Break even or else, says soccer boss March 9, 2010 IVAN GAZIDIS, the chief executive of Arsenal, has told City A.M. he is firmly behind Europe-wide proposals to force all football clubs to break even. Clubs would have to balance the books over a three-year rolling cycle, starting in 2012, under so-called financial fair play rules discussed by leading sides and European governing body Uefa [...]
Sunderland end winless streak in style as Bent smashes a treble March 9, 2010 SUNDERLAND striker Darren Bent plundered a hat-trick as the Black Cats ended a 15-match wait for a Premier League victory with a 4-0 rout of 10-man Bolton. Fraizer Campbell set the home side on their way after just 41 seconds, before forward partner Bent took his tally for the season to 19 with a second-half [...]
King out for two more weeks March 9, 2010 TOTTENHAM are planning to be without captain Ledley King for the next fortnight as they continue their drive for Champions League qualification. Centre-back King, who is hampered by a long-term knee problem, is also currently nursing a thigh injury sustained last month against Wigan. He will miss fourth-placed Spurs’ Premier League visit from Blackburn on [...]
Portsmouth make claim for Cup cash March 8, 2010 DEBT-RIDDEN Portsmouth may be forced to make a special representation to the Football Association in order to keep the receipts from their storming FA Cup run. The cash-strapped club became the first in Premier League history to enter into administration last month after accruing debts in the region of £70m. Yet despite that, boss Avram [...]
Cricket returns to ITV after 30 years March 4, 2010 ITV is to screen live cricket for the first time in more than 30 years after securing the rights to show the 2010 Indian Premier League. The deal will see freeview channel ITV4 broadcast live coverage of all 59 Twenty20 matches over a 45-day period, starting with a spectacular opening ceremony in Mumbai next Friday. [...]
Trio poised as season hits home straight March 4, 2010 THE expression “squeaky-bum time” may not be familiar to Carlo Ancelotti, but the Chelsea manager would be advised to get used to the sensation. Sir Alex Ferguson famously coined the phrase in reference to the nervous, edge-of-the-seat fidgeting provoked by a tense title run-in. And this season’s Premier League climax is shaping up to be [...]
Chairmen show red card to Champions League play-off March 4, 2010 TOP-FLIGHT clubs have voted to shelve controversial plans to introduce a play-off for the final Champions League place. Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool – the clubs who traditionally occupy the top four spots – are thought to have led objections to the proposal. Premier League chairmen decided against examining its feasibility any further at [...]
Twelve parties interested in buying Portsmouth, claims administrator March 4, 2010 PORTSMOUTH administrator Andrew Andronikou claims there are as many as 12 parties interested in buying the debt-ridden club. Pompey became the first Premier League club to slip into administration last Friday after amounting debts in the region of £78m. But although the club were docked nine points and lie rooted to the bottom of the [...]
Mick’s Wolves lack the bite to frighten United March 4, 2010 WOLVES vs MANCHESTER UNITED TOMORROW – 5.30PM ESPN THE relationship between the red and blue sides of Manchester has been especially hostile this season thanks mainly to the Carlos Tevez saga. However, the little Argentinian did his old teammates a huge favour by inflicting Chelsea’s first home league defeat since November 2008 last Saturday. That [...]
Real and Barcelona are football’s Euro fat cats March 1, 2010 LUCRATIVE individual broadcast deals have helped Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona leave Premier League clubs trailing in the wealth stakes and cement their place as the two richest teams in the world. Real last season became the first team in any sport to record revenue of more than €400m (£341m), despite a relatively unsuccessful [...]