MLS Commissioner Wants Investigation
Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber Thursday lashed out at racist remarks allegedly made during a post-game altercation between players from the A-League’s Rochester Rhinos and the Kansas City Wizards of MLS.
Kansas City midfielder Diego Gutierrez suffered a broken cheekbone in the altercation and, according to Wizards’ and U.S. national team goalkeeper Tony Meola, was the target of a racial epithet by Rochester forward Kirk Wilson, who has denied the allegation.
Garber said it is the league’s position that there be “zero tolerance” for such behavior and asked that U.S. Soccer investigate the incident, which occurred after a July 17 U.S. Open Cup third-round match in Webster, N.Y.
“Without in any way pre-judging the results of this investigation, it is important that we at MLS utilize all of the resources within our power to eradicate racism and bias within our sport, at all levels,” Garber said in a prepared statement.
“It is absolutely imperative that we maintain a zero tolerance policy regarding this issue.”
In the match, Kansas City came from two goals down to defeat the Rhinos, 3-2, in overtime and advance to the Open Cup quarterfinals.
Wilson, 24, last week told the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle that he had not used a racial slur against Gutierrez, which Meola claimed had sparked the brawl.
Chris Economides, the Rhinos’ general manager, told the newspaper that Rochester stands behind its player.
“Kirk has no history of anything like that and you have to consider the source,” Economides said. “I think Kirk has more credibility.
“Meola comes in here with his big-league mentality and says that? That stuff doesn’t fly here. He’s arrogant and overrated.”
Sao Caetano Nears Title
Sao Caetano, a Brazilian club founded only 13 years ago and which until three years ago was playing second-division soccer, is one game away from winning the South American championship.
The unheralded club, nicknamed “Azulao” (“Big Blue”) defeated Olimpia of Paraguay, 1-0, Wednesday night in front of 45,000 in Asuncion, Paraguay, in the first match of the two-game Copa Libertadores final.
Midfielder Ailton scored the game’s lone goal in the 61st minute.
The teams will play again in Sao Paolo, Brazil, on Wednesday. Sao Caetano, coached by Jair Pecerni, needs only a tie to win the Copa Libertadores in only its second appearance in the 42-year-old competition.
Canada’s Forrest Retires
Canadian national team goalkeeper Craig Forrest announced his retirement on the advice of doctors.
Forrest, 34, who has played for West Ham United in England for the last six seasons, successfully overcame testicular cancer but said the battle had taken a lot out of him and that doctors had told him he “will be unable to maintain the necessary level of fitness to compete at the game’s highest level.”
Forrest said on the West Ham Web site that he is considering a media role next after working for Canadian television during the 2002 World Cup.
Luizao to Hertha Berlin
Brazil striker Luizao, who played in two World Cup games as a replacement for Ronaldo, signed a four-year contract with Hertha Berlin of the German Bundesliga.
Luizao, 26, has scored five goals in 11 games for Brazil and had been pursued by the German team for several months after becoming a free agent when his contract with the Brazilian club Gremio ended.
Geremi Leaves Real Madrid
Cameroon’s Olympic gold medal-winning midfielder Geremi, 23, has joined Middlesbrough of the English Premier League on a one-year loan from European champion Real Madrid.
1934 World Cup Keeper Dies
One of the most accomplished and popular figures in Egyptian soccer history, goalkeeper Mostafa Kamel Mansour, has died in Cairo at age 87.
Mansour was the oldest surviving African player to compete in the 1934 World Cup in Italy.
On the club level, he played for al-Ahli in Egypt and for Queens Park in Scotland and later became coach of Egypt’s national team and, later still, an international referee.
Chivas Veteran Jasso Dies
Juan Jasso, one of the legendary players in the history of the Mexican club Chivas of Guadalajara, has died of stomach cancer at 76, his family announced.
Jasso made his debut for Chivas in 1945 at age 19 and played for 21 seasons, finally retiring in 1966.
He won the Mexican league championship seven times with Chivas, in 1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964 and 1965.
African Hosts Chosen
Burkina Faso will stage the 2003 African Youth Championship from Jan. 4-18 and Swaziland will play host to the 2003 African Under-17 Championship on yet-to-be-determined dates in May, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced.
The two competitions will provide Africa’s entrants for the FIFA World Youth Championship in the United Arab Emirates March 25-April 16 and the FIFA Under-17 World Championship in Finland in August 2003.
