maria Bartomeu faces a tough challenge to remain as Barcelona’s president in Saturday's elections.

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Barcelona - Despite Barcelona's treble last season, Josep Maria Bartomeu faces a tough challenge to remain as president in Saturday's elections due to criticism of his leadership and stiff competition from fellow frontrunner Joan Laporta.

Victory in the Champions League against Juventus last month capped a memorable season for the Catalan club, who also won La Liga and the King's Cup.

Bartomeu, however, is tarred by the dealings that took place over the transfer of Brazilian Neymar to Barca in 2013, which have embroiled the club in court proceedings.

Bartomeu replaced Sandro Rosell, who stood down over the Neymar scandal, last year and admitted that Neymar's true cost was closer to 100 million euros ($108.9 million) rather than the 57.1 million euros ($62.1 million) previously claimed.

Further problems including a Fifa transfer ban for breaching rules regarding the signing of under-age players, Barca's stuttering league form and a bust-up between coach Luis Enrique and Lionel Messi prompted Bartomeu, in January, to bring forward elections by a year.

Buoyed by Barca's spectacular end to the season many fans are now happy to maintain the status quo though others are swayed by Laporta - president from 2003 until 2010 - who oversaw the building of Barca's most successful side ever.

Following the appointment of coach Pep Guardiola in 2008 they won three La Liga titles and two Champions Leagues during his four-year tenure.

A brash figure who enjoys the limelight, Laporta also courted his fair share of controversy.

He showed little humility and there were claims of a lack of transparency and corruption during his presidency.

Agusti Benedito, who surprised many by finishing second in the last elections in 2010, is an outsider for the top job.

He hopes to win the support of fans looking for change and fed up with the personal attacks between Bartomeu and Laporta.

“Laporta, Rosell and Bartomeu are driven by hate and they are not capable of bringing a stop to this,” Benedito told Reuters.

“Laporta made a lot of errors (as president) that included taking advantage of his position. As for Bartomeu, the judicial process should disqualify him from the position.”

There is little chance though of an untried candidate winning the presidency with Bartomeu and Laporta neck and neck in the latest polls - some way ahead of Benedito in third. – Reuters



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Fifa hires crisis consultants

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The world soccer body has hired a crisis communications firm to help handle multinational probes.

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Zurich/Miami - Swiss authorities extradited to the United States the first of seven current and former Fifa officials arrested in a corruption investigation while world soccer's governing body hired a New York-based crisis communications firm to help handle multinational probes and try to restore its tarnished image.

Swiss authorities did not name the extradited official, but the news came six days after a source told Reuters that Jeffrey Webb - one of seven current and former Fifa executives arrested in Switzerland in May - had agreed not to fight his extradition.

Webb and the others have been swept up in a US-led probe into allegations of bribery, fraud and money laundering, including possible corruption in the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup tournaments to Russia and Qatar, respectively.

The allegations have roiled the world's most popular sport, prompting Fifa President Sepp Blatter to say he plans to step down and raising uncomfortable questions for the body's corporate sponsors.

The hiring of Teneo, a crisis communications and advisory firm “to work across operational and reputational priorities” as a Fifa spokeswoman explained it, represents the organisation's latest attempt to contain the fallout from the scandal.

Teneo's executives include a number of people who have worked on World Cup bids, among them its president, Doug Band, who was a director of a US campaign to host the tournament in 2022. The US bid lost out to Qatar in a vote of Fifa executive committee members that is now one subject of the US and Swiss investigations.

Before co-founding Teneo, Band served for years as a key aide to former US president Bill Clinton both in the White House as well as in his post-presidential career.

Clinton has credited Band for coming up with the idea for the Clinton Global Initiative, which organises meetings where government and business leaders - many charged a large fee - can meet with representatives of non-governmental organisations. Band sat on the Initiative's board of directors until 2012, according to Teneo's website.

Fifa has contributed between $50 001 and $100 000 to the Clinton Foundation, which includes the Global Initiative, according to the foundation's website.

Teneo did not respond to requests for comment on Thursday.

