The 63-year-old was questioned and detained by the Ministry of Justice amid an investigation into the awarding of the hosting rights of the tournament.

Photo by Getty Images

Former UEFA president Michel Platini has been detained by police in France as part of an investigation into the decision to award the 2022 World Cup to Qatar.

An investigation into the controversial decision to allow Qatar to host the tournament, despite the Western Asian country’s human rights record and logistical problems posed by the nation’s laws, has led to the former France star being detained by French prosecutors.

The French Ministry of Justice confirmed that anti-corruption officers took the 63-year-old in for questioning in the Parisian suburb of Nanterre on Tuesday morning.

A statement from the Ministry of Justice, given to Omnisport, read: “Platini was taken in for questioning on Tuesday by officers of the Anti-Corruption Office of the Judicial Police.

“Following questioning, he was detained.”

French newspaper Le Monde reports that the arrest is in relation to a meeting Platini admitted attending with former France president Nicolas Sarkozy and then Qatari crown prince – now Emir – Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani just days before the vote to decide which country would host the 2022 edition of the tournament.

In 2015, Platini was banned from football-related activity for four years – reduced twice from an initial eight – due to a breach of FIFA’s code of ethics after it was found he received a “disloyal payment” from the governing body’s ex-president Sepp Blatter in 2011.

Platini has always maintained his innocence in the face of those charges, though, insisting in 2016 that he “committed not the slightest fault” and then saying last May that he was a victim of Blatter trying to pass the blame along.

“In the end, he tried to save his own skin,” Platini told Le Monde in 2018. “Blatter does not defend anyone else, he never defended me. He’s the most selfish person I have seen in my life.

“He always said I would be his last scalp. I know he was fixated on me, to the end, ever since the ‘enough is enough’ comment, even without considering the jealousy he had for the footballer I was.”

Source – Goal.com

Frank Lampard will be able to handle any of Chelsea’s big-name players and have “real authority” in the dressing room, according to his uncle Harry Redknapp.

Lampard is wanted by his former club to succeed Juventus-bound Maurizio Sarri this summer – but current club Derby are making efforts to retain him by discussing a potential new contract.

It would mark a steep rise in Lampard’s managerial career after just one full season in the dugout – but ex-Tottenham, West Ham and Southampton boss Redknapp believes he can handle the reins at Stamford Bridge.

Harry Redknapp is Frank Lampard’s uncle and brought him into senior football at West Ham

“He will have real authority. He won’t stand any nonsense,” Redknapp told the Sun.

“Eden Hazard has left and he is a fantastic player. No disrespect to any of the rest of them who are left, but none of them can look at Frank and think ‘I’m a bigger, better player’.

“He’s been a better player for Chelsea than any of them have been. That’s not a bad starting point for him. There won’t be anyone there he can’t handle.”

Harry Redknapp believes Frank Lampard is a bigger and better Chelsea player than any of their current squad

Lampard, who could reportedly bring Jody Morris back to West London with him as well as Didier Drogba, Gianfranco Zola and Petr Cech, has been widely praised for developing a young team that almost took Derby into the Premier League.

He had Chelsea youth players Mason Mount and Fikayo Tomori on loan as the Derbyshire club lost to Aston Villa in the play-off final at Wembley.

With the Blues currently under transfer embargo, Redknapp said: “It could be a fresh new Chelsea. We could see some real young stars emerging.

“They have an incredible academy producing all these great kids – maybe now they are going to get the chance.”

Source – Sky Sports

Chile kick off their Copa America defence on Monday against Japan, with their star striker more motivated than ever after his club woes.

Photo by Getty Images

When Alexis Sanchez packed his suitcases, bade farewell to his Manchester United team-mates for the summer and flew back across the Atlantic Ocean to his native Chile, he did so in the hope that a significant amount of baggage would stay behind.

The forward endured a nightmare season in 2018-19, beyond his worst fears. But now he has the chance to turn the page and deliver with his beloved Roja, those United woes the furthest thing from his mind as he gears up for what will be a crucial Copa America from his perspective.

