Football: Sanz increases pressure on Uefa hierarchy

AROUND THE WORLD

Spain

LORENZO SANZ, the president of Real Madrid, yesterday renewed his attack against Uefa, accusing European football's governing body of trying to exercise too much control over clubs.

Sanz, one of the few senior club officials to come out in favour of Media Partners' rival plans for a new European super league, called on Uefa to cede television rights to the clubs.

"I don't understand why they think they are the lords and masters of everything," Sanz declared. "They just act as they please and have the exclusive rights over everything."

Sanz added that he thought Uefa would change its stance over the Media Partners offer, although he described the figures being talked about by the Milan-based company as "exaggerated". He said: "If the figures are correct then they would cause a revolution in football. Between Uefa and Media Partners there is a difference of pounds 570m per year.

"I'm sure Uefa will change. They say that if we have rights then we will have to assume obligations. We have nothing against that, assuming they give us, for example, the management of our television rights."

Across the Spanish capital, the Atletico Madrid president Jesus Gil is once again lined with controversy. Last week anti-corruption police raided club offices at the Vicente Calderon stadium.

The police were believed to be looking for documents detailing the relationship between the club and the council of Marbella, where Gil is the mayor. The town is close to bankruptcy after running up debts in the region of pounds 135m, and the regional authorities in Andalusia have refused Gil, a construction tycoon, permission for any more building development in the town.

Italy

INTERNAZIONALE AND their coach, Luigi Simoni, faced a barrage of criticism yesterday after they crashed 5-3 at home to Lazio in the most explosive match of the Italian season so far.

Lazio led 5-1 at one point during Sunday's match and threatened to hand Inter their heaviest-ever defeat at San Siro. Nicola Ventola reduced the deficit with two late strikes but, even so, Inter conceded five league goals at home for the first time in over 40 years.

The fiery Argentinian midfielder Diego Simeone was sent off in the first half as Inter lost their cool after conceding a first-minute goal. Francesco Colonnese was lucky to stay on the pitch after a dreadful tackle on Chile's Marcelo Salas, and three more Inter men were booked.

Inter's president, Massimo Morrati, was chastened by what he termed "a humiliating defeat. All their goals were preventable." Mistakes by the coach? "Well, maybe," he said. "I just want to ask the fans for forgiveness for this match."

Belgium

ONCE-PROUD Anderlecht's season is going from bad to worse. The Brussels club's last realistic chance of winning a place in European competition next season ended at the weekend when they were dumped out of the Belgian Cup by Second Division Denderleeuw, losing 4-2 on penalties in the sixth round. They are 14th in the 18-team First Division and are already out of the Uefa Cup.