Tag Archives: goalkeeper

We weren"t involved in doping, says former Liverpool star Sander Westerveld

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EXCLUSIVE: We weren't involved in doping, says former Liverpool star Westerveld

By
Martha Kelner

PUBLISHED:

00:56 GMT, 10 February 2013

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UPDATED:

00:56 GMT, 10 February 2013

Former Liverpool star Sander Westerveld, who played for the top Spanish team now at the centre of doping allegations, has denied using any banned substances during his four years at Real Sociedad.

But the 38-year-old former Holland goalkeeper claimed that 'spaghetti and steak was not enough' to cope with the rigours of European football and he admitted taking permitted supplements.

Denial: Sander Westerveld has denied using any banned substances

Denial: Sander Westerveld has denied using any banned substances

Real Sociedad were plunged into controversy last week when a former president, Inaki Badiola, made allegations of a relationship between the club and 'doping doctor' Eufemiano Fuentes, currently on trial in Spain for breaking public health laws.

Fuentes is alleged to have overseen the doping of hundreds of sportsmen, most notably cyclists. He has also admitted working with unnamed footballers, boxers, tennis players and athletes.

Westerveld, who was at Anfield from 1999-2001 before joining Real Sociedad, where he played until 2005, claimed that permitted intravenous injections were given to aid players' recovery times after matches as a matter of course.

'It all depended on the fixtures and the amount of games you were playing,' said Westerveld.

'There is a lot of legal help you can get. It was routine but not every week. With Champions League football you sometimes had four games in 10 days and needed some extra help.

'You can't do that with only spaghetti and steaks – you need some vitamin injections and then, when the winter kicks in, you need a flu injection and maybe you have a blood test which shows you are lacking iron and you will have an iron injection.'

Westerveld said he is shocked by Badiola's claims that illegal drugs might have been used at the club.

'I will not put my hands into the fire and say doping didn't happen at Real Sociedad but I did not take anything illegal and I would be absolutely shocked if there was any truth to it,' he said.

'I was never given pills without being asked or knowing what they were. Every time you could see what it is. The only pills I took were caffeine, it was just like drinking cups of coffee and Red Bull. I had injections but only for vitamins to assist in recuperation.'

Match fixing latest: Liverpool v Debrecen alleged to be rigged, by Danish newspaper

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Was this the rigged Champions League game Danish paper claim Liverpool clash with Debrecen part of match-fixing scandal

By
Rik Sharma

PUBLISHED:

21:20 GMT, 4 February 2013

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UPDATED:

21:38 GMT, 4 February 2013

Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet has claimed the Champions League game in England allegedly involving match-fixing was Liverpool against Debrecen in 2009.

Their report places no suspicion on Liverpool whatsoever and instead claims Debrecen's Montenegrin goalkeeper Vukasin Poleksic was ‘bribed to ensure the match ended with at least three goals’.

The clash was the first match of the group stage and took place at Anfield on September 16, with Liverpool beating their Hungarian opponents 1-0.

Winner: Dirk Kuyt scores the only goal of the game in the match alleged to be part of the scandal (Liverpool are not said to be involved in any match-fixing)

Winner: Dirk Kuyt scores the only goal of the game in the match alleged to be part of the scandal (Liverpool are not said to be involved in any match-fixing)

Boom: Goalkeeper Vukasin Poleksic sees Kuyt's shot hit the back of the net

Boom: Goalkeeper Vukasin Poleksic sees Kuyt's shot hit the back of the net

In text messages obtained by police the people behind the alleged match-fixing were angry that Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard had not capitalised on some easy chances.

Later in the group stage Poleksic was allegedly bribed for a match against Fiorentina, which Debrecen lost 4-3.

The goalkeeper has already been banned for two years for failing to report being approached by fixers before the Fiorentina game.

His case was taken to the Court of Arbitration for Sport who rejected his appeal although conceded they could not prove the match result had been manipulated.

On Monday morning it was revealed European police agency Europol are investigating more than 380 suspicious matches in 15 countries, including a Champions League game played in England in the last three or four years.

Rob Wainwright, director of Europol – the European Union's law enforcement agency, told a news conference that the match which took place 'in the last three to four years' was one of 380 under investigation.

Europol said a total of 425 match officials, club officials, players, and serious criminals are suspected of being involved in attempts to fix matches.

When the news of the investigation broke on Monday, a spokesman for The Football Association said: 'The FA are not aware of any credible reports into suspicious Champions League fixtures in England, nor has any information been shared with us.

