Tingle Creek: Tiara can produce another sparkling display at Sandown December 3, 2015 The Tingle Creek (3.00pm) was robbed of its star performer when Willie Mullins’ high class chaser Un De Sceaux was ruled out on Wednesday. It’s a real shame that he won’t line up, although, as he was 4/7, the race is a much more attractive betting proposition. He is now a best-priced 7/4 favourite for the [...]
World Cup team expansion: Fifa suggest 40 teams December 3, 2015 Fifa has proposed expanding the World Cup from 32 teams to 40 today in discussions over reforms at world football's governing body. The expanded tournament could come into effect as soon as 2026 if approved by Fifa's executive committee. It would extend the group stage of the competition by a week to accommodate 32 additional [...]
Fifa arrests: High-ranking officials arrested on suspicion of accepting millions of dollars in bribes December 3, 2015 Senior Fifa officials have been detained in morning raids on a Zurich hotel, accused of accepting millions of dollars in bribes. Read more: Sponsors call on Fifa to accept independent oversight US officials targeted current and former high-ranking Fifa directors at the luxury Baur au Lac hotel as part of the Department of Justice's investigation into corruption [...]
England know 90 per cent of their best World Twenty20 side – now it’s time to nail down roles in the team December 2, 2015 Much has been made of skipper Eoin Morgan saying he doesn’t know his strongest side despite only being a matter of months away from the ICC World Twenty20 in India. I think that was a throwaway comment and in reality England are about 90 per cent sure of their best XI. All 15 members of [...]
Gary Neville at Valencia is not the first: British managers who have prospered – and flopped – in Spanish football December 2, 2015 Pre-civil war trailblazers British managers have a long and rich tradition of success in Spanish football, not least in the pre-Civil War years. Two league and cup doubles with Athletic Bilbao were the highlight of Fred Pentland’s 15-year stint in Spain, while William Garbutt, hugely influential in Italy, also enjoyed success with the Basque club. [...]
Who is Peter Lim? The billionaire behind Manchester United legend Gary Neville’s role as Valencia manager December 2, 2015 Peter Lim is the Singaporean billionaire and owner of Valencia responsible for giving Gary Neville his first senior job in football as the Spanish club's new head coach. Lim has an estimated worth $1.9bn (£1.3bn) having made his fortune through investments in palm oil producers, but in recent years has increased his interest in football [...]
The top four is up grabs – it’s time for Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy to loosen the transfer shackles for Mauricio Pochettino in January window December 2, 2015 If there’s one thing Mauricio Pochettino’s time at Tottenham has demonstrated, it’s that team-building in the Premier League doesn’t start and end with the transfer window. Spurs’ impressive start to the season has been based not on the purchase of any marquee summer signings but instead on a foundation of a young squad willing to [...]
Manchester United legend Gary Neville appointed Valencia manager December 2, 2015 Gary Neville has been appointed head coach of Spanish team Valencia until the end of the season. The position is the Sky Sports pundit and former Manchester United and England defender's first ever senior role in coaching or management. Neville has worked as an assistant coach to Roy Hodgson for England since 2012, holds a [...]
Fifa sponsors call on under-fire organisation to accept independent oversight of reforms December 2, 2015 Five Fifa sponsors have written to world football's governing body to demand "cultural change" and "independent oversight" of reforms. Adidas, McDonald's, Coca-Cola, Visa and Budweiser parent company Anheuser-Busch sent the letter to Fifa this week as it discusses reform proposals. Following a string of corruption allegations levelled against the organisation which have culminated in American [...]
Doping scandal: Under-fire Seb Coe is set for a grilling from MPs over the IAAF’s handling of allegations December 2, 2015 IAAF president Sebastian Coe is set for an uncomfortable afternoon when he is questioned by MPs from the culture, media and sport select committee on the governing body's handling of blood doping allegations. The under-fire Coe was told to show "more humility" by committee member and MP for Folkestone and Hythe Damian Collins ahead of [...]