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SEOUL, June 22 (Reuters) - Striker Ji Dong-won is set to become the latest South Korean to join the English Premier League after his K-League club Chunnam Dragons said on Wednesday they had agreed terms with Sunderland.

The 20-year-old, who was part of the South Korean squad that finished third in the Asian Cup in January, would travel to Sunderland to complete a medical before the end of the month, the Dragons said on their website (www.dragons.co.kr).

“Ji Dong-won’s transfer will inevitably leave a big hole in our roster. But for the sake of the player’s future and for the development of Korean football, we decided to allow his move,” a statement said on Wednesday.

The Dragons said the player would sign a three-year contract with Sunderland, who finished 10th last season after a disappointing run towards the end of the season, but did not reveal the transfer fee.

South Korean media estimated the fee would be 3.8 billion Korean won ($3.5 million) for the player, who will look to match the achievements of compatriots Park Ji-sung at champions Manchester United and Bolton Wanderers’s Lee Chung-yong.

Ji is currently with the South Korean under-23 squad preparing for the second-leg of their 2012 Olympic qualifier against Jordan on Thursday. The Koreans lead 3-1 from the first leg.

“I had the impression that Sunderland really wanted me,” the Yonhap news agency quoted Ji as saying.

“I know there will be stiff competition for playing time, and my goal is to become the player that the team wants me to be in six months. I am also looking forward to playing against Ji-sung and Chung-yong, whom I both admire.”

If he completes the move Ji will compete against Frazer Campbell and Ghana’s Asamoah Gyan for a place in attack for Sunderland.

The Korean has looked impressive with his technical ability and eye for goal at international level where he has scored six times in 11 appearances. ($1 = 1075.400 Korean Won) (Reporting by Patrick Johnston in Singapore; Editing Peter Rutherford; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

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Labels: agree, Korean, Reuters, South, striker, Sunderland, terms

TOKYO, Jun 22 (Reuters) - Japan will face furnace-like conditions and a hostile crowd when their under-22 side look to finish off Kuwait on Thursday and reach the final round of 2012 Olympic qualifiers.

A 3-1 victory in the home leg should be enough but with temperatures nudging 50 degrees Celsius in Kuwait during the day, Japan can take nothing for granted.

Players were already complaining of the heat, plus the sandy dust whipped up on the wind during training.

“I didn’t expect this,” midfielder Hiroshi Kiyotake told the Sankei Sports. “My throat and eyes hurt.”

Japan, bidding to reach their fifth successive Olympic Games at London next year, will, however, be boosted by the return from injury of striker Kensuke Nagai.

“I’m fit and want to play,” said Nagai, whose replacement Yuya Osako scored in the first leg. “The competition is pretty fierce but I want to prove worth to the team.”

Japan have flopped badly in the Middle East before, most painfully when their senior side conceded an equaliser to Iraq with qualification for the 1994 World Cup just minutes away.

Olympic coach Takashi Sekizuka insisted his side were prepared to avoid a repeat of what Japanese fans and media still refer to as the “Tragedy of Doha”.

Sekisuka said: “The mental side will be key. We’ve never been to the Middle East at this time of year but we will deal with the situation.

“We need to stay attack-minded, be aggressive and take the game to them.”

Kuwait coach Maher Al Shemmari promised Japan would be pushed to the limit.

“We gave away a couple of silly goals,” he said. “But we scored an away goal, we are at home and we still have a chance to win this tie.”

(Reporting by Alastair Himmer; Editing by John O’Brien; To comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

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Labels: Avoid, Japan, Kuwait, meltdown, Olympic, Reuters

By Pedro Fonseca

RIO DE JANEIRO, June 21 (Reuters) - Neymar and Paulo Henrique Ganso, the pair Brazilians are looking to for World Cup victory at home in 2014, face the biggest test of their green careers when Santos meet Penarol in Wednesday’s second leg of the Libertadores Cup final.

Santos, inspired to the South American club title by Pele in 1962 and 1963, are favourites after last week’s 0-0 draw in the first leg at the Centenario in Montevideo where Neymar was below his best and Ganso absent after a thigh injury.

Ganso, having recovered, is deemed fully fit to turn out in the second leg at the Pacaembu in Sao Paulo (kickoff 0050 GMT Thursday), reuniting the gifted duo whose exciting link play has made them the biggest sensation in Brazilian football.

