SAO PAULO (AP) - The cost of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil could reach more than $40 billion in infrastructure alone, according to a report released on Wednesday.
The 12 cities hosting matches in 2014 have projected spending a total of 79.4 billion reals ($41.7 billion) to prepare for football's biggest showcase, Globo's G1 Web site said.
The total includes costs for new stadiums and improvements in transportation, public safety, health systems and several other areas, G1 said after analyzing the projects of each city. The money for the projects is expected to come from both the public and private sectors.
Nearly half of the total investments are expected to take place in Sao Paulo, South America's biggest city, which plans to spend $19.1 billion.
The nation's capital, Brasilia, said it plans to spend only $315 million, mostly in the renovation of Mane Garrincha Stadium.
This month, the mayors for the host cities said they need to start infrastructure work as soon as possible in order to have everything ready in time for the tournament.
The cities hosting matches are Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Belo Horizonte, Porto Alegre, Brasilia, Curitiba, Salvador, Recife, Natal, Fortaleza, Manaus and Cuiaba.
7/22/2009
Turkish delight as Darius signs up
Darius Vassell has completed his free transfer to Turkish Super Lig outfit Ankaragucu on a two-year deal after his release by Manchester City.
Vassell, 29, has signed up until 2011 with the Ankara-based outfit, who avoided relegation by a single point as they finished 13th in the Turkish top flight last season.
The former England and Aston Villa striker had been without a club since being released by City at the end of last season but was given a rousing reception by around 3,000 Ankaragucu fans when he arrived in the Turkish capital for transfer talks earlier this month.
"I do not want to talk too much," Vassell said at a press conference confirming his arrival. "I want to play football. Ankaragucu is working hard for success."
Vassell, 29, has signed up until 2011 with the Ankara-based outfit, who avoided relegation by a single point as they finished 13th in the Turkish top flight last season.
The former England and Aston Villa striker had been without a club since being released by City at the end of last season but was given a rousing reception by around 3,000 Ankaragucu fans when he arrived in the Turkish capital for transfer talks earlier this month.
"I do not want to talk too much," Vassell said at a press conference confirming his arrival. "I want to play football. Ankaragucu is working hard for success."
Reds sweat on Skrtel injury verdict
Rafa Benitez is awaiting to hear if Martin Skrtel faces a long spell on the sidelines after he limped off in Liverpool's 1-1 draw in Thailand.
Skrtel limped off 10 minutes after coming on at half-time in Bangkok and while Benitez said it was too early to tell how long the defender could be ruled out for, it was nevertheless an unwanted blow.
"I'm really disappointed because Martin has had a problem with his hamstring and a little bit with the ligaments in his knee, so we have to wait," he said.
Jamie Carragher echoed his manager's disappointment over his centre-back partner's exit.
"That's part and parcel of football. It's disappointing but hopefully he will be ready for the start of the season because he's a top player," he said.
Despite being held by Peter Reid's team and seeing his charges spurn a number of chances, Benitez was nevertheless pleased with Liverpool's performance.
"We had some chances, we were playing against a team that was well organised, and they play quick," the Spaniard said.
"So you come to a new continent and conditions are different, always more difficult, but I was pleased with the performance of some players.
"We knew that physically they are strong, they are quick, and then the pace of the other team is important. So we had to have some really good movement and I was really pleased with them."
Benitez, though, was reluctant to talk up his side's Premier League title chances this term following last season's impressive campaign.
"We have to keep working and try to be contenders," he added.
"I don't think that we need to put any pressure on anyone. So we just keep improving and then we can stay there."
Skrtel limped off 10 minutes after coming on at half-time in Bangkok and while Benitez said it was too early to tell how long the defender could be ruled out for, it was nevertheless an unwanted blow.
"I'm really disappointed because Martin has had a problem with his hamstring and a little bit with the ligaments in his knee, so we have to wait," he said.
Jamie Carragher echoed his manager's disappointment over his centre-back partner's exit.
"That's part and parcel of football. It's disappointing but hopefully he will be ready for the start of the season because he's a top player," he said.
Despite being held by Peter Reid's team and seeing his charges spurn a number of chances, Benitez was nevertheless pleased with Liverpool's performance.
"We had some chances, we were playing against a team that was well organised, and they play quick," the Spaniard said.
"So you come to a new continent and conditions are different, always more difficult, but I was pleased with the performance of some players.
"We knew that physically they are strong, they are quick, and then the pace of the other team is important. So we had to have some really good movement and I was really pleased with them."
Benitez, though, was reluctant to talk up his side's Premier League title chances this term following last season's impressive campaign.
"We have to keep working and try to be contenders," he added.
"I don't think that we need to put any pressure on anyone. So we just keep improving and then we can stay there."
Andrews pens new Rovers contract
Keith Andrews has committed his long-term future to Blackburn after signing a new four-year contract to keep him at Ewood Park until 2013.
The Republic of Ireland international, who joined Rovers a year ago from MK Dons, was the subject of interest from Premier League rivals Fulham earlier this summer.
However, that enquiry was rebuffed by Ewood Park officials and instead the versatile 28-year-old has been rewarded with a new deal.
Andrews was brought to the club by Paul Ince, his former boss at the League One club who was subsequently sacked in December, and the midfielder played a crucial role in the successful battle against relegation.
Despite failing to win over some fans he proved invaluable to manager Sam Allardyce, who used him as an emergency right-back at times towards the end of the campaign.
"I'm delighted to be here and to commit myself for another four years," said Andrews, who scored four goals in 35 appearances.
"The chairman (John Williams) was very fair with me; when I signed here from MK Dons he said that if I performed and got in the team and stayed in the team I would be rewarded and he's been true to his word."
The midfielder, who made his international debut last season, told Rovers World: "Last season went reasonably well from a personal point of view.
"I was delighted to make so many appearances first and foremost. To have played so many games last year was probably more than what I expected.
"I had things to prove to myself and I think I did that last year. At the highest level of football, and on the international stage as well.
"I've thoroughly enjoyed my time here so far, I've a manager here now that has been thoroughly fair with me and I really want to stay here and crack on."
The Republic of Ireland international, who joined Rovers a year ago from MK Dons, was the subject of interest from Premier League rivals Fulham earlier this summer.
However, that enquiry was rebuffed by Ewood Park officials and instead the versatile 28-year-old has been rewarded with a new deal.
Andrews was brought to the club by Paul Ince, his former boss at the League One club who was subsequently sacked in December, and the midfielder played a crucial role in the successful battle against relegation.
Despite failing to win over some fans he proved invaluable to manager Sam Allardyce, who used him as an emergency right-back at times towards the end of the campaign.
"I'm delighted to be here and to commit myself for another four years," said Andrews, who scored four goals in 35 appearances.
"The chairman (John Williams) was very fair with me; when I signed here from MK Dons he said that if I performed and got in the team and stayed in the team I would be rewarded and he's been true to his word."
The midfielder, who made his international debut last season, told Rovers World: "Last season went reasonably well from a personal point of view.
"I was delighted to make so many appearances first and foremost. To have played so many games last year was probably more than what I expected.
"I had things to prove to myself and I think I did that last year. At the highest level of football, and on the international stage as well.
"I've thoroughly enjoyed my time here so far, I've a manager here now that has been thoroughly fair with me and I really want to stay here and crack on."
Gerrard in a 'huff' before alleged attack
England midfielder Steven Gerrard was in a "huff" before he attacked a man with a barrage of punches, a court heard on Wednesday.
Gerrard, 29, confronted Marcus McGee after he refused to give him control of a stereo at the Lounge Inn bar in Southport, Merseyside, last year.
The Liverpool captain was drinking in the early hours of December 29 with a throng of friends to celebrate his team's 5-1 drubbing of Newcastle.
He downed bottles of Budweiser and a Jammy Donut shot.
Gerrard - who said he was seven out of 10 on a drunkenness scale - returned to confront businessman Mr McGee and threw three punches at him, the player said.
On Wednesday, Liverpool Crown Court heard from barman Nathaniel Lockie who relived the attack and claimed Gerrard was in a "huff" after not getting his own way.
He said: "Gerrard grabbed the back of his jumper and pulled it over his head, pulled him down and started uppercutting him.
"While that happened I ran round to the other side of the bar trying to help and he (Gerrard) was dragged off into the restaurant."
Mr McGee, 34, said when he refused to hand over control of the music Gerrard asked him: "Who the f*** do you think you are?"
He said of the attack several minutes later: "I remember a barrage of punches coming in at my face but I didn't know who has done what.
"Having watched the CCTV it was obvious Steven Gerrard hit me a couple of times, maybe three times but I couldn't honestly say on the night.
"I didn't know who did what."
The first shot was actually thrown by Gerrard's friend John Doran, 29, of Huyton, Liverpool.
He and four other men have admitted affray and threatening behaviour.
The victim said the millionaire midfielder tried to grab a card controlling the stereo from him.
"I didn't give it to him, no," he said.
"It wasn't my permission to be giving it out to somebody else, it was my job so I didn't hand it over.
"He made a move to try to grab the card to take it away and I remember it slipped on the floor at one stage."
He denied punching back at Gerrard when they clashed violently.
But in a police interview read to court, Gerrard claimed it was the other way round.
The father-of-two said he had permission from manageress Sabrina Malik to pick some songs and Mr McGee was arrogant and rude to him.
He told detectives: "He grabbed my music menu off me and said 'You are not f****** deciding what music goes on in here'."
He added: "When he grabbed it I said 'What's your problem, why can't I change it?'
"He basically said to me 'I am not putting your music on.'
"It was quite aggressive, and I said 'What's the f****** problem, why can't I put my music on?
"He said 'Because you f****** can't, you're not allowed.
"I said 'I have permission to do it'."
The seven women and five men of the jury heard that Gerrard felt upset and "gutted" about what happened.
The player told detectives Mr McGee proceeded to stare at him through a gap in a partition wall.
Gerrard, married to model Alex Curran, wanted to sort the problem out so went back to discuss it with Mr McGee, he said.
"I didn't go over there intentionally to have another argument or start fighting," he said.
"I was having a good night but I was gutted and just wanted to straighten it out with him."
Gerrard said he believed Mr McGee was going to attack him.
"He stood up quite aggressively out of his stool and I thought to myself 'I am not going to be able to sort this out in the way I wanted'," Gerrard said.
"I thought he was going to give me a smack.
"He was shouting back and I didn't know what he was saying but he started arguing and I thought he was going to hit me so that's why I threw a punch."
Mr McGee lost a front tooth crown and suffered a cut face in the melee.
Gerrard's police interviews end with his solicitor, Richard Green, saying the star was "deeply apologetic" about what happened.
"He understands his obligations and responsibilities and this is completely out of character and out of the blue," he said.
"He is extremely remorseful for what actually happened and certainly there wasn't any intention for events to turn out that way."
The court heard that when arrested Gerrard was "totally co-operative" with police.
He is expected to go into the witness box on Thursday morning.
Gerrard, 29, confronted Marcus McGee after he refused to give him control of a stereo at the Lounge Inn bar in Southport, Merseyside, last year.
The Liverpool captain was drinking in the early hours of December 29 with a throng of friends to celebrate his team's 5-1 drubbing of Newcastle.
He downed bottles of Budweiser and a Jammy Donut shot.
Gerrard - who said he was seven out of 10 on a drunkenness scale - returned to confront businessman Mr McGee and threw three punches at him, the player said.
On Wednesday, Liverpool Crown Court heard from barman Nathaniel Lockie who relived the attack and claimed Gerrard was in a "huff" after not getting his own way.
He said: "Gerrard grabbed the back of his jumper and pulled it over his head, pulled him down and started uppercutting him.
"While that happened I ran round to the other side of the bar trying to help and he (Gerrard) was dragged off into the restaurant."
Mr McGee, 34, said when he refused to hand over control of the music Gerrard asked him: "Who the f*** do you think you are?"
He said of the attack several minutes later: "I remember a barrage of punches coming in at my face but I didn't know who has done what.
"Having watched the CCTV it was obvious Steven Gerrard hit me a couple of times, maybe three times but I couldn't honestly say on the night.
"I didn't know who did what."
The first shot was actually thrown by Gerrard's friend John Doran, 29, of Huyton, Liverpool.
He and four other men have admitted affray and threatening behaviour.
The victim said the millionaire midfielder tried to grab a card controlling the stereo from him.
"I didn't give it to him, no," he said.
"It wasn't my permission to be giving it out to somebody else, it was my job so I didn't hand it over.