'While the Champions League comes under UEFA jurisdiction, The FA, alongside the Premier League, Football League and Conference, monitor markets for the top seven leagues and three major cup competitions in England and take matters of integrity in football extremely seriously.'

It is understood UEFA were similarly unaware of an investigation into an Champions League match in England.

A Europol spokesman said he was unable to comment when asked why neither the FA nor UEFA had been informed.

More to follow.

VIDEO: Dirk Kuyt's goal against Debrecen in the 1-0 win at Anfield

Petr Cech suffers broken finger and major doubt for Chelsea v Wigan

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Cech a major doubt for Wigan game after breaking finger… so stuttering Chelsea could have to rely on error-prone Turnbull

By
Graeme Yorke

PUBLISHED:

16:02 GMT, 4 February 2013

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UPDATED:

18:09 GMT, 4 February 2013

Petr Cech is a major doubt for Chelsea’s Barclays Premier League clash with Wigan on Saturday after he was forced to withdraw from the Czech Republic squad for their friendly against Turkey on Wednesday night.

The goalkeeper broke his little finger during the 3-2 loss at Newcastle on Saturday and although the injury is not thought to be serious, Chelsea may have to field reserve goalkeeper Ross Turnbull on Saturday.

Turnbull came in for heavy criticism for his performance in the 2-2 FA Cup draw at Brentford last month and Chelsea failed in a late bid to bring England goalkeeper Jack Butland to Stamford Bridge as cover.

Doubt: Petr Cech broke a finger during Chelsea's loss at Newcastle

Doubt: Petr Cech broke a finger during Chelsea's loss at Newcastle

Double blow: Chelsea lost the game 3-2 to add insult to Cech's injury

Double blow: Chelsea lost the game 3-2 to add insult to Cech's injury

Their third option in goal would be to call on 37-year-old Hilario, who has not played since August 27 2011.

They're not able to call upon 20-year-old Thibaut Courtois, who although expected to be the future long-term keeper at Chelsea, is still on loan at Spanish club Atletico Madrid.

Loss: Cech is a major doubt for Saturday's match against Wigan which could mean a start for the error-prone Turnbull (below)

Loss: Cech is a major doubt for Saturday's match against Wigan which could mean a start for the error-prone Turnbull (below)

Errors: Turnbull has made lots of mistakes

Doni suffered heart-attack during time as Liverpool goalkeeper

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I almost died! Former Liverpool goalkeeper Doni reveals he suffered a heart attack last year

By
John Drayton

PUBLISHED:

20:51 GMT, 1 February 2013

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UPDATED:

21:12 GMT, 1 February 2013

Former Liverpool goalkeeper Doni shockingly revealed he suffered a heart attack in the summer which led to his long absence from football.

The 33-year-old Brazilian, whose last match for the Reds came on the final day of the 2011/12 season in May, has not featured in any squad since.

Liverpool, who refused to comment on
Doni's revelation, said it was for personal reasons but, after securing a
deadline-day move back to his homeland to join Botafogo, the goalkeeper
has explained the circumstances, which began while he was undergoing
medical tests at the club.

Revelation: Doni said he suffered a heart attack for 25 seconds

Revelation: Doni said he suffered a heart attack for 25 seconds

'I almost… I almost ended up on the other side. I had a heart attack for about 25 seconds,' the former Roma player told calciomercato.com in Italy.

'I've been to one of the best doctors in Europe who looked at me carefully. He's asked me to stop for a few months.

'Now I have to stay put until April, then I can return to the field, I want to play in the 2014 Paulista championship.'

Absence: Doni didn't feature for Liverpool this season behind regular 'keeper Pepe Reina and Brad Jones

Absence: Doni didn't feature for Liverpool this season behind regular 'keeper Pepe Reina and Brad Jones

Absence: Doni didn't feature for Liverpool this season behind regular 'keeper Pepe Reina and Brad Jones

Doni also told Brazilian broadcaster Globo: 'I always had an arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) and during some tests in Liverpool suffered a cardiac arrest.

'I carried out checks across Europe and I had to extend my period of absence from the field.'

Harry Redknapp blasts QPR players after losing to MK Dons in FA Cup

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We were a disgrace: Redknapp blasts QPR's big-name failures for abysmal display against MK Dons

By
Ian Stafford

PUBLISHED:

19:27 GMT, 26 January 2013

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UPDATED:

19:36 GMT, 26 January 2013

A furious and disbelieving Harry Redknapp surveyed the wreckage of QPR’s FA Cup humiliation at the hands of MK Dons and slammed the big stars who failed him.

