Soccer News, January 19, 1998

EU may withhold sanction to Dons if it can be proved damaging to Irish soccer

FAI opposed to Wimbledon plan

by Bill George
WIMBLEDON cannot assume they will secure from the European Union the legal right to re-locate to Dublin even if they have a prime facie case.
It is possible that the EU will decide there is no legal obstacle to their proposed £100m move, but they may still withhold official sanction if it can be proved it would be damaging to football.
It is said there are exceptions to every rule, and if the Irish football authorities decide to go to the EU and succeed in convincing the European competitions' commissioner, Karel Van Miert, that Wimbledon in Dublin would be damaging to the Irish game, then official backing might not be forthcoming.
Under European Law professional football is a business like any other and is treated as such. This suggests the EU will have to acknowledge Wimbledon's right to re-locate, just as they had to concede in the Bosman case that footballers were employees like all other categories and entitled to move when out of contract.
So what would constitute an exception that might prevent the EU from giving its blessing to Wimbledon? An analogy might be the case of a footballer of exceptional ability, good enough to play at the very highest level, but prevented from graduating into the major professional leagues by the fact that she is a woman.
Under European law that footballer should be entitled to equal opportunity, just as she would if she were qualified at any other profession.
But the EU authorities would not sanction any application by her for equal opportunity on the grounds that it would not be good for football. She would be told to continue playing in women's football.
The FAI remain totally opposed to any attempted move by Wimbledon, or other foreign clubs, to re-locate to Dublin, but they will probably have to make a legal case to the EU in order to overcome Sam Hammam's plans.
Wimbledon see a move to Dublin as the only way they can secure a stadium seating 50,000 people and the substantial following they need to set up a cash flow that would enable them compete with the other millionaire clubs of the Premiership.
Sam Hammam, who has led the club from non-league football to the Premiership in the course of 21 years with Wimbledon, is keen to secure the co-operation and goodwill of all the football authorities in this country and claims that 18 of 22 league clubs are in favour.
The reality is, however, that the club management teams are uncertain as to the merits of the plan, even if the promised £250,000 windfall from Wimbledon for each club is a major inducement.
Underlying the attitude of the clubs is the suspicion that Hammam is seeking complete co-operation from all the Irish authorities to strengthen his hand in negotiations with the local borough councils in the Wimbledon area of London.
"Who is to say he may not use our support as a big stick to beat the people in England he is attempting to persuade help him build a new stadium there," said an Irish football official, who has met with Hammam.
There are 52 delegates to the FAI and the National league clubs are represented by 22 of those. The other delegates are representative of the provincial associations and associations controlling schoolboys, universities, ladies football and referees etc.
Wimbledon's claim that 18 of the league clubs are in favour of their re-location may be strictly true, but the clubs' officer boards are certainly not unanimously in favour and the clubs are not prepared to force the FAI's hand.
Their attitude generally is to follow the advice of the FAI executive, even if there may be one or two more committed to Wimbledon's proposals — Shelbourne, for example, are believed to be prepared to lease Tolka Park to Wimbledon while they are waiting for the new stadium to be built at Clondalkin.
Sam Hammam may well decide to push ahead with his scheme if legal opinion from the EU is in his favour, but he is clearly keen to reach an accommodation with the FAI if at all possible and he has, in fact, been advised to pursue this course by the EU.
Inevitably, however, an atmosphere of confrontation has been created and will remain as long as the FAI refuse to meet with Hammam. The problem is symptomatic of a worldwide phenomenon that sees the major clubs vying with football federations for control of football.
The millionaire owners of the Premiership clubs have succeeded in wresting control of their league competition from the Football League and the FA and, in conjunction with the TV moguls of BSkyB they are, to all intents, working independently of the federation. In Germany recently the clubs succeeded in a court action in which they claimed the right to negotiate the TV rights to their matches directly with TV rather than allowing the German Federation control the negotiations. That judgment is under appeal at the moment.
The federation wants to control the TV money, so they can distribute it through all the different layers of their football association but the clubs, of course, especially the major ones, want to keep more of the money for themselves.

