Russian and English football fans taunted each other in Lille on Tuesday (Jun 14) as the French city and nearby Lens braced for an invasion of up to 65,000 supporters ahead of the latest high-risk Euro 2016 matches.

A Russia football supporter lobs a chair towards England fans sitting in a cafe in the French northern city of Lille. (AFP/Leon Neal)

French authorities expect between 40,000 and 50,000 England and Wales fans and 15,000 Russians to invade the neighbouring northern cities.

With the European Championship host country on alert after Russian and English fans fought pitched battles in Marseille on Saturday, authorities have vowed to “flood” the streets with police. The tension was evident in Lille as rival groups gathered.

A near perfect storm of hooliganism is feared with Russia playing Slovakia in Lille on Wednesday, one day before England play Wales in Lens, 35 kilometres away, on Thursday.

About 150 English supporters were in one Lille cafe chanting, when half a dozen Russians dressed in black walked in, an AFP photographer recounted. Chairs and glasses were thrown before police quickly moved in.

Some of the Russians had black face masks. On the back of their improvised “Tour de France” t-shirts was written “Orel Butchers”, the name of hardcore supporters who follow the Lokomotiv Moscow club.

The “Orel Butchers” were in the front row of Russian fans accused of causing trouble at the England-Russia game in Marseille on Saturday.

One Russian supporter in Lille told AFP: “We’re going to beat them. If the English are brave enough to come, we’ll crush them. We hate the English.”

European governing body UEFA warned Russia on Tuesday that they will be kicked out of the tournament if their fans are involved in more trouble inside a stadium.

French authorities are boosting security outside the Lille and Lens stadiums where UEFA is not responsible.

About 4,000 police, riot police and gendarmes will be on duty, the French government official in the region, Michel Lalande, said. Authorities planned to “flood the urban area with a police presence,” the government prefect said.

Lille supermarkets were banned from selling alcohol from Tuesday evening until after the two games are finished. Bars in the centre of Lille will have to close at midnight on Wednesday and Thursday, Lalande added.

The official said authorities had asked British counterparts “to advise their citizens not to go to Lille.” But the regional authorities are still expecting huge numbers of England and Wales fans to ignore the call.

Another regional prefect, Fabienne Buccio said the 40,000-50,000 figure was based on reservations made on cross-Channel tunnel, train and ferry operators.

The Lens stadium where Thursday’s match is to be played holds only 35,000 fans.

The match, a sellout for months, is one of five at the European Championships classed as high-risk by French authorities for potential hooligan troubles.

Source AFP

Brazil sacked national coach Dunga on Tuesday (Jun 14) after their humiliating group-stage elimination from the Copa America Centenario.

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said in a statement it decided to fire Dunga and “dissolve the Brazilian national team’s coaching staff” following their latest debacle. The news came after CBF officials met with Carlos Caetano Bledorn, alias Dunga, earlier on Tuesday.

The exit from the Copa America centennial edition in the United States was the latest blow to demoralised, recession-hit Brazil. The country was still recovering from the national team’s 7-1 World Cup semi-final thrashing by Germany on home soil in 2014.

After an opening 0-0 draw with Ecuador was followed by a 7-1 win over Haiti, Brazil needed a draw with Peru on Monday to reach the quarter-finals of the Copa. Instead they crashed out of the tournament after losing 1-0 to a disputed goal.

Peru’s Raul Ruidiaz appeared to bundle in a cross with his arm to score late in the second half.

It was the first time in three decades that Brazil had exited the tournament at the group stage.

NATIONAL ‘HUMILIATION’

Brazilian media speculated that Dunga would be replaced by Tite, coach of Sao Paulo side Corinthians.

The 55-year-old led Corinthians to a double of the regional Copa Libertadores and Club World Cup in 2012. The following year his side won the Copa Sudamericana.

The CBF had yet to announce Dunga’s successor on Tuesday afternoon, however.

Speculation had swirled that Dunga was on his way out, although he had said he was not afraid of the sack. “I am only afraid of death,” Dunga told reporters in the wake of Sunday’s defeat.

He had called for patience, insisting the five-time World Cup champions were at an early stage of a transitional period.

But as of Tuesday, Brazil were searching for a new coach just weeks away from hosting the Olympics in August.

At the Rio de Janeiro summer Games they will be seeking to win football gold for the first time.

Dunga, 52, won the Copa America twice as a player and was captain of Brazil’s 1994 World Cup-winning squad.

After months of sharp recession and political turmoil, Brazilians were looking to at least lay to rest the trauma of the 2014 World Cup.

Dunga had an earlier stint managing Brazil from 2006 to 2010 and took over again from Luiz Felipe Scolari after the 2014 defeat. He led the national team to victory in the Copa America in 2007, the Confederations Cup in 2009 and a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympics.

But the side failed to regain their shine during his second term in charge. They have had a disappointing qualifying campaign so far for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

They are currently in sixth place in their regional group, which would be too low to qualify. Brazilian media branded Sunday’s defeat a national disgrace. Newspaper O Dia described it as “another humiliation”.

Source AFP

Barcelona on Monday (Jun 13) accepted to pay a €5.5-million (US$6.2 million) fine over Neymar’s contested 2013 transfer in a deal with prosecutors that sees the club avoid trial on tax evasion charges.

Barcelona will pay a €5.5-million (US$6.2 million) fine over Neymar’s contested 2013 transfer. (AFP/Josep Lago)

“It was better to accept this pact than continue on with the uncertainty that has dragged on for a long time over the Neymar case,” Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu told reporters, in reference to the transfer deal that authorities believe was undervalued, allowing the club to pay lower taxes in Spain.