"He made a move to try to grab the card to take it away and I remember it slipped on the floor at one stage."
He denied punching back at Gerrard when they clashed violently.
But in a police interview read to court, Gerrard claimed it was the other way round.
The father-of-two said he had permission from manageress Sabrina Malik to pick some songs and Mr McGee was arrogant and rude to him.
He told detectives: "He grabbed my music menu off me and said 'You are not f****** deciding what music goes on in here'."
He added: "When he grabbed it I said 'What's your problem, why can't I change it?'
"He basically said to me 'I am not putting your music on.'
"It was quite aggressive, and I said 'What's the f****** problem, why can't I put my music on?
"He said 'Because you f****** can't, you're not allowed.
"I said 'I have permission to do it'."
The seven women and five men of the jury heard that Gerrard felt upset and "gutted" about what happened.
The player told detectives Mr McGee proceeded to stare at him through a gap in a partition wall.
Gerrard, married to model Alex Curran, wanted to sort the problem out so went back to discuss it with Mr McGee, he said.
"I didn't go over there intentionally to have another argument or start fighting," he said.
"I was having a good night but I was gutted and just wanted to straighten it out with him."
Gerrard said he believed Mr McGee was going to attack him.
"He stood up quite aggressively out of his stool and I thought to myself 'I am not going to be able to sort this out in the way I wanted'," Gerrard said.
"I thought he was going to give me a smack.
"He was shouting back and I didn't know what he was saying but he started arguing and I thought he was going to hit me so that's why I threw a punch."
Mr McGee lost a front tooth crown and suffered a cut face in the melee.
Gerrard's police interviews end with his solicitor, Richard Green, saying the star was "deeply apologetic" about what happened.
"He understands his obligations and responsibilities and this is completely out of character and out of the blue," he said.
"He is extremely remorseful for what actually happened and certainly there wasn't any intention for events to turn out that way."
The court heard that when arrested Gerrard was "totally co-operative" with police.
He is expected to go into the witness box on Thursday morning.
John Obi Mikel agrees new 5-year Chelsea deal
LONDON (AP) - Nigeria midfielder John Obi Mikel has signed a new five-year contract at Chelsea through till 2014.
The 22-year-old Mikel agreed the deal Wednesday, one day after teammate Florent Malouda also signed a new contract.
Mikel said: "It was easy to commit to because I am happy here and when the opportunity came it was good to sign after speaking to the club."
Mikel expects the team will have a bright future under new manager Carlo Ancelotti.
He said: "I think we have a good working relationship already."
Mikel moved to Chelsea in 2006 despite Manchester United's attempts to buy him.
The 22-year-old Mikel agreed the deal Wednesday, one day after teammate Florent Malouda also signed a new contract.
Mikel said: "It was easy to commit to because I am happy here and when the opportunity came it was good to sign after speaking to the club."
Mikel expects the team will have a bright future under new manager Carlo Ancelotti.
He said: "I think we have a good working relationship already."
Mikel moved to Chelsea in 2006 despite Manchester United's attempts to buy him.
Mikel pins colors to Chelsea mast
Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel has pledged his future to the club by signing a new five-year deal to keep him at Stamford Bridge until 2014.
The 22-year-old, who moved to west London from Norwegian side Lyn Oslo in 2006, impressed in the holding role in the Blues midfield last term during the long-term injury absence of Michael Essien..
The Nigerian told the club's official website: "It was easy to commit to because I am happy here and when the opportunity came it was good to sign after speaking to the club."
Mikel already feels he will have an important role to play under new boss Carlo Ancelotti.
He added: "My future with the new manager will be bright, and I think we have a good working relationship already.
"All the managers I have played for here have their own type of systems they want us to play, and whoever comes in will want to change little bits and pieces.
"There is not much to change but they all bring in different views, and the new manager wants us to play in a certain formation which we need to get used to before the season starts."
Mikel, who started the 2-0 friendly win over Inter Milan in America as he looks to build-up to full fitness, is confident he will thrive in the 4-4-2 diamond formation Ancelotti has favoured so far.
He added: "It has been hard work getting back to fitness but we all want to be sharp for the start of the season. Training is hard work but we have to do it.
"The new formation doesn't make too much difference to me in defensive midfield, but perhaps it is a little harder as I have to cover more ground for the team, but I feel I am up to the task and I am sure I can do it."
The 22-year-old, who moved to west London from Norwegian side Lyn Oslo in 2006, impressed in the holding role in the Blues midfield last term during the long-term injury absence of Michael Essien..
The Nigerian told the club's official website: "It was easy to commit to because I am happy here and when the opportunity came it was good to sign after speaking to the club."
Mikel already feels he will have an important role to play under new boss Carlo Ancelotti.
He added: "My future with the new manager will be bright, and I think we have a good working relationship already.
"All the managers I have played for here have their own type of systems they want us to play, and whoever comes in will want to change little bits and pieces.
"There is not much to change but they all bring in different views, and the new manager wants us to play in a certain formation which we need to get used to before the season starts."
Mikel, who started the 2-0 friendly win over Inter Milan in America as he looks to build-up to full fitness, is confident he will thrive in the 4-4-2 diamond formation Ancelotti has favoured so far.
He added: "It has been hard work getting back to fitness but we all want to be sharp for the start of the season. Training is hard work but we have to do it.
"The new formation doesn't make too much difference to me in defensive midfield, but perhaps it is a little harder as I have to cover more ground for the team, but I feel I am up to the task and I am sure I can do it."
Toffees keen to make Onuoha swoop
Everton have turned their attention to Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha after failing to add Kyle Naughton to their squad.
Full-back Naughton, along with Sheffield United club-mate Kyle Walker, has signed for Tottenham despite the Merseysiders initially agreeing a fee for the players with the Championship side.
Now it has emerged that when City made their rejected £15million bid for Joleon Lescott last week, Everton enquired about Onuoha's availability at the same time.
Onuoha, the England Under-21 defender, is also interesting Aston Villa and Spurs with new contract talks at City having dragged on for several months.
With Everton still working on the possible �6million transfer of Sweden international Rasmus Elms, there is unlikely to be any further transfer activity until manager David Moyes returns with his squad next week from their matches in Canada and the USA.
Lescott's future will then be sorted out, with the England defender aware that he will have to formally ask for a transfer if Everton are to change their mind about a bid from City - which will have to be closer to £30million to hand Moyes some transfer market muscle.
Everton's attempts to increase their defensive depth have not been lost on full-back Tony Hibbert, whose last appearance for the club saw him substituted at half-time in the FA Cup final defeat by Chelsea after a torrid opening 45 minutes against Florent Malouda.
Hibbert, though, is keen to make it clear he aims to fight for his place in the side.
He said: "The challenge is the same every season. When you play for Everton you have got to show you deserve to be in the team. You must fight all the time to keep your marks up.
"You look at the age of the players now coming through and that is when it hits you that you are not one of the kids any more. The talent that some of them have is unbelievable and in years to come, it is only going to help the club.
"The gaffer was spot on to look at another right-back. That is always going to happen because if you want to be successful now, you need two players for every position and it is good to see that Everton are being linked with these outstanding young players.
"I love the club, I have been here all my life and whoever gets brought in is only going to help us out, so why would I complain?"
But questions have been asked about Hibbert's future after his nightmare at Wembley.
Hibbert said: "When the season finished, I got away as soon as I could and had a couple of holidays with my family. But here we are again, back to work with the season not far off. It just goes by too quickly.
"How was I after the final? It was just one of those things. We all went into the game with the highest of hopes but we came out of it on a real downer. But you have to do everything you can to put it behind you as soon as possible.
"Getting back to another final has to be the aim. Looking back, it was a nightmare to get booked so early and, to be honest, it rattled me. I love tackling, that is what I base my game on, so straight away I was thinking 'I'm not going to be able to tackle here'.
"You just have to look at things in a positive way if you can. All the lads have got a lot of experience now and they know what playing in a final is all about and I am sure it is only going to help us in the long term."
Full-back Naughton, along with Sheffield United club-mate Kyle Walker, has signed for Tottenham despite the Merseysiders initially agreeing a fee for the players with the Championship side.
Now it has emerged that when City made their rejected £15million bid for Joleon Lescott last week, Everton enquired about Onuoha's availability at the same time.
Onuoha, the England Under-21 defender, is also interesting Aston Villa and Spurs with new contract talks at City having dragged on for several months.
With Everton still working on the possible �6million transfer of Sweden international Rasmus Elms, there is unlikely to be any further transfer activity until manager David Moyes returns with his squad next week from their matches in Canada and the USA.
Lescott's future will then be sorted out, with the England defender aware that he will have to formally ask for a transfer if Everton are to change their mind about a bid from City - which will have to be closer to £30million to hand Moyes some transfer market muscle.
Everton's attempts to increase their defensive depth have not been lost on full-back Tony Hibbert, whose last appearance for the club saw him substituted at half-time in the FA Cup final defeat by Chelsea after a torrid opening 45 minutes against Florent Malouda.
Hibbert, though, is keen to make it clear he aims to fight for his place in the side.
He said: "The challenge is the same every season. When you play for Everton you have got to show you deserve to be in the team. You must fight all the time to keep your marks up.
"You look at the age of the players now coming through and that is when it hits you that you are not one of the kids any more. The talent that some of them have is unbelievable and in years to come, it is only going to help the club.
"The gaffer was spot on to look at another right-back. That is always going to happen because if you want to be successful now, you need two players for every position and it is good to see that Everton are being linked with these outstanding young players.
"I love the club, I have been here all my life and whoever gets brought in is only going to help us out, so why would I complain?"
But questions have been asked about Hibbert's future after his nightmare at Wembley.
Hibbert said: "When the season finished, I got away as soon as I could and had a couple of holidays with my family. But here we are again, back to work with the season not far off. It just goes by too quickly.
"How was I after the final? It was just one of those things. We all went into the game with the highest of hopes but we came out of it on a real downer. But you have to do everything you can to put it behind you as soon as possible.
"Getting back to another final has to be the aim. Looking back, it was a nightmare to get booked so early and, to be honest, it rattled me. I love tackling, that is what I base my game on, so straight away I was thinking 'I'm not going to be able to tackle here'.
"You just have to look at things in a positive way if you can. All the lads have got a lot of experience now and they know what playing in a final is all about and I am sure it is only going to help us in the long term."
Liverpool draws 1-1 with Thailand in friendly
BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) - Liverpool lost central defender Martin Skrtel to an apparent serious hamstring injury in Wednesday's 1-1 draw with Thailand in a preseason friendly.
The Slovak international came on as a halftime substitute but only lasted 10 minutes before grabbing the top of his right hamstring and walking gingerly off the field.
Fringe first-teamer Nabil El Zhar came off soon after with a medial ligament injury in his right knee after attempting a bicycle kick.
Midfielder Xabi Alonso, subject to intense transfer speculation about a move to Real Madrid, did not make an appearance.
Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, acting as captain in the absence of Steven Gerrard, who was facing court on affray charges in England, said the players want the transfer saga involving Alonso sorted out soon.
"The feeling within the squad is he's a top player and you don't want to be losing your best players," Carragher said. "Hopefully something is sorted out as quickly as possible. You've got to do what's in the best interests of the club."
Star striker Fernando Torres made his first appearance of the preseason, coming on for the latter stages of the second half.
Liverpool's starting team contained five regular first-team players: Jamie Carragher, Dirk Kuyt, Lucas Leiva, Ryan Babel and Daniel Agger.
The opening goal came in the sixth minute as Carragher played a long ball into the path of Babel, who outpaced the defense, controlled the ball and slotted past the goalkeeper.
Liverpool looked rusty, struggling to combine effectively in the attacking half. Babel volleyed another long pass wide and had another effort stopped by the goalkeeper.
Thailand's equalizer came in the 72nd minute as substitute Sutee Suksomkit played a neat one-two and calmly placed his shot past onrushing substitute goalkeeper Peter Gulasci.
Liverpool changed 10 players at the break, with new signing Glen Johnson coming on and playing in an unfamiliar left-back position, while Javier Mascherano and Andriy Voronin were among those also given a run in the second period.
The Slovak international came on as a halftime substitute but only lasted 10 minutes before grabbing the top of his right hamstring and walking gingerly off the field.
Fringe first-teamer Nabil El Zhar came off soon after with a medial ligament injury in his right knee after attempting a bicycle kick.
Midfielder Xabi Alonso, subject to intense transfer speculation about a move to Real Madrid, did not make an appearance.
Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, acting as captain in the absence of Steven Gerrard, who was facing court on affray charges in England, said the players want the transfer saga involving Alonso sorted out soon.
"The feeling within the squad is he's a top player and you don't want to be losing your best players," Carragher said. "Hopefully something is sorted out as quickly as possible. You've got to do what's in the best interests of the club."
Star striker Fernando Torres made his first appearance of the preseason, coming on for the latter stages of the second half.
Liverpool's starting team contained five regular first-team players: Jamie Carragher, Dirk Kuyt, Lucas Leiva, Ryan Babel and Daniel Agger.
The opening goal came in the sixth minute as Carragher played a long ball into the path of Babel, who outpaced the defense, controlled the ball and slotted past the goalkeeper.
Liverpool looked rusty, struggling to combine effectively in the attacking half. Babel volleyed another long pass wide and had another effort stopped by the goalkeeper.
Thailand's equalizer came in the 72nd minute as substitute Sutee Suksomkit played a neat one-two and calmly placed his shot past onrushing substitute goalkeeper Peter Gulasci.
Liverpool changed 10 players at the break, with new signing Glen Johnson coming on and playing in an unfamiliar left-back position, while Javier Mascherano and Andriy Voronin were among those also given a run in the second period.
Pulis ready to extend Fuller break
Stoke boss Tony Pulis is ready to extend Ricardo Fuller's summer break even further to ensure the striker is fully rested for the new season.
The majority of Stoke's squad has been back in training since July 9 but Fuller was granted an extended rest due to his commitments with the Jamaica national team over the summer.
He was left out of the squad that travelled to Austria for a week-long training camp and Pulis is willing to give the 30-year-old even more time off to make sure he is ready for the Premier League kick-off on August 15.
"Ric does need a bit more time off because he's been working all summer," Pulis told the Stoke Sentinel.
"I'll speak to him when I get back from Austria and then decide exactly when he's back with us.
"We've got to give him a bit of grace because of the games he's been involved in. We'll see how his fitness is when we see him.
"The thing with Ric is keeping him bright mentally as much as physically."
The majority of Stoke's squad has been back in training since July 9 but Fuller was granted an extended rest due to his commitments with the Jamaica national team over the summer.
He was left out of the squad that travelled to Austria for a week-long training camp and Pulis is willing to give the 30-year-old even more time off to make sure he is ready for the Premier League kick-off on August 15.
"Ric does need a bit more time off because he's been working all summer," Pulis told the Stoke Sentinel.
"I'll speak to him when I get back from Austria and then decide exactly when he's back with us.
"We've got to give him a bit of grace because of the games he's been involved in. We'll see how his fitness is when we see him.
"The thing with Ric is keeping him bright mentally as much as physically."
Latics lose to Timiosara in Austria
Wigan suffered a disappointing defeat to Romanian Champions League qualifiers FC Timiosara after they lost 2-0 in their friendly in Austria.
Both goals came in the opening 18 minutes as Roberto Martinez's side paid for lapses in concentration.
Arman Karamyan put the Romanians ahead in the 11th minute when he found space on the edge of the area to fire low past goalkeeper Chris Kirkland's left hand.
Gigel Bucur added the second from close range after being left unmarked.
Martinez, who made nine substitutions at half-time, was not disheartened by the result despite it being their third friendly without a win.
"What interests me is how the players performed on the day and this was another fantastic training exercise against a team who were fitter than us and gave us a real challenge," he told the club's website.
"I think we took another big step forward and I was pleased with a lot of aspects of our game.
"Although I was disappointed with the way we conceded the goals they came from basic defensive errors and we can work on preventing those sort of mistakes happening again."
Both goals came in the opening 18 minutes as Roberto Martinez's side paid for lapses in concentration.
Arman Karamyan put the Romanians ahead in the 11th minute when he found space on the edge of the area to fire low past goalkeeper Chris Kirkland's left hand.
Gigel Bucur added the second from close range after being left unmarked.
Martinez, who made nine substitutions at half-time, was not disheartened by the result despite it being their third friendly without a win.
"What interests me is how the players performed on the day and this was another fantastic training exercise against a team who were fitter than us and gave us a real challenge," he told the club's website.
"I think we took another big step forward and I was pleased with a lot of aspects of our game.
"Although I was disappointed with the way we conceded the goals they came from basic defensive errors and we can work on preventing those sort of mistakes happening again."
Well new boys in line for debuts
Steve Jennings and Chris Humphrey are in line to make their Motherwell debuts in Thursday night's Europa League clash against Flamurtari.
Jennings was on the bench for the first-leg defeat after overcoming a rib injury and he is now fully fit along with the rest of Jim Gannon's squad.
Keith Lasley has shaken off a minor knock and Gannon feels all his players have recovered well from last week's testing trip to Albania.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Motherwell (from): Fraser, Saunders, Hammell, Reynolds, Craigan, Lasley, Forbes, O'Brien, Slane, McGarry, Sutton, Kosiorowski, Jennings, Murphy, Page, Humphrey, McHugh, Fitzpatrick.
Jennings was on the bench for the first-leg defeat after overcoming a rib injury and he is now fully fit along with the rest of Jim Gannon's squad.
Keith Lasley has shaken off a minor knock and Gannon feels all his players have recovered well from last week's testing trip to Albania.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Motherwell (from): Fraser, Saunders, Hammell, Reynolds, Craigan, Lasley, Forbes, O'Brien, Slane, McGarry, Sutton, Kosiorowski, Jennings, Murphy, Page, Humphrey, McHugh, Fitzpatrick.
Ronaldo to play himself in Iranian movie
SAO PAULO (AP) - Ronaldo is set to play himself in an Iranian movie about a Palestine girl who was killed before realizing her dream of meeting him.
Ronaldo has reached a deal to be part of the movie and will start filming as early as September in Lebanon, according to officials at the Brazil-Iran chamber of commerce, which is helping produce the movie.
Still without a title, the movie is based on the true story of Alneyrab, a 13-year-old girl who dreamed of meeting the soccer star when he visited the Middle East on a humanitarian mission in 2005. She was only able to watch her idol pass through along with his entourage, and later was killed in a conflict in the region.
Ronaldo's agent, Fabiano Farah, confirmed to Globo's Web site that Ronaldo has signed a pre-contract for the movie.
The 32-year-old Ronaldo, who is thriving with Corinthians in his comeback from the third serious knee injury of his career, will appear in some scenes that take place in the girl's dreams, said Farrokh Faradji Chadan, president of the Brazil-Iran chamber of commerce.
He is expected to spend only a few days in Lebanon shooting the movie. Chadan would not disclose how much Ronaldo will be paid for what he called a "humanitarian" production.
Chadan said the deal to have Ronaldo participate in the movie - which is expected to be finished next year - was reached in June.
Ronaldo has been a goodwill ambassador for the U.N. Development Program since 2000 and made a trip to Israel and the West Bank in 2005 as part of his campaign against poverty around the world. He was playing for Real Madrid at the time.
Ronaldo signed with four-time Brazilian champion Corinthians in December 2008 despite doubts he would ever recover from the knee injury sustained with AC Milan in February of that year.
After more than a year on the sidelines, Ronaldo returned to action in March and has already helped Corinthians win two titles in Brazil - the traditional Sao Paulo state championship and the Brazilian Cup. He has scored six goals in his last four matches.
Ronaldo was a member of Brazil's team that won its fourth World Cup title in 1994 in the United States, and was the team's top player when it clinched the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan.
Ronaldo, the career World Cup scoring leader with 15 goals, has also played for Cruzeiro, PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona and Inter Milan.
Ronaldo has reached a deal to be part of the movie and will start filming as early as September in Lebanon, according to officials at the Brazil-Iran chamber of commerce, which is helping produce the movie.
Still without a title, the movie is based on the true story of Alneyrab, a 13-year-old girl who dreamed of meeting the soccer star when he visited the Middle East on a humanitarian mission in 2005. She was only able to watch her idol pass through along with his entourage, and later was killed in a conflict in the region.
Ronaldo's agent, Fabiano Farah, confirmed to Globo's Web site that Ronaldo has signed a pre-contract for the movie.
The 32-year-old Ronaldo, who is thriving with Corinthians in his comeback from the third serious knee injury of his career, will appear in some scenes that take place in the girl's dreams, said Farrokh Faradji Chadan, president of the Brazil-Iran chamber of commerce.
He is expected to spend only a few days in Lebanon shooting the movie. Chadan would not disclose how much Ronaldo will be paid for what he called a "humanitarian" production.
Chadan said the deal to have Ronaldo participate in the movie - which is expected to be finished next year - was reached in June.
Ronaldo has been a goodwill ambassador for the U.N. Development Program since 2000 and made a trip to Israel and the West Bank in 2005 as part of his campaign against poverty around the world. He was playing for Real Madrid at the time.
Ronaldo signed with four-time Brazilian champion Corinthians in December 2008 despite doubts he would ever recover from the knee injury sustained with AC Milan in February of that year.
After more than a year on the sidelines, Ronaldo returned to action in March and has already helped Corinthians win two titles in Brazil - the traditional Sao Paulo state championship and the Brazilian Cup. He has scored six goals in his last four matches.
Ronaldo was a member of Brazil's team that won its fourth World Cup title in 1994 in the United States, and was the team's top player when it clinched the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan.
Ronaldo, the career World Cup scoring leader with 15 goals, has also played for Cruzeiro, PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona and Inter Milan.
Matt not a one trick pony for Trotters
After impressing in front of goal last season Bolton's Matt Taylor is aiming to prove any doubters that this was no fluke.
27-year-old Taylor, who scored an impressive 10 goals from midfield for the Trotters last campaign, was elated with his best-ever goals return but is happy to sacrifice goals to help Bolton improve on their 13th-place finish.
Speaking to The Bolton News he said: "If I can do that again next season then everybody will be sat here in a few years time and saying I'm consistent at what I do, and that is what's important.
"If I can better my goals tally next season then fantastic, if I can't then it won't be the end of the world. If I can make 15 goals and score three then that would be just as good a season."
Bolton have commenced talks with Taylor over a new contract that would see the wideman become one of the top earners at the club.
Taylor added: "Football is a team game and it's not all about me or what I do, it's about the team and what we achieve."
"If you can do your part, that's what is important."
27-year-old Taylor, who scored an impressive 10 goals from midfield for the Trotters last campaign, was elated with his best-ever goals return but is happy to sacrifice goals to help Bolton improve on their 13th-place finish.
Speaking to The Bolton News he said: "If I can do that again next season then everybody will be sat here in a few years time and saying I'm consistent at what I do, and that is what's important.
"If I can better my goals tally next season then fantastic, if I can't then it won't be the end of the world. If I can make 15 goals and score three then that would be just as good a season."
Bolton have commenced talks with Taylor over a new contract that would see the wideman become one of the top earners at the club.
Taylor added: "Football is a team game and it's not all about me or what I do, it's about the team and what we achieve."
"If you can do your part, that's what is important."
Eriksson makes wrong turn to Notts County
LONDON (AP) - Wrong Magpies, Sven!
It's Newcastle that's looking for a new manager, not League Two strugglers Notts County.
It looks like the lure of a wealthy Middle Eastern business consortium buying England's oldest football club three tiers below the Premier League has clouded his judgment as well as theirs.
While Newcastle is still searching for a high-profile manager to guide the team back to the Premier League, Sven Goran Eriksson has shown up at Notts County - a club which is about as far away from winning English football's top prize as the Faeroe Islands are from lifting the World Cup.
These Magpies haven't won anything of note since the century before last - the 1894 FA Cup - and last season finished so low it went close to dropping out of the Football League.
Somehow Sven-Goran Eriksson, Notts County director of football, doesn't have the same ring as coach of Lazio, Benfica, Sampdoria, Fiorentina, England, Manchester City and Mexico - some of his more high-profile jobs.
So why has he turned up at Notts County, one of English football's saddest clubs?
He says it's not the money and that may well be true after the handsome earnings and payoffs he got in Italy, England and Mexico. Although he has signed a five-year contract, he hasn't revealed how much new club owners Munto Finance are paying him - the papers say 2 million pounds ($3.28 million; €2.30 million) a year - and how much severance pay he might receive if it all goes wrong.
Now, the man who coached the likes of Pavel Nedved, David Beckham and Michael Owen before up to 70,000 fans in Rome and London will now monitor journeymen League Two players before 5,000 spectators at Meadow Lane.
What's the point?
