From motorcyles to rugby, TG4 has a line-up over the Christmas period to whet most sports fans’ appetites. Christmas Day features the best of the GAA with the nation’s choice 1-15 of the top goals scored in this year’s feast of hurling and football, followed by the top 50 hurling goals. St Stephen’s Day provides viewers with another chance to see this year’s All-Ireland senior hurling final between Kilkenny and Tipperary from Croke Park; while on December 27 TG4 provides viewers with the top 30 goals of 2009, divided between hurling and football, and counting down from 15 to 1, as voted by TG4 viewers, followed by another chance to see the All-Ireland senior football final between Kerry and Cork. Replays of the All-Ireland u-21 hurling championship final between Clare and Kilkenny, the 2009 AIB All-Ireland club football final between Kilmacud Crokes and Crossmaglen Rangers, and the 2009 All-Ireland club hurling semi-final between Portumna and Ballyhale Shamrocks will also be broadcast during the week with a one hour special presented by Dara Ó Cinnéide looking back at highlights of the sporting year. Studio guests include Sean Bán Breathnach, Galway football selector Sean Ó Dómhnaill, and former Clare manager Ger Loughnane on Wednesday December 30.

Rugby player Gareth Thomas, 35, who plays one of the most macho games in team sports, came out of the closet in a press conference and said he was gay this week.

Thomas, who played for the British Lions in Wales and now plays for the Cardiff Blues, was married to his wife Jemma for five years and split up in 2006 when he said he was struggling with his sexuality.

He is still married to his wife—their marriage has not yet been finalized—and she said they were childhood sweethearts. They wanted to start a family, but she had three miscarriages and became distant. He talked about his attraction to men, and she was devastated, but they remain good friends.

Jemma said, “He really was the perfect husband in every way.”

Although he doesn’t call himself bisexual, Thomas said he was in love with his wife, and calls her “my rock.”

“I genuinely did love her. She was the nicest, most caring, understanding, prettiest girl I had ever met,” he said. “It was such a confusing time because I had amazingly strong feelings for her, yet I knew I had taken who I was and put it in a little ball and pushed it in a corner.”

He said, after his announcement, to the Telegraph: “I just want to thank everyone for the amazing response I have received, on behalf of me, my family and friends. I hope that by saying this I can make a big difference to others in my situation.”

The 6-foot-3 rugby player said he hopes this announcement helps other gay or bisexual players feel welcomed to come out, too. There is some speculation that more players may be more open about their sexuality in the near future.

Gay rights activist Peter Tatchell told the Daily Mail: “It is very positive Gareth has come out while he is still an active player. Many of the sports people who have declared their homosexuality have tended to do so after their careers are over. Rugby is a very macho sport and has traditionally had a very robust he-man, heterosexual image so it is really great that he has had the guts to be honest with himself and his fans. Hopefully, this will ease the way for other gay and bisexual players to also come out.”

He said he was never attracted to a fellow teammate. He also said there was never homophobia in the dressing room, only playful banter. He said that he spoke of conquests with women with his team at the pub, and he flirted with girls before his marriage.

No professional player has come out as gay so far, but earlier this year the Irish hurling star Dónal Óg Cusack, 32, announced he was gay and Welsh rugby referee Nigel Owens came out in 2007.

Source: Guardian UK – 22/12/09

Racing prize money: Ireland back to 2002 levels due to funding loss

• Spending on integrity services will be slashed by 11%
• Cutbacks follow 13% drop in contribution from Irish government

I’m really grateful for excellent bloggers like JR Atwood at Playthink.  JR has again prompted me to write an entry that is essentially a response/reflection on one of his recent posts.  JR’s post has a highlight section of the discussion between Bill Simmons and Malcolm Gladwell about sport celebrity…that, to me, goes nowhere.  The topic of the part of the discussion posted in JR’s blog is about the public reaction to sports-celebrities’ behaviors, and how “random” those reactions appear to be.

While a fascinating topic in itself, that conversation really goes nowhere.  There are no answers in the end.  Why?

That’s the reason for this post.

I’m confused by the Gladwell/Simmons conversation.  They only talk around their subject-matter, describing it, but not uncovering anything.

What’s strange to me is that neither of them points out that expectations of (or reactions-to) professional athletes and their behavior are entirely fabricated.  They’re created by the media, the consensus-view of the commentators, and the consensus-view of the viewers.  Granted, that’s a vague statement, but stick with me for a second.

What I’m saying is that there is no “strict moral ground” by which to judge the behavior of celebrity athletes (or any celebrity, for that matter).  Instead, the reaction is more a conflagration of the “public image” of that athlete, the media’s reaction/billing of the behavior, and the public’s buy-in to that billing.

I don’t think the reaction has anything to do with the “volatility of statistics.”  Stats are meaningless if a game is “infinite” (played for its own sake, to continue playing, as opposed to played to win).  Therefore, the value of stats is agreed-upon before the sport is begun.  The rules are laid out.  “This is a finite game.  It is played to win.  Therefore, we keep track of everything.”

This is also a cultural creation.  What are the meaning of statistics?  The meaning, like the meaning of celebrity athletes’ behavior, is culturally created.  What is the meaning of one or several players taking performance-enhancing drugs (PED’s) and thereby skewing those stats?  How can one really know?

At this point, I’d like to turn to the PED discussion.  Because it does highlight what’s happening underneath this discussion of celebrity-athlete behavior and public reaction.

Here’s the deal, and here’s what fascinates me the most – This “debate” itself is a game.

It’s similar to the “healthcare debate” entry I posted.  Till cultural change occurs that supports all of the talk about healthcare change/promotion, any talk about healthcare is mere lip-service.  No true change can occur until the culture will support that change.

Similarly, until a systematized, reliable, regular, and transparent method of testing athletes for PED’s is put into place, there’s no real telling what the “true” stats are.

Along with any other specifics about the subject matter they propound on, Gladwell and Simmons don’t discuss the testing policies/procedures in place now, or the history behind those policies.

While they were “banned” in 1991, “random” drug testing was only started in MLB in 2001.  Steroids were only banned in the NBA in 1999.  And, though steroids were “banned” in the NFL in 1990, loopholes were found in 2005 that allowed Carolina Panthers players to be prescribed banned substances two weeks prior to the 2004 Superbowl. (go here for the USA Today article outlining the last two references).

I put “random,” and “banned’ in quotes above, because, to the best of my knowledge, testing is far from random, and (as in the case of the Panthers), performance-enhancing substances are far from truly banned.  Instead, players are tested who will test positive.  Occasionally, a scapegoat may be needed, or someone out of which to make an example, and they’ll be tested.  Or, someone from outside the organization will report unfavorable news and the whole thing will blow up.

My point about testing, above, is to say that the stats are already skewed.  It’s impossible to know what the true stats are for sports until everyone is tested.  If that’s your goal.

