Turkish club Kayserispor clinched the first title in the club’s history following a penalty shoot-out that seemed to go on forever, winning the Turkish cup final against Genclerbirligi 11-10 on penalties after 120 minutes of goalless action. It took 28 penalties in all to decide the winner, a result which saw Kayserispor qualify for the UEFA Cup for the second time. Genclerbirligi were also involved in the longest penalty shoot-out in the history of European football in 1996. The club from Ankara won a cup match against Galatasaray 17-16 after 34 penalty kicks.

Pope Benedict XVI received a delegation from the Austrian football association (OFB) at the beginning of May. The delegation consisted among others of OFB President Friedrich Stickler, State Secretary for Sports Reinhold Lopatka and national player Sebastian Prodi. During the audience, the pope highlighted the significance of “the moral values of sport in educating the young generation”. The audience of around 20,000 pilgrims was also attended by functionaries, coaches and players of Italian champions Inter Milan to mark the club’s centenary celebrations. Inter captain Javier Zanetti presented the pontiff with a team shirt, while Inter coach Roberto Mancini kissed the Holy Father’s hand.

Many footballers take up a position as a coach or manager with a club after hanging up their boots. Yet Argentinian midfielder Jose Chatruc recently revealed an unusual career aspiration to newspaper Ole. The 31 -year-old can envisage working for environmental organisation Greenpeace when his career as a footballer comes to an end. Chatruc plays for Racing de Avellaneda in Buenos Aires.