Since Ganso suffered his injury in May only two months after returning from knee surgery that put him out of action for 199 days, the 21-year-old has been groomed for this final - at first for both legs until Santos decided to aim for the second.

“Ganso has worked hard at his conditioning and is very close to the ideal (fitness). I think he can play the whole match,” Santos doctor Rodrigo Zogaib told reporters.

“As he is a very technical player, he won’t have much difficulty with the rhythm (of the game). He knows how to pace himself.”

Ganso and the 19-year-old Neymar are at the heart of Brazil coach Mano Menezes’s attacking game for next month’s Copa America in Argentina.

Winning the Libertadores Cup would confirm that despite their youth, the pair are ready to handle that responsibility.

Uruguayan teams are noted for their exploits in Brazil and Penarol coach Diego Aguirre says the tie is still wide open.

“They’re a great team, they have national team players, we could face a similar Santos (to the Centenario), perhaps more daring,” Aguirre told Reuters in Montevideo.

“The chances are they will beat you but the fact is that the series is open,” said Aguirre, whose side upset holders Internacional 2-1 in Brazil on their way to a record 10th final.

Penarol have striker Juan Manuel Olivera, their top scorer in the competition with five goals, nursing a shoulder injury he suffered in the first leg but expect him to be fit for the match as they seek their sixth title.

Since 2000, in seven finals in which Brazilian teams have faced foreign sides with the second leg played in Brazil, they have only prevailed once—when Internacional won the title last year.

Santos lost to Argentina’s Boca Juniors in their third final in 2003. (Writing by Rex Gowar in Buenos Aires; editing by Justin Palmer; to query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

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Labels: breakthrough, International, PREVIEWSoccerYoung, Reuters, Santos

WARSAW, June 21 (Reuters) - Poland’s friendly against Germany in September has been switched to Gdansk because Warsaw’s National Stadium, due to host the opening game of Euro 2012, is still not ready, the Polish Football Association (PZPN) said on Tuesday.

Construction delays to stadiums have been a major problem for Poland, who will co-host the June 8-July 1 2012 tournament with Ukraine.

The opening of the Warsaw’s top stadium, which will also stage a Euro 2012 semi-final, has been postponed from June to November.

Poland have already moved a June friendly with France because of delays in works on the Gdansk stadium, which is due to open in three weeks.

“Today we are confident that the September game with Germany will take place in that beautiful stadium (in Gdansk),” deputy head of PZPN Zdzislaw Krecina said in a statement. (Reporting by Patryk Wasilewski, editing by Pritha Sarkar)

Labels: friendly, Polands, ready, Reuters, stadium

NEW YORK, June 19 (Reuters) - Mexico have been given permission to replace the five players who were suspended from the CONCACAF Gold Cup for failing out-of-competition doping tests.

The Mexican Football Federation (Femexfut) has denied their players did anything wrong, saying they tested positive for a banned anabolic agent after eating contaminated meat, and asked that they be replaced for the rest of the tournament.

The CONCACAF Gold Cup Organising Committee announced on Sunday it had agreed, after consulting with the sport’s world governing body, that Mexico be allowed to replace the players while the case is continuing.

“Based on the specific facts of this case, and on FIFA’s advice on the matter, the situation at hand is a case of force majeure as contemplated in the competition regulations,” CONCACAF said in a statement.

“Therefore the Mexican national team shall be permitted to replace the five …. players with up to five other players for the remainder of the competition.’

Goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, defenders Francisco Rodriguez and Edgar Duenas, and midfielders Sinha and Christian Bermudez all tested positive for clenbuterol and were suspended from the regional tournament.

Femexfut attributed the positive results to ingestion of clenbuterol in meat eaten by the players when on a training camp in Mexico to prepare for the Gold Cup and has conducted independent tests they hope will exonerate them.

Despite being five players down since the opening match of the tournament, Mexico remain undefeated and are safely through to the semi-finals, against Honduras, in Texas this week. (Reporting by Julian Linden; Editing by Peter Rutherford; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

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Labels: cleared, CONCACAF, Mexico, players, replace, Reuters, suspended

June 20 (Reuters) - Reuters and Action Images, in conjunction with the News Media Coalition trade association, are currently in discussions with the English football leagues and their data management company, Football DataCo (FDC) over the terms and conditions of journalist/photographer access to matches during the 2011/12 season.

