Muscat to be hit hard for tackle

Kevin Muscat’s A-League career could be over after the charge for the Melbourne Victory skipper’s tackle on Adrian Zahra was referred to the disciplinary committee.

The decision, made by the league’s match review panel, means the former Socceroo is likely to cop a suspension of six weeks or greater.

Muscat was given a straight red card for the challenge on Zahra in the 80th minute of Saturday’s city derby against Melbourne Heart at Etihad Stadium, and as such the match review panel could have imposed a further sanction on the 37-year-old.

However, under MRP policy, if they believe the offence warrants a sanction of more than an additional four weeks – on top of the one-match mandatory suspension for the red card – then a disciplinary committee hearing, set down for this Thursday, must be convened.

With Victory having just four matches left in the regular season and looking unlikely to play a major role in the finals – given they are currently placed fifth – it could mean that Muscat has played his last game in the A-League.

Any suspension not served in the A-League would carry over into the AFC Champions League, where Melbourne play at least six matches.

Former Wolverhampton, Rangers, Millwall and Crystal Palace defender Muscat is expected to retire at season’s end, meaning his farewell appearance is likely to be in the ACL.

It was the second match in succession that Muscat had received a red card and he admitted on Sunday during an apology for the tackle that perhaps the pace of the game was passing him by.

“I’m going to have to sit here and accept full responsibility for it,” he said.

“It was an incident that I deeply regret, it was a mistimed tackle, dreadfully mistimed, (and) at no point did I have any intent to injure the player.”

“Unfortunately I mistimed a tackle terribly, and maybe the game is telling me that it’s passed me by, but I haven’t given it any thought.”

Meanwhile, Sydney FC goalkeeper Liam Reddy has been handed a two-match ban for his clash with Matt Simon in Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Central Coast at Gosford.

The MRP determined that Reddy’s actions had escaped the attention of the referee and it therefore had the authority to punish the shot-stopper.

Zacch not all about Japan attack

Japan are the Asian Cup’s leading scorers, but Alberto Zaccheroni believes his defence could be decisive in the semi-final with South Korea.

Zaccheroni’s side have scored 11 goals in the tournament, including five without reply in their thrashing of 2007 finalists Saudi Arabia.

But the veteran Italian coach suspects the clash between two of the Asia’s heavyweights could well be edged by the team that keeps it tighter at the back.

“I am happy that we have scored the most in this competition,” Zaccheroni said.

“The style we are aiming for is not just attacking. We need to be well balanced to face our opponent in the fight.”

“We like to face every team with bravery but what we can do depends on the matches. Sometimes you need to think about where you make the defensive line but our aim is always the same, which is to play with bravery.”

Zaccheroni will be forced into changes for the semi-final in Doha’s Al-Gharafa Stadium, with the loss of Maya Yoshida to suspension offset by the return of Atsuto Uchida.

“In the last match Daiki Iwamasa came on to go in central defence, while Uchida has the experience as well and normally plays in the team, so it will not be a problem,” he said.

The former AC Milan and Juventus coach is well aware of the long-running rivalry between the two semi-final opponents.

But he believes the focus should remain on the current players ahead of Tuesday’s clash, with a place in the final of the Asian Football Confederation’s elite competition at stake.

“Since I arrived in Japan I knew of the connection between them and Korea, but I think not only Korea but all teams are rivals for us,” he said.

“We are very similar types of teams and we both have young players here. Both teams want to take the initiative in the match with a lot of variation in attacking play. It will be a very tight match.”

The faces of Sky make a very big mistake

Sky Sports have been the face of football in England since 1992. The faces of the face have been presenter Richard Keys and expert former player Andy Gray. In the eighteen years they have been presenting their very professional show they have hardly put a foot wrong. They are the very model of professionalism.

Discussion

Unfortunately for Sky and the two men in particular, all of that changed when they had a discussion before the Wolves against Liverpool game on Saturday. They believed that their microphones were off and that they were having a private conversation off air. They weren’t and now they are in big trouble.

Twenty-five year old female Sian Massey was one of the assistant referees at the game and the comments of the two men were about her.

Keys said,

“Somebody better get down there and explain offside to her.”

Gray replied,

“Women don’t know the offside rule.”

Worse

It actually got worse. Talking about an article in a morning newspaper about sexism in football, written by West Ham vice-chairman Karen Brady, Keys said,

“See charming Karren Brady this morning complaining about sexism? Yeah. Do me a favour love.”

As Keys himself said. Charming!

Strong

The reaction to the comments has been understandably strong. Keys and Gray were removed from their roles at last night’s game between Bolton and Chelsea. The managing director of Sky, Barney Francis, was highly critical of the pair yesterday,

“Their comments were totally unacceptable. I have spoken directly to both Richard Keys and Andy Gray this morning. It has been made clear to each of them that their comments were totally unacceptable.

