World Cup bid corruption investigator quits December 17, 2014 FOOTBALL’S world governing body Fifa has suffered another blow to its reputation after the lawyer tasked with investigating corruption claims resigned from the role in protest. Michael Garcia quit his position as Fifa’s chief ethics investigator yesterday because, he said, his inquiry into allegations surrounding the bidding processes to stage the 2018 and 2022 World [...]
Capital One Cup: Rodgers looks to Sterling to solve Liverpool’s scoring conundrum December 17, 2014 AFC BOURNEMOUTH 1 LIVERPOOL 3 LIVERPOOL boss Brendan Rodgers insists Raheem Sterling could prove the solution to the club’s goalscoring woes after last night firing the Reds to a Capital One Cup semi-final showdown with old foes Chelsea. Sterling missed a host of presentable chances against Manchester United on Sunday but his double, together with a [...]
Cech insists protective headwear saved Zouma from severe fallout December 17, 2014 CHELSEA goalkeeper Petr Cech believes his protective headguard prevented him and team-mate Kurt Zouma from suffering greater injury during a nasty collision in Tuesday’s Capital One Cup quarter-final victory over Derby County. Fears Zouma had been seriously hurt grew after he was floored following a clash of heads with Cech, although Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho [...]
Sturridge heads to Red Sox for injury salvation December 17, 2014 LIVERPOOL striker Daniel Sturridge will link up with medical specialists at baseball team Boston Red Sox over the Christmas period in a bid to expedite his return from injury. Sturridge netted 25 times last season and has been sorely missed by the Reds as they have struggled to replicate the form which saw them narrowly [...]
Kenya marathon star fights back in dope test row December 17, 2014 WORLD record-breaking Kenyan marathon runner Wilson Kipsang has accused his country’s athletics governing body of deliberately damaging his reputation after it revealed that he missed a doping test. Kenya Athletics on Tuesday took the unusual step of publicising Kipsang’s missed test, which occurred last month, but, in keeping with international rules, said he would not [...]
Armitage handed 12-week ban for abusing Leicester supporters December 17, 2014 TOULON full-back Delon Armitage has been banned for 12 weeks for using foul and abusive language towards Leicester Tigers fans following a European Champions Cup clash earlier this month. The former England full-back pleaded not guilty at a misconduct hearing yesterday but a disciplinary committee ruled he had “conducted himself in an unsportsmanlike manner”, and [...]
Capital One Cup: Fabregas: We can challenge for quadruple December 16, 2014 DERBY COUNTY 1 CHELSEA 3 CHELSEA midfielder Cesc Fabregas is adamant the squad assembled by manager Jose Mourinho is capable of mounting a successful challenge for an unprecedented quadruple after brushing aside Championship high-flyers Derby County in the Capital One Cup quarter-final last night. Fabregas and Co were cruising into the semi-final draw thanks to a [...]
Prototype modern player Henry bids adieu December 16, 2014 FOR a player who won almost every prize football has to offer and who has been celebrated worldwide, Thierry Henry’s status among the game’s greats still divides opinion. To some, the former Arsenal, Barcelona, New York Red Bulls, Monaco, Juventus and France forward, who retired yesterday, aged, 37 to pursue a broadcasting and coaching career, [...]
Saints upset by plucky Blades December 16, 2014 GIANT-KILLERS Sheffield United claimed another Premier League scalp as 10-man Southampton’s plummeting run of form continued with a Capital One Cup quarter-final exit at Bramall Lane last night. Striker Mark McNulty proved the match-winner in the second half as Southampton defender Florin Gardos was dismissed late on. The Saints have lost their last five matches, [...]
Fifa throws out probe objection December 16, 2014 FOOTBALL world governing body Fifa has dismissed a complaint by its chief ethics investigator over the findings of his probe into World Cup bid corruption allegations. Michael Garcia complained that his evidence had been incorrectly summarised by Fifa’s chief ethic adjudicator Hans-Joachim Eckert, who ruled that neither Russia nor Qatar had unfairly influenced voting for [...]