Franz Beckenbauer to be investigated by Fifa over possible bribery to win 2006 World Cup votes March 22, 2016 Franz Beckenbauer will be the subject of a Fifa probe into possible wrongdoing in the bidding process for the 2006 World Cup to Germany. The legendary player is one of six former and current German football officials who served on the tournament's organising committee now being investigated by football's governing body. Fifa decided to open [...]
Jonas Gutierrez suing Mike Ashley’s Newcastle United for £2m March 22, 2016 Footballer Jonas Gutierrez is suing former club Newcastle United for £2m over the way he was treated following his battle with testicular cancer. The Argentine winger, 32, has made a claim for disability discrimination under the Equality Act 2010 after he was released by the Premier League club last summer. He claims that his illness [...]
Rasmus Ankersen interview: Brentford co-director of football denies it’s all data and robots as club continues to utilise mathematical modelling March 21, 2016 When the debate surrounding analytics in football rages, the glare from the number-crunching spotlight inevitably comes to rest on Brentford, the club viewed as the English game’s principal pioneers of mathematical modelling. Much head-scratching ensued when the club announced in February 2015 that then-manager Mark Warburton would leave Griffin Park at the end of the campaign. [...]
Harry Kane is one of the best strikers in the world says Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino March 21, 2016 Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino praised Harry Kane as one of the world’s best strikers after his brace helped Spurs beat Bournemouth and keep the heat on Premier League leaders Leicester yesterday. Top-flight leading scorer Kane hit two first-half goals and set up another for midfielder Christian Eriksen in a commanding victory to leave Spurs five [...]
Chinese investment in football continues as Freestyle Football receives £180,000 March 18, 2016 China's growing interest in football has extended beyond even traditional forms of the beautiful game. Freestyle Football Limited, the commercial arm of freestyle football's governing body, has received a £180,000 investment from the Shanghai XiaoYuan Culture Communication Corporation for a 10 per cent stake. The firm owns schools in China, Australia and Cambodia and has an agreement [...]
Tottenham Hotspur 1, Borussia Dortmund 2 (Agg: 1-5): Pochettino urges Spurs to achieve “big things” in Premier League after European exit March 17, 2016 Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino brushed off a predictable European exit and urged his side to achieve “big things” in the Premier League after being outclassed by Borussia Dortmund. Trailing 3-0 from the first leg, Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang chalked up his 35th goal of the season with a clinical double before a well-beaten Spurs replied [...]
Football betting: Noisy neighbours Manchester City to deafen Manchester United in derby March 17, 2016 There is more than bragging rights at stake as Manchester City host Manchester United on Sunday. Beyond the search for superiority in the playgrounds and pubs of the north west, this match could prove key in the final Premier League shake-up. City, in fourth, are four points above their rivals and know victory could go a [...]
Aston Villa chief executive Tom Fox leaves Premier League’s basement club March 17, 2016 Aston Villa are searching for a new chief executive after Tom Fox stepped down from the role with immediate effect. The former Arsenal director becomes the second high-profile departure from Villa Park this week following former sporting director Hendrik Almstadt who left the club by mutual consent on Tuesday. Read more: Aston Villa reveal £27.3m loss as [...]
Over €6m wiped off Juventus value as share price falls after Bayern Munich boot them out of the Champions League March 17, 2016 Over €6m has been wiped off Juventus' market value after the Italian champions were dumped out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich in the last 16. Massimiliano Allegri's side let a 2-0 lead slip in the last twenty minutes in Munich, before the home side surged ahead to win 4-2 (6-4 on aggregate) in extra [...]
Leading fans group blasts Charlton owner Roland Duchatelet over divisive statement criticising fans March 16, 2016 Charlton owner Roland Duchatelet has been condemned by a leading fan representative's group after a club statement criticised supporters for protesting his ownership. The Football Supporters' Federation (FSF) described the club statement, which alleged that some fans have come to games deliberately to wreak havoc, as a "desperate attempt by Duchatelet to divide the club's fan [...]