Reuters remains committed to providing its subscribers with the best possible coverage, however, we believe that the agreement under which we have been asked to operate is at odds with the right of the public to access information wherever and whenever it chooses.

In addition, the current End User Licence procedure, under which all media wishing to make use of league content for online or mobile purposes need to procure a licence from FDC, is also under discussion. We are unable, at this point, to confirm whether or not this procedure will be in place for the new season.

Our views and those of the NMC have been communicated to the relevant league representatives and we are awaiting their response. We will ensure that our subscribers are kept advised of any news or developments. (Editing by Ossian Shine)

Labels: advisory, ADVISORYClient, coverage, English, Regarding, Reuters, soccer

* Dempsey scores day after attending family wedding

* Americans to play Panama in Wednesday’s semi-final (Corrects clarifying this match was a quarter-final in para 6 and deleting reference to Landon Donovan as U.S. captain)

WASHINGTON, June 19 (Reuters) - The United States scored twice in the second half to beat a 10-man Jamaica squad 2-0 on Sunday and advance to the CONCACAF Gold Cup semi-finals.

Jermaine Jones broke the deadlock with his first goal for his country four minutes into the second half after his shot took a deflection off Jamaican defender Jermaine Taylor, giving goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts no chance of making the save.

“I thought we played a good game today,” U.S. coach Bob Bradley said. “It took a while to get the goal and the second goal, but certainly as far as establishing our game today I thought we did an excellent job.”

Jamaica, which did not concede a goal in the pool stages, were reduced to 10-men when Taylor was red-carded for tripping Jones as he was bearing down on goal.

American striker Clint Dempsey, who rejoined the team on Sunday after missing three days to attend his sister’s wedding in Texas, put the result beyond doubt in the 80th minute, side-stepping an advancing Ricketts and tapping the ball into an open net after a low cross from Juan Agudelo.

Landon Donovan, who also missed three days of training to attend his sister’s wedding in California, started the game on the bench.

“There are times that players come to you with personal requests,” Bradley said. “Ultimately, after speaking at different points with Clint and Landon, I knew how important both of these days were for them. You always try to do what’s best for the team and you make tough decisions.”

The U.S. have reached the semi-finals in each of the last six editions of the tournament for North and Central America and Caribbean teams and play Panama on Wednesday in a repeat of the 2005 final, which the Americans won on penalties.

Panama, who beat the U.S. in the group stage, sealed their place the hard way, scoring in the 90th minute of regular time to tie El Salvador 1-1 before winning 5-3 on penalties.

Mexico and Honduras will play in the tournament’s other semi-final.

The winner of the tournament will represent North and Central America and the Caribbean at the 2013 Confederations Cup in Brazil.

“As the tournament goes on, you start to build team unity. It doesn’t happen right away,” said Donovan. “We’re starting to play as a team. Tonight was a really good performance.”

(Reporting by Julian Linden in New York; Editing by Frank Pingue; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

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Labels: beats, CONCACAF, Jamaica, reach, Reuters, semis

* Chief executive stands by approach to managers

* New team boss could be unveiled within a week

* Expansion, fresh revenue sought to balance books

By Martin Petty

BANGKOK, June 16 (Reuters) - Chelsea have defended the club’s rapid turnover of managers in recent years with the chief executive saying it was results that mattered and a new team boss could be named within a week.

Ron Gourlay told Reuters in an interview that the Premier League club’s hire-and-fire approach to managers—after going through four in as many years—had delivered the goods in terms of the number of trophies won.

“Continuity is very important but so is performance and results,” said Gourlay, who was in Bangkok on Thursday to promote the club’s pre-season Asian tour.

“Our model may not be the model others agree with but at the end of the day, we’ve taken the decisions we felt we needed to take to develop Chelsea Football Club… and we’ve won 10 major trophies in the last six years.”

Gourlay declined to comment on whether Turkey’s Dutch coach Guus Hiddink, was being lined up to replace sacked Italian Carlo Ancelotti but said several candidates had been looked at.

