Global Sport

The report also charged the lab, which was closed earlier this month, frequently mismanaged drug tests and documentation of their results.

In his radio comments today, Maradona, claimed the suspension was revenge for Argentina’s 1990 World Cup victory over Italy. He was suspended a second time for 15 months after testing positive for stimulant use during the 1994 World Cup in the United States.

Berti Vogts eyes South African job

JOHANNESBURG: Berti Vogts, who resigned as coach of Germany last month, has applied for the vacant South Africa post.

South African Football Association (SAFA) chief executive Danny Jordaan said yesterday that Vogts faxed a request to be interviewed for one of the leading posts in Africa.

The position has been vacant since June whenthe contract of Frenchman Philippe Troussier was not renewed after Bafana Bafana (The Boys) were eliminated in the first round of the World Cup.

Former Dutch Star Ruud Krol, who manages Egyptian Club Zamalek, and local coaches Gordon Igesund, Ephraim `Shakes’ Mashaba and Trott Moloto have been interviewed.

Carlos Alberto Parreira, coach of the 1994 Brazil World Cup-winning team, is also interested and will hold talks with SAFA during a one-week visit next month.

Football without frontiers

ROTTERDAM: Euro 2000 opened its doors yesterday with “Football Without Frontiers” the concept on offer.

The idea of joint hosts, particularly the decision to award the 2002 World Cup finals to Japan and South Korea, has been questioned.

But Belgium and the Netherlands believe they can show it works.

“It is the first time that a football event has crossed boundaries… And what we want particularly is to show football in a festive light,” said Michel d’Hooge, chairman of the Belgian FA and jointpresident of Euro 2000.

D’Hooge scotched some media suggestions that the Dutch and the Belgians may not be pulling in the same direction and that the Belgian Interior Ministry was more preoccupied with domestic problems.

More Euro 2000 tickets for genuine football fans

ROTTERDAM: Organisers of the 2000 European Championship finals have promised to provide more tickets for “genuine” fans compared with previous major tournaments.

Tickets will not be sold as part of travel or accommodation packages. “We want a fair, open and transparent system… There will be more tickets for supporters of the two opponents. In France (for the World Cup) they each received eight per cent. We will double that,“ Euro 2000 secretary Harry Been told a news conference yesterday.

A further 37 per cent of the 1.2 million tickets will be offered directly to the public from March or April next year.

A ticketing policy which favoured French nationals and led to a vigorous black market in ticket sales at this year’sWorld Cup came under fierce criticism from the media and the European Commission.

Part of the French problem came from the desire to guarantee full stadiums, said Euro 2000 director Alain Cortais. Euro 2000 organisers want capacity crowds but say their ticketing policy will offer “reasonable” prices.

Warne works out

MELBOURNE: Australia’s star leg-spinner Shane Warne had an encouraging workout today as he continued to push for selection in the Ashes cricket series against England.

As Warne’s coach Terry Jenner looked on, the injured Warne sent down 40 deliveries at the MCG nets, in a major step in his recovery from shoulder surgery in April.

“He began tentatively but later increased the speed and improved his line.

He would need to be pleased with that effort,” Jenner said.

Warne said he would play for district cricket side St Kilda again this weekend after scoring a century last Saturday.

Whether he bowls will depend on how his shoulder responds Thursday after Wednesday’s session.Warne was adamant he would not rush his return.

“The real test is how I pull up tomorrow,” Warne said. “I will ice it, see the physio and see how much strength I’ve got and then have another bowl.”

Aussie rules witnesses a blood bath

DARWIN: An Australian Rules football player was banned for seven weeks on Wednesday after being found guilty of smearing blood into an opponent’s face.

John Darling was suspended for smearing his blood into the face of rival player Rod Hoare during a Northern Territory Football League (NTFL) reserves game on Oct 18.

NTFL general manager Greg Trappett said Darling’s sentence appeared to be light but said there had been evidence that he had been concussed at the time of the incident.

“If he had been fully conscious at the time he did it I would have expected a much tougher sentence between one and two years,” Trappett said. A spokeswoman for the Northern Territory branch of the Australian Medical Association, Robyn Cahill, suggested that Darling, who playsfor the Suburban Wanderers Club, should be forced to take a compulsory first aid course as part of his sentence.

“Although I don’t know all the circumstances but it seems a terrible thing that he did. There is always the risk, although small, of transferring of Hepatitis and HIV Aids like this.”

Tyre chief warns Ferrari and Williams

TOKYO: Ferrari and Williams could be left behind by their rivals next year when Bridgestone take over as the only tyre supplier in Formula One, the Japanese company’s motorsport division technical director has warned.

Hirohide Hamashima told a news conference yesterday both teams had yet to sign contracts with Bridgestone for tyre supply in 1999.

Their current American suppliers Goodyear are expected to leave the sport after Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix, the last race this season.