Heskey, Cole Are Outraged

Emile Heskey and Ashley Cole, the two players for England who were the target of racist taunts by fans of Slovakia on Saturday during a qualifying game for the 2004 European Championship, hit back on Monday.

“Something has got to be done, that’s the worst [abuse] I’ve ever had,” Heskey told reporters in Southampton, where the English team is preparing for Wednesday’s qualifying game against Macedonia.

“It wasn’t just one section of the crowd, it was the whole stadium. There were people next to our bench doing things as well, and the police stood next to them and did nothing about it.

“To have a whole stadium shouting and making those gestures, it’s frightening. In 2002, you’d think everyone’s mind had changed, but it’s still the same.”

The racial abuse extended beyond the fans, Cole told the Guardian.

“When I went to pick up the ball a couple of times, even the stretcher staff [on the sideline] were making monkey noises,” he told the newspaper.

“It hardly ever happens in England anymore, but when I play in Europe it still goes on. I try hard to block it out, but sometimes it’s not easy.”

European soccer’s governing body, UEFA, is investigating the incidents and Slovakia is likely to be punished. It could even be ordered to play its home games in empty stadiums, a sanction UEFA has recently imposed on clubs.

Frantisek Laurinc, the president of the Slovakia’s soccer federation, apologized, saying the fans’ behavior “by no means represent the general public opinion” and adding that Slovakia “is prepared to cooperate actively in investigating the case.”

In addition, Slovakia’s ambassador to London has written to Heskey and Cole to apologize for the abuse they suffered.

Cardozo Controversy

Jose Cardozo, who has scored a league-high 17 goals in 12 games for Club America in the Mexican league, withdrew from the Paraguay team that will play Spain on Wednesday, citing an injury.

The move sparked anger in Asuncion, where the Paraguay soccer federation said it would complain to FIFA, pointing out that Cardozo was perfectly fit Saturday night, when he scored three goals in a 5-1 Club America victory over Chiapas.

No Ghosts for Italy

With fans and the media calling for his resignation in the wake of another lackluster result, a 1-1 Euro 2004 qualifying tie with Yugoslavia in Naples, Italy’s Coach Giovanni Trapattoni said he won’t be stepping down.

“The truth is, you journalists would like to change the coach every two months,” he told Gazzetta dello Sport. “When I was 40, I reacted to results differently. Now, I’m calm. I sleep at night. I don’t see ghosts.”

Molina Retires

Jose Molina, the Deportivo la Coruna and Spanish national team goalkeeper who won the league and cup double while with Atletico Madrid in 1996, announced that he was giving up soccer indefinitely after learning that he had testicular cancer.

Molina, 32, said he would return home to Valencia to begin treatment.

Iran Aims High

After winning the Asian Games title for the fourth time, Iran has set its sights on becoming the region’s predominant soccer power.

“Our win will create more enthusiasm for the team and interest will rise,” said the team’s Croatian coach, Branco Ivancovic.

“The team’s failure to reach the last World Cup [Iran lost to Ireland in a playoff] was felt as a huge disappointment throughout the country.”

McCarthy to Quit

Ireland’s Coach Mick McCarthy said he would step down after Euro 2002 in Portugal.

“I will have done eight years in the job and I think that’s more than enough,” he told the Guardian.