“The process of getting a new coach is going very, very well. I’d expect a new coach to hopefully be in place within the next week, maybe two weeks, but maybe even earlier,” he said.

BELT-TIGHTENING

Gourlay also said the club planned to tighten their belt and generate fresh revenue to comply with new UEFA finance rules.

He said Chelsea would have no problem adhering to new financial fair play regulations devised by European soccer’s governing body aimed at stopping clubs from borrowing vast sums to buy success and spending more than their income.

<^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

ANALYSIS on the financial fair play rules [ID:nLDE7581LB]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^>

Chelsea posted a loss of 71 million pounds ($114.8 million) in June last year and spent an equivalent amount in January on Spain striker Fernando Torres and Brazil defender David Luiz that was Arsenal manger Arsene Wenger said was “logic-defying”. [ID:nLDE7110YU]

Gourlay said the struggling Torres was a “fantastic signing” but Chelsea, like most clubs, must in future control spending and balance the books by nurturing more home-grown talent and generating new revenue sources without raising ticket prices.

UEFA’s new financial regulations will be applied from the reporting period starting at the end of next year.

“Performances on the field help drive a lot of the revenue off the field so you have to get the balance right, look at the costs, control wages going forward,” he said.

“Squads may not be as big as in the past and we have to get the youngsters through the academy and, when that happens, it takes a bit of the pressure off.”

GLOBAL FOOTPRINT

Part of the remedy was to expand Chelsea’s global footprint with Asia seen as a key market with huge growth potential.

The club was working hard to lure more Asian sponsors, raise Chelsea’s profile by launching more “Blue Pitch” development programmes, offering up the expertise of its coaches and sending youth and first-team squads to play in Asia.

He said the club was already active in Thailand, Malaysia and Hong Kong and planned to expand into Japan, South Korea and China, Gourlay added.

Hourlay described Chelsea’s failure to win a trophy last season after finishing nine points adrift of champions Manchester United as a huge disappointment, adding that the squad would be “freshened up” before the start of the new campaign though he would not be drawn on potential signings.

“Unfortunately, we just left ourselves at the end with too much to do,” he said of the title race.

“The expectation was so high after winning the double (in 2010), our most successful year, so it was a disappointing season but we need to remain very, very confident, the club must continue to develop, we must not change our strategy.”

Chelsea will play pre-season matches in Thailand, Hong Kong and Malaysia in late July.

(Editing by Ken Ferris; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

Labels: change, Chelsea, defend, Manager, regular, Reuters

(adds missing topic codes)

By Philip O’Connor

VIBORG, Denmark, June 19 (Reuters) - The Czech Republic scored two late goals to knock England out of the European Under-21 Championship and Spain beat 10-man Ukraine 3-0 to top Group B on Sunday.

Striker Danny Welbeck looked to have headed England into the semi-finals when he powered home a cross from Daniel Sturridge 11 minutes from time but substitute Jan Chramosta equalised for the Czechs in the 89th minute.

A draw would have been enough for the Czechs but as England poured forward in search of a winner Chramosta turned provider, setting up Tomas Pekhart for a simple finish into an empty net to seal a 2-1 win for his side.

The reward for the Czechs is a semi-final meeting with Switzerland on Wednesday, while Spain, who comfortably beat Ukraine courtesy of two goals from Mata and one by Adrian, will face Belarus on the same day.

(Writing by Philip O’Connor in Stockholm) (Editing by Ed Osmond)

Labels: Cruise, Czechs, England, Reuters, Spain, strike

ZURICH, June 1 (Reuters) - Suspended Asian soccer chief Mohamed Bin Hammam was denied access to the FIFA congress on Wednesday after being unable to file his appeal, the Qatari said in a statement on Wednesday.

The 62-year-old was suspended pending an investigation into alleged bribery during his campaign to become FIFA president.

“I am very sad and disappointed over what has happened in the last days. I will never accept how my name and my reputation have been damaged. I will fight for my rights,” he said in a statement. (Reporting by Patrick Johnston in Singapore; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

Labels: Congress, denied, entry, Hammam, Reuters

* Rosell accuses bitter rivals of anti-sporting behaviour

* Real rejects comments, says will work for good relations (adds Real Madrid response)

MADRID, June 16 (Reuters) - A war of words between Barcelona and Real Madrid intensified on Thursday when Barca president Sandro Rosell accused the Catalan club’s bitter rivals of anti-sporting behaviour and slammed Real coach Jose Mourinho.

