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12月29日 LONDON (Reuters) - A player with English minor league club Chippenham Town has set a record for the fastest-red card in senior soccer when he was sent off for a wild tackle three seconds after kickoff, media reported on Monday. Striker David Pratt, 21, was dismissed in a Southern Premier League game against Bashley on Saturday. The previous fastest sending-off is generally accepted to be 10 seconds for Bologna's Giuseppe Lorenzo after he struck an opponent in a 1990 Italian league game. English soccer's previous "best" was 13 seconds when Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Kevin Pressman handled outside his box in a game in 2000. Also in 2000 an English amateur player, Lee Todd, was sent off after two seconds when he responded to the referee's whistle to start the game by saying "xxxx me, that was loud" and was dismissed for foul and abusive language. 9月27日
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Mulgrew scored two but it was not enough for a Dons victory |
Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink scored a last-gasp winner to take Celtic top of the SPL after a fantastic match with Aberdeen in Glasgow.
The Dutchman scored his first of the season as he swept the home side in to the lead on 14 minutes.
Charlie Mulgrew equalised 12 minutes into the second, then gave the Dons the lead with a great free-kick.
Substitute Scott McDonald headed Celtic level on 78 minutes, before Vennegoor of Hesselink sealed the points.
Both sides started slowly, as they struggled to get going on a gloomy afternoon in Glasgow.
However, an early flicker of light was Georgios Samaras, whose power and pace with the ball at his feet caused problems for Aberdeen all afternoon.
And the Greek was assisted by some poor Dons defending as Celtic opened the scoring.
Samaras drove forward but lost control of the ball, only for Mark Kerr and Richard Foster to get in each other's way in an attempt to clear.
Scott Brown picked up the loose ball, laid it back to Vennegoor of Hesselink who slotted his first goal of the season inside Jamie Langfield's far post.
The goal might have served as a sign for Aberdeen to exercise more caution, but instead was the jolt the visitors needed.
Despite leeking four first-half goals in midweek, Aberdeen went on the offensive, as Zander Diamond's had a header cleared off the line by Marc Crosas.
Lee Miller then chased a through-ball into the Celtic area, but the danger was averted as Boruc raced off his line for the first of several times in the half.
Under-fire Aberdeen boss Jimmy Calderwood was forced to make an early change when Scott Severin left the field injured after only 27 minutes.
On came Charlie Mulgrew, and the former Celtic player's first task was to strike a free-kick, which Borc held with ease.
But Celtic were looking dangerous whenever they advanced, with Shunsuke Nakamura and Vennegoor of Hesselink finding space in the visitors' penalty area.
Lee Mair slid in to take the heat off Nakamura's shot, while Vennegoor of Hesselink's header lacked punch and Langfield caught it easily.
The Dons were having some good spells inside the Celtic half, but were unable to find an end product.
Lee Naylor then tried to bulldoze his way through a line of Aberdeen players on his way towards goal, eventually slicing his shot wide, and Celtic went in a the break a goal to the good.
Langfield was tested early after the re-start, diving low to push a Samaras shot past the post, and then scrambling to reach a Nakamura free-kick.
But the Dons got back level as Mulgrew punished his former club.
Lee Miller flicked on Hodgkiss' cross and the substitute had time and space to drill the ball under Boruc from 14 yards.
And moments later the former Parkhead prodigy steped up to curl a trademark free-kick over the wall and past Boruc as Aberdeen went 2-1 up.
The home side immediately injected more urgency with Glenn Loovens coming close twice from headers.
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan then sacrificed Marc Crosas in midfield and threw on striker Scott McDonald.
But Aberdeen retained possession well as Celtic chased the match, and when the home side got the ball they were surrounded by red shirts.
However, a game of inspired substitutions continued, as Aiden McGeady curled in a crossed which McDonald nodded over the line from a yard out.
Aberdeen defended desperately and looked to have secured a priceless point, but at the death Vennegoor of Hesselink bundled the ball over the line.
Darren Mackie had the chance to score an injury time leveller, but put his shot narrowly past the post when one-on-one against Boruc.
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9月23日 Watford boss Aidy Boothroyd on Reading's opening goal: "I've never seen anything like it. It's like a UFO landing, a mistake like that.
