London clubs hope to avoid Euro giants in knockout stage draw December 19, 2012 ARSENAL, Chelsea and Tottenham will discover their next European opponents today when the draws for the last 16 of the Champions League and last 32 of the Europa League are made. Arsenal cannot meet Manchester United or group stage foes Schalke in the Champions League, but could face Barcelona, and former Gunners Cesc Fabregas and [...]
Aussie Johnson set for Scotland job December 19, 2012 FORMER Wales and Ospreys coach Scott Johnson looks set to take charge of Scotland, England’s first opponents, for the Six Nations. The Australian, who joined Scotland as assistant in the summer, is expected to be named Andy Robinson’s successor this week. Robinson quit after defeat in all three autumn Tests saw them drop to 12th [...]
Hillsborough verdicts quashed December 19, 2012 FOOTBALL: A new inquest into the death of 96 fans at the Hillsborough disaster has been ordered after the original verdicts of accidental death were quashed yesterday. A fresh police inquiry has also been ordered.
Ahern accused of corruption December 19, 2012 HORSE RACING: Jockey Eddie Ahern faces a corruption probe after being charged with rule breaches by the British Horseracing Authority. Footballer-turned-racehorse owner Neil Clement has also been charged.
Uefa will ban clubs if it has to, says chief December 18, 2012 SPOTLIGHT ON financial fair play in FOOTBALL ONE OF Uefa’s top executives has told City A.M. that European football’s governing body will not shy away from banning clubs if they flout financial fair play (FFP) rules. Karen Espelund, one of president Michael Platini’s 15 executive committee (ExCo) members, said Uefa “cannot say ‘A’ and not [...]
Top flight cap on wage rise next season December 18, 2012 A CAP on Premier League clubs’ wage bill increases could take effect as soon as next season after chairmen agreed to pursue two-pronged cost-cutting plans yesterday. Proposals to introduce a break-even rule similar to European financial fair play requirements remain under discussion ahead of a likely vote in February. But while that could take years [...]
Europe’s Miracle at Medinah, the rise and rise of McIlroy: 2012 has been a vintage year December 18, 2012 THIS year was a vintage one but two stories stand out above all others: European golf’s finest hour at the Ryder Cup, and Rory McIlroy’s irrepressible ascent to the pinnacle of the game. The Ryder Cup contained a countless number of spine-tingling highlights as Jose Maria Olazabal’s Europe surged back on the final day to [...]
Benitez ready to shake on it with Warnock December 18, 2012 CHELSEA manager Rafael Benitez has declared he intends to shake hands with Leeds manager Neil Warnock ahead of their Capital One Cup quarter-final tie at Elland Road tonight despite their history of bad blood. The pair clashed in 2007 when Warnock, in charge of Sheffield United, accused Benitez of fielding a weakened Liverpool side against [...]
Tube strike to hit Arsenal’s West Ham tie December 18, 2012 ARSENAL’S Boxing Day London derby against West Ham at the Emirates Stadium is likely to be postponed due to the threat of a tube strike. London Underground drivers are planning a strike for 26 December, due to a dispute over Bank Holiday pay, which threatens to cause travel chaos across the capital. If the game [...]
UK Sport rewards boxing for knockout showing at Olympics December 18, 2012 BOXING and water polo have received huge cash boosts after UK Sport revealed a record £347m funding programme for the Rio 2016 Olympics. The investment will support Britain’s elite Olympic and Paralympic athletes and UK Sport has distributed the money based on whether the sports met their medal target at the highly successful London 2012 [...]