Fergie takes players to task over poor starts

by David Anderson
ALEX FERGUSON has given his Manchester United players a ''final warning'' after their league slump.
The champions have lost three of their last four matches and have seen their lead at the top of the Premiership cut to four points.
The United boss claims he is not too worried and hopes it is nothing more than a blip.
But he has told his players some home truths in training in an attempt to get back to winning ways today against struggling Bolton at Old Trafford.
''They won't be starting games the way they have been starting games — it's far too important now,'' said Ferguson.
''I think they have had their last warning in terms of results. I'll expect a response from them in terms of commitment and I'll be making sure there is no casualness about them.
''It's unusual for us to have started the year off in the way that we have with three defeats, but you get blips in a season. Our October form was excellent and that gave us the cushion we have now, and it's something we can't surrender. You are always going to get a blip. You can't avoid that and hopefully that is it over for us.'' The match will be overshadowed by the commemorations to mark the 40th anniversary of the Munich air crash.
Kick-off has been put back 15 minutes to allow for one minute's silence at 3.04 p.m., which was the time of the disaster, while wreaths will be laid in the centre circle. Ferguson hopes his players can pay their own tribute to the eight United players, who were among the 23 fatalities, by winning.
''It's a special day and it's going to be a very emotional day for everyone at Manchester United,'' he said.
"I hope the players can respond in the right way and produce the kind of performance which will do justice to the memory of Munich.''
There are fears that Bolton fans, who are fierce rivals of United supporters, may disrupt the commemorations and Ferguson hopes they will listen to their own club's appeal for good behaviour.
He said: ''I certainly hope so. It is going to be interesting to see it, but everyone hopes and prays it goes without any distasteful incident.''
The visit of Bolton reinforces the parallels with 40 years ago as Wanderers played the Busby Babes in their final game at Old Trafford before Munich.
The sides also met in the 1958 FA Cup Final where Bolton beat United's makeshift team and players from those teams will be among the guests at tomorrow's match.
Nicky Butt is suspended for United, while Ronny Johnsen is out with a calf strain and Henning Berg will replace him in defence. Brian McClair has shrugged off a leg injury to be included in the squad and he could make a rare start. Ferguson was not surprised in the least by the veteran's recovery and said: ''It's very unusual for McClair to miss a game through injury — I think he's only missed three days in 10 years. I can't remember him missing one game in my time, but someone says he missed one.
''I've not made my mind up about the team, but if he's fit then he's in the frame.''

Full Speed ahead for Magpie recruit

by Carl Liddle
GARY SPEED completed his £5·5 million move to Newcastle yesterday but refused to go into his reasons for wanting to quit Everton.
Kenny Dalglish's most expensive signing to date is in line to make his debut against West Ham today after signing a four-and-a-half year deal.
And Speed is relishing linking up with close pal David Batty in an all-international midfield.
Speed can't wait to get started, believing he is playing well enough to add to his seven-goal tally for the season. And the seven goals makes him the leading scorer at his new club.
"I am playing as well as at any time in my career," the 28-year-old midfielder said.
"It has been a frustrating time for me, and the rumours linking me with a move were very unsettling. I had my reasons for wanting to leave Everton, the club I supported as a kid, and although I don't want to elaborate at least the parting in the end has been amicable.
"The deal has been done and now I can concentrate on playing football — that's all that matters now.
"It was always Newcastle I wanted to join. They don't have to sell themselves to anyone — certainly not me.
"They are a massive club. And even after only one training session with the lads I know it is a huge club with very fine players.
"It is great for me to come to a club of this stature at this time in my career.''
Everton's current player of the year, and now Wales' most expensive footballer, has his feet firmly on the ground.
"I wouldn't be that if Ryan Giggs or Rushy in his prime were to move on.
"Anyway the fee doesn't bother me, I'm not interested in that side of things.
"All I want to do if selected is win every game I'm involved in.
"I have apologised to the Everton fans about what's happened but it has been great there the last couple of days and I've left on amicable terms."
It is a good job this is the case because his first away game in the Premiership for his new club happens to be at ... Goodison Park!
Speed isn't cup-tied so he can also play in the FA Cup fifth round tie against Tranmere Rovers next Saturday.
Dalglish tried to buy him at Blackburn Rovers and he was delighted to finally get his man.
"Gary's a quality player — he can win a tackle, score a goal and make goals for others," he said.
"I always said that there was plenty of money here to spend but I wanted to buy wisely — this is certainly one such deal — but if we needed to spend again there is plenty money left in the coffers.
"Newcastle are respected within the game.
"It has a special place in people's minds because players believe we have drive, ambition and there is no doubt we can attract talented players.
"There are plenty out there who would like to come here.
"But I'm delighted we've got Gary and I hope he will not dry up in front of goal now since he's joined us."
It is not inconceivable that the Welshman may be one of three players making home debuts against Harry Redknapp's men — Andreas Andersson and Andy Griffin would be the others.
Andersson made his full debut at Villa Park last Sunday but 18-year-old Griffin has a great chance of his first start since moving from the Potteries for £1.5 million after John Beresford's departure to Southampton also for £1.5million.
And with Steve Watson, the club's regular right back, out for up to two months with a broken bone in his right foot, it is even more likely that Griffin will play.
Dalglish has a healthy respect for the side put together by Redknapp.
"Harry has them going very well," he said.
"They are very well organised and are playing some decent football.
''But the signs are encouraging for us. We are the only side to have taken all three points off them at Upton Park in the League."

