Real Madrid president Florentino: I’d sign many Barcelona players

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez admits he would've liked to have signed several of Barcelona 's stars in the summer.

Before last night's defeat at the Nou Camp, both Perez and Barca counterpart Joan Laporta attended a president's function in the afternoon.

Among the activities was an open forum and one of the questions asked was who each president would like to sign from the opposing team.

Florentino answered: "Many Barca players. They are a great team and most importantly as a whole. In the last year they've had a great season."
In contrast, Laporta replied: "Madrid has a great players but we are very happy with what we have."

source:www.tribalfootball.com

Benitez faces crisis with dressing-room disharmony

Rafael Benite is facing yet another internal crisis as ESPN Soccernet has learned that the players are unhappy with the "bad atmosphere" within the dressing room.

A backlash is to be expected following the club's exit from the Champions League, but it is far more disturbing to learn that the negative environment has existed for some time.

An agent of one of the Liverpool superstars was guarded about the players' state of mind but revealed that the atmosphere within the dressing room at Anfield has been an issue for some time.

"The atmosphere is really bad," he told ESPN Soccernet. "There are a lot of unhappy players around."

Asked if those players were seeking to move away, he replied: "I am sure that there will be some players who would like to move on now, that's for sure."

With the January transfer window opening in five weeks, this is the time when players will be thinking of instructing their agents to find them new clubs.

But moving in January is notoriously difficult and, while Benitez would dearly love to ditch some under-performers and bring in new talent, the whole of Europe is aware of the falling value of their players and the club's need to bring in cash before they can buy due to their financial position.

Not only do Liverpool need to win the derby to maintain their top-four hopes, but the scrutiny will be on how the players react. Benitez is sure to inform them that they will need to perform at their best to convince everyone that he has restored harmony within the camp.

Benitez has been given assurances about his future, and five months into a brand new five-year contract, naturally the current owners would be loath to ditch their manager, not least because of the expense involved.

But the cost of failing to qualify for the Champions League next season will put intolerable strain on the club's finances, restricting buying power and making it difficult to attract the world's best players.

The American owners are committed to finding a new investor willing to buy a 50% stake and to raise £100 million, but so far there are no takers. Any investor would become embroiled in the in-house political squabbling that has marred relationships in the boardroom ever since Gillett and Hicks fell out.

source: www.soccernet.com

Higuain puts Real in pole position

Real Madrid took a step closer to the last 16 of the Champions League after easing past FC Zurich in a match that saw the return to action of Cristiano Ronaldo following injury.

Manchester United 0-1 Besiktas HQ Highlights UEFA Champions League (25-11-09)

Manchester United surrendered their 23-match unbeaten home record in the Champions League and missed the chance to secure top spot in Group A when losing 1-0 to Besiktas.

Fifa to meet over play-off issues

Fifa has called for an extraordinary general meeting in December to discuss incidents at the World Cup play-offs.

It is likely Thierry Henry's handball during the Republic of Ireland-France match will be discussed, though a replay has already been ruled out.

Crowd trouble before, during and after Algeria's victory over Egypt could also come under the microscope.

Fifa is also keen to discuss football betting irregularities and issues surrounding refereeing in matches.

Apart from the incidents in the play-offs, the Iraqi football association has been suspended for government interference and 17 people arrested in connection with allegations of match-fixing in 200 games in nine different European countries.

Farquhar added: "Extraordinary meetings of Fifa's executive committee are unusual.

"At this point Fifa is unable to expand much further on its statement announcing the meeting but these issues are threatening to overshadow the draw and preparations for the World Cup in South Africa. Clearly Fifa president Sepp Blatter wants action."

There was no doubt that the Henry handball, which effectively wrecked the Republic of Ireland's chances of reaching the World Cup, would be high on the agenda, he said.

But a senior Fifa source told the Press Association: "A replay is impossible. It would be against the rules of football."

However, the idea of having an extra referee's assistant behind each goal, as is the case in the Europa League, might well be discussed.

The system is being championed by Uefa president Michel Platini and would have to be approved by the International Football Association Board before it could be brought into the World Cup.

Scottish chief executive Gordon Smith, who sits on the IFAB along with the three other home nations and Fifa, said: "I've no doubt Michel Platini will use this incident to push the system and they may now decide to put it to the IFAB that they want to have it at the World Cup.

"I feel it has its advantages at the highest levels of the games. When there's massive TV coverage the problems are highlighted all over the world so this is something we may have to look at."

The meeting will take place on Wednesday next week in Cape Town, when executive committee members are already due for a meeting to discuss the seedings for next year's World Cup. The draw will be held two days later.

FAI request France replay

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) have lodged a formal complaint with FIFA over the controversial World Cup play-off defeat to France and have urged world football's governing body to replay the match.

Les Bleus striker Thierry Henry clearly handled the ball to set up William Gallas' decisive goal as France drew 1-1 at the Stade de France on Wednesday night, winning the two-legged tie 2-1 on aggregate.

"The handball was recognised by the FIFA commissioner, the referee observer and the match officials, as well as by the player himself," the FAI said.

The goal has caused outrage across Europe and the FAI share the view of Irish Justice Minister Dermot Ahern and assistant Republic of Ireland coach Liam Brady who have both called for the game to be replayed.

"The blatantly incorrect decision by the referee to award the goal has damaged the integrity of the sport and we now call on FIFA, as the world governing body for our sport, to organise for this match to be replayed," the FAI said.

FIFA ordered Uzbekistan to replay Bahrain in a play-off for the 2006 World Cup in Germany after the referee made a mistake when a penalty had been awarded.

"The Football Association of Ireland is hoping that FIFA and its disciplinary committee will, on behalf of football fans worldwide, act in a similar fashion so that the standards of fair play and integrity can be protected," the FAI added.

However, in the aforementioned instance, the referee was guilty of wrongly applying the rules rather than missing an offence. An indirect free-kick was awarded against Uzbekistan when one of their players encroached on the Bahrain penalty area as the Uzbeks successfully converted a penalty. The correct interpretation would have been to order the penalty to be retaken.

FAI chief executive John Delaney also confirmed that his organisation had contacted their French counterparts as they continue their quest to arrange a replay.

"I really believe the integrity of the game has been questioned last night," Delaney said. "The governing body of world football have to step up to the plate and accede to our call for a replay.

"We have got to do what we have to do. We owe it to the players, who were magnificent last night. The supporters were incredible. It is up to the people who govern the game now. Every time I go to a FIFA congress I hear about fair play and integrity.

"This was not a league game. This was a defining game with the whole world watching and if FIFA believe in fair play and integrity, this is their opportunity to step forward.

"From the French FA point of view they need to look at themselves in this situation. Henry is their captain and a wonderful footballer but does he want to be like Diego Maradona and his legacy to be this handball, this goal that got them to the World Cup in an unjust manner?"

Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni wants FIFA to explain their choice of referee for the game but accepts that there is no chance of the match being replayed.

FIFA confirmed on Thursday that they have received an official complaint from the FAI. A spokesman said: "We have received the formal request from the Football Association of Ireland regarding a replay of the match and FIFA will now look at this."

Ukraine Vs Greece 0-1 World cup Playoff Highlight

Dimitris Salpigidis scored the only goal and Greece got a place at the 2010 World Cup courtesy of a victory over Ukraine in Donetsk.