Tag Archives: inclusion

Hatem Ben Arfa could miss Manchester City clash with hamstring injury

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Pardew to make late call on Ben Arfa fitness ahead of City clash

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UPDATED:

22:52 GMT, 14 December 2012

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew will make a late call on Hatem Ben Arfa's inclusion today.

The France international is still insisting he is not feeling the hamstring injury which forced him off at Fulham on Monday, although scans have revealed a potential problem.

Pardew, who is already without Frenchman Yohan Cabaye until the New Year, admitted he faces a selection dilemma for the visit of champions Manchester City this afternoon.

Rough patch: Things do not get any easier for Alan Pardew's struggling side as they face champions City

Rough patch: Things do not get any easier for Alan Pardew's struggling side as they face champions City

He said: 'It's a tricky one for Hatem, the doctor and particularly for myself. It's hard to know exactly where he is. We think he's got a problem but it's not reflected in him at the minute. It's an unusual situation. My gut feeling is that he won't be fit.'

Pardew meanwhile is still warning midfielder Cheick Tiote to curb his enthusiasm, and bookings, in the absence of key players like Cabaye, Ben Arfa and Steven Taylor.

The Ivory Coast international, who is up against fellow countryman Yaya Toure today, is one booking away from another suspension.

Ben Arfa scored against Fulham before a hamstring injury cut his game short

Ben Arfa scored against Fulham before a hamstring injury cut his game short

And Tiote admitted: 'We have so many important games coming up that I have to be a lot more careful and I have to play with more control.

'I try and play the same every week but sometimes when I am ready to go for the ball I have to be certain because if I am not 100 per cent I will get booked.

'It was different when I was in Holland – there is no way near as much physical contact. It's a different style and I prefer it in the Premier League. For me it's the best because it's more aggressive.

'The manager has told me if I am not 100 per cent certain , not to tackle. He's told me we have to try and keep all our players on the pitch. We need 11 v 11 if we are going to win. If we play with 10, we won't win.

'It's definitely easier for me to get booked because the refs know now what my style is like. They know I play hard so they watch me more than most and for me that makes it difficult.'

West Ham will punish minority – David Gold

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We will investigate from top to bottom and the minority will be punished

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UPDATED:

22:40 GMT, 26 November 2012

Like many of the people around me in the directors’ box at White Hart Lane I didn’t hear or see any of the reported inappropriate behaviour during Sunday’s game with Tottenham. If I had then I’m sure I would have been mortified.

We have a clear stance towards any kind of discriminatory behaviour at West Ham — it will simply not be tolerated.

David Sullivan and I are leading an investigation from the top of the club to establish exactly what happened.

Warning: David Gold promised action will be taken by West Ham

Warning: David Gold promised action will be taken by West Ham

If we can identify any individuals who have acted inappropriately they will be sought out and banned by the club as part of our zero-tolerance policy.

We genuinely believe we have some of the best supporters in the country and we will not let a minority of fans — no matter how small — affect the reputation of our great club.

We are a club that promotes tolerance and inclusion of people from all backgrounds, race and religion.

Just a quick look around our boardroom table would tell you that.

I am very proud of my Jewish heritage and have always been made to feel welcome at West Ham since I started watching them as a young boy back in the 1950s.

Disgraceful: West Ham fans allegedly sang ant-Semitic songs on Sunday

Disgraceful: West Ham fans allegedly sang ant-Semitic songs on Sunday

That wasn’t always the case growing up in the East End and I know first-hand how difficult dealing with prejudice can be, which is why I feel so passionately about promoting inclusion in society today.

At West Ham we feel very passionately that every supporter should be made welcome at the Boleyn Ground, whatever their race, religion or nationality and we are keen for our club to carry on taking the lead in promoting tolerance and inclusion of people from all backgrounds and cultures.

We must not let the tens of thousands of supporters who follow our club in exactly the right way be overlooked by Sunday’s events.

Is the Kick It Out campaign working?

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The T-shirts have changed… but has the message got across

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UPDATED:

00:07 GMT, 20 October 2012

What is Kick It Out

Football’s equality and inclusion campaign. They run an 11-day awareness drive in October every year. This year between October 18 and 29 the organisation encourages Premier League and Football League clubs to hold events involving supporters and players to promote the multi-cultural nature of football.

What does that involve

Clubs use a home game to show their support, with players wearing Kick It Out T-shirts. It is usually during the 11 days of the campaign but it can be at any time. Tottenham held theirs against Aston Villa on October 7.