Bad blood boiled up between the Spanish giants around four clashes in three competitions in 18 days late last season and Rosell used his end-of-campaign news conference to read out a strongly-worded statement condemning Real.

“We believe that this season Real Madrid has gone beyond all the limits of the necessary sporting rivalry, making accusations against our club that have no foundation,” Rosell said.

“The rivalry will continue next season but we will not allow the limits of sporting behaviour to be exceeded again.

“Football deserves clean competition and FC Barcelona will do everything to preserve that.

“If necessary, we will take legal action and take the case to the relevant sporting tribunals.”

Real responded with a statement in which they said they regretted Rosell’s “unfortunate comments”.

The club said his statement was motivated by “pressure the board of directors has been placed under by part of a certain and nearby media environment, which has called for an aggressive attitude towards our club”.

“For the good of football, Real Madrid CF will continue working to maintain the best possible relations with FC Barcelona, as it typically does with all clubs in Europe and the world,” the statement added (www.realmadrid.com).

CHEATING, ABUSE

European champions Barca eliminated Real from the Champions League and beat the Madrid club into second place in La Liga for a third successive season. Real claimed a dramatic King’s Cup final win over Barca to win their only silverware of the campaign.

The four matches were marred by play-acting, brawling and allegations of cheating and racist abuse.

After the Champions League semi-final first leg, Mourinho said Barca enjoyed favourable treatment from referees and Real later filed a complaint with UEFA—which was rejected — accusing Barca players of diving and alleging midfielder Sergio Busquets had called defender Marcelo a monkey.

Barca filed their own complaint with UEFA over Mourinho’s comments and the Portuguese was suspended for five matches and fined 50,000 euros ($70,700).

He faces an appeals hearing on July 29 and has said he will use every means at his disposal to fight the sanction.

“The news conference that the Real Madrid coach gave after the Champions League semi-final first leg at the Bernabeu shamed anyone who considers themselves an athlete,” Rosell said.

Barca were also outraged by a report on Spanish radio station Cadena Cope, which cited an unidentified Real official as its source, that suggested Barca’s players and medical staff were engaged in illegal doping.

“I can assure you that if someone, in the name of FC Barcelona, had made an accusation of this kind we would have acted with firmness, denying it immediately and taking those responsible to court,” Rosell said.

“We would have appreciated a similar response from Real Madrid but unfortunately this was not the case.”

Real said Rosell’s remarks were “serious and false insinuations” and insisted the Cadena Cope report had nothing to do with the club.

“Reports which, as everyone knows, our club denied at the time, immediately and categorically, in the place of their origin,” the club’s statement said.

GREAT BENEFICIARY

Rosell said it was now up to Real president Florentino Perez to mend relations between the clubs.

“A few days ago the president of Real Madrid said he would not stop until the club had won a 10th European Cup,” he said.

“We hope that they attempt this on the pitch, in a sporting manner and rediscovering a way of behaving that I believe many Madrid fans want.

“The president of Real Madrid has a chance to reconstitute our relations, on and off the pitch.

“Football, which usually gives you back what you put in, will be the great beneficiary.”

(Reporting by Iain Rogers, editing by Ed Osmond; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

Labels: Barca, president, Reuters, turns

(In U.S. dollars)

By Linda Hutchinson-Jafar

PORT OF SPAIN, June 16 (Reuters) - The police commissioner of Trinidad and Tobago has written to FIFA requesting information on possible criminal activity which may have taken place in the Caribbean country.

A statement from the police’s public affairs unit on Thursday said the letter from police chief Dwayne Gibbs to soccer’s global governing body was a first step to seeing if an investigation was required into the allegations of bribery in Caribbean soccer.

The allegations have led to the suspension of Caribbean soccer chief Jack Warner and two staff members of the Caribbean Football Union—all citizens of Trinidad and Tobago.

“Please be informed that the Commissioner of Police has dispatched a letter to the Federation International of Football Association (FIFA) requesting information they have that may assist the TTPS (Trinidad and Tobago Police Service) into commencing any investigation/s into any alleged criminal activity within our jurisdiction,” read the statement.

