Leagues hit back as winter in Qatar moves closer February 24, 2015 LEADING European clubs have united in condemnation after governing body Fifa moved a step closer to moving the Qatar 2022 World Cup from its traditional summer slot to winter. A Fifa task-force set up to examine the contentious issue yesterday recommended the tournament be held from late November to late December. It could mean a [...]
Wenger in no mood for clemency towards club that gave him break February 24, 2015 ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger has warned his team that the slightest slip against Monaco tonight could cost them a return to the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time in five years. The Gunners are fancied to overcome a team fourth in France’s top flight and end their unhappy habit of crashing out in the [...]
Chelsea appalled at FA despite reduction in Matic suspension February 24, 2015 CHELSEA last night slammed the Football Association’s regulatory commission despite its decision to reduce Nemanja Matic’s suspension from three games to two. Blues chiefs had appealed against midfielder Matic’s automatic three-game suspension for pushing Burnley’s Ashley Barnes in Saturday’s Premier League, in the hope of freeing the Serb to play in Sunday’s Capital One Cup [...]
Housing crisis: Greenbelt golf courses cover an area twice the size of Kensington and Chelsea February 24, 2015 There isn't enough room in London to sustain its growing population, with an estimated 50,000 new homes needed each year just to keep up. In 2014, just 20,000 new homes were built in the greater London area – which is far from being on track to meet chancellor George Osborne latest target of [...]
London Welsh desperate to avoid completing rugby’s worst season February 23, 2015 They’ve lost every game of this campaign and their gym is in a tent, but Ross McLean found Exiles on surprisingly chipper form IT MAY be tough at the top but that is nothing compared to the burden weighing heavily on London Welsh as the Exiles run the ominous gauntlet of being dubbed the worst [...]
Moeen pleads for England unity after win ignites World Cup tilt February 23, 2015 ENGLAND centurion Moeen Ali insists it is imperative for his side to block out the pessimism surrounding their inauspicious World Cup start and build on yesterday’s victory against Scotland in Christchurch. Moeen struck 128 and Ian Bell 54 as their 172-run opening stand broke England’s previous World Cup record, although Eoin Morgan’s side only added [...]
Pellegrini: City can make history and defeat Barca without Toure February 23, 2015 MANCHESTER City manager Manuel Pellegrini insists his reinvigorated team can upset the odds and beat Barcelona in the Champions League tonight despite the absence of inspirational midfielder Yaya Toure. City have suffered without Toure, failing to win five of six games while he was on Africa Cup of Nations duty last month. They scored just [...]
Chelsea bidding to overturn Matic red for cup final February 23, 2015 CHELSEA are expected to appeal Nemanja Matic’s red card against Burnley on Saturday in the hope that the midfielder will be cleared to play in the Capital One Cup final this weekend. Matic was dismissed for his angry reaction to a challenge from the visitors’ Ashley Barnes in the 1-1 draw. The Blues, who face [...]
Goode ready to face Ireland after Brown suffers concussion setback February 23, 2015 SARACENS full-back Alex Goode looks set to start England’s pivotal Six Nations showdown with Ireland in Dublin on Sunday after Mike Brown suffered a setback in his recovery from concussion. Harlequins No15 Brown was knocked unconscious in a collision with Italy centre Andrea Masi at Twickenham in England’s last clash but appeared on course to [...]
Golf Comment: Lahiri has earned his shot at Masters debut February 23, 2015 AS FAR as winning bonuses go, they don’t get much better than a Masters debut, which is what Anirban Lahiri effectively cemented with victory on home soil at the India Open on Sunday. The setting might have been familiar but it was far from easy for Lahiri to claim his second title in the space [...]