But I don’t think that it is.

This site has a nice “news-based” overview of drugs in sports, that shows clearly that athletes have always used “performance-enhancing drugs” of some sort or other.  So the question I come to is not whether or not PED’s should be banned, or whether or not they’re skewing sporting outcomes, but what the game is behind this discussion.

What is the purpose of organized sports?  “Bread and circus?” – that is, a distraction for the masses?

For those who believe that organized sports are simply there because so many people enjoy watching them, I strongly disagree.  At the point at which a thing becomes a multi-billion dollar industry, people’s enjoyment, as being free from coercion, diminishes exponentially.

So if it doesn’t really matter…that is, if there’s no way to know what the “real” stats are, and there’s no “real” ground by which to judge a (any) celebrity’s behavior, what are we property news talking about here?

I don’t think we’re really talking about anything.  Certainly nothing of importance.  Just surface characteristics of a much larger dynamic.

It’s like talking about the weather.  How is it?  The city-slicker hates the rain, the farmer loves it.  Same rain.

But hate it or love it, there it is.

Why do we talk about the weather?  It’s easier than doing something.  It’s easier than admitting that we have no control over it.  Comfort?  I don’t know…you tell me.

Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)

• Specialization…The Downfall of Humanity
• Steroids, selection effects, and superheroes
• Drugs Flood Sports Industry
• Say Nope to Dope(ing)

MALANG – Papan atas Indonesia Super League (ISL) 2009-2010 kembali bergolak. Perubahan peringkat terjadi dari hasil pertandingan yang dilaksanakan kemarin (20/12). Posisi Persiba Balikpapan dan Persema Malang naik di klasemen sementara setelah memetik kemenangan atas lawan masing-masing.

Beruang Madu -julukan Persiba- mengalahkan Persijap Jepara dengan skor 1-0 (0-0) dalam laga usiran di Stadion Utama Kaltim, Palaran, Samarinda. Gol semata wayang Persiba disumbangkan striker asal Cile Julio Lopez pada menit ke-16. Kini anak asuh Hariyadi tersebut mengoleksi 21 poin dari 13 pertandingan.

Tanpa kehadiran suporter yang setia mendukung di pinggir lapangan, Persiba tidak mampu menunjukkan kemampuan terbaik. Kemenangan Beruang Madu tidak berjalan seperti yang direncanakan.

Persijap yang diarsiteki mantan pelatih Persiba Junaidi justru memberikan tekanan di pertengahan babak pertama dan kedua. Beruntung, kesigapan kiper Persiba I Made Wirawan mampu mengamankan jala gawangnya dari kebobolan. Tim tamu tercatat memiliki empat peluang yang mengarah ke gawang Persiba.

“Pemain kami memang kurang tenang dalam penyelesaian akhir. Kami mengucapkan selamat kepada Persiba yang bisa tampil lebih baik,” ucap Anjar W., asisten pelatih Persijap.

Hal senada diungkapkan Hariyadi dalam mengevaluasi kinerja pemainnya. Para tukang gedor yang diturunkannya tidak mampu membuat gol lebih banyak. Demi memuluskan niat mengamankan laga kandang, dia rela menurunkan trio Julio Lopez, Park Jung-hwan, dan Sultan Samma yang menggantikan Park di babak kedua.

Dari ketiganya, Persiba memiliki enam peluang matang. Hanya, mereka tidak punya ketenangan saat mengeksekusi kesempatan. “Kami kurang tenang. Tapi, inilah hasil maksimal yang bisa kami persembahkan,” tutur Hariyadi.

Sementara itu, Persema mengalahkan salah satu tim kuat ISL, Sriwijaya FC, juga dengan skor 1-0 (0-0) di Stadion Gajayana, Malang. Muhammad Kamri menjadi pahlawan kemenangan Laskar Ken Arok -julukan Persema- melalui gol ke gawang Ferry Rotinsulu menjelang pertandingan berakhir, tepatnya menit ke-89.

Kekalahan tersebut membuat posisi Laskar Wong Kito -julukan Sriwijaya- melorot satu setrip ke peringkat keenam. Hal sebaliknya terjadi pada Persema. Laskar Ken Arok kembali ke papan atas di posisi keempat.

Terciptanya gol Persema juga menunjukkan kecerdikan Kamri. Dia menjebol gawang lewat sundulan. Padahal, Kamri yang bertubuh kecil dikawal dua pemain belakang Sriwijaya yang bertubuh lebih tinggi. Meski kalah tinggi, dia mampu menempatkan posisi secara tepat saat menerima umpan silang Siswanto dari sisi kiri pertahanan Sriwijaya. Sambil menjatuhkan diri, sundulan Kamri tak mampu dibendung Ferry.

Gol itu pun disambut gembira kubu Persema. Maklum, yang mereka bekuk salah satu unggulan juara ISL 2009-2010. Apalagi, Persema tampil tanpa kekuatan penuh.

Di lini belakang, belum fitnya Suroso dan masih cederanya Munhar memaksa pelatih Subangkit mengubah komposisi pemain. Dia menggeser gelandang Robbie Gaspar ke posisi defender, berpasangan dengan Seme Pierre Patrick, Jainal Ichwan, dan Kasan Soleh.

Namun, komposisi darurat tersebut tidak mudah ditembus dua penyerang Sriwijaya, Keith “Gumbs” Kayamba dan Anoure Obiora, yang disokong barisan gelandang agresif, seperti Arif Suyono, Zah Rahan, dan Ponaryo Astaman. Gaspar sendiri mampu bermain lugas di posisi barunya itu. “Gaspar tampil bagus di lini belakang,” puji Subangkit.

Dia mengatakan bahwa kemenangan tersebut tak lepas dari disiplin tinggi yang diterapkan anak buahnya sepanjang pertandingan. Penggawa Persema disiplin menjaga area masing-masing. Hasilnya, Kayamba yang biasanya ganas di area pertahanan lawan maupun Zah Rahan yang tusukannya bikin kalang kabut barisan belakang lawan cukup mati kutu.

Raihan tiga angka itu sekaligus menebus kegagalan Persema membawa pulang poin dalam lawatan ke kandang Persela Lamongan dan Persijap. Di dua partai tersebut Persema menelan kekalahan, 0-2 dari Persela dan 1-3 dari Persijap.

Kemenangan itu juga menjadi modal berharga bagi Persema saat menjamu Persib Bandung Rabu lusa (23/10) di Gajayana. Melawan Persib, Kamri dkk juga menargetkan tiga angka.