"I'm not here for the money. I'm here for the challenge," he said Wednesday at a news conference. "I'm not here for the weather, or if the city is nice or not. If that was the case, then I could have gone to Italy."
Now Neal Bishop, Matthew Harnshaw, Craig Westcarr and the rest of County's modest squad will enjoy the thrill of having Eriksson watching them. The fans are hoping that Eriksson will transform their team the same way Brian Clough turned neighbor Nottingham Forest from a lowly second-tier club into an English champion and two-time European Cup winner in the late 1970s.
Although Eriksson's arrival now has County fans dreaming of emulating Forest, that's probably all it will be. A dream.
Since guiding Lazio to a long-awaited Serie A title and a victory over Manchester United in the European Super Cup, Eriksson has been a flop.
Hired by England to win the World Cup for the first since 1966, the Swede failed to get the team further than the quarterfinals and he also hit the headlines for having affairs with a TV presenter and a Football Association secretary.
After a promising start, he also failed to deliver success at Manchester City, the team ending one season with an 8-1 loss to Middlesbrough. He moved on to coach Mexico in April but left two years early with the team struggling to qualify for the 2010 World Cup.
Now he's at Notts County and the cynics might say that, after his recent record as a coach, the Swede has now found his true level.
There is a strong danger, however, that his arrival at Meadow Lane could be a major embarrassment for both sides.
For County, the hiring of such a big name looks like a desperate attempt by an anonymous, success-starved club to make a few headlines.
Apart from another payoff.
It's Newcastle that's looking for a new manager, not League Two strugglers Notts County.
It looks like the lure of a wealthy Middle Eastern business consortium buying England's oldest football club three tiers below the Premier League has clouded his judgment as well as theirs.
While Newcastle is still searching for a high-profile manager to guide the team back to the Premier League, Sven Goran Eriksson has shown up at Notts County - a club which is about as far away from winning English football's top prize as the Faeroe Islands are from lifting the World Cup.
These Magpies haven't won anything of note since the century before last - the 1894 FA Cup - and last season finished so low it went close to dropping out of the Football League.
Somehow Sven-Goran Eriksson, Notts County director of football, doesn't have the same ring as coach of Lazio, Benfica, Sampdoria, Fiorentina, England, Manchester City and Mexico - some of his more high-profile jobs.
So why has he turned up at Notts County, one of English football's saddest clubs?
He says it's not the money and that may well be true after the handsome earnings and payoffs he got in Italy, England and Mexico. Although he has signed a five-year contract, he hasn't revealed how much new club owners Munto Finance are paying him - the papers say 2 million pounds ($3.28 million; €2.30 million) a year - and how much severance pay he might receive if it all goes wrong.
Now, the man who coached the likes of Pavel Nedved, David Beckham and Michael Owen before up to 70,000 fans in Rome and London will now monitor journeymen League Two players before 5,000 spectators at Meadow Lane.
What's the point?
"I'm not here for the money. I'm here for the challenge," he said Wednesday at a news conference. "I'm not here for the weather, or if the city is nice or not. If that was the case, then I could have gone to Italy."
Now Neal Bishop, Matthew Harnshaw, Craig Westcarr and the rest of County's modest squad will enjoy the thrill of having Eriksson watching them. The fans are hoping that Eriksson will transform their team the same way Brian Clough turned neighbor Nottingham Forest from a lowly second-tier club into an English champion and two-time European Cup winner in the late 1970s.
Although Eriksson's arrival now has County fans dreaming of emulating Forest, that's probably all it will be. A dream.
Since guiding Lazio to a long-awaited Serie A title and a victory over Manchester United in the European Super Cup, Eriksson has been a flop.
Hired by England to win the World Cup for the first since 1966, the Swede failed to get the team further than the quarterfinals and he also hit the headlines for having affairs with a TV presenter and a Football Association secretary.
After a promising start, he also failed to deliver success at Manchester City, the team ending one season with an 8-1 loss to Middlesbrough. He moved on to coach Mexico in April but left two years early with the team struggling to qualify for the 2010 World Cup.
Now he's at Notts County and the cynics might say that, after his recent record as a coach, the Swede has now found his true level.
There is a strong danger, however, that his arrival at Meadow Lane could be a major embarrassment for both sides.
For County, the hiring of such a big name looks like a desperate attempt by an anonymous, success-starved club to make a few headlines.
Apart from another payoff.
Chamakh would relish Cats switch
Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh has revealed Sunderland are leading the chase to sign him - and he is more than happy to make the move.
Arsenal, Blackburn, Spurs and Fulham have all been credited with an interest in Chamakh this summer but the player himself claims it is Sunderland that are in pole position to sign him.
Chamakh told L'Equipe: "The most advanced contact is with Sunderland.
"If for some people it isn't a very big club, it is suitable for me. I know it can be a step up and that is my wish."
Bordeaux are resigned to losing a player they would like to keep hold of, while Lyon's hopes of persuading him to stay in France look doomed to failure.
Sunderland's interest in the �8million-rated Morocco international is genuine and ongoing, and Bruce will hope for good news on the transfer front as he and his players prepare to head from their training camp in Portugal to the Amsterdam Tournament, where they open their campaign against Benfica on Friday.
Sunderland also retain an interest in Tottenham's Darren Bent and the door could be opened on that move if Peter Crouch, who was also a Black Cats' target, moves to White Hart Lane.
There has been contact between the two clubs since the end of last season, although with Spurs wanting to recoup as much as they can of the �16.5million they paid Charlton for his services two summers ago, the asking price is reportedly in excess of the �12million Sunderland were prepared to pay for Crouch.
Arsenal, Blackburn, Spurs and Fulham have all been credited with an interest in Chamakh this summer but the player himself claims it is Sunderland that are in pole position to sign him.
Chamakh told L'Equipe: "The most advanced contact is with Sunderland.
"If for some people it isn't a very big club, it is suitable for me. I know it can be a step up and that is my wish."
Bordeaux are resigned to losing a player they would like to keep hold of, while Lyon's hopes of persuading him to stay in France look doomed to failure.
Sunderland's interest in the �8million-rated Morocco international is genuine and ongoing, and Bruce will hope for good news on the transfer front as he and his players prepare to head from their training camp in Portugal to the Amsterdam Tournament, where they open their campaign against Benfica on Friday.
Sunderland also retain an interest in Tottenham's Darren Bent and the door could be opened on that move if Peter Crouch, who was also a Black Cats' target, moves to White Hart Lane.
There has been contact between the two clubs since the end of last season, although with Spurs wanting to recoup as much as they can of the �16.5million they paid Charlton for his services two summers ago, the asking price is reportedly in excess of the �12million Sunderland were prepared to pay for Crouch.
Gallagher keen to grasp big chance
Paul Gallagher hopes to take his last chance at Blackburn after being given a chance to stake a claim for a first-team place by Sam Allardyce.
The 24-year-old has endured a frustrating time at the club where he began as a youth-team player, having spent the last few years on loan at Championship clubs.
Last season Allardyce said he was willing to listen to offers for the striker, who was at Plymouth at the time, but since the sale of Roque Santa Cruz and Matt Derbyshire this summer Gallagher has been told he has another chance to convince the manager he is worth keeping.
"It has come as a big surprise that I am still here this summer," he said.
"When I was at Plymouth I never spoke to Sam Allardyce, I didn't know what he thought of me and then the next thing I saw was on television saying the club would listen to offers for me.
"I thought that was it. It was time to move on and I really believed I was going to have to move away to further my career.
"Suddenly a couple of strikers have left and I have the chance to show what I can do in pre-season."
Gallagher, who scored the equaliser in Blackburn's 2-2 draw with Roma last week, added in the Lancashire Telegraph: "If I can score a few goals, and show the manager what I am capable of, then hopefully I have a long future here after all.
"If I can play first-team football at Blackburn then I would be happy as Larry, but if I can't then I will have to move on and maybe take a step backwards to actually progress in my career."
One player who has impressed Allardyce in pre-season is new signing Steven Nzonzi.
The 20-year-old midfielder, signed from lower-league French side Amiens, is exceeding expectations.
"I think young Steven Nzonzi is looking a very useful player," Allardyce told the club's website.
"He is perhaps a little more advanced than I expected, we knew he was good but he seems to cope with it all very very well.
"I hope that is the case as we get closer to the Premier League."
The 24-year-old has endured a frustrating time at the club where he began as a youth-team player, having spent the last few years on loan at Championship clubs.
Last season Allardyce said he was willing to listen to offers for the striker, who was at Plymouth at the time, but since the sale of Roque Santa Cruz and Matt Derbyshire this summer Gallagher has been told he has another chance to convince the manager he is worth keeping.
"It has come as a big surprise that I am still here this summer," he said.
"When I was at Plymouth I never spoke to Sam Allardyce, I didn't know what he thought of me and then the next thing I saw was on television saying the club would listen to offers for me.
"I thought that was it. It was time to move on and I really believed I was going to have to move away to further my career.
"Suddenly a couple of strikers have left and I have the chance to show what I can do in pre-season."
Gallagher, who scored the equaliser in Blackburn's 2-2 draw with Roma last week, added in the Lancashire Telegraph: "If I can score a few goals, and show the manager what I am capable of, then hopefully I have a long future here after all.
"If I can play first-team football at Blackburn then I would be happy as Larry, but if I can't then I will have to move on and maybe take a step backwards to actually progress in my career."
One player who has impressed Allardyce in pre-season is new signing Steven Nzonzi.
The 20-year-old midfielder, signed from lower-league French side Amiens, is exceeding expectations.
"I think young Steven Nzonzi is looking a very useful player," Allardyce told the club's website.
"He is perhaps a little more advanced than I expected, we knew he was good but he seems to cope with it all very very well.
"I hope that is the case as we get closer to the Premier League."
Gudjohnsen unsure over Barcelona future
LONDON (AP) - Eidur Gudjohnsen doesn't know if he will start the season as a Barcelona player.
The 30-year-old attacking midfielder has been linked with a return to the Premier League, where he spent eight years with Chelsea and Bolton.
"I can't confirm whether I'm staying or leaving. I think it's a matter of time and only time will tell what will happen," Gudjohnsen said Wednesday. "My future is a little bit uncertain. For the moment, I'm a Barcelona player. But we all know in football that everything can change very quickly."
The Iceland international, who has a season remaining on his contract, has had a mixed spell since signing three years ago for the current Spanish and European champions.
"I'm only thinking about getting myself fit for the new season, whether that be with Barcelona or another club. We will see," he said.
Gudjohnsen will have the perfect chance to impress other clubs when he plays in the Wembley Cup. The competition begins Friday with Barcelona taking on Tottenham and then meeting Egyptian side Al Ahly on Sunday.
The 30-year-old attacking midfielder has been linked with a return to the Premier League, where he spent eight years with Chelsea and Bolton.
"I can't confirm whether I'm staying or leaving. I think it's a matter of time and only time will tell what will happen," Gudjohnsen said Wednesday. "My future is a little bit uncertain. For the moment, I'm a Barcelona player. But we all know in football that everything can change very quickly."
The Iceland international, who has a season remaining on his contract, has had a mixed spell since signing three years ago for the current Spanish and European champions.
"I'm only thinking about getting myself fit for the new season, whether that be with Barcelona or another club. We will see," he said.
Gudjohnsen will have the perfect chance to impress other clubs when he plays in the Wembley Cup. The competition begins Friday with Barcelona taking on Tottenham and then meeting Egyptian side Al Ahly on Sunday.
Palmeiras signs former Sao Paulo coach Ramalho
SAO PAULO (AP) - Palmeiras has reached a deal to hire former Sao Paulo coach Muricy Ramalho until the end of 2010.
Ramalho, who led Sao Paulo to three consecutive Brazilian league titles before being fired last month, will replace Vanderlei Luxemburgo, who also was recently fired.
Palmeiras and Ramalho had failed to reach a financial agreement earlier this month, but restarted negotiations last week and closed the deal Tuesday night after Ramalho met with Palmeiras president Luiz Gonzaga Belluzzo.
Belluzzo, a renowned economist who worked for the Brazilian government in the late 1980s, announced Ramalho's signing on Twitter. Financial details were not released, but local media said Ramalho will earn a monthly salary of about $200,000.
Sao Paulo fired Ramalho on June 20 after the club failed to reach the Copa Libertadores semifinals following a home loss to fellow Brazilian club Cruzeiro. Former AS Monaco coach Ricardo Gomes took over Ramalho's job.
