G24
| pdf edition | Tuesday January 10 2012 Sport
Downloaded 16:53 GMT
Mark Hughes appointed QPR manager on
two-and-a-half-year contract
‘It’s a great feeling to be back in football,’ says 48-year-old •
Fernandes: Hughes has great passion to achieve as manager Page 2
Vincent Kompany to serve four-match ban
after red card appeal is rejected
Manchester City captain was sent off in FA Cup loss to United
• Kompany will miss Carling Cup semi-final against Liverpool
Page 2
MPs to hold inquiry into racism in sport
following Luis Suárez case
Culture, media and sport select committee will consider issue •
Inquiry will not only be restricted to football Page 3
Thierry Henry revels Graham Onions Stuart Meaker leads Hywel Price obituary
in ‘dream’ return called into England England Lions to Page 7
to Arsenal against squad following Tim one-day win over
Leeds United Page 3 Bresnan injury Page 4 Bangladesh A Page 5 Superbowl race
whittled down to
Page 4 Derek Redmond’s Mark Hughes; and eight as Tim Tebow
father to carry the naysayers Page 6 shows Steelers his
Olympic flame during mettle Page 7
torch relay Page 5
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media Limited 2007 guardian.co.uk
Registered in England and Wales. No. 908396. Registered office: Number 1 Scott Place, Manchester M3 3GG
Page G24 Sport Tuesday January 10 2012 16:53 GMT
Mark Hughes appointed QPR manager Vincent Kompany to serve four-match
on two-and-a-half-year contract ban after red card appeal is rejected
• ‘It’s a great feeling to be back in football,’ • Manchester City captain was sent off in
says 48-year-old • Fernandes: Hughes has FA Cup loss to United • Kompany will miss
great passion to achieve as manager Carling Cup semi-final against Liverpool
Jamie Jackson Staff and agencies
Mark Hughes [http://tinyurl.com/mf64ek] has signed a two- Vincent Kompany will serve a four-match ban after the
and-a-half-year contract to replace Neil Warnock as the Queens Manchester City [http://tinyurl.com/4jsgmx] captain had his
Park Rangers manager. A statement from the club pointed to his appeal against the red card he was shown in Sunday’s FA Cup tie
record in signing high-profile players such as Manchester City’s with Manchester United [http://tinyurl.com/7ahhue5] rejected
Nigel de Jong and Vincent Kompany and Blackburn Rovers’s by the Football Association.
Chris Samba. Earlier on Tuesday, the City manager, Roberto Mancini
Hughes said: “It’s a great feeling to be back in football and [http://tinyurl.com/ygc2p7j], expressed his confidence the
to be the manager of QPR [http://tinyurl.com/4zkwvw]. I’m suspension would be overturned on the basis that Kompany did
fully aware of the challenge in the short and long term and I am not foul Nani. Kompany won the ball in the challenge, but went
genuinely excited about the ambition of the owners. in two-footed and off the ground.
“Nobody can doubt the history of this great football club The Independent Regulatory Commission’s decision to
and the passion of its fantastically loyal supporters. Now the uphold the sending off rules Kompany out of Wednesday’s
immediate priority is to consolidate our place in the Premier Carling Cup semi-final first leg with Liverpool, the second leg at
League, but beyond that, the future is very bright and fills me Anfield and the Premier League matches against Wigan Athletic
with great enthusiasm.” and Tottenham Hotspur sandwiched in between.
Tony Fernandes, the chairman, said: “Mark has a proven “An Independent Regulatory Commission has today
track record in the Premier League, bringing a wealth of dismissed a claim of wrongful dismissal from Manchester City’s
experience at both club and international level. He has a great Vincent Kompany following his red card for serious foul play
passion to achieve as a manager and has already been hugely in the FA Cup third-round tie between Manchester City and
successful in his career. His ambitions match those of the board Manchester United on 8 January 2012,” said an FA statement.
and we are delighted to have him at the helm.” “Kompany will serve a four-match suspension with
Philip Beard, the CEO, added: “Having spoken at length with immediate effect. The suspension consists of a statutory three-
Mark, I know he is brimming with enthusiasm and anticipation match suspension for serious foul play plus one additional
about the challenge of taking QPR forward and I believe he is game given this is Kompany’s second dismissal of the season.”