Sementara itu, arsitek Sriwijaya Rahmad Darmawan mengatakan, satu poin yang mestinya didapatkan dari Gajayana buyar pada menit-menit terakhir. Situasi kebobolan menjelang laga berakhir tersebut seakan mengulang tragedi saat menjamu Persib (12/12) di Palembang. (obi/yon/yn/jpnn/diq)

1 Estudiantes v Barcelona 2

ABU DHABI – Lengkap sudah kiprah gemilang Barcelona tahun ini. Setelah menyapu bersih gelar domestik dan merajai kancah Eropa, skuad Catalan itu akhirnya menutup perjalanan 2009 lewat raihan gelar di ajang FIFA Club World Cup 2009. Barcelona tampil sebagai jawara setelah pada laga final yang berakhir kemarin dini hari menaklukkan Estudiantes 2-1.

Blaugrana -julukan Barcelona- butuh kerja ekstra keras untuk menapaki tangga juara. Bahkan, mereka sempat dibayangi kegagalan. Pasalnya, Estudiantes unggul lebih dahulu lewat gol Mauro Boselli pada menit ke-37. Tapi, Carles Puyol dkk akhirnya mampu menyamakan kedudukan dua menit sebelum laga berakhir lewat pemain pengganti, Pedro. Sukses Blaugrana ditentukan lewat Lionel Messi pada masa perpanjangan waktu, tepatnya pada menit ke-110.

Nah, begitu Messi mencetak gol, suasana di Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi, pun langsung bergemuruh. Penonton yang mayoritas pendukung Barcelona sangat yakin bahwa tim kesayangan mereka bakal menjadi jawara. “Sangat luar biasa. Ini hasil yang pantas atas kerja keras kami sepanjang pertandingan,” ucap Messi kepada wartawan di area mixed zone.

Messi juga memuji performa Estudiantes yang luar biasa. Klub asal Argentina itu mampu merepotkan timnya. “Mereka bermain hebat. Serangan-serangan balik mereka sulit diterka. Namun, kami menguasai permainan dan ini hasil yang layak,” ujar peraih Ballon d’Or itu. Di Zayed Sports City Stadium, pendukung Barcelona memang lebih banyak daripada Estudiantes. Hanya, suporter Estudiantes memang jauh lebih militan daripada para fans Barcelona. Suporter fanatik Estudiantes tersentral di tribun timur Zayed Sports City Stadium. Mereka tidak pernah berhenti mendukung.

Sementara itu, Xavi dan Messi menerima penghargaan pemain terbaik, pelatih Barcelona Josep Guardiola tampak menangis di pundak Thierry Henry.

Kejadian itu disorot kamera televisi. Ketika Pep -sapaan Guardiola- masih menangis, justru beberapa pemain Barcelona menggodanya. Mereka mendorong-dorong Pep seolah-olah tertawa melihat sorotan kamera. “Lebih dari sebagian hidup saya bersama klub ini,” kata Pep di sesi konferensi pers.

Ya, sebelum menjadi pelatih Barcelona pada awal musim lalu, Pep merupakan pelatih tim Barcelona B. Pep juga pernah menjadi idola di Nou Camp, markas Barcelona, ketika masih bermain pada 1990-2001. Dia produk Akademi Barcelona.

Dia juga menjadi bagian dari tim Barcelona yang kalah pada Piala Intercontinental 1992 ketika melawan klub Brazil Sao Paulo. “Akhirnya, piala itu bisa kami bawa pulang. Dua kali kami gagal melakukannya, dan sekarang tidak lagi. Kami sukses,” ujar Pep.

Di sisi lain, kesedihan tampak di wajah para pemain Estudiantes. Kemenangan yang ada di depan mata harus terbuang. “Ya, kami hanya terpisah satu menit dari sejarah. Sayang, itu gagal kami gapai. Melawan tim sehebat Barcelona, sedikit saja lengah, segalanya telah berubah,” timpal Alejandro Sabella, pelatih Estudiantes. (ham/bas)

Barcelona kontra Estudiantes di partai puncak Piala Dunia Antarklub 2009 Uni Emirat Arab (UEA) memaksa Lionel Messi bertarung dengan teman dekatnya, Juan Sebastian Veron. Messi menjadi andalan Barca (sebutan lain Barcelona), sedangkan Veron adalah kapten Estudiantes.

Messi dan Veron dikenal dekat lantaran sama-sama membela timnas Argentina. Bagi Messi, kemenangan pada partai puncak Piala Dunia Antarklub 2009 bakal jadi penutup tahun yang luar biasa setelah sepanjang 2009 timnya merebut serentetan gelar juara.Sedangkan bagi Veron, even itu merupakan kesempatan untuk bisa mencapai prestasi yang pernah diraih sang ayah, Juan Ramon Veron. Estudiantes juga punya ambisi besar mengalahkan Barca. Karena itu, tim besutan Alejandro Sabella tersebut sengaja datang lebih cepat dan mempersiapkan diri lebih awal.

Kendati Estudiantes punya beberapa pemain hebat, seperti Rodrigo Brana, Mario Boselli, atau Leandro Desabato, nama Veron tetap paling mentereng di klub asal La Plata, Argentina, tersebut. “Ya, kami memang dekat. Saya suka dengan Veron. Dia merupakan pemain yang hebat dan pribadi yang menyenangkan. Tapi, yang perlu Anda ingat, saya tidak melawan dia pada final nanti. Itu adalah pertandingan antara Barcelona dengan Estudiantes,” papar Messi di mixed zone sesudah menjalani tes doping.

“Saya berasal dari Argentina. Jadi, saya tahu bahwa klub yang saya lawan nanti bukanlah tim yang mudah ditundukkan. Mereka bisa menyulitkan kami,” ujar pemain berusia 22 tahun itu.

Di sisi lain, Veron pun memuji Messi sebagai pemain yang luar biasa dan saat ini berada pada puncak performa. Dengan begitu, sangat sulit bagi pemain mana pun menghentikan Messi, termasuk para pemain Estudiantes di partai puncak pada 19 Desember nanti.

“Saat ini, dialah yang terbaik. Dia masih muda dan berada pada tahap yang hebat. Selain itu, Messi bergabung dengan klub yang memiliki filosofi bermain yang tepat dengan gayanya. Selalu sulit menjadi lawan pemain sehebat Lionel Messi,” puji Veron sebelum sesi latihan Estudiantes kemarin (17/12).

Sementara itu, kemarin skuad utama Barca tidak menjalani latihan. Hanya para penggawa yang tidak tampil alias cadangan pada semifinal yang mengikuti latihan ringan di Army Pitch, Al Muror. Kabar yang beredar, gelandang andalan Barca Andres Iniesta mengalami cedera. (ham/bas)

MILAN - Inter Milan menjadi tim pertama yang lolos ke perempat final Coppa Italia musim ini. Dengan mengombinasikan pemain lapis kedua dengan beberapa pilar, Inter mengalahkan Livorno 1-0 di Stadion Giuseppe Meazza kemarin dini hari (17/12).

