Arsene Wenger: Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez “could’ve been killed” by Norwich player December 5, 2015 Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger lambasted Norwich City defender Ryan Bennett for shoving Alexis Sanchez during a 1-1 draw last weekend, arguing his star player "could've been killed". The Gunners will be without Sanchez for their game against Sunderland today, after he was forced off with a hamstring injury during the Norwich fixture. His removal came shortly after an [...]
Fifa crisis: Corruption charges keeps sponsors away December 5, 2015 Fifa is struggling to attract new sponsors as it battles to repair its image in the wake of numerous corruption scandals. Football's under-fire governing body has 27 slots allocated for potential partners unfilled, having failed to attract a single new sponsor for over two years. Fifa suffered a £67m loss in 2015 as sponsors steered [...]
Fifa corruption: Brazil and Argentina football chiefs bribed to pick best players in Copa America December 4, 2015 The corruption uncovered within the heart of international football has so far been limited to business contracts and tournament voting – yet new charges from US officials suggest its rotten influence could even extend to the action on the pitch. Among the multitude of corruption charges levelled against current and former Fifa executives in the [...]
Chris Froome releases performance and blood data to satisfy Tour de France doubters December 4, 2015 Chris Froome hopes doubts over his two Tour de France wins can be put to rest after releasing physiological data which suggests his success in recent years can be attributed to weight loss. Three sets of data, from 2007, this year's Tour and independent tests in August have been published in this month's edition of [...]
Arsene Wenger feud is all in the past, says Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce December 3, 2015 Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce has insisted that his feud with Arsenal counterpart Arsene Wenger is consigned to history as the pair prepare to reignite their Premier League duel at Emirates Stadium tomorrow. Allardyce and Wenger endured a combustible relationship when the former was manager of Bolton between 1999 and 2007, a team which the Frenchman [...]
Gary Neville on Valencia move: “I’ve been on TV for a few years now; the time was right to stand up” December 3, 2015 Valencia head coach Gary Neville accepted a surprise move to Spain because he felt ready to leave the comfort of the television studio for the crucible of the dugout, he said on Thursday. The former Manchester United and England defender was appointed to his first managerial role on Wednesday by the La Liga club and [...]
Tyson Fury v Wladimir Klitschko rematch: New champion will lose IBF heavyweight world title belt if fight goes ahead December 3, 2015 Tyson Fury looks set to lose one of his heavyweight world titles just days after defeating Wladimir Klitschko to claim the WBA, WBO and IBF belts. A rematch clause negotiated into the contract for the fight has been activated by Klitschko, who lost for the first time in 11 years in a surprise defeat to Fury on [...]
Solid Stoke will be hard to break down for inconsistent Manchester City December 3, 2015 Will Manchester City come to regret not taking charge of the Premier League title race in its formative stages? They sit top but the heights they’ve hit in their nine wins from 14 have been undermined by some shaky performances. Manuel Pellegrini’s men lost at home to West Ham, were torn apart by Tottenham, and [...]
Liverpool revival under Jurgen Klopp to continue at Newcastle’s expense December 3, 2015 Few Newcastle fans will be rubbing their hands at the prospect of facing Liverpool on Sunday. Since their uplifting 6-2 defeat of Norwich six games ago, the Magpies have shipped 11 goals and scored just two. The five they conceded to Crystal Palace last time out were hardly a fillip either. Little wonder, then, that [...]
No Planning has the attributes needed for Becher stamina test December 3, 2015 The build-up to the 2016 Grand National begins at Aintree on Saturday afternoon with the Becher Chase (1.40pm) run over the famous spruce-topped fences. Even though this race is over a mile and a quarter less than the National itself, it’s still set to be a stamina-sapping slog as the ground is already soft, with a [...]