the perfect choice to deliver the success we all desire.” Although opinion was divided about Chris Foy’s decision
The club confirmed that Hughes, who is expected to make a to send Kompany off only 12 minutes into City’s 3-2 defeat,
bid for Aston Villa’s Darren Bent [http://tinyurl.com/6vafb7k], once the decision was made, it always seemed unlikely to be
will take charge of training on Tuesday afternoon and said in a overturned.
statement: “Vastly experienced, Hughes has built a reputation Sir Alex Ferguson and Wayne Rooney were in no doubt, with
as one of Britain’s most admired managers, with success at both Mancini blaming the United player for gesturing towards Foy in
club and international level. He has a proven track record in the immediate aftermath of the incident.
the transfer market, recruiting the likes of Vincent Kompany, Mancini now faces the consequences, which is likely to mean
Nigel de Jong, Moussa Dembélé and Christopher Samba to the the biggest match to date of Stefan Savic’s short City career
Premier League. unless the manager opts to select Micah Richards in central
“Hughes – who has only finished outside the top half of the defence alongside Joleon Lescott as Kolo Touré is currently
top flight once in his managerial career – will be joined at the away on Africa Cup of Nations duty.
club by assistant manager Mark Bowen, first-team coach Eddie “My opinion has not changed,” Mancini said on Tuesday. “I
Niedzwiecki and goalkeeping coach Kevin Hitchcock.” am confident because Vinny only played 10 minutes. He was
Hughes’s official unveiling will be at a press conference on sent off for nothing. He has already missed one game. I don’t
Wednesday. think about this [being banned]. It would be not correct if that
happened.”
Mancini also claimed he was right to point out that Rooney
*
gestured towards Foy for Kompany to be sent off, even though
the United striker claimed to only have been pointing out it was
a two-footed tackle.
“I joked with Wayne Rooney. But he did it,” said Mancini.
“Nani was there. He didn’t say anything.”
From Beirut to Big Brother, Murdoch to
Millionaire,
discuss the hot topics in the media on
not one, but two blogs Organ Grinder and
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media Limited 2007 guardian.co.uk
Page 3 G24 Sport Tuesday January 10 2012 16:53 GMT
first appearance for the club in almost five years, scored with his
fifth touch to propel his side into the FA Cup’s fourth round.
MPs to hold inquiry into racism in sport Henry, who has re-signed on loan from New York Red Bulls
following Luis Suárez case for what is likely to prove an eight-week stint, was introduced
into the fray 22 minutes from time with this game goalless
• Culture, media and sport select and edging towards a replay. Nine minutes later, supplied by
committee will consider issue • Inquiry Alex Song, the 34-year-old duly registered his 227th goal for
Arsenal and extended his club-record tally to leave his manager
will not only be restricted to football
pinching himself in victory.
Press Association “It was a dream, a story you’d tell a young kid,” said
Wenger. “Unfortunately it’s not often like that in our game but
A committee of MPs is to hold an inquiry into racism in sport
sometimes it happens. He’s done it all. You could see straight
following the Luis Suárez case and allegations against John
away that he had a presence on the pitch and, if we could find
Terry.
him, he’d be dangerous.
The culture, media and sport select committee has agreed
“He’s sharp, physically. I’d seen that in training and I
to look into the issue, with an evidence session scheduled for
wouldn’t have used him if he wasn’t ready. But he was already a
6 March, and representatives from Liverpool [http://tinyurl.
legend here. Now he’s added just a bit more to the whole story.
com/42nq4e] could be summoned.
“He feels some pressure still. He’s a proud guy and doesn’t
The committee member Damian Collins said: “I think the
want to disappoint people. That’s what champions are all about.
events of the last two weeks have reignited concerns about
He knows he’ll be compared to what he did before and he
racism in the game. Although this session will not necessarily
wants to be seen as someone who always does well. It’s a kind
be restricted to football it will be the principal area of inquiry
of combat and you want that to be a success as a player. But he
following the Suárez case and the concerns that have arisen
remains a special player.”
from that.”