In another sign of how Fifa is grappling with pressure to improve transparency, its ethics committee, responsible for investigating the corruption allegations, called on Thursday for a change in the rules the to let it release more information about ongoing investigations.

A Swiss justice official said the first of the seven officials arrested had been extradited to the United States on Wednesday. Webb, 50, and the others were jailed after a dawn raid on a luxury hotel in Zurich just two days before a Fifa Congress in May where Blatter, 79, was re-elected for a fifth term.

“He was handed over to a three-man US police escort in Zurich who accompanied him on the flight to New York,” the official said.

Webb, a citizen of the Cayman Islands, is charged with racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering. He has been provisionally banned from his posts at Fifa and CONCACAF, the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football.

Neither his lawyer nor a US Justice Department spokeswoman responded to requests for comment on Thursday.

A federal indictment unsealed by US prosecutors in Brooklyn charged soccer officials and marketing executives with exploiting the sport for their own gain through bribes of $150-million over 24 years.

The US indictment describes Webb as using his influential positions to solicit bribes from sports marketing companies in exchange for the commercial rights to soccer matches.

Amid an international uproar, Blatter announced days after the arrests that he would lay down his mandate at an extraordinary Fifa Congress which will take place between December and February, and would not stand again.

Reuters



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Old Trafford crowd lured Schweinsteiger

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Bastian Schweinsteiger says the prospect of playing before Man U supporters helped lure him away from Munich.

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Bastian Schweinsteiger revealed the prospect of playing before Manchester United's supporters at Old Trafford's iconic “Theatre of Dreams” helped lure him away from Bayern Munich.

The 30-year-old 2014 World Cup-winning midfield general completed a £14m move to United on Monday after agreeing a three-year deal with the Premier League side.

The move to Manchester reunites Schweinsteiger with former Bayern boss Louis van Gaal, who forged a solid bond with the midfielder during a successful stint with the Bundesliga giants between 2009 and 2011.

Schweinsteiger, who joined up with United immediately for their pre-season tour of the United States, told journalists in Seattle on Wednesday he was looking forward to working with van Gaal again.

But it was the prospect of playing for United at Old Trafford which had been the biggest draw, he said.

“Of course we know each other, we had a good time but I am here for Manchester United because Manchester United is a big club and I am looking forward to playing in that great stadium,” Schweinsteiger said.

Schweinsteiger said the Old Trafford support had made a lasting impression on him during a 2010 Champions League quarter-final, when Bayern lost 3-2 but eliminated United on away goals.

“The supporters from Manchester United, they are huge,” Schweinsteiger said.

“I remember once when we played there, we lost 3-2 but we moved on to the next round - but these supporters were very respectful after the match, they gave us applause and I am looking forward to playing in front of these supporters.”

Schweinsteiger said he had his sights set firmly on a trophy-winning finale to his career after winning every available honour with Bayern.

“I cannot guarantee titles, but I can guarantee we will give our best to be successful,” he said.

“I am very happy to be here and to play for Manchester United. It is a big honour. Of course it is a new step in my life.

“I want to win titles, it is easy. Manchester United is used to it and I am used to it too. That is the goal for the next years in Manchester.”

Schweinsteiger could make his bow for United in their opening International Champions Cup match on Friday, when they face Mexico's Club America at CenturyLink Field, home of the Seattle Seahawks NFL team.

AFP



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Valdes hits back at Van Gaal

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Manchester United goalkeeper Victor Vlades has responded to claims by Louis Van Gaal that he refused to play in reserve games.

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London - Manchester United goalkeeper Victor Valdes escalated his dispute with manager Louis Van Gaal on Thursday by posting pictures of himself with the club's Under-21 team, which Van Gaal had accused him of refusing to play for.

Former Spanish international Valdes was left out of United's tour to the United States and told to leave the club because “last season he refused to play in the second team”, the manager told reporters in Seattle.

But Valdes, who signed an 18-month contract with United in January, responded with a post on Twitter including mention of three Under-21 games and a picture of himself in the dressing-room with the message “...? #respect”

It is not the first time the pair have clashed. When they worked together at Barcelona in 2002, Valdes declined to play in a reserve game after being dropped and was fined.

