john the tinca
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Close Season NewsFans following national teams at the 2010 World Cup will be able to support their country in greater numbers after a change in the way tickets are sold.
World governing body Fifa will allocate 12% of total stadium capacity to fans of competing teams, up from eight percent, for first round games.
"We have always been criticised for too many tickets going to the fat cats," said Fifa official David Will.
"But we are confident that at least 80% in 2010 will go to the general public."
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john the tinca
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France striker David Trezeguet has announced his retirement from international football.
The 30-year-old was left out of France's Euro 2008 squad and blamed his decision on coach Raymond Domenech, who was told last week he can keep his job.
"The poor performance at Euro 2008 and the decision to keep the coach have pushed me to make this decision," Trezeguet told Gazetta dello Sport.
"These decisions were taken more for political than footballing reasons."
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john the tinca
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Barcelona are refusing to allow Ronaldinho to play for Brazil at the Olympics despite considering him surplus to requirements at the club.
The 28-year-old was named in Brazil coach Dunga's squad for Beijing on Monday as one of three overage players.
"Ronaldinho has to report for training next Monday," read a club statement.
Real Madrid forward Robinho was named in the 18-man squad while Manchester United midfielder Anderson is one of three Premier League players selected.
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john the tinca
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Manchester United assistant boss Carlos Queiroz is close to being appointed Portugal coach, BBC Sport understands.
He met Portugal's Football Federation at the weekend over its offer of a £1.5m four-year deal to replace Luiz Felipe Scolari.
Queiroz, 55, who had a spell in charge of Portugal in the 1990s, said: "Things are being dealt with by officials from the two institutions involved.
"The important thing is for the two institutions to reach agreement."
But he added: "From my part, there is not much to say, it needs to be resolved between the federation and United.
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john the tinca
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The Scottish Football Association is asking the Tartan Army if they are prepared to pay top ticket prices to bring Argentina to Hampden.
A match scheduled for 19 November is under discussion between the SFA and agents for the Argentine FA.
Top price for a competitive Scotland match is £35 while the cost of a ticket for Northern Ireland's friendly visit to Hampden in August is £20.
Ticket prices for the visit of Argentina would be higher than both.
SFA chief executive Gordon Smith revealed that fans' appetite for the match will be gauged before a decision is made.
"Qualifying for the World Cup finals is our number one priority, " Smith said.
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john the tinca
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Northern Ireland boss Nigel Worthington believes Linfield striker Peter Thompson would become a better player if he secured a cross-channel move.
Thompson, the top scorer in the Irish Premier League, has been linked with a possible move to SPL club Kilmarnock.
"For the long term of the boy, I would like to think no club would stand in the way of him trying to improve himself," said Worthington.
"Peter would benefit from playing in a higher league."
Kilmarnock have denied making a definite cash offer for Thompson, while Linfield chairman Jim Kerr has insisted the NI international would be staying at Windsor Park.
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john the tinca
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Poland say they will step in and provide six of the eight venues for Euro 2012 if co-hosts Ukraine are not ready to help stage the tournament.
Ukraine have been given until September by Uefa president Michel Platini to prove they are capable of co-hosting Europe's showpiece football event.
Uefa have told Ukraine to speed up work on building stadiums and improve roads and transport infrastructure.
But Poland say they have a plan in place, if Ukraine continue to struggle.
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john the tinca
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France coach Raymond Domenech will remain in charge of the national team despite their failure at Euro 2008.
Domenech's position was under threat after his side failed to win any of their three games at the tournament and were knocked out in the group stages.
But a statement from the French Football Federation (FFF) confirmed he will lead their World Cup challenge.
"Domenech's record is not that bad as coach. It is not catastrophic," said FFF president Jean-Pierre Escalettes.
"He qualified for a major competition two straight times. I did not want emotion and passion to get the better of reason."
The FFF said that Domenech's targets "have been re-defined and his managerial responsibilities re-evaluated".
Domenech received 18 votes backing him to stay, with one abstention.
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john the tinca
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Spain head the Fifa world rankings after triumphing at Euro 2008 in style.
Rated fourth in June, it is the first time the Spanish have topped the list since the rankings started in 1992.
Former leaders Argentina have slipped to sixth after two disappointing draws in World Cup qualifying.
England have dropped six places to 15th, their lowest position since 2001, Scotland are one place behind, with Northern Ireland 33rd in the ranking list and Wales 54th.
England and the rest of the home nations failed to qualify for Euro 2008, a tournament won by a gifted Spain squad.
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john the tinca
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Fifa president Sepp Blatter is refusing to give up on his plan to limit foreign players in a team, despite conceding it is against European Union law.
Blatter wants a 'six-plus-five' quota system to keep a side's number of foreign players to five.
He said: "For now, it is against one of the principals of European Union law - free circulation of workers in Europe.
"Concerning the legal point of view, we have to investigate exactly what is illegal in this matter."
The European Commission has given little chance to Blatter's plans gaining approval as they deem them to be discriminatory and illegal.
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john the tinca
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A bid by supporters to try to retain a football team in Gretna has been successful.
Concerned fans formed an action group after their club went into administration and dropped out of the Scottish Football League.
It was feared it could be the end of football in the town, but Gretna FC have now been admitted to the East of Scotland League.
The newly-formed club will start its campaign on 9 August.
A series of meetings have been held in the town since the team hit financial troubles and fell out of the SFL.
They culminated in the successful bid for East of Scotland status.
However, the new team will not be able to play its games at Raydale Park, the traditional home of the club.
It will play its home matches at the Everholm, in nearby Annan, after negotiating a deal with Annandale and Eskdale Sports Trust.
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iggie1426
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SlaveryI hear that FIFA chairman has said that Man U's refusual to let Ronadlo talk to clubs interested in signing him is equivalent to modern day slavery, which Ronaldo agrees with.
If this is modern day slavery they can make me a slave anytime, how much does he earn 100k plus a month they can have me for a 100k a year 
(Ok i know i cant play football but thats beside the point  )
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