Jet-heeled Chelsea set up Swansea semi-final December 19, 2012 LEEDS UNITED 1 vs CHELSEA 5 CHELSEA manager Rafael Benitez hailed his players’ powers of recovery after they shrugged off jet-lag and came from behind to thrash Leeds and set up a Capital One Cup semi-final against Swansea. A shock looked in prospect when Luciano Becchio put the hosts ahead but the Blues hit back [...]
Five sign but Arsenal set to miss Huntelaar December 19, 2012 ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger has declared his intention to build his team around a core of young British talent, after tying midfielder Jack Wilshere and four other players to new long-term contracts. Full-backs Kieran Gibbs and Carl Jenkinson and midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – all full England internationals – and Wales star Aaron Ramsey have joined [...]
Test series has given underdogs England a T20 lift, says Morgan December 19, 2012 ENGLAND stand-in Twenty20 captain Eoin Morgan believes the Test side’s landmark victory in India this week can give his men extra impetus when they resume hostilities today in Pune. Alastair Cook’s team ended a 27-year wait for a series win in India by clinching a 2-1 victory in Nagpur on Monday, and Morgan, deputising for [...]
Capital set for Olympics MkII December 19, 2012 MAYOR Boris Johnson says London will recapture the spirit of this year’s Olympics in 2017, after being awarded the Paralympic Athletics World Championship. The competition will take place at the Olympic Stadium just weeks before it hosts the World Athletics Championship. It is the first time any city has staged both major events in the [...]
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 [...]