UEFA president Michel Platini said on Tuesday that Kosovo could not join the organisation until it was recognised by the United Nations.

“The situation is very simple, UEFA, FIFA do not go in for politics… the only thing UEFA can do at the present is to respect the statutes of UEFA and the statutes clearly say that to be affiliated with UEFA it is necessary to be recognised by the United Nations,” Platini told reporters in Belgrade.

Kosovo, which unilaterally declared independence from Serbia a year ago, has been recognised by more than 50 countries, including the United States and most of the European Union countries.

However, Serbia and its traditional ally Russia, a permanent member of UN Security Council, have rejected the move and consider it illegal.

During his visit to Belgrade Platini met Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Ivica Dacic to discuss the fight against hooliganism at stadia.

“We discussed what measures should be taken to fight against hooligans, racism and xenophobia,” Platini said.

Scotland and Wales have abandoned a planned joint bid to host the 2016 European Championships due to the economic downturn, Welsh football chiefs said Sunday.

The Football Association of Wales said UEFA’s decision to expand the tournament to 24 teams was also a factor.

“After careful consideration, the FAW and the Scottish Football Association (SFA) have decided not to make a joint bid to host the Euro 2016 Football Championships,” the governing body said on its website.

FAW secretary general David Collins added: “The current economic downturn and the very considerable implications for infrastructure provision following UEFA’s decision to expand the European Championship finals to 24 teams are key considerations.

Scotland-Wales Euro 2016 Bid Abandoned … read more »

David Beckham admitted on Friday he has become frustrated over the protracted transfer saga surrounding his proposed move from Los Angeles Galaxy to AC Milan.

Beckham’s mood was not helped by Milan’s departure from the UEFA Cup on Thursday night as once again they blew a lead before crashing out of Europe’s second-tier competition to Werder Bremen.

Milan were 2-0 up at half-time but the Germans fought back to draw 2-2 and qualify for the next round on the away goals rule after a 1-1 draw in the first leg.

But it is the uncertainty surrounding his proposed permanent move to Milan that has left the on-loan Galaxy player feeling blue.

Asked if he was frustrated, Beckham simply replied: “Of course. There’s a lot going on and a lot being said and every day there’s someone asking me questions.

“It is being said every day but so far I’ve been able to concentrate on the football.”

However, Beckham admitted that he felt in the dark over the transfer and said he knew of no new developments.

Last week Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani said the Italian giants would not be increasing their reported three million dollars bid for the 33-year-old former England captain.

Beckham Admits Milan Frustration … read more »

Holders FC Zenit St. Petersburg won through to face Udinese Calcio in the UEFA Cup’s Round of 16 which will also feature a showdown between former European champions Olympique de Marseille and AFC Ajax in the ties on 12 and 18/19 March.

Milan out
The Round of 32 concluded on Thursday night with Zenit, newly arrived in the competition after their UEFA Champions League elimination, winning 2-1 at VfB Stuttgart to replicate their home first-leg success. Their reward is a meeting with an Udinese side that defeated KKS Lech Poznań 4-3 on aggregate. Elsewhere, however, it was an unhappy night for Serie A as AC Milan, ACF Fiorentina and UC Sampdoria were knocked out by Werder Bremen, Ajax and FC Metalist Kharkiv respectively. Bremen and Ajax will next face Ligue 1 clubs in AS Saint-Etienne and Marseille while Metalist must gear up for the first all-Ukrainian European tie against FC Dynamo Kyiv, who ousted Valencia CF on away goals with a 2-2 draw in Spain.

Holders To Face Udinese In Last 16 Lineup … read more »

Milan               2 – 2                 Bremen
Pirlo 27(pen), Pato 33          Pizarro 68, 78

Claudio Pizarro masterminded a dramatic Werder Bremen turnaround at San Siro, beating Dida with two second-half headers to send favourites AC Milan crashing out of the UEFA Cup on the away-goals rule.

Dramatic turnaround
Having drawn 1-1 in the first leg in Germany, first-half goals from Andrea Pirlo and Pato looked to have smoothed Milan’s path to the Round of 16, but it will be Thomas Schaaf’s side who play AS Saint-Etienne in the next round after Pizarro atoned for an early miss with two goals in the second half to dump Carlo Ancelotti’s side out of the competition.

Pizarro Puts Paid to Milan’s Big Plans … read more »