Blues criticised for secrecy over Terry race row punishment October 18, 2012 CHELSEA were denounced last night by equality campaigners for refusing to come clean over their punishment of captain John Terry for his race-row confrontation with QPR’s Anton Ferdinand. The European champions said they had taken disciplinary action against Terry, in addition to his four-match ban and £220,000 fine from the Football Association, but would keep [...]
Survey reveals financial chasm between top UK football teams October 17, 2012 POLARISATION between British football’s haves and have-nots is growing, with most clubs outside the English top flight reliant on owners to cover losses, according to a survey published today. Some 66 per cent of all teams who responded said they did not expect to make a profit before player trading and amortisation, an increase from [...]
Mentoring England starlets would show Pietersen’s changed October 16, 2012 JETTING in from the other side of the world for talks with the England hierarchy yesterday shows that Kevin Pietersen is making an effort to build bridges after the text message row that threatened his international career. Having been the cause of the controversy, Pietersen appears to appreciate that the onus is on him to [...]
Jagielka cannot choose between Baines and Cole October 14, 2012 ENGLAND defender Phil Jagielka has acknowledged that manager Roy Hodgson has a substantial selection dilemma for tomorrow’s World Cup qualifier away to Poland given Leighton Baines’s impressive performance when deputising for Ashley Cole. Everton left-back Baines has this season been consistently superb and was again convincing when Cole’s long-term ankle problem meant he would be [...]
Rangers shoot for £20m junior market offering October 11, 2012 TROUBLED Scottish football club Rangers yesterday announced plans to raise up to £20m through a listing on London’s Alternative Investment Market as the team’s new owners seek to rebuild the business. Rangers has endured a disastrous year, with the club – who have won the league a record 54 times – declared insolvent and forced to restart life [...]
Milan chief’s fears over Financial Fair Play October 11, 2012 ONE of the leading executives in European football has voiced his fears that impending Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules could damage rather than improve the sport. AC Milan organising director Umberto Gandini, also a vice-chairman of the influential European Club Association, predicted FFP could force clubs into making cuts at a time when investment was [...]
Owen reignites diving debate with World Cup confessions October 10, 2012 ENGLAND striker Michael Owen has defended the right of players to dive if they have been touched and admitted deliberately going to ground to win penalties in two separate World Cup matches. Owen insists falling is elective in three quarters of all penalty decisions and that enticing contact from defenders is “a skill”. He confessed [...]
Vieira: England players don’t love the team October 10, 2012 WORLD Cup-winning former France captain Patrick Vieira has voiced his concerns at the widespread player apathy towards representing England, blaming a lack of love for the national team and weakness of the Football Association. Vieira also expressed his astonishment that it had taken the FA so long to establish their own national centre dedicated to [...]
Three Lions, four stoppers October 9, 2012 JOE HART MAN CITY The 25-year-old is one of the first names on England’s team sheet. An exceptionally athletic and confident individual, Hart is widely considered one of the world’s best goalkeepers, is possibly the greatest in the Premier League, and continues to improve his game. JACK BUTLAND BIRMINGHAM Great Britain’s goalkeeper at the London [...]
League won’t ban Wonga deal October 9, 2012 PREMIER League chiefs have ruled out intervening in the row over Wonga.com’s sponsorship of Newcastle United, despite the storm that greeted yesterday’s £24m four-year deal between the club and the controversial payday lender. Industry experts accused the company of cynically targeting an area with the highest personal insolvency rates in the country, while the Football [...]