Full Speed ahead for Magpie recruit

We don't fear The Red Menace, says Liverpool's back-in-form McManaman

by Paul Walker
STEVE McMANAMAN sets his sights on club and international glory claiming: We're as good as Manchester United.
The flying winger, one of only two Liverpool ever-present stars this term, is expected by boss Roy Evans to shake off a hamstring injury and play against Southampton at Anfield, and then to join up with the England squad for next Wednesday's Wembley clash with Chile.
Evans said: ''He's trained well and we will see whether there is any late reaction, but we believe he's got a good chance of playing.''
It is McManaman's excellent form in recent months that many believe has been the key to Liverpool's march back into the title race, winning a recall to Glenn Hoddle's squad in the process.
Now McManaman reveals Liverpool's desire to emulate their Lancashire rivals.
McManaman said: ''I don't particularly think that United are better than us. Certain people give them an air of invincibility, but we don't believe that and I don't think other teams go along with that either.
''We want this squad to go on like Manchester United's has done, that's what all the lads want.
''We have signed Paul Ince to help us do that and Michael Owen has come in this year and been excellent.
"We want to reach United's level of consistency and I believe we can do that.''
Liverpool admit they were stung by the nightmare 3-1 home defeat by United in December, but the response has been to claim 20 of the 24 league points on offer since, with six wins in eight games, and to reach the semi-finals of the Coca Cola Cup.
Evans said: ''The United defeat rammed home a few home truths, and the response since then has been excellent.''
McManaman added: ''We took a lot of stick after the United defeat and everyone said they were infinitely better than everyone else. Admittedly, they have got great players, but saying that, so have we. And I don't particularly think they are better than us.
''Until a few weeks ago we were eighth and playing OK, but not really firing.
''Since then we have gone on a decent run and now we are four points behind United, but more important is the fact that we are unbeaten in eight games in the League and playing well.''
McManaman's pal Robbie Fowler gets the chance to prove Glenn Hoddle wrong in leaving him out of the England squads, with Evans saying: ''We know what Robbie can do, 30 goals in each of the last three seasons says it all.
''This season he hasn't been as fluent as he would like but, if he continues to work as hard as he did last weekend against Blackburn, then he will get back there and be at his best again and he'll have the last word.''
Fowler has accepted Glenn Hoddle's decision without the sort of Chris Sutton behaviour of recent days.
''I felt the way I played against Blackburn was the best I've played in a long, long time. I felt I worked really hard," he said.
''I know I missed a good chance in the second half that could have made all the difference but I have to accept I have been struggling a bit with my confidence lately.
''It is coming back, slowly but surely and it is the old strikers' thing that I would be more worried if I wasn't getting any chances.
''As long as I'm getting in there then I'm not too bothered. I am confident the goals will come back eventually.''
And on the overall team performance, Fowler added: ''We are getting there as a team and we don't think the title is over by any means.
"We feel we can still win it, we have got to believe that,'' he concluded.

Roma test for Juventus

LEAGUE leaders Juventus face a major test of their championship challenge this weekend when they face AS Roma.
Juventus are a point ahead of Inter Milan in their bid for a second consecutive league title, while Roma are rallying after two months in the doldrums.
Juventus face the rest of the season without central defender Ciro Ferrara, who has a broken leg, while title rivals Inter have strengthened their ranks with Portuguese playmaker Paulo Sousa.
Roma's promising young striker Francesco Totti is not expected to recover from injury, and his place on the left will go to Brazilian Paulo Sergio.
Fellow Brazilians Cafu and Aldair, who scored last week, will sweep forward from defence in Zdenek Zeman's all-attacking scheme of play.
Inter, meanwhile, are at home to Roberto Baggio's Bologna at San Siro, and are expected to allow their Uruguayan prodigy Alvaro Recoba his first start of the season alongside Ronaldo.
Recoba is set to be rewarded for having scored three important goals this season as a substitute and for having laid on last week's winner for Ronaldo.
Inter will, however, be without winger Francesco Moriero, who is suspended.
Parma take on struggling Atalanta on the neutral ground of Cremona in the night match. Atalanta are banned from their stadium at Bergamo after crowd trouble when the two sides met for a recent Italian Cup tie.
Former Newcastle favourite Faustino Asprilla is set to wear a Parma shirt for the first time, but it will be in a reserves' game today.