A Danish footballer has been forced to have his leg amputated six weeks after being struck by lightning during a friendly.

Jonathan Richter, 24, was playing for his club FC Nordsjaelland at second-tier Hvidovre on July 20 when he was struck.

Medics restarted his heart, but he was placed in an induced coma and doctors decided, along with Richter, the damage to his leg was so severe they needed to amputate the lower portion of it.

A message on the club's website read: "Jonathan's progress means a lot to the Richter family, friends and all involved with FC Nordsjaelland, but the family now request that all continue to respect the peace that Jonathan needs in the future as he faces tough rehabilitation."

He was reportedly recovering well from the operation and was expected to be moved out of intensive care shortly.

SOCCER star Dimitar Berbatov has been threatened by a gangster for sending flirty texts to his lover, it was claimed last night.

The £30million Manchester United striker allegedly made a series of great passes to model Nikoleta Lozanova, who was Playmate of the Year in his Bulgarian homeland in 2006.

Her boyfriend, Georgi "The Head" Stoilov - a mobster with a reputation for extreme violence - was furious when told of suggestive messages.

The gangster replied to the texts warning Berbatov to keep clear for his own good, according to a Bulgarian magazine.

Stoilov became head of one of his country's most feared clans when his father Stoil Stoilov and his minders were wiped out by a bomb in a lift in 2004.

Berbatov, 28, has been dating Elena Shtilianov on and off for three months and there is talk of pregnancy and marriage.

Friends of Berbatov dismissed Nikoleta, 31 - a former lover of Liverpool reserve goalkeeper Nikolai Mihailov - as "a fantasist".

They claim she invented the texts to wind up Stoilov, and that Berbatov was "surprised" to receive threats from the mobster.

Berbatov was quoted as saying: "I've met her once, when she was with Nikolai, but nothing happened."

A book last year claimed Berbatov was kidnapped by a warlord trying to "persuade" him to switch teams when he was 18.

After Mihailov split from Nikoleta, he said she was like an old Eastern-bloc Trabant boneshaker car compared with his new "Ferrari" girlfriend.

The next day his £170,000 Ferrari was attacked with acid.

United and Berbatov's agent would not comment.

------

LOL

Real Madrid midfielder Rafael van der Vaart is eyeing a January move to the Premiership.

The Dutch ace - linked with Everton and Tottenham - will fight for his Real Madrid place despite originally being snubbed for a squad number.

Van der Vaart said: "If I don't play, I could move in January."

Chelsea winger Yuri Zhirkov is fed-up with his current injury problems.

Zhirkov is suffering from a compound knee injury that was aggravated against AC Milan on the pre-season tour of America.

Nevertheless, he was called up by Guus Hiddink and is desperate to shake off a frustrating injury that has proved difficult to diagnose and manage.

"In some ways it would be better if there had been a tear and I knew that I'd be out for a month, for example," said the £18million summer signing from CSKA Moscow.

"Even the doctors cannot say anything definite. It's incredibly difficult. I just want to wake up and know that the pain has completely gone.

"The pain has become far more tolerable. Two weeks ago it hurt to even stand on it and I couldn't train at all.

"It still aches a little. I trained on Saturday before coming to the national team but I collided with another player and it was quite painful.

"But on my first day back here I crawled on my knees, playing with my son for more than an hour, and I forgot about it."

To make matters worse, Zhirkov has also needed to see a dentist for toothache since returning

New Manchester City signing Sylvinho is reluctant to compare Robinho with former Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi.

"I don't like to compare players, or clubs or coaches," he said.

"In the world there are five or six different players who are at a high level and Robinho is one of them.

"Messi is amazing and is enjoying the best time in his career at Barcelona. He had an amazing season and was one of the best players in the final in Rome.

"He is at a different moment in his life."

Darren Fletcher says Manchester United's players helped make Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo the footballer he is today.

Fletcher told BBC Sport: “Nothing’s changed because it’s all the same bunch of players apart from Cristiano and Carlos Tevez and that addition of Michael Owen and Antonio Valencia.

"We feel we are the same team. We won the league as a team, got to the Champions League final as a team, won the World Club Cup as a team and we feel as if we’ve lost a top-class player but I think just as much as Cristiano gave to us as a fantastic player, we gave to him as well.

"We sacrificed ourselves for him and we appreciate that but that’s what goes on in a team and maybe now we’ll become a lot more solid. We’ll be straight 4-4-2 I think, but obviously we’ve still got players to adapt to that, different personnel but I think you will see Manchester United as same old same old. They’ll go out to try and win games and please the fans and attack the opposition.”

Aston Villa winger James Milner has welcomed the arrivals of defensive signings James Collins and Richard Dunne.

“Yeah, obviously like you say we haven’t got too many defenders and he’s obviously a proven Premiership player. I was speaking to Matty Upson about him and he said he’s a good lad and a great player as well so he’s obviously a good signing and Richard Dunne hopefully as well," Milner told Sky Sports.