Henry departed with the sponsors’ man-of-the-match
Collins said the committee had only decided on Tuesday to
award, which he was baffled to accept, having carried the vote
hold the session and the witnesses and terms of reference will
even while he remained an unused substitute. The Leeds
be decided closer to the date of the inquiry.
manager, Simon Grayson, had claimed the striker’s impact had
Suárez’s eight-match ban for racially abusing Manchester
been “written in the stars”.
United’s Patrice Evra and a police charge against the England
“It’s all kind of weird,” Henry said. “When I came back from
captain Terry, who denies any wrongdoing, for allegedly racially
holiday in Mexico, 15 days ago, I never thought I’d play for
abusing Queens Park Rangers’ Anton Ferdinand have thrust the
Arsenal again, let alone score the winner. I don’t know what to
issue back into the spotlight.
say, to be honest. The feeling I had when I scored was amazing.
Liverpool have also apologised to Tom Adeyemi, the Oldham
“I am enjoying the club as a fan where I wasn’t before: now
defender who was allegedly racially abused at Anfield on Friday
I know how people feel when they score for the club they
night. A 20-year-old fan is on police bail.
support. But it wasn’t the plan [to end up as the hero]. I will
The Liverpool Walton MP, Steve Rotheram, has been
always remember tonight. I don’t know why but, when it comes
pushing for the committee to hold an inquiry. Rotheram said:
to Arsenal, something happens with me. Sometimes in a bad
“I continue to support the Show Racism the Red Card initiative
way but most of the way in history in a good way.”
and believe, given the nature of recent events, that it would be
The winner here was his 12th goal in as many games against
appropriate for this issue to be looked at by parliamentarians
Leeds and his first for Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium since
from all parties and from different football, sporting and non-
a header helped defeat Manchester United in January 2007.
sporting allegiances.
The impact made, with Robin van Persie rested and Marouane
“Sport should be rightly proud that in many ways it has led
Chamakh about to join Gervinho in departing for the Africa
the field in tackling social issues such as racism, homophobia
Cup of Nations, prompted immediate questions over whether
and sectarianism and it will be interesting to see what
the loan agreement with the Red Bulls could be extended until
conclusions the select committee draw from the evidence
the end of the domestic campaign. “He has six and a half weeks
session.”
with us and we have not envisaged more,” Wenger said. “We
can go to eight weeks but not longer.”
The stay already includes a match against Manchester United
Thierry Henry revels in ‘dream’ return
here and an extension would culminate in the north London
to Arsenal against Leeds United derby with Tottenham Hotspur at the end of February, which
seems an apt occasion on which to bow out for a second time.
• Frenchman scores 227th goal nine “I was happy to get him back,” Wenger said. “He’s a guy who’s
minutes after coming on • Striker’s last very focused, intelligent and planned with his career.
“In his head it was always Barcelona [after Arsenal], then
game could be north London derby in
the States. That’s what he did. What is good for the club, and
February for the young players, is this is a guy who has done it all but still
Dominic Fifield at the Emirates Stadium prepares 100%, is focused and motivated and comes on with an
immense desire to do well.
Arsène Wenger [http://tinyurl.com/5kg6f5] described Thierry
“When he was in this position to score, I thought: ‘Oh, that’s
Henry [http://tinyurl.com/yguqb4k]’s match-winning return to
your angle but it’s a bit too close.’ That’s where he surprised me.
Arsenal [] as the stuff of dreams after the French forward, on his
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media Limited 2007 guardian.co.uk
Page G24 Sport Tuesday January 10 2012 16:53 GMT
He didn’t force the shot and still made it look easy. I thought he with his selection.”
was a bit too far to the left to pull it off but he always had that
special finishing. That was Thierry Henry finishing.”
Asked whether there was any coincidence that Henry and Derek Redmond’s father to carry
Paul Scholes at Manchester United are making eye-catching Olympic flame during torch relay
returns this month, Wenger said: “It looks like the best transfer
market is to get your old players back. He can play together
with Robin [van Persie, who will return against Swansea City on
• Jim Redmond famously helped son over
Sunday]. They did play together before, after all.” finish line in 1992 • Father of British diving
hopeful Chris Mears also chosen
Associated Press
Graham Onions called into England
squad following Tim Bresnan injury Twenty years after helping his injured son across the finish
line in Barcelona, Jim Redmond has been selected to carry the
Olympic flame during the torch relay for the London Games.