The statement did not explain what information Gibbs was seeking but his letter to FIFA comes after opposition leader Keith Rowley criticised the police to investigate whether money was brought into the country without being declared.

FIFA are currently investigating a meeting of the Caribbean Football Union which was held in Port of Spain on May 10-11 with Asian soccer chief Mohamed Bin Hammam.

After the meeting between the Qatari, who was at that time running against Sepp Blatter for FIFA president, some federations say they received cash gifts of $40,000 in brown envelopes.

Suriname and Puerto Rico have confirmed receiving the cash, the Bahamas has said it turned down the offer of money while others, including federations from Barbados and Jamaica, have denied receiving or being offered any such payments.

Warner, who is also Minister of Works and Transport in the Trinidad and Tobago government, and Bin Hammam have both denied any wrongdoing.

The opposition People’s National Movement has been calling for an investigation to determine whether there were possible breaches of laws which prohibit the importation of money to the country.

Large sums of cash can only be brought into Trinidad and Tobago with the permission of the Central Bank and on arrival any amount over $780 has to be declared on customs forms. (Writing and additional reporting by Simon Evans; Editing by Frank Pingue; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

Labels: allegations, information, police, Reuters, Trinidad

* Calls for review in light of corruption scandal

* FIFA should act against “cancerous tumour”

* Blatter re-election should not be delayed

(Adds details, background)

BERLIN, June 1 (Reuters) - The head of Germany’s soccer federation on Wednesday called for soccer’s governing body FIFA to re-examine the award of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar, following a corruption scandal.

“There is a considerable degree of suspicion that one cannot simply sweep aside, and I must expect that awarding this World Cup under these conditions needs to be examined anew,” Theo Zwanziger told German television, referring to Qatar.

“I first would like to comment on how that should be done when I know more about the facts. Like I said, I’m an outsider and was not a member of the executive,” he said.

The game’s reputation has come intense scrutiny after a spate of corruption allegations, the suspension of two senior FIFA officials and suggestions Qatar bought the 2022 World Cup, accusations the Gulf state has strenuously denied.

“If FIFA behaves the way people expect, that is by clearly taking action against this cancerous tumour of bribery, then there is no need for these concerns,” Zwanziger said, referring to fears sponsors could start pulling out.

“None of us could have imagined such a scandal. There is no end to the suspicions falling on members the FIFA executive,” he said.

“The task now is to shed light in a determined fashion, punish the guilty and develop mechanisms that prevent something like this from ever happening again,” Zwanziger added.

He rejected a call by the English soccer federation FA to delay the re-election of FIFA President Sepp Blatter, as this would leave the body without a leader to take charge and finally get to the bottom of the allegations.

Zwanziger however said he was pushing for a secret ballot, so any critics could submit a protest vote without fear of any reprisals. (Reporting by Christiaan Hetzner; Editing by Jon Boyle)

Labels: German, Qatar, Reuters, reviewed, soccer, wants, World

ZURICH, June 1 (Reuters) - Beleaguered FIFA president Sepp Blatter called on his federation’s 208 members to help him solve soccer governing body’s problems without external help as he opened the annual Congress on Wednesday.

“We know that the FIFA ship is in moving waters, I could even say in troubled waters but I think this ship must be brought back on the right route,” he said in an opening address.

“I’m the captain of this ship and it is my duty and responsibility to see we get back on the right route but I can only do it with you the 208 (national) associations.

“You are the owners of FIFA.

“You are the legislative body but you are the decisive body. I’m certain you can follow me in the idea that we can settle the problems in side FIFA either by… strengthening what we already have.”

FIFA has been beset by allegations of corruption and four executive committee members have been suspended since October.

Chuck Blazer took his place on the executive committee despite moves to sack him as secretary general of the CONCACAF federation.

Blazer was the author of a report which led to Jack Warner and Mohamed bin Hammam being provisionally suspended on Sunday amid cash-for-votes allegations.

(Editing by John O’Brien; To comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

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Labels: Blatter, inside, problems, Reuters, solve

ISTANBUL, May 31 (Reuters) - Turkey coach Guus Hiddink heightened speculation of a possible return to Premier League Chelsea when he said he would prefer the tempo of a club role to a national coaching job in an interview published on Tuesday.