"I've been to see the referee and, in fairness, he's only going on what the linesman says.
"He's working in a team and, if someone comes in his ear telling him it's a goal, I suppose he's got to give it."
Boothroyd on whether Reading, who knew they had not scored, should have allowed Watford to score an equaliser:
"I don't expect players to take things into their own hands. It's not up to them.
"If someone stops you in a car park and gives you a present you don't say no do you?"
Reading boss Steve Coppell on his side's controversial opener:
"When the whistle went I wondered what it was for as I could not see a foul.
"Everyone trooped back to the centre and then it became obvious that the referee had given the goal.
"But after speaking to Noel Hunt after the game it became clear that the ball went out of play wide of the goal.
"The game is crying out for video evidence and it has been for a long time.
"It's obvious. Rugby League puts us to shame with how referees can call for replays."
Coppell on whether his side should have allowed Watford to score an equaliser:
"Let's
get this clear. The responsibility is not with the opposition to right
a wrong. It is up to the officials to get it as right as they can.
"It's like cricket, do you walk or not if you've nicked one
behind? As a renowned opening batsman I used to walk but it's a
hypothetical question.
"If the referee had come and told me at half-time that they'd cocked it up I don't know whether I would have let them score."
9月6日
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Neil Lennon received hospital treatment after the incident |
Celtic coach Neil Lennon was knocked unconscious while being assaulted in Glasgow on Sunday, the club has said.
A Celtic football club spokesman said Lennon was the target of "sectarian abuse" while walking home alone.
The former Celtic and Northern Ireland player was then subjected to a "serious assault" by two men during which he was "knocked unconscious", the club said.
Lennon was taken by ambulance to the Western Infirmary and treated for a cut to his eye and concussion.
The attack happened hours after Celtic lost their SPL home match against Old Firm rivals Rangers.
A Strathclyde Police spokeswoman said: "Police were called at 12.25am to a report of a 37-year-old man assaulted in Ashton Lane.
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 The assault came after Neil was subjected to sectarian abuse. It is understood that during the course of the attack Neil lost consciousness. 
| "The injured man was taken to hospital then released after treatment for minor injuries.
"He did not wish to make a complaint; however, police inquiries are ongoing into the incident."
Police described one suspect as white, 40 to 50 years of age and of heavy build. He was wearing a light-blue shirt and a black leather jacket.
The second suspect was described as white and between 40 to 50 years of age. He was wearing a light-coloured shirt.
A Celtic spokesman said: "We can confirm that while walking home alone last night, Neil Lennon was the victim of a serious assault by two men.
"The assault came after Neil was subjected to sectarian abuse.
"It is understood that during the course of the attack Neil lost consciousness.
"He was then taken by ambulance to hospital where his injuries were treated and he was later released.
"Strathclyde Police are carrying out an investigation into the assault, and clearly Neil will be fully co-operating with this."
'Sectarian abuse'
A friend of Mr Lennon, who did not want to be named, said the Celtic coach had gone out for a drink with friends in Ashton Lane at about 2200 BST.
The friend said that when Lennon left shortly after midnight he heard someone shout sectarian abuse.
He said Lennon was then "jumped from behind, hit over the head and knocked unconscious".
The Celtic coach was spotted lying in the street by a steward from a nearby pub, who called an ambulance.
The friend said Lennon's partner, who had been trying to contact him, was "extremely distressed" when she learned that he was in hospital.
In September 2003, two students were fined after an attack on Lennon in Glasgow.
In another incident, vandals daubed graffiti outside his home in Glasgow in May 2004.
In 2003, Lennon vowed he would never play for his country again because of a reported death threat.
Loyalist paramilitaries insisted the warning was bogus, but Lennon, a Catholic, said he was not prepared to suffer any more sectarian victimisation.
He had previously been booed by sections of the Northern Ireland support. |
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Northern Ireland fans were drinking at the Dubliner pub |
There has been trouble ahead of Northern Ireland's World Cup qualifier in Slovakia.
It is understood two NI fans were knocked unconscious by a group of 12 men, thought to be from a security firm.
The fans were beaten with batons by the men in the Dubliner public house in Bratislava.
They were part of a contingent in the city for the Northern Ireland-Slovakia match to be played on Saturday.
