Benitez roasts English Premier League

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez launched an astonishing attack on the English Premier League on Wednesday, laying into the organisation in a wide-ranging blast.

The Spanish boss, angered by a league hearing decision which blocked Argentina left-back Gabriel Heinze's move from champions Manchester United to the Reds, blasted the Premier League over the saga, and Liverpool's fixture schedule.

Heinze believed he had a letter which would allowed him to leave Old Trafford once United's 6.8-million-pound (13.5-million-dollar, 10-million-euro) valuation had been met.

But a three-member Premier League panel ruled the letter did not constitute consent for Heinze to leave and the player now feels he has no future left at the English champions.

Benitez belives the setback is just one of several decisions being taken in favour of the Reds' title rivals United.

"I would like to ask the Premier League a number of questions. How can a player with a signed agreement be treated like this?" he told the Liverpool Echo newspaper.

"He has a document which is clear, but the Premier League prefers to believe the word of someone else who made a mistake. I know there were accusations made against Liverpool in the hearing which were unbelievable. How can this be allowed?"

And broadening his attack, Benitez added: "Then I would like to ask the Premier League why is it that Liverpool always plays the most fixtures away from home in an early kick-off, following an international break?

"We had more than the top clubs last season and we have four already to prepare for this season."

He continued: "Then I want to ask the Premier League why it was so difficult for Liverpool to sign Javier Mascherano, when we had to wait a long time for the paperwork, but it was so easy for Carlos Tevez to join Manchester United?"

Argentina midfielder Mascherano joined Liverpool from West Ham in the January transfer window and the deal took weeks to clear as the row over third party ownership of players at Upton Park raged on.

The Tevez move from West Ham to United took less time to approve, with the Argentina striker's representatives paying the Hammers two million pounds to release his registration in time to beat the transfer deadline.

Benitez added: "It's going to be very difficult for us to win the Premier League because the other teams are so strong, but I want our supporters to know that despite the disadvantages we have, we will fight all the way.

"We will fight to cope with our more difficult kick-off times and all the other decisions which are going against us."

But it is the Heinze decision, stopping Liverpool buying the defender who believed he had a letter clearing his exit for a set sum, that has upset Benitez most.

He now must consider contingency plans knowing that any appeal by Heinze may not be concluded by the time the transfer window shuts at the end of August.

An appeal panel on the Premier League's decision will include a Professional Footballers' Association union representative and a high ranking member of the legal profession.

League chiefs are disappointed by Benitez's outburst.

"The Premier League tried to make sure that our dealings with all our member clubs, including the scheduling of fixtures, are as fair as possible," a spokesman said.

"We are disappointed to read Rafael Benitez's comments in the press, especially when channels exist for every member club to raise any issues directly with the league."

Heinze remains optimistic an appeal will be accepted and is in no mood to give up on his hopes of moving to Liverpool.

"We are extremely disappointed with the result and we will be appealing," his solicitor Richard Green said.

It is being suggested that United would be happy for Heinze to be loaned out to a mid-table Premier League side or agree to a transfer abroad, with French champions Lyon at the front of the queue while Spanish champions Real Madrid have also been linked with a move for the Argentina defender.

Espanyol deny signing Slovenian striker Ljubijankic

Spanish side Espanyol denied Wednesday having reached an agreement to sign Slovenia international striker Zlatan Ljubijankic from Domzale as claimed earlier by the Slovenian first division club.

"Espanyol has no contract either with the player or his club," Espanyol spokesman Rafa Ramos told AFP, citing the club's sports director Francisco Herrera.

"In any case one cannot announce that this player interests Espanyol," he added.

Earlier on Wednesday Domzale said, in a statement sent to AFP in Madrid, that 23-year-old Ljubijankic had the club's permission to travel to Spain with his agent "to sign a contract with his new club".

Ljubijankic, 23, was elected by Slovenian journalists as the best player in the league last season.

He has one goal from three international caps having scored the winner during Slovenia's 1-0 away win over Cyprus in February last year.

Everton agree record Yakubu fee

Everton agreed a club record transfer fee of 11.25 million pounds (22.4 million dollars, 16.55 million euros) with Middlesbrough on Wednesday for Aiyegbeni Yakubu.

Boro have given the Nigeria striker permission to talk to the Toffees and the 24-year-old was travelling to Liverpool for talks at Goodison Park.

Over the past four seasons, only former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry has scored more English Premier League goals than Yakubu.

The Nigerian did not feature in Boro boss Gareth Southgate's squad for Saturday's 2-1 win at Fulham, fuelling speculation that Yakubu was to be sold.

Several Premier League sides have tracked his availability.

Portsmouth brought Yakubu to England on loan from Israeli side Maccabi Haifa in January 2003, signing him permanently three months later.

Pompey sold the hitman to Boro for 7.5 million pounds (15.2 million dollars, 11 million euros) in July 2005.

He scored 36 goals in 81 league games for Portsmouth and has scored 25 times in 73 league matches for Boro.