Sejatinya, Livorno mampu mengimbangi permainan tuan rumah. Hingga akhir babak pertama, mereka menahan Inter tanpa gol. Namun, pelatih Inter Jose Mourinho nekat tidak mengganti pemain. Dia memilih memberi kesempatan buat para cadangan semacam Giulio Donati dan Sulley Muntari untuk unjuk kekuatan.

Namun, tetap saja kemenangan Inter ditentukan oleh pemain senior. Playmaker asal Belanda Wesley Sneijder menjadi juru selamat Nerrazurri (julukan Inter Milan). Pemain yang tidak pernah kehilangan tempat sejak direkrut dari Real Madrid tersebut memecah kebuntuan dengan golnya dari tendangan bebas pada menit ke-60.

”Kami berhak menang. Kami menganggap serius pertandingan ini dan bekerja keras untuk memenangkannya,” tutur pelatih Inter Jose Mourinho kepada Associated Press.

Menurut pelatih asal Portugal itu, Inter sebenarnya mampu menang dengan margin gol lebih besar. Sebab, Sneijder dkk bisa mendominasi babak pertama. Beberapa peluang juga tercipta, namun tidak dimanfaatkan dengan optimal. ”Ada sekitar lima atau enam peluang yang dibuat anak-anak. Kalau sebuah tim bisa menciptakan peluang sebanyak itu, jelas mereka pantas menang,” lanjut dia.

Belum ada tim lain yang menyusul Nerrazurri ke perempat final. Sebab, pertandingan lain di babak 16 besar memang baru dilaksanakan pada pertengahan Januari mendatang. Calon lawan Inter di perempat final adalah pemenang laga antara Juventus melawan Napoli. (na/aww)

Duo stoper Macan Putih -julukan Persik- yakni O.K. John dan Gunawan, bakal absen. John terpaksa tidak dibawa ke Surabaya karena kena akumulasi kartu kuning. Peringatan diterimanya pada menit ke-35, saat Persik menjamu PSM Makassar di Stadion Brawijaya, Kediri, Rabu lalu (16/12).

Sebelumnya, mantan pemain Persiwa Wamena tersebut juga terkena kartu kuning saat Persik menjamu Persipura (25/11). “Sangat kami sesalkan, John tidak bisa membantu kala Persik lawan Persebaya,” ungkap pelatih Persik Gusnul Yakin.

Pemain bernama lengkap Onerionde Kughegbe John tersebut memang sangat penting di jantung pertahanan Persik. Disiplin dan antisipasi bola atas maupun duelnya dengan pemain lawan dibutuhkan untuk menghalau serangan yang datang.

Selain itu, adanya pemain asal Nigeria tersebut di jantung pertahanan membuat kepercayaan diri dan mental pemain lain terjaga. “Saya harus mengondisikan pemain untuk menggantikan John,” tandas Gusnul.

Sementara itu, Gunawan juga harus absen karena mendapatkan kartu merah saat pertandingan melawan PSM. Otomatis pemain belia tersebut harus absen sekali di pertandingan selanjutnya, saat Persik dijamu Persebaya.

“Seharusnya dia tidak mendapatkan kartu kuning kedua,” sesal Gusnul.

Kartu kuning kedua yang didapatkan pemain 20 tahun itu memang layak diperdebatkan. Sebab, tangannya memegang bola karena tak sengaja.

“Dia kan terpeleset dan jatuh. Tangannya kena bola, itu kan pasif dan tidak sengaja,” gerutunya. Namun, nasi sudah menjadi bubur. Pemain yang sebelumnya juga kena akumulasi kartu kuning itu tetap tak bisa dimainkan di pertandingan kesembilan Persik besok (19/12). “Saya harus menyiapkan pemain pengganti lagi,” tambah Gusnul.

Sayang, waktu yang tersedia untuk menyiapkan pengganti itu sangat pendek. Pasalnya, setelah Rabu lalu bermain, besok mereka kembali harus berlaga. “Hanya ada jeda dua hari. Persiapan sa­ngat mepet,” keluh Gusnul. (jie/jpnn/diq)

Ini peringatan bagi pesepak bola yang main hakim sendiri terhadap wasit di lapangan. Gara-gara memukul wasit, pemain Persedikab Kediri Andri Maulana ditangkap polisi di Cilacap, Jawa Tengah, kemarin (16/12). Andri ditangkap karena dianggap memukul wasit Novari Ikhsan saat menghadapi PSCS Cilacap di laga perdana babak 16 besar Kompetisi Divisi I grup J di Stadion Wijayakusuma, Cilacap.

Dalam laga yang berakhir 3-0 bagi kemenangan tuan rumah PSCS Cilacap tersebut, keributan pecah pada menit ke-35. Awalnya, pemain Persedikab memprotes wasit yang tidak memberikan penalti. Itu terjadi setelah striker Persedikab Faris Aditama dijatuhkan oleh pemain PSCS di kotak terlarang. Karena wasit bergeming, meski jelas-jelas terjadi kontak badan di kotak terlarang, sejumlah pemain Persedikab merangsek ke arah wasit. Tiba-tiba Andri berlari menuju wasit sembari memukulkan kepalan tangannya ke kepala wasit. Novari Ikhsan langsung jatuh terkapar di tengah lapangan.

Keributan pun langsung terjadi ketika wasit akan mencabut kartu merah untuk kapten Persedikab tersebut. Tak selang beberapa lama, polisi langsung masuk ke lapangan dan menarik Andri dari lapangan hijau. Tak hanya itu, Andri yang dianggap menyalahi maklumat Kapolda Jawa Tengah tersebut langsung diciduk dan diamankan ke Mapolres Cilacap. Kejadian tersebut sempat diprotes jajaran manajemen dan pelatih Persedikab.

Namun, wasit bergeming. Andri pun tetap digelandang ke Mapolres Cilacap untuk diproses dengan aturan yang berlaku. Kejadian tersebut pun langsung membuat seluruh penonton yang hadir di Stadion Wijayakusuma emosi. Penonton melemparkan botol minuman ke lapangan. Puncaknya, polisi juga menangkap seorang penonton yang dianggap melempar botol. Sayang, nama penonton yang ditangkap tersebut dirahasiakan oleh polisi.

Kapolres Cilacap AKBP Guruh Ahmad Haryanto ketika dikonfirmasi Radar Banyumas (Jawa Pos Group) setelah pertandingan mengatakan saat ini Polres Cilacap akan menyelidiki terlebih dahulu untuk menentukan apa yang akan dilakukan terhadap Andri. “Kami masih memeriksa dan menyelidiki. Jadi, tunggu saja hasilnya,” katanya. Menurut Kapolres, tindakan penangkapan terhadap pemain itu sesuai dengan instruksi Kapolda Jawa Tengah Irjen Pol Alex Bambang Riatmodjo.