Redknapp watched as his side — bottom of the Premier League — were crushed 4-2 at home by a team two divisions beneath them. In the day’s other fourth-round shock, Blue Square Premier League Luton Town beat Norwich 1-0 at Carrow Road.

‘I have big-name players who believe they’re better than they are, who bang on my door insisting that I should play them,’ said 65-year-old Redknapp.

Miserable: Harry Redknapp looks on as QPR are tonked by MK Dons

Miserable: Harry Redknapp looks on as QPR are tonked by MK Dons

‘Well, they had their chance and they
blew it. I made nine changes from the team who drew at West Ham last
week.

'This was a team that had gone five games unbeaten, that had won at
Chelsea and drawn against Spurs and West Ham, but even though I made
lots of changes I believed, absolutely, it was good enough to beat the
MK Dons.

‘I wanted to win, don’t get me wrong.
Look at the players I picked. We’re talking about signings from
Manchester United and Real Madrid in Park, Fabio and Granero.

'We’re talking about experienced pros
like Ferdinand, an England goalkeeper in Green. Surely they should have
been too good for a team two divisions below them.

'I thought we weren’t too bad up to
half time, but conceded two dreadfully sloppy goals. When we conceded
the third, which was offside, our confidence went completely.

'You can’t give away two such sloppy goals as we did. We created a mountain to climb that only got higher.

‘What it shows is that the result and
the performance answer a lot of questions. Not to me. I already knew
the answers, but to those who wanted to see certain players picked. They gave the answers.

‘I’m going to need to shift some
players out of this club this week and get a few in. If I can do that
we’ll stay in the Premier League. I’ll have the right hump now. I’ll be
no use to anybody.’

He does, however, have to find a way to lift his team before the visit of Manchester City on Tuesday night.

Good day out: MK Dons fans were delighted as their team powered through

Good day out: MK Dons fans were delighted as their team powered through

As bad as QPR were, MK Dons deserved a lot of credit for the way they frustrated their Premier League opponents.

A club-record away following of 3,155
headed to west London to witness a performance that filled manager Karl
Robinson with pride.

'We felt we could come here and get a result,' the Dons boss said. 'I understand the gulf in teams and I respect that as well.

'QPR
is a wonderful football club with one of the best English managers in a
long, long time so you always know the difficulties it that is going to
possess.

Let downs: Redknapp analysed where his squad had come from - Estenan Granero, for example, from Real Madrid

Let downs: Redknapp analysed where his squad had come from – Estenan Granero, for example, from Real Madrid

'It is nice to make it through. The players were fantastic and I thought they deserved the result.

'It was difficult for us in the first half. We had to sit off them and they have some top, top players.

'I thought the way they responded to going in front at a Premier League ground was great. They played with no fear.

'Getting into the fourth round was a little bit of history for us and now the fifth round makes it a little more special.'

Manchester City have first refusal on Nathan Redmond

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Redmond to remain with Birmingham but champions City wait in wings

By
Neil Moxley

PUBLISHED:

11:43 GMT, 24 January 2013

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UPDATED:

12:02 GMT, 24 January 2013

Birmingham's Nathan Redmond is set to stay at the Championship club until the end of the season despite their financial troubles.

Manchester City have first refusal on the highly-rated 18-year-old winger but are in no rush to make an offer.

The Premier League champions agreed the deal when Joe Hart was loaned to St Andrew's for the 2009-10 season.

Staying put: Nathan Redmond (left) will not leave Birmingham this month

Staying put: Nathan Redmond (left) will not leave Birmingham this month

Redmond has impressed for the Midlands club in recent seasons having been on their books since he was spotted as an eight-year-old.

He has represented England at Under 16, 17, 18 and 19 level and has made 27 appearances for his club this season.

Redmond has less than 18 months left on his contract and West Ham Liverpool and Tottenham are all interested but must wait until City show their hand.

Off: Jack Butland (right) looks set to leave Birmingham for the Premier League

Off: Jack Butland (right) looks set to leave Birmingham for the Premier League

Cash-strapped Birmingham, who are struggling to pay their bills, are however expected to offload England goalkeeper Jack Butland in January.

The owners have made it a condition of the sale
that around half of the 6million fee they are demanding is made as a
down-payment.

