PM David Cameron says football has failed to deal with racism

Posted on November 2, 2012 by adminsports

Prime Minister calls for football to get tough on racism after recent failures

UPDATED:

12:49 GMT, 2 November 2012

Prime Minister David Cameron says the football authorities have failed to put the necessary structures in place to tackle racism in the game.

Senior Government sources say that the Prime Minister will demand the FA and other authorities put in place tougher measures in place to deal better with the sort of incidents which have damaged the football’s reputation over the last 12 months.

Sports minister, Hugh Robertson, told the Daily Telegraph: ‘We expect the football authorities to come forward with a clear plan of action in the coming weeks on what more can be done to tackle racism in the game. Events over the last year have shown the need for action.'

Time to get tough: Prime Minister David Cameron wants football's authorities to act better on racism issues

Cameron lead a an anti-discrimination summit for leading football figures, including the FA chairman, David Bernstein, in February when he staked his personal reputation on the matter following the two high profile incidents involving involving Chelsea’s John Terry and Liverpool’s Luis Suarez.

Cameron ordered an inquiry by the Culture, Media and Sport select committee, which announced its conclusions on the FA’s interim response last month.

Bad for the game: High profile racism cases such as the John Terry and Anton Ferdinand one have been bad for football's reputation

The committee’s chairman, John Whittingdale MP, said then: ‘More needs to be done to increase the diversity of the pool of candidates for coaches and referees, to embed the values of equality and diversity at all levels of the game.

'While the general level of progress in combating racism and racist abuse in the UK is positive and should be applauded, there is much more that can and must be done, and we believe it is for the FA to take the lead and set the example for everyone, from football authorities at all levels to the grassroots groups, to follow.'

The FA has given a first response to the parliamentary inquiry but at the highest level of government there is an expectation for robust measures when they report back with final proposals in December.

Liverpool owner John W Henry denies 600m Boston Red Sox sale rumours

Posted on September 14, 2012 by adminsports

Liverpool chief Henry forced to deny 600m Red Sox sale talk

UPDATED:

21:40 GMT, 13 September 2012

John Henry, principal owner of Boston Red Sox and also Barclays Premier League side Liverpool, has denied plans are afoot to sell the baseball franchise.

Reports in the United States claimed the American, who is the lead figure in Fenway Sports Group, was looking at offloading the Red Sox for around one billion dollars (about 600million).

No sale! Liverpool owner Henry has denied he's flogging the baseball team

However, Henry, criticised by some Liverpool fans who think he pays more attention to the Red Sox than the Anfield club, has dismissed the suggestion.

'A sale of any kind is so far from our thinking it hasn't even come up apart from technical planning issues involving death or disability,' he told the Boston Globe.

'This report is completely without foundation.

'Regarding unnamed sources: Any sale discussions that may have taken place were missing three key people – (Red Sox president and chief executive officer) Larry (Lucchino), (Red Sox – and Liverpool – chairman) Tom (Werner) and me.

'The Sox and any of the other components of FSG are not for sale and will not be for the foreseeable future.'

Mourning: Liverpool fans are coming to terms with the huge injustice handed out to their fans at Hillsborough 23 years ago

Swansea open talks with Celtic over Ki Sung Yueng

Posted on August 20, 2012 by adminsports

Celtic expect bidding war for Ki as Swansea open talks over 8m midfielder

UPDATED:

21:30 GMT, 19 August 2012

Swansea City are in talks with Celtic over a bid to sign South Korean midfielder Ki Sung Yueng.

Armed with a 15million bounty after selling star player Joe Allen to Liverpool, Swans manager Michael Laudrup has identified Ki as a replacement after being scared off a move for Bolton’s Mark Davies by the 8m price tag and may be prepared to throw in Stephen Dobbie as a sweetener.

In demand: Ki Sung Yueng (right) is wanted by a host of Premier League clubs

However, Celtic sources say further offers for Ki are expected this week and have placed an offer of 5m from the Welsh club on ice in anticipation of a transfer bidding war.

