Schedule Hinders FA Cup
Tired players on both sides threaten to put a damper on what is being described in London as the best match of the FA Cup championship, today’s matchup between Manchester United and defending Cup champion Arsenal.
The teams have combined for 18 Cup titles, but the bulk of players took part in various internationals on Wednesday, and there is concern about their fitness.
Most notable among the injured is Manchester United midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron, who is expected to be out at least two weeks because of a toe injury. Manager Alex Ferguson suggested to Reuters that Veron was overworked in Argentina’s 1-0 loss to the Netherlands in Amsterdam.
Ferguson said he expected players on international duty this week to play only 45 minutes. Veron played 71 minutes for Argentina. His injury underscores growing concerns in Europe about international matches.
“You can’t blame the coach or the players. You have to blame the associations,” Ferguson said. “They have a Wednesday international three days before Manchester United plays Arsenal in a 12:15 p.m. kickoff. You have to say something is wrong with that situation.”
Ferguson said the problem spans 25 years.
“People always say there are too many games,” he said. “If that is the case, why don’t they reduce the number of games? All we need is someone to make a decision and do what is best for [soccer].”
Arsenal Manager Arsene Wenger told the London Evening Standard that he wants stronger regulations and control on friendlies.
“Something has to be sorted out between the clubs and the federations,” he said.
Meanwhile, a cloud hangs over Fulham as it plays host to an FA Cup match against Burnley on Sunday. Fulham captain Andy Melville told Associated Press that if Manager Jean Tigana isn’t rehired several team members are planning to leave. Eight players, including Melville, become free agents at the end of the season and five more players with French connections brought in by Tigana are hanging in the balance. Tigana’s contract expires in June and there’s been no talk of an extension.
“Our destiny is linked to his,” Melville said.
War Torn
The threat of war in Iraq continued to have an effect on soccer Friday:
* Citing travel concerns, Japan’s national men’s team said it was reconsidering whether to visit the U.S. for scheduled games against Uruguay in San Jose on March 26 and the U.S. in Seattle on March 29.
* Turkey, which borders Iraq, said it may suspend league matches or play them on neutral turf if there is a war.
* Bernd Stange, coach of Iraq’s national team, is believed to have exercised a clause in his contract that allows him to leave the country if hostilities are threatened. The former East Germany coach signed a four-year contract on Nov. 11 to guide Iraq’s national and Olympic teams.
Short Shots
Atletico Madrid president Jesus Gil, his son and an employee were sentenced Friday after being convicted of misappropriation of funds and fraud. Jesus Gil received a term of 3 1/2 years in prison and was fined more than $17 million. Gil’s son, Miguel Angel, was sentenced to 18 months in prison, and club director Enrique Cerezo got a one-year prison term.... Greek soccer player Panayiotis Kordonouris has been suspended for three months and fined $315 after testing positive for the steroid nandrolone.... Costa Rica, reduced to 10 men before halftime, survived a second-half onslaught and drew, 1-1, with Guatemala in a CONCACAF Gold Cup qualifier in Panama Thursday. El Salvador defeated Nicaragua, 3-0, in another qualifier.... United States Soccer has revised the format for the Open Cup to allow all 10 Major League Soccer teams to participate. The tournament begins in June and ends in mid-October.
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Times wire services contributed to this report.