• Seamer likely to go straight into team for Redmond is one of the British Olympic Association’s
final warm-up • ‘I want to prove a point to nominated torchbearers for the 8,000-mile nationwide relay
Andy Flower and Andy Strauss’ that starts in May and culminates with the lighting of the
cauldron during the opening ceremony at the Olympic Stadium
Andy Wilson in Dubai
on 27 July.
Graham Onions hopes to make a late claim for a shock Test Redmond created one of the most emotional moments in
recall in England’s three-day match against the Pakistan Board Olympic history in 1992 with his spontaneous act to help his
XI that starts in Dubai on Wednesday. crying, injured son during the 400m semi-finals. With Derek
The Durham seamer, who has been called into the squad Redmond hobbling badly with a torn hamstring, his father ran
following the loss of Tim Bresnan with an elbow injury [http:// on to the track and virtually carried him the rest of the way.
tinyurl.com/8axpf73], now seems increasingly likely to come “I saw my [son] having a problem and it was my duty to
straight into the team for England’s last warm-up match before help,” Redmond said on Tuesday, standing beneath the 1948
next week’s first Test as Chris Tremlett is still struggling with an London Olympic flame at Wembley Stadium. “I actually went
eye infection. on the track to try to stop him inflicting further damage to
“I want to try and prove a point to Andy Flower and Andy himself. It was Derek’s idea. He asked me to get him back in that
Strauss that I’m good enough to be here and stay,” said Onions, lane and I offered him a shoulder to lean on.
who has been out of international cricket for almost two years “It was just a question of me getting on to help him. The
after suffering a stress fracture in his back during the tour of Games had lost that sort of direction. It was all about winning,
Bangladesh in early 2010. winning, winning. We changed it by showing we were taking
“Now that I’m up for selection it’s important for me to come part. We brought a different aspect to it without even planning
in and get back to my form of 2009. That seems a long time ago. it.”
I’m here now and I want to make a difference – I want to be part The father hopes the roles are not reversed this summer.
of this team. I’m convinced that with my skiddy type of bowling “We had a joke about it this morning over the phone,”
I’ll do quite well out here.” Redmond said. “He said they should invite me to do it and this
“It’s been the toughest time of my career,” added the 29- time I will help you. I said: ‘You are probably right.’
year-old, who played in eight Tests and four limited-overs “But I am not going to break down because I intend to be
internationals in 2009-10. the slowest person. [Derek] didn’t win the race and created a
“Hopefully, fingers crossed, the surgeon’s done a good job lot of attention afterwards so I have no intention of finishing
and fixed me back together. I played county cricket last year and too quickly. I want to be the last one because I will get more
to be back with Durham was fantastic. It’s been a good year, I’ve coverage.”
been put through some tough tests and I’m 100% sure I’m over Redmond has been chosen to take one of the 250 BOA spots
this injury and ready to go really. If I get to play I’ve got a hell of on the relay. Also selected on Tuesday was the father of British
a lot of people to thank, especially at the ECB.” diver Chris Mears.
Monty Panesar could also come into the England team to Paul Mears and his wife maintained a bedside vigil in
face the Pakistan Board XI, with Graeme Swann still awaiting 2009 when his son suffered a serious training accident while
the results of scans on a thigh muscle injury he sustained in the competing for Britain at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival
opening victory against an ICC Combined XI [http://tinyurl. in Sydney. The teenager ruptured his spleen, but made a full
com/7xxn6r5]. Matt Prior is expected to return in place of recovery and is now hoping to make the team for the London
Steven Davies after missing that game with a bruised finger. Games.
Pakistan have arrived in Dubai to step up their preparations “The often unsung role that parents play throughout the
for the series and are confident that Junaid Khan, the left-arm lives of Olympic athletes in nurturing the values, dedication
seamer who had a brief stint with Lancashire last season, has and commitment needed to become a successful Olympian is
recovered from a stomach injury. invaluable,” the BOA chairman, Colin Moynihan, said.
