Refs’ chief in plea for video March 22, 2015 REFEREES’ chief Mike Riley has called for English football to adopt video technology to enable officials to make more accurate decisions, following the controversial sending off of West Brom’s Gareth McAuley. West Brom manager Tony Pulis made a similar plea after referee Neil Swarbrick mistakenly dismissed McAuley instead of team-mate Craig Dawson early in the [...]
England have shown World Cup winning potential, insists Carling March 22, 2015 FORMER captain Will Carling insists England’s ultimately forlorn Six Nations title bid showcased snapshots of the quality needed to dismantle any opponent during this autumn’s World Cup. Stuart Lancaster’s side finished as championship runners-up for the fourth successive year after falling tantalisingly short of holders Ireland on points difference, despite dispatching France 55-35 on a [...]
Last-gasp Sarries dispatch holders Exeter to claim LV=Cup silverware March 22, 2015 SARACENS match-winner Ben Spencer insists the club’s underpinning unity came to the fore as his side secured the LV=Cup with a last-gasp 23-20 victory over defending champions Exeter at Franklin’s Gardens yesterday. Scrum-half Spencer, who received his first career yellow card shortly before the break, slotted over a last-minute penalty after two tries from full-back [...]
Schmidt revels in title tension March 22, 2015 IRELAND coach Joe Schmidt believes the manner of his side’s heart-stopping Six Nations triumph will prove a sizeable investment, despite causing short-term palpitations. Holders Ireland claimed back-to-back titles for the first time since 1949 after beating Scotland 40-10 at Murrayfield, a points differential which England ultimately failed to overhaul against France. Schmidt said: “It was [...]
Manchester United win means Liverpool must make history to qualify for Champions League March 22, 2015 With Manchester United taking home three points from their trip to Anfield, Liverpool will need to make a small slice of Premier League history if they are to qualify for next season’s Champions League. Thanks to two Juan Mata goals and Steven Gerrards’ rapid red card, Louis van Gaal’s side inflicted a first league defeat [...]
Hodgson: Euro failings nothing to worry about March 19, 2015 ENGLAND manager Roy Hodgson has attempted to douse fears that the repeated failure of Premier League clubs in European competition is evidence that they have been left behind by continental rivals. Manchester City’s schooling by Barcelona on Wednesday saw them follow Arsenal and Chelsea out of the Champions League and, allied to Everton’s Europa League [...]
Wenger calls for outdated away goals mechanism to be shelved March 19, 2015 EUROPEAN football’s away goals rule is an anachronism and should be scrapped or overhauled, according to Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. The Gunners and Chelsea both tumbled out of the Champions League this month after falling foul of the rule, which favours teams who have scored more goals away from home in the event of scores [...]
Europa League: Martinez shields defence as Everton crash out of Europe March 19, 2015 DYNAMO KIEV 5 EVERTON 2 (Dynamo Kiev won 6-4 on aggregate) EVERTON boss Roberto Martinez downplayed his side’s defensive failings as the Toffees crashed out of the Europa League after suffering a crushing defeat at the hands of Dynamo Kiev last night. An equaliser from striker Romelu Lukaku on the night maintained Everton’s lead in [...]
Qatar World Cup final confirmed for 18 December March 19, 2015 FOOTBALL’S world governing body Fifa has confirmed that the final of the controversial 2022 World Cup in Qatar is to be held on 18 December. Fifa’s all-powerful executive committee yesterday met in Zurich to rubber-stamp the tournament schedule put forward by the organisation’s task force last month. The World Cup is expected to start in [...]
Allardyce cools talk of switch to Sunderland job March 19, 2015 WEST HAM manager Sam Allardyce has dismissed suggestions he could return to former club Sunderland in the summer but admits his Upton Park future hinges on agreeing terms on a new contract. Allardyce’s current deal expires at the end of the season and has been allowed to run down despite engineering what has been, despite [...]