Real and Atletico deny claims of transfer bans for youth policies April 29, 2015 EUROPEAN champions Real Madrid have labelled malicious reports that they are set to be hit with a transfer embargo for breaking rules on the signing of foreign players aged under 18. Spanish title-holders Atletico Madrid also denied that they too were to receive a ban similar to that currently imposed on Barcelona for the same [...]
Ex-Premier League player gets two years in jail for match fixing April 29, 2015 FORMER Premier League footballer Delroy Facey is today beginning a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence after being found guilty of attempting to fix matches. The journeyman forward, who played for 15 clubs including Bolton, West Brom and Hull, was alleged to have contacted a non-league player and suggested he earn £2,000 by throwing games. Facey, the most [...]
Caborn: FA crazy to sell cup name April 29, 2015 FORMER sports minister Richard Caborn has called talk of rebranding the country’s showpiece knockout competition The Emirates FA Cup “commercialisation gone mad”. The Football Association could sign a £30m, three-year deal with the airline, as soon as today. A previous deal with Budweiser packaged the cup as “in association with” the beer brand, whereas the [...]
Walcott: We’re best in Europe April 29, 2015 ARSENAL forward Theo Walcott believes the north London club are the best team in Europe in 2015. Walcott, who has been limited to just 17 appearances for the Gunners this season following a long-term knee injury, has suggested that a fully fit Arsenal squad could win the Premier League title. He said: “In this calendar [...]
Lions keep faith with boss Harris April 29, 2015 MILLWALL have made caretaker boss Neil Harris their permanent manager despite his failure to save them from relegation to League One. Harris took 10 points from eight games, compared with predecessor Ian Holloway’s 31 from 36, to give the Lions renewed hope staying in the Championship, but their survival bid was thwarted on Tuesday with [...]
Premier League: Blow for Reds as Hull stride nearer safety April 28, 2015 HULL CITY 1 LIVERPOOL 0 LIVERPOOL boss Brendan Rodgers bemoaned his side’s lack of firepower as their stuttering and increasingly improbable pursuit of a Champions League place wilted further with defeat at relegation-haunted Hull last night. Former Tottenham skipper Michael Dawson proved the match-winner with a first-half header, a goal which elevated Hull above Aston [...]
Wimbledon champions deserve record prize money, say bosses April 28, 2015 WIMBLEDON chiefs have defended their prize money policy after confirming that players at this year’s championships are to earn more than at any tennis tournament in history. A seven per cent increase in the total pot to £26.75m is reflected in prize money for all rounds, with the men’s and women’s winners banking £1.88m each [...]
Emirates set for FA Cup rebrand April 28, 2015 THE FOOTBALL Association is expected to complete a £30m, three-year sponsorship deal which will see the country’s showpiece knockout competition rebranded as The Emirates FA Cup. Budweiser decided not to renew its own sponsorship a year ago and talks with a potential replacement failed to bear fruit, leaving the historic tournament without a main partner [...]
Millwall down as Rotherham win April 28, 2015 MILLWALL’S forlorn quest to retain their Championship status was last night extinguished as closest rivals Rotherham beat Reading 2-1 at the New York Stadium to safely navigate their own relegation concerns. Second-half strikes from Matt Derbyshire and Lee Frecklington consigned the Lions to relegation and brought their five-year stint in English football’s second tier to [...]
Chelsea to play PSG and Barca April 28, 2015 CHELSEA are set to face their Champions League conquerors Paris Saint-Germain and Spanish giants Barcelona when they travel to United States to play in the International Champions Cup pre-season tournament in July. Jose Mourinho’s side play their opening game of the competition against New York Red Bulls in New Jersey on 22 July, before clashes [...]