Queens Park Rangers, Arsenal, Fulham, Liverpool and Atletico Madrid are also interested in Ki and a move to Wales may not suit him, while Celtic are unlikely to accept less than 8m for a player with 15 months remaining on his current contract.

Off and running: Swansea thrashed Queens Park Rangers on Saturday

Robin van Persie transfer: Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger hold talks

Posted on August 14, 2012 by adminsports

Exclusive: Ferguson makes RVP peace call to rival Wenger over United's move for ace

UPDATED:

21:45 GMT, 13 August 2012

Sir Alex Ferguson has held private discussions with Arsene Wenger over Manchester United's attempts to complete a dramatic swoop for Robin van Persie.

And Sportsmail understands Arsenal are expecting an improved offer following personal contact between the two managers which took place recently.

In the air: Van Persie trained with Holland on Monday uncertain which club he'll be playing for this term

Fantasy football 2012

Sources say that a deal to take the Arsenal captain, who got 30 goals to win the golden boot last season, to Old Trafford could be completed by the time the season kicks off this weekend.

It is understood the Arsenal manager repeated his insistence to Ferguson the 29-year-old would not be allowed to leave for United for a penny under 30million – but the Gunners will listen to offers starting at 20million with add ons.

Ferguson's personal intervention into the proposed deal to sign Van Persie underlines the club's determination to land the Holland international.

Moving on: RVP made his first appearance for Arsenal in pre-season on Sunday replacing new signing Podolski

However, the Old Trafford club would not be willing to meet Arsenal's inflated asking price, placing serious doubt over the protracted move.

The Gunners are willing to listen to offers starting at 20million, but Wenger is desperate not to sell his talisman to a Premier League rival – hence the sky-high price quote.

United were quoted 30million during initial talks between the two Premier League heavyweights earlier in the summer and it seems Arsenal's stance has not changed despite Ferguson's private chat with Wenger.

Not committed: Van Persie has signalled his desire to leave the Emirates this summer

A shock move to Old Trafford now seems the only viable option for Van Persie in his attempts to leave the Emirates Stadium this summer after Manchester City and Juventus both stalled on their interest.

And it seems Wenger is facing a fight to keep hold of another one of his stars after Alex Song said Barcelona are interested in signing him.

The Spanish giants are huge admirers of the Cameroon midfielder, identifying him as a potential target.

Arsene Wenger

Sir Alex Ferguson

Crunch talks: Wenger and Ferguson have held discussions over Van Persie's future

Sources in Spain have indicated that Barca will attempt to open talks with the Gunners this week.

And when asked about interest from Barcelona, Song said yesterday: 'I am not going to lie if I said there is no interest, but I am at Arsenal and I am happy at Arsenal.

'Barcelona are the best team in the world, and speculation will always continue until the window closes.'

The La Liga club's interest in Song is another unwanted headache for Wenger in the build up to new season – though the club are growing increasingly confident of signing Theo Walcott to a new contract.

Meanwhile, the ankle injury that has ruled Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain out of England's clash against Italy is not understood to be serious.

The midfielder withdrew from Roy Hodgson's squad yesterday, but his removal is precautionary. Gunners winger Ryo Miyaichi has joined Wigan on a season-long loan.

Vincent Kompany leaves Manchester City tour with calf injury

Posted on July 29, 2012 by adminsports

Exclusive: Concern for City as captain Kompany leaves tour early with calf injury

UPDATED:

08:21 GMT, 29 July 2012

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany has flown home early from the club's tour of the Far East after suffering a calf injury in the defeat against Arsenal on Friday night.

The Belgian international struggled with a calf problem towards the end of last season and pulled up in the second half of City's tour match against the Gunners in Beijing's Birds Nest Stadium.

Early bath: Kompany has flown back to England for treatment

Now Sportsmail
can reveal that Kompany has flown back to England for treatment today
after manager Roberto Mancini decided he would not be fit enough to face
a Malaysian XI here in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow night.

