Man Utd reports record loss despite revenue rise
Manchester United has reported a record overall loss of £83.6 million last season despite operating profits exceeding £100 million for the first time. The Premier League giant’s record losses are a big swing from the £25.5 million profit from the previous financial year, which came after the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid for a world record £80 million. Matches were played last season against the backdrop of mounting protests against the club’s American owners, the Glazer family, as heavily-indebted United missed out on a fourth straight league title. United did show the strength of its global commercial operations in the year up to 30 June by reporting a record turnover of £286.4 million.
Mexico interviews De la Torre for coach job
A top official of the Mexico Football Federation says it has a “clear position” on who should be the new national team coach, but a decision will not be announced until later this month. Decio De Maria, secretary general of the federation, said that Toluca coach Jose Manuel De la Torre had been interviewed. Victor Manuel Vucetich, coach of Mexican club Monterrey, said he had also been interviewed. De Maria said they were the only two candidates. Mexico is expected to announce a replacement for Javier Aguirre on 18 October.
Venezuela defeats Bolivia 3-1
Venezuela beat Bolivia 3-1 in a friendly, with Angel Chourio scoring two first-half goals and Oswaldo Vizcarrondo adding another. Chourio scored in the ninth minute and again in the 37th with Vizcarrondo scoring in the 29th. Marcelo Martins scored in the 53rd for Bolivia. Chourio and Vizcarrondo had other chances in the match, which was a warm-up for next year’s Copa America in Argentina. The game was played in the eastern city of Santa Cruz.
PSG-Marseille matches behind closed doors
The French football league ordered both matches between fierce rivals Paris Saint-Germain and Marseille to be played behind closed doors this season. Both games last season were marred by violence, including the death of one PSG fan. When there were major clashes in Marseille city centre between the teams’ supporters, Marseille fans were banned from attending the return match, but factions of PSG fans - long opposed and from different parts of the stadium - fought each other. The ferocious street battles led to the death of the PSG fan. The French league said in a statement that no visiting Marseille fans will be allowed inside Parc des Princes on 7 November, and no PSG fans will be at Stade Velodrome on 19 March.
Schwarzer wins top Australian awards
Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer was awarded Australian football’s two top awards at a lavish ceremony. The 38-year-old veteran was named Football Federation Australia’s Player of the Year for the second straight year and was voted Player of the Year by fellow players. He received 392 votes to narrowly beat Everton’s Tim Cahill to the players’ award. Cahill, who was the players’ elect last year, was voted Player of the Year by members of Australia’s Football Media Association. Schwarzer made 10 appearances for Australia in the 2009-2010 season, playing every minute of its matches at the World Cup in June.
Kapetanos banned for four games
Steaua Bucharest forward Pantelis Kapetanos has been banned for four matches by UEFA for elbowing a Napoli player in a stormy Europa League match last week. Both clubs have also been fined, plus Steaua official Marius Ianuli was fined €5,000 for comments made to Polish referee Marcin Borksi. Kapetanos was red-carded for elbowing an opponent in the 31st minute of the 3-3 draw last week, and UEFA says its disciplinary panel found Kapetanos guilty of assault. He will miss the remaining group games. Steaua was leading 3-0, with the Greek forward scoring the third, but the visiting Italian side leveled in the eighth minute of second-half stoppage time after Borski signaled for four additional minutes. Steaua was fined €30,000 for its supporters’ “improper behaviour,” and Napoli was fined €8,000.
Ronaldinho not planning to leave AC Milan
AC Milan striker Ronaldinho says he has no plans to leave the club in the January transfer window. The Brazilian's contract runs out at the end of June and there have been rumours that the club might try to cash in on him when it can. Ronaldinho said on yesterday: "The truth is that I am not thinking about anything but Milan. The fans know that I am happy here and enjoy playing with this team."
So far this season Ronaldinho has yet to score as he adapts to two new attack partners in Zlatan Ibrahimovic and compatriot Robinho.
Yesterday’s results
Local - Div III - Ghaxaq-Kalkara 1-1; Luqa SA-Gozo 1-3.
Euro U/21 playoffs 1st Leg - Italy-Belarus 2-0; England-Romania 2-1;
Czech Rep.-Greece 3-0