Championship club Brighton & Hove Albion have been fined £90,000 by the Football Association after admitting to a breach of the FA’s agent regulations. . The fine relates to Brighton’s purchase of midfielder Dale Stephens from Charlton in January last year. . The Seagulls have also been warned about their future conduct. . Three football agents – Alex Levack, Matthew Kleinman and Ali Rahnama – have been sanctioned and warned after also admitting a breach of rules. Levack and Kleinman have both been fined £7,500 and suspended from all agency activity and intermediary activity for a period of 14 months.…
Author: David F.
Fifa executive committee member Michel D’Hooghe has been cleared of corruption by an investigation into the bidding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. . The governing body’s ethics committee found “insufficient evidence to suggest” that the 69-year-old Belgian “had violated their code of ethics”. D’Hooghe, who is head of Fifa’s medical committee and an executive member since 1988, denied any wrongdoing. . Russia was awarded the 2018 World Cup and the 2022 tournament went to Qatar. . The decision in December 2010 to award both tournaments was the source of controversy, prompting a 430-page Fifa report into allegations of…
The pressure on Arsenal as favourites for their Champions League last-16 tie with Monaco is welcome, says Gunners boss Arsene Wenger. . The North London side have exited the competition at this stage in each of the last four seasons. . “The French might give us the status of favourites. It doesn’t bother me,” said Wenger before Wednesday’s first leg at Emirates Stadium. . “There’s a lot at stake but these are the games you want to play.” . The Ligue 1 side gave Wenger his big break in management in the late 1980s but the Arsenal boss was not…
Celtic have been fined £7,300 by Uefa following crowd disturbances during their Europa League group stage match against Dinamo Zagreb. . It is the fifth time in three years Celtic have been charged by Uefa over supporter behaviour. . Fans clashed with police after fireworks were set off in the Celtic end of Stadion Maksimir as the Scottish champions lost 4-3 in Croatia. . Despite that December defeat, Celtic qualified for the last 32. . The fine – imposed by Uefa’s control, ethics and disciplinary body – was announced as Celtic and their fans travelled to Italy for the Thursday’s…
Fifa says it will not pay compensation to clubs and leagues unhappy about plans to play the 2022 Qatar World Cup in November and December. . It also said no apology was necessary for the scheduling of the tournament, which will disrupt a number of leagues. . A Fifa taskforce has recommended the 2022 World Cup take place in winter to avoid Qatar’s hot summer temperatures. . “There will be no compensation,” said Fifa secretary general Jerome Valcke. “There are seven years to reorganise.” . Fifa’s executive committee will meet in Zurich next month to ratify the taskforce’s recommendation. .…
Bus tycoon James Easdale has resigned as a Rangers director following opposition from the Scottish Championship club’s supporters. . Easdale was one of four directors who faced being voted off the board at an extraordinary meeting on 6 March. . He said that surviving such a vote would be “a hollow victory” without the backing of the fans. . Easdale’s brother and business partner, Sandy, is football club chairman and controls more than 20% of club shares. . Former Rangers director Dave King, unhappy with the current direction of the club, has been behind a move to remove the current…
Manchester City’s match programme delivered a temptation impossible for fate to resist when it described Luis Suarez as “the dogsbody in this trio of artful dodgers” in comparison to Barcelona superstars Lionel Messi and Neymar. . The Uruguayan striker known for his bite as well as his bark demonstrated he is much more than a mongrel among pedigree champions with both goals in a 2-1 win that leaves City contemplating an identical Champions League fate to last season, when they fell to Barcelona in the last 16. . This was Suarez’s first game in England since his farewell to Liverpool…
Yaya Toure’s agent has revealed the midfielder wants to end his career at Manchester City. . The Ivorian’s agent, Dimitry Seluk, told the Sunday Mirror that he’s expressed a desire to ‘stay for life’ at the Etihad. . Seluk said: “Yaya loves Manchester City and, despite what is sometimes said, he is happy at the club. . “In fact, he would like to stay for life. He would love nothing better than to finish his playing career with City and then work for the club after that. . “That’s why I want City to give Yaya a new contract, to…
Juventus’ Paul Pogba would cost any potential suitors €100 million, says the player’s agent Mino Raiola. . Paul Pogba’s agent Mino Raiola claims it would cost €100 million to prise the midfielder him away from Juventus. . Pogba moved to the Serie A champions from Manchester United in 2012 and quickly established himself as a first-team regular. . In October, the France international extended his deal at the club until 2019, but that has not stopped speculation in the media about a possible move, with Real Madrid touted as potential suitors. . “If Real Madrid want him, then they can…
Players of Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) side Warri Wolves have began a warning strike to press for their unpaid wages, supersport.com has been informed. . The angry players boycotted training on Tuesday evening after honouring the morning session, it was learned. . Wolves have failed to pay their players salaries for the month of January, and the players fear that could extend to February. . The players also claimed they are still owed 30 percent of their signing-on fees for last season despite an agreement by clubs with the League Management Company (LMC) to abolish such fees and put…