“We put Junaid through his paces at the training camp and
it was really pleasing to see that he came through with flying
colours,” said their acting coach, Mohsin Khan. “There were no
problems with his levels of fitness and there was no problem
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media Limited 2007 guardian.co.uk
Page 5 G24 Sport Tuesday January 10 2012 16:53 GMT
Stuart Meaker leads England Lions to Mark Hughes; and the naysayers
one-day win over Bangladesh A
Click here to have the Fiver sent to your
• Bangladesh A 176; England Lions 177-4 • inbox every weekday at 5pm, or if your
England Lions win by six wickets usual copy has stopped arriving
Press Association Barry Glendenning and Paul Doyle
Four wickets from Stuart Meaker set England Lions on their
way as they levelled their seven-match one-day series with
Bangladesh A at 1-1.
The Surrey fast bowler removed Rony Talukder and Raqibul
Hasan early in the hosts’ innings and returned to take the last
two wickets in successive deliveries as Bangladesh were bowled
out for 176 despite Nazimuddin’s unbeaten 99.
Jonny Bairstow led the Lions’ chase with an unbeaten half-
century as they wrapped up a six-wicket win with 12 and a half
overs to spare.
Meaker struck with the fourth ball of the match, bowling The fiver badge
Talukder – who had hit two of the previous three to the If football clubs were people, Neil Warnock’s spiritual home of
boundary, setting the tone for an expensive spell from Meaker. Sheffield United would be a flat cap-wearing, real ale-drinking,
Mohammed Nazimuddin anchored the innings superbly pasty-eating, tyke-talking salt of the earth; the kind of no-
but wickets fell steadily at the other end as spinners Danny nonsense bloke you’d happily have a few pints and a laugh with,
Briggs and Scott Borthwick claimed two apiece in an impressive so long as you didn’t mind shelling out for all the drinks. Under
bowling display. their new owner, the businessman and club crooner Tony
It was Meaker who took the plaudits, though, leaving Fernandes, QPR are coming to resemble football’s equivalent
Nazimuddin stranded short of his century when he bowled of the hipster doofus — sporting symmetric side-swept bangs,
Enamul Haque and then went through the last man Robiul thick-rimmed ‘ironic’ spectacles and low-slung skinny jeans.
Islam’s defences at the first time of asking to finish with four for Outwardly pretending to shun the nouveau riche attitudes of
47 from eight overs. more successful peers Chelsea and Fulham, it’s quite obvious
The tourists quickly lost openers Jason Roy and Joe Root to they secretly yearn to be just like them.
fall to 23 for two, but James Vince (44) and James Taylor (26) With such delusions of urbane grandeur prevailing at Loftus
steadied the ship with a third-wicket stand of 48. Bairstow then Road these days, it’s small wonder the face of a tractor-driving
made 50 not out from 65 balls, putting on an unbroken 70 with contrarian in his 60s didn’t fit any longer. So it came as no
Jos Buttler, who hit an unbeaten 41 from 39. surprise to hear that, after receiving his P45 at the first available
opportunity Fernandes could hand it over without looking
a completely unreasonable tyrant, Warnock has just been
replaced by the comparatively fresh-faced, debonair, cravenly
ambitious wearer of more expensive coats, Mark Hughes.
*
“I hope the supporters and all those connected to the club
will understand that as a young, ambitious manager I wish to
move on to further my experiences,” said Hughes when he left
his last west London club in June, only to pitch up three miles
up the road this morning at a less successful one. “It’s a great
feeling to be back in football and to be the manager of QPR,”
Eat right he added today, as a photographer hatched the stunningly
Join the Guardian’s health and original wheeze of having the new boss pose for the camera
with a club scarf. “I’m fully aware of the challenge in the short
dieting club, Eat Right and and long term and I am genuinely excited about the ambition of
we’ll design you a personalised the owners,” he went on, possibly alluding to QPR owner and
club crooner Fernandes’s well-documented plans to expand his
healthy eating plan from just airline company Air Asia reach into China’s growing market.
