Ronaldo out for eight months

Paris, April 14: Inter Milan and Brazil star Ronaldo will be out of action for the entire 2000, doctors at the Pitie Salpetriere Hospital ...

Paris, April 14: Inter Milan and Brazil star Ronaldo will be out of action for the entire 2000, doctors at the Pitie Salpetriere Hospital here confirmed on Friday.

The hospital statement said Ronaldo had undergone surgery for two hours and that the doctors were satisfied that he should be able to play again “in seven or eight months”.

Ronaldo tore the tendon in his right knee in Wednesday’s Italian Cup final first leg with Lazio, after barely seven minutes of his return to soccer following surgery on the same tendon here on November 30.

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The same surgeon, who had given the Brazilian star the all-clear to play again last week, carried out both operations.

But while Italian press speculation on Thursday had claimed that the 23-year-old’s playing career could already be over — those fears were scotched by the Serie A club before the day was out.

Ronaldo, twice voted FIFA’s World Player of the Year and considered one of the treasures of the sport, should therefore be back in action for the Serie A club midway through next season.

Brazil in shock

RIO DE JANEIRO: The TV images repeat endlessly like a recurring nightmare: Ronaldo feints, crumples and writhes on the field, his kneecap an obscene lump on his thigh, a brilliant career suddenly in doubt.

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As the Inter Milan striker underwent surgery in Paris for a ruptured tendon, a shocked nation grieved and prayed for the most talented striker in a generation.

“It’s one of those things that make us doubt even whether god exists,” soccer legend Pele said in a radio interview.

The picture of Ronaldo controted in pain was stamped on the front page of every major Brazilian newspaper on Wednesday.

National team coach Wanderley Luxemburgo announced he would fly to Paris to inquire about him and tried to sound reassuring. “I am sure he will be back. Other players have come back from more serious injuries,” he said.

Galatasaray fans barred

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NYON: European football’s governing body on Friday decided to ban Turkish fans from the UEFA Cup semi-final second-leg match between Leeds and Galatasaray at Elland Road next week.

UEFA’s competitions committee announced from the organisation’s Nyon headquarters that only VIPs and authorised officials of the Galatasaray club, as well as accredited Turkish press, would be allowed to attend the potentially explosive match along with English spectators.

Meanwhile, in Istanbul, Four Turkish men have been indicted for the murder of two Leeds fans.

Prosecutor Osman Ikizoglu said the four suspects could face between 24 to 30 years in prison.