Brazilians Go Under Spotlight
The “Three Rs” who helped Brazil win the World Cup in 2002 -- Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Roberto Carlos -- were back in the news Tuesday for oddly varying reasons.
Ronaldo, a three-time FIFA world player of the year, signed a contract extension that will keep him with Spanish champion Real Madrid until 2008.
Acquired by Real Madrid from Inter Milan for $56 million in 2002, the two-time World Cup winner said Madrid probably would be his last club.
Ronaldinho was involved in breaking news -- specifically smashing a window in the centuries-old cathedral of Santiago de Compostela by accident while filming a television commercial outside the shrine for pilgrims in Galicia.
The Barcelona forward broke the glass -- a lesser pane, not one of the valuable stained-glass masterpieces -- while executing a scissors kick, according to Spanish newspapers.
Real Madrid defender Roberto Carlos said he would appeal the two-game suspension dealt him by UEFA for retaliating to a foul during a Champions League game against Bayern Munich.
Unless he wins the appeal, Carlos will sit out the decisive second game in the series between the teams.
Moeller Retires
Midfielder Andreas Moeller, a starter on Germany’s 1990 World Cup-winning team and a European Cup winner with Borussia Dortmund in 1997, has retired for the second time, this time for good, he said.
Moeller, 36, came out of retirement to help Eintracht Frankfurt, the club where he started his career, but got little playing time under Coach Willi Reimann. That prompted Moeller’s agent to criticize Reimann, who responded by calling the agent “a very, very stupid man.”
Moeller scored 110 goals in 492 Bundesliga games.
Significant Signings
Chelsea confirmed that it had signed Dutch international winger Arjen Robben from PSV Eindhoven for $22.32 million and had given the 20-year-old a five-year contract. Robben will join the London club in the summer.
PSV, in turn, signed Brazilian defender Alex, 21, from Santos for $7 million to $10 million.
In Germany, Bundesliga leader Werder Bremen announced it acquired German national team striker Miroslav Klose from Kaiserslautern for $6.2 million and signed him to a four-year contract.
Quick Passes
New York/New Jersey traded the rights to forward Jaime Moreno to D.C. United for future considerations.
The Dallas Burn signed former Finland national team midfielder Simo Valakari, 30, and waived forward Ali Curtis and defenders Brian Dunseth and Ezra Hendrickson.
The San Jose Earthquakes were tied, 1-1, by Viking Stavanger of Norway in the semifinals of the La Manga Cup in Spain, then lost on penalty kicks, 5-3.
Mexico will play Costa Rica at the Home Depot Center on March 31.
Police in England were investigating a death threat sent to Liverpool Coach Gerard Houllier.
Miguel Brindisi quit as coach of Lanus in Argentina three games into the season.
Scottish Premier League referee Stuart Douglas was fined nearly $400 and severely censured by the Scottish Football Assn. for swearing at midfielder Christian Nerlinger of Rangers during a match.
-- Compiled by Grahame L. Jones
