Senegal Loses Star
Senegal’s hopes of landing a berth in the 2006 World Cup were dealt a serious blow Monday when striker El Hadji Diouf, the reigning African player of the year, was suspended for the country’s next three qualifying matches.
Diouf’s punishment came as a result of “violent conduct” during a 1-0 quarterfinal loss to Tunisia in the African Nations Cup on Saturday.
After Tunisia took the lead on what some said was a disputed goal, Senegalese officials and several players, including Diouf, came off the bench to confront referee Ali Bujsaim of the United Arab Emirates.
When the game ended, Diouf had to be restrained, and the referee was led off the field surrounded by several security officials.
The suspension was announced by the Confederation of African Football and will encompass Senegal’s games this summer against Congo (June 4), Togo (June 18) and Zambia (Aug. 18).
Senegal burst onto the world soccer scene at the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea. After defeating defending champion France, 1-0, in the tournament’s opening game, Senegal reached the quarterfinals before losing to Turkey in overtime.
Ruiz Seeks Flexibility
Galaxy striker Carlos Ruiz, who was absent from the first two days of training camp last week, has made it known that he would like Major League Soccer to purchase his full rights from his Guatemalan club.
Ruiz told rojomania.com, a website devoted to his club team CSD Municipal in Guatemala, that he no longer wants both entities to share the responsibility because it hinders the opportunity for transfer deals to Europe.
Twice in the last two months, deals for Ruiz with clubs in the English Premier League fell apart.
“I wish to be sold to MLS,” Ruiz told the website, “since aside from benefiting my team, it benefits me in many other ways too. Everything depends on the negotiations that occur and the agreement we finalize.”
MLS reportedly pays Ruiz about $50,000 a year in salary, a bargain considering he has been a league most valuable player and goal-scoring leader, before bonuses. Municipal also pays Ruiz an undisclosed amount.
Asprilla to China?
Colombian striker Faustino Asprilla, a veteran of the 1994 and ’98 World Cups, is scheduled to arrive in Shanghai this week for several tryouts with Chinese teams.
Asprilla, 34, who has played for Parma in Italy and Newcastle United in England, is trying to revive what has been a sometimes-brilliant career.
He is the latest former player to give it a go in China, following former England star Paul Gascoigne, who had a tumultuous five-month stay last year.
Quick Passes
English Premier League club Chelsea has signed Czech international goalkeeper Petr Cech from French club Rennes for $13 million. Cech will join Chelsea at the end of the season in June.... Striker Ilhan Mansiz, who scored a golden goal at the 2002 World Cup to send Turkey into the semifinals, has agreed to leave his club, Besiktas, to join Vissel Kobe of the J-League.... Former Germany standout Mario Basler was suspended for six games from Qatar’s national league for abusing a referee, the al-Watan newspaper reported.
-- Compiled by
Jim Barrero