Luxemburgo, a former coach at Real Madrid, was fired by Palmeiras after its elimination by Uruguay's Nacional in the Copa Libertadores quarterfinals, Latin America's most important club competition.
Luxemburgo, who is now coaching Santos, said he was fired because he publicly criticized the transfer negotiations of Palmeiras striker Keirrison to Barcelona.
Palmeiras was being coached on a temporary basis by Jorginho, a former player who led the team to one draw and four straight victories in the Brazilian league, leaving the team alongside Atletico Mineiro in equal first place in the standings with 25 points.
Many fans had been in favor of keeping Jorginho and against hiring the coach from such a fierce rival. Jorginho will remain as an assistant to Ramalho.
Palmeiras plays at Goias on Wednesday, but Ramalho won't debut until after the team's match against Corinthians on Sunday.
Palmeiras is a four-time national champion but hasn't won the Brazilian league since 1994. The club won the Brazilian Cup in 1998 and the Copa Libertadores in 1999.
Ramalho, who led Sao Paulo to three consecutive Brazilian league titles before being fired last month, will replace Vanderlei Luxemburgo, who also was recently fired.
Palmeiras and Ramalho had failed to reach a financial agreement earlier this month, but restarted negotiations last week and closed the deal Tuesday night after Ramalho met with Palmeiras president Luiz Gonzaga Belluzzo.
Belluzzo, a renowned economist who worked for the Brazilian government in the late 1980s, announced Ramalho's signing on Twitter. Financial details were not released, but local media said Ramalho will earn a monthly salary of about $200,000.
Sao Paulo fired Ramalho on June 20 after the club failed to reach the Copa Libertadores semifinals following a home loss to fellow Brazilian club Cruzeiro. Former AS Monaco coach Ricardo Gomes took over Ramalho's job.
Luxemburgo, a former coach at Real Madrid, was fired by Palmeiras after its elimination by Uruguay's Nacional in the Copa Libertadores quarterfinals, Latin America's most important club competition.
Luxemburgo, who is now coaching Santos, said he was fired because he publicly criticized the transfer negotiations of Palmeiras striker Keirrison to Barcelona.
Palmeiras was being coached on a temporary basis by Jorginho, a former player who led the team to one draw and four straight victories in the Brazilian league, leaving the team alongside Atletico Mineiro in equal first place in the standings with 25 points.
Many fans had been in favor of keeping Jorginho and against hiring the coach from such a fierce rival. Jorginho will remain as an assistant to Ramalho.
Palmeiras plays at Goias on Wednesday, but Ramalho won't debut until after the team's match against Corinthians on Sunday.
Palmeiras is a four-time national champion but hasn't won the Brazilian league since 1994. The club won the Brazilian Cup in 1998 and the Copa Libertadores in 1999.
Romanian ex-footballer tries to clear reputation
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) - Former Romanian footballer Gheorghe 'Gica' Popescu said Wednesday he will try to clear his reputation, after allegations that he was a spy for the Securitate secret police were dismissed by the council that holds communist-era files.
The Council for the Study of the Securitate Archives said Tuesday there is no evidence in the files that Popescu did anything in the communist era that violated human rights. The council cleared him of collaborating with the feared Securitate.
"The accusations damaged my reputation," Popescu said. "Newspapers abroad published stories that I was a spy. I cannot allow people to believe that the former Barcelona captain was a spy."
Popescu, who played for Barcelona between 1995-97, said he will organize a news conference in the Spanish city next week, to present his position and try to clear his name.
The former footballer threatened to sue the two newspapers that accused him of collaboration with the Securitate.
"The only way to get justice is in court", he said.
"You've accused me, you've condemned me and you shot me," Popescu told journalists. "I have made mistakes (...) but please do not accuse me of something I have not done. I did not collaborate with the Securitate."
Popescu said the accusations made him more upset than the national team's defeat against Sweden in the 1994 World Cup quarterfinals.
"It is hard and frustrating to prove something is not true," he said.
Last month, two newspapers alleged that notes in his file showed that Popescu was a Securitate informer. The secret police of late dictator Nicolae Ceausescu had an estimated 750,000 informants in a country of 23 million.
Popescu, 41, denied allegations but later conceded he signed a document promising to "defend the national interests" during the communist era and wrote four notes providing information about teammates.
He now says he does not remember signing the notes, although they appear under his name.
Popescu said his file is largely made up of reports written by two Securitate agents who were keeping an eye on the footballers when they went abroad. He said the handwriting of one of the agents is similar to his, and implied that the agent could have written the notes and signed them in his name.
Popescu also played for Tottenham, PSV Eindhoven and Galatasaray and was the Romanian footballer of the year six times. He played 115 games for Romania, scoring 16 goals, before retiring in 2003.
The Council for the Study of the Securitate Archives said Tuesday there is no evidence in the files that Popescu did anything in the communist era that violated human rights. The council cleared him of collaborating with the feared Securitate.
"The accusations damaged my reputation," Popescu said. "Newspapers abroad published stories that I was a spy. I cannot allow people to believe that the former Barcelona captain was a spy."
Popescu, who played for Barcelona between 1995-97, said he will organize a news conference in the Spanish city next week, to present his position and try to clear his name.
The former footballer threatened to sue the two newspapers that accused him of collaboration with the Securitate.
"The only way to get justice is in court", he said.
"You've accused me, you've condemned me and you shot me," Popescu told journalists. "I have made mistakes (...) but please do not accuse me of something I have not done. I did not collaborate with the Securitate."
Popescu said the accusations made him more upset than the national team's defeat against Sweden in the 1994 World Cup quarterfinals.
"It is hard and frustrating to prove something is not true," he said.
Last month, two newspapers alleged that notes in his file showed that Popescu was a Securitate informer. The secret police of late dictator Nicolae Ceausescu had an estimated 750,000 informants in a country of 23 million.
Popescu, 41, denied allegations but later conceded he signed a document promising to "defend the national interests" during the communist era and wrote four notes providing information about teammates.
He now says he does not remember signing the notes, although they appear under his name.
Popescu said his file is largely made up of reports written by two Securitate agents who were keeping an eye on the footballers when they went abroad. He said the handwriting of one of the agents is similar to his, and implied that the agent could have written the notes and signed them in his name.
Popescu also played for Tottenham, PSV Eindhoven and Galatasaray and was the Romanian footballer of the year six times. He played 115 games for Romania, scoring 16 goals, before retiring in 2003.
Wenger hoping for quick Nasri return
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger hopes Samir Nasri will return to action in as little as six weeks after revealing his leg break was a "simple one".
The 22-year-old suffered the injury on Tuesday on the first day of Arsenal's pre-season training camp in Austria and was initially expected to miss up to three months.
But Wenger revealed the fracture to the Frenchman's fibula is a "simple one".
He told Arsenal TV Online: "Unfortunately he fractured his fibula and he will be out for six weeks.
"He accidentally nicked the ball away from somebody having a shot on goal. Unfortunately he got kicked and broke his fibula. It's not a complicated one, it's a simple one but it will take six weeks to heal."
There was good news for Wenger regarding Tomas Rosicky and Eduardo da Silva.
He added: "The options are Tomas Rosicky who is back. And in (those) two months Eduardo will be back as well. We do have offensive options but we don't want to lose important players before the season starts."
The 22-year-old suffered the injury on Tuesday on the first day of Arsenal's pre-season training camp in Austria and was initially expected to miss up to three months.
But Wenger revealed the fracture to the Frenchman's fibula is a "simple one".
He told Arsenal TV Online: "Unfortunately he fractured his fibula and he will be out for six weeks.
"He accidentally nicked the ball away from somebody having a shot on goal. Unfortunately he got kicked and broke his fibula. It's not a complicated one, it's a simple one but it will take six weeks to heal."
There was good news for Wenger regarding Tomas Rosicky and Eduardo da Silva.
He added: "The options are Tomas Rosicky who is back. And in (those) two months Eduardo will be back as well. We do have offensive options but we don't want to lose important players before the season starts."
Doyle doubtful for start of season
Wolves are crossing their fingers Kevin Doyle will be fit to start the new season after the record signing underwent surgery on a hernia.
Questions had been asked over the striker's fitness when he sat out the club's pre-season friendly in Australia against North Queensland Fury.
The 25-year-old had hoped the problem was with his hip but it was soon discovered that the injury required surgery.
Despite the setback, and the fact that he has already lost fellow striker Chris Iwelumo with a broken toe, Mick McCarthy remained upbeat.
"Kevin has had an op but is recovering well and he will now get his rehab," he told the Birmingham Mail.
"Quite clearly he is going to be behind the others but he was running alright before and he will be fine.
"He is a fit guy and anyone who has seen him play will know he puts a shift in. We will soon have him back on his feet."
Questions had been asked over the striker's fitness when he sat out the club's pre-season friendly in Australia against North Queensland Fury.
The 25-year-old had hoped the problem was with his hip but it was soon discovered that the injury required surgery.
Despite the setback, and the fact that he has already lost fellow striker Chris Iwelumo with a broken toe, Mick McCarthy remained upbeat.
"Kevin has had an op but is recovering well and he will now get his rehab," he told the Birmingham Mail.
"Quite clearly he is going to be behind the others but he was running alright before and he will be fine.
"He is a fit guy and anyone who has seen him play will know he puts a shift in. We will soon have him back on his feet."
Borowski to leave Bayern and return to Bremen
FRANKFURT (AP) - Midfielder Tim Borowski is leaving Bayern Munich after one season to return to Werder Bremen.
The 29-year-old Borowski joined Bayern last year on a free transfer but failed to secure a regular place in the starting team.
Werder, which won the German Cup last season but finished 10th in the Bundesliga, is looking to bolster its squad while new Bayern coach Louis van Gaal wants to reduce his number of players.
The two clubs announced the move Wednesday, without giving details.
Borowski bid farewell to his Bayern teammates at a training camp in southern Germany before returning to Bremen, where he will get a three-year contract.
The 29-year-old Borowski joined Bayern last year on a free transfer but failed to secure a regular place in the starting team.
Werder, which won the German Cup last season but finished 10th in the Bundesliga, is looking to bolster its squad while new Bayern coach Louis van Gaal wants to reduce his number of players.
The two clubs announced the move Wednesday, without giving details.
Borowski bid farewell to his Bayern teammates at a training camp in southern Germany before returning to Bremen, where he will get a three-year contract.
Gerrard said he punched at man in self defense
LIVERPOOL, England (AP) - England midfielder Steven Gerrard admitted to police that he punched a man in a bar room, according to testimony presented in court Wednesday.
The transcript from the Liverpool captain's police interview was read at his trial on affray charges after a bartender told the jury that the footballer was in a "huff" before launching uppercuts at businessman Marcus McGee.
Gerrard was with friends at a bar in Southport in the early hours of Dec. 29 last year, hours after scoring twice in Liverpool's 5-1 victory over Newcastle.
Gerrard told police he had bottles of Budweiser beer and a shot of spirits, and rated his level of intoxication as seven out of 10 when he confronted McGee in a row over the music being play in the Lounge Inn.
The 34-year-old McGee said Gerrard had tried to grab a music card from him after being refused control of the CD player.
"I was having a good night but I was gutted and just wanted to straighten it out with him," Gerrard said.
Gerrard admitted throwing three punches but that only one connected with McGee. He said he only swung at McGee because he thought he was about to be attacked himself.
"He stood up quite aggressively out of his stool and I thought to myself 'I am not going to be able to sort this out in the way I wanted,"' Gerrard said. "I thought he was going to give me a smack. He was shouting back and I didn't know what he was saying but he started arguing and I thought he was going to hit me so that's why I threw a punch."
Bartender Nathaniel Lockie told the jury that Gerrard was in a "huff" at the time.
"Gerrard grabbed the back of his jumper and pulled it over his head, pulled him down and started uppercutting him," Lockie said. "While that happened I ran round to the other side of the bar trying to help and he (Gerrard) was dragged off into the restaurant."
McGee, who lost a front tooth crown in the alleged attack, told Liverpool Crown Court that Gerrard was "bad tempered, so straight away I was acting proportionate to how his attitude was."
"I remember a barrage of punches coming in at my face but I didn't know who has done what," McGee said. "Having watched the CCTV it was obvious Steven Gerrard hits me a couple of times, maybe three times but I couldn't honestly say on the night. ... I didn't throw any punches, I wasn't acting aggressively, I didn't hit anyone at all."