Birmingham's
coffers are due to be swelled by around 500,000 when Chris Burke makes a
switch to Nottingham Forest in the next few days but it is Butland's
sale that will enable Lee Clark's club to pay their way until the
summer, surviving the threat of administration.

Jack Butland up for grabs as cash-strapped Birmingham listen to offers for first-team stars

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Butland up for grabs as cash-strapped Birmingham listen to offers for first-team stars

By
Sunni Upal

PUBLISHED:

19:53 GMT, 21 January 2013

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UPDATED:

19:53 GMT, 21 January 2013

Highly-rated English goalkeeper Jack Butland could be set for a cut-price move to the Premier League as cash-strapped Birmingham look to balance the books.

The Championship club are in financial meltdown and are open to offers for any first-team players.

With the 2011 Carling Cup winners willing to offload their stars at the right price, Butland may finally be on his way to the top-flight with Liverpool, Newcastle, Everton and Southampton all reportedly showing an interest.

Target: Jack Butland is wanted by a number of Premier League clubs

Target: Jack Butland is wanted by a number of Premier League clubs

Thirteen-goal leading scorer Marlon King is the latest player to attract speculation but reports he has been told he can leave Birmingham on a free as they look to offload his services are wide of the mark.

City have received only one formal bid for any of their players since the January transfer window opened but they rejected Nottingham Forest's 300,000 offer for Chris Burke.

Other players heavily linked with a move away include Nikola Zigic, Curtis Davies and Nathan Redmond as Birmingham look to stave off the threat of administration.

Rejected: Birmingham turned down Nottingham Forest's bid for Chris Burke

Rejected: Birmingham turned down Nottingham Forest's bid for Chris Burke

Victor Valdes is refusing to sign a new contract at Barcelona

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Valdes refusing to sign new contract fuelling rumours he will join Guardiola at Bayern

By
Graeme Yorke

PUBLISHED:

23:21 GMT, 17 January 2013

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UPDATED:

08:13 GMT, 18 January 2013

Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes is planning to leave the Spanish giants after he had turned down the chance to sign a new deal.

Valdes, who has spent his entire professional career at the Nou Camp, is contracted to Barcelona until the end of the 2013/14 season.

His representatives – Gines Carvajal is his principal agent – confirmed in a statement to Spanish national news agency Efe that Valdes intends to depart.

Victor Valdes will always be a favourite of Barcelona fans

Solid: Victor Valdes will always be a favourite of Barcelona fans

The statement read: 'The agents of Victor Valdes have communicated to Barcelona in a meeting held this afternoon the irrevocable decision of the player to not renew his contract.'

The 30-year-old has recently suggested he would consider a move to another league. With former Barcelona head coach Pep Guardiola heading to Bayern Munich next season, Valdes may become an early target of his old boss.

Valdes has been Barcelona's number one throughout the last decade, winning a host of trophies and earning recognition with Spain, however Real Madrid's Iker Casillas has remained the regular international goalkeeper.

Valdes has had to play second fiddle for Spain behind Iker Casillas

Too much quality: Valdes has played second fiddle for Spain behind Iker Casillas

Frank Lampard snubbed by Chelsea after reaching goalscoring landmark

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Lampard snubbed by Chelsea as club refuse to
acknowledge record AND edit out glowing praise from Cech

By
Laurie Whitwell

PUBLISHED:

12:12 GMT, 14 January 2013

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UPDATED:

12:45 GMT, 14 January 2013

Frank Lampard has been dealt a remarkable snub by Chelsea after scoring the goal which took him outright second on the club’s all-time scoring list.

There is no mention of him moving to 194 goals to surpass Kerry Dixon on the official website and an interview in which Petr Cech praised the 34-year-old has been edited to cut out mention of the midfielder’s ‘loyalty’, ‘importance’, and being ‘as good as ever’.

Snubbed: Lampard moved into second place on Chelsea's all-time scoring list on Saturday

Snubbed: Lampard moved into second place on Chelsea's all-time scoring list on Saturday

An interview with Lampard is available
online but in it he refers mainly to the cold conditions at Stoke and
the team’s performance in the 4-0 victory.

Meanwhile, in a separate article, Cech is quoted as saying: ‘Frank had a very good game and could have added another of his trademark goals because he had two chances inside the box, and I think everybody had a fantastic game.

‘Frank may not start every game but if he plays he plays well with his quality and his experience.’

On his way: Lampard is set to leave Chelsea when his contract expires at the end of the season

On his way: Lampard is set to leave Chelsea when his contract expires at the end of the season

The goalkeeper’s further acclaim on Lampard, and his service to the club, from the same interview with reporters is omitted.

