FIFA Updates

NEW YORK (AP)—Chicago Fire defender Gonzalo Segares of Costa Rica has had a
suspension doubled to two games by Major League Soccer.

Segares struck Los Angeles defender Leonardo during an off-the-ball incident
in Saturday’s 1-1 draw.

Segares was sent off, and the MLS disciplinary committee decided Tuesday to
double his penalty from an automatic one-game suspension and $250 fine. In
addition to the suspension, he will be fined $500.

Segares will miss matches against Toronto on Wednesday and Philadelphia on
Saturday.

NAPLES, Italy (AP)—Diego Maradona wants to celebrate his 50th birthday
next month by playing in a game with his old Napoli teammates in the San Paolo
stadium.

Maradona told Monday’s Gazzetta dello Sport that “I’ve had everything in
life: a family that I adore, a brilliant career, and now thank god I don’t need
anything, not even money. My only desire is to return to Naples.”

Maradona turns 50 on Oct. 30. He led Napoli to Serie A titles in 1987 and
1990 and the 1989 UEFA Cup title.

Maradona has asked his former Napoli teammate Salvatore Bagni to organize
the birthday game.

Maradona’s contract as Argentina coach was not renewed after the squad lost
to Germany in the World Cup quarterfinals.

VIENNA (AP)—Austria captain Marc Janko has been ruled out for Wednesday’s
friendly against Switzerland with a thigh muscle injury.

The striker, who plays for Dutch champions Twente, said Tuesday that “it’s
no use to play when you’re only 60 percent fit. With every step, I would risk an
even worse injury.”

Austria Vienna striker Roland Linz, who returned to the squad after two
years, was expected as a replacement for Janko.

Goalkeeper Juergen Macho (thigh) and midfielder Daniel Beichler (groin) were
also out with injuries for the Switzerland game, which is Austria’s final test
before the start of Euro 2012 qualification in September.

PARIS (AP)—Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema was picked for France’s roster
for Wednesday’s exhibition against Norway despite his involvement in an
investigation over allegations that he solicited an underage prostitute.

Benzema, who was not at the World Cup after an unimpressive season, received
a call on Thursday along with seven new players, a group that includes Wigan’s
Charles N’Zogbia.

Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery is also involved in the case and was left
out by new France coach Laurent Blanc because he was among the 23 players who
went on strike during the World Cup. Those players were suspended by Blanc.

A French judge last month issued preliminary charges against Ribery and
Benzema as part of a probe into a suspected network of prostitutes operating out
of a nightclub on Paris’ Champs-Elysees.

Some members of the French government said it would be better if the players
were left out of the national squad during the investigation, but Blanc said
Benzema’s private life was none of his business.

“I thought it was important to give him a call because he can be part of
the team’s core in a near future,” Blanc said. “He has got the qualities and
hopefully he will have the desire. It was my responsibility to take him even if
he is not in the best physical and mental shape.”

Benzema, in California on Real Madrid’s preseason tour, has denied any
wrongdoing.

“This is a relief,” his lawyer. Sylvain Cormier, told RTL radio. “This
selection means that for Laurent Blanc the preliminary charges are not the same
thing as a conviction. We are getting back to more reasonable positions and to
the respect of principles, including the essential one of presumption of
innocence.”

France will begin 2012 European Championship qualifying at home against
Belarus on Sept. 3.

Blanc’s 22-man roster for next week includes 13 players who haven’t appeared
for the national team. Among the veterans are Arsenal’s Samir Nasri, Marseille’s
Hatem Ben Arfa and AS Roma’s Philippe Mexes.

Real Madrid midfielder Lassana Diarra, who missed the World Cup due to a
stomach problem, also earned a recall.

The roster:

Goalkeepers: Nicolas Douchez (Rennes), Stephane Ruffier (Monaco)

Defenders: Aly Cissokho (Lyon), Mathieu Debuchy (Lille), Rod Fanni (Rennes),
Philippe Mexes (AS Roma, Italy), Adil Rami (Lille), Mamadou Sakho (Paris
Saint-Germain), Benoit Tremoulinas (Bordeaux)

Midfielders: Yohan Cabaye (Lille), Lassana Diarra (Real Madrid, Spain),
Blaise Matuidi (Saint-Etienne), Yann Mvila (Rennes), Charles N’Zogbia (Wigan,
England), Samir Nasri (Arsenal, England), Moussa Sissoko (Toulouse)

Forwards: Hatem Ben Arfa (Marseille), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid, Spain),
Jimmy Briand (Lyon), Guillaume Hoarau (Paris Saint-Germain), Jeremy Menez (AS
Roma, Italy), Loic Remy (Nice)

TOKYO, Aug 4 (Reuters) – The J-League’s decision to pull
the plug on this season’s all-star game was logistical and not
one triggered by financial trouble, the Japanese organisation
said on Wednesday.

A J-League official told Reuters the failure to reach an
agreement with sponsors for the annual match had more to do
with scheduling problems after this year’s World Cup finals.

“It’s not so much about the economic situation,” J-League
media officer Rina Iwamoto said. “The schedule was very tight
after the World Cup.

“We couldn’t find a date to agree with sponsors. We’re
negotiating to play the fixture next year but at the moment
nothing has been decided.”

Japanese sport has been hit hard by the global financial
crisis over the past couple of years, particularly in
motorsport with Toyota and Honda quitting Formula One to cut
costs.

Subaru, Suzuki and Kawasaki have also pulled out of
motorsport, while local soccer, rugby, basketball and ice
hockey have all felt the economic pinch.

Debt-ridden soccer club Oita Trinita were bailed out by the
J-League after being on the brink of bankruptcy while the
future of once-mighty Tokyo Verdy remains under threat.

But Iwamoto insisted the J-League itself had not suffered
from the financial crisis.

“So far this season average attendances are 19,296—which
is slightly higher than last year,” she said. “The J-League
works hard to keep itself (profitable).

“Oita’s local municipal and prefectural administrations are
working hard to help pay back the J-League ($7 million) loan
and we remain hopeful Verdy can find sponsors for next season.”

The J-League scrapped its all-star game on Tuesday for the
first time since Japan’s professional league was launched in
1993 but is hoping to bring the fixture back next season.

The J-League has played a select eleven from Asian
neighbour South Korea’s K-League for the past two years.
(Reporting by Alastair Himmer. Editing by John O’Brien; To
query or comment on this story email
sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)