Soccer News [2]

City to challenge Adebayor charge


Manchester City are to contest the improper conduct charge laid against Emmanuel Adebayor by The Football Association.

The Togo forward was charged following his goal celebration last weekend in the 4-2 victory over his former club Arsenal at Eastlands.

He raced to the far end of the ground where the visiting supporters were gathered, sparking volatile scenes.

However, City manager Mark Hughes confirmed today the club would be contesting the charge.

Adebayor is already starting a three-match ban after accepting a violent conduct charge for a stamp on Arsenal's Robin van Persie.




Messi pens new Barça deal


Lionel Messi has signed a new deal with Barcelona until 2016, the Catalan giants have confirmed. The Argentina playmaker, whose contract was set to run out in 2014, becomes the best-paid player at the club while his release clause has also been increased from €150m to €250m.

The 22-year-old joined Barcelona as a youth-team player in 2001 and has won a host of trophies in their colours, including last season's unprecedented treble. "This Friday Leo Messi extended and improved his contract which links him to FC Barcelona," read a statement on the club's official website.
Leo Messi extended and improved his contract. The Argentinian will be azulgrana until 2016 and has, from now, a release clause of €250m.
A statement on Barcelona's official website

"The Argentinian will be azulgrana until 2016 and has, from now, a release clause of €250m. The signing of the contract took place this Friday afternoon in the club offices.

"Apart from the player and president Joan Laporta, also present were Leo Messi's brother Rodrigo, vice-presidents Rafael Yuste and Joan Boix, technical secretary Txiki Begiristain, and football director Raul Sanllehi.

"With this new contract, Leo Messi ensure he will be azulgrana for 15 years, having started his career at Barça in 2001, in the youth sectors of the club."

The announcement had been expected and earlier coach Pep Guardiola expressed his delight at the news. "It's an immense piece of news for the club and for the player that Messi is renewing his contract," he said. "As it was also was when Victor Valdes and Xavi did so."

"People go to football to see the best and that's what they are. It's a privilege for Barça to have some of the best footballers like Messi."

Messi: I'll never leave Barça


Lionel Messi claims he never wants to leave Barcelona after signing a new contract with the club until 2016.

The 22-year-old is now committed to the reigning European champions for what will likely be the best years of his career, and wants to end it there too. Messi, who was previously signed to Barcelona until 2014, has had his release clause increased from €150 million to €250 million (£225 million) in a move to end any further speculation about his future.

"I want to spend all my career here, in Barcelona, if it's possible," he told the club's official website. "I would love to finish at Barcelona. This contract is a result of everything that happened last year and of what I have done since coming into the first team. I am simply one more person in this spectacular group of players, where there is a team that is very nice, very united and in which I am simply part of continuing to win things."

And if Messi is keen to stay at Barça for life, the door would appear to be open after the club's president Joan Laporta voiced his belief that the Argentina forward would never played for another club.
I would love to finish at Barcelona. This contract is a result of everything that happened last year and of what I have done since coming into the first team.
Lionel Messi

"This is the best news Barça can receive today," Laporta said of the deal that makes Messi the club's highest-paid player. "It is important to have a player with his human qualities and his football ability. This deal recognises all that he gives to Barcelona. It is impossible to imagine the team without a player like Messi. We expect Leo to retire here with Barca."

Messi joined Barcelona as a youth-team player in 2001 and has won a host of trophies with the Catalan giants, including last season's unprecedented treble. He signed his contract this afternoon at the Nou Camp in the presence of Laporta, his brother Rodrigo, club vice-presidents Rafael Yuste and Joan Boix, technical secretary Txiki Begiristain, and football director Raul Sanllehi.

The announcement had been expected and earlier coach Pep Guardiola expressed delight at the news. "It's an immense piece of news for the club and for the player that Messi is renewing his contract," said Guardiola, "as it also was when Victor Valdes and Xavi did so. People go to football to see the best and that's what they are. It's a privilege for Barca to have some of the best footballers like Messi."




