By DPA,
Vienna : Domestic violence could rise sharply during the European Football Championships in June, fears Doris Bures, Austria’s minister for women’s affairs. Frustration and increased alcohol consumption would drive up domestic violence during largescale sporting events by up to 30 percent according to international studies, Bures was quoted as saying by the Austrian press agency.
During the June 7-29 Euro, police officers would pay special attention towards cases of domestic violence, Bures said. In 2007, almost 12,700 women sought help and shelter in women’s refuges, 1,500 more than in the previous year.
The events of the Amstetten incest case, where a 73-year-old in eastern Austria kept his daughter imprisoned for 24 years and fathered seven children with her, gave rise to concerns. The main question was how it was possible that such an escalation of violence remained unnoticed for that many years, the minister said.
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Lothar Matthaeus obtains German coaching licence
Frankfurt: Former German captain Lothar Matthaeus can officially call himself a football coach after obtaining the necessary licence in his native country. Matthaeus, 47, passed the final test after a special three-month course only for him, conducted by Erich Rutemoeller from the German Football Federation (DFB).
“Of course, I am delighted. It was an extraordinary situation to be taught on my own over nearly three months,” said Matthaeus, who led Germany to their third World Cup title in 1990. The German licence is necessary for Matthaeus to coach in the German Bundesliga. Matthaeus has coached abroad since 2001, in Austria, Serbia and the Hungarian national team.
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England to have additional UEFA Cup berth
Nyon (Switzerland): England will have one extra berth in the UEFA Cup next season as the Premier League teams came top in the fair play rankings from the European football body UEFA. UEFA said that two further UEFA Cup entries from the fair play rankings will be drawn May 13 from Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Spain and France.
The three teams will enter the first qualifying round of the UEFA Cup. UEFA’s fair play competition ran June 1, 2007-April 30, 2008, covering all club and national team games run by UEFA.
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Wolfsburg hire Italy defender Zaccardo
Wolfsburg (Germany): VfL Wolfsburg have hired Italy defender Cristian Zaccardo from Serie A club Palermo from next season onwards until 2011, the German Bundesliga club has announced. No details were released, but the transfer fee has been estimated at 7 million euros ($10.8 million).
Zaccardo, 26, has won 26 Italy caps and was part of the squad which won the 2006 World Cup. “He can be used on various positions, is good in the air and a strong tackler,” said Wolfsburg coach Felix Magath. “I am convinced that he will become a regular Italy starter through the move into the Bundesliga.”
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Diogo blow for troubled Zaragoza
Madrid: Zaragoza will be without defender Carlos Diogo for the rest of the season, the struggling Spanish football club has announced. The tall Uruguayan right-back has torn the cruciate ligament in his right knee, tests revealed. He will be sidelined for six weeks.
Diogo, 24, played in 28 league matches this season for Zaragoza, who are fifth from bottom and just one point above the relegation zone with two matches left to play in the season. Diogo joined Zaragoza from Real Madrid in 2006, after a frustrating season on the bench at the Estadio Bernabeu.
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Rosicky to miss Euro 2008 in Czech blow
Prague: Czech Republic captain Tomas Rosicky will miss the Euro 2008 football tournament because of nagging knee problems over the past months. Rosicky said the knee injury required an operation.
The Arsenal midfielder was treated in Prague for the last three weeks after his English club doctors were unable to cure the injury that has plagued him all year. Rosicky’s absence is a big blow for the Czechs, who meet co-host Switzerland in the tournament opener June 7 and also have Turkey and Portugal in their group.