Warburton says red was right November 3, 2011 Wales captain Sam Warburton says referee Alain Rolland was right to send him off for a tip tackle in the World Cup semi-final defeat by France. The incident sparked controversy with Rolland accused of being too harsh. “The IRB [International Rugby Board] said if you lift up a player and drop him it’s a red [...]
Ferguson celebrates fairytale November 3, 2011 Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson celebrated 25 years at the Old Trafford helm yesterday, describing his period in charge as a “fairytale.” He said: “It is a bit of a fairytale to last so long. It has been a fantastic spell for me. It is something you don’t think is going to happen and [...]
Nadal pulls out of Paris Masters November 3, 2011 Rafael Nadal has pulled out of next week’s Paris Masters to concentrate on the ATP World Tour Finals in London and the Davis Cup final. The Spaniard said that he had withdrawn “to prepare well for the end of this season and also for 2012”. Nadal, the second seed for the event, has not played [...]
Thorpe set for comeback swim November 3, 2011 Five-time Olympic gold medallist Ian Thorpe will make his first competitive appearance for five years at the World Cup in Singapore today. The Australian, 29, retired in 2006 but announced earlier this year he intended to swim at next summer’s London Olympics. “I am on track and I’m swimming well,” he said. “I have to [...]
Cottagers should be no match for in-form Spurs November 3, 2011 IT hasn’t been an easy week for Tottenham with manager Harry Redknapp undergoing minor heart surgery, but the operation seems to have been a success and nothing will please him more than a win at Fulham on Sunday. Spurs have been superb lately, scoring at least twice in seven straight league fixtures, with six victories [...]
Top class Union Rags looks best Breeders’ Cup bet in Juvenile November 3, 2011 THE curtain comes down on another flat season at Doncaster tomorrow and I’m prepared to give old friend ZUIDER ZEE one more chance in the November Handicap (3.10pm) at 12/1 with Ladbrokes. John Gosden’s four-year-old may not be brilliantly handicapped but he is ultra-consistent, has won over course and distance and gets his ideal ground. [...]
Balotelli and Toure set City up for Napoli crunch clash November 2, 2011 VILLARREAL 0 vs MAN CITY 3 MANCHESTER CITY manager Roberto Mancini believes his side will face the acid test of their Champions League aspirations in a winner-takes-all clash against Napoli in three week’s time. The Premier League leaders took just one point from their opening two fixtures in the competition, but back-to-back wins over Spanish [...]
Rooney happy to be United’s new Scholes November 2, 2011 MAN UNITED 2 vs OTELUL GALATI 0 MANCHESTER UNITED manager Sir Alex Ferguson insists he’d have no issue playing Wayne Rooney in central midfield against heavyweight opposition after the striker impressed in an unfamiliar role last night. Last season’s runners-up leapt to the top of Group C following a less than straightforward victory against modest [...]
Disgraced agent Majeed and Pakistan players to learn fate November 2, 2011 DISGRACED Pakistan cricketers Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammand Amir, as well as agent Mazhar Majeed will learn today whether they will spend time behind bars for the part they played in the spot-fixing scandal. Butt and Asif were both found guilty of conspiracy to cheat and conspiracy to accept corrupt payments charge by a [...]
Johnson boost as Thomas leaves RFU and Cotton review scrapped November 2, 2011 EMBATTLED England manager Martin Johnson received a welcome boost last night with the news that a review to be led by Fran Cotton, one of his harshest critics, is to be scrapped following Rugby Football Union acting chief executive Martyn Thomas’ decision to step down. The 67-year-old’s position has come under increasing scrutiny in recent [...]