Soccer Shorts

A round-up of other soccer news in brief

Uefa will back referees over racism

UEFA WILL back referees who stop matches because of racist behaviour from fans, the European body’s director of communications William Gaillard said yesterday.

“We are conscious that this kind of phenomenon (racism) does not disappear overnight,” Gaillard told a news conference.

“We have clearly emphasised that we will back drastic measures to deal with drastic behaviour. Stopping games is a drastic measure and carries a point penalty for the home team as it is considered a 3-0 loss,” Gaillard added.

Gaillard, attending a “Unite against racism” conference in Warsaw, said Uefa had already shut down stadiums and banned teams from tournaments due to fans’ bad behaviour.

Earlier this week former England defender Sol Campbell called on the English Premier League to dock points from clubs whose fans were found guilty of indecent and racist chanting.

Parry wants to stay in football

OUTGOING LIVERPOOL chief executive Rick Parry wants to stay in football and maintain his involvement in the European game. The 54-year-old will leave Anfield at the end of the season.

In an interview with Bloomberg, he said: “Do I think I (still) have something to offer? Yes. I think it is inconceivable I will not have something to do with the game.”

Barcelona pull plug on US venture

BARCELONA WILL not be gaining a Major League Soccer franchise in the US after the plug was pulled on a plan to create a new team in Miami. MLS, Barcelona and Miami-based Bolivian businessman Marcelo Claure made a joint announcement that cited “adverse market conditions” as the reason behind the decision.

Barcelona said in a statement they would continue with marketing and promotional activities in the States. But league commissioner Don Garber told the Miami Herald that despite huge interest in soccer in Miami, he was not sure it was the right place for a new MLS team.

Arshavin finds the going tougher than expected

ENGLISH SOCCER is far harder than it looked on television back home in Russia, Andrei Arshavin said yesterday, a month into his new life at Arsenal.

The Russia forward, who moved from Zenit St Petersburg, has played three times for Arsenal and his performances have improved with each game.

“I watched the matches that were broadcast in Russia whenever possible,” the 27-year-old said. “But to tell the truth it seemed less difficult on TV. Only now do I understand how dynamic and hard the football is here.

“Now I would like to score as soon as possible. Everybody expected me to score in my very first match but that never happens, especially with me.”

Benayoun now happy at Anfield

YOSSI BENAYOUN has revised his opinion on leaving Liverpool after finally coming to terms with Rafael Benitez’s managerial style at Anfield. The Israel captain appeared destined for the Liverpool exit last summer after a debut season spent mostly on the margins of the squad. Manchester City, Spartak Moscow, Roma and Ajax all inquired about signing the 28-year-old before the start of this season and the Russians tried again in January.

Benayoun spoke to Benitez in December about the prospect of leaving in the last transfer window but, with that inquiry rebuffed, has responded with the most productive spell of his two-year Anfield career.

“With the number of top players we’ve got, you accept you are not always going to be playing and that you have to give it everything when your chance comes along. That is fine with me,” said Benayoun.

GuardianService