Liverpool is presently owned by American duo George Gillett and Tom Hicks, who acquired the club in February 2007.

One of the most successful clubs in the history of English football, Liverpool emerged as a takeover target for Ambani, chairman of Reliance Industries and the seventh-richest man in the world, as pressure mounted on Hicks and Gillett to cut a deal to sell the club, The Times reported on Tuesday.

When contacted in Delhi, a Reliance spokesman denied the reports. “We are not bidding for Liverpool,” he said. There was no immediate word on the issue from the Sahara Group owned by Roy, reported PTI.

Both Ambani and Roy have reportedly each tendered similar bids to pay off Liverpool’s 237 million pounds debt in return for a 51 per cent stake in the club.

Liverpool chief executive Christian Purslow also denied any knowledge of bids by Ambani and Roy, but ‘The Times’ reported that approaches began as early as November and that some preliminary talks had taken place.

Reported disagreements between Gillett and Hicks, and the lack of the fans’ support, have led to rumours that that international buyers such as the Dubai International Capital would bid for the club.

In April 2008, business magazine Forbes ranked Liverpool as the fourth most valuable football team in the world, after Manchester United, Real Madrid and Arsenal.

Liverpool boasts of having some of the leading footballers including Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres, Dirk Kuyt and Yossi Benayoun.

About their 1990 World Cup triumph, Matthaeus described as his best moment in his career, he said, “To hold the World Cup as a captain, it was a feeling which cannot be expressed in words.”
Matthaeus is also Germany’s most capped player with 150 appearances but said he regretted losing to the UEFA Champions League final to Manchester United in 1999. Matthaeus was playing for German club FC Bayern München
Man United scored two goals in the stoppage time to win the match 2-1.

The authorized inauguration of the ball will happen on Friday, during the draw for the World Cup, with live video streaming on telegraph.co.uk.

The ball, which features a South African design, is called Jabulani – translated it means ‘to celebrate’ in isuZulu – and the name itself pays mark of respect to the merriment of football the World Cup should offer next summer

The design of the ball should make sure that both strikers and goalkeepers are on a smooth footing. In earlier tournaments, keepers have complained that forwards have had an inequitable benefit because the balls deviated so much in flight.

However, Adidas declare that a newly-developed “grip ‘n’ groove” profile will offer “a remarkably steady flight and just right grip under all circumstances”. England will make available a grave examination for any nation at World Cup 2010 after powering their approach through prerequisite under Coach Fabio Capello.

The Makhonya Royal Trust, which put forward the suggestion, described the cattle killing ceremony as a “true African” means of blessing the 2010 tournament.

Government minister Sicelo Shiceka has promised to lobby football’s leading body, Fifa, in support of the plan. However animal rights groups have demanded to be consulted over the plans. The National Council for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) has in black and white written to Fifa over the issue.

The BBC’s Mohammed Allie in Cape Town says the NSPCA does not object to the sacrament slaughter of animals. New stadiums have been built for the enthusiastically expected World Cup. But the group wants to make sure it is done in a humanitarian manner and wants to be concerned in the procedure to make sure the wellbeing of the cattle, our correspondent adds.

The Makhonya Royal Trust, which co-ordinates African cultural activities, said the sacrifice was an imperative manner of ensuring a triumphant World Cup. “We must have a cultural ritual of some sort, where we are going to slaughter a beast,” trust Chairman Zolani Mkiva told Reuters news agency.

“We sacrifice the cow for this great achievement and we call on our ancestors to bless, to grace, to ensure that all goes well.”

Mr Shiceka, the co-operative governance and traditional affairs minister, was quoted in South African media as giving his support to the plan.

“The World Cup will be on the African continent and we will make sure that African values and cultures are felt by the guests,” the Citizen newspaper quoted him as saying.

The row comes amid attempts by activists to discontinue a customary Zulu bull-killing ceremony due to take place on 5 December. Activists have brought a legal challenge in a challenge to stop the ritual, known as Ukweshwama, when a crowd of young men kill a bull with their hands.

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After 120 minutes of open play ended in a 1-1 scoreline, the substitute Renedy Singh putting India ahead from a 30-yard freekick before Ali Dyab equalised with a last-gasp header for 95th-ranked Syria.

India keeper Paul saved Hamzeh Alattouni’s second penalty of the shotoout, which went to sudden death, sealing victory.

India, the former Asian Games champions now ranked joint 156th in the world, are trying to revive their fortunes after qualifying for the 2011 Asian Cup finals in Qatar.

Apart from the $40,000 prize money, Praful Patel, president-in-charge of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) said each member of the team, including the support staff, would be given Rs 2 lakh each. Goalkeeper Subrata Paul and skipper Bhaichung Bhutia, will receive special cash awards of Rs 5 lakh each.
India captain bhaichung bhutia named player of the nehru cup. Salman Khan was named brand ambassador of the AIFF by Praful Patel.
The victory gave India a hat-trick of titles, having the last Nehru Cup crown in 2007 and AFC Cup Challenge in 2008.