Out of Frying Pan, Into Fire for Coach
A Scottish coach might have cooked his own goose Monday when he was quoted in a British tabloid as saying a female assistant referee should have been at home, preparing a meal, rather than officiating his team’s game.
Peter Hetherston, coach of the third-division Albion Rovers, told the Scottish Sun that Morag Pirie, Scotland’s first woman referee and an official with six years’ experience, did not belong on the field.
“I knew it wasn’t going to be our day when I arrived at Links Park and found that we had a woman running the line,” Hetherston was quoted as saying after his team’s 1-0 loss to Montrose.
“She should be at home, making the tea or the dinner for her man who comes in after he has been to the football. This is a professional man’s game. I believe that she shouldn’t be here.
“Crucial decisions are being made which affect players and managers. Every time the ball went forward in the first half, she had the flag raised for offside. That’s how I feel, and I think I have to speak out.”
The Scottish Football Assn., which could discipline the coach, said it would ask Hetherston “to explain the comments he is alleged to have made to find out whether they are accurately attributable to him.”
Peruvian Standoff
Players from the Peruvian club Atletico Universidad barricaded themselves inside a stadium near Lima on Sunday and prevented anyone from entering, including the police, as part of a nationwide protest over unpaid salaries. The game against Sporting Cristal was canceled.
In Cusco, meanwhile, Alianza Lima players took to the field wearing jeans and T-shirts, prompting the cancellation of a game against Cienciano. In the port city of Callao, pickets patrolled outside the stadium, and the game between Sport Boys and Alianza Atletico was called off.
The Peruvian players’ union called the strike Friday, claiming players from the 12 first-division clubs were owed more than $800,000 in unpaid wages.
Ronaldinho Sidelined
Medical tests Monday revealed that World Cup winner Ronaldinho tore a muscle in his right thigh during Barcelona’s victory over Real Betis on Sunday.
The club said the 23-year-old, acquired from Paris Saint Germain for $33.8 million in July, would be sidelined at least four weeks.
Ronaldinho probably will miss at least four Spanish league games, including one against archrival Real Madrid, as well as Brazil’s World Cup 2006 qualifying matches against Peru and Uruguay. Brazil added Santos midfielder Elano to the roster in Ronaldinho’s place.
Brazil will also be without Real Madrid defender Roberto Carlos, who last week tore muscles in his left leg during a European Champions League game against Partizan Belgrade.
Quick Passes
River Plate Coach Manuel Pellegrini was given a vote of confidence by club directors, despite the protests of several hundred fans in the wake of a 2-0 loss to Boca Juniors on Sunday in one of the highlight games of the Argentine league season.
Leeds United, mired in last place, fired Peter Reid as coach in the wake of the team’s worst English Premier League defeat, a 6-1 loss at Portsmouth on Saturday.
Nigeria’s soccer federation terminated the contract of its women’s national team coach, Sam Okpodu.
Times wires services contributed to this report.