It is difficult to put into words just how disappointing the past season was for a man who, lest we forget, little more than 18 months ago was one of the transfer window’s hottest properties and subject of a bidding war between the two Manchester giants. Bare statistics, however, can tell part of the story.

Sanchez scored just two goals in all competitions, the lowest haul in his entire professional career (even in his very first season as a 16-year-old with Cobreloa he managed three). Ignored by both Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for large swathes of the campaign, the Chilean was restricted to nine Premier League starts and rarely looked likely to make an impact when he did get the opportunity.

He is the butt of all jokes at Old Trafford, an outrageously expensive failure. With Chile, however, things are different. Sanchez is a living idol in his home country, the inspiration behind two consecutive Copa America triumphs and the symbol of the fight and tenacity synonymous with the Roja’s football.

As he prepares to lead from the front again in Brazil at the Copa, he knows that this will be his chance to prove to the world he still has something to offer as an elite player – and to any watching scouts as well.

Just like their star, Chile have not exactly been firing on all cylinders as of late. The euphoria of back-to-back Copas America under Jorge Sampaoli and Juan Antonio Pizzi was followed by the disappointment of failure to reach the following World Cup, a bitter blow after two relatively comfortable qualification campaigns in 2010 and 2014.

Results since under coach Reinaldo Rueda have been distinctly underwhelming, including defeats at the hands of Mexico, Peru and Costa Rica. But the bulk of the squad that fought to Copa glory in 2015 and 2016 remains intact, led by Sanchez, who is battling an ankle injury he has carried since May.

“In the Copa America he has the chance to show all that he is capable of,” Rueda signalled to Lance in the build-up to Chile’s debut in the competition against Japan. “The presence of [Arturo] Vidal, [Gary] Medel and Alexis is crucial.

“They are players who already know the demands and intensity of a championship of this nature. They have already tasted success in the competition and they know how to transmit calm and maturity to their team-mates.”

With 124 games and 41 goals under his belt, not to mention those two Copa medals, Sanchez certainly knows how to deliver at international level and will not shirk the challenge in Brazil. Whether a sterling performance at this year’s tournament will be enough to earn him a move is another story.

The star’s £390,000-a-week wages are positively prohibitive to any potential suitor, of which there have been few so far in the transfer window. With United apparently equally determined to dispense with his services, something will have to give in the coming weeks to make a sale, be it an initial loan move or a permanent deal, acceptable to buyer and player alike.

Sanchez, a fiercely motivated, proud competitor who has never been content with merely sitting on the sidelines and picking up pay cheques, knows that a strong showing at this Copa would go a long way towards ending that impasse and proving to Europe’s elite that at 30 and despite recent woes he still has what it takes to excel at the top level.

A repeat of those heroics in 2015 and 2016 looks unlikely given Chile’s own weaknesses. The Roja will nevertheless be hoping to escape from a group completed by Uruguay and Ecuador – with Sanchez additionally playing for his own future as he looks to forget a catastrophic club season and lead his nation to glory once more.

Source – Goal.com

Former Paris St-Germain midfielder Leonardo has been appointed the club’s sporting director for the second time.

Leonardo scored 10 goals in 46 appearances as a PSG player

The 49-year-old, who previously held the role from 2011-13, replaces Antero Henrique who departed the club on Friday after two years.

Leonardo, formerly AC Milan’s sporting director, scored 10 goals in 46 appearances for PSG in two seasons at Parc des Princes between 1996-98.

“I am really happy to come back to PSG once again,” the Brazilian said.

“This club has been so important to me in my football career and in my life. I had really emotional moments here both as a player in the late 90s and more recently as sporting director along with our chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi on my return to the club in 2011.

“Today, I come back to Paris full of energy to rejoin this club that I deeply respect.”

During his first spell at PSG, Leonardo – a World Cup winner with Brazil in 1994 – oversaw the club’s takeover by Qatar Sports Investments and their first Ligue 1 title in 19 years.

“It is always a special moment to see Leonardo return to Paris St-Germain,” said Al-Khelaifi.

“Leo has a place in our club’s history and we all know the role he played as sporting director at the start of our project.