Setelah pertandingan terhenti sekitar lima menit, wasit Novari Ikhas dari Jakarta Selatan kembali melanjutkan pertandingan. Namun, suasananya sudah berubah, apalagi banyak perwira polisi yang berada di area steril, terutama di depan tribun utama.

Akhirnya, pertadingan tersebut dimenangkan oleh PSCS Cilacap dengan skor 3-0 (2-0). PSCS mencetak gol melalui Taryono pada menit ke-35, M. Fachul (44′), dan Firdaus (49′). Sesudah pertandingan, para pemain, ofisial, dan pelatih Persedikab langsung mendatangi Mapolres Cilacap untuk meminta kebijaksanaan dari Kapolres. Tetapi, hingga berita ini diturunkan, status Andri dan penonton tersebut belum jelas. Kejadian polisi menangkap pemain pernah menimpa striker Persis Nova Zaenal dan stoper Gresik United Bernard Mamadou di Kompetisi Divisi Utama musim lalu. (tya/jpnn/aww)

Persebaya Su­rabaya gagal memenuhi ambisi menyapu bersih tiga laga home. Pada laga kontra Persiba Balikpapan Rabu lalu (16/12), me­reka ditahan imbang 0-0 setelah sebelumnya menang 2-0 atas PSM Makassar (13/12). Tapi, Persebaya masih berpeluang menambah angka demi memperbaiki peringkat di klasemen sementara Indonesia Super League (ISL).

Pada laga home terakhir di antara tiga pertandingan kandang beruntun itu, tim berjuluk Green Force tersebut akan meng­hadapi tantangan Persik Kediri besok (19/12). Di atas kertas Persebaya berpeluang mendapat­kan kemenangan dari tim berjuluk Macan Putih itu.

Green Force memang berada satu setrip di bawah Persik yang menempati urutan ketujuh. Tapi, tampil di kandang sendiri, Gelora 10 Nopember, Surabaya, tentu akan menjadi keuntungan bagi tim yang dipoles Danurwindo tersebut. Sebab, dukungan penonton pasti akan mengalir kepada Anderson da Silva dkk.

Apalagi, kondisi Persik te­ngah tidak maksimal. Dua bentengnya, Gunawan dan bek asal Nigeria O.K. John, tidak bisa dimainkan karena terkena akumulasi kartu kuning. Tapi, kondisi itu tidak membuat Persebaya bakal mudah menggulingkan pasukan arahan Gusnul Ya­kin tersebut.

Pasalnya, para penggawa Per­sebaya akan turun dalam kondisi kelelahan setelah melakoni dua laga yang berimpitan. “Fisik anak-anak jelas terkuras. Apalagi, pa­da pertandingan melawan Persiba, mereka ha­rus bermain di bawah hujan deras,” ungkap Da­nurwindo.

Karena pertimbangan itu, hari ini pria yang biasa disapa Danur tersebut meniadakan latihan. Dalam laga besok pun kemungkinan ada rotasi pemain. Sebab, nama Lucky Wahyu dan Djayusman Triasdi (pemain yang baru kembali dari SEA Games) sudah dimasukkan dalam line-up di laga kontra Persiba kendati tidak dimainkan. “Saya lihat kondisi terakhir mereka di latihan besok (hari ini), baru ada keputusan soal komposisi pemain,” jelas Danur.

Melihat kondisi pertahanan Per­sebaya yang menjadi titik lemah, ada kemungkinan Djayusman turun sebagai starter. Tapi, langkah itu juga bisa menjadi blunder. Sebab, kinerja lini belakang Persebaya mulai membaik. Parameternya, di dua laga terakhir mereka tak kebobolan. Apalagi, mantan pemain PSM Makassar itu belum pernah berlatih bersama Takatoshi Uchida, bek tengah asal Jepang yang menjadi langganan starting line-up.

“Saya banyak bicara dengan Djayusman, berdiskusi mengenai mengorganisasi pertahanan. Saya pikir tidak ada masalah kalau dia diturunkan. Apalagi, dia juga bisa bahasa Inggris,” terang Taka, panggilan Takatoshi Uchida. (nar/diq)

Source: RTE.ie – Dec 2009 

HURLING CLUB – GAA Hurling All Stars Match – Bs. As. – Argentina

The 2008 and 2009 Vodafone Hurling All Star exhibition match in HC Buenos Aires ended in a 4-12 to 4-12 draw.

The 2009 All Stars were leading by a point at the Hurlingham hurling club with little left on the clock only for Cork’s Cathal Naughton level matters for the 2008 side.

Brian Cody managed the current All Stars, with Liam Sheedy overseeing the 2008 team and Sheedy’s men got the scoring underway with a goal from Brian Carroll, while Lar Corbett replied almost immediately for this year’s men.

Cody’s team pulled ahead with points from Alan McCrabbe, Tommy Walsh, John Mullane and a Michael Rice goal, while the Waterford trio of Eoin Kelly, Tony Browne and Eoin McGrath keep Sheedy’s side in touch. It was 2-09 to 1-08 in favour of the 2009 selection at the break.

Carroll netted again in the second half to close the gap only to see McCrabbe and Mullane reply for Cody’s team.

But the 2008 side finished the stronger with Joe Canning and Eoin McGrath netting before Naughton hit the late point to level matters at full-time.

The Allstars had previously played in the Hurling Club venue in Hurlingham in January 2002, when Brendan Cummins (the 2008 captain) gave an exhibition of goalkeeping and two other players who lined out then – Ollie Canning (Galway) and Eoin Kelly (Tipperary) – were also involved.

Source: irishtimes.com - 15/12/09

Dupuy hearing set for Thursday

Julien Dupuy will appear before am ERC disciplinary hearing on Thursday charged with an alleged eye gouging offence.

The Stade Francais scrum half was cited following an incident involving Ulster’s Stephen Ferris during last Saturday’s Heineken Cup match at Ravenhill.

If found guilty, and television replays are not flattering, the French international can expect a lengthy ban ruling him out of next season’s Six Nations. The minimum sanction for gouging is 12 weeks.

Dupuy has admitted he was “stupid” to get involved with Ferris at a ruck but maintains he did not deliberately gouge the Ulster flanker.

Speaking in France, where incidents of gouging are colloquially known as ‘the fork’, Dupuy pleaded his innocence

“I admit, I put my hand in my eyes,” Dupuy said. “But this is not necessarily a fork: my hand is open.”

The fact that David Attoub was also accused of gouging Ferris in a separate incident has not gone down well with the French club, who issued a statement this afternoon apologising to Ulster.

The Parisians said the players had “harmed the image of the club and would like to apologise to the Irish province of Ulster for which it has a deep respect”.

Irish international Tommy Bowe, meanwhile, has been cited for an alleged dangerous tackle against Viadana last Saturday.

