8 June 2005 Premiership Spending Breaks £1 billion Mark Money spent on players and wages by Premiership clubs topped £1.3 billion in the 2003-2004 season according to a report published by accountants Deloitte & Touche. Other findings of the report : Chelsea have the highest wage bill in World football, paying out £115 million Manchester United still have the highest turnover, generating £172 million £263 million was paid out in transfer fees to players and agents outside the Premiership The gap in revenue between the Premiership and Serie A has now widened to a massive £823 million Matchday revenues from Premiership clubs are more than the combined revenues from Ligue 1, the Bundesliga and Serie A Caparros Takes Charge of Depor Joaquin Caparros has replaced Javier Irureta as coach of Depor less than a week after resigning from Sevilla. Koeman Joins Benfica Ronald Koeman has succeeded Giovanni Trapattoni as coach of Benfica. The 42 year old quit as coach of Ajax in February. Koeman is the second Dutch coach to head for Portugal - Co Adrianse took charge of Porto last month. Four Teams Qualify for World Cup Finals Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Iran have qualified for next years World Cup finals following victories in matches played earlier today. Japan became the first team to join hosts Germany with a 0-2 away win over North Korea. Saudi Arabia beat Uzbekistan 3-0, South Korea beat Kuwait 4-0 and Iran beat Bahrain 1-0. Bowyer Charged Under Public Order Act Newcastle midfielder Lee Bowyer will appear in court after being charged under the Public Order Act for his on-filed clash with team-mate Kieron Dyer. 7 June 2005 Auxerre Announce Roux's Replacement Jacques Santini has succeeded Guy Roux as coach of Auxerre. 66 year old Guy Roux stepped down after 44 years in charge. Fiorentina Unveil Prandelli Cesare Prandelli has been named new coach of Fiorentina. Prandelli resigned from Roma at the start of the season to look after his sick wife and succeeds Dino Zoff. Lebouef Retires Franck Lebouef has announced his retirement aged 37. Lebouef won 50 caps for France and a World Cup winners medal in 1998. He joined Chelsea from Strasbourg in 1996 and spent five years at the Blues before leaving for Marseille in 2001. He played the last two years of his career at Al-Wakra in Qatar. He said : "I'm finishing, there's no point in making a song and dance about it." Atletico Appoint Bianchi Atletico Madrid have appointed Carlos Bianchi as their new coach. Bianchi enjoyed phenomenal success in his two spells with Boca Juniors, winning four Argentinean Championships, three Copa Libertadores and two Intercontinental Cup Finals. Bianchi has coached in Europe before without much success including a disastrous few months in charge at Roma. Carlos Alberto Sacked Azerbaijan have sacked Carlos Alberto, captain of Brazil's legendary 1970 World Cup winning team following four consecutive defeats which included an 8-0 thrashing by Poland in March. Glazers On Board Manchester United have announced that the sons of new owner Malcolm Glazer, Avram, Bryan and Joel, have joined the board as non-executive directors following the resignations of chairman Roy Gardner and non-executive directors Ian Much and Jim O'Neill. 6 June 2005 Ancelotti To Experiment "The three-man defence? Sometimes we have tried to play with the wingers wide and in certain games this choice paid dividends. This year it was a bit improvised, we will try it better this summer. For all of us it is better to have some innovations, also to make training more exciting, to break the routine and stimulate the attention. If it is possible, we will try to have at our disposal at least five strikers. This is the package where we suffered most due to injuries." - Carlo Ancelotti Italian Government Announce Plans To Combat Hooliganism The Italian government plan on introducing personalised, numbered tickets for all seats and improve closed-circuit television. Interior Minister Giuseppe Pisanu said : 'These decrees will help restore order and calm to the stadiums." Spalletti Resigns Luciano Spalletti has resigned as coach of Udinese, despite sealing the clubs first ever Champions League place. It's rumoured that Spalletti will take charge of Roma. Spalletti said : "I consider my cycle at Udinese to have concluded. I don't feel I am able to guarantee fourth place every year for the club. There is no room for a change of mind in my thoughts. For the moment, officially, haven't had contact with anyone. The thought that it won't be me on the bench when Udinese play in the Champions League saddens me, I can't deny that. Being involved in the Champions League is the major goal in our profession but there are also the week-to-week results that take you to that level. I'll restart from there. Udinese, even without me, can sleep easily." Holger Takes Over Wolfsburg Wolfsburg have appointed Holger Fach as their new coach. Fach was sacked by Borussia Moenchengladbach last October. 