Ferguson Backs Off Comments
DAILY REPORT
On the eve of his team’s momentous match against Real Madrid in Spain today, Manchester United Coach Alex Ferguson on Monday apologized for suggesting that the draw for this week’s European Champions League quarterfinals was rigged.
“UEFA has assured me the draw was fair,” Ferguson said. “I was wrong to say that.”
Not content with that, Ferguson said he believes the Champions League has become “a bigger competition than the World Cup,” since Europe’s leading clubs feature only the world’s best players.
“In its side tomorrow, Real will have Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo and Luis Figo,” Ferguson said in Madrid. “That is an incredible selection to be able to make. For our part, we have players of different nationalities such as Roy Keane, Juan Sebastian Veron and Ryan Giggs.”
If Ferguson and Real Madrid Coach Vicente del Bosque select the starting lineups that are expected, the teams will feature 22 internationals, six from England, five from Spain, four from France, three from Brazil, and one each from the Netherlands, Portugal, Wales and Ireland, Associated Press reported.
“If you look at the statistics of recent World Cups, they don’t get anywhere near the Champions League in terms of goals and excitement,” Ferguson said. “This is the tournament without a doubt.”
Roberto Carlos Banned
World Cup winner Roberto Carlos was banned from Brazil’s next international match by FIFA after referee Alon Yefet of Israel stated in his match report that the Real Madrid defender had shoved him during Brazil’s 2-1 loss to Portugal on March 29.
In a statement issued in Zurich, FIFA said “any attack on a referee is to be regarded as a serious matter,” adding that the suspension is provisional until the organization’s disciplinary committee can determine what punishment, if any, to impose. Roberto Carlos has denied intentionally making contact with Yefet and remains eligible to play for Real Madrid.
Toothless in L.A.
Galaxy striker Carlos Ruiz, who scored the game-tying goal Saturday as Los Angeles played the Columbus Crew to a 1-1 draw in Ohio, paid the price in the closing stages of the game.
Ruiz was involved in an aerial collision with three other players, including Crew forward Brian McBride, in the final minute of the match and took an elbow to the jaw that loosened a molar.
On Monday, Ruiz visited his dentist and had the tooth removed. He is listed as probable for Wednesday night’s CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal game against Necaxa of Mexico at Cal State Fullerton.
Reyna Stays Loyal
U.S. national team captain Claudio Reyna has told Sunderland Coach Mick McCarthy that he will remain with the last-place English Premier League club even though it faces almost certain relegation to the first division.
“I’m all set for the challenge, no matter what happens,” Reyna, who is recuperating from left knee surgery, told Associated Press. “The reality is we’re going down, so we have to regroup and not sulk as a club. We have to be ready for next season.”
Mexican Roundup
Puebla capped a troublesome week in which it first lost all its players and then lost its coach by losing yet another game as the Mexican league season completed its 13th round of matches.
Puebla’s players went on strike in protest of coach Hugo Fernandez’s disciplinary measures but were persuaded to return by club directors. That caused Fernandez to resign in anger and Puebla named Ignacio Ambriz to replace him.
In Ambriz’s first game in charge Sunday, Puebla was beaten, 1-0, by Colibries, its ninth loss in 13 games.
Elsewhere, Atlante remained on top of the overall standings with 25 points as Chile’s Sebastian Gonzalez scored his league-leading 15th goal of the season in a 3-1 victory over San Luis.