Now his future is in doubt, just as United face renewed interest from Real Madrid in signing their number one goalkeeper David de Gea. – Reuters



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Clear your calenders for Soweto derbies

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October 31 and January 30. Clear those dates of any special events such as birthdays and weddings. It’s Soweto derby time.

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October 31 and January 30. Clear those dates of any special events such as birthdays and weddings. It’s Soweto derby time.

Unless of course you do not mind having none of your friends share your special moments with you.

Those two Saturdays are Soweto derby days for the 2015/16 Absa Premiership season league matches and history has proven that many a South Africans put everything on hold to be a part of the country’s biggest sporting event.

The Premier Soccer League yesterday released the full fixture list for the new season and scheduled defending champions Kaizer Chiefs to meet their traditional rivals on those month-end Saturdays no doubt intent on ensuring that the FNB Stadium will be packed for both clashes.

Already, the two giants are guaranteed to play their traditional pre-season friendly clash to a packed house after the sold out signs for the August 1 Carling Black Label Cup went up yesterday.

And this weekend they could well meet should both win their King’s Super Cup semi-final matches against Swaziland opposition in Mbabane.

The new league season is scheduled to kick off in the second weekend of August (8/9) and finish on May 21 with all 16 clubs playing the last two matches of the campaign simultaneously.

It is the start of the season, however, that the clubs will be focusing on as they wrap up their pre-seasons and Chiefs should be confident of maximum points when they kick-start their title defence with a trip to Chippa United, the venue of their coronation last season where they received their trophy having captured the championship a few matches earlier. The match is on Sunday August 9.

The honour of opening the new season goes to the not-so-glamorous sides in the league, with Free State Stars against Mpumalanga Aces and Bloemfontein Celtic at Polokwane City playing on Saturday afternoon.

It is perhaps Mamelodi Sundowns’ visit to their hoodoo team Platinum Stars that will grab the attention of the opening day – the two sides meeting in the evening match at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium.

In a fascinating twist to the fixtures, Pitso Mosimane’s side will play their last match of the year before the Christmas recess against Pirates on December 20 and then open the new year against Chiefs on January 9.

Premiership returnees, Jomo Cosmos and Golden Arrows start their campaign back in the top flight with tricky matches, Ezenkosi travelling to Maritzburg United and Abafana Bes’thende hosting the University of Pretoria.

The dates for the PSL’s three, official cup competitions were also released, with the MTN8 kicking things off from August 5 and the final set for September 19. The Premiership clubs-only Telkom Knockout will run from September 30 to December 16 while the all-encompassing Nedbank Cup is scheduled to kick off on March 28 and bring the curtain down on the season on May 28.

But you can bet it is October 31 and January 30 that will be circled in red or highlighted on many a football fan’s calendar. - The Star



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Liverpool selling their best players

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Former Liverpool midfielder Patrik Berger believes Manchester City overpaid for England winger Raheem Stirling.

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Singapore - Former Liverpool midfielder Patrik Berger believes Manchester City overpaid for England winger Raheem Stirling but the Czech is worried his old employers are gaining a reputation as a selling club.

Sterling, 20, who rejected contract offers of around 100 000 pounds ($156,150) a week from Liverpool, joined City on Tuesday with local media putting the price tag at 49 million pounds, a record for a British player.

Berger, who played for Borussia Dortmund and Sparta Prague before spending seven years at Liverpool after joining in 1996, was taken aback by the price.

“If he doesn't want to sign a new deal, such a great deal, then Liverpool did the right thing, they sold him for an unbelievable amount,” Berger said in Singapore on Thursday.

“I think even 30 million pounds would probably be a good price, so to sell him for 50 million is an amazing price and I think it's good business for Liverpool.”

But the Czech, in Southeast Asia to launch the Singapore ICONS of Football Cup golf tournament, was worried about the negative impact the departures of Sterling and Luis Suarez last season could have on the club.

“In the last few years, they have been selling their best players which is not a good sign for the fans or the club,” the 41-year-old said.

