Scolari says ‘not now’ to England

FA slated after Big Phil’s rebuff

Sky retain rights

- Having seemingly been set to take charge after the summer, Luiz Felipe Scolari sensationally withdraws his interest in the England head coach post.
Speaking from Portugal’s hotel location for the World Cup in Germany, the Brazil World Cup winner blames media intrusion stating: “If that is part of another culture, it is not part of my culture.”
Other theories suggest he did not want the Football Association to release details of his intended appointment until his contract with Portugal ran out in July or he was using the situation to extend his deal with the Portuguese FA (PFF). Scolari later added: “I am committed to the Portuguese FA until the end of the World Cup and maybe longer.”
Gilberto Madail, the president of the PFF, comments: “After his decision today, he is very popular in Portugal and Portuguese people would be very happy to have him for another two years at least.”
Further speculation also suggests Scolari’s family had been subjected to death threats which were believed to have originated in Portugal.

- While the Football Association reflect on Luiz Felipe Scolari’s announcement, they come under a storm of criticism from the press.
Martin Lipton (The Mirror) blasts “the country which gave the planet its greatest game has made itself a global laughing stock.”
James Lawton (The Independent) states Scolari’s withdrawal has “left the administration of England’s international football in a state of staggering disrepair.”
Henry Winter (Daily Telegraph) compares the FA to “a naive English tourist led on and then let down by a heartless Latin temptress”.
Steven Howard (The Sun) describes the selection process as “a totally complete and predictable shambles”.
Matt Dickinson (The Times) believes the situation is in such disarray that he advises punters to “not put a penny yet on any of the candidates”.
Richard Williams (The Guardian) considers the FA’s plight as “their current panjandrums now look as punch-drunk and gormless as any of their predecessors. Their humiliation is total.”
Jeff Powell (Daily Mail) suggests “they will have to get down on their hands and knees and beg craven forgiveness of all the solid, decent, capable English - and in O’Neill’s case Northern Irish - managers they have insulted.”

- It is revealed that BSkyB has won three of six 23-games rights packages to broadcast Premier League games for three seasons starting in 2007-08.
No further details are released and a second round of bidding for the final three TV rights packages will take place in due course.
BSkyB will not be allowed to retain their exclusive coverage after the European Commission ruled that one broadcaster would only be allowed a maximum of five of the packages.
Setanta, NTL, BT Group, Channel 4, ESPN and ITV have also been named as possible bidders for the remaining packages.

- A consortium led by former vice-chairman Peter Gadsby complete their takeover of Derby County with the Rams’ ownership transferred from Jeremy Keith and Steve Harding.
Gadsby will succeed John Sleightholme as chairman after he resigned earlier this month.
The new owners have taken ownership of Pride Park back from the Panama-based ABC Corporation, which was used to finance the last takeover in October 2003.

- The Football Association reject appeals from West Ham and Liverpool for wrongful dismissal for Hayden Mullins and Luis Garcia who were sent off in the closing minutes of Wednesday’s Premiership game at Upton Park.
As part of their three-game suspension, the duo will now miss next month’s FA Cup Final.