"I think the two experienced players and like I’ve just said we’ve got some good quality young players coming through, the likes of Ciaran Clark and Shane Lowry as defenders, to name two, and I think it’s important you have that experience alongside them and even Curtis (Davies) as well. Curtis has done fantastic.

"These very experienced Premiership players will help the younger players come on and improve and make us stronger as a unit."

Hull have confirmed the signing of Netherlands striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink on a two-year deal.

The 30-year-old international had been a free agent since 2 July after being released by Celtic.

Hull chairman Paul Duffen claimed the Tigers had beaten some big clubs to bring the striker to East Yorkshire.

"We've wanted an experienced, top-drawer striker who scores goals and Jan has scored prolifically in top leagues in Europe," Duffen said.

"It's what we need. We didn't score enough goals last season. Going forward we have a lot of new talent and Jan will play his part in using his experience to settle them down.

"We've been looking at Jan since July and are really pleased we've turned his head. He's been looking at other big clubs in Europe but the Premier League is where he wants to come and play with us."

Following is the list of the "FIFA 100" greatest living footballers as nominated by Pele. The list was compiled to mark the 100th anniversary of the foundation of FIFA and actually contains 125 names:

ARGENTINA
Diego Maradona
Daniel Passarella
Diego Maradona
Gabriel Batistuta
Hernan Crespo
Javier Saviola
Javier Zanetti
Juan Sebastian Veron
Mario Kempes
Omar Sivori

BELGIUM
Franky van der Elst
Jean-Marie Pfaff
Jan Cuelemans

BRAZIL
SocratesCafu
Carlos Alberto
Djalma Santos
Falcao
Nilton Santos
Junior
Pele
Rivaldo
Rivelino
Roberto Carlos
Romario
Ronaldinho
Ronaldo
Socrates
Zico

BULGARIA
Hristo Stoichkov

CAMEROON
Roger Milla

CHILE
Pablo Figueroa
Ivan Zamorano

COLOMBIA
Carlos Valderrama

CROATIA
Davor Suker

CZECH REPUBLIC
Josef Masopust
Pavel Nedved

DENMARK
Brian Laudrup
Michael Laudrup
Peter Schmeichel

ENGLAND
Alan Shearer
Bobby Charlton
David Beckham
Gary Lineker
Gordon Banks
Kevin Keegan
Michael Owen

FRANCE
David Trezeguet
Didier Deschamps
Eric Cantona
Jean-Pierre Papin
Zinedine Zidane
Lilian Thuram
Marcel Desailly
Marius Tresor
Michel Platini
Patrick Vieira
Raymond Kopa
Robert Pires
Thierry Henry
Zinedine Zidane

GERMANY
Franz Beckenbauer
Gerd Mueller
Jurgen Klinsmann
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge
Lothar Matthaeus
Michael Ballack
Oliver Kahn
Paul Breitner
Sepp Maier
Uwe Seeler

GHANA
Abedi Pele

HUNGARY
Ferenc Puskas

IRELAND
Roy Keane

ITALY
Alessandro Del Piero
Alessandro Nesta
Christian Vieri
Dino Zoff
Francesco Totti
Franco Baresi
Giampiero Boniperti
Giacinto Fachetti
Gianluca Buffon
Gianni Rivera
Giuseppe Bergomi
Paolo Rossi
Paolo Maldini
Roberto Baggio

JAPAN
Hidetoshi Nakata

LIBERIA
George Weah

MEXICO
Hugo Sanchez

NETHERLANDS
Clarence Seedorf
Dennis Bergkamp
Edgar Davids
Frank Rijkaard
Johan Neeskens
Johan Cruyff
Marco van Basten
Patrick Kluivert
Rene van de Kerkhof
Rob Rensenbrink
Ruud Gullit
Ruud van Nistelrooy
Willie van de Kerkhof

NIGERIA
Jay-Jay Okocha

NORTHERN IRELAND
George Best

PARAGUAY
Romerito

PERU
Teofilo Cubillas

POLAND
Zbigniew Boniek

PORTUGAL
Eusebio
Luis Figo
Rui Costa

ROMANIA
Gheorghe Hagi

RUSSIA
Rinat Disayev

SCOTLAND
Kenny Dalglish

SENEGAL
El Hadji Diouf

SOUTH KOREA
Hong Myung-Bo

SPAIN
Emilio Butragueno
Luis Enrique
Raul

TURKEY
Emre Belozoglu
Rustu Recber

UKRAINE
Andriy Shevchenko

URUGUAY
Enzo Francescoli

UNITED STATES (women)
Michelle Akers
Mia Hamm

Fifa have banned Chelsea from registering any new players in the next two transfer windows.

The world's governing body have handed down the punishment after French clubs Lens made an official complaint over Chelsea's signing of their young player Gael Kakuta in 2007.

Fifa's Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) has now found in Lens' favour and ruled that Chelsea are 'jointly and severally liable'.

As such Chelsea have been banned from signing players over the next two transfer windows, which will mean they will not be able to bring a player into the club until 2011.