“If you want to attract players to Liverpool, they can look up who they bought and sold in the last few years and they sold their best players, which is not a good sign.”

Berger said the Premier League title would be beyond Liverpool's reach next term but challenging for the Champions League berth was more realistic.

A fit Daniel Sturridge would make a top-four finish likely but Berger said the injury-prone striker could not be relied upon.

“I like him, he is a great player, I think he can be the difference but he hasn't been fit for years,” he said.

The Czech said winning a trophy should be the priority for Liverpool, who finished sixth last term and were knocked out in the semi-finals of the domestic cups and made limp exits of both European competitions.

Berger, also critical of Liverpool's failure to give long-term skipper Steven Gerrard a new contract, said the pressure was on manager Brendan Rodgers to deliver some silverware after failing to win a trophy in his three years at Anfield.

“Last year, they spent 100 million and were in the middle of the table,” said Berger, who was part of the Czech Republic squad that reached the final of Euro 96 in England.

“In Liverpool, as a manager, you have to win trophies and he didn't win anything in three years. The beginning of the season the games they are going to play, home and away, is quite tough, so it depends how they start the season.

“He is there now so I would give him a little bit more time.” – Reuters



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Bumper payday for Sterling’s agent

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Raheem Sterling’s agent Aidy Ward is set to pocket around £2million from Sterling’s £49m move to Manchester City.

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Raheem Sterling’s controversial agent Aidy Ward is set to pocket around £2million from his player’s British record £49m move to Manchester City.

Ward has made himself a hate figure in Liverpool for the way he is perceived to have agitated Sterling into leaving, although the player has publicly thanked his adviser.

Ward’s cut from the transfer breaks down to five per cent of Sterling’s £180,000-a-week wages over the five years of his contract, which is about £2.43m. Out of that, Ward must pay an agreed percentage to Rob Segal’s Sports Impact Management, the organisation he left last year to set up on his own, taking Sterling and West Brom’s Saido Berahino with him.

That leaves the agent with a tidy £2m due from Sterling that will be paid over the length of the player’s contract at City.

Sterling still has a management contract in place with Segal until November — as has Berahino. The West Brom forward has recently split from Ward, who said: ‘You’ll have to ask Saido the reasons.’

Liverpool have just over three weeks to spend some of Sterling’s fee on reinforcements for manager Brendan Rodgers before the start of the new Premier League season.

Rodgers and his players left Thailand for Australia yesterday to continue their pre-season tour but midfielder Joe Allen insists it is wrong to make the manager the scapegoat for the club’s wretched 2014-15 season.

Rodgers came under intense pressure at the end of a campaign that unravelled spectacularly, culminating in the 6-1 final-day humiliation at Stoke.

The manager survived a performance review with club owners Fenway Sports Group but Allen, in talks over a new contract, admits that other coaches have been sacked for less.

‘The players here are all honest and take responsibility,’ said Allen. ‘When you end on such a low, it’s a really long summer.

‘We were the ones who let down the supporters, the manager, the staff down and ourselves. It’s simple. It’s up to us to get back to the levels we know we can reach.

‘It takes a while to get over disappointments like that but our mentality now is to look forward.

‘We don’t need extra motivation. We want to make sure we hit the ground running.’

Liverpool — who are still in talks with Aston Villa over striker Christian Benteke, but remain firm that they will not pay £32.5m for the Belgium striker — will continue to blood new signings during games in Brisbane tonight and in Adelaide on Monday. Nathaniel Clyne, the £12.5m arrival from Southampton who played the first 45 minutes in the 4-0 win over Thai All-Stars on Tuesday, is hoping the switch to Anfield will provide him with the chance to cement his position as England’s first choice right back.

He finished the last campaign under a small cloud.

England manager Roy Hodgson kept Clyne on the bench until the last minute of June’s Euro 2016 qualifier in Slovenia and the player scuttled off down the tunnel at the end instead of celebrating with team-mates and the travelling England fans. Afterwards, Hodgson was spiky in his appraisal of the 24-year-old.

