Football Dispatch

Summer Football
04 July 2007
Fernando Torres was unveiled as a Liverpool player, this afternoon. The 23-year-old Spanish international, fresh off a 26M-pound transfer from Atletico Madrid, was given the Reds' revered number-9 shirt at the club's 3-o'clock press conference. Torres was visibly gushing at the move, remarking that his new side is "one of the best, if not the best, clubs in Europe." He also stated that "it would have been hard for me to reject Liverpool's offer." While the player had hope to sign a 4-year contract at Anfield, he eventually buckled to the club's 6-year offer.

Ken Bates has issued the latest string of threats and dire forecasts regarding the future of Leeds United. The club owner has warned that Leeds will fold if HM Revenue succeeds in its appeal to recover 7.7M-pounds in back-taxes owed by the football club. After Leeds went into administration in early May, Bates was successful in buying back the club and re-financing its debt at the cut-rate price of 1p-per-pound. HM Revenue and Customs, however, claim to have not been privy to the hastily conducted discussions prior to the 04 May buy-back. As a result, they are appealing the decision with an eye to regaining their money. For the time being, Leeds are holding ticket monies in a special bank account and will cash-out to ticket-holders if they are unable to begin the season in League-One. "Urgent meetings are taking place today," read a statement released by the club, "between the administrators, the club, and the Football League to establish how to move forward following the appeal lodged by HMRC, yesterday." Bates has been adamant that any agreement other than that which permitted him to purchase and re-finance the club will result in its withdrawing from the Football League.

Sven-Goran Eriksson was at Manchester City's training-ground at Carrington, yesterday, as the player's reported for their pre-season regimen. The former England boss met and addressed the squad for the first time and will meet with reporters tomorrow. Although majority owner Thaksin Shinawatra has every intention on hiring Eriksson as City manager, the 59-year-old Swede is reluctant to commit himself until the former Thai prime minister has secured a 75% holding in the club. Just last week it was speculated that Eriksson had arranged an emergency deal which would have seen him assume the managerial role at Recreativo Huelva -- a position which was filled by former Panathanaikos boss Victor Munoz yesterday. Should Eriksson finally be unveiled at Eastlands, his transfer wish-list is thought to include Yakubu, Jermaine Defoe, Freddie Ljungberg, and Nigel Reo-Coker.

Defoe, for his part, appears to have finally come to the realization that his spell at Tottenham Hotspur is over. Spurs manager Martin Jol has offered the 24-year-old England striker a new 5-year contract; but Defoe seems resigned to the reality that with Darren Bent, Robbie Keane, Mido, and Dimitar Berbatov already in the fold, his status would be that of a mere squad player. Manchester City are interested in the former West Ham player; and each of Aston Villa, Portsmouth, and Sunderland are kicking tires as well.

Three more countries qualified for the last-8 of the Copa America, Tuesday. Peru's 2-2 draw with Bolivia earned Julio Cesar Uribe's blanquirroja the second seed in Group-A. Venezuela emerge as group winners -- courtesy of a 0-0 draw with Uruguay. The Uruguaians, World Cup winners in 1930 and 1950, also advance to the quarter-finals as one of two 3rd-seeded clubs.

DC United striker Jaime Moreno put Bolivia into the lead after 25-minutes at Estadio Metropolitano de Merita on Tuesday afternoon. But Claudio Pizarro answered for Peru just 9-minutes later. The newly-signed Chelsea forward headed past goalkeeper Huga Suarez after connecting with a superb free-kick from Juan Carlos Marino. Bolivia went ahead again, however, through Jhasmany Campos in 1st-half stoppage-time. La Verde held to their lead through most of the second half. Pizarro, as it happened, had other ideas -- he and Marino recreating their 1st-half goal in the 85th-minute. The draw leaves Peru with 4-points in Group-A at the conclusion of the Group Phase -- good for second-place in the bracket.

Tuesday's evening contest had Venezuela and Uruguay tied together in a rather meaningless encounter. The earlier result ensured that Venezuela were guaranteed a place in the quarter-finals; while Uruguay required merely a draw to go through. With nothing to play for, nothing of note occurred through the 90-minutes. The hosts did carry much of the play, however, and narrowly missed chances through Juan Arayo, Ciancarlo Maldenado, Jose Torrealbe, and Cesar Gonzalez. The splitting of the points leaves Venezuela top Group-A with 5-points -- two better than third-place Uruguay.