Federation says Warner had control of earthquake funds

SOCCER SHORTS:FUNDS donated for earthquake-hit Haiti that never made it to the Caribbean island were paid into a bank account controlled by former Fifa vice-president Jack Warner, the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) insisted yesterday.

Some €529,100 of emergency aid money has gone missing since it was donated two years ago, and Fifa have frozen funding to the TTFF until they explain what has happened. In 2010, Warner was special adviser to the TTFF and the cash from Fifa (€190,218) and the Korean FA (€380,452) was paid into a federation account that they claim only he controlled.

The TTFF say they “surrendered their authority” to Warner, who resigned from football last year after being accused of bribery and he has refused to explain what happened to the money.

Warner, a government minister in his country, suggested on Trinidadian television that the allegations were a conspiracy.

Artificial pitches may return

ENGLISH football is a step closer to reintroducing artificial pitches after the Football League yesterday announced plans to seek opinion on their possible return.

The public consultation will run until the end of April 2012 and canvas the views of clubs, fans and officials.

The FA has yet to comment on the news but Premier League rule I.29 states “no league match shall be played on an artificial surface”.#

End of an era at St James’ Park

NEWCASTLE United took a crowbar to tradition yesterday when the words St James Park were levered off the walls of the clubs stadium by three men with a ladder. Sports Direct Arena signs were later put in place on a football ground that has stood, in various guises but with the same name, since the clubs formation in 1892.

The workers were the subject of catcalls from passersby – some on their way to St James Metro station – and downed tools when a television crew arrived to capture the physical renaming.

On November 10th last year Newcastle announced that the stadium would be rebranded to promote the main business interest of Mike Ashley, the clubs owner, until outside investment could be attracted.

Voeller not happy over Messi jersey

TWO Bayer Leverkusen players will have to auction off Barcelona shirts they got from Lionel Messi in a 3-1 Champions League defeat on Tuesday after sports director Rudi Voeller said they were too enthusiastic in their quest for a souvenir.

Defender Michal Kadlec, who scored the Germans only goal in their round of 16 first leg defeat, had sought the Argentine players top at half-time but was beaten to it in the tunnel by fellow defender Manuel Friedrich. Kadlec then got Messi’s shirt at the end of the match, much to the irritation of Voeller.

Messi, the world footballer of the year, is having another spectacular season, scoring Barca’s third goal on Tuesday to make it 25 goals in his last 24 Champions League matches for the holders.

"These two players will auction off the tops for a good cause," Voeller told Bildnewspaper yesterday. "What they did was too much of a good thing. I have not yet spoken with them but I will do it," the 1990 World Cup winner said.

PSG make inquiry about Suarez

PARIS St-Germain have inquired about Luis Suarez’s potential availability at Liverpool and been told the Anfield club have no desire to sell the controversial striker at the end of the season.

The Uruguay international was accused of misleading Liverpool over his intention to shake Patrice Evra’s hand at Old Trafford by the club’s managing director, Ian Ayre, and Kenny Dalglish has left the striker in no doubt that he feels badly let down by Suarez’s behaviour on Saturday.

The Liverpool manager is anxious for the 25-year-old to concentrate on the club’s pursuit of honours but, despite the problems, has no intention of selling him.

Liverpool see Suarez’s future on Merseyside and Dalglish has said the striker’s position at the club is no issue. “I can only reiterate,” he said yesterday, “we have drawn a line under what happened and we just want Luis to concentrate on his football now.”

Mazzarri to miss Chelsea ties

NAPOLI coach Walter Mazzarri will miss both legs of the Champions League round of 16 tie against Chelsea after losing an appeal against his two-match ban yesterday, Uefa said in a statement.

Mazzarri, suspended in January, was sent off for pushing rival forward Nilmar during the Group A match against Villarreal on December 7th, which his side won 2-0 to progress to the last 16 at the expense of Manchester City.

The score was goalless at the time and Mazzarri later said that his gesture was calculated to try and shake up his own team.

Uefa said their appeals tribunal partially admitted a cross-appeal from Uefas disciplinary inspector, who had asked for a stiffer sentence. Mazzarris ban was lengthened to three matches although the enforcement of the final game was suspended for a probationary period of two years.

Doyle sorry to see McCarthy go

REPUBLIC of Ireland international striker Kevin Doyle insists he never lost respect for sacked Wolves manager Mick McCarthy even though he was ousted as the club’s first-choice striker by Steven Fletcher.

Doyle regrets the departure of McCarthy and has followed the example of skipper Roger Johnson in admitting the players have to take a large slice of the responsibility. Wolves stepped up their search for a replacement, yesterday with Alan Curbishley set to be interviewed and Steve Bruce and Neil Warnock also in contention.

Doyle said: “I didn’t play for probably the last month but it didn’t change my feelings towards the manager. I still respected him 100 per cent and wanted to do well for him. Players wanted to do well for him and that makes it a bit harder when he does have to leave. We all respected him massively and got on with him as a person and not just as a manager.”