Well-worn campaign: John Terry and Ashley Cole in Kick It Out T-shirts in 2004 and Cristiano Ronaldo (below) wears it well in 2005

Well-worn campaign: John Terry and Ashley Cole in Kick It Out T-shirts in 2004 and Cristiano Ronaldo (below) wears it well in 2005

Cristiano Ronaldo

When did it start

Kick It Out began as Let’s Kick Racism Out of Football in 1993, becoming an official organisation in 1997. They operate on a budget of less than 300,000 per year which pays for five staff and all their activities. That includes the cost of the next two weekends of action — they have paid for the production of the T-shirts that players have been asked to wear and even the cost of posting them to each club.

Who funds them

The annual grant comes from the FA, the Professional Footballers’ Association and the Premier League.

Anything else we need to know

Kick It Out also run their own awareness events. On Thursday they held a free event in London — attended by more than 100 people including police, lawyers and fans — about racist abuse on social media. Next week there is a free Kick It Out seminar about anti-Semitism at Old Trafford.

Eddie Afekafe, England 2018 World Cup bid speaker moves out of Manchester City: Charles Sale

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England 2018 World Cup bid speaker moves out of City

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UPDATED:

23:08 GMT, 13 September 2012

The Manchester City community worker who received huge plaudits for his central role in the final presentation of England's 2018 World Cup bid has left the club.

Eddie Afekafe was the social inclusion project manager at the Etihad Stadium when he upstaged David Cameron, David Beckham and Prince William with a word-perfect performance in Zurich, describing how working in football had turned his life around after a disadvantaged upbringing in a gangland area of Manchester.

Royal appointment: Eddie Afekafe (L) and Prince William outside FIFA HQ

Royal appointment: Eddie Afekafe (L) and Prince William outside FIFA HQ

But Afekafe, despite being the one success story of England's campaign, has sadly not benefited from being in the worldwide spotlight on December 2, 2010 in Switzerland.

City's large-scale restructuring led to a change in his job title, though the responsibilities remained the same. Afekafe had the position kept open for him during time off work through illness but decided recently not to return. A club spokeswoman said: 'We wanted to keep him.'

Trust in Pompey

Hopes are growing that Portsmouth Supporters Trust's bid to buy the troubled League One club will be successful, with Friday the latest deadline for offers to be lodged with administrators. The Pompey fans' group have a chance of a landmark takeover after allying themselves with property developer Stuart Robinson, who has offered to buy Fratton Park and lease it back. The proposal, which allows the Trust to concentrate on the football side, has been assisted by Supporters Direct, whose chief executive David Lampitt knows the background from his former role as Pompey CEO.

The Bald truth

Clare
Balding's status after the Olympics as the country's favourite sports
broadcaster has led to a number of people within the BBC wrongly
claiming credit for bringing her to the Corporation. The man responsible
was Radio 5 Live racing correspondent Cornelius Lysaght, whom Balding
approached about doing work experience on the station's morning racing
bulletins.

Prime time: BBC Commentator Clare Balding

Prime time: BBC Commentator Clare Balding

Stan the missing man

Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke told shareholders and media at last year's AGM how much he enjoyed coming to London and that they would be seeing a lot more of him. Approaching a year later, Kroenke has attended just two Arsenal games since: Chelsea away and Liverpool at home. A club spokesman said Kroenke keeps in touch regularly and comes to board meetings… but seemingly he has little or no interest in the football.

Age concern for David

FA chairman David Bernstein's 70th birthday on May 22 isn't just affecting his time at Wembley, with a campaign in progress for him to continue his leadership past the age limit. His date of birth also narrowly scuppered any ambition to represent the FA on UEFA's executive committee, with Manchester United's David Gill the proposed candidate instead. Bernstein would have had to be under 70 at the start of the next UEFA Congress on May 24, when the election is held.

Beeb lose out

BBC Sport's move to Manchester has cost them talented communications chief Louisa Fyans, who has spent a decade fighting the Beeb's corner. Their considerable loss will be burgeoning sports PR agency Pitch's gain.

Rich picking: Mike Ashley

Rich picking: Mike Ashley

Toon chief eyes Umbro

Mike Ashley, who owns giant high-street retailer Sports Direct as well as Newcastle United, is believed to be the favourite to buy the discarded Umbro brand from Nike for a rock-bottom price. It's likely Ashley will follow the same strategy he adopted in his takeover of Dunlop and Slazenger and purchase only the use of the name – with staff fearing the company headquarters in Cheadle will close.

BT in ESPN talks

BT Vision, having just bought ESPN's English club rugby content as well as their French club rugby rights, are understood to be in talks with the Disney-owned network over taking even more of what's left of their sports portfolio. BT, building a sports channel around their 38 games a season of Premier League football, have also poached highly rated football producer Stephen Cook from ESPN, whose UK operation is doomed.

Darren Fletcher could be in Manchester United"s Champions League squad

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Fletcher in contention for shock inclusion in United's Champions League squad

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UPDATED:

21:49 GMT, 30 August 2012

Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher is waiting to see if he will be handed a surprise spot in Sir Alex Ferguson’s squad for the Champions League.