Clyne, however, maintains he did not show Hodgson a lack of respect at the end of that 3-2 win, saying: ‘I was disappointed not to play but it’s just made me hungrier to get in the team.’

‘I feel I’m good enough and that I should be playing. I hope when the next game comes around I will get the call-up and get some game time. I thought I just went in with the rest of the team. Hopefully, next time I will play.’ – Daily Mail



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Di Maria’s United future unclear

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Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has done little to dampen speculation that winger Angel Di Maria could leave the club.

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Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has done little to dampen speculation that Argentine winger Angel Di Maria could leave the club, a year after moving to Old Trafford for a British record transfer fee.

British media have reported that Di Maria, who joined United for 59.7 million pounds ($93.35 million) last year, is a target for French club Paris Saint Germain and that his wife is unhappy living in the northwest of England.

Van Gaal, while keen to keep the 27-year-old, was unsure if he would stay.

“We shall see,” the Dutchman told reporters in Seattle when asked whether he expected Di Maria to be with the club for the next English Premier League season.

“In football it's a process and I have said that many times. It's not clear in one day. It's a process for Di Maria, for United and we shall see.

“For now he's still a member of United and he has told me he shall come on 25 July.”

Di Maria played for Argentina in the recently completed Copa America and was given permission to join the club's pre-season tour of North America later this month. – Reuters



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Arteta injury blow for Arsenal

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Arsenal captain Mikel Arteta is injured. Again.

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Arsenal captain Mikel Arteta is injured. Again.

The midfielder has signed a new one-year deal despite having not played since November when a nagging calf strain became an ankle injury which needed surgery.

The 33-year-old Basque is in Singapore for the Barclays Asia Trophy and able to participate in some training drills — but has more calf problems which make him unavailable for selection.

Arteta accepts that he can no longer play such a pivotal on-field role as he once did but Arsene Wenger values his opinion and calming influence inside the camp.

Wenger was keen to extend his contract to retain his presence in the dressing room. The manager hopes Arteta will be available when needed, but this seems likely to be less often.

Francis Coquelin and Santi Cazorla forged a good understanding at the end of last season. Mathieu Flamini and Aaron Ramsey can play there and Jack Wilshere prefers to be central and plans to ask Wenger where he wants him to play this season.

‘I haven’t spoken to him but I will do before the start of the season,’ said Wilshere, who played at No 10 and scored a penalty in a 4-0 win against a Singapore XI in the Barclays Asia Trophy.

Chuba Akpom scored a hat-trick and Wenger confirmed he will keep the 19-year-old striker in his squad this season rather than send him on loan.

It promises to be a big season for Akpom, as it does for Wilshere, who is wanted by Manchester City but so desperate to make an impact at Arsenal that he reported back early for pre-season.

Wenger has been impressed with his return to form and fitness but will not guarantee him a central role in the team.

‘For me he can play in all of the offensive positions,’ said the Arsenal boss. ‘Wide or central, and we have many good creative players. They will all tell you they want to play centrally. Unfortunately, some have to go wide as well.’ – Daily Mail



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LVG’s warning to new signings

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Mananger Louis van Gaal warned his raft of new signings they would have to fight for their Manchester United places.

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Louis van Gaal warned his raft of new signings they would have to fight for their Manchester United places as the Premier League giants prepared to kick-off their pre-season tour of the United States.

United arrived in Seattle in buoyant mood after bolstering their squad with a slew of high-calibre new arrivals led by Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger and France international Morgan Schneiderlin.

With highly rated Dutch international Memphis Depay and Italy defender Matteo Darmian also joining in the close season, van Gaal is confident he can build a team to re-establish United as title challengers.

But the veteran Dutchman warned that all of the new signings would need to prove they deserved a place in United's starting line-up.

“I have to say to the players, you have to fight for your position,” van Gaal said.

“Never is it secure in top sport – even my position is not secure.

“But also the players, the players have to fight. Morgan Schneiderlin has to fight with Schweinsteiger, Michael Carrick, Daley Blind – these are the players who can play in the centre of midfield.

“Matteo Darmian has to fight with (Antonio) Valencia, he knows that but Valencia knows that also.”