Guardiola joy at Messi talks


Pep Guardiola is delighted that Barcelona are on the verge of tying Lionel Messi to a new long-term deal.

The Argentinian superstar is today expected to put pen to paper on a new contract which will keep him at Camp Nou until 2016. And the Barça coach is overjoyed at the news.

"It's an immense piece of news for the club and for the player that Messi is renewing his contract," said Guardiola. "As it also was when Victor Valdes and Xavi did so.

"People go to football to see the best and that's what they are. It's a privilege for Barça to have some of the best footballers like Messi."

The 22-year-old, whose current contract is set to run out in 2014, will become the best-paid player at the club, while his release clause has also been increased from €150m to €250m.

Messi joined Barcelona as a youth-team player in 2000.

Pele: Di Stefano better than Diego


Brazil legend Pele took a swipe at Diego Maradona on Thursday, saying he feels another Argentine-born player, Real Madrid's iconic former striker Alfredo di Stefano, is the best player ever.

"People talk about the best being Pele or Diego Maradona, but for me the best player ever was Alfredo Di Stefano," he told reporters in Madrid. "Maradona was a great player, but he could not kick with his right foot and did not score goals with his head. The only time he scored an important goal with his head, it turned out he had used his hand," he added.
People talk about the best being Pele or Diego Maradona, but for me the best player ever was Alfredo Di Stefano.
Pele speaking in Madrid

Pele was referring to Maradona's infamous 'Hand of God' goal in Argentina's 2-1 win over England during the 1986 FIFA World Cup quarter-finals in Mexico, when he fooled the referee by punching the ball into the net.

Last month Maradona, currently Argentina's national team coach, downplayed Pele's record, saying the Brazilian only played for South American clubs while he spent a decade at European sides. "He won more World Cups. But playing in Europe is another thing," said Maradona.

Di Stefano, who played for Real from 1953-63 and has been its honourary president since 2000, scored 418 goals in 510 games for the Spanish giants. A two-time European Player of the Year, he became a Spanish citizen in 1956.


Happy Birthday to you!
In our regular Sunday feature, we bring you the names of some of the best-known figures on Planet Football who will be celebrating their birthdays over the coming week.
20

Erwin Koeman turns 48 on Sunday. An elegant midfielder who played for Groningen, PSV Eindhoven and KV Mechelen, where he won the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1988, his 31-cap international career included a UEFA Euro 1988 triumph with the Netherlands. He is currently aiming to seal a place at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa finals as Hungary national coach.
21

Long-serving USA stalwart Tab Ramos, who contested no fewer than three FIFA World Cup finals, is 43 today. The 1990 USA Player of the Year represented his country at the 1990, 1994 and 1998 global showdowns. He finally called time on an illustrious career in 2002 with the New York MetroStars.
22

Tuesday is a special day for Harry Kewell (31) and Ronaldo (33), two men who rate as icons in their respective countries. Australia schemer Kewell, currently plying his trade in Istanbul with Galatasaray, played for the much-admired Socceroos at the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany. The legendary Ronaldo is the all-time top scorer at FIFA World Cup finals, and has won football's greatest trophy twice. He is currently with Corinthians, where he is seeking the form to help him recapture his place in the Brazil team.
23

Paolo Rossi, who is 53 today, finished the 1982 FIFA World Cup as top scorer and was voted European Footballer of the Year a few months later. The potent Italy striker featured at three FIFA World Cup finals, before finally hanging up his boots in 1987.
24

Model professional John Arne Riise celebrates his 29th birthday today. The Norway regular enjoyed his greatest success at club level with Liverpool. In summer 2008, he switched clubs to Italian Serie A giants Roma. With the national team, the full-back is still hopeful of sealing a berth in South Africa next year via the play-offs.
25

Two of the best strikers of the 1980s will be blowing out the candles on Friday. Ukrainian hitman Igor Belanov (49) went in search of goals for the former USSR at the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico. Current Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (54) also appeared at that tournament, and indeed at the two previous editions in 1978 and 1982.
26

Germany captain Michael Ballack will be 33 on Saturday. The poster boy of the German game plays his club football abroad for Chelsea, where he rates as one of the most consistent performers in the Barclays Premier League. Bolivian goal-getter Marco Etcheverry, who represented his country at the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the USA, also has a birthday on 26 September. The former world-class striker will be 39.

