Jose Mourinho started his Mind Game again

Inter boss Jose Mourinho claims Manchester United ace Wayne Rooney should be banned for his stamp on Aalborg’s Kasper Risgard.

Inter was paired with Manchester United in the last 16 of the Champions League on Friday.

During Mourinho’s time at Chelsea, Michael Essien was handed a ban after kicking out at Liverpool midfielder Didi Hamann.

Mourinho said: “When I was with Chelsea something really extraordinary happened when through TV evidence Essien was suspended for three games and didn’t play our two games against Barcelona.

“The same thing didn’t happen last week with Rooney, so he will be available to play against us in the knockout stage. But I accept all this which is a consequence of the rules.”

Kuwait, Samoa, Peru are Free From The Suspensions

World football body FIFA announced it has lifted its suspensions on the federations of Kuwait, Samoa and Peru.

Kuwait was suspended in late October for political interference and the lifting of its ban is only provisional to allow them to play in Asian Cup qualifying starting in January and the Gulf Cup.

Whether the ban returns will be reviewed at FIFA's Congress in March.

In the case of the Samoans, they were suspended for “repeated management problems” in October, but this has been resolved following meetings of the FIFA executive committee on the sidelines of the Club World Cup here.

A row with the government over alleged political interference in Peru saw that federation suspended last month, but they too are now in the clear.

Bidding for next World Cups

FIFA announced Saturday that it will hold a simultaneous bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, with England considered a “strong” candidate.

The decision means that should a bidder for 2018 be unsuccessful then they would be able to enter the vote for 2022 to be held immediately afterwards, so long as the 2018 hosts are not from the same continent.

The bidding is open to everyone, although African and South American countries are not allowed to enter in 2018 as those continents will have held the World Cup in 2010 (South Africa) and 2014 (Brazil).

The hosts for the two events will decided at the same time, in December 2010.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter said countries to express an interest included Japan, China, Qatar, Mexico, the United States, Russia, and Australia, “even perhaps Canada”.

Spain could lodge a bid in conjunction with Portugal, he added, while Belgium and Holland are considering joining forces.

But he highlighted England.

“We have a bunch of possible, even I would say very strong candidates,” he said. “And everybody knows England will be a candidate, a strong candidate.”

Australia too are considered a good bet, with the government in Canberra this month agreeing to spend 30 million US dollars to back their campaign.

Bidding opens in January next year.

FIFA wrapped up their end-of-year executive committee meetings in Tokyo Saturday on the sidelines of the Club World Cup.

ZOLA IS BACK AGAIN IN CHELSEA

West Ham United manager Gianfranco Zola believes his former club Chelsea will beat Juventus in the Champions League.

The Bianconeri was paired with the Blues in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Zola has been voted to greatest player of all time at Stamford Bridge.

“I think Chelsea will win but only just,” Zola told Tuttosport.

“I think the match between the Blues and Bianconeri will be very interesting.

“On one part there is the prestigious Chelsea of my career and, on the other, you have Claudio Ranieri who gave me so much. I am sure the game will give some good and spectacular for everyone.

“I think it will all come down to whoever is in the best form physically.”

Festive Donation Drive by ELA

The European Leukodistrophy Association (ELA), who were awarded UEFA's CHF1m charity cheque for 2008, have launched a festive campaign for donations to help the fight against leukodystrophy genetic diseases and all myelin diseases – with gifts on offer for those who make donations between now and 4 January.

Draw opportunity
Each person who makes a donation on www.ledondelachance.com will automatically take part in a draw to win prizes offered by the ELA's partners. Many gifts are on offer, including the chance to meet French superstar Zinédine Zidane, who is an ELA ambassador.

Essential research work
Since 1992 the ELA has worked tirelessly to raise awareness about genetic diseases, finance medical research and help the families affected by this tragic illness. To find a cure faster the ELA has created a research foundation dedicated to all myelin diseases. The donation campaign will help fund essential research work.

Genetic diseases
Leukodistrophies are genetic diseases that destroy the nerve sheath (myelin) of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). Once this sheath is damaged, the electrical current does not flow and the nerves impulses are interrupted.

Charitable cause
UEFA presented its annual CHF1m charity cheque to the ELA in Monaco last August. Since 1998, UEFA has used the Monaco gala events – which include the European Football Awards and the UEFA Super Cup match, and herald a new club competition season – to announce the donation of a one million Swiss Franc cheque to a charitable cause.

Chelsea miss chance to go top after the Draw

CHELSEA manager Luiz Felipe Scolari struggled for words after his Barclays Premier League title-chasing side dropped more points at their once impregnable Stamford Bridge home.

The 1-1 London derby stalemate against West Ham was the Blues' fourth home league draw this season and meant they failed to leap-frog Liverpool in first place in the table, instead staying a point behind the Merseysiders.

West Ham took the lead through Wales striker Craig Bellamy's 33rd minute effort before Nicolas Anelka equalised for Chelsea six minutes after half-time with his 100th Premier League goal.

"It was a difficult game for us, we had more time with the ball but we scored only one goal and I think if we have more quality in the last (third) we win this game."

Earlier this season Chelsea surrendered their 86-game unbeaten home league record to Liverpool and were subsequently defeated at Stamford Bridge by London rivals Arsenal.

Premier League (point table- Dec 17)

(Updated Dec 17)

		P	W	D	L	F	A	Diff	Pts
1	Liverpool	17	11	5	1	26	11	15	38
2	Chelsea	17	11	4	2	36	7	29	37
3	Man United	16	9	5	2	27	10	17	32
4	Aston Villa	17	9	4	4	29	20	9	31
5	Arsenal	17	9	3	5	29	20	9	30
6	Hull	17	7	6	4	26	27	-1	27
7	Everton	17	7	4	6	23	25	-2	25
8	Portsmouth	17	6	5	6	19	26	-7	23
9	Wigan	17	6	4	7	21	20	1	22
10	Fulham	16	5	6	5	13	12	1	21
11	Bolton	17	6	2	9	20	23	-3	20
12	Middlesbrough	17	5	5	7	17	24	-7	20
13	Stoke	17	5	5	7	17	27	-10	20
14	Newcastle	17	4	7	6	22	24	-2	19
15	Tottenham	17	5	4	8	19	21	-2	19
16	West Ham	17	5	4	8	18	25	-7	19
17	Man City	17	5	3	9	30	25	5	18
18	Sunderland	17	5	3	9	17	25	-8	18
19	Blackburn	17	3	4	10	17	34	-17	13
20	West Brom	17	3	3	11	12	32	-20	12