“Paris St-Germain has always remained his family and we are delighted to welcome him back. His return, with his enthusiasm and talent, will bring the club into a new ambitious cycle and I am sure that this reunion will bring happiness to the Parc des Princes, which has always kept Leo in its heart.”

Source – BBC News

The Barcelona man proved vital, netting twice for his nation who went back in time with their white shirts and put in a rather grey performance.

Photo by Alexandre Schneider

It was not pretty, nor particularly convincing at times, but Brazil will take it – and so will Philippe Coutinho. With a little help from the struggling Barcelona star and a welcome hand from VAR, the Copa America hosts overcame the loss of Neymar and sealed a 3-0 victory over Bolivia that on another day could have finished with a result far less favourable to the South American giants.

The Selecao caused the first stir of the Copa America as they walked out decked in white, a nod to their original colours that were all but jettisoned in the wake of the 1950 World Cup ‘Maracanazo’ at the hands of Uruguay in favour of the now more familiar yellow.

By the time the whistle blew for the end of the first half, though, the overall mood was rather grey. Bolivia have proved tricky opening game opposition for more than a few nations in the Copa and so they proved again, ceding control of the ball and inviting their illustrious rivals to try and break them down.

By and large Tite’s men fell short. There were a few interesting incursions into Bolivian territory, mostly inspired by the lively Richarlison, and no end of possession, corners and snatched chances. Overall, though, their approaches on goal were stilted and predictable, giving the Verde plenty of time to regroup and repel.

Bolivia goalkeeper Carlos Lampe had little reason to feel threatened over the first 45 minutes and was barely called into action despite the intense home pressure. Brazil were reduced to seeing Fernandinho take speculative efforts from well outside the area, hardly the sign of a well-drilled attacking unit.

The end of the half was greeted by a hail of boos and jeers from a frustrated Morumbi crowd which had spent much of the game in stony silence, furious at the lack of spark and invention shown by the pedestrian Selecao.

It did not take long for those in Sao Paulo to find their voice after the restart. A matter of minutes into the second half Bolivia found themselves cursing VAR when referee Nestor Pitana turned to the technology – present for the first time at a Copa – to investigate a marginal handball. The Argentine pointed to the spot and up stepped Coutinho, giving Lampe no chance with a fine hit to the keeper’s right-hand side to give Brazil a lead that looked unlikely to arrive through open play.

That advantage established, the rest of the game was a stroll. Barely 120 seconds had passed before Coutinho found himself celebrating again, nodding home a free header teed up perfectly by former Liverpool team-mate Roberto Firmino, the first time Bolivia had been really exposed by the hosts and favourites.

It was the perfect response from Coutinho, who endured a disappointing term with Barca and was not even certain of a starting spot at the Copa before Neymar’s ankle injury and the subsequent tactical reshuffle ended any doubts over his selection.

He would doubtlessly benefit from the presence of another passer in the Brazil midfield, rather than the staid defensive combination of Casemiro and Fernandinho, to aid him in his creative endeavours; but the much-derided playmaker nevertheless stood up when the Selecao needed a hero and sent them through a tricky first Group A match with three points.

Brazil, meanwhile, will hope certain pre-competition nerves have been banished for good following this underwhelming introduction to the Copa. Certainly, they will need to show more against Venezuela and Peru, both more accomplished sides than their rival on Friday. The only real moment of dazzling individual skill came late on, from the boot of late substitute Everton, who let fly with a wonderful long-range shot to put the game out of reach at 3-0.

But the show is on the road for the hosts, who proved that the absence of Neymar is not an insurmountable obstacle. With Coutinho finding his feet, and the proper application of VAR, the Selecao dug themselves out of a hole and can now look forward to hopefully more impressive displays to come.

Source – Goal.com

Chelsea have agreed a deal in principle for their manager Maurizio Sarri to join Serie A champions Juventus.

Maurizio Sarri had never won a major trophy before May’s Europa League win, having spent much of his career in Italy’s lower leagues

An agreement was reached late on Thursday evening after talks between senior officials. A deal could be completed as early as Friday.

It is understood a compensation fee in excess of £5m has been agreed.