Darmian, who joined from Torino, would help to shore up United's defence while also providing an attacking threat, van Gaal said.

“He has a very good orientation and with that he can cooperate with our central defenders,” van Gaal said.

“He is fast. He is also a reasonable header so that is also a plus. He can build up and he can see a free man and he is in an attacking way a good player.”

Van Gaal meanwhile praised United chief executive Ed Woodward for helping get the bulk of the club's transfer business done before the pre-season.

Woodward faced stinging criticism for his performance in the transfer market in 2013 after missing out on a number of high-profile targets including Spaniards Thiago Alcantara and Cesc Fabregas.

But van Gaal praised the United executive on Wednesday.

“To get these players, it is not so easy,” he said.

“I am very proud, especially Ed Woodward, has done that.

“It is not so easy when Manchester United is coming – they (clubs) are always asking more money than you think you should spend. They are here at the right time.”

United begin their International Champions Cup campaign against Club America of Mexico on Friday at Seattle's CenturyLink Field. – AFP



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Valdes set for United exit

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Louis Van Gaal says Manchester United will sell goalkeeper Victor Valdes after the Spaniard refused to play in the reserves.

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Manchester United will sell goalkeeper Victor Valdes after the Spaniard refused to play in the reserves, manager Louis van Gaal said on Wednesday.

Speaking at a news conference in Seattle during United's pre-season tour of the United States, van Gaal made clear 33-year-old Valdes was on his way out after only six months at the Premier League club.

“He doesn't follow our philosophy. There is no place for someone like that,” said the Dutchman. “The philosophy is how you play football, and how you maintain your match rhythm.

“For example, he refused last (season) to play in the second team. That's also one aspect of our philosophy but there are a lot of other aspects in the philosophy of how you have to play like a goalkeeper in Manchester United.

“When you are not willing to follow the principles of the philosophy, then there is only one way and that is out,” continued van Gaal.

Asked directly if he was selling the player, the manager replied: “Yes. For us it is a big disappointment because we thought he would follow our philosophy.

“When you are not playing in the first selection, then you must play in the second selection. Every player has to do that and he refused to do that.”

Van Gaal had said in February, a month after Valdes joined United on an 18-month contract from Barcelona, that the Spaniard must earn his spurs with the reserves before he could be considered for a full first-team debut.

Valdes, who was a surprise omission from United's squad for the tour, failed to displace incumbent David de Gea, who has been linked with a move to Real Madrid and whose contract expires at the end of next season. – Reuters



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‘Major reforms needed within Fifa’

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US senators have questioned what America’s soccer chiefs knew about corruption in Fifa.

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Washington - US senators on Wednesday called for extensive reforms in the way soccer is run by both international and US governing bodies, and questioned what current US soccer chiefs knew about corruption in the global organisation Fifa.

“The facts show there had to be either wilful ignorance or blatant incompetence on behalf of many of the members of this organisation - that's true of US Soccer as well,” said Senator Richard Blumenthal, the top Democrat on the Senate commerce subcommittee at a hearing it held on Wednesday to examine alleged corruption in Fifa and related soccer bodies.

There has been “a mafia-style crime syndicate in charge of this sport”, said Blumenthal. He said that was “almost insulting to the Mafia... because the Mafia would never have been so blatant, overt and arrogant in its corruption”.

“I want to know what reforms US Soccer Federation is planning to introduce... what and when... clearly there is an urgent need for such reforms,” he added.

Dan Flynn, CEO of the US federation, the sport's American governing body often referred to as simply US Soccer, told the hearing he favoured reforms in the sport's governance but that he had seen previous reform attempts “come up short”.

Flynn said that while, over the years, he had experienced “discomfort” at unspecified developments he saw in soccer, personally he had no idea of the extent of alleged corruption in the sport until US authorities in late May issued a sweeping criminal indictment of some of the sport's leading international figures.

But Blumenthal said: “US Soccer had a responsibility to know. Either it knew or it should have known and the fans can judge which is worse.”

Former US soccer official Chuck Blazer, who was a Fifa executive committee member for 17 years, has been at the centre of the corruption scandal. He has pleaded guilty to a series of offences related to bribery and is cooperating with authorities.

