Blatter blames political leaders for influencing Qatar Cup vote September 18, 2013 QATAR’S controversial bid to host the 2022 World Cup succeeded because European politicians leant on their football administrators, according to Fifa president Sepp Blatter. Scrutiny of the decision to award the game’s biggest spectacle to the tiny Gulf nation has intensified amid discussions about switching the tournament from summer to winter to avoid searing heat. [...]
Champions League: Walcott missile ignites Arsenal Euro campaign September 18, 2013 OLYMPIQUE MARSEILLE 1 ARSENAL 2 MANAGER Arsene Wenger backed Theo Walcott to rediscover his scoring habit after the forward’s first goal of the season set Arsenal on the way to three precious Champions League points and a club record 10th straight away win. Walcott’s blistering 65th-minute volley broke the deadlock in Marseille and midfielder Aaron [...]
Champions League: Lennon defiant after late goals hit Bhoys’ bid September 18, 2013 AC MILAN 2 CELTIC 0 CELTIC manager Neil Lennon still hopes to qualify for the Champions League knockout stage, despite two late goals giving his side a nightmare start to perhaps the hardest of all groups. The Bhoys looked on course for a valuable point in Italy until eight minutes form time, when AC Milan [...]
Cavendish toasts team-mates after points prize chance opens September 18, 2013 FORMER Commonwealth champion Mark Cavendish credited his Omega Pharma Quick-Step team-mates for helping him win the Tour of Britain’s fourth stage yesterday. Cavendish spearheaded an 11-man breakaway group which formed following the start in Stoke-on-Trent, but merged with the peloton once again within 800m of the finish line in Llanoris. But the 28-year-old broke free [...]
Ashes series to trial DRS changes September 18, 2013 CRICKET: The controversial decision review system (DRS) has been changed for this winter’s return Ashes series. England and Australia will trial new rules in which teams get two extra reviews when their innings exceeds 80 overs. A snickometer, which detects contact between bat and ball via sound, may be incorporated, subject to testing.
Scotland lining up Olympic team September 18, 2013 OLYMPICS: Scotland will have its own team at the 2016 Rio Olympics if it votes for independence next year, according to Scottish Sports Minister Shona Robison. She said: “We’re assured Scotland will have its own team. It will bring many benefits.”
Champions League: Rooney tipped for greatness after 200th United goal September 17, 2013 MANCHESTER UNITED 4 BAYER LEVERKUSEN 2 STRIKER Wayne Rooney hit his 200th Manchester United goal to see off Bayer Leverkusen last night and manager David Moyes believes he can become a legend at Old Trafford. Rooney became only the fourth player in the club’s history to reach that milestone, scoring twice to help earn United’s [...]
Champions League: Perfect start but no priority for Pellegrini September 17, 2013 VIKTORIA PLZEN 0 MANCHESTER CITY 3 MANCHESTER City boss Manuel Pellegrini was delighted with the start his side made to their Champions League campaign, but insists their pursuit of the trophy will not take priority over winning the Premier League title this season. Second half goals from Edin Dzeko, Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero earned [...]
Wenger fears French clubs in super-rich era September 17, 2013 ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger has warned his players that the strength of the French league goes deeper than the free-spending pair of Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco. Wenger believes tonight’s Champions League opponents Marseille are among those who have risen to the challenge of Ligue 1’s super-rich, and even benefited from their recruitment policies. “In the [...]
My eggs need crack at Europe, says Mourinho September 17, 2013 CHELSEA manager Jose Mourinho resurrected his egg analogy yesterday as he lauded the benefits of Champions League football but denied winning the competition had become his obsession. Mourinho was asked to compare his current group of players to eggs, as he memorably did six years ago on the eve of what would be the last [...]