Sarri arrived from Napoli in July 2018 and led the Blues to third place in the Premier League and won the Europa League in his one season in charge.

Despite signing a three-year deal last July, he will become the ninth full-time manager to leave the club under Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich.

Throughout the 60-year-old Italian’s time at Stamford Bridge there was repeated speculation about his position, with Chelsea fans expressing their discontent at tactics and team selections.

One of the low points came in February when goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga challenged his authority by refusing to be substituted in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley, shortly before Chelsea were beaten in a penalty shootout by Manchester City.

But Sarri did manage to win his first ever trophy as manager with a 4-1 victory over Arsenal in May in the Europa League final, and after the match said “he deserved” to stay with the club.

Chelsea are currently unable to sign any players after they were banned for two transfer windows by Fifa – a decision they are appealing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Their star player Eden Hazard has joined Real Madrid for a fee that could exceed £150m.

Significantly, Chelsea have not asked for the suspension to be put on hold until a final decision is reached. It means their only new arrival might be USA forward Christian Pulisic, a £58m signing from Borussia Dortmund in January, who spent the remainder of the campaign on loan in Germany.

Juventus are managerless after Massimiliano Allegri left at the end of last season, having won the league title in each of his five seasons since taking charge in 2014.

Sarri’s year at Stamford Bridge

After earning glowing references for his tactics at Napoli, he looked to have effectively introduced ‘Sarri-ball’ to his new players as Chelsea started their Premier League campaign with a 12-game unbeaten streak.

But the Blues were out of title contention after losing three out of four Premier League games from January to February, including a 6-0 defeat at eventual champions Manchester City, which saw them slip to sixth in the table.

Chelsea then lost 2-0 at home to Manchester United in the FA Cup, when fans booed the Italian’s substitutions and joined in when the visiting supporters sang “You’re getting sacked in the morning”.

However, Sarri remained in charge, and of the 19 matches played after they were beaten on penalties in the League Cup final, his side lost just two, as they won their first European trophy since securing the Europa League in 2012-13.

They also held off the challenge of Tottenham, Arsenal and Manchester United to finish third in the league and clinch Champions League qualification.

Analysis – who could Chelsea turn to?

BBC Sport’s Simon Stone

For all the difficulties Chelsea managers tend to encounter, there has been no shortage of potential candidates being linked to the job.

The most obvious is Blues’ record scorer Frank Lampard.

Lampard ended his first season as a manager with defeat at Wembley in the Championship play-off. Lampard is steeped in Chelsea history, won 11 major trophies during his 13 years at the club, and is adored by supporters, even though he eventually moved away to join Manchester City before ending his career in Major League Soccer with New York City.

At Derby, Lampard also linked up with former team-mate Jody Morris, who developed an impressive reputation during five years working with Chelsea’s youth teams – that might improve the pair’s chances even more, given the transfer embargo Chelsea are facing.

Chelsea loanees Fikayo Tomori, Mason Mount and Tammy Abraham were all involved at Wembley and others, such as Reece James, have also impressed in season-long moves away from the club.

Morris’ inside knowledge would be a major asset in deciding which of these youngsters have the capability to step into the first-team picture.

It is also probable, although by no means certain, that Lampard would be given time if results did not go well.

Rafael Benitez, whose Newcastle future is uncertain, is also tipped, despite the fact Chelsea’s fans have no love of the 59-year-old, something they made clear during his six months in temporary charge following the dismissal of Roberto di Matteo in 2012, when fans made banners demanding his exit even though he won the Europa League.

Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo is also of interest. Santo has taken Wolves from the Championship to seventh in the Premier League – and European qualification – in the space of two seasons. He is known to be hugely ambitious and for all the promise Wolves have shown during his time at Molineux, Chelsea still represents a significant step up.

And, given Chelsea have already had six Italian managers and he has won five Serie A titles in a row, Massimiliano Allegri cannot be discounted, even if the 51-year-old has said he intends to take a year out of football.

Source – BBC News

Argentina legend Diego Maradona will not stay on as head coach of Mexican second division club Dorados de Sinaloa, the 58-year-old’s lawyer confirmed on Thursday.