Portadown Northern Ireland Supporters Club secretary Kyle Quinn said he witnessed the incident.
"I could see a couple of guys just lying prostrate on the ground and one guy in particular was lying over this guy who was obviously out cold," he said.
"These guys were just laying into them. There was one baseball bat and there was another fellow I saw with a white tee-shirt and a pink collar, he seem to get attacked with, I think, a knuckle-duster." |
9月3日 I have seen many football games over the years, both on the television and in the stadium.
Here are some of the best moments I will never forget. A part of them I was in the stadium when it happened, others have just made a huge impression on me.
First of two goals from the season 2004-2005, the season that I left Holland to move to Ireland.
The first one is the last game the Swedish international Zlatan Ibrahimovic played for Ajax before moving to Juventus, Ajax - NAC and he scored here the 5-1 in a game that would end in 6-2.
This is a goal like only the best players in the world can score.
Then later in the season there was the home game against Feyenoord, the so-called Klassieker (Classic).
This game ended in 1-1, but there was a very special moment in this game, when Rafael van der Vaart scored his goal in a beautiful way.
The next video is a bit longer ago, again a match between Ajax and Feyenoord.
Ajax had an early lead and was completely outclassing their rivals when Richard Witschge got the ball, and this video shows what he did...
Everyone who is into football knows Johan Cruijff was an amazing player. Apart from great skills he also has some great ideas.
One of them he showed here when taking a penalty kick against Helmond Sport in 1982.
Then of course a thing that can't be missed here is the fabulous year of 1995. The Champions League final.
On that evening I was having a BBQ with a large group of friends, and we had a couple of television screens outside to watch the game.
And the video below shows a part of what we saw.
The next day the team came back to Amsterdam, to be welcomed by me and around half a million fans.
Before arriving on the airport the plane with the players circled over the Museumsquare and after arriving at Schiphol airport they came back there by bus.
8月28日 Champions League group stage draw in full:
Group A: CHELSEA, AS Roma, Bordeaux, Cluj
Group B: Inter, Werder, Panathinaikos, Anorthosis
Group C: Barcelona, Sporting, FC Basel, Shakhtar
Group D: LIVERPOOL, PSV, Marseille, Atletico
Group E: MAN UTD, Villarreal, CELTIC, Aalborg
Group F: Lyon, Bayern, Steaua, Fiorentina
Group G: ARSENAL, FC Porto, Fenerbahce, Dinamo Kiev
Group H: Real Madrid, Juventus, Zenit, Bate
8月24日
Chris Scannell celebrates scoring his hat-trick
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Cliftonville took advantage of dismal Ballymena defending to start their league campaign with a 5-1 victory.
Neil Teggart gave Ballymena the lead with a second minute glancing
header but Francis Murphy volleyed home to level the score on the half
hour.
Teggart had further chances before Rory Hamill shot low into the corner on 41 and Chris Scannell fired home after 43.
Scannell slotted in his second on 49 and then tapped into an empty net after Alan Blayney dropped a corner on 54.
Stuart King supplied the corner for Teggart's early opener but
Teggart then saw his point-blank effort well saved by John Connolly.
After 30 minutes, George McMullan fired in a corner, Davy
McAlinden headed across goal and Murphy scored after Kevin Kelbie
miskicked his clearance.
Kelbie put Teggart through on goal but his shot found the
sidenetting and soon after Hamill put the Reds ahead with a shot into
the bottom corner from the edge of the area.
Scannell pounced on poor defending to score either side of the
break and United again failed to clear Francis Murphy's corner for the
goal that provided Scannell with his hat-trick.
8月17日
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Hartley put Celtic ahead |
Francisco Sandaza was the Dundee United hero after the substitute scored the equaliser in a thrilling draw with reigning SPL champions Celtic.
United had earlier been angered when denied a penalty when Roy O'Donovan was challenged by Gary Caldwell.
That had come moments after Paul Hartley gave Celtic the lead with a low deflected drive.
Both sides had further chances to score, but both sides had to be content with a share of the spoils.
It means that Celtic, who beat St Mirren last week with a controversial penalty, have still not lost to United since 1999. United had gone into the game still reeling from Monday's 3-1 mauling by Scottish Premier League newboys Hamilton Accies. Angry manager Craig Levein dropped Darren Dods and Shaun Dillon and replaced them with Garry Kenneth and Mihael Kovacevic.
