It's Beitar Jerusalem

The first bump on our road to more international glory has just appeared like a rabbit out of the magician's hat: it's Beitar Jerusalem [UEFA.com | Wikipedia] of Israel.

From the live draw at UEFA.com


More info at UEFA.com.

Mikael Antonsson signed

Here's an English note on what today's Danish TV sports news has been all about:

FC Copenhagen have signed Sweden defender Mikael Antonsson [Wikipedia] on a four-year contract from Greek club Panathinaikos, the Danish champions said on Thursday.

The 26-year-old, who has three caps, will join his new team mates on July 1. The clubs did not disclose financial details.

Canada advances to Gold Cup semifinals

Ali Gerba scored two goals in the first half and Canada reached the Gold Cup semifinals for the second time in the last four tournaments with a 3-0 win over Guatemala on Saturday.

AP / Canada Advances to Gold Cup Semifinals

We're so far out of season, I enjoy an image of Atiba Hutchinson celebrating.

Transfer rumors: Linderoth to Galatasaray, Gravgaard to Newcastle

Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet quotes a Turkish newspaper that Tobias Linderoth will sign with Galatasaray. Obviously in Swedish, so believe in me: ”Linderoth snart klar för Galatasaray”

...The Journal and Northern Echo also suggest FC Copenhagen centre-back Michael Gravgaard is still on Newcastle's radar.

Toon Transfer Talk: Rumours Round-Up: June 10
A visit to that link will reveal a lot of rumors. I don't know why my search agents keep coming up with this rumor. Do the deal or shut up.

Nasty side effect of UEFA's Control and Disciplinary Body decision

Fully as expected, the Denmark vs Sweden game is now a 0 -3 Sweden win following UEFA's Control and Disciplinary Body meeting. However...

As well as awarding the match to Sweden by default, the Danish Football Association (DBU) has been fined 100,000CHF (€61,000) and ordered to play their next four home UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifiers at least 250km from Copenhagen.

This means zero more ticket sales earnings from national games for FC København. Stocks have already dropped a bit. DBU will appeal the UEFA decision. The closest appropriate stadium seems to be Hamburg, Germany!

See UEFA.com / Copenhagen contest goes to Sweden.

UEFA competitions 2007/2008

A quick note of important dates and possible opponents.

• 29th of June: UEFA draws 1st and 2nd qualification rounds


• 31st of July and 1st of August: 1st leg 2nd qualification round. FC København enters at 2nd qualification round for the Champions League as a seeded team.


• 3rd of August: UEFA draws 3rd qualification round. If in it, FC København will be un-seeded.


• 7th and 8th of August: 2nd leg 2nd qualification round


• 14th and 15th of August: 1st leg 3rd qualification round


• 28th and 29th of August: 2nd leg 3rd qualification round

Possible opponents in the 2nd qualification round include: Beitar Jerusalem (Isr), Zaglebie Lubin (Pol), NK Domzale * (Slo), IF Elfsborg * (Swe), FK Sarajevo * (Bos), FK Ventspils * (Lat), MSK Zilina * (Svk), Derry City * (Irl), FH Hafnarfjardar * (Isl), FBK Kaunas * (Lit), Tampere United * (Fin), Sheriff Tiraspol * (Mol), Olimpi Rustavi * (Geo), Pobeda Prilep * (Mac). Teams marked "*" have to qualify through the 1st round though. So this list is kind of the "worst case scenario" (unless of course some good team advances from TOTO Cup through 1st round!). Anything but easily qualifying for the 3rd round would be disastrous.

Possible opponents in the 3rd qualification round include: Liverpool (Eng), Arsenal (Eng), Valencia (Esp), another Spanish team to qualify (Zaragoza, Atleteco Madrid, Villarreal or Getafe I believe), Benfica (Por), Ajax (Ned), Werder Bremen (Ger), Celtic (Sco), Steaua Bucuresti ** (Rom), Lazio (Ita), Glasgow Rangers ** (Sco), Shakhtar Donetsk (**) (Ukr), Besiktas ** (Tur), Anderlecht (Bel), Dinamo Kiev (**) (Ukr), Levski Sofia ** (Bul). Teams marked "**" have to qualify through the 2nd round though. Realistic expectations should include losing the 3rd qualification round match-up to enter the UEFA Cup (as usual - and most likely as un-seeded).

For more information see Bert Kassies homepage.

