Chelsea acted properly in Kakuta deal, insists scout September 22, 2009 CHELSEA’S French scout has defended the club’s conduct in the controversial signing of youngster Gael Kakuta. The Blues were this month banned from signing players until 2011 after Kakuta’s former club Lens complained to governing body Fifa that the Premier League club had induced him to break his contract. But Guy Hillion, who spotted and [...]
We won’t be a soft touch, says Onions September 22, 2009 SEAMER Graham Onions has fired a warning to England’s critics, insisting the team will not roll over easily in the Champions Trophy. England are expected to struggle in South Africa having been crushed 6-1 by Australia in their one-day series which finished at the weekend. But Onions impressed on his ODI debut in Sunday’s sole [...]
Sri Lanka defeat hosts SAin opener September 22, 2009 SRI LANKA shocked hosts South Africa by winning the opening Champions Trophy encounter in a rain-affected match at Centurion. The heavens opened in the 38th over with South Africa way behind on the Duckworth-Lewis method, handing Sri Lanka a deserved 55-run win and two points. Tillakaratne Dilshan’s rapid century helped Sri Lanka set a daunting [...]
SPORT IN BRIEF September 22, 2009 Fury could help Haye’s Valuev bidBOXING: Britain’s David Haye is eager to spar with heavyweight prospect Tyson Fury as he steps up preparations for his WBA title bout with giant Nikolai Valuev. The former undisputed cruiserweight champion meets the 7ft 2ins Russian in Germany on November 7 and wants the help of 6ft 8in, 21-year-old [...]
Renault ban deferred September 21, 2009 MOTORSPORT chief Max Mosley maintained that Renault had been dealt the strictest possible punishment despite the team escaping with a two-year suspended ban for their role in the crashgate scandal. Renault were found guilty of an offence of “unparalleled severity” for ordering their former driver Nelson Piquet Jr to crash during last year’s Singapore Grand [...]
Piquet not expecting forgiveness September 21, 2009 WHISTLEBLOWER Nelson Piquet Jr believes he will have to rebuild his career from scratch, having admitted helping to fix last year’s Singapore Grand Prix. The Brazilian admits he is unlikely to be forgiven for agreeing to crash at the race, thereby allowing then-Renault team-mate Fernando Alonso to win. But the 24-year-old, who was granted immunity [...]
Borthwick passed fit for autumn dates September 21, 2009 ENGLAND manager Martin Johnson finally received some good news last night when captain Steve Borthwick was passed fit for the autumn internationals. It was feared the lock forward would be sidelined for months after he picked up an injury in Saturday’s bruising win over Harlequins but a scan revealed only a sprained rib cartilage. The [...]
Hatton:I will probably return to ring but don’t have fire back in my belly yet September 21, 2009 BRITISH former two-weight world champion Ricky Hatton has given his biggest hint yet that he will return to the ring. The Manchester-born fight has been considering retirement since his savage second-round knockout defeat to six-weight title-holder Manny Pacquiao in May. Hatton is currently working as a promoter for his own company, Hatton Promotions, but the [...]
FA set to hit Bellamy with suspension September 21, 2009 MANCHESTER CITY’S attacking options are set to shrink further today when Craig Bellamy is expected to be charged for confronting a pitch invader during Sunday’s tempestuous defeat at local rivals United. The Football Association was yesterday studying video footage of the incident, in which Bellamy appears to put his hand in the face of the [...]
Owen tips rivals City for the top September 21, 2009 HIS injury-time winner may have taken them down a peg or two in Sunday’s thrilling derby, but Manchester United striker Michael Owen expects rivals City to keep upsetting the Premier League’s elite. City announced their intention to break the Big Four’s stranglehold on the Champions League places with a £120m summer spending spree on some [...]