TOP 100 SOCCER SITES
| |||
|
| |||
| |||
|
| |||
| Lazio ordered to release Pandev by Lega Calcio • Pandev has been frozen out since requesting transfer• Inter and Juventus reported to be interested in playerLazio have been ordered to release the striker Goran Pandev from his contract by the Italian league's governing body, Lega Calcio, after the striker was frozen out by the club.Pandev's relationship with the club's president Claudio Lotito has deteriorated sharply since the summer, when the player asked for a transfer after growing angry at the club's failure to meet his demands for a pay increase. Lotito let it be known he would not accept less than €19m (£17.05m) for the player, despite the fact he had only one year left on his contract, and branded the Macedonia international "a rebel".Since then Pandev, who scored 14 goals for Lazio last season, has not played a single game for them this term and has at times been made to train apart from the first team. Lazio have endured a difficult start to the season, winning just three of their first 17 games to sit 16th going into the winter break, but even so Pandev has continued to be overlooked."Pandev's appeal to the Lega Calcio's arbitration board was welcomed and they said we were in the right," said the player's lawyer Mattia Grassani. "So Goran's contract has been resolved and the club have been ordered to pay €160,000 (£143,500) in punitive damages as well as the legal costs."There are eight pages of reasoning (in the copy of the sentence) and now I'll read it calmly."A number of Italy's leading clubs, including Internazionale and Juventus, are reported to be keen on signing Pandev, who is not cup-tied for European competition, next month. There has also been some speculation that he could exact revenge on his former employers by joining their city rivals Roma."I am calm," said Lotito after hearing the verdict. "I can only say that this doesn't end here."LazioSerie ATransfer windowEuropean footballPaolo Bandiniguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Stoke City 0 Birmingham City 1: match report Birmingham City extend impressive run of form with defeat of Stoke City at Britannia Stadium. telegraph.co.uk |
Togo pull out of African Nations Cup after bus attack in Angola Togo withdraw from African Nations Cup in Angola as death toll following attack on their team bus reportedly reaches four. telegraph.co.uk |
West Ham guilty on two charges over Millwall riot and face FA fine • Three charges against south London club are dropped• Hammers to discover punishment on FridayWest Ham United look likely to be fined after being found guilty by an independent Football Association Regulatory Commission of failure to ensure their supporters "refrained from violent, threatening, obscene and provocative behaviour" on the night of their Carling Cup tie against Millwall in August.The club were also found guilty of failing to prevent their supporters entering the field of play, but the case against them and Millwall on the counts of racist abuse from fans, and a failure to ensure their supporters did not throw harmful or dangerous objects on to the pitch were not proven. Millwall were also found not guilty on the obscene and provocative behaviour charge. Each club will be especially relieved to have had the racism charges dismissed.West Ham, who won the game at Upton Park 3-1, are likely to discover their punishment on Friday when they will present their mitigation before the Commission, but the most likely outcome is a fine. A statement from the FA read: "An independent regulatory commission last week heard charges issued as a result of the serious crowd disturbances in and around the West Ham United versus Millwall fixture at Upton Park on 25 August, 2009."It was alleged that both clubs failed to ensure that their supporters conducted themselves in an orderly fashion. The independent regulatory commission, chaired by an independent QC, found West Ham United to be in breach of FA rules in the following respects: failure to ensure their supporters refrained from violent, threatening, obscene and provocative behaviour; failure to ensure their supporters did not enter the field of play. The Commission found all charges against Millwall not proven. The FA will now await the full written reasons from the independent Commission before making any further comment."West Ham, who in mitigation will again draw attention to the claim that they followed instructions by the various safety bodies, said on their website: "West Ham United have been cleared of two of the four FA charges issued as a result of the disturbances at the Carling Cup match with Millwall on 25 August, 2009."The FA Regulatory Commission will reconvene on Friday to consider the sanctions after finding against the club on two charges of pitch incursion and provocative behaviour by supporters. West Ham are unable to comment further until the conclusion of the legal process."The south London club said they were pleased that all three charges against them were dropped. Andy Ambler, the chief executive, said: "Millwall FC welcomes the verdict in respect of our club as we have always maintained that we were innocent of the charges.""As ever this club condemns all mis-behaviour within football stadia and works tirelessly to eradicate misconduct and to continue to change an unfair and distorted misconception of Millwall Football Club and its fans. We thank the FA Commission panel for their judgment and we will make no further comment until we receive and consider their full statement on the matter, which we anticipate will be on Friday."West Ham UnitedCarling CupMillwallJamie Jacksonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Striker Robinho could be returning to Brazil Manchester City striker Robinho told Brazilian radio Sunday he is about to leave the Premier League club and the president of his former team Santos in Brazil said transfer talks were already underway. cbc.ca |