But the reconstructed defence would not have welcomed the news of the return of Shunsuke Nakamura, the Celtic midfielder being pressed into early action after his recovery from injury in place of virus-hit Barry Robson.
Nakamura was soon delivering some trademark crosses into the box, but United's tall defence coped well, rarely allowing the reigning champions a clear sight at goal.
And it was the home side, who failed to score against Celtic last season, that created the better chances of a hectic first half.
David Robertson, who had started in place of the off-form Prince Buaben in United's midfield, climbed to meet a Kovacevic cross, but Boruc stretched to tip the ball over the bar for a corner.
The game threatened to boil over when United striker O'Donovan, their loan signing from Sunderland, was booked for recklessly hacking at Boruc as the goalkeeper shepherded the ball out for a goal kick.
And Celtic's Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink held down Lee Wilkie inside the visitors' box with what resembled a bear hug.
United left-back Danny Grainger drove a powerful volley over the crossbar from 16 yards before Celtic finally forced Lukasz Zaluska into a save after 39 minutes. Aiden McGeady, already booked for a foul on Kovacevic, almost caught out the goalkeeper with a stinging long-range drive that the Pole palmed clear.
The visitors took the lead five minutes after the break when Mark Wilson, who had come into the side to replace the injured Lee Naylor at left-back, whipped in a cross to the back post.
The Japan international took his time to pick out Hartley, whose low drive from the edge of the box nestled into the far corner via a deflection off Kenneth.
United ought to have had a penalty four minutes later when O'Donovan appeared to be felled as he tricked his way past Caldwell in the penalty box.
The home side were furious not to be given the decision by referee Charlie Richmond, who moments later was booed off the park after picking up an injury after a collision with Nakamura.
While Richmond was replaced with Iain Brines, Nakamura picked himself up to fire a powerful 20-yard volley straight at Zaluska.
Warren Feeney had a chance to make his mark seconds before being replaced by Francisco Sandaza but shot straight at Boruc from just inside the penalty box.
It was Celtic's turn to squander a chance when McGeady and Scott McDonald combined to send Vennegoor of Hesselink clear, but the Dutch striker's low drive struck the legs of goalkeeper Zaluska and bounced clear.
McDonald sent a shot on the turn over the bar, while O'Donovan should have done better than fire against Boruc when he stole clear behind the Celtic defence.
But United, who had two claims for handball in the penalty box turned down, finally got the breakthrough when Craig Conway's low cross to the far post was turned home by fellow substitute Sandaza.
Morgaro Gomis sent a powerful drive just over the crossbar while McDonald missed from close range as both sides came close to a winner.
Dundee Utd: Zaluska, Kovacevic, Kenneth, Wilkie, Grainger, Flood, Scott Robertson, Gomis, David Robertson, Feeney, O'Donovan.
Subs: McGovern, Dillon, Daly, Sandaza, Conway, Buaben, McCord.
Celtic: Boruc, Hinkel, McManus, Caldwell, Wilson, Nakamura, Hartley, Scott Brown, McGeady, McDonald, Vennegoor of Hesselink.
Subs: Mark Brown, Samaras, Crosas, Donati, Robson, O'Dea, Caddis.
Referee: C Richmond
| 8月13日 If you love the Celts these videos should be great, even though the picture quality is not the best, the sound is what it is about.
If you don't love the Celts, these videos show (or let you hear) what you are missing.
8月12日
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Celtic 1-0 St Mirren
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Highlights: Celtic v St Mirren
Celtic got their defence of the Scottish Premier League title off to a winning start thanks to a controversial Barry Robson penalty against St Mirren.
The Buddies had matched their more illustrious opponents, with a Billy Mehmet drive striking a post.
But referee Eddie Smith ruled that Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink had been held back by defender Will Haining when the striker was through on goal.
Haining was sent off and Robson's spot kick spun over the line off the keeper.
The widow of the late Celtic coach Tommy Burns, who died from cancer in May, had raised the championship flag ahead of kick-off as Celtic made an emotional start to their title defence.
Rosemary Burns was aided by team captain Stephen McManus, who had recovered from a groin problem to take his place in a now-familiar starting line-up from which injured midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura was the only absentee.