“We have had to accept paying a €5.5 million fine due to a mistake in the 2011 and 2013 tax planning in the signing of Neymar,” added Bartomeu.

The agreement frees up Bartomeu and his predecessor Sandro Rosell from possible criminal proceedings that could have seen them jailed.

Neymar’s arrival in 2013 has been a huge success for Barca on the pitch but a judicial nightmare off it. The 24-year-old is being investigated in Brazil and Spain over his shady transfer from Brazilians Santos to Barca.

Catalans Barcelona originally published the transfer figure as €57.1 million, with €40 million of that given to the player’s family. But Spanish authorities believe the true transfer figure was at least €83 million.

Brazilian investment fund DIS, which held 40 per cent of Neymar’s sporting rights when he played at Santos, claims it was cheated out of its real share of the transfer due to parallel contracts that Barcelona and Santos allegedly used to hide the true cost.

Santos – where Neymar started his career – received €17.1 million, €6.8 million of which went to DIS.

But Spanish judicial authorities believe another €26 million from the parallel contracts were shared between Neymar, his family and Santos, with DIS and the taxman missing out on their cuts.

Barcelona had already made a voluntary €13.5 million tax payment after being indicted for alleged tax fraud.

Source AFP

Bundesliga champions FC Bayern München have announced they will be opening an office in Shanghai this September.

It will be their second international office after opening their New York City division in April 2014.

The Bavarian giants have appointed Rouven Kasper, who is the current Senior Director of Marketing at league rivals Hamburger SV, to head an initial six-man staff in China.

Kasper has a decade’s experience in sports marketing and said he is “delighted” to take on his new role. “We will do everything to extend the established and successful local strategy as rapidly as possible,” Kasper said in an official statement.

“My staff and I will invest great energy in building up a network in China, supporting FC Bayern to the best possible extent in achieving the club’s targets for this market.”

The club’s AG Board Director Jörg Wacker echoed Kasper’s enthusiasm; “We are certain [Kasper] and his team will help FC Bayern make significant progress in its internationalisation in Asia thanks to their great commitment and expert knowledge.”

Looking to increase its overseas fan base, Bayern identified the U.S. and China as target markets for their global strategy.

Last year, along with express mail service DHL, the club launched an official online store on Chinese retail website Tmall, owned by the Alibaba Group. The German title-holders have also signed several media agreements with U.S. and Chinese outlets.

The 26-time Bundesliga champions are keen to tap into the massive Asian market.

Since the Chinese government’s US$850bn investment into football, local clubs have been snapping up star players and coaches. Chinese investors have also looked to jump on the bandwagon, with retailers Suning Holdings taking a 70 per cent stake in Italy’s Inter Milan, last week.

Source Foxsports

A stunning solo effort from Jesus Corona saw Mexico seal a 1-1 draw with Venezuela, ensuring it finished top of Group C.

Substitute Jesus “Tecatito” Corona produced a late moment of individual brilliance, helping Mexico seal top spot in Group C with a 1-1 draw against Venezuela at the Copa America Centenario.

Jose Velazquez had Venezuela on its way to a shock win at NRG Stadium in Houston on Monday courtesy of his stunning overhead kick in the first half.

But Jesus Corona was the hero for Mexico, scoring with 10 minutes remaining to ensure El Tri finished top of the group at the special-edition centenary tournament.

The victory also meant Mexico extended its unbeaten run to an incredible 22 games, but the team’s 11-match winning run was ended.

While top spot in the group was up for grabs, Mexico and Venezuela had already qualified for the quarterfinals of the competition, and there were plenty of changes made by both sides.

Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio made nine changes to the starting XI that beat Jamaica 2-0, while Venezuela counterpart Rafael Dudamel made five from his side’s 1-0 win over Uruguay.

One of those five changes was Velazquez, who justified his selection in the 10th minute.

A free kick was flicked on by Christian Santos, and center back Velazquez looked more like a well-versed striker, converting the goal with an scissor kick to give Venezuela a surprise lead.

Mexico knew a loss would more than likely mean a quarterfinal clash against Argentina, and was keen to get back level as soon as possible.

Hirving Lozano came close to finding an equalizer after playing a neat one-two with Oribe Peralta, but his shot was directed straight at Daniel Hernandez.

Lozano had a header miss the target not long after, before a diving effort from Corona – who came on in place of the injured Javier Aquino after 18 minutes – also went wide of Hernandez’s goal.

Mexico pushed hard in the early stages of the second half and it took an unorthodox block from Wilker Angel to deny Peralta what looked to be a certain goal.

However, it was Venezuela which should have made it 2-0 when Josef Martinez was played through on goal just a minute after coming on, but the forward’s tame effort was saved by Mexico goalkeeper Jose Corona.

Miguel Layun, also a second-half substitute, had a chance for Mexico less than 60 seconds later but his effort went straight to Daniel Hernandez through a few bodies.

Osorio introduced Javier Hernandez shortly after and the Bayer Leverkusen forward almost had an immediate impact, but a free header in the box came off his shoulder and went out for a goal kick.

Mexico was then denied by a stunning double save from Hernandez, who tipped away Diego Reyes’ header before blocking the follow-up from Hector Moreno.

Jesus Corona continued to threaten the Venezuela goal before he finally made the breakthrough in the 80th minute.

The 23-year-old Porto winger dribbled his way through a sea of Venezuela defenders before blasting a shot past the helpless Daniel Hernandez.

Venezuela came close to winning it in dramatic fashion through Martinez, but the Torino striker’s overhead kick was brilliantly tipped out for a corner by Jose Corona, with the game ending 1-1.

Source Goal