Gerrard, who denies the affray charges, is expected to give evidence in the court on Thursday. Five other men pleaded guilty and another admitted a lesser charge of threatening behavior. The trial is expected to last several days.
The transcript from the Liverpool captain's police interview was read at his trial on affray charges after a bartender told the jury that the footballer was in a "huff" before launching uppercuts at businessman Marcus McGee.
Gerrard was with friends at a bar in Southport in the early hours of Dec. 29 last year, hours after scoring twice in Liverpool's 5-1 victory over Newcastle.
Gerrard told police he had bottles of Budweiser beer and a shot of spirits, and rated his level of intoxication as seven out of 10 when he confronted McGee in a row over the music being play in the Lounge Inn.
The 34-year-old McGee said Gerrard had tried to grab a music card from him after being refused control of the CD player.
"I was having a good night but I was gutted and just wanted to straighten it out with him," Gerrard said.
Gerrard admitted throwing three punches but that only one connected with McGee. He said he only swung at McGee because he thought he was about to be attacked himself.
"He stood up quite aggressively out of his stool and I thought to myself 'I am not going to be able to sort this out in the way I wanted,"' Gerrard said. "I thought he was going to give me a smack. He was shouting back and I didn't know what he was saying but he started arguing and I thought he was going to hit me so that's why I threw a punch."
Bartender Nathaniel Lockie told the jury that Gerrard was in a "huff" at the time.
"Gerrard grabbed the back of his jumper and pulled it over his head, pulled him down and started uppercutting him," Lockie said. "While that happened I ran round to the other side of the bar trying to help and he (Gerrard) was dragged off into the restaurant."
McGee, who lost a front tooth crown in the alleged attack, told Liverpool Crown Court that Gerrard was "bad tempered, so straight away I was acting proportionate to how his attitude was."
"I remember a barrage of punches coming in at my face but I didn't know who has done what," McGee said. "Having watched the CCTV it was obvious Steven Gerrard hits me a couple of times, maybe three times but I couldn't honestly say on the night. ... I didn't throw any punches, I wasn't acting aggressively, I didn't hit anyone at all."
Gerrard, who denies the affray charges, is expected to give evidence in the court on Thursday. Five other men pleaded guilty and another admitted a lesser charge of threatening behavior. The trial is expected to last several days.
Wenger hints at Senderos exit
Arsene Wenger has admitted that long-serving defender Philippe Senderos could leave Arsenal before the end of the transfer window.
Senderos' future is uncertain after he openly conceded he would be keen to return to Italy having enjoyed a season-long loan at AC Milan last term.
A permanent stay at the San Siro has since failed to materialise and the Switzerland international is currently training with the Gunners in Austria.
Wenger admits Senderos, who signed for Arsenal from Servette in 2003, could be on his way out of the club, with reports suggesting he could be used as part of a deal for Bordeaux's Marouane Chamakh.
He said in the London Evening Standard: "He has offers and it is open.
"He has come back here with us still looking for solutions but he is still yet to decide on his future."
Senderos' future is uncertain after he openly conceded he would be keen to return to Italy having enjoyed a season-long loan at AC Milan last term.
A permanent stay at the San Siro has since failed to materialise and the Switzerland international is currently training with the Gunners in Austria.
Wenger admits Senderos, who signed for Arsenal from Servette in 2003, could be on his way out of the club, with reports suggesting he could be used as part of a deal for Bordeaux's Marouane Chamakh.
He said in the London Evening Standard: "He has offers and it is open.
"He has come back here with us still looking for solutions but he is still yet to decide on his future."
Ebanks-Blake pens Wolves extension
Wolves' star striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake has signed a new contract which ties him to the Molineux club for the next four years.
The 23-year-old was the top scorer in the Championship last season as Mick McCarthy's side won the division and earned promotion to the Premier League.
Wolves have been understandably keen to secure Ebanks-Blake's future and have been in summer-long discussions with the former Plymouth man.
The forward, who still had three years remaining on his previous deal, insists he was not planning on leaving the top-flight new boys and he is pleased to have signed a fresh agreement.
Ebanks-Blake told the Birmingham Mail: "I have sorted my contract - finally. I am delighted. I have another four years now and that means I can just concentrate on my football and enjoy it.
"There were a few complications, which does happen in this sort of negotiation, but there was never any doubt that my future was here.
"I had three years left on my current deal anyway so I wasn't going anywhere.
"It is just nice to finalise it and I am happy. I don't plan on going anywhere in the near future.
"I wanted to stay and the club have shown me the biggest compliment that I could get - that they want me."
The 23-year-old was the top scorer in the Championship last season as Mick McCarthy's side won the division and earned promotion to the Premier League.
Wolves have been understandably keen to secure Ebanks-Blake's future and have been in summer-long discussions with the former Plymouth man.
The forward, who still had three years remaining on his previous deal, insists he was not planning on leaving the top-flight new boys and he is pleased to have signed a fresh agreement.
Ebanks-Blake told the Birmingham Mail: "I have sorted my contract - finally. I am delighted. I have another four years now and that means I can just concentrate on my football and enjoy it.
"There were a few complications, which does happen in this sort of negotiation, but there was never any doubt that my future was here.
"I had three years left on my current deal anyway so I wasn't going anywhere.
"It is just nice to finalise it and I am happy. I don't plan on going anywhere in the near future.
"I wanted to stay and the club have shown me the biggest compliment that I could get - that they want me."
Hammers confirm Nouble swoop
West Ham United have confirmed the signing of youngster Frank Nouble from Premier League rivals Chelsea on a five-year deal.
The Hammers have been lining up a move for the teenager after he rejected the offer of a professional contract at Chelsea.
And Nouble says he is looking forward to joining West Ham.
"It is a great day for me and my family," Nouble told the club's official website. "I am just excited now to get started at this club.
"I am really looking forward to showing what I can do. West Ham are renowned for bringing through young players and hopefully I can be in the next batch.
"This came out of the blue. The news came out that I rejected at Chelsea and obviously I thank them for what they have done for me but I am just happy that a club like West Ham came in for me.
"They showed their interest and for me it was a case of saying 'Yes' straight away. I am just happy to be here."
West Ham chief executive Scott Duxbury was delighted to land the highly-rated attacker and revealed the club are looking to add more striking reinforcements to Gianfranco Zola's side.
"I am very pleased to be able to welcome Frank to West Ham where he will have the opportunity to compete for a place in Gianfranco's first-team squad," noted Duxbury. "He has a very bright future and we will give him every chance to succeed. This is an excellent signing for the club.
"I can also assure fans we are concentrating on adding more quality to our attack to complement those we already have.
"This is an extremely busy time of the year and Gianluca Nani and I are working hard to bring in the players that Gianfranco feels will improve his squad for the new season."
The Hammers have been lining up a move for the teenager after he rejected the offer of a professional contract at Chelsea.
And Nouble says he is looking forward to joining West Ham.
"It is a great day for me and my family," Nouble told the club's official website. "I am just excited now to get started at this club.
"I am really looking forward to showing what I can do. West Ham are renowned for bringing through young players and hopefully I can be in the next batch.
"This came out of the blue. The news came out that I rejected at Chelsea and obviously I thank them for what they have done for me but I am just happy that a club like West Ham came in for me.
"They showed their interest and for me it was a case of saying 'Yes' straight away. I am just happy to be here."
West Ham chief executive Scott Duxbury was delighted to land the highly-rated attacker and revealed the club are looking to add more striking reinforcements to Gianfranco Zola's side.
"I am very pleased to be able to welcome Frank to West Ham where he will have the opportunity to compete for a place in Gianfranco's first-team squad," noted Duxbury. "He has a very bright future and we will give him every chance to succeed. This is an excellent signing for the club.
"I can also assure fans we are concentrating on adding more quality to our attack to complement those we already have.
"This is an extremely busy time of the year and Gianluca Nani and I are working hard to bring in the players that Gianfranco feels will improve his squad for the new season."
Pompey reject offer for Distin
Portsmouth boss Paul Hart has confirmed a bid for Sylvain Distin has been rejected and insists the defender is staying at Fratton Park.
Distin is among a batch of players whose future had been uncertain in the lead-up to Sulaiman Al Fahim's takeover at the Premier League club.
Aston Villa have been linked with a bid for the centre-half, who has made over 90 appearances for Pompey since his arrival from Manchester City two years ago.
However, while Hart is resigned to losing Peter Crouch, he is not planning on letting French stopper Distin leave the club.
"We want Sylvain to remain at this football club and will be making sure he does," Hart told The News.
"We have only ever had one offer for him and I am not at liberty to say who from. But we told them we were not interested under any circumstances.
"At this moment in time, as far as we are concerned, Sylvain is staying. It's as simple as that."
Meanwhile, Hart has given former Nottingham Forest and Crewe Alexandra midfielder Eugen Bopp the chance to earn a contract at the club.
Bopp scored twice in a 2-2 friendly draw with Havant & Waterlooville and Hart is not ruling out a deal for the 25-year-old.
He added: "I brought Eugen over when I was Academy manager at Forest nine years ago and he's got an opportunity."
Distin is among a batch of players whose future had been uncertain in the lead-up to Sulaiman Al Fahim's takeover at the Premier League club.
Aston Villa have been linked with a bid for the centre-half, who has made over 90 appearances for Pompey since his arrival from Manchester City two years ago.
However, while Hart is resigned to losing Peter Crouch, he is not planning on letting French stopper Distin leave the club.
"We want Sylvain to remain at this football club and will be making sure he does," Hart told The News.
"We have only ever had one offer for him and I am not at liberty to say who from. But we told them we were not interested under any circumstances.
"At this moment in time, as far as we are concerned, Sylvain is staying. It's as simple as that."
Meanwhile, Hart has given former Nottingham Forest and Crewe Alexandra midfielder Eugen Bopp the chance to earn a contract at the club.
Bopp scored twice in a 2-2 friendly draw with Havant & Waterlooville and Hart is not ruling out a deal for the 25-year-old.
He added: "I brought Eugen over when I was Academy manager at Forest nine years ago and he's got an opportunity."
FIFA fines Ivory Coast after 22 fans died at venue
ZURICH (AP) - FIFA fined Ivory Coast's soccer federation after 22 people died in a stampede at a World Cup qualifying match in March.
The global governing body imposed a fine of $46,800 on Wednesday along with restrictions on the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan when it next hosts a World Cup qualifier.
In addition to the deaths, over 130 people were injured at the overcrowded stadium before Ivory Coast played Malawi on March 29.
Ivory Coast will next play Burkina Faso on Sept. 5 with attendance limited to 20,000 in the 34,600-capacity Felix Houphouet-Boigny venue.
"In the event of any similar incidents, FIFA would have no choice but to impose more severe sanctions on the Ivorian Football Association," FIFA said in a statement.
FIFA investigators spoke with Ivorian police, soccer and government officials but the disciplinary ruling did not blame anyone.
The arena was packed with spectators drawn to see Chelsea striker Didier Drogba return from England to play for Ivory Coast.
The crush set off a panic 40 minutes before kickoff. Witnesses said fans rushed toward the field, causing a wall to come down and setting off the stampede.
Other eyewitnesses reported that panic spread after police fired tear gas, while some said security officers encouraged overcrowding by taking money from fans without tickets to let them enter.
The match went ahead as scheduled as the first to be played in the final phase of combined qualifying for the 2010 World Cup and African Cup of Nations. Ivory Coast won 5-0 with Drogba scoring twice.
FIFA has also ordered that traffic barriers must be erected within a mile of the stadium and checkpoints at least 100 yards from the venue to control the flow of spectators.
"The total capacity of the stadium will only be allowed in subsequent matches if the above-mentioned measures are applied for each match," the ruling said.
Since the tragedy, FIFA has increased referees' powers to delay kickoff times at international matches.
"All future matches will not be allowed to kick off until the designated FIFA security officer is satisfied with all aspects of stadium safety and security," it said Wednesday.
FIFA said it has donated over $93,000 to support families of the victims.
The Ivory Coast government has opened its own investigation into the tragedy.
The global governing body imposed a fine of $46,800 on Wednesday along with restrictions on the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan when it next hosts a World Cup qualifier.
In addition to the deaths, over 130 people were injured at the overcrowded stadium before Ivory Coast played Malawi on March 29.
Ivory Coast will next play Burkina Faso on Sept. 5 with attendance limited to 20,000 in the 34,600-capacity Felix Houphouet-Boigny venue.
"In the event of any similar incidents, FIFA would have no choice but to impose more severe sanctions on the Ivorian Football Association," FIFA said in a statement.