Blazer was executive vice-president of the US Soccer Federation from 1984-86 and was then general secretary of CONCACAF, the regional soccer body for North and Central America and the Caribbean, from 1990 to 2011.

Crimes in US

In late May, federal prosecutors in Brooklyn, New York indicted nine soccer officials, most of whom held Fifa positions or had previously held such positions, and five sports media and promotions executives in schemes involving $150-million in bribes over a period of 24 years. Prosecutors said their investigation exposed complex money-laundering schemes, millions of dollars in untaxed income and tens of millions of dollars in offshore accounts held by the soccer officials.

“Many of these crimes were committed in the United States, which is especially disturbing,” Blumenthal said.

Senator Jerry Moran, the Republican chairing the hearing, said that given that Fifa president Sepp Blatter has announced his intention to resign, “Now is the time for the United States and US Soccer Federation to engage and determine how we can encourage meaningful reforms.”

British investigative journalist and filmmaker Andrew Jennings, who has written extensively on alleged corruption at Fifa and related soccer bodies for many years, told the hearing that US Soccer chiefs “had to know” about the involvement of Blazer and Jack Warner in corrupt activities and tax evasion.

Warner, previously the president of CONCACAF, is among those indicted on bribery-related offences. Warner has consistently denied wrongdoing and is fighting an attempt to extradite him from Trinidad and Tobago, where he is based, to the US.

Flynn said Blazer had not been involved with US Soccer since 1986.

Flynn said that some time before the indictments - longer than a few months but shorter than a few years - he had begun to experience “discomfort” at some of what he saw going on in the game's governing bodies.

He said that his discomfort was a “general feeling” about possible problems in how the game was run. When the discomfort became too troubling, Flynn said, he would “not participate” in related soccer activities. He did not specify what kind of soccer activities he shunned.

Senators questioned why the top US Soccer Federation official, President Sunil Gulati, had not agreed to testify at the hearing. Flynn said that the Soccer Federation decided, in consultation with outside counsel, that Gulati would not appear at the hearing and that Flynn would be the organisation's representative because he “had more knowledge of the day to day events”.

Prominent labour union and human rights groups on Wednesday stepped up public pressure on Fifa to agree to be reformed and clean up its act through an independent process.

Reuters



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Real top most valuable teams list

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Spanish giants Real Madrid retained top spot on a list of the world's 50 most valuable sports teams, according to a new Forbes poll.

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New York - Spanish soccer club Real Madrid retained top spot on a list of the world's 50 most valuable sports teams, according to a Forbes poll released on Wednesday that was made up mostly of National Football League franchises.

The value of the 10-times European champions fell five percent from last year to $3.26 billion due to a drop in the euro versus the US dollar, but revenue of $746 million, the highest of any team, kept them top, Forbes said in a statement.

The NFL's Dallas Cowboys, up three spots from last year, and Major League Baseball's New York Yankees, up from fourth place in 2014, were tied for second with a value of $3.20 billion.

Global soccer powers Barcelona ($3.16 billion) and Manchester United ($3.10) rounded out the top five.

The NFL led all sports with 20 franchises in the top-50, followed by MLB (12), the National Basketball Association (10) and soccer (7).

Formula One's Ferrari (1.35 billion) were ranked 32nd while the Toronto Maple Leafs ($1.3 billion), tied in 37th, were the only National Hockey League team on the list.

According to Forbes, which began valuing sports franchises in 1998, the world's 50 most valuable teams are worth an average $1.75 billion, up 31 percent from 2014.

Forbes also said the minimum valuation to make the cut rose to $1.15 billion, up from $856 million a year ago, due largely to the soaring worth of NBA and MLB teams.