City
sources have stressed that there is no long-term concern over Kompany's
fitness but that they want to make sure he is fit for the start of the
season.

Manchester City want Liverpool"s Martin Skrtel as Real Madrid eye David Silva

Posted on June 21, 2012 by adminsports

Manchester City want to poach Liverpool's Skrtel as Real Madrid circle for Silva swoop

UPDATED:

22:01 GMT, 20 June 2012

Manchester City are to press ahead with interest in Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel.

The Reds are eager to improve Skrtel’s current deal, but the fact he has yet to sign is offering City hope.

Top target: Martin Skrtel could be on the move from Anfield

Anzhi Makhachkala are also interested in luring the 27-year-old back to Russia, with the Slovakian joining Liverpool from Zenit St Petersburg in 2008.

Superb season: Skrtel

Skrtel was a shining light in Liverpool's turbulent term, winning the club's Player of the Season gong.

However, as Skrtel himself admitted, Liverpool's eighth place finish was a below par season – despite the club winning the Carling Cup and reaching the FA Cup final.

'Everybody knows it wasn't a great season because we finished in eighth position and that's not good,' he said.

'I think we deserved to finish higher than eighth position, but there were too many games in which we didn't get three points – and there were too many games in which we didn't get what we deserved.'

Meanwhile, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has set aside a 55million budget in his bid to sign David Silva from City.

Sources in Spain say Jose Mourinho would offer Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain in any possible deal.

A wanted man: David Silva is attracting interest in his native Spain

Brian Kennedy ponders next move with Rangers running out of time

Posted on May 9, 2012 by adminsports

Kennedy ponders next move with Rangers running out of time

UPDATED:

10:26 GMT, 9 May 2012

Sale Sharks owner Brian Kennedy will 'reflect on his own position' after expressing fears over the future of
Rangers following Bill Miller`s decision to withdraw his offer for the
club on Tuesday.

American tycoon Miller was handed
preferred bidder status last Thursday ahead of a rival bid from Kennedy
and the Blue Knights consortium but has informed administrators he will
not pursue his interest any further.

Waiting game: Brian Kennedy has made an offer for Rangers

Duff and Phelps are now evaluating
three other bids for the Glasgow giants – which does not yet include a
fresh offer from Kennedy.

Kennedy told the Daily Record: 'Words
fail me. All my worst fears are coming to pass. In the meantime, I am
reflecting on my own position.

'I'm not trying to be a smart ass here. This was a clear sequence of events. I could see it, every Rangers supporter could see it was likely to unfold.

'And yet here we are, in an even more perilous position than ever. My worst fear is that we could see a padlock on the gates of Ibrox.

'I don't give a monkey's about the Americans pulling out. I care about the damage that has been done in between and where it will all lead to.

'When someone predicts a sequence of events 'A, B, C, D and E', and when 'A, B, C, D' happens then you've got to think there is a good chance 'E' will happen too.

'If anyone is going to step up and do something then they'd better do it soon. I will reflect on this and will be talking to those who were considering investing with me.'

The move comes just days after Kennedy told Sportsmail he
was ready to assist the American. Sources close to the Edinburgh-born
businessman confirmed preliminary talks with Whyte had taken place, but
they stressed the move was an effort to help rather than hinder Miller’s
Ibrox takeover.

The Tennessee tow-truck tycoon was awarded preferred bidder status by administrator Duff & Phelps last week.

Andy Kerr, president of the Rangers
Supporters Assembly, urged Duff and Phelps to 'move with the utmost
haste' to secure the club's future.

He told BBC Radio Scotland's Good
Morning Scotland programme: 'Let's be open, let's be honest, let's fully
understand another false dawn is going to be the final nail in the
coffin.'

Decision: Administrators David Whitehouse and Paul Clark had granted preferred bidding status to Bill Miller

Asked if the game was up for Rangers, he replied: 'I don't think it is up but we are in a critical situation and things need to happen very, very quickly.

