- 1 - Page 7 - OLYMPICS: Craig Bellamy strikes for Team GB NEWS HEADLINES pg. 3-6 OLYMPICS pg. 7-8 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE pg. 9 FRANCE: TROPHÉE DES CHAMPIONS pg. 10 RUSSIA: PREMIER LEAGUE pg. 11 BRAZIL: BRASILEIRÃO pg. 12-13 pg. 14 MEXICO: LIGA MX Page 10 – FRANCE: Lyon win Trophée des Champions USA: MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER pg. 15 TRANSFER ROUND-UP pg. 16-18 ARGENTINA: INICIAL PREVIEW pg. 19 Page 19 – ARGENTINA: Primera Division Preview - 2 - ENGLAND By reputation, Oscar operates in the classic Interestingly, the contrasts between the Brazilian No 10 role where his link play and success in signing Brazilians is quite stark THE BRAZILIAN between both Chelsea and United. Alex, individual-running threat should create a host of David Luiz and Ramires in particular, have all INVASION chances for Chelsea. proved productive at Stamford Bridge whereas Sir Alex’s strike rate with Brazilians, AS the Olympic football His current Olympic team-mate Lucas Moura and indeed many of his South American (pictured above) has, arguably, more buzz about signings, has been very poor. tournament begins to shift up him and already Sir Alex Ferguson has gone For all of Antonio Valencia’s positive through the gears two of public with his interest, a rare move by the contributions you need only look at Kleberson, Gabriel Heinze, Juan Veron and Manchester United manager who has also Brazil’s brightest talents are Alex Possebon to discover United’s Latino openly courted Arsenal’s Robin van Persie this busts while the jury is still out on the da Silva poised to keep shining in the summer. twins and midfielder Anderson, who must surely be on his last chance this season. Premier League this season. Lucas Moura is only 19 and one look at his No country of origin excites supporters more highlight reels on YouTube immediately conjure Already Oscar has signed for Chelsea (see page than Brazil, but for every Premier League 16) in a deal worth in excess of £25million and up memories of a young Cristiano Ronaldo – high success like Ramires or Juninho there is an will wear the blue No 11 shirt as manager on the spectacular but not exactly complete Alfonso Alves, Roque Junior, Robinho, Julio Roberto Di Matteo hopes that 21-year-old when it comes to the end product. Baptista or Jo to bring out the groans and sighs from their former devoted followers. attacking midfielder can help supply the ammunition for Fernando Torres, who appears As things stand United appear to be finalizing an Should United capture Lucas Moura it will be rejuvenated at long last. agreement with Sao Paulo close to £30million interesting to see if they can break miserable with a delegation led by the club’s chief scout luck on South American signings, or will Oscar Alongside Eden Hazard, Chelsea look set to Jim Lawlor having already visited Brazil. The provide Chelsea another reason to celebrate develop their own blend of pace and precision Mardi Gras at the Bridge. player himself, however, has revealed that no so Torres can get the kind of service provided decisions will be made until his Olympic Adam Redmond by Xabi Alonso and Steven Gerrard during his Writer – Irish Daily Mail prime days at Liverpool. campaign has come to an end. Twitter @AdamRedmond - 3 - ITALY Claims were made that Conte (then head The FIGC have assured that 13 clubs and 44 JUVE’ SUPPORT coach of Siena) was involved in plans to individuals are set to answer charges at arrange the outcome of games against Novara hearings which are due to begin on the 2nd and Albinoleffe. He has continually denied IN MATCH- such allegations. Italian reports state that if of August. Italian news agency AGI reported found guilty, Conte could be fined or face a that Serie B clubs Lecce and Grosseto face suspension from the game of around six FIXING SCANDAL the most serious charges, which if found months. guilty, could see the clubs suffer relegation. Juventus president Andrea Meanwhile, players Bonucci and Pepe have The past year has seen prosecutors in Bari Agnelli states that the Serie A been caught up in the scandal following their time at Bari and Udinese respectively. Bonucci and Cremona reveal details of an extensive champions’ have “full support” faces a referral for sporting fraud, while Pepe match-fixing racket which allegedly operated has been accused of failing to report for over a decade and stretched as far as for coach Antonio Conte and knowledge of attempted match-fixing in players Leonardo Bonucci and reference to a game between Bari and Udinese Singapore and South America. in 2010. Simone Pepe regarding the The current investigation echoes the President Agnelli (pictured above) responded infamous 2006 ‘Calciopoli’ scandal, which latest match-fixing charges. to Thursday’s