QPR facing £50m promotion tax March 6, 2014 QUEENS Park Rangers face the likelihood of a fine of around £50m if they achieve promotion back to the Premier League this season unless their financial position suffers a dramatic and unexpected improvement. The west London football club’s annual losses snowballed from £23m to £65m last season as they spent lavishly in a vain effort [...]
England fret over Wilshere as scan reveals fracture March 6, 2014 ARSENAL midfielder Jack Wilshere faces a race to be fit for the World Cup after breaking a bone in his foot during England’s friendly with Denmark on Wednesday, his club confirmed yesterday. Wilshere suffered the injury 12 minutes into the 1-0 win at Wembley following a strong tackle from Liverpool defender Daniel Agger, though after [...]
Root a doubt for World T20 March 6, 2014 ENGLAND batsman Joe Root is a major doubt for the World Twenty20 competition in Bangladesh after suffering a broken thumb in Wednesday’s one-day international victory against West Indies. The 23-year-old is set to fly home from West Indies to see a specialist and will subsequently miss the three-match T20 series, which starts on Sunday at [...]
Hodgson torn down the middle over final picks March 6, 2014 WHEN Roy Hodgson spoke of a World Cup selection quandary after the midweek win over Denmark, the chatter was about the battle between left-backs Ashley Cole and Luke Shaw. Yet he may have bigger problems in central midfield – and that is before considering Jack Wilshere’s broken foot. Captain Steven Gerrard is a certain starter, [...]
Anelka panel in quenelle report March 6, 2014 WEST Brom striker Nicolas Anelka’s argument against a ban for his “quenelle” celebration failed because an independent panel found the gesture to be inextricably linked with anti-Semitism. The panel’s report revealed they resisted the Football Association’s argument that Anelka deserved longer than a minimum five-game ban because there was no proof that he was “expressing [...]
Pistorius tears at murder trial March 6, 2014 PARALYMPIC star Oscar Pistorius wept in court yesterday as a witness described finding the athlete praying over his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp’s dying body shortly after he had shot her. Neighbour Johan Stipp told how he found Pistorius – on trial for murder – kneeling by her side and “praying to God: ‘Let her live’.” Pistorius [...]
Rugby Comment: Wales are the benchmark, it’s time to step up March 6, 2014 WALES pride themselves on their rugby. For them, playing against England on Sunday is a huge game, their biggest. They’ve become a top team over the last three years and have probably become the benchmark, so for us, it’s a massive test. There are other teams at the top that can still win the Six [...]
Sarries must end last-four hoodoo March 6, 2014 SARACENS prop Petrus du Plessis admits he is desperate for his team’s semi-final hoodoo to end as they travel to Franklin’s Gardens for another fierce encounter with bitter rivals Northampton Saints tomorrow. The last of Saracens’ three semi-final defeats last term came against Saints in the Aviva Premiership, following losses to Toulon in the Heineken [...]
Torrance given key Ryder Cup role March 6, 2014 RYDER Cup winning captain Sam Torrance has been handpicked by Paul McGinley to help mastermind a third consecutive victory of the biennial event at Gleneagles in September. The 60-year-old has been named as one of four vice captains, along with Irishman Des Smyth, by captain McGinley, who credits Torrance as the “most influential person in [...]
7 March on this day… March 6, 2014 THIS image from 22 years ago today will cheer England fans as they prepare for Sunday’s Six Nations battle against Wales. Hooker Brian Moore, nicknamed Pitbull, is chaired off after England’s 24-0 victory had given the home side back-to-back grand slams for the first time since 1924. Skipper Will Carling, Mick Skinner and Wade Dooley, [...]