Spurs gain advantage in Prague

UEFA Cup round-up

Duo leave Kilmarnock

In the last-32 of the UEFA Cup, Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane helped Tottenham Hotspur to a 1-2 win in Slavia Prague while El Hadji Diouf scored the only goal of the game as Bolton Wanderers established a lead over 10-man Atletico Madrid in their first leg tie at the Reebok Stadium.

Aberdeen held Bayern Munich to a 2-2 draw at Pittodrie to keep the tie alive for the second leg. Josh Walker gave the home side a surprise lead on 24 minutes but Miroslav Klose equalised five minutes later. Sone Aluko restored the Dons lead before the break but the Germans netted a second equaliser when Hamit Altintop rammed home the rebound after Jamie Langfield had parried his 53rd minute penalty.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has stated that plans to play Premier League matches abroad will never happen and any attempts to push the plans through could jeopardise the 2018 World Cup bid. Blatter said:

“We will make a decision on 14th March at the meeting of FIFA’s executive committee. We will say the national associations must not accept it. We must maintain football as a sport. It is not a show, or the Harlem Globetrotters, or a circus act. There is not any chance at all of me changing my mind. My mind is made up. If Mr Scudamore [Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore] says this will help England’s World Cup bid let him say it. There are many candidates for 2018. I can’t imagine when you go against the decision-making body for the World Cup with an initiative that will not be accepted by that body, that it will enhance your chances. It will not be diplomatic. If you don’t accept the authority of FIFA then you can’t expect to win favour. To try to have additional exposure and revenue by expanding the league around the world, I think this is not acceptable. It will not be acceptable to the FIFA executive committee, I am sure. This will never happen - at least this will not happen as long as I am the president of FIFA. We have not been contacted before by the league to ask us what we think of this idea. You speak about rude but I think it is an anti-responsibility. If you are the most prosperous league in the world and if you accept that everyone in football has a responsibility to maintain it not only as a business, but as a game. Then, all of a sudden you come out with a project which only has business and money behind it.”

Marco Tardelli is to become assistant manager to new Republic of Ireland team boss Giovanni Trapattoni.

The Football Association has appointed Quest - a firm of investigators - to conduct an audit into transfers in English football. The audit will look at certain dealings that took place in January’s transfer window and a selection of deals that occur during the summer of 2008. FA director of governance Jonathan Hall said:

“It will focus specifically on reviewing the FA’s processes in respect of the new Agents Regulations, assessing compliance with FA Rules and identifying any areas of poor practice within the industry.”

Business advisory firm Deloitte have published a new Football Money League, which is topped by Real Madrid for the third straight year with Manchester United second in the table based on revenues generated during 2006/7. There are a total of seven British clubs in the top 20 positions. Chelsea are fourth while Arsenal are fifth. Liverpool lie in eighth position, Tottenham Hotspur are 11th and Newcastle United 14th. Scottish champions Celtic are in 17th place.

Barnsley have signed West Bromwich Albion keeper Luke Steele on loan.

Sheffield United manager Bryan Robson has left the club after turning down an offer to become director of football. Kevin Blackwell will take over until the season ends with Sam Ellis as his assistant.

The red card shown to Watford midfielder John-Joe O’Toole during Tuesday’s 1-0 win over Leicester City at Vicarage Road has been overturned. The 19-year-old was judged to have denied Stephen Clemence a goalscoring opportunity in the first half.

Chester City have appointed former manager Steve Mungall as Bobby Williamson’s new assistant to replace Jimmy Bone who has left the club.

Lincoln City manager Peter Jackson is to undergo treatment for throat cancer. Coaches Iffy Onuora and Grant Brown will be placed in caretaker charge of the Imps when Jackson has radiotherapy next month. Jackson said:

“It’s cancer cells in my throat which have turned to cancer in the last four weeks. I’ll have to go on a series of lengthy treatments in March. I will be off for one month with maybe two to three weeks recovery after that.”

Kilmarnock’s Eric Skora has retired from professional football due to a recurring injury while striker Aime Koudou has also left Rugby Park after being released from his contract by mutual consent.

Nathan Davies