United must submit a 25-man pool to UEFA on Monday night and though Fletcher has not played a competitive game since November because of illness, there are two places up for grabs in Ferguson’s squad.

Comeback trail: Darren Fletcher has been out of action since November

Comeback trail: Darren Fletcher has been out of action since November

Fletcher was diagnosed with a rare bowel disorder earlier this year and at one stage his career looked to be in jeopardy. But the 28-year-old has played in a friendly and two reserve matches in the past three weeks and is now training fully every day.

Ferguson will be wary of pushing Fletcher too far too soon and may decide to keep the former Scotland captain out of the limelight.

One of the spare places in the squad will probably go to a striker such as Federico Macheda or Bebe to cover for the predicted absence of the injured Wayne Rooney.

Aaron Ramsey doesn"t want Ryan Shawcross in Wales squad

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Ramsey still (Shaw)cross about Coleman's plan to include Stoke defender in Wales squad

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UPDATED:

21:30 GMT, 13 August 2012

Aaron Ramsey will refuse to back Chris Coleman's decision to try and add Stoke defender Ryan Shawcross to his Wales squad.

The Principality's new boss has spoken to his captain about adding Shawcross and admitted Ramsey, who suffered a double fracture of his right leg following a tackle by the defender in February 2010, still had 'an issue' with the move.

Centre of attention: Ramsey is against the inclusion of Shawcross for Wales

Centre of attention: Ramsey is against the inclusion of Shawcross for Wales

Ramsey is due to speak to the media
this lunchtime before Wednesday's game against Bosnia in Llanelli, and
will sidestep the issue, insisting it is the manager's prerogative to
pick the players he wants.

Coleman said: 'I've had a conversation with Aaron and it was positive but there is an issue there.

Pain: Shawcross broke Ramsey's leg in two places in 2010

Pain: Shawcross broke Ramsey's leg in two places in 2010

'I still haven't spoken to Ryan or (Stoke manager) Tony (Pulis) about it, but I will after the Bosnia game.'

Stoke have lost Robert Huth with
viral meningitis and, if Shawcross had been injured this week, Pulis
would have been without his first-choice centre half pairing against
Reading this weekend.

London 2012 Olympics: Oscar Pistorius" prosthetic legs are unfair, says Michael Johnson

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Oscar's prosthetic legs are unfair to able-bodied competitors, says Johnson

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UPDATED:

22:37 GMT, 17 July 2012

Olympic Games legend Michael Johnson thinks Oscar Pistorius has an 'unfair advantage' because of his prosthetic legs.

The 400 metres world record holder stressed that he considers 'Blade Runner' Pistorius, who has been allowed to compete in London in the able-bodied 400m, as a friend.

Unfair Johnson believes Pistorius has an unfair advantage

Unfair Johnson believes Pistorius has an advantage with his prosthetic limbs

Unfair Johnson believes Pistorius has an advantage with his prosthetic limbs

But asked whether he thought Pistorius's inclusion was 'political correctness gone mad' or an inspiring human story, Johnson said: 'I think it is both.

'I know Oscar well, and he knows my position; my position is that because we don't know for sure whether he gets an advantage from the prosthetics that he wears it is unfair to the able-bodied competitors.'

Bath sign Horacio Agulla from Leicester

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Bath coach Gold happy to wait for Agulla after luring winger from Leicester

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UPDATED:

09:55 GMT, 26 June 2012

Bath have signed Argentina wing
Horacio Agulla from Leicester in the belief the benefits of his
international commitments will outweigh his lengthy absences.

Argentina's inclusion in the southern
hemisphere Rugby Championship, which finishes in October, and the
Pumas' three November internationals means Agulla will not be available
to Bath full-time until December.

On the move: Leicester winger Horacio Agulla has agreed to join Bath

On the move: Leicester winger Horacio Agulla has agreed to join Bath

But Bath coach Gary Gold is confident the experience of playing regularly against the world's top three nations will only make Agulla a better player, and therefore benefit the club.

'We're really excited to have Horacio join Bath Rugby for the new season,' Gold said.

'He's a very good player who is able to play two positions at a high level which brings great diversity and strength in depth to the team.

'We believe his exposure playing for Argentina in the new Rugby Championship format against the All Blacks, South Africa and Australia will further develop him as a player and Bath Rugby can only benefit from that.'

Agulla's move from Leicester, for whom he made 48 appearances, will be finalised upon confirmation he has been granted a work permit.

The 27-year-old was voted Leicester fans' player of last season, when the Tigers finished Aviva Premiership runners-up to Harlequins.

'I'm really excited to be joining Bath Rugby and hopefully helping them to challenge for silverware next season. Bath play a good brand of rugby that I believe will suit my game and I'm excited to work with the new coaching team,' Agulla said.

