TOP 100 SOCCER SITES
| |||
|
| |||
| |||
|
| |||
| Mark Hughes sacking by Manchester City 'unacceptable', says Sir Alex Ferguson Manchester City have come under fire from United manager for way they went about installing Roberto Mancini as successor. telegraph.co.uk |
Is your match on or off this weekend? • Sheffield Wednesday v Peterborough called off• Six of Saturday's Scottish Cup ties already postponedSaturday's Football League action has been decimated as the freezing weather conditions tighten their grip on sport.Three matches in the Championship have fallen foul of the cold spell and Leagues One and Two have been even harder hit, with only five of the 24 scheduled fixtures surviving inspections today.Rugby and racing, too, have been badly affected, with no National Hunt racing in Britain set to take place until Tuesday at the earliest.The Championship basement battle between Sheffield Wednesday and Peterborough is one of the biggest casualties, along with Reading's match at home to league leaders Newcastle, Watford v Sheffield United and Preston v Doncaster.The pitch at Hillsborough is protected by undersoil heating but areas immediately surrounding the stadium have been covered in a thick blanket of snow, making roads and pavements in the vicinity treacherous.Wednesday's chief executive, Nick Parker, said: "While we are still two days away from the fixture against Peterborough, the areas surrounding Hillsborough are covered in snow and ice. It is highly unlikely these areas could be cleared to the extent that would allow fans to come to the game and be guaranteed of their safety. Obviously the safety of our supporters is the club's main concern in these circumstances and we would not want to put fans in danger by encouraging them to use icy roads and pavements around Hillsborough."Preston's match against Doncaster was called off after a lunchtime pitch inspection and earlier the League One matches between Brighton and Brentford, Charlton and Hartlepool and Oldham and Leyton Orient as well as the League Two game between Cheltenham and Hereford were also postponed.A decision will be made tomorrow on whether Sunderland's Premier League home clash with Bolton on Saturday can go ahead. The city's Safety Advisory Group called an extraordinary meeting today to discuss the implications of the ongoing wintry conditions gripping much of the country.The group, which comprises representatives of Sunderland City Council, police, ambulance and fire services as well as the club, will meet again tomorrow, with weather forecasts suggesting that conditions will worsen over the weekend.Group chairman Ken Scott, of Sunderland City Council, said: "It is too soon at this stage to make a definitive decision regarding the status of the match. However another meeting will take place tomorrow after which we will make a further announcement. In the meantime, we will continue to monitor the weather conditions and associated safety issues."In Scotland the early casualties include the fourth-round Scottish Cup ties between Ayr United and Brechin City, Forfar Athletic and St Johnstone, Raith Rovers and Airdrie United, Morton and Celtic and Kilmarnock and Falkirk.The ties between Albion Rovers and Stirling Albion, Edinburgh City and Montrose, and Ross County and Inverurie Loco Works were all subject to 1pm pitch inspections this afternoon and failed. In the Irn-Bru Scottish Second Division match between Cowdenbeath and Arbroath and the Third Division game between Berwick and Stranraer have also been called off.Matches postponed because of weatherCoca-Cola ChampionshipPreston v DoncasterSheffield Wednesday v PeterboroughWatford v Sheffield UnitedReading v NewcastleLeague OneBrighton v BrentfordBristol Rovers v StockportCarlisle v MillwallCharlton v HartlepoolGillingham v TranmereMilton Keynes Dons v SwindonOldham v Leyton OrientSouthampton v HuddersfieldYeovil v ColchesterLeague TwoAldershot v RochdaleBury v DarlingtonCheltenham v HerefordCrewe v GrimsbyLincoln City v Accrington StanleyPort Vale v BradfordRotherham v BournemouthShrewsbury v BarnetTorquay v Dagenham & RedbridgeNotts County v MacclesfieldActive Nation Scottish Cup fourth roundAlbion Rovers v Stirling AlbionAyr United v Brechin CityEdinburgh City v MontroseForfar Athletic v St JohnstoneInverness CT v MotherwellKilmarnock v FalkirkLivingston v DundeeMorton v CelticRaith Rovers v Airdrie UnitedRoss County v Inverurie Loco Works Irn-Bru Scottish Second DivisionCowdenbeath v ArbroathIrn-Bru Scottish Third DivisionBerwick v StranraerEast Stirling v Queen's ParkThe postponed matches list will be updated throughout the dayChampionshipWeatherLeague OneLeague TwoScottish CupSheffield WednesdayPeterboroughBrighton & Hove AlbionBrentfordCharlton AthleticHartlepoolOldhamLeyton OrientCheltenhamHerefordAyrBrechinForfarSt JohnstoneKilmarnockFalkirkMortonCelticRaith RoversAirdrie UnitedCowdenbeathArbroathBerwickStranraerguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Togo's request to return to Cup of Nations turned down • Confederation confirms Togo will not be allowed back• Request from sports minister to return to Angola deniedTogo's request to play in the Africa Cup of Nations has been turned down by the tournament's organisers.Flags flew at half-mast in the west African nation today as the country began three days of national mourning. The squad flew home yesterday in the wake of Friday's gun attack, which killed three people; the side's assistant coach, its press officer and the Angolan bus driver.The country's sports minister had asked the Confederation of African Football to allow the team to take part after the mourning. But CAF, which initially wanted Togo to remain in Angola, has turned down the request and will officially disqualify the team tonight.Togo's prime minister Gilbert Huongbo has hit out at the organisers over their stance. "Management did not give us enough assurance," he said. "We would leave our team being exposed to similar risks. Therefore we decided to pull our team out of the competition against our will."We will have hoped that one can have serene discussion with the host country, with the