announcement, said: “The recent events leave us all with a deep resentment, saw Juventus stripped of its 2004-05 and Although Conte has been cleared of a sporting tempered by the understanding that, the rules 2005-06 Serie A titles and relegated to Serie fraud charge, he will face further charges of of the process will clarify the course of this B. Three of Italy’s other leading clubs, AC allegedly failing to report attempts to fix two game that takes place before various degrees Milan, SS Lazio and Fiorentina, were also games during his tenure in charge of Siena. The of judgment. Juventus is a listed company, but Italian Football Federation (FIGC) made the above all we are a team and all of us dedicate penalised, along with a host of officials. announcement last Thursday after Conte was ourselves to work and passion for the bianconeri colours. The team helps you, you questioned by its chief prosecutor earlier this Will Burns fight, you lose and you win. But no one is ever month. Twitter @WillBurns6 alone. It will not happen this time either.” - 4 - ENGLAND NEWS SHORTS JOHN AUSTRALIA: Western Sydney Wanderers have secured a commercial boost ahead of their A-League debut by signing up TERRY NRMA Insurance as the team’s naming rights and major sponsor. The three-year partnership sees one of Australia’s CHARGED leading insurance firms team up with the A-League’s newest franchise. Football BY FA Federation Australia (FFA) unveiled plans in April for the new A-League club in Friday the 27th Western Sydney. The birth of the Wanderers will see the new franchise July saw Chelsea captain John Terry charged by the FA with create a rivalry with the existing Sydney improper conduct over his comments to Anton Ferdinand back in FC team. WORLD FOOTBALL WEEKLY’S COVERAGE OF THE A-LEAGUE BEGINS IN OCTOBER 2012 October. The centre back is alleged to have used "abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour” in the match against West WORLD CUP: Brazil’s Ministry of Justice have declared that the countries staging London rivals QPR. of the 2014 World Cup is set to create a major legacy in the form of security Just weeks ago Terry was cleared of racism at Westminster Magistrates’ Court but he has now been infrastructure. The SESGE, Ministry’s charged by the FA over his comments. In their statement the FA said “It is alleged that Terry used Extraordinary Secretariat for the Security abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour towards Queens Park Rangers’ Anton Ferdinand, of Big Events, has released their strategic contrary to FA rules.“ They also added in their statement that “This charge is the result of The FA’s long- plan for the 2014 FIFA World Cup to be standing enquiries into this matter, which were placed on hold pending the outcome of the criminal held in Brazil. The manuscript, approved trial, and relates to rules governing football only.” by the Presidential Staff Office and presented to Brazil’s states in June, is set to create unprecedented levels of Terry, 31, still has until the 3rd of August to appeal but has denied the charge. An official statement on cooperation between the country’s law the Chelsea website, released soon after the FA’s decision read like this “John Terry has denied an FA enforcement agencies and public services charge announced today (Friday) and will be requesting the opportunity for a personal hearing.” during the tournament. Some maybe confused why Terry was not found guilty by the Magistrates but was found guilty by the ENGLAND: Owen Hargreaves is training with the QPR first team at their FA. This is because FA cases only require proof "on the balance of probabilities" while court cases have Harlington base following his release to be proved “beyond reasonable doubt.” from Manchester City. The former City, Manchester United and Bayern Munich Esteemed European football expert and writer Waleed Abu Nada was kind enough to take time out of man joined the Hoops for their first his busy schedule to give us his take on the Terry case and his charge by the FA: ”3 days ago, Chelsea training session following their pre- skipper John Terry was charged by the FA for 'abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour towards season tour of Asia. However, manager Anton Ferdinand.' I wasn't surprised to be honest, nobody was. It appears that Terry was though, as he Mark Hughes was keen to stress there has denied an FA charge and will be requesting the opportunity for a personal hearing. I personally was no agreement for Hargreaves to join believe that whether Terry is guilty or innocent, he deserves the charge he received from the FA. Luis the club - and that he is just there to work Suarez was charged by the FA for allegedly racially abusing Patrice Evra without any video evidence.