Instagram post KOs Balotelli for Arsenal match December 18, 2014 CONTROVERSIAL Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli is set to miss Sunday’s Premier League clash with Arsenal after he was last night handed a one-match ban for an offensive social media post. Balotelli was also fined £25,000 and ordered to attend an education course for republishing an image of video game character Super Mario that contained the [...]
Sport Comment: Mike Ashley taking the biscuit in rations row December 18, 2014 MIKE Ashley may not – on the face of it – have much in common with Marie Antoinette, but he is similarly distanced from the reality of the eating habits of the common people. The Newcastle United owner and vastly wealthy Sports Direct founder has allowed his spiky relationship with the media at St James’ [...]
Pietersen fires selectors taunt December 18, 2014 DEBUTANT batsman Kevin Pietersen top-scored for Melbourne Stars yesterday in their Big Bash opener before sending a message direct to the England selectors. The 34-year-old former England captain struck 66 from 46 balls in a losing cause against Adelaide Strikers to record his first half-century in 16 innings. While fielding on the boundary, Pietersen said [...]
Toulon legal threat to Tigers fans December 18, 2014 FURIOUS Toulon chiefs have warned they may take legal action against Leicester supporters who complained the French club’s full-back Delon Armitage used offensive language towards them at a match. Former England player Armitage was this week banned until March over the flare-up, which happened after a European Rugby Champions Cup match at the Tigers’ Welford [...]
Launchbury out of Six Nations as Wasps lock sent for neck op December 18, 2014 WASPS and England lock Joe Launchbury’s World Cup hopes have suffered a setback after he was ruled out of the Six Nations while he recovers from surgery on a nerve problem in his neck. Launchbury had hoped to resume playing this month, having missed England’s entire autumn campaign, but has now been told he needs [...]
Highest salaries by sport December 18, 2014 New Zealand fly-half Dan Carter is poised to become the highest earning player in rugby union after agreeing a £1.2m per year contract with French side Racing Metro. His pay packet may dwarf his colleagues but is loose change compared to those in other leading sports. Formula One: Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari £50.0m Baseball: Clayton Kershaw, [...]
Greenwood: Exeter pair can make a late charge for World Cup squad December 18, 2014 England must stay unbeaten in run-up to event FORMER England and British and Irish Lions centre Will Greenwood believes Exeter Chiefs starlets Luke Cowan-Dickie and Henry Slade could yet gatecrash the squad for next year’s home World Cup. The pair did not feature for England in the autumn internationals but have been central to surprise [...]
Dan to be Ladbroke man again with Shelford December 18, 2014 Bill Esdaile offers his best bets this weekend at Ascot and over the festive season THE LADBROKE (3.30pm), with a total prize fund of £150,000, is one of the richest handicap hurdles of the season and tomorrow’s race at Ascot promises to be fascinating. The ground will be soft, which has resulted in the absence [...]
Arsenal can pile pressure back on Brendan Rodgers December 18, 2014 BEN CLEMINSON LOOKS AT THE BIG GAMES IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE THIS WEEKEND LIVERPOOL’s 3-1 win over Bournemouth on Wednesday night was only their third in their last 11 games. Welcome as that victory over the Championship leaders was, it doesn’t even begin to mask what has been a terrible campaign so far for last [...]
Poor Southampton run set to continue when Everton visit December 18, 2014 SOUTHAMPTON’S surprisingly strong start to the season has come off the rails in recent weeks after five successive losses. While Ronald Koeman can point to a horrible run of fixtures that took in Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United, the two latest defeats to Burnley and League One Sheffield United in the League Cup are [...]