£2.99 a week. Membership Since Hughes signed on the dotted line, QPR have already
been linked with Darren Bent, Wayne Bridge, Christopher
includes shopping lists, menus, Samba, Jermain Defoe and an imminent fall-out with Joey
expert advice and 24 hour Barton. At the time the Fiver went to press the QPR midfielder
had yet to comment on the appointment of his new manager, so
support to help you achieve we don’t yet know what Noam Chomsky, Aristotle or Friedrich
your health and fitness goals. Nietzsche would have made of it all. “Am going to abstain [from
Twitter] for a week, see what the withdrawal symptoms are
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media Limited 2007 guardian.co.uk
Page 6 G24 Sport Tuesday January 10 2012 16:53 GMT
like. Have a nice week people,” Joey tweeted last night. With so com/yhrzpfx].
much to talk about, those delirium tremens must be kicking in Good news for Manchester City: Mario Balotelli is happy
about now. at the club, so there. “The Premier League has been a new
“These companies have delivered stadia fit for the 21st experience, even if at first it was difficult,” he told Italy’s Radio
century; including Twickenham, the Aviva Stadium in Dublin Radio, which is some kind of radio station in case you didn’t
and the b2net stadium in Chesterfield. For Ebbsfleet the dream realise. “But if I have to tell the whole truth now, it’s that I’m
is nearly a reality” — competition organisers underplay the really happy here.”
news that Ebbsfleet United have triumphed in their ‘Best Bad news for Manchester City: the FA has rejected Vincent
Loosers’ contest [http://tinyurl.com/7wxqmdx] to win a Kompany’s appeal over his red card against Manchester United
£100,000 toilet makeover for the club. and the Belgian will serve a four-match ban.
Many were the naysayers who insisted the striker could Nick Barmby is putting on the Phil Brown sanctioned spray
never again serve a Premier League club; that he had had his tan and call-centre headset: he’s been appointed Hull City
time and that signing him again could only end in embarrassing manager following a successful spell as caretaker.
failure. But this is not your everyday striker we’re talking about. Bah! It turns out Eric Cantona’s bid to become the president
And so, when Nasty Leeds came to town, and started rather of France was a publicity stunt to bring attention to the plight of
fancying their chances of nicking a win when the score was the poor. And it worked too. Although at the time of writing the
still at 0-0, our hero strode to the fore to smash the deadlock Fiver can confirm there are still poor people in France.
in spectacular fashion and cast doubt on the doom-mongers! It turns out the story that Guangzhou are willing to pay
And if the accolades that have been lavished on Thierry Henry Didier Driogba £400,000 a week was just a publicity stunt to
since he scored against Leeds United for Arsenal last night bring attention to the plight of poorly paid footballers. “We
are anything to go by, then Ricardo Vaz Te can expect to be have no contact with Drogba whatsoever nor ... authorised
the subject of multi-million pound bids from several Premier anyone to contact him,” the club said. “The recent Drogba
League clubs any day now, what with him having scored not reports are pure speculation, he is not in our plans.”
one, but three goals for Barnsley against the same side less than And Ronni Norvig may want to see if he can get himself
a fortnight ago. Arsene, Arsene sign him up! a deal in China. The Denmark fan has been ordered to pay
But, of course, what Henry’s goal highlighted is not that Vaz £210,000 in damages after attempting to punch the referee in a
Te is the dog’s dingly-danglies, but that Marouane Chamakh 2007 game against Sweden.
is a donkey. Or at least that his form has fallen further than a Paul Doyle plucked the warm ball in this week’s big MBM
broken satellite, and that none of Andriy Arshavin, Gervinho, writer draw, so join him for Crystal Palace 1-2 Cardiff [http://
Theo Walcott or Park Chu-young have been shouldering enough tinyurl.com/ya54fy] in the League Cup semi-final first leg from
of the scoring burden with Robin van Persie, even though a 7.30pm.