Brown opposed to power shift


For 20 years, Mancunian football fans have known nothing other than Manchester City being trampled on by their neighbours from Old Trafford - and that is exactly how Wes Brown intends it to stay. Depending on the respective team selections of Sir Alex Ferguson and Mark Hughes, Brown could be one of the few local lads to be involved today when Manchester United tackle big-spending City in the most eagerly-anticipated local derby for years.

It is two decades since the Blues beat the Reds 5-1 at Maine Road; Hughes was on the scoresheet for United. Since then it has been glory, glory all the way for the Red Devils. And, while City have spent more than £200m in just over 12 months aiming to change that, Longsight-born Brown is eager for the status quo to remain.

"I remember as a kid City won a few of the games. But in terms of championships and trophies, we have always dominated," said the 29-year-old. "They will be confident at the moment with all the games they have won and I am sure they will come at us.

"They probably think they can win. But we are still Manchester United and we are going to prove we are the champions."

Brought up in an area of the city tinged with more blue than red, it is understandable many of Brown's friends have remained City fans. The banter has been swapping sides for a while now, enough for the England talent to confirm that he will be switching for the off button on his mobile if the worst does come to pass tomorrow.

"A few of my mates are chirping up a bit," he said. "All this stuff about the gauntlet being handed over is coming from their side. They respect the fact we are a good team, with good players. They know it is going to be a tight game. But if we lose I am switching my phone off, that's for sure."
They probably think they can win. But we are still Manchester United and we are going to prove we are the champions.
Manchester United's Wes Brown

Brown's chances of being involved from the start depend on Rio Ferdinand's fitness and who Ferguson wants to fill the right-back berth. Gary Neville did the job in Istanbul on Tuesday, although recent history suggests the 34-year-old will not be asked to play two matches in a week. That might give Brown the chance to go into direct competition with former team-mate Carlos Tevez, whose move to Eastlands has caused so much acrimony between supporters of the two clubs, if not inside the respective dressing rooms.

"It is not a problem if Carlos is fit," said Brown. "Yes, he left us and joined them, but these things happen in football. You just get on with it.

"You cannot become obsessed by one player. The lads will just treat it like any other game and him like any other member of the opposition."

Ferguson has stated his belief that Liverpool will always remain United's major local rival, foes bound by a common history and success. But as a local lad himself, Brown is not so sure. He can see a momentum starting to build at Eastlands, and with that, a new dimension to a duel that has tended to matter more to City fans, who have based their season around it, than United, who have been more interested in collecting silverware.

"It will start rivalling matches against Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea," he said. "City just have so much money now. With the players they can buy, you cannot just shove this match to one side anymore.

"They are getting the big players and with that they are getting the results. We understand that," said Brown. "But we have to do what we always have when people have done this. We have to keep our cool, play how we know to play and trust our own ability to bring us the results."


Tough tests for Brazil


A place among the pre-tournament favourites is almost a birthright for Brazilian footballers. This esteemed position has been well earned, too. And though the FIFA U-20 World Cup is one tournament in which they have been traditionally out-performed by old rivals Argentina, La Albiceleste's absence ensures that the Brazilians - with four titles - are the most successful of Egypt 2009's competing nations.

Yet while all eyes in Group E will be on the South American champions, they face a strong and varied challenge from three corners of the globe. Czech Republic, finalists two years ago in Canada, are confident of providing another strong showing, while the athleticism and never-say-die spirit of Jan Versleijen's Australia are sure to make them formidable foes. A Seleção are not the only continental champions in this section either, with CONCACAF kings Costa Rica out to prove that their sensational qualifying campaign was anything but a fluke.