5 June 2005 Moratti Put Ends to Big Spending "The period of crazy transfer fees will not repeat itself at Inter. I am sick of shelling out millions only to be left empty-handed. I would sell up, but there are no buyers. My love for Inter is matched only by my suffering for her. I bought the club despite the fact my children were the only ones who thought it a good idea." Inter president Massimo Moratti Roux Retires After Dramatic French Cup Victory 66 year old Guy Roux has retired after 44 years in charge of Auxerre. Roux started out as player coach of Auxerre aged just 23 in 1961 when the club were playing in the lower leagues of French football. In 1980 Auxerre were promoted as Division Two champions and have remained in the top flight every since. Roux's greatest success came in 1996 when he lead Auxerre to a league and cup double. Saturday's injury time 2-1 French Cup final victory over Sedan was Roux's fourth French Cup title. Auxerre's president Jean-Claude Hamel cited health reasons for Roux's retirement. 4 June 2005 Chelsea Deny Illegal Approach An official statement read : "Chelsea Ltd made an official approach to Tottenham Hotspur for permission to speak to Frank Arnesen two weeks ago. Chelsea Ltd has been in direct discussions with Tottenham for the last two weeks on this subject." Arnesen Suspended in New Tapping-up Claim An official statement read : "Chelsea Football Club has made an approach to sporting director, Frank Arnesen, in direct breach of Premier League rules. This approach was made both prior to requesting permission and without permission from the club. Tottenham Hotspur Football Club refused permission for any discussions to take place. Notwithstanding that he is subject to a contract and holds wide-ranging responsibilities and commitments to all parties at Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, Frank has indicated that he wishes to move to Chelsea Football Club. Accordingly, the Board of Tottenham Hotspur plc has suspended Frank Arnesen with immediate effect. The club is currently in discussions with its legal advisors and a further announcement will be made in due course." 3 June 2005 Sergi Retires Atletico Madrid defender Sergi Barjuan, more commonly known as Sergi, has announced his retirement aged 33 : "I've thought long and hard about the possibilities on offer to me, but I've decided it's time to leave football and concentrate on my family" Sergi made his name at Barcelona, winning three league titles (1994, 1998 and 1999), two Spanish Cups (1997 and 1998) and a European Cup winners Cup (1997). He won 56 caps for Spain. Sammer Sacked "Following Stuttgart’s unsatisfying season ending, we had the feeling a clear change was required to bounce back. It was not an easy decision but Stuttgart and Matthias Sammer came together to the conclusion it was the appropriate step to take. We thank Matthias for his work as manager, and wish him the best for the future." Stuttgart President Erwin Staudt 2 June 2005 Troussier Sacked Marseille have sacked coach Philippe Troussier. A replacement is expected to be announced next week. Beckham Plans Third Academy in 2007 David Beckham has revealed plans to open a third soccer academy in Asia in 2007. His first two schools are in London and Los Angeles. Barca Directors Quit An official statement on the club's website read : "Sporting vice chairman Sandro Rosell and director Josep M Bartomeu announced Thursday in a letter to the club they were resigning as directors of FC Barcelona." Earlier in the week Jordi Mones, the club's head of medical services, also resigned although it's not known if the resignations were related. The director's are thought to be unhappy (!) with the direction of the club under President Joan Laporta. Former Stars to Play in Charity Match Eric Cantona, Claudio Caniggia, Rudi Voller, Frank Leboeuf, Youri Djorkaeff, Andreas Brehme, Carlos Dunga and Gustavo Poyet will team up against former Thai internationals in a benefit match for the victims of the Tsunami disaster on the 30th of July in Bangkok. Pele will lead out the all star team. Papadopulo Quits Lazio's Giuseppe Papadopulo has quit after failing to reach an agreement over a new contract. Papadopulo's current contract expires at the end of June. Zeman Leaves Lecce Lecce have announced that they will not be renewing the contract of coach Zdenek Zeman when it runs out at the end of this month. Keeper in Fake Assassination Attempt Goalkeeper Leo Fernandez has been sentenced to 60 hours of community service after faking an assassination attempt on himself. Fernandez, who plays for the Bolivian national team, claimed two men on a motorbike fired at his car when he stopped at a traffic light. There appears to be no motive. Sevilla Coach Resigns Joaquin Caparros has resigned as coach of Sevilla after five seasons in charge. Sevilla finished six in La Liga. Caparros didn't give a reason for his resignation but has been linked with Atletico Madrid and Deportivo. Ono out With Broken Foot Feyenoord midfielder Shinji Ono has been ruled out for several months with a broken foot sustained during training with Japan ahead of their World Cup qualifier against Bahrain. Cagliari Coach Resigns Daniele Arrigoni has resigned as coach of Cagliari : "I've decided to leave. President Massimo Cellino wanted me to stay but I want to work closer to home (Cesena). After working for four years in four different cities, all a long way from my family, he understood and didn't stand in my way. I can reveal that I have already turned down Lecce for the same reason I am leaving Cagliari, given the distance from Cesena." 