The Opsreys back will face a disciplinary hearing, presumably ahead of this weekend’s return fixture, following an incident involving Kaine Robertson.

The citing was lodged by ERC appointed citing commissioner, Scotland’s Iain Goodall, for a dangerous tackle (lifting a player from the ground and either dropping or driving that player’s head and / or upper body first into the ground whilst the player’s feet are off the ground) in contravention of Law 10.4 (i).

JAKARTA LagaBola – Pelatih Timnas Indonesia Benny Dollo, ingin meniru jejak pelatih Timnas Rusia Guus Hiddink. Benny Dollo berniat melatih klub, seperti halnnya Hiddink yang pernah menangani Chelsea, di musim lalu. Bendol kini dikabarkan tengah melakukan negosiasi dengan klub papan atas Liga Super Indonesia, Persija Jakarta. Kabarnya, klub Ibukota tersebut memang tertarik menggunakan jasa Bendol, guna menggantikan posisi Danurwindo.

“Persija telah mengajukan pebawaran kepada saya untuk menjadi pelatih di musim ini. Itu memang baru pembicaraan awal. Kami belum mencapai pada kontrak dan saya juga belum menandatangani perjanjian apapun,” jelas Dollo kepada wartawan. Bendol sendiri belum berniat meninggalkan pekerjaannya sebagai pelatih Timnas Indonesia. Tapi, dia juga mengaku tertarik untuk melatih skuad Macan Kemayoran, yang prestasinya merosot tajam di musim lalu.

Bendol sendiri berencana akan bertemu dengan pengurus PSSI guna membahas masalah ini. Kontrak Bendol akan habis pada Desember ini dan PSSI berencana mengevaluasi kinerja Bendoll. Beredar kabar bila nilai kontrak Bendol mencapai kisaran Rp800 juta sampai Rp1 miliar. Sementara itu, mantan arsitek Persita Tangerang itu akan menerima gaji dengan kisaran 20 sampai 60 juta sebulan.

Source: SkySports – 14/12/09

Jerry Flannery’s Six Nations hopes have been plunged into doubt due to his ongoing battle with an Achilles injury.

Flannery: Achilles problem

  The injury-plagued Munster hooker was forced to sit out his side’s memorable last-gasp Heineken Cup victory over Perpignan on Friday because of the problem.

 And fears surrounding his participation in the start of Ireland’s Six Nations defence have deepened after it emerged he will undergo diagnostic surgery later this week.

If a further operation is required the 31-year-old, who missed the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa with a fractured arm, could be ruled out for months rather than weeks.

Ireland, though, who begin the defence of their Six Nations title against Italy at Croke Park on February 6 are not short of options in the front row.

They would inevitably turn to Connacht’s Sean Cronin or either of the Fogarty brothers John and Denis as replacements for the stricken Munsterman.

Denis has deputised ably for Flannery at Munster and John has been first-choice for reigning Heineken Cup champions Leinster this season.

Ulster pair Nigel Brady and Andy Kyriacou have both shown good form this season and could also stake legitimate claims on the number two jersey.

After their opener on home territory Ireland will travel to Paris the following week for a showdown with France.

Portugese soccer star Cristinao Ronaldo ‘turned on the style’ , reporters have said, as he and his team Real Madrid as he and his team advanced with ease to the knock – out round of the Champions League. Playing at Marseille Real Madrid managed to score a winning victory of 3-1 against Marseille. “There is a difference between Marseille and Real Madrid. I knew it before and I know it even better now,” said the Marseille coach. He went on to say “They are better technically, there’s no doubt about it. We could only hope and admit it’s a pity we missed out on chances.” Ronaldo said: “It was important to finish top of the group. It was a good game and the team played well. I’m delighted to have scored particularly the free kick.” Deschamps’ side had been given a mountain to climb and their misery was compounded within minutes after Real were awarded a free kick following a Djibril Cisse challenge on Dutch midfielder Rafael Van der Vaart.Ronaldo stepped up and from 30 metres out the world’s most expensive footballer fired a curling shot, which grazed the fingers of Marseille goalie Steve Mandanda, into the top left corner of the net. Seems Real Madrid showed that they wouldn’t sit back and be taken mugs for.

source: ninemsn.com

Brian Kelly

Cincinnati football head coach Brian Kelly enters the teams awards
dinner at a hotel in downtown Cincinnati,
Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009.
Brian Kelly will be Notre Dame’s next football coach,
according to two people familiar with the negotiations.
The two people confirmed to The Associated Press on Thursday
that a deal has been reached with the Cincinnati coach.
They requested anonymity because an official announcement
had not been made. (AP Photo/Tom Uhlman)

———————————————————————————————–

CINCINNATI — Notre Dame has settled on Brian Kelly as the man who can restore its faded glory, just as he turned Cincinnati into a national title contender.

He’s leaving behind an undefeated and upset Cincinnati team that didn’t seem prepared to lose him despite rampant speculation that the job was his.

“He went for the money,” receiver Mardy Gilyard told The Associated Press after Kelly told players of his decision, nearly three hours after the news broke. “I’m fairly disgusted with the situation, that they let it last this long.”

Only 10 days after Charlie Weis was fired, Notre Dame picked the Irish Catholic coach to revive a program coming off the worst decade in its storied history — a 70-52 record and three losing seasons. Kelly, who earned the Home Depot National Coach of the Year award on Thursday night, signed a five-year contract and will be introduced at news conference Friday afternoon in South Bend.

“I am very pleased that a thorough and extensive search has led us to a new head coach in Brian Kelly, who I am confident will help us accomplish our goal of competing for national championships,” Notre Dame athletics director Jack Swarbrick said in a news rel

When Kelly’s name was linked to Notre Dame’s search last week, he told his players that he was happy in Cincinnati. A few days later, he said he would listen to Notre Dame’s offer, but still sounded like he would be around to coach the No. 4 Bearcats (12-0) against Florida in their first Sugar Bowl appearance.

Instead Cincinnati athletics director Mike Thomas decided offensive coordinator Jeff Quinn — an assistant to Kelly for the last 22 years — will run the team on an interim basis.

The parting was painful.

The team held its annual football banquet at a downtown hotel on Thursday night. As players arrived for what was supposed to be a night of celebration, they were greeted by camera crews and reporters asking about Kelly’s decision to leave Cincinnati for Notre Dame.

Three hours later, players were told to gather in a meeting room so Kelly could share the news that most already knew.

One minute into the meeting, the door opened and Gilyard walked out angry and alone, save his MVP trophy. His teammates soon followed, some with teary eyes. They had a difficult time accepting that Kelly was leaving one of the nation’s top teams before its biggest bowl game.

“We already knew what he was going to say. We weren’t giving him a round of applause or anything,” tight end Ben Guidugli said. “It’s like somebody turned their back on us. We brought this whole thing this far. We’ve come this far. To have someone walk out now is disappointing.”