‘I have known him for a long time,’ Cech
also said. ‘He has been a fantastic player for the club. And, of
course, he has stayed for years at the same club. Bad times, good times –
mostly good times – but that shows the loyalty of the player.’

Cech added: ‘Is he as good as ever The team have changed, and so has his age, but he is still important.’

Sealed with a kiss: Chelsea beat Stoke 4-0 at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday

Sealed with a kiss: Chelsea beat Stoke 4-0 at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday

Mention was made of Lampard equalling Dixon with a goal at Southampton in an earlier piece, so this latest development seems even more peculiar. Rafael Benitez was equally muted in post-match discussions on the England midfielder's feat, preferring instead to praise Brazilian Ramires.

Lampard is eight goals behind all-time top scorer Bobby Tambling but will only have the rest of the season to try to catch him as Chelsea have made clear they will not offer him a new deal.

Jon Walters own goals against Chelsea – relive some of the best ever

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Walters at the double… for Chelsea! After Stoke midfielder's two own goals, relive some of the best (or worst) ever

By
Rik Sharma

PUBLISHED:

16:31 GMT, 12 January 2013

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UPDATED:

17:17 GMT, 12 January 2013

With a surging run ahead of two Chelsea players, Jon Walters flung himself through the air and powered a bullet header in to the back of the net. Sadly for him, it was his own net.

To the dismay of his manager Tony Pulis, he was at it again in the second half, becoming only the fourth player in the Premier League to bag a brace of own goals (following Jamie Carragher, Gary Breen and Michael Proctor).

The cherry on the cake was a late penalty miss for the Irishman, which turned a disastrous afternoon into one that beggars belief.

In honour of Walters' spectacular day, Sportsmail took a look back at some of the classic own goals which have been scored in the past.

Oh no: Jon Walters afternoon got worse the longer it went on

Oh no: Jon Walters afternoon got worse the longer it went on

Lethal: Walters made no mistake as he headed his side behind

Lethal: Walters made no mistake as he headed his side behind

John Arne Riise

Chelsea were the beneficiaries yet again as the flame-haired Norwegian made his mark. With Liverpool on the brink of taking a 1-0 Champions League semi-final lead back to Stamford Bridge, up popped Riise to even the score, beating his own keeper Pepe Reina with a classy header in the 94th minute. It finished 1-1 and Chelsea won the second leg 3-1.

Peter Enckelman

In the first Birmingham derby since the Blues won promotion to the Premier League in 2002, Aston Villa goalkeeper Peter Enckelman carved his name into Brummie folklore with a howler of epic proportions.

With City winning 1-0, captain Olof Mellberg harmlessly chucked Enckelman the ball from a throw-in. The young stopper misjudged the slowly-rolling ball, which ran under his foot and into the net. Birmingham won 3-0.

Lee Dixon

Full-back Lee Dixon made a mockery of Arsenal's famously tight defence in the early 1990s when he lobbed team-mate David Seaman from distance to send opponents Coventry on their way to victory against George Graham's side.

Iain Dowie

Iain Dowie ended a worrying goal drought during his time at West Ham with a perfectly-executed header past Ludek Miklosko which even his own fans must have been tempted to applaud. Dowie's equaliser for Stockport helped them on their way to a 2-1 win in 1996.

Djimi Traore

Rafael Benitez's first FA Cup tie as Liverpool boss ended in humiliating defeat at Burnley in 2005 after French defender Traore performed a perfect pirouette in the six-yard box, comically dragging the ball into his own net with his heel as he twirled to hand victory to the Coca-Cola Championship club.

Jamie Pollock

An own goal that would have been one of the goals of the season had it been scored at the other end. Playing against QPR in 1998, Manchester City defender Pollock flicked the ball over an opponent's head before trying to head the ball back to his goalkeeper, who was in no man's land and could only watch as the ball sailed into the net.

Chris Brass

Probably the funniest own goal ever scored came from Bury's Chris Brass, whose attempted clearance against Darlington in 2006 hit his own face and careered into the net. To add injury to insult, Brass suffered a broken nose in the process. However, Bury did come back to win late on.

P.S.

OFI Kreta's Mirnes Sisic launched the ball miles into the night sky – directly above his head, only for it to fall back down into the net past the flapping keeper. The opponents Panionios scored an own goal to level it out later on, before ANOTHER own goal was scored by Kreta to throw the game away.