FIFA investigators spoke with Ivorian police, soccer and government officials but the disciplinary ruling did not blame anyone.
The arena was packed with spectators drawn to see Chelsea striker Didier Drogba return from England to play for Ivory Coast.
The crush set off a panic 40 minutes before kickoff. Witnesses said fans rushed toward the field, causing a wall to come down and setting off the stampede.
Other eyewitnesses reported that panic spread after police fired tear gas, while some said security officers encouraged overcrowding by taking money from fans without tickets to let them enter.
The match went ahead as scheduled as the first to be played in the final phase of combined qualifying for the 2010 World Cup and African Cup of Nations. Ivory Coast won 5-0 with Drogba scoring twice.
FIFA has also ordered that traffic barriers must be erected within a mile of the stadium and checkpoints at least 100 yards from the venue to control the flow of spectators.
"The total capacity of the stadium will only be allowed in subsequent matches if the above-mentioned measures are applied for each match," the ruling said.
Since the tragedy, FIFA has increased referees' powers to delay kickoff times at international matches.
"All future matches will not be allowed to kick off until the designated FIFA security officer is satisfied with all aspects of stadium safety and security," it said Wednesday.
FIFA said it has donated over $93,000 to support families of the victims.
The Ivory Coast government has opened its own investigation into the tragedy.
Tigers move would interest Marlon
Marlon Harewood's agent has admitted that the Aston Villa striker would jump at the chance to join Premier League rivals Hull City.
The Tigers are reported to have enquired about the striker's availability at Villa shortly after they secured their Premier League status on the last day of the season last term.
However, manager Phil Brown diverted his attention to more lucrative deals with Michael Owen, Marc-Antoine Fortune and Fraizer Campbell all offered the chance to move to the KC Stadium.
After seeing the trio reject the chance to join the club, Brown has now re-focused his gaze on Harewood with the 29-year-old desperate to leave Villa Park having made just six substitute appearances in the Premier League last time out.
His agent Phil Sproson declares that the opportunity to link up with former team-mate Bobby Zamora, who Hull hope to unveil on Thursday, would interest Harewood.
"Marlon would certainly jump at the chance to join Hull City and the club knows that," he told the Hull Daily Mail.
"Hull City know where we are and know Marlon's situation.
"I have spoken to Phil Brown recently and he said the situation was that Hull were looking at a couple of players and were assessing their options.
"Marlon and Bobby played together at West Ham, they know each other very well and are friends, so he would love to play alongside him again."
Meanwhile, Brown has revealed that the club have offered personal terms to Zamora, after having a �5million bid for the Fulham man accepted, and are waiting for the 28-year-old to weigh up his options.
"I spoke to Bobby and he was well received. I had a few hours with him and it was all positive," he said.
"He's gone back and he's got a lot to think about. Hopefully, from our point of view it will be a good return."
The Tigers are reported to have enquired about the striker's availability at Villa shortly after they secured their Premier League status on the last day of the season last term.
However, manager Phil Brown diverted his attention to more lucrative deals with Michael Owen, Marc-Antoine Fortune and Fraizer Campbell all offered the chance to move to the KC Stadium.
After seeing the trio reject the chance to join the club, Brown has now re-focused his gaze on Harewood with the 29-year-old desperate to leave Villa Park having made just six substitute appearances in the Premier League last time out.
His agent Phil Sproson declares that the opportunity to link up with former team-mate Bobby Zamora, who Hull hope to unveil on Thursday, would interest Harewood.
"Marlon would certainly jump at the chance to join Hull City and the club knows that," he told the Hull Daily Mail.
"Hull City know where we are and know Marlon's situation.
"I have spoken to Phil Brown recently and he said the situation was that Hull were looking at a couple of players and were assessing their options.
"Marlon and Bobby played together at West Ham, they know each other very well and are friends, so he would love to play alongside him again."
Meanwhile, Brown has revealed that the club have offered personal terms to Zamora, after having a �5million bid for the Fulham man accepted, and are waiting for the 28-year-old to weigh up his options.
"I spoke to Bobby and he was well received. I had a few hours with him and it was all positive," he said.
"He's gone back and he's got a lot to think about. Hopefully, from our point of view it will be a good return."
Seattle, D.C. United into US Open Cup final
SEATTLE (AP) - The Seattle Sounders and D.C. United will meet in the U.S. Open Cup final after winning their semifinals on Tuesday.
Seattle got a late equalizer and then beat Houston Dynamo 2-1 after extra time, while D.C. beat the lower-league Rochester Rhinos by the same score.
Houston took a 1-0 lead after 32 minutes through Nigerian striker Ade Akinbiyi - formerly of Burnley and Stoke - and held that advantage until the 89th minute when Nate Jaqua brought Seattle level.
In the fifth minute of extra time, Sounders midfielder Stephen King ran onto a Steve Zakuani pass and drove home his shot from the top of the penalty area.
In the other semifinal, South African striker Thabiso Khumalo scored what proved D.C. United's winner in the 82nd minute, and then later broke a wrist.
Bolivian captain Jaime Moreno converted a penalty to put United ahead 1-0 in the 41st minute.
Rochester, which plays a level below Major League Soccer in the USL First Division but won the Cup in 1999, equalized through Kenyan forward Tai Atieno in the 62nd minute.
Khumalo scored the winner by following in on a blocked shot. In injury time, Khumalo right wrist was hit by the ball after a goalkeeper clearance, breaking the joint.
D.C. United, which beat USL-1's Charleston Battery in last year's final, is aiming to become the first team since 1983 to retain the Cup.
Seattle got a late equalizer and then beat Houston Dynamo 2-1 after extra time, while D.C. beat the lower-league Rochester Rhinos by the same score.
Houston took a 1-0 lead after 32 minutes through Nigerian striker Ade Akinbiyi - formerly of Burnley and Stoke - and held that advantage until the 89th minute when Nate Jaqua brought Seattle level.
In the fifth minute of extra time, Sounders midfielder Stephen King ran onto a Steve Zakuani pass and drove home his shot from the top of the penalty area.
In the other semifinal, South African striker Thabiso Khumalo scored what proved D.C. United's winner in the 82nd minute, and then later broke a wrist.
Bolivian captain Jaime Moreno converted a penalty to put United ahead 1-0 in the 41st minute.
Rochester, which plays a level below Major League Soccer in the USL First Division but won the Cup in 1999, equalized through Kenyan forward Tai Atieno in the 62nd minute.
Khumalo scored the winner by following in on a blocked shot. In injury time, Khumalo right wrist was hit by the ball after a goalkeeper clearance, breaking the joint.
D.C. United, which beat USL-1's Charleston Battery in last year's final, is aiming to become the first team since 1983 to retain the Cup.
Nasri fractures fibula, out for up to 3 months
LONDON (AP) - Arsenal midfielder Samir Nasri broke a bone in his lower leg during a training session Tuesday at the club's preseason camp in Austria and will be out for up to three months.
Arsenal confirmed that Nasri had sustained a fractured fibula in his right leg, but did not immediately provide further details on the French international's injury.
The club said it expects Nasri to travel back to Britain on Wednesday.
The 22-year-old Nasri was signed from Marseille last summer as a replacement for Alexander Hleb, who left for Barcelona. Nasri scored on his debut against West Bromwich Albion last season. He had a total of seven goals in 44 appearances.
Arsenal arrived at its preseason camp this week and has a friendly against SC Columbia scheduled for Tuesday.
The team has two other friendlies in Austria scheduled for next week before returning to London for the Emirates Cup on Aug. 1-2.
Arsenal confirmed that Nasri had sustained a fractured fibula in his right leg, but did not immediately provide further details on the French international's injury.
The club said it expects Nasri to travel back to Britain on Wednesday.
The 22-year-old Nasri was signed from Marseille last summer as a replacement for Alexander Hleb, who left for Barcelona. Nasri scored on his debut against West Bromwich Albion last season. He had a total of seven goals in 44 appearances.
Arsenal arrived at its preseason camp this week and has a friendly against SC Columbia scheduled for Tuesday.
The team has two other friendlies in Austria scheduled for next week before returning to London for the Emirates Cup on Aug. 1-2.
Sounders beat Dynamo in Open Cup semis, 2-1
SEATTLE (AP) - Stephen King scored early in the 5 minute of overtime after Seattle teammate Nate Jaqua had tied the game in the 89th minute, boosting the Seattle Sounders into the U.S. Open Cup final with a 2-1 victory over the Houston Dynamo on Tuesday night.
The Sounders, a Major League Soccer expansion team, will meet defending Open Cup champion D.C. United on Sept. 2 in Washington. United beat Rochester of the second-tier USL First Division 2-1 in Tuesday's other semifinal.
Steve Zakuani set up King's game-winner, taking the ball into the penalty area. He passed to the top of the box, where King drove it into the right corner, past goalkeeper Tally Hall.
King was happy to see any shot by the Sounders go in as they outshot Houston 12-0 for the second half, 10-5 during the 30-minute overtime, and 26-7 for the game.
"Especially the last 20 minutes when we were really putting it on them and getting chance after chance and it wasn't going in, it was getting a little bit frustrating," King said. "We showed the last 20 minutes that we were still going and they were running out of gas."
Ade Akinbiyi scored in the 32nd minute to give Houston a 1-0 lead. That stood until Jaqua's shot from 12 yards out, in the left side of the box, glanced off a Dynamo defender and into the net in the 89th.
"We were beat up a little bit there at the end," Dyanmo coach Dominic Kinnear said of the physical game (40 total fouls). "I'm disappointed for the guys because they left it all out there."
The Sounders, a Major League Soccer expansion team, will meet defending Open Cup champion D.C. United on Sept. 2 in Washington. United beat Rochester of the second-tier USL First Division 2-1 in Tuesday's other semifinal.
Steve Zakuani set up King's game-winner, taking the ball into the penalty area. He passed to the top of the box, where King drove it into the right corner, past goalkeeper Tally Hall.
King was happy to see any shot by the Sounders go in as they outshot Houston 12-0 for the second half, 10-5 during the 30-minute overtime, and 26-7 for the game.
"Especially the last 20 minutes when we were really putting it on them and getting chance after chance and it wasn't going in, it was getting a little bit frustrating," King said. "We showed the last 20 minutes that we were still going and they were running out of gas."
Ade Akinbiyi scored in the 32nd minute to give Houston a 1-0 lead. That stood until Jaqua's shot from 12 yards out, in the left side of the box, glanced off a Dynamo defender and into the net in the 89th.
"We were beat up a little bit there at the end," Dyanmo coach Dominic Kinnear said of the physical game (40 total fouls). "I'm disappointed for the guys because they left it all out there."
Chelsea defeats Inter Milan at Rose Bowl
PASADENA, Calif. (AP) - Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard scored to give Chelsea FC a 2-0 victory over Inter Milan on Tuesday night in a soccer exhibition at the Rose Bowl.
The game was part of the World Football Challenge, a series also involving AC Milan and Mexico City's Club America.
Drogba scored on a swerving 30-yard shot that Inter Milan goalkeeper Vid Belec deflected inside the right post.
Lampard converted a penalty kick in the 50th minute after Inter Milan's Ivan Cordoba used his right elbow to block Daniel Sturridge's shot from the left side of the penalty area.
Inter Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the subject of a possible transfer to FC Barcelona, entered the game in the 59th minute. Ibrahimovic, who played in the 2006 World Cup for Sweden, led Serie A with 25 goals last season.
Inter Milan secured its fourth consecutive Serie A championship in 2008-09 while Chelsea won England's FA Cup.
The game was part of the World Football Challenge, a series also involving AC Milan and Mexico City's Club America.
Drogba scored on a swerving 30-yard shot that Inter Milan goalkeeper Vid Belec deflected inside the right post.
Lampard converted a penalty kick in the 50th minute after Inter Milan's Ivan Cordoba used his right elbow to block Daniel Sturridge's shot from the left side of the penalty area.
Inter Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the subject of a possible transfer to FC Barcelona, entered the game in the 59th minute. Ibrahimovic, who played in the 2006 World Cup for Sweden, led Serie A with 25 goals last season.
Inter Milan secured its fourth consecutive Serie A championship in 2008-09 while Chelsea won England's FA Cup.
Khumalo's goal lifts United past Rochester 2-1
BOYDS, Md. (AP) - Thabiso Khumalo scored in the 82nd minute - before breaking his wrist - and put defending champion D.C. United in the U.S. Open Cup final with a 2-1 win over the second-tier Rochester Rhinos on Tuesday night.