Dortmund are confident their away goal will be enough to carry them past Juventus despite defensive blunders that saw them lose 2-1 in their Champions League Round of 16 first leg in Turin in Tuesday. . Dortmund have only themselves to blame for leaving the Italian city with a defeat, with both of Juve’s goals exposing a napping defence in an otherwise solid performance by the Germans, especially in a strong first half. . The Germans, title winners in 1997 against Juve and finalists in 2013, are gradually recovering from a dismal domestic first half of the season, and the…
If Barcelona fail to secure their eighth consecutive Champions League quarter-final appearance, Lionel Messi’s failed penalty at Manchester City on Tuesday could well prove their “what if” moment. . Barca were leading 2-1 in the last 16, first leg at the Etihad Stadium thanks to a Luis Suarez brace when Messi stepped up to take an added-time spot kick. . City goalkeeper Joe Hart denied the Argentina captain and gave the Premier League side a much better chance of overturning the deficit in the second leg at the Nou Camp on March 18. . Messi has a penalty record any…
Manchester City suffered from deja vu as Luis Suarez’s double gave Barcelona a 2-1 first leg lead in a Champions League last 16 tie at the Etihad although Lionel Messi’s late penalty miss left the door ajar on Tuesday. . In a repeat of last season’s round of 16 first leg at the Etihad, Barcelona were too slick for the hosts in a mesmerising opening period with Uruguay forward Suarez firing them in front in the 16th minute and doubling the lead after half an hour. . Sergio Aguero rewarded City for a vastly improved second half showing with a…
Manchester United could make a move for Lazio midfielder Lucas Biglia this summer, according to the Mirror. . The report has suggested that the Red Devils attempted to land the 29-year-old in the January market, however a move failed to materialise. . It appears, though, that the Old Trafford outfit could yet make another move for the player’s services, with the report claiming that they could land him for around £8 million. . The Argentine international, who previously starred at Belgian outfit Anderlecht, has also attracted interest from French moneybags Paris Saint- Germain, so it looks set to be an…
Super Eagles striker Victor Moses has declared that he remains a Chelsea player despite being on loan at Stoke City. . Speaking after scoring the winner for Stoke at the weekend, the Nigeria international who returned to action recently after a long lay- off due to injury said he is only at Stoke to do a professional job as he looks forward to return to the Stamford Bridge any moment from now. . “I’m comfortable. They’re great lads, friendly, and I’m enjoying my football,” he said. . “To be honest, I’m just enjoying my football at the moment. I’m still…
Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew is eyeing up a summer move for Newcastle United’s Sammy Ameobi. . Bolasie, 25, has been in superb form for Palace this season and his performances on the wing for Pardew’s side has seen links to Liverpool and the former Newcastle United boss commented saying that it would take an ‘extraordinary’ bid from the Reds to sign Bolasie. . Sammy Ameobi – Shola’s brother – came through the youth academy and into the first-team under Pardew and the Palace manager would now like to sign the winger. . Sammy Ameobi has created 14 chances in…
Nigerian striker Emmanuel Emenike will hope to score his fifth league goal of the season when Fenerbache host Akhisar Belediyespor at the Sükrü Saracoglu stadium tonight. Emenike who was on target in the Yellow Canaries 5-0 whitewash of Gaziantepspor last weekend has so far played 17 times this season for the Turkish champions. . If they win tonight Ismail Kartal’s side will move one point above Galatasaray who currently lead the log with 48 points from 21 games. . In Italy, Joel Obi has been included in Inter Milan’s 25 man squad to face Cagliari at the Sant’Elia stadium. Obi…
With remarkable spirit and resilience, Dundee United fought back from losing a goal and a man to earn a draw against Inverness Caledonian Thistle. An exciting game was bookended by the dismissals of United goalkeeper Michal Szromnik and Inverness’s Gary Warren. . In between, Caley’s Greg Tansey scored from the spot-kick earned by Szromnik’s indiscipline and Ryan McGowan levelled. Inverness ought to have extended their lead, but United were irrepressible after the break and got their reward. . Referee Calum Murray soon had several decisions to make. In the opening 10 seconds, Inverness defender David Raven clattered recklessly into United’s…
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini believes goalkeeper Joe Hart’s injury-time penalty save from Lionel Messi has kept their Champions League hopes alive. . Luis Suarez’s two first half goals gave Barcelona a 2-0 lead before Sergio Aguero pulled a goal back. Hart then denied Messi with virtually the final kick of the last-16 first-leg match. . “It gives us more chance to win in Barcelona,” said Pellegrini. . “It was a very important save, firstly because it was not a necessary penalty as we must control our emotions in the box, but also it would have been very difficult at…
Cardiff deepened Wigan’s relegation worries with a 1-0 win at the DW Stadium as manager Malky Mackay lost to his former club. . Aron Gunnarsson scored the game’s only goal after 20 minutes when he slotted in following Kenwyne Jones’s assist. . The result is another setback for Mackay, who was sacked as Cardiff boss in December 2013. . Cardiff board members did not witness the win, boycotting the match in protest at alleged racism at Wigan. . Wigan owner Dave Whelan was fined £50,000 last year for making racist comments about Jewish and Chinese people and served a six-week…