Sir Dave Brailsford admits Team Sky errors but denies anti-doping violation March 8, 2017 Under-fire Team Sky boss Sir Dave Brailsford has conceded that mistakes were made in relation to testing practices but has denied any anti-doping rules were broken. Team Sky have failed to substantiate their assertion that a mystery package sent to Sir Bradley Wiggins at the 2011 Criterium du Dauphine contained a legal medicine. MPs [...]
Arsenal 1, Bayern Munich 5 (Agg: 2-10): Humiliated Arsene Wenger sinks to all-time low March 8, 2017 Under-fire Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger claimed the Gunners were in rude health despite them sinking to new depths after an embarrassing Champions League demise at the hands of Bayern Munich. Bayern cut Arsenal to shreds after Robert Lewandowski cancelled out Theo Walcott’s opener with a penalty which saw Gunners skipper Laurent Koscielny controversially sent off. [...]
Billy Vunipola set to go straight into England XV to face Scotland in Six Nations March 7, 2017 Saracens powerhouse Billy Vunipola is set to earn an immediate international recall during England’s crunch Six Nations showdown with Scotland at Twickenham on Saturday. Whiteboards positioned at the side of the pitch at England’s Pennyhill Park training base yesterday appeared to suggest Vunipola is pencilled in to replace Nathan Hughes at No8. Scrum-half Ben Youngs, [...]
Leicester City expected to hand caretaker Craig Shakespeare manager’s job until end of season March 7, 2017 Defending Premier League champions Leicester City are expected to hand caretaker boss Craig Shakespeare the manager’s job until the end of the season following a successful stint in temporary charge. Shakespeare was given the reins following Claudio Ranieri’s sacking last month and has guided the Foxes to back-to-back league victories which have eased the club’s [...]
Sendings-off approved by lawmakers as cricket moves to oust misconduct March 7, 2017 Cricketers run the risk of being sent from the field of play under new rules, approved by the game’s lawmakers the MCC yesterday, which are aimed at removing poor behaviour from the sport. Player offences will be measured across four levels; the lowest being for indiscretions such as excessive appealing or showing dissent at an [...]
Pep Guardiola wants an English core at Manchester City – if the price is right March 7, 2017 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola insists he wants to rebuild his ageing squad around a core of English players. Guardiola favours an indigenous bedrock, as he did at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, although he has warned that he may be priced out of repeating that approach at City, who have been linked with Arsenal midfielder [...]
Zlatan Ibrahimovic to miss Manchester United FA Cup tie as Bournemouth appeal against Tyrone Mings charge March 7, 2017 Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic will miss next week's FA Cup quarter-final at Chelsea after accepting a three-match ban for violent conduct. The Swedish striker, who elbowed Bouremouth's Tyrone Mings in the first half of Saturday's 1-1 draw, will also be suspended for United's Premier League games away at Middlesbrough and at home to West Bromwich Albion. Bournemouth are [...]
Kevin Pietersen targeting silverware after re-signing for Surrey March 7, 2017 Former England captain Kevin Pietersen believes silverware beckons after re-signing for Surrey to play in this season’s T20 Blast. The 36-year-old, who initially joined Surrey in 2010, is set to make his return against Essex at the Kia Oval on 19 July and then be available for the remainder of the revamped tournament. Pietersen has principally [...]
Ronald Koeman to Arsenal or Barcelona? Why Everton manager is perfect for a Champions League club but should stay at Everton March 7, 2017 As an Evertonian, I was delighted when the club hired Ronald Koeman as manager last summer. He was the one that I wanted, although I wasn’t sure he would leave Southampton, where his results were pretty miraculous. He did and the Toffees have been lucky to have him. Koeman got off to a good start [...]
BT must innovate to win over more football fans and justify its lavish £1.2bn outlay on Champions League rights March 7, 2017 The business of football TV rights used to be relatively simple. There were rights to show live games, and rights to show highlights. For years, Sky dominated the live market, crushing a series of challengers with its financial fire-power and superior coverage. Highlights were often reserved for traditional free-to-air TV channels such as ITV and [...]