Football Dispatch

Weekend Football
15 February 2008
by Jerrad Peters

Ronaldo underwent surgery in Paris, today, to repair torn ligaments in his left knee. The 31-year-old AC Milan striker suffered the injury during a 1-1 draw with Livorno at the San Siro on Wednesday. Out of contract at season’s end, the nine-month rehabilitation period may threaten the future of his European career.

Nevertheless, the horrific injury has stunned the Rosoneri. And with Saturday’s match at Parma looming, it remains to be seen if the squad can overcome the shock in time for kickoff. Having climbed from the bottom half of the table to fifth in Serie A, and just days ahead of a Champions’ League encounter with Arsenal, the timing of incident could not have been worse. Still, manager Carlo Ancelotti is heartbroken at having lost the Brazilian icon for the remainder of the season.

“We are all very sad and worried about what happened to Ronaldo,” said the Milan boss. “I don’t want to say his career is over because only time can put the word ‘end’ to his career.”

If, in fact, the all-time leading scorer in World Cup competition can regain full match-fitness, it will be the third time in 11-years that he has overcome ruptured knee tendons in order to resume his career. In both 1998 and 2000, he suffered similar injuries to his right knee.

South Korea’s Football Association was sent into a rage, yesterday, after learning that North Korea will not fly the South Korean flag or play the South Korean national anthem when the peninsular archrivals meet in a World Cup qualifier next month in Pyongyang. Speaking on behalf of the KFA, Chung Mong-joon stated, “There is no reason why North Korea cannot raise South Korea’s flag and play our anthem.”

Previously, South Korea has allowed the North to fly its own flag and play its national song, Aegukka, before international matches in Seol. The two nations, still technically at war, have participated under a common banner at previous Olympic Games. But with both the North and South claiming jurisdiction over the other, it is a gesture that Seol views as an affront to its sovereignty.

Uzbek metals tycoon Alisher Usmanov has increased his interest in Arsenal Football Club to 24 per-cent. Usmanov’s Red & White Holdings company, chaired by former Arsenal Vice-Chairman David Dein, is now the club’s second-largest stakeholder after Daniel Fiszman and his 24.11 per-cent.

Usmanov purchased an initial interest of 14.58 per-cent in August, 2007 – paying 75M-pounds for Dein’s shares. Aside from his involvement with Arsenal, Usmanov dabbles in real estate and is also an avid art collector. He spent six years in a Soviet prison during the 1980s on fraud and corruption charges.

Bryan Robson is no longer the manager of Sheffield United. After a sour relationship with the club’s fans that deteriorated further over the weekend, the 51-year-old was relieved of his duties during a face-to-face meeting with chairman Kevin McCabe in Brussels, Wednesday.

“He was of the opinion that it was best if he left,” remarked McCabe. “He felt the element of fans who were against him would remain against him.”

After recording just nine wins and spending much of the season in the bottom third of the Championship ledger, Robson was finally pushed to the limit by the Blades supporters after last Saturday’s 0-0 draw to Scunthorpe at Bramall Lane. While conducting an interview with the BBC after the match, Robson blamed the lackluster effort of his players on the conduct of the home fans.

The comments only threw gas on an already blazing fire; and McCabe summoned the former Manchester United captain to Brussels shortly thereafter.

Alain Nkong is being targeted by Tottenham Hotspur. That is, of course, if the player can be taken at his word. For while the north London club has yet to comment on the speculation, Nkong persists in claiming that he has been in contact with White Hart Lane regarding a summer transfer.

The 28-year-old was a stand-out performer for Cameroon at the recently-concluded African Nations Cup. Currently playing for Atlante in Mexico, it remains unclear whether he can be taken at his word. After an eye-catching three weeks in Ghana, he may be trying to capitalize on the exposure and increase his value by claiming that a big, foreign club has come in for his services.