'I very strongly urge Duff and Phelps and the people they are currently speaking to to move with the utmost haste now.'

Miller said preliminary information he had received about the club was 'more optimistic than reality', and also made reference to opposition to his takeover bid by Rangers supporters.

One of his advisors, Club 9 Sports chief executive Jon Pritchett, said the businessman received 'vitriolic' emails from fans.

Referring to the emails, Kerr said: 'It would be interesting to see one or two examples and just try and understand what sort of people were doing that.

'We saw a couple of banners and we're talking about a few people here, and it is disappointing when people are effectively prejudging the guy.

'The general call from the supporters was, 'Who are you Give us an explanation of what you are trying to achieve. Let's try and work together and engage with you and see if we can take the club forward'. That's where we wanted to be.'

He added: 'I just don't think that he had an understanding of the business, what was going to be involved to turn the club round, the precarious nature of where we are and where we're trying to get to.

'It just seems an odd scenario that someone from so far away was trying to buy into a 140-year-old institution.'

London 2012 Olympics: Dwain Chambers and drug cheats ban lifted

Posted on April 29, 2012 by adminsports

Drugs cheats set for London Games… Chambers and Millar cleared for action as court lifts BOA ban

UPDATED:

18:30 GMT, 29 April 2012

The British Olympic Association have lost a court case to keep their lifetime ban for drugs cheats.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport
(CAS) will announce on Monday their decision that the BOA's bylaw does
not comply with the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) global code,
sources with knowledge of the case have confirmed.

The outcome means sprinter Dwain
Chambers and cyclist David Millar will have their lifetime bans lifted
to allow their selection for Team GB for the London 2012 Games.

Reprieve: Sprinter Dwain Chambers is to be cleared for Olympic competition

CAS rulings are not always cut and dried in favour of a single party, but it is understood this ruling is unequivocally in favour of WADA.

The BOA's response will be to accept the defeat, with the first action to formally remove the bylaw at a full board meeting. That will then open the way to allowing UK Athletics to select Chambers in July, and British Cycling to do the same with Millar in June.

The two athletes had been subject to the lifetime rule for after being banned for doping offences eight years ago. Shot-putter Carl Myerscough would also be eligible for selection.

The BOA will now concentrate on their proposals to change WADA's global code on doping.

They have proposed a minimum four-year ban for a first serious doping offence, including missing one Olympics, with national Olympic committees having the autonomy to have tougher sanctions if they so choose including a lifetime ban.

Any such agreement would not come before the London Games however so would not affect Chambers' and Millar's participation.

Free to compete: Cyclist David Millar admitted taking a blood-boosting agent

Most anti-doping experts believe that it is more likely that WADA will agree to change the new code to increase the length of a ban for a serious offence, but will stop short of allowing different Olympic committees to have different sanctions.

Chambers tested positive for the designer steroid THG in 2003 and was banned for two years.

Millar admitted to taking the blood-boosting agent EPO and he too was banned for two years.

Both athletes have since worked closely with the anti-doping authorities to help them crack down on drug cheats.

Chambers has detailed exactly how he took the steroids to try to avoid detection while Millar is now one of the athletes advising WADA on their methods.

Second chance: Former triple jumper Edwards (left) supports lifting the ban

The ruling will be welcomed by former Olympic triple jump champion Jonathan Edwards who said last week it was time for it to be ended.

Edwards said: 'Athletes should get a second chance. But two years is simply not enough. The world needs to unite and introduce four-year bans.'

The CAS ruling has been widely expected since the International Olympic Committee lost a similar case in November after their Osaka rule – banning drugs cheats from the next Olympics even if their suspension was completed – was challenged.

The case was brought by the US Olympic Committee on behalf of their 400m runner LaShawn Merritt.

The BOA said in a statement: 'The British Olympic Association can confirm that today, it has received from the Court of Arbitration for Sport the written decision in the arbitration between the BOA and the World Anti-Doping Association (WADA).

