Champions League price gouge alerts UEFA
Slovakian champion MSK Zilina could find itself in trouble with UEFA after drastically hiking its ticket prices for this week's Champions League showdown with Chelsea.
Normal tickets for Zilina's matches cost around $10, but fans have been infuriated by the club's decision to raise costs to between $75 and $500 for Wednesday's group stage clash against Chelsea's superstars.
Zilina already stands to make a guaranteed $10 million in prize money and bonuses for reaching the group stage, where it has been matched up with Chelsea, Marseille and Spartak Moscow. However, that clearly is not enough for the club's directors, who have decided to hike prices in a nation where the average salary is estimated at around $10,000 per year.
A UEFA source told Yahoo! Sports that "we are aware of the situation and it will be discussed."
Antonucci steps down as WPS CEO, stays on board
Women's Professional Soccer CEO Tonya Antonucci will step down at the end of this month, with her final official act being presenting the trophy at the league's title game Sept. 26.
Antonucci has overseen the league since its inception and headed its launch in 2009. The former Stanford soccer star and Yahoo! executive told Y! Sports on Monday that she plans to take a break to weigh her career options before seeking "another startup venture."
After spending six years on the WPS project, Antonucci will remain personally and emotionally involved in the league and will retain a place on the WPS board as an advisor and a non-voting member. She will spend the next couple of weeks supervising a handover to successor Anne-Marie Eileraas before stepping aside Sept. 30.
Fergie defends Rooney axe
Sir Alex Ferguson is adamant that his decision to drop Wayne Rooney for Manchester United's 3-3 draw with Everton on Saturday was the right call.
Faced with a grilling from the English press ahead of United's Champions League match against Glasgow Rangers on Tuesday, Ferguson insisted he would make the same controversial choice again if given the chance.
He will, however, bring Rooney back into the fold against Rangers, despite the ongoing swirl of negative publicity following the striker's indiscretions with a Manchester prostitute.
"I have no regrets," Ferguson told an official UEFA press conference. "I did the right thing. I have no need to clear it up. I explained the reasons on Saturday. There is nothing beyond that. I have no concerns about playing him against Rangers at all."
Where are Hou, Gerard?
Aston Villa's managerial saga has not brought any more stability to the club, even after Gerard Houllier was named its new boss last week.
Houllier's start date has been delayed due to French employment law, which means his current employer – the French Football Federation – would be within its rights to force him to give three months' notice.
While Villa was losing 2-1 at Stoke City on Monday, Houllier, according to Sky Sports News, was at a dinner in Paris with a group of managers from the French first division. It is hoped that a resolution can quickly be found, but Houllier has been unable to give Villa any guarantee that he can be at the helm for the club's matches against Bolton Wanderers on Saturday or at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sept. 26.
