Sport Comment: Hockey shows football way to beat dissent August 4, 2013 EVEN though the Premier League doesn’t begin for a fortnight, the return of lower league action has been a welcome relief for the football-starved obsessives who have found a summer of tennis, golf and cricket all a bit on the margins. But it also brought the return of petty gamesmanship and rule-bending on a scale [...]
Round one to Sky in battle with BT August 1, 2013 Communications regulator Ofcom dealt a blow to BT yesterday, ruling that it is not ready to force Sky to allow its sports channels to be shown on BT’s new TV service. The decision came on the day that BT launched its new TV sports channel, BT Sport, with presenter Jake Humphrey leading the way last night. [...]
Redknapp’s mission clouded by uncertainty August 1, 2013 GUIDING QPR back to the Premier League could be manager Harry Redknapp’s toughest task yet, with his squad still horribly unbalanced on the eve of the Championship season, which starts tomorrow. Following relegation from the top flight last term, 11 first team players have been moved on, including high earners such as centre-back Christopher Samba [...]
Real star Casillas talks up record swoop for Bale July 30, 2013 REAL Madrid captain Iker Casillas has lavished praise on Tottenham’s Gareth Bale as the Spanish club seek to prise him away from north London in a world record transfer. Spurs have already rejected one offer of £86m for the Wales forward, while reports in Spain claim Real have been told it will cost £126m to [...]
Daggers armed for another stab at dodging drop July 30, 2013 Josh Richards previews the new League Two season, which starts on Saturday ROOKIE manager Wayne Burnett has added more firepower to his slim Dagenham & Redbridge squad this summer in the hope of defying the bookmakers and beating relegation from League Two. With Daggers favourites to lose their Football League status, 41-year-old Burnett, embarking on [...]
Birmingham plan pre-match tribute to former striker Benitez July 29, 2013 FORMER Birmingham striker Christian Benitez, 27, died suddenly yesterday after suffering a cardio-respiratory arrest, just hours after making his debut in Qatar. Ecuador international Benitez was admitted to hospital with severe stomach pains after playing for El Jaish against Qatar Sport Club and died soon afterwards. Known affectionately as Chucho, Benitez scored four times in [...]
England failures down to the FA not us, says Premier League boss July 28, 2013 PREMIER League chief executive Richard Scudamore has slammed the Football Association for continually passing the buck when it comes to assessing the national team’s failures. Last month England manager Roy Hodgson vented frustration at TV scheduling which means players from Liverpool, Manchester United, Tottenham and Arsenal will play five days before a must-win World Cup [...]
Mourinho to keep calm and carry on his pursuit of striker Rooney July 25, 2013 CHELSEA manager Jose Mourinho is determined to maintain a level-headed approach in his big-money pursuit of striker Wayne Rooney, despite Manchester United’s insistence that they do not wish to sell him. United rejected the Blues’ £20m bid for Rooney last week and manager David Moyes is insistent the unsettled England striker has a future at [...]
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 [...]