The Malaysian Insider :: Sports
The Malaysian Insider :: Sports |
| Malaysia keen to walk tall among Premier League giants Posted: 10 Jun 2011 07:43 AM PDT SINGAPORE, June 10 — The unique scenario of playing Premier League giants Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool within seven days in an already congested schedule is a "handful" Malaysia are happy to cope with in order to improve their national team. Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) vice-president and national team manager Subahan Kamal said taking on the extra fixtures was important as the relationship the Asian country had built with England's leading clubs allowed them access to world-class expertise. "We in Malaysia are excited," Kamal told Reuters by telephone today. "It is not only the public and fans of Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea that are excited, even the management, the head coach, even the players are all very excited to play. "I think this is the first country in the world that will play three (Premier League) giants in a week... not even Brazil have done that."  File photo of Malaysian football team after playing their qualifying match for the 2012 London Olympic Games against Pakistan, in Lahore on March 9, 2011. — Reuters pic These matches come in the middle of first- and second-round World Cup Asian qualifiers with Malaysia heavy favourites to advance past Taiwan to set up a clash against bitter rivals Singapore. "Three (matches) is a handful and three is more than enough. "We feel that is good for us to prepare, hopefully, for our... second round of World Cup qualifiers to meet Singapore." Kamal said negotiations were ongoing as to what monetary benefit Malaysia would receive as part of the package for hosting the three teams but said that FAM had already fixed deals to train with the English clubs in the future. "It is a good start by having this partnership or relationship. We have opened the door so they (Malaysian players) can go there (England) and it will be good for us to work with them for the long term. "Chelsea have actually agreed to let us send our (national team) players over there to be with them for maybe a month and our coaches also," Kamal said. Liverpool already had a tie-up with the Kuala Lumpur Football Association and the duo were forming a youth development programme which would start within a month, while negotiations on sending players to train at Arsenal were ongoing, Kamal said. "Playing one game here is not going to make much of a difference but we have spoken to them (Arsenal) about sending our boys there so maybe when they are there for two or three weeks. I think there will be more of an opportunity to learn a trick or two and make themselves better." Kamal said the fixtures were organised by Hong Kong-based football events management and marketing consultants ProEvents, who had selected Malaysia because of their past success at supporting English club tours. "Two years ago they brought Man United and if you remember they played one game here and were supposed to fly off to Jakarta but because of some bombing issues they had to play a rematch in the next two or three days and the turnout of the fans was amazing. "ProEvents have seen the support and response they have had in Malaysia is amazing and tremendous. "The more clubs we have come over the better as the boys can learn from them and it is quite important for us including me to keep football alive in Malaysia and by bringing these idols over it will keep football healthy and give more room for development in Malaysia." Kamal said he hoped that despite Malaysia's love for the Premier League, more local fans would choose to wear the black and gold shirts of their country rather than those of Liverpool and Arsenal. "When Manchester United came over to Kuala Lumpur two years ago you would see a packed stadium and maybe 30,000 wore a Manchester United jerseys and less than 10,000 wore Malaysia ones. I would be surprised if it was the same this time around." — Reuters Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by USA Best Price. |
| Italy creates task force to combat match-fixing Posted: 10 Jun 2011 06:39 AM PDT  Signori leaves the court in Cremona on June 8, 2011. He was arrested last week over suspected match-fixing of second division and non-league games. — Reuters pic The task force, which is set to meet for the first time next week, will include Interior Ministry politicians, finance police and administrators from various sporting governing bodies. "We have analysed what has taken place in the last few days in football betting and we have tried to work out ways of preventing it occurring again," Maroni told reporters today. "We have therefore decided to create an investigative unit with the purpose of collecting information and assessing any signs of foul play emanating from bookmakers and others," said Maroni who suggested a similar body be formed at European level. He was speaking after a meeting with Giancarlo Abete, president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), and Gianni Petrucci, Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) president. "We can't rule out the hand of organised crime behind the illegal activities. I believe this to be an appropriate reaction by the world of sport and government to what has taken place." Last week, Cremona's flying squad headed a nationwide police swoop that resulted in the arrest of 16 people, including former Italy and Lazio striker Giuseppe Signori, accused of belonging to a betting ring after a six-month probe termed "last bet". Another 28, including Atalanta captain Cristiano Doni, were under investigation with allegations centring on 18 games from Serie B and Italy's lower divisions. Doni has denied any wrongdoing. Abete, who launched a sporting judicial inquiry into betting allegations involving Atalanta and Siena, who have just been promoted to Serie A, welcomed the minister's intervention. "It is an immediate response to a worldwide phenomenon," he said. "From the recent dark days, a new institutional element could emerge as a result." Petrucci also praised the government initiative. "It's a difficult time for sport. We can't deny it," he said. "Betting goes beyond sport but today knowing that the Ministry of the Interior is with us gives some relief. We feel responsible and will offer all the help we can." The latest allegations of corruption in Italian football follow the Calciopoli scandal of 2006 which revolved around securing favourable referees rather than betting. Juventus were demoted and stripped of their 2005 and 2006 titles by the sporting courts. In the criminal trial related to the affair, which has dragged on for years, prosecutors have said former Juventus general manager Luciano Moggi should face five years and eight months in jail for his involvement if he is found guilty. — Reuters Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by USA Best Price. |
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