St Mirren manager Gus MacPherson selected just Mehmet up front, a defensive formation perhaps dictated as much by the absence through injury of the influential Andy Dorman, Gary Mason and Craig Dargo as a desire to frustrate their hosts.
But, although Celtic started with a bit of flag-waving gusto, it was the visitors who were first to find the target, with Garry Brady and Stephen McGinn firing long-range efforts at Artur Boruc that the goalkeeper nevertheless dealt with fairly comfortably.
Celtic were also being restricted to long range apart from a head flick by Scott McDonald that ended up going over the crossbar from an Andreas Hinkel cross.
The first half closed with the Glasgow side having given the 57,000 crowd little to cheer following the pre-match euphoria.
Haining and Vennegoor of Hesselink joined hands at Celtic Park |
There was some concern in the St Mirren dressing-room over the fitness of Tom Brighton, making his competitive debut for the club along with Jack Ross, but the former Clyde and Millwall striker emerged again after the break.
It was the Celtic defence who were doing the worrying as the second half started, Stephen O'Donnell setting up Mehmet on the edge of the box and the striker's side-footed drive would have found the net had Boruc's outstretched hand not turned the ball on to a post.
Celtic responded immediately and Gary Caldwell ought to have done better than head straight at Howard from 12 yards after being found unmarked at a free-kick.
Vennegoor of Hesselink had half-hearted claims for a penalty waved away after a chase with Howard to a slack Ross pass-back.
But Celtic's Dutch striker won the spot kick that led to the deadlock being broken after 62 minutes.
Vennegoor of Hesselink pounced when the Buddies defence failed to deal with a long ball through the heart of the defence and poked the ball wide of the post under pressure from Haining.
Referee Smith decided that the striker had been tugged from behind by the defender, who was shown a red card, although television pictures suggested that Vennegoor of Hesselink had been doing his own share of holding.
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MY SPORT: DEBATE
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Howard saved Robson's spot kick with his legs but could not prevent the ball spinning a matter of inches over the line before the goalkeeper swiped it clear.
The 10-man Buddies almost equalised immediately, but an O'Donnell snap-shot flew wide of the far post.
Celtic should have gone two ahead, but Vennegoor of Hesselink headed wide from 10 yards.
St Mirren remained a threat and substitute Marc McAusland sent a header just over, but it was Celtic who took all three points after a victory that was more workmanlike than inspired.
Celtic: Boruc, Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor (Wilson 74), Robson (Caddis 81), Scott Brown, Hartley, McGeady, Vennegoor of Hesselink, McDonald (Samaras 75).
Subs Not Used: Mark Brown, Donati, O'Dea, McGowan.
Booked: Vennegoor of Hesselink.
Goals: Robson 62 pen.
St Mirren: Howard, Ross, Haining, Potter, Miranda, Murray, Brady (Gilerao 63), O'Donnell (Wyness 82), McGinn, Mehmet, Brighton (McAusland 63).
Subs Not Used: Smith, Hamilton, Barron, McCay.
Sent Off: Haining (61).
Att: 57,441
Ref: E Smith |
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Scott Brown was assaulted outside a Glasgow city centre pub |
Two Celtic players have been involved in an incident at a Glasgow pub.
Celtic and Scotland midfielder Scott Brown was assaulted outside the Bamboo club in the city centre at about 0230 BST on Monday.
Defender Darren O'Dea, 21, was arrested in connection with the incident. He was issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice for breach of the peace and released.
Another two men, aged 18 and 19, were also arrested. Strathclyde Police said a report would be sent to prosecutors. | 7月26日
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Nakamura will miss the start of the season for Celtic |
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan says midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura could return to action in a matter of weeks.
The Japanese playmaker, 30, is to have a hernia operation and will miss the start of the season.
But Strachan told the club's website: "He'll go to Germany to see the same guy who operated on Darren O'Dea.
"Darren was only out for a couple of weeks so it could be the same for Shunsuke, although some players take longer than others."
Nakamura missed Celtic's 1-0 defeat by Cardiff in the Algarve Cup on Thursday, but Strachan hopes to see him back in the first-team soon.
"I know people here the word operation and think 'oh no' but it's not like that," said the Celtic manager. "It's not a big problem.
