Tottenham get a byeTottenham's bye into the last 16 of the Uefa Cup was confirmed yesterday after Feyenoord lost an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against being kicked out of the competition.
CAS upheld a decision taken by Uefa to expel the Dutch club following crowd trouble involving their fans at a Uefa Cup group stage match at Nancy in France on November 30th. CAS also imposed an additional fine of 100,000 Swiss francs (€62,000) on Feyenoord.
Tottenham will now face either Braga of Portugal or Serie A side Parma in the second knockout round next month.
Spaniards reap rewards
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has won the English Premiership manager of the month award for January.
Liverpool won all four of their league games in January, including a 2-0 victory over reigning champions Chelsea, which cemented their place of third in the table, just ahead of Arsenal.
"Benitez has revitalised Liverpool's campaign," said Jim Hytner of the Premiership's awards panel yesterday.
Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas, who is also from Spain, won the player of the month award for January.
US break for Arsenal
Arsenal have confirmed the details of their partnership with Major League Soccer team Colorado Rapids.
There is no suggestion the partnership is the first step towards another American takeover but simply involves a link-up between the clubs with Arsenal set to send coaches to Colorado, who are owned by billionaire Stan Kroenke who heads Kroenke Sports Enterprises (KSE).
In return, promising players from the US side will be given the chance to train with the Arsenal team.
The Rapids will also be using Arsenal's London Colney training ground as their base for a pre-season tour of England from March 8th to March 13th while a Centre of Excellence will be set up in the States.
A club tournament named the Arsenal Cup open to club teams from all over the United States will also be created.
Arsenal already have a similar tie-up with Belgian side Beveren, from whom they signed Ivory Coast defender Emmanuel Eboue.
Taylor made for Uefa
Scottish Football Association chief executive David Taylor is to become the new general secretary of Uefa. Taylor has been chosen by new Uefa president Michel Platini to replace Lars-Christer Olsson, who was sacked last week.
Although contracts have yet to be signed, a senior Uefa source has confirmed that Taylor has agreed to take the job.
The Scottish FA, meanwhile, are to immediately set about recruiting his successor.
FA chairman Geoff Thompson has become the third most powerful man in European soccer after being elected as Uefa's second vice-president.
Bolton looking ahead
Bolton Wanderers have secured the services of two new players for the start of next season.
FC Zurich's Switzerland midfielder Blerim Dzemaili and Bordeaux centre-half Gerald Cid have both made pre-contract agreements with the club and will join them in the summer.
Dzemaili (20) is already captain of Zurich and featured in Switzerland's World Cup squad last summer as well as the friendly against Germany on Wednesday. He has agreed a two-year contract while 23-year-old Cid, a former France under-19 international, has committed to four years.
No pressure on Woodgate
Jonathan Woodgate will not be put under any pressure to commit his long-term future to Middlesbrough, manager Gareth Southgate said yesterday.
Real Madrid have loaned the 27-year-old centre back to his hometown side for the season and although the two clubs agreed a deal on Monday to turn it into a permanent transfer, the England international has the final say.
"We have made it clear to him we would love him to stay beyond this season, and he, of course, has plenty to think about between now and then," Southgate said. "We are not going to put him under any pressure, we are not trying to do anything to influence that other than providing him with an environment he is enjoying working in and trying to show him what our ambitions are as a club."
In brief . . . .
Former England, Arsenal and Middlesbrough midfielder international Ray Parlourhas joined Championship strugglers Hull City until the end of the season . . . In demand Charlton striker Darren Bent(23) insists "it was never in my mind to leave" during the transfer window . . . Rangers midfielder Thomas Buffel(25) has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury.