34-year-old on sabbatical from the MLS can still find the net. In his fourth season at Barcelona, Pep Guardiola is
Against Nasty Leeds. Who even conceded two against Michael attempting to buck the dreaded three-year rule and extend
Owen this season. the European champions’ success, writes Jonathan Wilson in
So really, last night told us nothing, at least certainly not a column disappointingly devoid of any obscure references to
anything we didn’t already know. But so what? A match isn’t Ukrainian light industry [http://tinyurl.com/7b44n7c].
double-geography. It doesn’t have to teach us anything. Some To compare Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi to anybody else
things are to be savoured for the sheer fun of it, like guitar solos, is unfair – on them, reckons Sid Lowe [http://tinyurl.com/
skinny-dipping and Henry’s triumphant, nostalgia-drenched 7nzdcde], despite the fact that the Fiver has always thought the
cameo. “It was a dream, a story you’d tell a young kid,” gushed Barcelona player is almost as good as Conor Sammon.
Wenger, grateful for any yarn that will keep the attention away Stephen Ireland stars as various aliens and a Buddhist monk
from the lack of striking depth in the Arsenal squad. For now. in this week’s Gallery [http://tinyurl.com/7cdj8er].
“Re: yesterday’s Thierry Henry Fiver. You know, nobody And Dominic Fifield hails Thierry Henry [http://tinyurl.
in USA! USA!! USA!!! actually calls the game ‘soccerball’. That com/7xzpgke], the genius who writes his own scripts. You
word is only used by English hacks. I would’ve thought the would have thought he would have come up with a better one
Fiver would try not to be so obvious about that sort of thing” for the 2006 Big Cup final, mind.
— Matthew Brotman. Want your very own copy of our free tea-timely(ish) email
“Did the Fiver not watch Jason and the Argonauts over the sent direct to your inbox? Has your regular copy stopped
weekend? The only thing Henry needs to worry about is tackles arriving? Click here to sign up [].
from behind [http://tinyurl.com/796fst6]” — Matt Shelton.
“Re: Nicky Butt reckoning Manchester United’s re-signing
of Paul Scholes is the greatest bit of mind-gamesmanship from Hywel Price obituary
Lord Ferg since his last bit of mind-gamesmanship (yesterday’s
Fiver). Surely Lord Ferg’s greatest bit of mind-gamesmanship Kaye Price
ever was fooling everyone into thinking that everything he
My husband, Hywel Price, who has died aged 83, was the most
thinks, says or does is mind-gamesmanship. Couldn’t it be that
charismatic man you could meet; he led a full life where “can
he is just a guy who is really good at his job, is prone to shouting
do” was the mantra. He was born in Chester of a Welsh family.
on TV a bit, and was desperate for a midfielder last weekend?”
His early jobs included diving with a synchronised-swimming
— Phil.
troupe named the Aqua Lovelies and working as a cinema
Send your letters to the.boss@guardian.co.uk. And if you’ve
projectionist (he watched Gone With the wind 22 times).
nothing better to do you can also tweet the Fiver [http://tinyurl.
Hywel enjoyed racing motorcycles at Crystal Palace. His
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media Limited 2007 guardian.co.uk
Page G24 Sport Tuesday January 10 2012 16:53 GMT
friend Eryl described having Hywel as his friend as like “being identified as a roving ringside personage called Mustafa Ameen
Sancho Panza to his Don Quixote”. The RAF taught him to – communicated with a judge during the disputed points defeat.
rebuild crashed aircraft and later work at a car factory in the Khan’s trainer Freddie Roach has since cast doubt on Ameen’s
Midlands extended his skills. Then there was the theatre, where legitimacy, claiming “he has no credentials”. The WBA has since
he became a master carpenter interpreting intricate designs offered Khan a rematch. Khan just need the IBF to agree now
into workable stages in the 1950s and 60s; he became a drinking and he could be back sniffing after those titles again.
partner to Peter O’Toole, Harry H Corbett and Leonard Rossiter FA Cup draws bad blood
at the Bristol Old Vic. Two clubs who traditionally make each other almost
He always enjoyed sailing [http://tinyurl.com/6og5oc] old unbearably cross now have cause to become more so: the
gaffers around the UK’s coastline and fishing for lobster in FA Cup draw has now pitted them together [http://tinyurl.
