Japan Cancels Matches in U. S.
Japan has canceled its two international matches scheduled for next week in the United States because of security concerns over the war in Iraq.
Venezuela will take Japan’s place for a match against the U.S. on March 29 at Seattle.
Japan also was scheduled to play Uruguay on Wednesday in San Diego in the first game of a doubleheader at Qualcomm Stadium. Mexico will still play Paraguay, but the Japan-Uruguay match was canceled.
“It’s unfortunate, but we feel this is in the best interests of our players,” Japan Football Assn. chairman Saburo Kawabuchi said. The JFA originally decided to cancel the matches last month but reconsidered after being assured by U.S. soccer officials that the players would be safe.
Bob Contiguglia, U.S. soccer president, said he was disappointed by the decision.
“We provided their federation with ample evidence of the extensive security measures in place,” Contiguglia said. “We continue to have every confidence that Seattle will provide a safe environment for the players and fans to enjoy an outstanding display of soccer.”
The U.S. and Venezuela have met only once before, a 3-3 draw in the Copa America tournament in 1993.
Champions League
In a pairing fit more for a final, Real Madrid and Manchester United were drawn together into a European Champions League quarterfinal.
The two-leg series will begin April 8 at Bernebeu Stadium in Spain with the second game in England at Old Trafford on April 23.
In other quarterfinal matchups, Inter Milan faces Valencia, Ajax Amsterdam plays AC Milan and Juventus meets Barcelona.
Real Madrid and Manchester United have met three other times in Champions League play with the winner going on to the title.
This year’s quarterfinal field features a final eight that have won 25 Champions titles. Only Valencia, runner-up in 2000 and 2001, has never won Europe’s top club prize. Real Madrid has won a record nine championships.
UEFA Cup
Glasgow Celtic, which eliminated English power Liverpool in the quarterfinals, will face Portuguese side Boavista in the semifinals of the UEFA Cup. The draw also paired Lazio against Porto in the other semifinal.
Celtic and Porto will be at home in the first legs on April 10, with the return legs on April 24.
The final -- with the possibility of an all-Portuguese showdown -- will be in Seville, Spain, on May 21.
Cruz Azul Players Return
Seven of the 11 Cruz Azul players who quit last week because the team’s owner wanted them to sign new contracts have returned to the Mexican league team.
Francisco Palencia, Gilberto Jimenez, Melvin Brown, Oscar Perez, Miguel Zepeda, Flavio Davino and Sergio Almaguer signed new contracts Friday and will practice today.
The four holdouts are Sebastian Abreu and Daniel Baldi of Uruguay, Pablo Galdames of Chile and Julio Cesar Pinheiro of Brazil.
Venables Fired
Terry Venables, one-time national team coach for England, was fired as coach of Leeds United in the English Premier League with his team in 15th place in the 20-team standings. Venables, a former coach for Barcelona and Tottenham, was with Leeds only eight months.
Former Sunderland coach Peter Reid, will take over for the rest of the season as Leeds sits only seven points out of the relegation zone. Reid’s first game is Sunday against Liverpool.
Leeds had finished in the top five in each of the previous five seasons, but has fallen apart this term while selling off six of its top international stars to ease its financial troubles.
Vieri Cleared
Inter Milan striker Christian Vieri was cleared of allegations that he made racist remarks to Newcastle’s Lomana LuaLua, Europe soccer’s governing body ruled.
UEFA said the allegations made by LuaLua, who is a native of Congo, could not be confirmed because there were no witnesses to the incident at the March 11 Champions League match.
Quick Passes
Belgium will be without injured World Cup veterans Yves Vanderhaegen and Mbo Mpenza because of injuries for its Euro 2004 qualifier against Croatia next week, Coach Aime Antheunis said.... Nicolas Tagliani scored in injury time Thursday as Peru’s Alianza Lima edged Olimpia of Paraguay, 1-0, at Asuncion, leaving the Copa Libertadores defending champion on the verge of elimination. Olympia had tied its previous three games.... Daisuke Oku and Brazilian Marquinhos scored second-half goals as Yokohama F Marinos opened the J-League season in Japan with a 4-2 away victory over defending champion Jubilo Iwata.
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Times wire services contributed to this report.