Kelly’s statements leading up to a title-clinching win over Pittsburgh last Saturday made it harder to accept.

“The Tuesday when we were practicing for Pittsburgh, he said he loves it here and he loves this team and loves coaching here and his family loves it here,” quarterback Tony Pike said.

Notre Dame was one of the few jobs Kelly has always coveted. Guidugli said Kelly thanked the players for making the move possible by doing so well on the field.

The 47-year-old Kelly was 34-6 in three seasons at Cincinnati, leading the Bearcats to back-to-back Big East titles and two straight Bowl Championship Series berths. The Bearcats set a school record last season for victories with an 11-3 record, then topped that with a 12-0 mark this season. They finished third in the BCS rankings, barely missing out on the title game.

When Kelly arrived in Cincinnati three years ago, then-university president Nancy Zimpher told Kelly she expected him to turn the football program into a Top 25 mainstay, win a Big East title right away and make sure his players graduate. He’ll face even higher expectations at Notre Dame.

He goes to South Bend with slightly less job security than previous coaches.

The last three Notre Dame coaches got six-year deals — Weis, Tyrone Willingham and George O’Leary. Weis signed a new 10-year deal midway through his first season, and O’Leary resigned five days after being hired following the 2001 season when it was revealed he didn’t have the master’s degree in education that he claimed. The last coach to get a five-year deal was Bob Davie when he took the job after the 1996 season.

No matter. Kelly has long admired Notre Dame, though turning the program around won’t be easy. The Irish have a 16-21 record over the past three seasons. And he’ll have to do it without two of Notre Dame’s best players.

Quarterback Jimmy Clausen and his favorite receiver, Golden Tate, announced Monday they will bypass their senior seasons and enter the NFL draft.

Tate, speaking in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., after winning the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s best receiver, said he doesn’t know a lot about Kelly.

“He seems to be a guy of high character. I’m excited for him. I think he’s good for the Irish,” Tate said.

Offensive lineman Christian Lombard, a high school senior from Palatine, Ill., who has committed to play for the Irish next season, said he was excited about the hire.

“I’m really optimistic. He’s got a great track record so hopefully he’s going to get things turned around,” Lombard said. “From the time coach Weis got fired, he was the guy I wanted.”

Kelly grew up in Chelsea, Mass., and went to Assumption College, a Catholic school in Worcester where he played linebacker while getting his degree in political science. The son of an alderman, he intended to go into politics after college and he even worked on Gary Hart’s 1984 presidential campaign in the Boston area.

But football won out.

He learned how to be a head coach at Division II Grand Valley State in Michigan, where he won back-to-back national titles and 32 consecutive games over one stretch. He moved on to the Mid-American Conference and turned Central Michigan into a winning program in only three years.

Kelly was criticized in September 2004 for remarks he made to the Detroit Free Press about perjury charges filed against two former Central Michigan players after other CMU players were charged with second-degree murder in the fatal beating of a man.

“A number of them were African-Americans that had been in that culture of violence, and they’re taught to look away,” Kelly said. “You don’t want anything to do with it. Get out of there. You don’t say anything to anybody.”

In 2006, when Mark Dantonio left Cincinnati for Michigan State, UC decided Kelly and his no-huddle, spread offense would bring a spark not just to the program but to the town, where college football ranked behind high school games in fan interest.

The Bearcats won 10 games his first season, set a school record with 11 wins and a Big East title the second and this season he had the high-scoring Bearcats (12-0) contending for a national title.

Gilyard said some players were angry Kelly is leaving just as the program had become nationally prominent.

“Just blindsided by the fact that it’s a business,” Gilyard said. “People lose sight of that. At the end of the day, NCAA football is a business. People have got to make business decisions.”

Associated Press Sports Writer Tom Coyne in South Bend, Ind., and Antonio Gonzalez in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

MALANG – Perburuan poin luar kandang kembali dilakukan Arema Indonesia di lanjutan Super Liga 2009-2010. Kali ini, tim pemuncak klasemen sementara ini menatap dua partai tandang pada dua propinsi berbeda. Yakni, tim dijamu Persijap Jepara di Stadion Gelora Bhumi Kartini Jepara (12/12) dan Persela Lamongan di Stadion Surajaya Lamongan (15/12).
Target mencuri poin maksimal kini diapungkan Singo Edan. Tambahan poin sangat penting bagi tim untuk meneruskan trend positif sekaligus tetap di papan atas klasemen. Meski mereka memahami dua calon lawan yang dihadapi semuanya tim solid. Bahkan, Persijap dan Persela sama-sama belum tersentuh kekalahan saat tampil di kandangnya. ‘’Idealnya, kami capai enam poin di dua away. Pertama, konsentrasi tim raih angka penuh saat lawan Persijap, Sabtu besok. Setelah itu, tim hadapi Persela di Lamongan,” ujar Asisten Manajer Arema, Rudy Soesamto saat ditemui Malang Post jelang keberangkatan tim ke Jepara di mess Arema, siang kemarin.
Raihan poin sangatlah penting bagi Arema untuk tetap bertahan di papan atas klasemen. Tapi, kubu tim juara Copa Indonesia dua kali ini menyadari jika perjuangan untuk menggapai target itu bukanlah mudah. Pasalnya, dua tim yang bakal dihadapi merupakan tim solid dan memiliki rekor tangguh saat tampil di kandangnya sendiri. Bahkan mereka belum tersentuh kekalahan.
Meski demikian, Arema tetap menatap laga tersebut dengan penuh optimistis. Singo Edan sendiri juga memiliki rekor tidak terkalahkan dari empat laga tandang terakhirnya. Bahkan, mereka baru saja mengandaskan Pelita Jaya Karawang dengan skor 2-0 di Stadion Singaperbangsa Karawang, 2 Desember lalu.
‘’Kami berharap, tim bisa meneruskan trend positifnya. Meski kami tahu, Persijap dan Persela adalah tim solid yang cukup tangguh dan tidak mudah ditumbangkan saat main home. Tapi, kami optimis bisa pulang dengan meraih poin,” terang Robert ‘Meneer’ Alberts, Pelatih Arema, terpisah. (aremaisme.net)

Kondisi kritis menghinggapi Arema Malang menjelang menjamu Persiwa Wamena, Minggu (6/12/2009) lusa dalam laga lanjutan Indonesia Super League.

Bagaimana tidak, menghadapi Persiwa, tim besutan Robert Rene itu terpaksa tidak diperkuat 6 punggawa intinya akibat cedera dan akumulasi kartu kuning. Mereka diantaranya adalah Chamelo Roman dan M Fahrudin akibat yang menjalani hukuman akumulasi serta Zulkifli Syukur, Laundry Poyange, Piere Njanka serta penjaga gawang Timnas Merah Putih Markus Maulana akibat cedera.

