Liverpool’s Mamadou Sakho out for the season – and maybe longer – after failed drug test April 28, 2016 Liverpool and France defender Mamadou Sakho is set to miss the rest of the season – and could yet be ruled out of Euro 2016 – following his failed drug test. European governing body Uefa today confirmed that it has opened disciplinary proceedings against Sakho and accordingly issued him with a provisional 30-day suspension. If [...]
Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew enlists helps of England’s Grand Slam-winning boss Eddie Jones in bid to avoid relegation and land FA Cup April 28, 2016 Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew has tapped into the management blueprint of England’s Grand Slam-winning rugby union head coach Eddie Jones as he bids to secure the first major trophy in the club’s history. The Eagles have reached the FA Cup final and will face Manchester United at Wembley on Saturday 21 May, although a [...]
AC Milan who? Alibaba’s Jack Ma laughs off takeover talk April 28, 2016 Alibaba founder Jack Ma has scoffed at reports he is on the verge of buying a controlling stake in Italian football giants AC Milan. Reports had suggested Ma, Asia’s richest man with a net worth of $33.3bn (£22.7bn), was leading a consortium looking to buy a 70 per cent stake in the club currently owned [...]
Leicester Tigers bid for the play-offs, James DeGale defends his title and other big scores to be settled in sport this weekend April 28, 2016 Premiership Rugby The play-off picture in Premiership Rugby could be completed this weekend should Leicester recover from their European Champions Cup semi-final disappointment to beat Worcester at home on Saturday. It would mark a 12th straight year of play-off qualification for the Tigers, who have beaten Worcester in their last 11 meetings. However, even if [...]
It’s a squeaky bum bank holiday as titles, Champions League places, promotions and relegations can all be decided April 28, 2016 The run-in; the business end; squeaky-bum time, as Sir Alex Ferguson dubbed it. Whatever you call it, this is it: the time of the season when clubs’ fates are decided and dreams take shape – or wither and die. Titles, promotions, Champions League places, play-off spots and relegation across English football’s top four divisions could [...]
Dana White: Conor McGregor will return…but not at UFC 200 April 28, 2016 UFC president Dana White believes Conor McGregor must take responsibility for his omission from UFC 200. The Irish fighter's hotly anticipated rematch with Nate Diaz has been removed from the July 9 event following a dispute over media duties. McGregor was absent from a Madison Square Garden press conference yesterday after being stripped from the card following [...]
Liverpool’s name not on Europa League trophy, insists Reds boss Jurgen Klopp despite Dortmund fightback April 27, 2016 Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has shrugged off any notion that his side’s name is on the Europa League trophy after their stunning quarter-final second-leg comeback against former club Dortmund. The Reds face La Liga outfit Villarreal at the Estadio El Madrigal in the first leg of their semi-final clash on Thursday with memories of their stirring [...]
England duo Owen Farrell and Joe Marler avoid lengthy bans and free to play in European finals and Australia tour April 27, 2016 Grand Slam-winning duo Owen Farrell and Joe Marler will be available for their respective clubs’ European finals and England’s summer tour of Australia after escaping lengthy bans for foul play. Saracens fly-half Farrell and Harlequins prop Marler were handed two-week bans after being cited during European semi-finals at the weekend, which means both will be free [...]
Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli set to miss rest of season after accepting violent conduct charge April 27, 2016 Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli is set to miss the remainder of the domestic season after accepting a Football Association charge of violent conduct. The charge, which usually carries a three-game suspension, relates to an incident during Monday night’s 1-1 draw with West Brom at White Hart Lane where the 20-year-old appeared to punch Claudio Yacob in [...]
England selectors have decisions to make: Runners and riders in the race for England Test selection this summer April 27, 2016 Three weeks tomorrow England play their opening Test match of the summer against Sri Lanka at Headingley and selectors will be considering their options. So what are England’s problem positions and what might the solutions be? Head coach Trevor Bayliss likes an aggressive opener but, as I have written previously, I am not sure Alex Hales [...]