Dutchman Hiddink, who had a successful five-month stint in charge of Chelsea two years ago, is one of the favourites to take over from Italian Carlo Ancelotti who was sacked this month.

Hiddink, whose Turkey side face Belgium in a crucial Euro 2012 qualifier on Friday, said he felt energetic at the age of 65 and had been very happy in the past when he coached national and club sides at the same time.

“I feel energetic, so a club role is more preferable. And that’s what I like, working every day. I feel I need to do more,” he said in an interview with the Turkish daily Haberturk.

“I’ve trained Australia and PSV at the same time, as well as Russia and Chelsea, and I was very happy. We’ll see what happens with Turkey.”

Turkey are third in Group A, one point behind Belgium and six points behind leaders Germany, and a loss on Friday would jeopardise their chances of competing at Euro 2012. Turkish media reports have said Hiddink could be sacked if the team fail to qualify for the finals.#

Hiddink said he had not received any official offers from any club sides.

“There is no official offer yet, but I can’t guarantee anything. I haven’t told the chairman (Turkish Football Federation chairman Mahmut Ozgener) what I thought yet. But he’s an intelligent man. I am sure he follows the world media,” Hiddink said.

He said his Turkey contract was valid for another year.

“I never told anybody I was going to continue working here. The team is focused on me, I would affect the team negatively if I answered the speculation,” he said.

(Writing by Ece Toksabay; Editing by John Mehaffey; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

Labels: combine, country, Hiddink, Reuters

By Brian Homewood

ZURICH, May 31 (Reuters) - The number of terms the FIFA president can serve should be limited, the head of the Portuguese soccer federation said on Tuesday.

Gilberto Madail added that if the president of world soccer’s governing body stays too long in his post, he can starting making mistakes without even noticing.

Maidal’s remarks came on the eve of the presidential vote where Sepp Blatter, who has already been at the helm for 13 years, is set to be elected unopposed for another four.

Blatter’s predecessor Joao Havelange was in power for 24 years and FIFA has only had eight presidents in its 107-year history.

“I always said there should be a limit on the number of mandates otherwise people get too used to being in power,” Maidal told the Portuguese television station RTP.

“They end up committing mistakes without even noticing.”

FIFA has been hit by a wave of corruption scandals with four executive committee members suspended since October, including Mohamed Bin Hammam who had been due to run against Blatter on Wednesday.

The Qatari withdrew his candidacy on Sunday after being suspended amid cash-for-votes allegations along with Jack Warner, one of the most influential figures on the FIFA executive committee.

“If you don’t correct this, then FIFA will lose public respect,” said Madail, not usually regarded as an outspoken figure.

“It’s time for FIFA to be looked at from top to bottom because if they (the public) stop respecting FIFA, football will not be respected.

He added that an election in such circumstances was “like having sand in your shoe.”

“There are no UEFA officials involved and this for UEFA is an advantage,” he said referring to European soccer’s governing body.

(Editing by Ken Ferris; To comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

Labels: limited, Portugal, presidents, Reuters, Should

MIAMI, May 31 (Reuters) - Suspended CONCACAF president Jack Warner wrote to members of the Caribbean Football Union on Tuesday reminding them that they should vote for incumbent Sepp Blatter in FIFA’s presidential election.

Warner, who was provisionally suspended on Sunday pending an ethics committee investigation into allegations of bribery, asked Caribbean Football Union members not to protest against his suspension during the FIFA congress.

(Reporting by Simon Evans in London, editing by Ed Osmond; To comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

Labels: Blatter, Caribbean, Reuters, Should, suspended, Warner

MADRID, May 31 (Reuters) - Iran internationals Javad Nekounam and Masoud Shojaei have agreed contract extensions with Osasuna until 2013, the Spanish club said on Tuesday.

“This could be the club where I finish my sporting career,” 30-year-old midfielder Nekounam told the club website (www.osasuna.es) after signing his deal which has options for automatic extensions in the future.

Nekounam joined Osasuna in 2006 and has won over 100 caps for Iran.

Forward Masoud, 26, had surgery on his left foot on Tuesday after suffering an infection from an operation on the same problem back in April.