The teams in Group E
Australia
Brazil
Costa Rica
Czech Republic

The matches (all kick-offs in local time)
Brazil - Costa Rica, Port Said, 27 September; 16:00
Czech Republic - Australia, Port Said, 27 September; 18:45
Australia - Costa Rica, Port Said, 30 September; 16:00
Brazil - Czech Republic, Port Said, 30 September, 18:45
Costa Rica - Czech Republic, Alexandria, 3 October; 21:30
Australia - Brazil, Port Said, 3 October, 21:30

How they qualified
Australia: Semi-finalists at the AFC U-19 Championship in Saudi Arabia.
Brazil: Winners of the CONMEBOL U-20 Championship in Venezuela.
Costa Rica: Winners of the CONCACAF U-20 Championship in Trinidad and Tobago.
Czech Republic: Semi-finalists at the UEFA European U-19 Championship 2008 on home soil.

The location
With five of the section's six fixtures taking place in Port Said, it is this legendary city on the banks of the Suez Canal that will be the focus for fans of the Group E hopefuls. This north-eastern outpost, 200km from Cairo, is home to over 500,000 inhabitants and was long renowned as Egypt's principal commercial port. The city's fixtures will be staged in the 22,000-capacity Port Said Stadium, which normally plays host to the passionately-supported Egyptian Premier League side Al-Masry.

The crunch match: Brazil-Costa Rica
This opening encounter between the champions of CONMEBOL and CONCACAF could go a long way towards determining the sides' respective fates. Brazil are still smarting from their ignominious exit from the group stage at Canada 2007 and, with promising talents such as Alan Kardec, Giuliano and Walter tipped to follow in the illustrious footsteps of Dunga, Kaka and Ronaldinho - all of whom illuminated previous editions - hopes are high of a fifth title at this age level.

Yet in Costa Rica, Rogerio Lourenco's side face arguably one of the tournament's most dangerous dark horses. Los Ticos certainly provided an awesome display of their potential at their continental finals, sweeping aside pre-tournament favourites Mexico before defeating USA 3-0 in the final to cap a campaign in which they conceded just one goal. Facing Brazil in their opening match undoubtedly represents a huge test of their credentials, but if Ronald Gonzalez's talented side can pick up a point or three, they will rightly feel that the sky is the limit at Egypt 2009.

The opening gambit
"It's great to be in a competition like this. Our target is to win the title. We have a very talented squad and we're capable of playing a great tournament. There's always pressure when you're playing for the Seleção, regardless of the age group, but the players are ready for this." Alan Kardec, Brazil forward.

Gerrard hails match-winner Torres


Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard believes Fernando Torres remains the best striker in the Barclays Premier League after the Spaniard grabbed two in a 3-2 win over West Ham united. Torres' recent form has been questioned, but he was the difference between the two sides today, scoring Liverpool's opener and then heading in the winner after West Ham had twice equalised.

"He's been playing okay to me," Gerrard said. "People are talking about it, but those are the standards he's set. He's scoring goals and he was on fire today with the two goals for us."

Torres himself did not appear after the game, as he was receiving treatment for a knock to his knee, but Gerrard insisted it was nothing serious. The striker had put Liverpool ahead after 20 minutes, but West Ham soon pegged them back as Alessandro Diamanti fired in a penalty despite appearing to fall in the act.

Pepe Reina tried to claim the Italian kicked the ball twice, but Gerrard said he had not seen it clearly.

"I didn't have a good view of it, I was at the other end," he said. "But the referee thinks it's right, so we get on with it."
He's scoring goals and he was on fire today with the two goals for us.
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard

Dirk Kuyt put Liverpool back in front, deflecting Gerrard's goal-bound header, and the midfielder is making an appeal to claim the goal.

"It was going in anyway," he said. "[Kuyt] scores enough goals, so I want it."

