Ferguson: Uefa hearing won’t affect Rooney December 6, 2011 BASEL vs MANCHESTER UTD MANCHESTER UNITED manager Sir Alex Ferguson insists striker Wayne Rooney won’t be sidetracked by tomorrow’s Uefa disciplinary hearing into his three-match international suspension and is fully focused on tonight’s Champions League assignment against Basel. Rooney is set to learn whether his appeal against the three-game ban handed down for his dismissal [...]
MPs to grill 2012 bosses over budget December 6, 2011 A HOST of top London 2012 officials face a grilling from MPs next week after a government watchdog warned the Olympics is in danger of exceeding its £9.3bn budget and requiring further taxpayer funding. A National Audit Office report published yesterday highlighted the “real risk” that a drastic reassessment of security costs left little spare [...]
FA to review Suarez gesture December 6, 2011 FOOTBALL: The Football Association is reviewing photographic evidence that appears to show Liverpool striker Luis Suarez making an offensive gesture aimed at Fulham fans following Monday night’s defeat at Craven Cottage. Suarez, who was subjected to “cheat” taunts during the game, is already in hot water with the FA having been charged with making a [...]
O’Neill wants instant impact December 6, 2011 FOOTBALL: New Sunderland manager Martin O’Neill wants an instant reaction from his players so they can drag themselves away from the drop zone. O’Neill took over the manager’s position at the Stadium of Light on Saturday before watching the Black Cats squander lose 2-1 at Wolves. He said: “Sunday’s game against Blackburn is very important [...]
Ashton handed four-week ban December 6, 2011 RUGBY UNION: England wing Chris Ashton has been banned for four weeks after being found guilty by an RFU disciplinary panel of an act ‘contrary to good sportsmanship’. The Northampton star prompted a mass brawl by tugging the hair of Leicester’s Alesana Tuliagi during last Saturday’s Premiership clash.
Olympic Village name revealed December 6, 2011 OLYMPICS: The London Olympic village will be called East Village once next summer’s Games have finished. The area, which will gain the postcode of E20, will be home to more than 6,000 people from 2013.
Villas-Boas: Team right behind me December 6, 2011 CHELSEA vs VALENCIA CHELSEA manager Andre Villas-Boas has dismissed suggestions of player unrest, insisting his whole squad is firmly behind him as he prepares for tonight’s season-defining match. Striker Didier Drogba called on his team-mates to rally behind the rookie boss following Saturday’s 3-0 win at Newcastle, in which midfielder Frank Lampard appeared unhappy to [...]
Defeat won’t spell end for Blues boss December 6, 2011 TONIGHT’S Champions League showdown against Valencia represents the biggest match of Andre Villas-Boas’s fledgling Chelsea career, but even were it to end in disaster I think Roman Abramovich would resist the temptation to sack him. Recent performances, particularly at home, hardly suggest Chelsea possess the wherewithal to contend with a hugely talented Valencia side, but [...]
KNOW YOUR ENEMY | VALENCIA December 6, 2011 PERMUTATIONS Victory would ensure Chelsea a place in the knockout stages, and they could even top Group E if Bayer Leverkusen fail to win at whipping boys Genk. The only draw that will take the Blues through is a goalless one, a seemingly improbable prospect against a team that smashed seven in the last Champions [...]
Dalglish disputes Spearing red as Dempsey makes Reina pay December 6, 2011 FULHAM 1 vs LIVERPOOL 0 LIVERPOOL manager Kenny Dalglish insisted the controversial dismissal of Jay Spearing was the decisive factor in his side’s damaging defeat at Craven Cottage last night, as Clint Dempsey’s late goal helped Fulham move a healthy five points clear of the relegation zone. A contest which Liverpool had largely controlled swayed [...]