Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp shrugs off chronic failure record in finals as Reds plot Europa League glory bid against Sevilla May 17, 2016 Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has played down the significance of his recurring tendency to lose major finals as the Reds prepare to derail Sevilla’s bid to win an unprecedented third successive Europa League crown in Basel on Wednesday. Klopp’s respective sides have fallen at the final hurdle four times in succession since he guided Borussia Dortmund [...]
Test rookie James Vince eager for debut as England prepare for Sri Lanka battle at Headingley May 17, 2016 Test hopeful James Vince admits it is beginning to resonate that his debut may be just hours away as England prepare to kickstart their international summer against Sri Lanka at Headingley on Thursday. Hampshire batsman Vince is poised to fill the middle-order vacancy created by the retirement of James Taylor, who was forced to call [...]
Further shadow cast over Olympic Games as latest drugs controversy set to see 31 athletes banned for Rio de Janeiro May 17, 2016 This summer’s Olympics are set to be plunged into disarray after it was confirmed that 31 athletes face bans following the retesting of doping samples from the 2008 Beijing Games. The 31 athletes, spanning 12 nationalities and six sports, now face the prospect of suspension after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) concluded their retesting of [...]
Olympics 2016: Up to 31 athletes could be banned from Rio Games after IOC retests Beijing samples May 17, 2016 Up to 31 athletes from six sports and 12 different countries could be banned from competing at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) found positive results in retests of 454 doping samples from Beijing 2008. IOC president Thomas Bach said the measures would show dopers that they "had no place [...]
Aston Villa exodus continues: Former FA director Adrian Bevington leaves club after less than two months May 17, 2016 Former FA director Adrian Bevington has become the latest high-profile figure to leave Aston Villa after less than two months with the club. Bevington's departure from his advisory role follows the resignations of former Bank of England governor Sir Mervyn King and ex-FA chief David Bernstein from the board. The relegated club, who suffered the worst Premier League [...]
Chelsea and Tottenham hit with record fine by the FA, beating record held by Arsenal for 13 years May 17, 2016 Chelsea and Tottenham's ill-tempered clash at Stamford Bridge a fortnight ago has prompted the FA to issue a combined £600,000 fine — a record for a single Premier League match. Both clubs have been warned about their future conduct following the game in which Chelsea overturned a two-goal deficit to end Spurs' title hopes. Chelsea have [...]
England manager Roy Hodgson urges rookie striker Marcus Rashford to “knock someone off their perch” and force his way to Euro 2016 May 16, 2016 England boss Roy Hodgson has challenged uncapped Manchester Untied striker Marcus Rashford to knock a member of the Three Lions’ established order “off their perch” after calling the teenager into his expanded 26-man squad for Euro 2016. Rashford, who has never played for England’s Under-21 side, only made his United debut in February following an [...]
Boss of security firm at heart of Old Trafford fake bomb gaffe hits back as United stand firm on need for abandonment May 16, 2016 The boss of the security firm at the centre of the fake bomb saga which forced the abandonment of Manchester United’s clash with Bournemouth has hit back by saying there was no need to evacuate the stadium. Old Trafford was emptied 20 minutes prior to kick-off on Sunday after a suspect package, which transpired to be a mobile [...]
Andy Murray’s Italian Open win earns Briton seeding boost for French Open May 16, 2016 Britain's Andy Murray has been rewarded for his landmark win at the Rome Masters with a rankings boost that will ensure he is seeded second for next week’s French Open. Murray, who has traditionally favoured hard courts and grass, continued his recent progress on clay by recording a first victory over world No1 Novak Djokovic [...]
Italy boss Antonio Conte set to assume Chelsea reins free from sporting fraud shadow May 16, 2016 Incoming Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has been acquitted of charges relating to sporting fraud and cleared of any involvement in a 2011 match-fixing scandal by an Italian court. Italy boss Conte, who will lead the Azzurri at this summer’s European Championship which starts on 10 June, stood accused of failing to report his knowledge of [...]