As well as the ban Chelsea have been fined £680,000 and will have to pay Lens £113,000 in compensation.

Kakuta, a regular in Chelsea's reserve side, has also been banned from playing for the next four months.

Statement
The full statement from Fifa reads: "On the occasion of its last meeting held on 27 August 2009, the Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) was called to pass a decision in a contractual dispute opposing the French club Lens to the French player Gael Kakuta and the English club Chelsea.

"The French club had lodged a claim with Fifa seeking compensation for breach of contract from the player and requesting also sporting sanctions to be imposed on the player and the English club for breach of contract and inducement to breach of contract respectively.

"The DRC found that the player had indeed breached a contract signed with the French club. Equally, the DRC deemed it to be established that the English club induced the player to such a breach.

"As a result the player was condemned to pay compensation in the amount of €780,000, for which the club, Chelsea, are jointly and severally liable, and sporting sanctions were imposed on both the player and Chelsea in accordance with art. 17 par. 3 and 4 of the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players.

"A restriction of four months on his eligibility to play in official matches has been imposed on Kakuta. Chelsea are banned from registering any new players, either nationally or internationally, for the two next entire and consecutive registration periods following the notification of the present decision. Furthermore, the club, Chelsea, have to pay Lens training compensation in the amount of €130,000."

source:Sky sports.

[rquote=2529081&tid=133229&author=lil_star11]Fifa have banned Chelsea from registering any new players in the next two transfer windows.

The world's governing body have handed down the punishment after French clubs Lens made an official complaint over Chelsea's signing of their young player Gael Kakuta in 2007.

Fifa's Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) has now found in Lens' favour and ruled that Chelsea are 'jointly and severally liable'.

As such Chelsea have been banned from signing players over the next two transfer windows, which will mean they will not be able to bring a player into the club until 2011.

As well as the ban Chelsea have been fined £680,000 and will have to pay Lens £113,000 in compensation.

Kakuta, a regular in Chelsea's reserve side, has also been banned from playing for the next four months.

Statement
The full statement from Fifa reads: "On the occasion of its last meeting held on 27 August 2009, the Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) was called to pass a decision in a contractual dispute opposing the French club Lens to the French player Gael Kakuta and the English club Chelsea.

"The French club had lodged a claim with Fifa seeking compensation for breach of contract from the player and requesting also sporting sanctions to be imposed on the player and the English club for breach of contract and inducement to breach of contract respectively.

"The DRC found that the player had indeed breached a contract signed with the French club. Equally, the DRC deemed it to be established that the English club induced the player to such a breach.

"As a result the player was condemned to pay compensation in the amount of €780,000, for which the club, Chelsea, are jointly and severally liable, and sporting sanctions were imposed on both the player and Chelsea in accordance with art. 17 par. 3 and 4 of the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players.

"A restriction of four months on his eligibility to play in official matches has been imposed on Kakuta. Chelsea are banned from registering any new players, either nationally or internationally, for the two next entire and consecutive registration periods following the notification of the present decision. Furthermore, the club, Chelsea, have to pay Lens training compensation in the amount of €130,000."

source:Sky sports.[/rquote]

Just heard this. If it's true it's the funniest thing I've heard in a while.

Sky News..

FIFA ban Chelsea from signing any new players until January 2011.

Yep it's true! Muhahahaha!

Its harsh what they have done, but they can't keep fining clubs that don't worry about money. Just glad I don't support Arsenal or Chelsea as they have both had bad luck recently, and spurs unbeaten (until man u soon) an interesting start to the season and gives us summat to talk about.

Tis a witch hunt on english clubs. fkin uefa will probably ban us all from playing soon lol

LOL @ Chelsea. :pat:

Not going to affect them much this season mind, but being unable to freshen up the squad next summer will be a bit of a hitch. They may get the ban shortened in the end.

**** off FIFA

Anti english twats

i agree, I should find this funny, but I just dont cause its FIFA/UEFA singling us out again

That a ridiculous ban!


and El Hadji Diouf Makes the top 125 wdf????

Van Persie
Wayne Rooney
Fernando Torres
Steven Gerrard
Frank Lampard
John Terry
Ibrahimovic
Messi
Ronaldo

dont make the list and ****ing El Hadji Diouf does??? what is that.

Ohh and Zidane is on the list twice.

[rquote=2530865&tid=133229&author=30stone]That a ridiculous ban!


and El Hadji Diouf Makes the top 125 wdf????

Van Persie
Wayne Rooney
Fernando Torres
Steven Gerrard
Frank Lampard
John Terry
Ibrahimovic
Messi
Ronaldo

dont make the list and ****ing El Hadji Diouf does??? what is that.

Ohh and Zidane is on the list twice.[/rquote]

Pele choose the list a while ago

Either way... He shouldnt have made the list, could name 300+ players better.

Pele knows best :nono:

Pele is footballs good

On this occasion obviously not.

When was it made the list?


I dont understand how hes made the list.. he done what, didnt score for 14 months in the premiership..