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Mid-Day Ticker: Mourinho eyes England return, Inter fined for racist chants, and more

Jose Mourinho’s days at Real Madrid appear to be numbered if you believe the rumors floating around Spain, and ‘The Special One’ provided some insight into his next destination if he does, in fact, leave the reigning Spanish champions.

In an interview ahead of Real Madrid’s Champions League clash with Manchester United, Mourinho admitted he plans on a return to the English Premier League.

“After Real. I love everything [about the Premier League] … Normally it will be my next step,” Mourinho said.

The Portuguese manager, 50, also shed a little humor when asked if he might replace Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, “I don’t believe so. I think we have to end our career at the same time. [Ferguson] at 90 and me at 70.”

Jose Mourinho enjoyed a successful period in England, winning two Premier League titles, two League Cups and an FA Cup trophy with Chelsea.

In 60 home matches with Chelsea, Mourinho never lost.

Here are some other stories to get you through your Monday afternoon:

INTER MILAN FINED FOR FANS’ RACIST CHANTS

Inter Milan have been fined €15,000 following the club’s fans’ racist chants toward AC Milan forward Mario Balotelli.

The Inter Milan supporters were heard chanting racial discrimination towards Mario Balotelli in the 41st and 42nd minutes of the first and second half, respectively, during their match on Sunday against Chievo.

The fine comes just a day after Internazionale president Massimo Moratti apologized for the actions of the supporters, “I was told about it because I couldn’t make out clearly what they were saying. I’m very sorry about that.

Juventus and Napoli were also fined €15,000 as discipline for the unruly behavior from their supporters at matches this weekend.

WADA CALLS ON SOCCER TO IMPROVE ITS TESTING

John Fahey, president of the World Anti-Doping Agency, has questioned why soccer professionals in England aren’t tested more vigorously for EPO and other blood-boosting drugs.

EPO is used to increase red blood cells in order to artificially improve endurance, and has been the center of many cycling investigations.

“Football is not testing frequently enough for EPO; they can do more and we are encouraging them to do more,” said John Fahey.

Arsène Wenger revealed last weekend that he is in favor of more testing, I would support it. Uefa [is] ready to do it, but it poses some ethical problems because everyone has to accept that [it] will check the blood and not everybody is ready to do that.”

FIFA announced the suspension of Canadian striker Olivier Occean for six games as punishment for an altercation in a World Cup Qualifying match against Cuba on October 12, 2012.

Occean was shown red after a small brawl with a few Cuban players immediately following Will Johnson’s 73rd minute goal.

FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee deemed that Occean displayed “an act of unsporting conduct” and used “offensive language towards match officials” in the midst of the scuffle.

Occean will miss Canada’s next five official competitive matches, which will take place during the CONCACAF Gold Cup in July.

QUICK KICKS

Steve Clarke insists Peter Odemwingie will play a part in the rest of West Brom’s season. (REPORT)

The Jamaican national team will participate in a friendly against Tottenham Hotspur in the Bahamas on May 23rd. (REPORT)

Anzhi’s director claims QPR were “out of their minds” in their signing of Christopher Samba from the Russian club. (REPORT)

The New York Cosmos have signed former MLS defender Hunter Freeman. (REPORT)

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What do you think of these developments? Mourinho really head back to the Premier League after Madrid? Does the Premier League need to step up its drug testing?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. If Concacaf refs were a little more competent, the lead-up to Occean’s “unsporting behaviour” would have been very different. For years I’ve worked under the assumption that Central American refs are be being paid both officially, and unofficially by interested parties…

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  2. I’m lost on how fining the club for offensive fan chants is effective. I mean the club has no real control of who buys tickets and what they scream. Wouldn’t identifying the individuals and ejecting/arresting/fining them be more effective. Maybe those individuals could care less if the club is fined and they just go on chanting.

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    • fining a club gives the club more incentive to do things like try to actively try to stop racism in the stadium. be it through giving security tips for how to identify it or possibly make them more eager to deal with offensive fans.

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  3. “MOURINHO EYES ENGLAND RETURN”…..

    When have I seen that headline before? Probably at least twice every season since he left.

    Also, this Cosmos project is very interesting. Are they serious about raising NASL to compete with MLS, or are they trying to force Garber to cry “Uncle” and give them the NYC franchise?

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  4. 15K for racist chants? that is why we all know deep down UEFA and FIFA do not really care about the problem. that punishment is a joke

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    • +1

      There are at least two zero’s missing. If the fine was 1,500,000 for each occurrence, clubs would clean up their act and punish or ban the offending fans. Players get fined more than this for non-racist behavior.

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  5. That Samba story was kind of weird to me. He wanted to go to QPR, but wept when he left Anzhi. The Anzhi guy believes that QPR were out of their minds to pay him “almost as much as he made at Anzhi.” So, were Anzhi out of their minds as well to pay him even more? Also, according to Anzhi, he is a top 5 defender in Europe? So, would that 12.5 million pound purchase be a decent price for such a good defender?

    I don’t know, interesting quotes.

    Reply

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