Diego Maradona has spent the least two league seasons as manager of Mexican club Dorados. Hector Vivas/Getty Images

The 1986 World Cup winner guided Dorados to two consecutive league finals in the two seasons he was in charge, but has chosen to step aside to focus on his health.

“Diego Maradona has decided not to continue as Dorados head coach,” Maradona’s lawyer Matias Morla wrote on Twitter. “After medical advice, he’ll dedicate time to his health and undergo two operations: on his shoulder and knee. Thankful to all the Dorados family and we will continue the dream in the future.”

Maradona made headlines for his bizarre behavior in appearances at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, and his return to Sinaloa at the start of the year was delayed when internal bleeding in his stomach was discovered during routine examinations.

When he did return to Mexico, Dorados’ form picked up and the team made the final of the Ascenso MX Clausura, before losing to newly promoted Atletico San Luis over two legs.

“Diego!” Wrote Dorados president Antonio Nunez. “The doors at Dorados will always be open for you. Your health comes first; your home is here and will be here.”

The news of Maradona being appointed Dorados de Sinaloa head coach last Sept. 6 was something of a shock and split opinion.

“Together we surprised the world,” read a tweet from Dorados. “We showed that football is passion and heart.”

Source – ESPN

An Arsenal youth coach has been banned and fined by the FA after his “aggressive” behaviour reduced a female teenage referee to tears.

Alex Nichols is said to have left the female official – described as a ‘child referee’ – feeling “humiliated, belittled and bullied” after prolonged and “increasingly aggressive” outbursts from the sideline during an U9’s game, according to the FA’s written reasons.

It was alleged Mr Nichols shouted derogatory comments, such as “Oh my god!” and “Are you having a laugh?!”, and continued to challenge every decision she made after his team conceded what he perceived to be an offside goal, before later being denied a penalty.

The report also states that Mr Nichols was asked by the official to “go away” after “screaming at her and running down the sideline”, to which he “responded that he was going nowhere”.

Nichols admitted a charge of improper conduct, accepting that at some points during the match his behaviour was inappropriate for an U9 game.

Evidence submitted by two members of the coaching staff from opposition club Reading noted the referee was crying during the closing moments of the game, and described Nichols’ demeanour as “intimidating.”

In a statement issued via Arsenal, he denied that he shouted, but acknowledged he later raised his voice. However, he refuted that after the incident he carried on shouting and screaming and running up and down the side line.

Nichols strongly denied a second charge of using abusive and/or insulting language towards a referee after being accused by the official of replying “how classy, little prick” when she refused to shake hands at the end of the game.

Nichols told the commission he responded to the handshake snub by simply replying “OK fine” before walking away.

In a written response to the panel relating to the first charge, Arsenal said that “aside from Mr Nichols’ behaviour following the penalty decision, he behaved in his normal way, no different from how he has performed his role as a coach for the previous 12 years.”

On the second charge, Arsenal revealed he had never used such language at work before and had never been accused of using such language.

The appeals panel decided that on the balance o

Nichols was disciplined immediately (before the club received notice of the charge from The FA) and he was removed from coaching duties and excluded for a number of Academy matches in line with the club’s safeguarding procedures. He was also given an official disciplinary warning from Arsenal.

An Arsenal spokesperson told Sky Sports News: “This is an internal matter. At Arsenal, we do not accept or tolerate behaviour of this nature, and the appropriate actions have been taken.”

f probabilities, the referee, despite being in an emotional state, was highly unlikely to have misheard the exchange at the final whistle.

They concluded Nichols had displayed wholly inappropriate conduct for a coach of Under 9s towards a child referee.

Nichols was disciplined immediately (before the club received notice of the charge from The FA) and he was removed from coaching duties and excluded for a number of Academy matches in line with the club’s safeguarding procedures. He was also given an official disciplinary warning from Arsenal.

An Arsenal spokesperson told Sky Sports News: “This is an internal matter. At Arsenal, we do not accept or tolerate behaviour of this nature, and the appropriate actions have been taken.”

Source – Sky Sports