FIFA Cup Gets Cold Reception

The United States might have an easier time of it at this summer’s FIFA Confederations Cup than earlier thought possible if Europe’s top clubs follow through on their threat to withhold players from the tournament.

The eight-nation event in France June 18-29 will see the U.S. play Turkey, Brazil and Cameroon in the first round, but whether Brazil will feature the likes of Real Madrid’s Ronaldo, Paris St Germain’s Ronaldinho and Inter Milan’s Rivaldo remains to be seen. Turkey and Cameroon also might be fielding weaker teams.

That’s because UEFA, European soccer’s ruling body, and many of the continent’s most powerful clubs are adamantly opposed to the tournament, which is backed by FIFA.

Meeting at UEFA’s headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, this week, club leaders said they were unanimous in their opposition to the Confederations Cup and to the FIFA World Club Championship, which FIFA wants to reintroduce in 2005.

“The European clubs are 100% not in favor of these competitions,” Arsenal Chief Executive David Dein told Reuters. “They come at the end of the [European] season when the players need a rest and a holiday.

“The players are not windup toys. They are highly tuned and prepared professional athletes and they need rest and recovery at the end of a hard season.

“We all feel the same way on this, all clubs from all levels. From the poor to the rich. If it [the Confederations Cup] goes ahead, we could be withdrawing players.”

Others speaking out against the event, which FIFA claims it is under contract to stage, included Peter Kenyon, Manchester United’s chief executive, and Umberto Gandini, a director at AC Milan.

“I cannot see why we should release our players for it,” Gandini said. “I don’t think it should happen at all.”

The other four Confederations Cup teams -- Colombia, France, Japan and New Zealand -- also would be affected if European clubs defy FIFA and refuse to release their players.

Jamaica Viewpoint

The U.S. team’s 2-1 victory over Jamaica in Kingston on Wednesday night was caused by the Reggae Boyz not paying attention, according to Jamaica Coach Carl Brown.

The Americans got goals from Carlos Bocanegra and Chris Klein in the first 15 minutes.

“We were having the better of play when the two goals were scored,” Brown told the Jamaica Gleaner newspaper, adding that Bocanegra’s headed goal off a Bobby Convey corner was a prime example his players falling asleep.

“The corner came across when they [Jamaica’s players] were not ready,” he said. “You do not do that at this level.”

On Thursday, South Africa revealed that it will play host to Jamaica in Cape Town on April 30 in a game that will officially launch its bid to stage the 2010 World Cup.

MLS Update

The Kansas City Wizards played to their second 0-0 tie, this time against SuperSport United in Johannesburg, as their three-game preseason tour of South Africa continued. The Wizards close the tour against Ajax Cape Town on Saturday.... The Chicago Fire was beaten, 2-1, by the U.S. under-17 men’s national team in Bradenton, Fla., with 13-year-old Freddy Adu scoring one goal and assisting on the other for Coach John Ellinger’s U-17 side.

Sudden Death Dies

Europe has decided to scrap FIFA’s “golden goal” sudden-death system for deciding tied matches and will play the fully allotted overtime period regardless of whether goals are scored. If games remain tied, penalty kicks will determine the outcome.

The new system will start with next season’s Champions League and will also be in effect at the 2004 European Championship in Portugal.

Ruggeri to Tecos

Universidad de Guadalajara, the floundering Mexican league team that has not won any of its first five matches, has fired Francisco Chavez as coach and replaced him with Oscar Ruggeri, the former captain of Argentina’s national team.