“Those views are inexcusable, entirely inconsistent with our ethos as a business and employer, and will rightly offend many of our customers, our people, and the wider public. They are inexcusable from anyone at Sky, regardless of their role or seniority.

“We have dealt with this matter by taking immediate disciplinary action. As with any employee it would not be right to go into detail on those proceedings. However, they have been clearly warned about their behaviour and reminded of their responsibilities. In addition, Richard and Andy will not be involved in any way with tonight’s live Monday Night Football.”

Twitter

On Twitter, England captain Rio Ferdinand said,

“I’m all for women refereeing in football, discrimination should not happen in our game at all. Prehistoric views if you think otherwise.”

Karen Brady was angry and disappointed that her article had been so publicly proved right so quickly,

Unfair

“I just think it’s unfair. Here is somebody doing a very important job under very difficult circumstances, who deserves and warrants our respect and here are two people who other people listen to and get their views from not giving her a chance.

“Everyone is entitled to a personal opinion but what really upsets me is the fact that only females in our industry are judged by their gender and that is categorically wrong. I don’t think any of the comments were anything other than sexism. You know ‘we’d better go down and tell her the offside rule.’ I’m surprised they didn’t say ‘we’d better go down and tell here to put the kettle on.’

“I’m genuinely disappointed. It never would have occurred to me that they had those views, whether public or private. It almost makes it worse that they’re speaking when the microphones are not on as opposed to when they are on, because they have never really had the brass neck to say it publicly, they would only say it privately.”

A large amount of people were queuing up to have a go at Keys and Gray, rightly so. Very few people were prepared to come out in support of the two men.

Excuses

There will no doubt be apologies and there will no doubt be excuses given that the two men were only joking and ‘bantering’. Whether that is the case or not, they should not have said what they did.

What do you think? Should Sky get rid of these people or should everyone accept that they thought they were in private and therefore an apology should suffice?

Tevez out of Argentina squad for friendly

Manchester City talisman Carlos Tevez is among a host of star names who will miss Argentina’s friendly against Portugal next month.

Argentina boss Sergio Batista has named his 24-man squad for the friendly in Geneva on February 9, with Tevez and Marseille defender Gabrielle Heinze topping the list of omissions.

Malaga centre-back Martin Demichelis and Atletico Madrid striker Sergio Aguero are also out, while injured Real Madrid attacker Gonzalo Higuain is unavailable.

Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi, who was crowned the World Player of the Year for the second year running earlier this month, has been named.

He joins team-mate Javier Mascherano and Inter Milan trio Javier Zanetti, Diego Milito and Esteban Cambiasso.

Batista was quick to point out that the absence of Tevez and the others bears no weight towards their selection for Argentina’s Copa America campaign.

“Neither Tevez nor any of the lads who were left off this list are out of the national team,” Batista told Argentine radio station La Red.

“I have to see players, lots, and I do that in matches. I have to see if they can wear the national team shirt but I haven’t punished anyone.”

“This doesn’t mean that the players left out now are out of the Copa America. This is a good moment to try out some youngsters.”

Batista has handed uncapped trio Enzo Perez, Juan Manuel Martinez and Marcos Rojo call-ups to the squad after strong seasons in the Primera Division.

Winger Perez was instrumental in Estudiantes’ Apertura triumph, as was former team-mate Rojo, who has since departed to Russian Premier League club Spartak Moscow.

Martinez scored 10 times in 19 appearances for Apertura runners-up Velez Sarsfield.

Batista, having taken over from Diego Maradona, is also tasked with building a side capable of ending Argentina’s 28-year World Cup title drought in Brazil in 2014.

The selection of 37-year-old Zanetti seems contrary to Batista’s desire to blood youngsters, and while the Argentina boss did not guarantee the future of the veteran defender he said: “If he carries on (playing) the way he is, at the same level, he’ll surely be at the Copa America.”

Columbian whiz kid drops Benfica hint

Columbia Under-20 forward Fabian Castillo says he is aware of Benfica interest and admits he dreams of playing for the Eagles.

The 18-year-old striker, who is currently with Columbia at the Under-20 South American Championship, has been attracting a lot of interest lately with Benfica seems to be winning the race for his signature.

The Deportivo Cali striker admits a move to Benfica would be a dream come true.

“I know that there are many offers for me but I prefer Benfica,” he told A Bola.

“It is a great club, well-known, with several players I admire, Saviola, Aimar, Paraguay striker Cardozo. And they have Gaitan too! Great player!”

“It is true that it would be good for me to stay at Deportivo Cali and play at the Under-20 World Cup, in July, in Columbia, but if you ask me, I would join Benfica.”

The negotiations between the two clubs are well under way and Castillo could arrive to La Luz before the January transfer window closes.