'They have some excellent players in their squad and my first challenge is to get into the side and make that starting shirt my own.'

Euro 2012: Cesc Fabregas complains about Spain v Italy pitch

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Fabregas blames state of 'lamentable' pitch as he tries to explain Spain's draw with Italy

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UPDATED:

20:51 GMT, 10 June 2012

Spain midfielder Cesc Fabregas hit out at the state of the pitch in Gdansk after the defending European champions were held to a 1-1 draw by Italy.

The Barcelona midfielder grabbed the equaliser for Vicente Del Bosque's men shortly after Antonio Di Natale had put the Azzurri ahead after 61 minutes.

Spain had late chances to win it, most notably through Fernando Torres, but Italy held on for a deserved point in the Group C opener.

Not good enough: Cesc Fabregas claimed the pitch was 'lamentable'

Not good enough: Cesc Fabregas claimed the pitch was 'lamentable'

Fabregas, who was preferred to Torres in the starting line-up in a 4-6-0 formation, felt the slow pitch at the Arena Gdansk prevented Spain from playing their high-tempo passing game.

He said: 'I don't want to complain, but we deserve much more. It is lamentable that we have to play on a pitch like this.

'It has been a difficult match, the most difficult one we have in the group against a very strong rival.

'After going behind it is not a bad result. We are still dependent on ourselves. We have shown character and played well.'

Let's go: Fabregas netted the equaliser

Let's go: Fabregas netted the equaliser

Del Bosque was not displeased with his side's performance.

He said: 'We have worked hard and put in a good effort. We are relatively satisfied with our work and the result.'

On the inclusion of Fabregas, the former Real Madrid boss insisted he had made the right call.

'We wanted to have superiority in the midfield so that we could have possession and arrive higher up the pitch. David Silva, Cesc and Andres Iniesta arrived very well from the second line of attack and I think they did very well in a lot of moments.

Shove: Fabregas gets well acquainted with the pitch

Shove: Fabregas gets well acquainted with the pitch

'The plan didn't go badly, Cesc did very well in this position. When Fernando Torres came on the match was much more open. We had more chances to score, but so did they and we can't forget that. Time will tell whether this is a good point or not.'

Spain at times looked uncharacteristically slack in possession, particularly in the first half, but Del Bosque was quick to give credit to Italy's pressing game.

Risks and rewards: Italy's pressing game saw them put in some tough challenges

Risks and rewards: Italy's pressing game saw them put in some tough challenges

'We knew Italy were going to press us high and they wanted to take the initiative. I had already warned that they are very dangerous and that has been the case,' he added.

Italy boss Cesare Prandelli was disappointed his side allowed Spain back into the game just three minutes after Di Natale's opener.

'What disappointed me about this evening was that we allowed them to equalise so quickly. We were playing against the world champions but we should have made it more difficult for them after we scored,' he said.

Opener: Antonio Di Natale broke the deadlock

Opener: Antonio Di Natale broke the deadlock

'We need to improve on certain things.

'We were a little surprised with Spain's line-up but we agreed that we needed to focus on our own game.

'We will analyse this game and work on some things. We expended a lot of energy which we will need to recover for our next match.'

EURO 2012: Philipp Lahm to play left-back against Portugal

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Germany to deploy captain Lahm at left-back to counter Ronaldo threat

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UPDATED:

12:42 GMT, 7 June 2012

Germany manager Joachim Low has revealed he will deploy his captain Philipp Lahm at left-back in an attempt to shackle Cristiano Ronaldo in their opening game against Portugal on Saturday.

Lahm prefers to play right-back – as he is naturally right-footed and plays there for club side Bayern Munich – but he is comfortable switching flanks.

Food for thought: Lahm (centre) is set to start at left-back for Germany

Food for thought: Lahm (centre) is set to start at left-back for Germany

Dangerman: Low hopes Lahm can shackle Ronaldo

Dangerman: Low hopes Lahm can shackle Ronaldo

Although the Germans head into the tournament as second-favourites behind Spain, their back four has not been settled since the 2010 World Cup and they conceded five in a defeat to Switzerland last month.

But Low is confident that Lahm's inclusion on the left will benefit his side, although he admitted he is not sure who his right-back will be.

'It is very good for us that Philipp will play on the left,' Low told said.

'On the right one alternative is Jerome Boateng but Lars Bender has been very good in training in that position. I like him there.'

Boateng plays at centre-back for Bayern but is the favourite to feature at right-back, while Bender is naturally a defensive midfielder.

Although the full-back position are unsettled, Low has a settled centre-back pairing of Dortmund's Mats Hummels and Bayern's Holger Badstuber as he prepares his side to take on Ronaldo and Co.