Four banned in betting probe July 22, 2009 FOOTBALL: Four players have been banned for up to a year for breaching betting rules following a Football Association investigation. The probe centred around the League Two clash between Accrington Stanley and Bury in May 2008 which generated unusual betting activity. Ex-Accrington player Jay Harris was banned for a year and fined £5,000, while team-mates [...]
ECB scrap Twenty20 plans July 22, 2009 CRICKET: The England and Wales Cricket Board has opted to scrap plans for a second Twenty20 competition next season. The ECB was considering launching a P20 Championship as well as the current Twenty20 Cup to rival the Indian Premier League, but decided against it after meeting with county chiefs.
Captain Terry will stay at Chelsea, says boss Ancelotti July 21, 2009 CHELSEA boss Carlo Ancelotti has ruled out the possibility of John Terry leaving Stamford Bridge to join Manchester City and expects the on-going transfer saga to come to an end within the next week. The England captain is the No1 target of big-spending City, who want Terry to beef up their defence after investing heavily [...]
Injured Pietersen faces wait over third Test recovery bid July 21, 2009 ENGLAND will delay a decision on whether Kevin Pietersen is fit for next week’s third Ashes Test until the batsman has sought specialist advice on his troublesome Achilles. Pietersen has struggled with the injury all year and suffered discomfort during England’s second Test victory at Lord’s earlier this week. The Hampshire player scored 32 and [...]
Arsenal lose another star after Nasri breaks leg July 21, 2009 ARSENAL’S pre-season preparations suffered a hammer blow yesterday when midfielder Samir Nasri was ruled out for up to three months with a broken leg. The France international, who scored seven goals in 44 appearances last season, fractured a fibula during a training session at the club’s camp in Austria. Nasri’s injury came just days after [...]
Westwood struggles to deal with Open nightmare July 21, 2009 LEE WESTWOOD admits he is struggling to come to terms with his Open heartbreak. The English hope squandered a two-shot lead going into the turn before a three-putt bogey on the last hole saw him miss out on a chance to join Stewart Cink and Tom Watson in a play-off. It was the latest in [...]
TEENAGER DALEY MAKES A BIG SPLASH July 21, 2009 YOUNGSTER Tom Daley became Britain’s first world diving champion at the age of 15 after winning the 10m platform final in dramatic style yesterday. The Devon teenager, who shot to fame by qualifying for last year’s Beijing Olympics, was only lying third before the last round but produced a superb closing dive to beat favourite [...]
Rio: Predator Owen will fire us to trophies July 21, 2009 MANCHESTER UNITED defender Rio Ferdinand believes shock summer signing Michael Owen has the killer instinct needed to deliver more silverware to Old Trafford. United manager Sir Alex Ferguson surprised most observers when he plucked a jaded Owen from the disarray of relegated Newcastle and signed him the striker a free transfer. Rejuvenated Owen has repaid [...]
Al Fahim completes Pompey takeover July 21, 2009 SULAIMAN AL FAHIM yesterday got the green light to complete his takeover of Portmsouth – and then promptly handed caretaker boss Paul Hart a new two-year deal. The UAE-based businessman became the first prospective club owner to pass the Premier League’s new fit and proper person test after having agreed, in principle, to take over [...]
Quins man’s 12-month ban ‘entirely disproportionate’ July 21, 2009 PLAYERS’ chief Damian Hopley has leapt to the defence of Harlequins winger Tom Williams, after he was handed a 12-month ban for faking a blood injury. Williams was found to have fabricated a cut to his mouth in order to allow Quins to make a late substitution during their Heineken Cup quarter-final defeat to Leinster [...]