Irish FA chief executive complaining

Belfast Telegraph International / Angry Wells slams Danes

"I complained to UEFA about this stadium [PARKEN, home ground of both FC København and Denmark national] before as it's the same one we played in back in October," said Wells.

"I was very unhappy with the way our fans were treated in general at the stadium.

The stewarding was poor, access to the stadium was poor and the gates were not open in time."

grep 'current or former FCK player' Match Report of TOTAL INTERNATIONAL DISGRACE @ UEFA.com > blog

UEFA.com / Denmark - Sweden (aka FCK1 vs FCK2), match abandoned at 3-3

1 Linderoth (Sweden) commits a foul after challenging Poulsen (Denmark).
2 Allbäck (Sweden) gives away a free-kick following a challenge on Poulsen (Denmark).
5 Gravgaard (Denmark) fouls.
5 Allbäck (Sweden) commits a foul after challenging Gravgaard (Denmark).
7 (0 - 1) Elmander (Sweden) scores!
Sweden lead their fierce rivals Denmark, with Johan Elmander on target just seven minutes into this Group F encounter - the forward shooting low into the net after capitalising on a mistake by Michael Gravgaard. The Swedes were a point behind section leaders Northern Ireland before kick off so would go top with a win tonight.
11 Ljungberg (Sweden) commits a foul after challenging L. Jacobsen (Denmark).
14 Allbäck (Sweden) gives away a free-kick following a challenge on Kahlenberg (Denmark).
15 Gravgaard (Denmark) misses the target.
16 Allbäck (Sweden) misses the target.
20 Linderoth (Sweden) takes the corner.
22 Gravgaard (Denmark) fouls.
23 (0 - 2) Hansson (Sweden) scores on free-kick!
Sweden double their advantage and in fine style as Petter Hansson sends a free-kick from just outside the penalty area into the top-right corner of the net following Gravgaard's foul on Elmander.
24 L. Jacobsen (Denmark) commits a foul after challenging Elmander (Sweden).
28 L. Jacobsen (Denmark) delivers the corner.
34 (1 - 3) Agger (Denmark) scores!
Denmark pull a goal back through Daniel Agger, the Liverpool FC defender scoring with a left foot strike after being set up by a Gravgaard header.
40 L. Jacobsen (Denmark) commits a foul after challenging Nilsson (Sweden).
40 Allbäck (Sweden) is adjudged to be in an offside position.
44 Linderoth (Sweden) delivers the corner.
45+1 L. Jacobsen (Denmark) misses the target.

50 Allbäck (Sweden) is adjudged to be in an offside position.
52 L. Jacobsen (Denmark) delivers the corner.
57 Linderoth (Sweden) takes the corner.
60 Allbäck (Sweden) commits a foul after challenging Andreasen (Denmark).
60 Linderoth (Sweden) gives away a free-kick following a challenge on Daniel Jensen (Denmark).
63 Grønkjær (in) - Daniel Jensen (out) (Denmark)
64 Linderoth (Sweden) fouls.
66 Gravgaard (Denmark) commits a foul after challenging Allbäck (Sweden).
67 Allbäck (Sweden) is flagged for offside.
68 Linderoth (Sweden) delivers the corner.
69 Poulsen (Denmark) gives away a free-kick following a challenge on Ljungberg (Sweden).
73 L. Jacobsen (Denmark) takes the corner.
75 L. Jacobsen (Denmark) delivers the corner.
83 Gravgaard (Denmark) has an effort on goal.
83 Linderoth (Sweden) commits a foul after challenging Jørgensen (Denmark).
84 Linderoth (Sweden) is cautioned by the referee.
86 L. Jacobsen (Denmark) takes the corner.
87 Linderoth (Sweden) fouls.
87 Grønkjær (Denmark) delivers the corner.
89 Rosenberg (Sweden) was fouled in the penalty area by Poulsen (Denmark)
89 Poulsen (Denmark) is dismissed.
The final whistle is blown.
With a minute of the 90 still to play the match has been abandoned and the result will now be confirmed following an investigation by the UEFA Disciplinary Committee upon receipt of the referee and delegate reports.

Talk about involvement! Now, if I was to include the former Brøndby IF players as well... Rest assured this one will be discussed for months if not years. Brøndby Support excelled by having a few members kicked for lighting fireworks in the stadium despite that being banned.

Swedish Aftonbladet has collected a series of photos of the red card being given to Christian Poulsen and the attack itself.