A round-up of today's other soccer news.
Not a smart Alex
Chelsea are confident Alex will be confirmed as their latest incoming transfer before Sunday's Community Shield against Manchester United, with the Brazilian defender due to learn whether he will be granted a work permit to play in the United Kingdom at an appeals panel to be convened today.
The 25-year-old originally travelled to England on Sunday intent upon signing a four-year contract at Stamford Bridge after spending the past two seasons "parked" at PSV Eindhoven. However, Alex, whose English is apparently limited, is believed to have misunderstood an inquiry from officials at immigration control at Heathrow airport and stated that he was to be employed in the UK, despite the fact he had yet to be granted his work permit.
In fact, that application was actually ongoing, with Chelsea insistent they were aware that the centre-back - like the Brazilian-born Croatia international Eduardo da Silva at Arsenal - would not initially qualify for a permit. Despite featuring in all six of his country's matches at the recent Copa America in Venezuela, Alex has played in only eight of Brazil's 14 competitive games over the past two years, which falls short of the required criterion whereby a player must participate in 75 per cent of the games for which he is available to qualify.
The subsequent four-hour wait at Heathrow while customs officials scrutinised his case proved too much for the Brazilian, who, exasperated, caught the next available flight back to Rio. Yet Chelsea expect a favourable decision at the appeals panel - as do Arsenal with Da Silva - with Alex due to return to London at the weekend to sign his contract.
HRW lodge objection
Thaksin Shinawatra, Manchester City's controversial new owner, continues to meet robust opposition from human rights campaigners. Human Rights Watch (HRW) has lodged a formal objection with the Premier League about Thaksin's takeover and wants him expelled under the league's fit-and-proper-person guidelines.
Thaksin is wanted in Thailand on corruption charges relating to his five years in power. Living in exile in London, he maintains he is innocent. The league's position is that there are no grounds to bar him.
In brief . . .
Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce used the club's official website to issue a strongly worded statement rubbishing a report in the local evening paper suggesting that he was willing to sell Obafemi Martins.
"This story is complete and utter fabrication," said Allardyce . . . Kieron Dyer is hoping Newcastle United will relent on an asking price in excess of €7.4 million to help accelerate his proposed move to West Ham United.
The midfielder wants to leave St James' Park to be closer to his family in Ipswich . . . Tottenham have announced the signing of 20-year-old Hertha Berlin central midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng for an undisclosed fee . . . Wigan have signed Fulham midfielder Michael Brown on a three-year deal, also for an undisclosed fee . . . The Brazilian football association (CBF) yesterday formally submitted its plans for staging the 2014 World Cup . . . Celtic, as expected, have appointed Stephen McManus as their new captain after and he celebrated his new role by signing a new four-year contract . . . Juventus have turned down Manchester City's bid for the defender Giorgio Chiellini.