(Writing by Mark Elkington, editing by Ken Ferris. To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

Labels: agree, deals, Irans, Masoud, Nekounam, Osasuna, Reuters

* Blatter opens FIFA Congress

* Swiss president calls for reform

(Adds quotes from Calmy-Rey, Swiss president)

By Mike Collett

ZURICH, May 31 (Reuters) - FIFA needs to reform and set about doing so quickly, Swiss President Micheline Calmy-Rey warned in a pointed address to delegates at the opening ceremony of the world soccer body’s 61st Congress on Tuesday.

After opening addresses from beleaguered FIFA president Sepp Blatter and Jacques Rogge, the president of the International Olympic Committee, Calmy-Rey warned FIFA to waste no time in getting its house in order.

She hoped also that it would not be long before women were seen among the members of the 24-man executive committee.

FIFA has been rocked by a series of scandals recently and Calmy-Rey urged the governing body to “take seriously the many criticisms voiced about corruption and a lack of transparency.

“It is important you examine them swiftly and take the necessary measures to reform your governance. It is of the utmost importance because your organisation should be an example not only to young people but to the world at large.

“What is important is to restore full confidence in the organisation; let not money spoil your ideals,” she added.

“This is not the time for a catenaccio defence but time for a courageous offensive on the pitch of transparency to reclaim integrity, respect, tolerance and team spirit.

“FIFA is important to Switzerland so I wish you the energy necessary to overcome the many challenges which face you.”

SHAKY PYRAMID

Blatter had earlier opened the Congress, warning of the dangers the governing body is facing.

Welcoming FIFA’s 208 delegates at a ceremony featuring jugglers, folk dancers and singer Grace Jones, Blatter said he would speak in more detail about the problems facing FIFA before the business part of the Congress starts on Wednesday.

However, he warned: “I thought we were living in a world of fair play, respect and discipline but I must unfortunately say this is no longer the case because our pyramid, the famous FIFA pyramid, is suddenly unsure on its basis and there is danger.”

Two Confederation presidents, Mohamed Bin Hammam of Asia and Jack Warner of CONCACAF, have been banned from the Congress after being suspended from all football related activity on bribery allegations.

Blatter continued: “Tomorrow, dear friends, when I open the Congress agenda, I will speak of the danger lurking and I will tell you how we can fight this threat of danger, how our sport can play its role in bringing people together in the future.

“Tonight we want to meet in a festive atmosphere, but to keep the fascination of our sport we must respect it, it’s up to all of us. It’s our game, all of us have a duty to protect this sport and this is what we want to do. I am certain we will achieve this.”

Blatter is expected to be re-elected by acclamation for a fourth term on Wednesday, although a number of associations including England and Scotland could call for the election to be postponed in the light of the corruption claims.

Rogge recalled the IOC’s own cash-for votes crisis over the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games.

Appearing to lend support to Blatter, who sits on the IOC as FIFA president, he told delegates: “FIFA is now facing allegations and controversy. “Thirteen years ago we had to face the same ordeal regarding the Salt Lake City Games. The IOC however ultimately emerged a stronger organisation and from within.

“I will definitely not point the finger, nor be lecturing, but I am sure that FIFA can emerge stronger and from within.”

(Editing by Alan Baldwin, To comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

Labels: house, ORDER, president, Reuters, Swiss, urges

BERLIN, May 31 (Reuters) - A Jordanian investor has bought 49 percent of former Bundesliga champions 1860 Munich, saving the club from insolvency and securing their second division licence for next season hours before Wednesday’s deadline. “With the signature of the contracts Hasan Ismaik now has 49 percent of Munich 1860,” said club CEO Robert Schaefer in a statement on Tuesday. The statement said the contract was signed on Monday.

The club, who were among the first Bundesliga clubs and won the title in 1966, did not reveal the amount Ismaik had paid. German media reported it was about 18 million euros ($26 million).

“We will now hand in the complete documents for the licence on time to the German football league,” said Schaefer.

The club had been in a dire financial situation for months and had been warned they would drop to the amateur leagues if they failed to meet their financial obligations for the second division.

(Writing by Karolos Grohmann; Editing by John Mehaffey To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

Labels: injection, investor, Jordanian, Munich, Reuters, saves