The 10 most valuable teams (in billions):

1. Real Madrid (Soccer) - $3.26

2. Dallas Cowboys (NFL) - $3.20

2. New York Yankees (Baseball) - $3.20

4. Barcelona (Soccer) - $3.16

5. Manchester United (Soccer) - $3.10

6. Los Angeles Lakers (NBA) - $2.60

6. New England Patriots (NFL) - $2.60

8. New York Knicks (NBA) - $2.50

9. Los Angeles Dodgers (Baseball) - $2.40

9. Washington Redskins (NFL) - $2.40

Reuters



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Banyana prepare for Kenya clash

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The South African Women’s National Team is preparing for the third round 2016 Rio Olympic qualifiers against Kenya.

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Johannesburg – The South African Women’s National Team is continuing preparations for the third round 2016 Rio Olympic qualifiers against Kenya on Saturday.

The South Africans started their road to Rio campaign earlier this year, overpowering Gabon in the second round.

Banyana Banyana are set to take on the Harambe Starlets of Kenya in the first leg at Dobsonville Stadium, in a 3pm kickoff.

The return leg will be played at the Machakos Stadium in Kenya in the first week of August.

A few changes have been made to the squad that beat Gabon 5-0. Overseas-based players Jermaine Seoposenwe and Roxanne Barker are not are not part of the squad for this encounter.

Young goalkeeper, Mapaseka Mpuru from the University of Pretoria’s High Performance Centre, midfielder Stephanie Malherbe and striker Bongiwe Thusi from Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies, all receive their first call-up to the senior national team.

Banyana Banyana squad to face Kenya:

Goalkeepers: Andile Dlamini (Mamelodi Sundowns FC, Johannesburg), Mapaseka Mpuru (High Performance Centre, Pretoria), Gopolang Mputle (Palace Super Falcons, Johannesburg)

Defenders: Lebogang Ramalepe (Maindis FC, Polokwane), Nothando Vilakazi (Palace Super Falcons FC, Johannesburg), Janine Van Wyk (JVW FC , Johannesburg), Noko Matlou (Maindis FC, Polokwane), Lerato Kgasago (Mamelodi Sundowns FC, Johannesburg), Nomathemba Ntsibande (Springs Home Sweepers, Johannesburg), Zamandosi Cele (Durban Ladies FC, Pietermaritzburg)

Midfielders: Alochia Thobokela (Mamelodi Sundowns, Johannesburg), Amanda Dlamini (University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg), Silindile Ngubane (Durban Ladies FC, Pietermaritzburg), Refiloe Jane (VUT Ladies, Vaal), Leandra Smeda (UWC Ladies, Cape Town), Nompumelelo Nyandeni (JVW FC, Johannesburg), Stephanie Malherbe (A & M Texas, USA)

Strikers: Bongiwe Thusi (Mamelodi Sundowns, Johannesburg, Sanah Mollo (Mamelodi Sundowns FC, Johannesburg), Shiwe Nogwanya (Bloemfontein Celtic, Bloemfontein), Thembi Kgatlana (UWC Ladies, Cape Town), Rhoda Mulaudzi (Mamelodi Sundowns FC, Johannesburg), Kelso Peskin (Tyler Junior, College USA). - ANA



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2015/16 PSL fixtures released

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The Premier Soccer League (PSL), released the full 2015/16 Premiership fixtures.

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Johannesburg – The Premier Soccer League (PSL), released the full 2015/16 Premiership fixtures.

The opening block fixtures of the Premiership will be played on Saturday and Sunday, August 8 and 9.

The PSL also confirmed that the last two block fixtures of the 2015/16 Premiership season will kick-off simultaneously. The last block fixture will be played on Saturday, May 21.

On the opening weekend of the 2015/16 season of top flight football, Free State Stars host MP Black Aces at Goble Park Stadium while Bloemfontein Celtic will travel to Polokwane to face Polokwane City at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium.

Later on the same day, Wits will host Ajax Cape Town at the Bidvest Stadium in Johannesburg. At the same time (8.15pm), Platinum Stars play last season’s runner-ups, Mamelodi Sundowns at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium.

Premiership defending champions, Kaizer Chiefs will kick-off their campaig against Chippa United at the Nelson Mandela Stadium. Newly-promoted club, Golden Arrows will play University of Pretoria at the Chatsworth Stadium. Both fixtures will kick-off at 3pm. - ANA



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