Southampton could become the next Premier League club to be taken over by Chinese investors November 2, 2016 Southampton could become the latest English club to come under Chinese ownership after they were linked with a £200m takeover by Lander Sports Development. Saints owner Katharina Liebherr has met with Lander, according to Bloomberg, although an agreement has yet to be completed. Formerly called Lander Real Estate, the property development specialists changed their name [...]
Theresa May blasts Fifa over football body’s “utterly outrageous” poppy ban November 2, 2016 Prime Minister Theresa May has issued a stinging rebuke to Fifa chiefs over the football world governing body’s reluctance to allow the Home Nations to sport poppies on their shirts. Both the English and Scottish football associations have lobbied Fifa for their teams to be allowed to wear embroidered poppies when they play each other [...]
London Stadium investigation: Fan and taxpayer groups welcome Sadiq Khan’s inquiry into West Ham conversion costs November 2, 2016 London Mayor Sadiq Khan's investigation into the spiralling costs of converting the London Stadium into a football ground has received approval from fan and taxpayer groups. A "deeply concerned" Khan has ordered a probe into how the conversion of the 2012 Olympic venue has risen from an expected £272m last year to £323m, requiring taxpayers [...]
Manchester City 3, Barcelona 1: Pep Guardiola thrilled as City come of age in Champions League November 2, 2016 Delirious Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola insists his side are coming of age in the Champions League after they displayed verve and tenacity to beat Barcelona at their own game. Rocked by Lionel Messi’s opener – his 90th Champions League goal – the hosts made a mockery of Barcelona’s fearsome record of five successive humblings of [...]
Ludogorets Razgrad 2, Arsenal 3: Qualification not enough, top spot is the aim, Arsene Wenger tells victorious Gunners November 1, 2016 Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger implored his side to claim top spot in Champions League Group A after the Gunners sealed their passage to the knockout stages with a gritty comeback against Ludogorets Razgrad. The visitors were facing an uphill battle after only 15 minutes as goals from Jonathan Cafu and Claudiu Keseru sent shockwaves through [...]
“Deeply concerned” Sadiq Khan orders investigation into Olympic Stadium costs November 1, 2016 London mayor Sadiq Khan has ordered an investigation into a £50m increase in the cost of converting the Olympic Stadium into the home of West Ham United. The London Stadium conversion was expected to cost £272m, but the figure has now risen to £323m. Read more: This is West Ham's "five point plan" to tackle [...]
Claudio Ranieri tells Leicester to pen latest chapter of fairytale and seal qualification for Champions League last-16 November 1, 2016 Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri has urged his side to finish drafting the latest chapter of their fairytale when they do Champions League battle with Danish champions FC Copenhagen on Wednesday. The Foxes boast a five-point lead at the summit of Group G and can seal their place in the last-16 of Europe’s premier club competition [...]
Mauricio Pochettino urges Gareth Southgate not to select Tottenham striker Harry Kane for England despite expected return in north London derby November 1, 2016 Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino has urged interim England manager Gareth Southgate to adopt a similarly cautious approach to Harry Kane’s fitness after confirming the striker will not feature against Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday. Despite being ruled out of the crucial Champions League showdown at Wembley Stadium, Kane is expected to return from an ankle injury in [...]
Future looks bright for Leicester as Foxes show signs of balancing European and domestic concerns November 1, 2016 Leicester have had to swallow a dose of reality this season following their fairytale title success, with domestic results not matching their fantastic European performances, but I think there is every reason for the Foxes to look forward with excitement to what is coming next. First, they have a chance to clinch a place in [...]
Semi-finalists Manchester City earned more Champions League prize money than winners Real Madrid November 1, 2016 Manchester City earned more prize money for their run to the Champions League semi-finals last season than Real Madrid did for lifting the trophy. City received €83.9m from governing body Uefa for their best ever run in the competition – the highest payment of any club, including Real, who banked €80.1m for winning the title for a [...]