Football Briefs Fifa inspections start

JOHANNESBURG – After all the understandably starry-eyed assessments about South Africa’s readiness to stage the 2010 World Cup from what might be termed friends and family, a Fifa inspection delegation of almost 20 “experts” began the task on Monday of evaluating four of the proposed new stadiums that are presently under construction.

Headed by Fifa’s South African-based World Cup delegate, Ron Delmont, the group kicked off their three-day tour with a visit to FNB’s Soccer City Stadium where the opening game and final of the World Cup are due to be staged. Other stadiums under construction to be evaluated include those in Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Durban, where the inspection team will also visit the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Convention Centre – the location for the World Cup’s preliminary round draws next month.Sundowns to face Benoni JOHANNESBURG – Mamelodi Sundowns were paired against giant killers Benoni Premier United at home for the lucrative Telkom Knockout quarterfinals during a function held at the Wanderers club in Johannesburg on Monday.Although the dates have not been finalized but the PSL in conjunction with the sponsors have penciled in Wednesday 24 October, Friday 26, Saturday 27 and Sunday the 28th for the games.The venues have also not yet been finalised.Benoni shocked a lot of people when they eliminated Orlando Pirates at Ellis Park in the previous round, snatching a dramatic 5-4 penalty win after the two teams were tied 1-1 at the end of extra time.PSL fines Orlando Pirates JOHANNESBURG – Orlando Pirates Football Club appeared in front of the PSL disciplinary committee on Monday evening.The club has been fined R150 000 with R100 000 suspended for twelve months.The suspended sentence from the Isaac Chansa incident of vicarious conduct on November 25, 2006 of R150 000 comes into effect.The effective payment of R200 000 must be paid within the next sixty days.Uefa to probe Dida incident LONDON – Uefa has opened disciplinary proceedings against AC Milan and their goalkeeper Dida following the Brazilian’s controversial substitution during last week’s Champions League defeat away to Celtic.Dida was carried off on a stretcher near the end of the Group D match after a Celtic fan invaded the pitch and appeared to make light contact with the goalkeeper.In a statement released on Uefa’s website (www.uefa.com), European soccer’s governing body said the case would be discussed by its disciplinary body tomorrow.Uefa said the proceedings had been instigated based on a paragraph of their disciplinary regulations which states that “players, officials and members, shall conduct themselves according to the principles of loyalty, integrity and sportsmanship”.Diouf quits international game LONDON – Senegal captain El Hadji Diouf announced on Monday he was ending his international career, citing organisational problems at the West African side.”I have stopped my international career,” Diouf told commercial radio station RFM in a telephone interview from England, where he plays club football for Premier League Bolton Wanderers.”There are so many problems with the national team.”The team has a scheduled friendly match in a week and we don’t even know who we are playing against.This is unacceptable,” said the 26-year-old striker, who has played for his country over 30 times.SupersoccerOther stadiums under construction to be evaluated include those in Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Durban, where the inspection team will also visit the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Convention Centre – the location for the World Cup’s preliminary round draws next month.Sundowns to face Benoni JOHANNESBURG – Mamelodi Sundowns were paired against giant killers Benoni Premier United at home for the lucrative Telkom Knockout quarterfinals during a function held at the Wanderers club in Johannesburg on Monday.Although the dates have not been finalized but the PSL in conjunction with the sponsors have penciled in Wednesday 24 October, Friday 26, Saturday 27 and Sunday the 28th for the games.The venues have also not yet been finalised.Benoni shocked a lot of people when they eliminated Orlando Pirates at Ellis Park in the previous round, snatching a dramatic 5-4 penalty win after the two teams were tied 1-1 at the end of extra time.PSL fines Orlando Pirates JOHANNESBURG – Orlando Pirates Football Club appeared in front of the PSL disciplinary committee on Monday evening.The club has been fined R150 000 with R100 000 suspended for twelve months.The suspended sentence from the Isaac Chansa incident of vicarious conduct on November 25, 2006 of R150 000 comes into effect.The effective payment of R200 000 must be paid within the next sixty days. Uefa to probe Dida incident LONDON – Uefa has opened disciplinary proceedings against AC Milan and their goalkeeper Dida following the Brazilian’s controversial substitution during last week’s Champions League defeat away to Celtic.Dida was carried off on a stretcher near the end of the Group D match after a Celtic fan invaded the pitch and appeared to make light contact with the goalkeeper.In a statement released on Uefa’s website (www.uefa.com), European soccer’s governing body said the case would be discussed by its disciplinary body tomorrow.Uefa said the proceedings had been instigated based on a paragraph of their disciplinary regulations which states that “players, officials and members, shall conduct themselves according to the principles of loyalty, integrity and sportsmanship”.Diouf quits international game LONDON – Senegal captain El Hadji Diouf announced on Monday he was ending his international career, citing organisational problems at the West African side.”I have stopped my international career,” Diouf told commercial radio station RFM in a telephone interview from England, where he plays club football for Premier League Bolton Wanderers.”There are so many problems with the national team.”The team has a scheduled friendly match in a week and we don’t even know who we are playing against.This is unacceptable,” said the 26-year-old striker, who has played for his country over 30 times.Supersoccer