Reds agree to sell Alonso to Real for 34m August 4, 2009 LIVERPOOL midfielder Xabi Alonso will today complete his long-awaited move to Real Madrid after the two clubs finally agreed a £34m deal last night. Months of haggling were brought to a close when Liverpool accepted a package thought to be worth £30m up front and a further £4m based on his performance at Real. The [...]
IN THE BRAWN STUFF August 4, 2009 FORMULA ONE team boss Ross Brawn is facing the loss of his driving licence after being charged with speeding. The 54-year-old, whose Brawn GP outfit lead both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships, is accused of driving at 100mph on the A30 in Devon. Brawn did not appear at Plymouth Magistrates’ Court on Monday as he [...]
Racing return is proving pain in the neck for Schumacher August 4, 2009 SEVEN-TIME champion Michael Schumacher has admitted a lingering neck injury is hampering his sensational return to racing. The German, 40, has been coaxed out of retirement by former team Ferrari while Felipe Massa recovers from a fractured skull suffered at last month’s Hungarian Grand Prix. But Schumacher says his training for the European Grand Prix [...]
Players face cocaine clampdown August 4, 2009 RUGBY UNION: Players in England are set to become the first in the world to face out-of-competition tests for cocaine and other recreational drugs. The Rugby Football Union is working on tightening current worldwide legislation, which only allows testing for cocaine on matchdays. It follows former Bath trio Michael Lipman, Alex Crockett and Andrew Higgins’ [...]
Villa Delph deep for teenager August 4, 2009 FOOTBALL: Aston Villa last night completed the £8m signing of England Under-19 midfielder Fabian Delph from Leeds. The 19-year-old yesterday agreed personal terms to join Villa, who saw off competition from Manchester City and Fulham for his signature.
English clubs finances ‘a concern’ August 4, 2009 FOOTBALL: European chiefs Uefa have warned that some English clubs are jeopardising their futures by living beyond their means. The combined debt of top-flight clubs alone is estimated to be more than £3bn, while in lower divisions clubs have struggled to stay afloat. Uefa general secretary David Taylor said: “There are stories concerning some English [...]
Tour stage winner denies doping August 4, 2009 CYCLIST: Spaniard Mikel Astarloza has denied doping after testing positive for the banned blood-booster EPO. Astarloza, who won stage 16 of this year’s Tour de France, was provisionally banned last week on the basis of an out-of-competition test in June. “I haven’t taken anything illegal,” he said. “I’ll do whatever it takes to find out [...]
Trott in line as fears grow for Flintoff August 4, 2009 ENGLAND selectors yesterday handed uncapped Warwickshire batsman Jonathan Trott a shock call-up for the fourth Test amid mounting concerns over the fitness of all-rounder Andrew Flintoff. Nottinghamshire seamer Ryan Sidebottom was also drafted into the 14-man squad, in place of spinner Monty Panesar, for the match at Headingley, which starts on Friday. But it is [...]
We want Freddie to play, insists Australia’s North August 4, 2009 AUSTRALIA batsman Marcus North insists the tourists are rooting for England’s Andrew Flintoff to be fit for the rest of the Ashes – because they want the satisfaction of beating a full-strength side. All-rounder Flintoff is a doubt for the fourth Test, which starts at Headingley on Friday, with the ongoing knee problem that has [...]
Defiance of Clarke and North send England’s victory prospects south August 3, 2009 ENGLAND captain Andrew Strauss admitted his disappointment after a resolute stand between Michael Clarke and Marcus North denied the home side a 2-0 lead in the Ashes series. Fifth-wicket pair Clarke (103 not out) and North (96) put on 185 as Australia comfortably batted out the final day to secure a draw in the third [...]