Confederation, to assess what has happened, assess what one has to do. We received no co-operation from the Confederation in terms of any kind of assessment."Our analysis is that they want it [the shooting] to be seen as a non-event and the show must go on as planned; there mustn't be an official change and Togo is causing problems to the festival."But a CAF official told reporters that Togo had been warned that they would be thrown out of the tournament unless they honoured tonight's scheduled fixture against Ghana."Togo have not taken official steps to come back and play the African Nations Cup," the official said. "The referee has received the order to blow the starting whistle and if the Togolese players are not there, they will have lost the match and will be disqualified."Meanwhile, the heads of government of South Africa, Namibia, Congo-Brazzaville and Zambia expressed a message of solidarity and support for Angola after meeting with the Angolan president José Eduardo dos Santos this morning.The South African president, Jacob Zuma, was in Luanda to attend Sunday's opening ceremony, and while dismissing what he termed "Afro-pessimism" that failed to recognise the profound differences between African countries, he acknowledged South Africa would be seeking to learn security lessons form Angola before the World Cup, which begins in June.Antonio Nito, the provincial prosecutor, has described how Angola security forced searched the jungle area in Massiba, near where Friday's attack took place, before arresting two men suspected of belonging to FLEC, the separatist body that claimed responsibility for the ambush.TogoAfrica Cup of Nationsguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill lauds James Milner after Carling Cup thriller Aston Villa midfielder shines as side recover from nightmare start against Blackburn to seal place in Carling Cup final. telegraph.co.uk |
Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand faces ban for violent conduct • Ferdinand will miss City match if he does not appeal• Ferguson bans Sky cameras over role in FA chargeSir Alex Ferguson's insistence that the behaviour of his players "has always been perfect" has been undermined by the news that Rio Ferdinand is facing a three-match ban for violent conduct. The defender could miss the second leg of Manchester United's Carling Cup semi-final against Manchester City tonight, the match against Arsenal on Sunday and the home game against Portsmouth the Âfollowing weekend after knocking the Hull City striker Craig Fagan to the ground Âduring the 4-0 victory last Saturday.Ferguson has banned Sky's cameras from his press conferences at the club's training ground after he learned that the television company – at the Football Association's request – Âproduced the pictures that have led to Ferdinand being charged. The United manager also believes Sky is partly to blame for the bad feeling surrounding tonight's match, after repeatedly broadcasting pictures of Gary Neville showing his middle finger to Carlos Tevez in last week's first leg.Ferdinand's charge came a few hours after Ferguson said his players' behaviour "has always been perfect" and expressed irritation about the way their conduct was under scrutiny this week. The FA has written to United and City, after being contacted by Greater Manchester police, to stress the importance of the Âplayers not adding to an incendiary atmosphere.Ferguson rounded on Sky's reporter. "You try to promote yourself – just leave the football to us, OK?" he said. "You come out with some nonsense. I don't pay any attention to a lot of that. The players' behaviour has always been perfect. They play within the rules of the game. We've never had any issues with big games."Ferguson's defence of his players omits previous incidents in Manchester derbies, including Roy Keane's infamous challenge on Alfie Haaland and Neville being sent off for headbutting Steve McManaman. The United manager said: "I don't know why you are going on about it. Look at the record. Unbelievable!"United yesterday announced a £10m deal to sign the 20-year-old Fulham centre-half Chris Smallingat the end of the season. Arsenal had made the first approach for a player who was at Maidstone United in the Isthmian League three years ago and who has made only four Premier League appearances. Smalling's move is subject to a medical – due today, according to Fulham's manager, Roy Hodgson – and personal terms and Arsenal will not give up. "As long as the player has not signed anywhere, it is not the end of it," said their manager, Arsène Wenger. Smalling is regarded by United as a successor to Nemanja Vidic, who is keen to leave Old Trafford.If Ferdinand pleads not guilty to his charge, he could face City, with a hearing to be held on Thursday, but, if the FA considers the appeal to be "frivolous" and finds him guilty, the ban could be extended to a fourth game, at Aston Villa on 10 February. Ferdinand has until 6pm today to respond. If he accepts the charge, the three-match ban starts immediately.The match against City has been preceded by Tevez calling Neville a "moron" and a "boot-licker" on Argentinian radio. "There isn't a problem with Carlos or any of the other players," Roberto Mancini, the City manager, said. "Everybody must stay calm and think only about the match. If we don't stay calm, we could have a problem. We must stay calm because it's important we think about the game, about tactics, about corners. We must keep our concentration. If you can stay calm, we will play better."Mancini went on to quote "the fantastic Oasis", saying his message was "don't look back in anger". However, the City chief executive Garry Cook's comments that his employers will supersede United as England's biggest club and that it is a case of "when not if" they will reach Wembley have not helped to calm the situation."Sometimes people can get carried away," Ferguson said.Zoran Tosic is close to agreeing a loan deal with FC Cologne after a miserable year at Old Trafford.Manchester UnitedRio FerdinandSir Alex FergusonDaniel Taylorguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |