England will have the referee from the Champions League final for their possible group-defining match against Italy in Manaus on Saturday.
The Dutch official Björn Kuipers was widely praised for letting the match flow last month in what was a potentially explosive confrontation between the Madrid rivals Real and Atlético, won by the men in white in extra time.
In what may be a favourable omen for the English, Kuipers also took charge of the 2013 Europa League final in which Chelsea beat Benfica 2-1.
He has plenty of big-game international experience, refereeing Brazil’s fractious 3-0 victory over Spain in the Confederations Cup final last year, when he sent off the Barcelona defender Gerard Piqué.
Beyond that Kuipers has had a colourful career. He was in charge when France played the co-hosts Ukraine in Euro 2012 and took the decision to suspend the match during an electrical storm. France eventually won 2-0.
Less decisively, he gained some notoriety in the Netherlands when he failed to see Luis Suárez bite Otman Bakkal’s shoulder during a Dutch league game between Ajax and PSV Eindhoven in November 2010.
Kuipers was promoted to the top tier of European referees by Uefa in January 2009 and was saluted by the Dutch Football Association’s referee coordinator, Dick van Egmond, who said: “It’s fantastic to see that Uefa rates Björn so highly.
“They appoint referees based on their performances and quality. Dutch referees such as Björn are slowly trained and prepared to ref at the highest level. They’re following an intensive programme where they learn how to deal with mistakes. That’s how Björn has reached the highest level. It might sound simple, but only a few are up to it.”
Source : http://www.theguardian.com/foo...
Today News: Chelsea signs Fabregas from Barcelona
LONDON — Spain midfielder Cesc Fabregas is leaving Barcelona to return to London, signing a five-year deal with Chelsea that will put him up against his former club Arsenal.
The 27-year-old Fabregas, who spent eight years at Arsenal before moving to Barcelona, said Thursday that he still has "unfinished business" in the English Premier League.
"Now is the right time to return," he said. "You all know that Arsenal was the first team that had the chance to sign me. They decided not to do so, so fate has not led our paths to cross again."
Fabregas was a key cog of Arsene Wenger's Arsenal side, winning the FA Cup in 2005 and reaching the Champions League final a year later. But now he'll be looking for trophies with bitter rivals Chelsea and manager Jose Mourinho, who has feuded over the years with Wenger.
"I considered all the other offers very carefully and I firmly believe that Chelsea is the best choice," Fabregas said on the club's web site. "They match my soccering ambitions with their hunger and desire to win trophies. They have an incredible squad of players and an extraordinary coach. I am completely committed to the team."
Media reports in Spain and England put the transfer fee at about 26.5 million pounds ($44.67 million).
During his three years at Barcelona, Fabregas won a Spanish league title, as well as the Copa del Rey, the Spanish Super Cup, the UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup.
"I would like to thank everyone at Barcelona where I enjoyed three wonderful years," Fabregas said. "It was my childhood club and I will always be proud and honored that I played for such a great team.
But Barcelona hinted it was unhappy with some of the performances from Fabregas, saying on its website that his standard of play declined as the seasons progressed.
"The good sensations little by little vanished in each of the three seasons. ... His second halves of each season were never like the first halves," it said.
Fabregas is currently with the Spanish team in Brazil for the World Cup, where Spain is defending champion. He has also won two European Championships with his country, in 2008 and 2012.
"For me it was fundamental that the signing be finished before the beginning of the World Cup so that I can fully concentrate in helping my country win the World Cup," Fabregas said.
He will wear the No. 4 shirt at Chelsea, previously worn by David Luiz, who is set to join French league champion Paris Saint-Germain.
Source : http://www.thestate.com/2014/0...
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