"There has been wear and tear but that's just Naka's body giving him a wee nudge saying it's time for a wee rest."
Of Strachan's other players absent from the games in Portugal, he said: "Koki Mizuno will get a meniscus operation, which is in his cartilage, on Monday. That will be him out for a couple of weeks.
"Evander Sno and Chris Killen are at the Olympics, Cillian Sheridan and Ben Hutchinson have hamstring injuries, while Paddy McCourt only trained on day." |
7月20日 Football clubs almost always make sure that a player whose wages they're paying, but who isn't currently playing for them, can't do anything to hurt them.
This caution usually comes to the fore when it comes to loan deals with a player loaned out to another club barred from playing against the one he's loaned out from. Maybe such arrangements should extend to clubs' IT departments.
On Thursday night, West Ham took on non-league Hampton and Richmond Borough in their first pre-season friendly. The Premier League side ended up winning the match 4-2, but had to come from a goal down when Francis Quarm hooked a spectacular volley past goalkeeper Robert Green to give the non-leaguers a, who are managed by Hammers legend Alan Devonshire, the lead.
Quarm's 20-yard effort was a clear case of him biting the hand that feeds him, as he works as an IT support specialist at Upton Park.
7月16日
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Ronaldinho is set to bid farewell to Barcelona |
Manchester City have lost out to Italian side AC Milan in the race to sign Barcelona playmaker Ronaldinho.
"AC Milan and Barcelona have reached an agreement in principle over the transfer of Ronaldinho," the Serie A club said on their website.
"The player will be in Milan on Wednesday to undergo a medical and sign a contract that will keep him at Milan until 30 June 2011."
City had reportedly bid £25.5m for the 28-year-old Brazilian.
Manchester City boss Mark Hughes believes they should be given credit for launching their bold move to bring the Brazil superstar to the Premier League.
He said: ?I think we have shown a willingness to bring Ronaldinho here and should be complemented for that. In the end though it will be the player?s decision.?
Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport reported on its website that Milan will pay Spanish side Barcelona just £14.6m for his services, with the figure likely to be increased by performance-related bonuses.
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606: DEBATE
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Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani has been in Barcelona for talks with the club and the player for two days.
The two-time Fifa World Player of the Year's time at Barcelona effectively came to an end in June when new manager Pep Guardiola announced the playmaker was surplus to requirements.
Nevertheless, the Catalans were not prepared to release Ronaldinho to join Dunga's Brazil squad for next month's Beijing Olympics.
City will be disappointed at their failure to pull off what would have been a major coup, despite the heavy financial and footballing risks involved in completing the deal.
But their determined effort to sign Ronaldinho has offered a clear indication of the financial muscle available to new boss Hughes from owner Dr Thaksin Shinawatra.
Reports suggest that Ronaldo's negotiating team were ultimately uinimpressed by a financial package from City that was heavily weighted with clauses relating to performance, success and marketing.
City had also hoped their signing on Ronaldinho's fellow countryman Jo in a deal that could eventually be worth £19m would have been a signal of their intent and lured him to Eastlands, but he has decided to move to Milan.
Ronaldinho helped Barcelona win back-to-back Spanish league titles (2004-05, 2005-06) and the Champions League in 2006, but failed to cement a regular place in the starting XI last season because of injury and fitness issues. | 7月15日 Cliftonville's UEFA Cup preparations suffered a blow last night after they were trashed 7-0 by Ipswich Town at Solitude.
The reds face FC Copenhagen in their UEFA Cup first leg preliminary tie at Mournview Park on Thursday night, and will be without attacking duo Geordie McMullan (Honeymoon) and Rory Hamill (holidays).
Ipswich raced into a 3-0 half-time lead with Gary Roberts, Alan Lee and Danny Haynes finding the net for Jim Magilton's side, while Reds' keeper John Connolly saved a penalty.
Connoly was Cliftonville's best player after making a string of saves.
In the second half, Jaime Peters, Alan Quinn (2) and David Wright got on the scoresheet.
Chris Scannell and Mark Holland didn't have much luck in front of goal for the home side, while new signing Ciaran Donaghy partnered Davy McAlinden in defence. 7月13日
A football referee has been suspended for allegedly being drunk while officiating a league game in Belarus.
