Rival Ali leads tributes to ‘great champion’ Smokin’ Joe Frazier November 8, 2011 MUHAMMAD ALI, whose captivating rivalry with Joe Frazier defined both of their remarkable careers, last night paid tribute to his former foe, who died yesterday aged 67 after a battle with liver cancer. Frazier became the first man to beat Ali when he defended his world titles against him in 1971, but he will equally [...]
England poppy plea falls on deaf ears as Fifa refuses to budge on gesture November 8, 2011 ENGLAND have been told there is no way they will be allowed to wear poppies on their shirts in Saturday’s match against Spain, despite intensive lobbying from the Football Association (FA). World governing body Fifa yesterday responded to a second request from the FA with a final letter making clear that embroidered poppies to mark [...]
Chelsea fans rebel again and turn down invitation to join CPO board November 8, 2011 THE BAND of Chelsea fans who helped scupper the club’s bid to buy back the freehold of Stamford Bridge have rejected an offer to join the board of the company which owns it. Chelsea Pitch Owners chairman Steve Frankham, who succeeded Richard King as chairman after accepting an invitation to return to the role by [...]
Dawson accepts comeback defeat and faces months out after surgery November 8, 2011 SPURS defender Michael Dawson is facing yet more months on the sidelines after his recovery from an Achilles injury suffered another setback. The England centre-back underwent an operation on the problematic tendon yesterday after the club’s medical staff accepted defeat in his latest comeback attempt. Dawson (above) will have to wait until December before doctors [...]
Fit-again Murray set for French test in Paris November 8, 2011 BRITISH No1 Andy Murray will launch his bid for a fourth consecutive ATP Tour title against Jeremy Chardy of France at the Paris Masters today. Murray, currently on a 16-match winning streak, was forced to pull out of last week’s Basel tournament with a leg injury, but was back in action on Monday evening alongside [...]
Warne out of retirement for Australia’s Big Bash November 8, 2011 ENGLAND’S former Ashes nemesis Shane Warne confirmed yesterday he is to come out of retirement and play for the Melbourne Stars in the inaugural Big Bash League. The 42-year-old leg-spinner called time on his illustrious career six months ago following the completion of his stint with Indian Premier League franchise the Rajasthan Royals. Warne, whose [...]
Armitage hit with his fourth ban this year November 8, 2011 ENGLAND international Delon Armitage has incurred his fourth ban on the year after a Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel found the London Irish back guilty of two separate offences during the Premiership clash against Bath last month. Armitage has been suspended for what was adjudged a dangerous tackle on wing Tom Biggs, and he must [...]
SPORT | IN BRIEF November 8, 2011 No freestyle final for Thorpe OLYMPICS: Five-time Olympic champion Ian Thorpe suffered a blow on his first freestyle race since 2004 by failing to qualify for the 100m freestyle final in Beijing. The Australian finished sixth in his heat and 15th overall at the World Cup meet. The 29-year-old also competed in the 100m individual [...]
‘I’ve been physically and mentally abused many times at games in UK’ November 7, 2011 TOPICS of conversation are not hard to come by with Tony Fernandes, the gregarious Malaysian entrepreneur who recently added Premier League football club Queens Park Rangers to an empire that includes AirAsia and Formula One racing team Lotus. In a whirlwind half-hour he explains his recipe for business success, discusses QPR becoming bigger than Liverpool [...]
Death threat Anton not to blame, says Fernandes November 7, 2011 QPR owner Tony Fernandes says neither Anton Ferdinand nor the club are to blame for prompting the ongoing police and Football Association investigations into allegations Chelsea and England captain John Terry used racially abusive language towards the Rangers player. Ferdinand has received death threats since the controversy erupted last month, following QPR’s 1-0 defeat of [...]