Tak ayal, absennya enam pemain tersebut membuat tim Singo Edan ketar-ketir. Maklum, dari segi peringkat klasemen, Persiwa termasuk salah satu tim kuat dengan menduduki klasemen tengah. Selain itu, pada musim sebelumnya, Persiwa juga merupakan runner up ISL membayangi Persipura.

“Hanya pemain yang betul-betul fit dan siap saja yang akan kami mainkan pada pertandingan Minggu sore,” ungkap Listiadi, asisten pelatih Arema saat ditemui di seketariat Arema Jalan Panderman, Kota Malang, Jumat (4/12/2009) sore.

Menurut Listiadi, tidak turunnya beberapa pemain pilar Arema, membuat dirinya harus memutar otak untuk memenangkan pertandingan. Beberapa formasi saat latihan pun sudah dicoba. Dan hasilnya, beberapa skema penyerangan dan pertahanan mereka peragakan.

“Kita akan evaluasi pemain dulu. Kalau memang ada beberapa pemain yang kondisinya drop, terpaksa akan kita istirahatkan. Yang jelas, melawan Persiwa, kami optimis bisa meraih tiga poin,” ungkap Listiadi.

Saat ini, Arema punya nilai poin 11, unggul satu poin diatas Persiwa. Sementara tim tamu sendiri, pada laga besok lusa dipastikan tidak akan bisa menurunkan striker briliannya Edy Foday akibat akumulasi kartu. Namun begitu, Listiadi akan mewaspadai gerakan dan tusukan Habel Satya dan Eriks Weeks Lewis yang menjadi motor serangan Tim Badai Pegunungan serta mewaspadai kecepatan penyerang Peter Rumaropen.

“Kita sudah pelajari kekuatan dan kelemahan Persiwa saat ditantang Persebaya lalu. Dari sana, kita akan gunakan titik mana kelemahan Persiwa yang bisa kita maksimalkan,” papar Listiadi.

Menurutnya, style dan tipikal permainan Persiwa dengan sepak bola cepat dari kaki ke kaki, membuat tim besutan pelatih Zainal Arifin ini, bukan lah tim ayam sayur yang mudah dikalahkan. Malang (beritajatim.com)

TURIN - Juventus harus mengucapkan arrivederci (selamat tinggal) kepada Liga Champions 2009-2010. Itu seiring dengan kekalahan memalukan 1-4 (1-1) dari Bayern Munchen di Stadion Olimpico, Turin, kemarin dini hari (9/12). Akibat kekalahan tersebut, untuk kali pertama sejak musim 2000-2001, Juve gagal lolos dari fase grup.

Sebaliknya, Bayern mendampingi Girondins Bordeaux lolos ke babak 16 besar. Bayern finis di peringkat kedua klasemen akhir grup A dengan 10 poin, unggul dua angka atas Juve. Juara grup direbut Bordeaux (16 poin). Sedangkan Maccabi Haifa berstatus juru kunci dengan rekor terburuk sepanjang sejarah fase grup Liga Champions, 0 poin dan tak mencetak satu gol pun.

Sebagai peringkat ketiga, Juve akan berlaga di Europa League. Nyonya Tua -julukan Juve- menambah deretan klub raksasa yang tampil di even pengganti Piala UEFA itu setelah Liverpool dan Olympique Marseille.

Hasil negatif Juve boleh dibilang mengejutkan. Sebab, empat hari lalu (6/12), tim asuhan Ciro Ferrara tersebut tampil luar biasa saat mengalahkan pemimpin klasemen sementara Liga Italia Serie A Inter Milan 2-1. Tapi, performa kontras ditunjukkan Alessandro Del Piero dkk kemarin.

Juve sejatinya hanya butuh seri untuk lolos ke 16 besar. Asa serasa berada dalam genggaman kala sepakan David Trezeguet pada menit ke-19 membuahkan gol. Tapi, Bayern membalas lewat penalti kiper Hans-Joerg Butt pada menit ke-30. Penalti diberikan wasit Massimo Busacca setelah Martin Caceres melanggar Ivica Olic di kotak terlarang.

Memasuki babak kedua, Ferrara mengganti Del Piero dengan Christian Poulsen. Alhasil, Juve yang cenderung bertahan makin mudah ditekan Bayern. FC Hollywood -julukan Bayern- berhasil menambah tiga gol lewat Olic (52′), Mario Gomez (83′), dan Anatoliy Tymoschuk (92′).

“Saya pikir kami tidak menyelesaikan masalah di lapangan sebagai kesatuan tim. Kami gagal mengimbangi permainan Bayern,” tutur Ferrara sesudah pertandingan kepada Reuters.

Soal strateginya mengganti Del Piero, Ferrara menyatakan ingin lebih mengeksploitasi peran duet Brazil Diego dan Felipe Melo di lini tengah. “Kami mengharapkan Diego dan Felipe bisa maksimal. Tapi, kami tidak bisa menyalahkan hasil kepada dua pemain saja,” terangnya.

Diego dan Melo merupakan dua pemain termahal Juve musim ini. Namun, kontribusi mereka dianggap belum memadai. Tak heran, sasaran cemoohan Juventini -sebutan fans Juventus- di akhir pertandingan lebih ditujukan kepada Diego dan Melo. “Cemoohan bisa dimaklumi mengingat kami gagal memberikan kontribusi maksimal. Wajar fans bereaksi seperti itu,” ucap Diego di Football Italia.

Sementara itu, defender Juve Fabio Cannavaro meminta maaf kepada Juventini soal kegagalan lolos ke babak 16 besar. Menurut dia, kekalahan dari Bayern merupakan sesuatu yang harus segera dilupakan. “Selanjutnya, kami akan lebih fokus di Serie A dan tetap serius berlaga di Europa League,” tandas pemain yang belum pernah meraih trofi Liga Champions itu kepada Corriere dello Sport.

The Irish Rugby Football Union have confirmed that Ireland will play the Barbarians at Thomond Park in Limerick on Friday, June 4th, 2009

Irish to play Baa-Baas at Thomond

Three of Munster’s Ireland contingent with De Villiers, Howlett and Warwick Ireland will take on the Barbarians at Thomond Park in Limerick on 4 June as part of their preparations for the southern hemisphere tour. The teams met last year with Ireland running out 39-14 winners in Gloucester while the last game between the sides in Ireland came in 2000. The Barbarians defeated New Zealand 25-18 at Twickenham on Saturday. The Irish tour includes games against New Zealand on 12 June and Australia a fortnight later. The Barbarians have invited Munster trio Doug Howlett, Jean de Villiers and Paul Warwick to play against Ireland on their home ground. “The much celebrated Barbarian’s brand of rugby will surely bring an entertaining game to Thomond Park and one which I am sure Ireland fans will looking forward to seeing,” said IRFU president John Callaghan.