'As the decision is to be announced first by CAS, and out of respect for CAS and the Arbitration Panel, the BOA will be offering no comment today.'

Andy Carroll will fight for starting spot at Liverpool

Posted on January 30, 2012 by adminsports

Carroll will fight for starting spot as Liverpool refute Tevez swap rumours

Fighter: Andy Carroll wants to stick it out at Anfield

Andy Carroll is ready to fight to save his Liverpool career after the Anfield club emphatically dismissed stories they wanted to swap him for Carlos Tevez.

As questions continue to hang over the England striker’s suitability for Kenny Dalglish’s team, sources in Manchester revealed a deal was mooted which would have seen Carroll and Tevez switch clubs, but Liverpool said the stories were ‘fundamentally and completely untrue’.

Though Liverpool may be forced to consider their options should they receive a substantial offer for a player they paid 35million for 12 months ago, a deal for Tevez would be difficult because of the Argentine’s 225,000 weekly wage at Manchester City.

Things have not been easy for Carroll since he joined Liverpool. There have been questions about his lifestyle and a return of six goals in 35 appearances was not what was envisaged when he became the eighth most expensive footballer in history.

He has also been linked with a return to Newcastle in the past month but there were glimpses during Saturday’s 2-1 win over Manchester United in the FA Cup fourth round that he is finally starting to adjust.

Carroll, whose flick-on created the opening for Dirk Kuyt to settle the tie, is determined to make a success of his stay on Merseyside and hopes his encouraging performance against United is a sign of things to come.

‘I’m (only) just here,’ said Liverpool’s No 9. ‘I’ve signed a contract here and this is the team I’m playing for. I think I’m just getting into my stride now.

Tough: At his best he is hard to handle

‘Everyone is getting used to how I play and I’m getting used to everyone else but everyone is helping me. I am settled and I love it here.’

Asked if there had been a day when he had regretted the move from St James’ Park, he replied: ‘No, not at all. The club have been great with me and I’m enjoying it here.’

Carroll, 23, certainly earned praise for his efforts. Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish enthused that ‘the big ’un had done well’, while Kuyt — who said his goal felt better than the hat-trick he scored against United last March — was even more effusive.

‘Andy played a great game,’ said Kuyt. ‘I know how difficult it is to be alone up front but he battled so hard. He was important for us for both of the goals. The header for my goal was something I told him. I said, “Win it and flick it on”, and he did it perfectly.’

Settled: Carroll claims he is fine in Liverpool

Liverpool’s victory left Sir Alex Ferguson flabbergasted and United’s manager suggested he could not see how his side would lose after Park Ji-sung had cancelled out Daniel Agger’s header, but they failed to deal with the home side cranking up the tempo in the last 10 minutes.

Carroll, in particular, thrived in the final quarter. At times he looked isolated early on but once he had substitutes Kuyt and Craig Bellamy running alongside him, he was a different proposition.

With better fortune, he would have had a goal to celebrate but his last-minute header rattled the crossbar. Still, the assist was enough and if the last seven days have been significant for Liverpool, the same could yet be said for Carroll.

‘It was nice to get an assist but it doesn’t really matter who sets them up or who scores them,’ said Carroll.

‘I thought I did well but now I’ve just got to keep on going and keep working on it and then it will come.’

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Tag Archives: sources

PM David Cameron says football has failed to deal with racism

Liverpool owner John W Henry denies 600m Boston Red Sox sale rumours

Swansea open talks with Celtic over Ki Sung Yueng

Robin van Persie transfer: Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger hold talks

Vincent Kompany leaves Manchester City tour with calf injury

Manchester City want Liverpool"s Martin Skrtel as Real Madrid eye David Silva

Brian Kennedy ponders next move with Rangers running out of time

London 2012 Olympics: Dwain Chambers and drug cheats ban lifted

Andy Carroll will fight for starting spot at Liverpool