In the final, United will meet another Major League Soccer team, the Seattle Sounders.
Jaime Moreno put United ahead 1-0 in the 41st minute on a penalty. Rochester, which plays a level below MLS in the USL First Division, tied it on Tai Atieno's goal in the 62nd minute.
Khumalo then followed up a shot by teammate Chris Pontius to put United ahead. In injury time, though, Khumalo broke his right wrist.
"The 'keeper was clearing the ball, and my wrist was out of position, I guess," he said. "The ball kind of hit my wrist."
In the final, United will meet another Major League Soccer team, the Seattle Sounders.
Jaime Moreno put United ahead 1-0 in the 41st minute on a penalty. Rochester, which plays a level below MLS in the USL First Division, tied it on Tai Atieno's goal in the 62nd minute.
Khumalo then followed up a shot by teammate Chris Pontius to put United ahead. In injury time, though, Khumalo broke his right wrist.
"The 'keeper was clearing the ball, and my wrist was out of position, I guess," he said. "The ball kind of hit my wrist."
Maxi Lopez's wife says she escaped kidnapping
SAO PAULO (AP) - The wife of Argentine striker Maxi Lopez said she was the victim of a kidnapping attempt in Brazil.
Model Wanda Nara told Argentine media that a taxi driver who said he was going to escort her to the stadium where her husband was practicing, ended up taking her to a different location and, along with another man, announced the kidnapping.
Wanda, who was with her mother and young son in her own car, reportedly told Radio Mitre that she was able to escape just as the men announced the kidnapping on Monday. She did not elaborate.
Gremio spokesman Vitor Rodrigues said on Tuesday that Maxi Lopez, a former Barcelona striker, said nothing serious happened and that his family was doing fine.
Model Wanda Nara told Argentine media that a taxi driver who said he was going to escort her to the stadium where her husband was practicing, ended up taking her to a different location and, along with another man, announced the kidnapping.
Wanda, who was with her mother and young son in her own car, reportedly told Radio Mitre that she was able to escape just as the men announced the kidnapping on Monday. She did not elaborate.
Gremio spokesman Vitor Rodrigues said on Tuesday that Maxi Lopez, a former Barcelona striker, said nothing serious happened and that his family was doing fine.
Sao Paulo signs Argentine defender Gonzalez
SAO PAULO (AP) - Three-time defending Brazilian champion Sao Paulo signed Argentine right back Adrian Gonzalez on a one-year contract from San Lorenzo on Tuesday.
Gonzalez was San Lorenzo's captain for the past four years, helping the club win the 2007 Argentine league. He previously played for Banfield and Union Santa Fe.
Sao Paulo is struggling in this year's Brazilian league and is only 12th in the 20-team standings with 14 points from 12 matches. It trails leaders Atletico Mineiro and Palmeiras by 11 points.
"I'm aware of what Sao Paulo is going through," the 32-year-old Gonzalez said. "But it's a traditional club and will eventually overcome this situation."
This month, Sao Paulo also acquired Chilean defender Nelson Saavedra, who signed to the end of the year.
Gonzalez was San Lorenzo's captain for the past four years, helping the club win the 2007 Argentine league. He previously played for Banfield and Union Santa Fe.
Sao Paulo is struggling in this year's Brazilian league and is only 12th in the 20-team standings with 14 points from 12 matches. It trails leaders Atletico Mineiro and Palmeiras by 11 points.
"I'm aware of what Sao Paulo is going through," the 32-year-old Gonzalez said. "But it's a traditional club and will eventually overcome this situation."
This month, Sao Paulo also acquired Chilean defender Nelson Saavedra, who signed to the end of the year.
Arsenal, Spurs and City all win
Arsenal secured their first win of pre-season with an emphatic 7-1 win over SC Columbia, while Spurs and Manchester City also recorded wins.
The Gunners opened their pre-season campaign with a draw at Barnet on Saturday, but they went goal crazy in Austria.
However they went behind as the hosts took a shock lead on the half-hour through Patrick Lehner.
But Arsene Wenger's men made sure of victory as they were 3-1 up at the interval thanks to a brace from Nicklas Bendtner (36 & 44) and an Aaron Ramsey (39) strike.
After the break Arsenal cruised to victory as Robin van Persie (56 pen & 73) grabbed two, William Gallas scored (77) and Ramsey added the seventh (83) late on via a post.
In South Africa, Manchester City opened the Vodacom Challenge tournament with a 1-0 win over Kaizer Chiefs.
The only goal of the game arrived just before the interval when Stephen Ireland scored in a game which Gareth Barry made his debut.
Tottenham continued their excellent pre-season form with a third cleansheet as they eased to a 4-0 win at Peterborough United.
Darren Bent (35) opened the scoring for Spurs, before second-half foals from Jermain Defoe (66), Luka Modric (68) and Roman Pavlyuchenko (75) sealed the win.
Stoke City earned a 1-1 draw with Israeli outfit Hapoel Tel Aviv in Austria.
City boss Tony Pulis named a strong side and they went ahead just after the half-hour through Salif Diao, but Hapoel sealed a draw as Douglas da Silva levelled just after the break.
Fulham's first pre-season clash back in Britain, after their trip to Australia, ended in a 0-0 draw at Bournemouth.
Aston Villa were held to a 2-2 draw at League One Colchester United, but they had to come from two-goals down to seal a draw.
The home side took the lead just before half-hour when Scott Vernon headed home, and then 10 minutes into the second-half Ashley Vincent double Colchester's lead.
Villa pulled one back almost immediately through Steve Sidwell and then Adam McGurk was on hand to fire home an equaliser for Martin O'Neil's men.
Hull City came from behind to seal a 2-1 win at Carlisle United, who went ahead at Brunton Park.
Matt Robson opened the scoring for The Cumbrians after just 12 minutes, and they held their lead until just after the break when Daniel Cousin volleyed home.
Peter Halmosi then gave Hull the victory with a well-placed shot.
Portsmouth were held to a 2-2 draw by local non-league rivals Havant & Waterlooville.
Trialist Eugene Bopp was the star of the show as he grabbed a brace to put Pompey 2-0 ahead.
But a mistake from Bopp then allowed Mustafa Tiryaki to pounce and then late on Manny Williams struck to seal a draw for the home side.
Wolves claimed victory at Walsall with a 1-0 at The Banks's Stadium.
The only goal of the game arrived after 16 minutes and it was new signing Andrew Surman who drove the ball home.
The Gunners opened their pre-season campaign with a draw at Barnet on Saturday, but they went goal crazy in Austria.
However they went behind as the hosts took a shock lead on the half-hour through Patrick Lehner.
But Arsene Wenger's men made sure of victory as they were 3-1 up at the interval thanks to a brace from Nicklas Bendtner (36 & 44) and an Aaron Ramsey (39) strike.
After the break Arsenal cruised to victory as Robin van Persie (56 pen & 73) grabbed two, William Gallas scored (77) and Ramsey added the seventh (83) late on via a post.
In South Africa, Manchester City opened the Vodacom Challenge tournament with a 1-0 win over Kaizer Chiefs.
The only goal of the game arrived just before the interval when Stephen Ireland scored in a game which Gareth Barry made his debut.
Tottenham continued their excellent pre-season form with a third cleansheet as they eased to a 4-0 win at Peterborough United.
Darren Bent (35) opened the scoring for Spurs, before second-half foals from Jermain Defoe (66), Luka Modric (68) and Roman Pavlyuchenko (75) sealed the win.
Stoke City earned a 1-1 draw with Israeli outfit Hapoel Tel Aviv in Austria.
City boss Tony Pulis named a strong side and they went ahead just after the half-hour through Salif Diao, but Hapoel sealed a draw as Douglas da Silva levelled just after the break.
Fulham's first pre-season clash back in Britain, after their trip to Australia, ended in a 0-0 draw at Bournemouth.
Aston Villa were held to a 2-2 draw at League One Colchester United, but they had to come from two-goals down to seal a draw.
The home side took the lead just before half-hour when Scott Vernon headed home, and then 10 minutes into the second-half Ashley Vincent double Colchester's lead.
Villa pulled one back almost immediately through Steve Sidwell and then Adam McGurk was on hand to fire home an equaliser for Martin O'Neil's men.
Hull City came from behind to seal a 2-1 win at Carlisle United, who went ahead at Brunton Park.
Matt Robson opened the scoring for The Cumbrians after just 12 minutes, and they held their lead until just after the break when Daniel Cousin volleyed home.
Peter Halmosi then gave Hull the victory with a well-placed shot.
Portsmouth were held to a 2-2 draw by local non-league rivals Havant & Waterlooville.
Trialist Eugene Bopp was the star of the show as he grabbed a brace to put Pompey 2-0 ahead.
But a mistake from Bopp then allowed Mustafa Tiryaki to pounce and then late on Manny Williams struck to seal a draw for the home side.
Wolves claimed victory at Walsall with a 1-0 at The Banks's Stadium.
The only goal of the game arrived after 16 minutes and it was new signing Andrew Surman who drove the ball home.
Ireland goal enough to sink Chiefs
Manchester City handed a debut to new signing Gareth Barry but it was Stephen Ireland who netted in the 1-0 victory over the Kaizer Chiefs.
Watched by new signing Emmanuel Adebayor, City recovered from their weekend loss to Orlando Pirates to triumph in their second match of their South African tour on Tuesday night.
Academy product Ireland hit the winner on the stroke of half-time at the ABSA Stadium in Durban.
Carlos Tevez and Roque Santa Cruz were again left to watch from the sidelines as City manager Mark Hughes continued to exercise patience with his high-profile summer signings.
The first half was an even affair but City made the decisive breakthrough in the closing seconds when Shaun Wright-Phillips' low cross was converted from close range by midfielder Ireland.
City had started strongly and put the hosts on the back foot early on before the hosts hit back towards the end of the half.
Barry, wearing the number eight jersey made a good impression in his first game with an energetic display.
The former Aston Villa player was all over the park, solidifying the defence when possible and troubling the Chiefs' backline with several runs.
Zambian referee Wellington Kaoma allowed the game to flow and only needed to reach for his card when City's Felipe Caicedo kicked the ball away in frustration when an advantage was not given after a foul on Wright-Phillips.
In the second half, City started where they had left off but Barry marred his debut with a 54th-minute yellow card following a late challenge.
The England player's interest in the game ended soon after when he was replaced by Javal Vidal with 26 minutes remaining.
There were few chances in the closing stages but City had a let-off with nine minutes to go when Chiefs
striker Kaizer Motaung Jr failed to find the target when well placed 15 yards out.
The home side continued to apply the pressure in the final 10 minutes with several shots going astray, as City's defence tired.
Despite being hopeful of involving Tevez in this game, Hughes opted to leave the Argentinian striker out, as well as fellow new boys Adebayor and Santa Cruz.
Watched by new signing Emmanuel Adebayor, City recovered from their weekend loss to Orlando Pirates to triumph in their second match of their South African tour on Tuesday night.
Academy product Ireland hit the winner on the stroke of half-time at the ABSA Stadium in Durban.
Carlos Tevez and Roque Santa Cruz were again left to watch from the sidelines as City manager Mark Hughes continued to exercise patience with his high-profile summer signings.
The first half was an even affair but City made the decisive breakthrough in the closing seconds when Shaun Wright-Phillips' low cross was converted from close range by midfielder Ireland.
City had started strongly and put the hosts on the back foot early on before the hosts hit back towards the end of the half.
Barry, wearing the number eight jersey made a good impression in his first game with an energetic display.
The former Aston Villa player was all over the park, solidifying the defence when possible and troubling the Chiefs' backline with several runs.
Zambian referee Wellington Kaoma allowed the game to flow and only needed to reach for his card when City's Felipe Caicedo kicked the ball away in frustration when an advantage was not given after a foul on Wright-Phillips.
In the second half, City started where they had left off but Barry marred his debut with a 54th-minute yellow card following a late challenge.
The England player's interest in the game ended soon after when he was replaced by Javal Vidal with 26 minutes remaining.
There were few chances in the closing stages but City had a let-off with nine minutes to go when Chiefs
striker Kaizer Motaung Jr failed to find the target when well placed 15 yards out.
The home side continued to apply the pressure in the final 10 minutes with several shots going astray, as City's defence tired.
Despite being hopeful of involving Tevez in this game, Hughes opted to leave the Argentinian striker out, as well as fellow new boys Adebayor and Santa Cruz.
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