1 June 2005 Chelsea, Mourinho and Cole Found Guilty of Tapping-Up Chelsea, Jose Mourinho and Ashley Cole have been found guilty of breaching Premier League rules following an illicit meeting at a London hotel between Ashley Cole Jose Mourinho, Chelsea's chief executive Peter Kenyon and Pini Zahavi, an agent with close links to Mourinho. Chelsea have been fined €444,896 and given a suspended three point deduction i.e. if they are found guilty of tapping-up again they will be deducted three league three points. Mourinho was fined €296,595 and Cole fined €148,297. Solicitor Graham Shear, speaking on behalf of Ashley Cole, said : "This sends entirely the wrong message. English football have lost the message that a footballer is an employee, it is more like the master and servant of centuries ago. Footballers are modern employees but they can only speak to a future employer five weeks before their contract ends. This leaves the clubs entirely in control and it is unsatisfactory. It is unlikely that Ashley Cole will ever be tempted in this way again." A Premier League spokesman was critical of Mourinho's part in the scandal : "Jose Mourinho played a pivotal role in the meeting. He agreed to accompany Peter Kenyon even though he did not have to go and was the key component in the matter." And also asked for FIFA to look into the roles of the respective agents, Pini Zahavi for Chelsea and Cole's agent Jonathan Barnett. Bajevic Resigns After Winning Double Olympiakos coach Dusan Bajevic has resigned, despite winning a league and cup double, because he believes the team lacks unity : "I feel that unity in a team is very significant for its success. With my presence, Olympiakos would not have had this unity in the new season and I don't want to create a split in the team. I am proud of my achievements with the team this season. But perhaps this was not enough for the major European dream which Olympiakos seeks." Italy Scrap Play-offs Under current rules teams battling for the championship, European places and against relegation face play-offs if they finish level on points. From next season head to head encounters between the teams in question will be used to determine league placings. Synthetic pitches have also been given the go ahead and suspended games will now continue from the minute in which they were suspended. Hamann Played On With Broken Foot Dietmar Hamann has revealed that he played extra time of last week's European Cup final victory over Milan with a broken foot : "I was determined to shake it off and it was such an unbelievable game that running on sheer adrenalin wasn't too much of a problem. By the time I walked to the penalty spot I'd forgotten all about it. All that mattered was making sure I scored." Gerets Replaces Hagi Belgian legend Erik Gerets have succeeded Gheorghe Hagi as coach of Galatasaray. Hagi resigned last week after the club finished third and missed out on a champions league place. Gerets also resigned last week as coach of Wolfsburg. Figo Released Real Madrid have released 32 year old Portuguese winger Luis Figo on a free transfer. Figo had a year left on his contract and has been linked with moves to Milan, Inter and Liverpool. Galliani Confirms Targets Adriano Galliani has confirmed that Milan are chasing Parma striker Alberto Gilardino. When questioned Milan's vice president said negotiations would not resume until Parma have completed their Serie A/Serie B play-off : "Parma have two very important games with Bologna coming up and we will not disturb them until after those games." Galliani also refused to rule out speculation linking the club with a move for Lazio fullback Massimo Oddo : "Oddo? Who knows? We’ll have to wait and see. There is still plenty of time, three months in fact, for transfers." Forlan Hits Back At Ferguson European Golden Ball Winner Diego Forlan has blamed Alex Ferguson for his failure in the Premiership and is hopeful of meeting his former club in the Champions League next season : "I was never given a proper run in the side by Ferguson to show what I could do. I never got a chance to feel settled in the team. At Villarreal it is totally different and I have played almost every game this season. I have scored more goals than anyone else in Spain and I am going to enjoy this. The main reason is that I am playing. I had a run of six or seven games with United and I was scoring goals but then I wouldn't play. It is difficult for a striker to stay sharp like that. Now I just hope I can return to Old Trafford in the Champions League next season. They will be in the draw with us so we could come out of the hat together."