Fifa calls on Premier League to drop Qatar switch opposition July 25, 2013 BRITAIN’S top football official has urged the Premier League to be “sensible” and drop its opposition to switching the 2022 World Cup from summer to winter. Jim Boyce, vice-president of world governing body Fifa, argues that spectator safety and comfort should be the deciding factor in the long-running row. “I would appeal to people in [...]
Suarez set to begin talks with Arsenal July 24, 2013 Liverpool still demand more than £50m as Rodgers makes loyalty plea to Uruguayan LIVERPOOL manager Brendan Rodgers has reminded Luis Suarez of the debt he owes the club’s fans, as the unsettled striker appears set to open negotiations with Arsenal. The Reds have rejected two offers from the Gunners, including a bid for £40m and [...]
Spurs sweating as Vertonghen needs ankle scan July 24, 2013 TOTTENHAM manager Andre Villas-Boas fears an ankle injury could rule out defender Jan Vertonghen for the first game of the Premier League season at Crystal Palace on 18 August. The versatile Belgian landed awkwardly on a sodden pitch minutes after coming on as a substitute in Spurs’ 3-1 defeat to Sunderland in the Barclays Asia [...]
Mourinho jibe laughed off by Pellegrini July 24, 2013 MANCHESTER City manager Manuel Pellegrini has hit back at claims from Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho that his club is under pressure to win the Premier League title having spent £89m on new talent this summer. City have added strikers Stevan Jovetic and Alvaro Negredo to their ranks, plus midfield pair Jesus Navas and Fernandinho. But [...]
Villas-Boas scotches talk of Bale £50m deal with Real July 23, 2013 TOTTENHAM manager Andre Villas-Boas has reiterated the club have no intention of selling Gareth Bale to Real Madrid this summer, despite reports in Spain that the forward has agreed a bumper €60m (£51.6m) contract to move to the Bernabeu. Uncertainty over the Player of the Year’s future reared its head again yesterday when Spanish newspaper [...]
Mourinho makes case for Rooney to abandon United for Chelsea July 18, 2013 CHELSEA manager Jose Mourinho has warned players they cannot afford to sit on the sidelines during a World Cup year, in what has been interpreted as a veiled message to transfer target Wayne Rooney. Manchester United this week rejected Chelsea’s opening bid for the England striker, who is said to be concerned at suggestions from [...]
World Cup and Euros to remain on free TV July 18, 2013 FOOTBALL’S major international tournaments will continue to be shown on free-to-air broadcasters such as the BBC and ITV beyond 2014 after the game’s governing bodies lost a legal challenge. The European Court of Justice yesterday rejected an appeal from Fifa and Uefa and upheld a 2011 ruling that prevents rights for the World Cup and [...]
BT Sport nets rights to share FA Cup to 2018 July 17, 2013 BT KICKED off its debut season as a sports broadcaster with an early coup yesterday, netting joint rights to televise the FA Cup until 2018. The world’s most famous domestic knock-out competition will be shown on both BT Sport and the BBC, starting from the 2014-15 season. BT had already secured rights for the coming [...]
Football Comment: Chelsea won’t suit Wayne in the long term July 17, 2013 WAYNE Rooney should be staying at Manchester United until the end of his career. I think a move to Chelsea would be nothing more than a short-term morale boost. He’s currently at the biggest club in Britain, if not the world. Why would he want to go somewhere else? I don’t get it. I think [...]
Pirate football site blocked July 16, 2013 THE PREMIER League vowed to clamp down hard on pirate streaming of its games this season as it yesterday gained a blocking order on First Row Sports, one of the biggest illegal live football-streaming sites in the UK. Yesterday’s judgment represented the first time a sporting body has sought an order blocking a site that [...]