Swiss private bank Julius Baer said yesterday media reports about its involvement with FIFA were incorrect.
It was responding to an advance summary of a report on Wednesday by the Handelszeitung paper which formed the basis of a number of news stories.
“This preliminary information, which contains wrong statements, was partially corrected by Handelszeitung for today’s print edition,” the bank said.
“However, the newspaper did not send the corrected version to the media, which has resulted in today’s wrong reports in several newspapers,” it said.
The advance summary of the report said a dozen FIFA officials had accounts at Baer, but the print version speaks of a number in the low single figures.
Raul to retire
Former Real Madrid forward Raul, who currently plays for the New York Cosmos, announced last night that he would retire from the sport at the end of the North American Soccer League (NASL) season next month.
Spaniard Raul, 38, who won a host of trophies with Real during a stellar career, including three Champions League crowns and six La Liga titles, made his debut in April for the New York franchise.
“When I signed for the New York Cosmos in December, I said I would evaluate how I felt towards the end of the year and assess whether I would continue to play,” Raul said.
“My decision is to retire from playing at the end of this season.”
Toronto end wait for MLS play-off spot
Toronto FC clinched a spot in the Major League Soccer play-offs for the first time after goals from Herculez Gomez and Sebastian Giovinco helped them to a 2-1 win over New York Red Bulls.
Needing a point to guarantee their first play-off berth after coming into the league in 2007, Toronto built a 2-0 lead in the second half before Shaun Wright-Phillips pulled one back for the Red Bulls shortly before the final whistle.
The three points not only clinched a play-off berth for the Canadian club but lifted them into second spot in the Eastern Conference.
Wenger must check on Sanchez fitness
Arsene Wenger is waiting to see if in-form Chilean striker Alexis Sanchez will be ready to play against Watford tomorrow.
Sanchez has scored six goals in his last three matches for Arsenal including a hat-trick against Leicester and two against Man. United when the Gunners won 3-0 in their last match on Oct.4.
“He came off as you have seen against Manchester United with a hip problem, a problem with the rotator muscle, but he wanted to go (to Chile),” he said.
“He played in the last two games and we have to check his fitness.”
Lewandowski plays down superb start
Robert Lewandowski is keeping his feet planted firmly on the ground despite a tremendous start to the season with both Bayern Munich and Poland.
The 27-year-old striker has netted a staggering 22 times in 15 appearances since August, lifting Bayern to the top of the Bundesliga and Poland into next year’s European Championship.
But Lewandowski said: “The only thing I’m concentrating on is the path I’m treading. The next game is the next challenge.
“When you’re playing a game every couple of days, you can’t fill your head with all the fantastic praise and headlines. Furthermore, my goals are always the goals of my team.”
Allardyce aims swipe at West Ham fans
New Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce has launched a scathing attack on the fans of his former club West Ham, calling them “deluded” and “brainwashed” for their belief that the team should adhere to a particular playing style.
“My long-ball label was started by Graeme Souness, who got upset whenever I beat him when he was at Blackburn or Newcastle, and was picked up by Arsene Wenger and Rafa Benitez,” Allardyce wrote in his autobiography.
“As soon as I was appointed manager (of West Ham) in 2011 the big debate was whether I would follow the ‘West Ham way’, which nobody could define, but, whatever it was, I apparently didn’t play it.
“But the fans were being brainwashed into thinking that, historically, the club had a particular style of play which was akin to Barcelona, which was potty.
“I once called the supporters deluded and I stand by that.”
Baines to return in two weeks – Martinez
Everton defender Leighton Baines is two weeks away from a return to first-team action after spending the last five months on the sidelines with an ankle injury, manager Roberto Martinez said yesterday.
The 30-year-old left-back missed the tailend of last season and is yet to feature in this campaign after twice undergoing ankle surgery, but has now stepped up his recovery work .
“Leighton is not far off at all. We had a very good two weeks work. I’d say two weeks more,” Martinez said.