By DPA,
London : Manchester United’s Christiano Ronaldo has been honoured with the Football Writer’s Association (FWA) Footballer of the Year award for the second consecutive year.
The Portugal winger is the second player after Thierry Henry to retain the title. Liverpool striker Fernando Torres and Portsmouth goalkeeper David James were second and third in the poll. “Ronaldo’s award is no surprise after his brilliant form this season and incredible goal-scoring record and he is, of course, essentially a winger,” said FWA chairman Paul Hetherington.
On Sunday, Ronaldo, 23, received the Professional Football Associations (PFA) Player of the Year award. Ronaldo will receive the latest award at the FWA’s annual dinner.
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Ex-footballer fined for sexually abusing minor
Thun (Switzerland) A 24-year-old former footballer with the Swiss club FC Thun was given a $2,354 fine, suspended for two years for sexually abusing a minor. The ex-player had admitted to having sex with a 15-year-old adolescent, nine years his junior in a relationship dating back to December 2006, according to the Swiss wire agency ATS/SDA.
The judgement Friday was the first verdict handed down since an investigation into sexual abuse. A total of 13 people are facing charges of having sexual relations with the girl. Verdicts are due in the remaining cases by mid May.
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Wolfsburg keen to sign World Cup winner Zaccardo
Wolfsburg: Bundesliga team VfL Wolfsburg is keen to sign Italian world champion Cristian Zaccardo, 26, from US Palermo, German media has reported. The transfer negotiations had not yet been finalised, though.
The defender’s contract with Seria A club Palermo runs until 2012. Zaccardo played three times for Italy during the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
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Injured Schneider to miss Euro
Frankfurt: German midfielder Bernd Schneider will miss the Euro finals after doctors treating him following a back operation told him that he will not be ready in time for the June 7 – 29 tournament.
Doctors said he is not yet ready to resume training after the successful operation. Schneider said Friday that he was disappointed. “But my health must come first. In two years there will be a World Cup, possibly I can play there,” he said.