The Spanish "Comité de Competición de la Federación Española de Fútbol" has rejected FC Barcelona's appeal against the sending off of player thisago Motta, assistant coach Johan Neeskens and Barca delegate Carles Naval in the game against Real Zaragoza last Sunday at Camp Nou.
Instead the Competition Comittee confirmed a one match ban for Motta, Neeskens and Naval.

FC Barcelona is not happy with this decision and decided to bring the case forward to the Appeals Committee for having the bans revoked.

Australias national team coach at the World Cup in Germany, Guus Hiddinck, believes that Johan Neeskens is a fantastic addition to FC Barcelona´s back room staff.
Guus hiddinck revealed: "Johan Neeskens is a great professional but is even a greater person. Rijkaard knows this better than anyone."


Guus Hiddinck is a keen admirer of Barca´s attacking football and hails Frank Rijkkards work at Barcelona: "The work of Rijkaard at Barca is sensational. this is a very special team at current times. Barca plays an attractive football that entertains the people."

FC Barcelona captain Carles Puyol expressed his delight about the new signing of Chelsea´s forward Eidur Gudjohnsen and new assistant coach Johan Neeskens.


Barca´s Puyol was available for comments in Spain's World Cup training camp before the opening match against Ukraine. Puyol believes that Iceland international Gudjonsen fits perfectly into the Barca team:

"He is strong, fast and scores goals. I have played against him and is a great player".

About new assitant coach Neeskens:

"I am very glad. He made history with Barca and I hope we can win titles with him as he did as a player."

New Barca assistant coach Johan Neeskens was picked up at El Prat Airport by the Club's senior first team representative Carles Naval and brought straight to the official presentation at Camp Nou.


Neeskens landed at 13:40 local time on a flight from Stuttgart, Germany, where he is taking part in the World Cup as an assitant to Guus Hiddinck of the Australian national team.


The new assistant to Barca coach Frank Rijkaard revealed:

"It's always been my dream to come back to Barcelona. I've done so after 27 years and I'm really excited about it. It's like coming back home. It's wonderful to come back to this club where I've got so many good memories, and also to work again with Frank Rijkaard. I know the fans have affection for me as I do for them. Barca has demonstrated that it is a great team and a great club. Things are going well with two consecutive league titles and the Champions League. Now we'll try and win as much as possible next season and in the seasons to come"

Johan Neeskens left FC Barcelona in 1979 as a player but during all those years the affection shown by the Barca fans has remained with him.


Johan Neeskens has signed a three-year deal with FC Barcelona. Club president Joan Laporta, vice-president Ferran Soriano and first team manager Frank Rijkaard Present have been present at the official presentation of new assistant Neeskens on Tuesday afternoon.

Johan Neeskens will officially presented as a new member of the first team coaching staff next Tuesday. The former FC Barcelona star Neeskens, who won the Copa del Rey in 1978 and the Cup Winners Cup in 1979, will replace Henk ten Cate as assistant coach to Frank Rijkaard.


Ten Cate left for Ajax Amsterdam to take the position as head coach at the Amsterdam Arena.
The official presentation of new assistant coach Johan Neeskens will begin at 14:00 with the traditional photo shooting and the press conference at the Camp Nou pressroom at 16:30.


FC Barcelona Blog already reported that the agreement between assistant coach Johan Neeskens and FC Barcelona is for 3 years. Dutch Barca legend Neeskens will join Frank Rijkaard´s coaching team which includes Eusebio and Juan Carlos Unzué.