Dyke urges Platini to lead World Cup boycott May 31, 2015 FOOTBALL Association chairman Greg Dyke has called on European chief Michel Platini to coordinate a major boycott of the 2018 World Cup in protest at embattled world governing body Fifa. Dyke believes Holland and Germany would be prepared to join England in refusing to play the tournament but insists it would take Uefa president Platini [...]
Ennis-Hill books Rio title defence on full comeback May 31, 2015 BRITAIN’S Jessica Ennis-Hill was thrilled to achieve the qualifying standard for next year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro during her first competitive heptathlon since London 2012 at the Hypo-Meeting in Gotzis yesterday. The 29-year-old Olympic champion finished fourth to secure 6,520 points, 320 more than the tally needed, which also gives her the option [...]
Lancaster relief as Farrell avoids suspension risk May 31, 2015 SARACENS fly-half Owen Farrell has escaped a citing for a high tackle on Bath’s Anthony Watson during Saturday’s Premiership final which could have presented England head coach Stuart Lancaster with an additional World Cup selection headache. The decision means Farrell is free to play in all three of England’s World Cup warm up matches, which [...]
Cipriani eyes England spot after Baa-Baas rout May 31, 2015 FLY-HALF Danny Cipriani has refused to relinquish his World Cup dream despite facing fierce competition for the No10 jersey within England head coach Stuart Lancaster’s World Cup training squad. Cipriani is competing with two formidable opponents in the shape of George Ford and Owen Farrell for a starting berth, but racked up 33 points in [...]
Tsonga into last eight as Murray targets Roland Garros progress May 31, 2015 HOME favourite Jo-Wilfried Tsonga surged into the French Open quarter-finals after beating Czech fourth seed Tomas Berdych 6-3, 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3 yesterday. Tsonga will play Kei Nishikori in the quarter final after the fifth seed dispatched Teymuraz Gabashvili 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 to become the first Japanese player in more than 80 years to reach [...]
Boxing’s stars next for Brook May 31, 2015 BRITAIN’S IBF world welterweight champion Kell Brook plans to target boxing’s biggest names after successfully defending his title against domestic rival Frankie Gavin on Saturday night. Unbeaten Brook, who stopped Gavin in the sixth round to extend his record to 35 wins, has been linked with American Brandon Rios. “I want massive names,” said the [...]
Arsenal FA Cup Parade: Pictures as Gunners celebrate in Islington May 31, 2015 Arsenal celebrated their record 12th FA Cup victory with an open top bus parade through Islington today. On Sunday Islington was awash with Arsenal fans hoping to catch a glimpse of the famous trophy and congratulate their heroes on the 4-0 demolition of Aston Villa which secured the Cup in style on Saturday evening. Three [...]
Fifa crisis: Barclays, HSBC and Standard Chartered to launch internal review following FBI investigation May 31, 2015 Barclays, HSBC and Standard Chartered are all believed to have launched internal investigations into their role in the Fifa corruption scandal that has engulfed world football this week. The British banks were all named in the US Department of Justice's (DOJ) lawsuit against 14 people – including nine Fifa officials – for racketeering, wire fraud and [...]
Sepp Blatter’s reign as Fifa president is four times longer than FTSE bosses May 30, 2015 Sepp Blatter's reign as Fifa president will be four times as long as the average tenure of bosses at FTSE 100 companies. Securing a fifth term as the leader of the world's football federation will take his time in charge to 21 years. That's exactly four times the average time spent at the top by [...]
FA Cup renamed “The Emirates FA Cup” as three-year £30m sponsorship deal confirmed May 30, 2015 Emirates Airline has been confirmed as the new sponsor of the FA Cup on the day of the cup final which will see Arsenal and Aston Villa meet at Wembley. The tournament will be renamed "The Emirates FA Cup" from next season until 2018 in a deal estimated to be worth around £30m over the [...]