The win lifts Liverpool up to third and, with the two Manchester clubs playing each other tomorrow as Chelsea face Tottenham Hotspur, they know the other clubs at the top will be dropping points.

"We can enjoy tomorrow now," Gerrard said. "It was important we got our three points in the bag today, as the sides above us are going to drop points."

Messi sparks five-goal Barça


Barcelona continued their superb start to the season and signalled their intentions to reclaim the title with a stunning 5-2 victory at home to Atletico Madrid. Pep Guardiola's side got off to the perfect start when summer signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic bagged his third goal in as many league starts after just two minutes at the Nou Camp.

Lionel Messi, who signed a new contract on Friday to remain at the club until 2016, then made it two after a quarter of an hour before a Dani Alves free-kick and a close-range Seydou Keita strike put the Catalans into a four-goal lead before half-time. Sergio Aguero pulled a goal back for the visitors on the stroke of half-time and Diego Forlan added a second for Abel Resino's side late on. But Barcelona's win was never in doubt and Messi grabbed a fifth deep into added time for the Catalans, who moved clear at the top of the table, at least until tomorrow's results, after preserving their 100 per cent record in some style.

Guardiola's side had won both of their previous league matches before this one to top the league on goal difference ahead of this match. But Atletico, who have been a difficult opponent for the Catalans in recent years, came into this match with only a point to their name following a desperately disappointing start to the campaign.

Barça coach Guardiola claimed he was wary of a wounded Atletico side in the build-up to this match, but he need not have worried, as his side quickly took control of the game. After Thierry Henry had rattled the woodwork, Ibrahimovic found the net moments later when he was put through by Sergio Busquets and clipped an exquisite finish past Atletico goalkeeper Roberto Jimenez with the outside of his boot.

Ibrahimovic and Messi then both came close to a second goal for the Catalans. But they did not have to wait long as Xavi put through Messi after 16 minutes and the Argentina winger left Roberto on the floor with a clever dummy before rolling the ball into an empty net.

Maxi Rodriguez was looking lively for Atletico at the other end, but the visitors were seeing little of the ball and found themselves three down after half an hour, when Dani Alves drove a brilliant, low free-kick into the far corner. Keita then added a fourth with a simple finish after Messi had left Pablo and Luis Perea in his wake with a mesmerising piece of skill in the area.

Aguero grabbed a consolation on the stroke of half-time, when he pounced on an errant Busquets pass and raced clear to fire past Victor Valdes with consummate ease. But there was no hint of an Atletico comeback as Barça continued to control possession in the second half.

Messi almost added a fifth ten minutes after the break and the Argentina winger also appealed for a penalty as the Catalans continued to dominate. There was less urgency now, though, and Guardiola's side were content to stroke the ball around against an opponent now focused solely on damage limitation.

Iniesta and Marquez return
There was a huge cheer for Andres Iniesta as the midfielder came on for Xavi after 64 minutes to make his first Nou Camp appearance this season, having missed the whole of pre-season and the opening matches of the campaign through injury after starring in Barça's treble exploits last term. Rafa Marquez made his comeback from injury late on as well. But the Mexican could do nothing about Forlan's strike to pull another goal back for Atletico.

Summer signing Dmytro Chygrynskiy allowed Forlan to shoot from the edge of the box and the Uruguay striker lashed home a stinging drive to give the visitors a faint hope with six minutes still remaining. Jose Manuel Jurado then tested Valdes, but there was no time left for Atletico now and Barça wrapped up another impressive victory deep into added time, when Messi bagged his second of the night with a precise angled drive following neat approach play from Alves and Iniesta.

The win moves Barcelona provisionally clear at the top. But despite their perfect start, the Catalans can be caught by Real Madrid, Valencia and Athletic Bilbao, who play tomorrow.

Atletico, meanwhile, remain in the relegation zone with just one point from three and could find themselves bottom on Sunday. That seems unlikely, however, as the side below them, promoted club Xerez, travel to the Santiago Bernabeu to face Real Madrid.

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