It was thought at first that Sergei Shmolik, 43, was suffering
from back pain. However tests in hospital later revealed that he had
high levels of alcohol in his system.
7月3日 Cliftonville will face FC Copenhagen in the first qualifying round of the UEFA cup following Tuesday afternoon's draw in Nyon.
The reds are at home for the first leg on Thursday, July 17 although the North Belfast side take on the Danish giants at Glevanon's Mourneview Park as redevelopment continues at Solitude.
The return leg takes place at Copenhagen's impressive Parken Stadium on thursday July 31.
Reds boss Eddie Patterson was in Switzerland for the draw and was pleased with the outcome.
"Well, they are a massive team. Out of our section the teams that we would have wanted were between them or Manchester City," said Patterson.
"Or one of the weaker teams so we could have had a chance to get into the next round."
"They are one of the top teams in it, so from a supporter's point of view it will stand us in good stead for our preparation for our own domestic campaign."
There was a tone of realism as Patterson spoke about the opposition. Copenhagen are a real step up in class compared to last season's InterToto Cup opponents FC Dinaburg.
Cliftonville beat the Latvians 2-1 on aggregate before being knocked out by Gent.
The Danes have both UEFA Cup and Champions League experience and can boast players of the calibre of former Chelsea winger Jesper Gronkjaer.
There is also a certain Mads Laudrup in the panel, the son of Barcelona and Real Madrid star Michael.
"It will be a tough game and to be honest, Irish League clubs getting to this stage of the competition just comes down to experience," added Patterson.
"Copenhagen were in the group stages of UEFA Cup last year and I think it was the year before that they were in the Champions League, so they've great pedigree in Europe."
"Obviously it's something that we are looking forward to playing against one of the best. It's basically approaching it as profesionally as possible."
Cliftonville have a number of challenging pre-season friendlies to prepare them for the UEFA Cup clash.
The Reds lined out against Kilmore Rec tonight before taking on Amateur League Permier Division champions Downpatrick next week.
A glamour tie against Jim Magilton's Ipswich Town on Monday 14th provides the perfect build up for the European clash.
Preparation
"The preparation will be there for the Copenhagen match," continued Patterson.
"It's a case now of the boys applying themselves in the friendlies that we have arranged and playing at a higher tempo. It's really about working on match fitness."
"Preparations should be good, it's just a matter of how much the boys put into it. All we can do is give them guidance."
The North Belfast side returned to pre-season training two weeks ago. The players have had a much longer break than last year when they were back on the training pitch in mid May ahead of the InterToto Cup.
Already they have a friendly win under their belt after seeing off Lurgan Cetlic 4-0 at Mallusk.
New boy Rory Hamill, Shea Campbell, Mark Holland and Mark Patterson, the son of the manager who signed from Ballyclare Comrades, all got on the score sheet.
"It's a good start and a few of the young lads performed well," said Patterson, who missed the game because of the European draw.
"The young lads got a chance and they did what we expected of them. Albeit it was an intermediate side but it's early days. Over the next week or so there's going to be a really high work rate."
Downey
Patterson refused to rule out the possibility of bringing in even more new players to Solitude.
So far Ciaran Donaghy and Rory Hamill have been the main summer acquisitions although the Reds are interested in bringing former favourite Conor Downey back to the club.
The Linfield midfielder handed in a transfer request two weeks ago.
"It's been made known that he has put in a transfer request and we were given permission to speak to him," said Patterson.
"At this moment in time the demands that Linfield are asking are out of our reach. We're hoping and still talking and we don't know if anything will come off this side of the season starting."
The manager remains hopeful of strengthening his squad. The size of Cliftonville's panel last season was a major factor in their disappointing finish of the year.
Fatigue
After such a promising start results began to go wrong, largely due to fatigue. But already this season Patterson can boast a far more intimidating first team squad.
Added to that is the return of injured striker Vincent Sweeney, who spent most of last season on the sidelines.
"Last year if we had more faces we could have changed the team a bit to get the momentum going," said Patterson.
"A lot of players played in a terrible lot of games last season and we didn't get the opportunity to give them a wee break against the so-called lesser teams."
"Hopefully we can keep the players that we've got and add one or two new faces and then we can kick on from there."
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