the Isle of Man. Settling in Bristol, he took on a yard, building com/7mc3gkk] in the fourth round. An eight-game ban for Luis
wonderful yachts of every material and enabling many dreams Suárez for using racist language towards Manchester United’s
and individual projects. He designed and built the yacht Patrice Evra has failed to diffuse a uniquely ugly incident, as
McArthur to do the first Azores and Back [http://tinyurl.com/ Liverpool have continued to back their man while eschewing
6osnofc] race from Falmouth in 1975 and then four subsequent an appeal. Only one thing seems certain: it isn’t going to be very
ones, as well as the Round Britain and Ireland races – he built nice.
or encouraged several entries from Bristol, all of them single or
two-handed. The Bristol workshops were at this time a centre
for creativity where the seeds were sown for many of those who Florida Panthers end 12-year drought
now produce our best ideas for boats and masts. His favourite
time was the two weeks he spent each year designing, building
with NHL victory over Canucks
and then racing in the World Sailing Speed Trials at Weymouth.
We married in 1973. I survive him, along with his sister and • Stand-in goaltender Scott Clemmensen
his nieces and nephews. saves the day • ‘We believe we can beat
anyone on any given night’
Superbowl race whittled down to eight Reuters
as Tim Tebow shows Steelers his mettle The Florida Panthers earned their first regulation victory over
Vancouver in more than 12 years in the NHL [http://tinyurl.com/
ddjkg9] on Monday, beating the Western Conference leaders
Tendulkar misses 100th ton, but Clarke hits
Vancouver Canucks 2-1 in Sunrise.
three; Khan given rematch hope; Liverpool Dmitry Kulikov and Marcel Goc each scored in the second
and United drawn together in FA Cup period to erase a 1-0 deficit and the Panthers (21-13-8) held firm
Barney Ronay for their first regulation win against the Canucks since October
1999.
Wildcard weekend in the NFL saw a series of minor tremors, The reserve goaltender Scott Clemmensen allowed a first-
the most seismic ruction the Denver Broncos knocking out the period score to Dale Weise just three minutes in, but recovered
Pittsburgh Steelers [http://tinyurl.com/5tc3q2] to set up a trip to make 25 saves as he got his second successive start in three
to New England to face the Patriots. It was a personal triumph games in place of the injured José Théodore.
for the man of the moment Tim Tebow, who capped things “We believe that we can beat anyone in the league on any
off with an astonishing 80-yard chuck to Demaryius Thomas. given night,” Clemmensen said. “Vancouver are one of the best
Elsewhere the Giants thrashed the Falcons 24-2, Drew Brees teams in the League. We think we can beat them. We showed it
threw three touchdown passes as the Saints beat the Lions by tonight. It’s the mentality of this team.”
17 points and the Houston Texans beat the Cincinnati Bengals Vancouver’s Roberto Luongo made 20 saves as he returned
31-10 in their first-ever playoff game. to the place where he spent five seasons before being traded to
Clarke hits triple-century the Canucks (26-14-3) in 2006.
It was a tale of two furiously flux-ridden cricketing nations in The loss prevented the Vancouver coach Alain Vigneault
Sydney as India, revered but in decline, were thrashed again by from becoming the Western Conference coach for the All Star
Australia [http://tinyurl.com/7prgjfb], callow but on the climb, Game in Ottawa. That honour will go instead to San Jose’s Todd
to record their sixth successive overseas Test Match defeat. McLellan, whose team has the greatest points percentage in the
Australia captain Michael Clarke, who made a dreamy 329 not Western Conference through Monday’s games.
out, appears to be in the process of minting a personalised era. Coming off an emotional 4-3 victory at Boston on Saturday
India’s Sachin Tendulkar scored minus 20 (otherwise known in a rematch of last season’s Stanley Cup final, the Canucks may
as 80) as the only contest India really seems to be interested in have experienced a bit of a letdown.
– Tendulkar’s pursuit of 100 international hundreds – ended in “We’ve got to find the emotions to win this game,” said
hand-wringing failure again. Vancouver’s Daniel Sedin. “It was there for us and we let it slip
Boxing’s mystery man away.”
Boxing: it’s officially nuts. Amir Khan could be awarded the The Panthers were able to extend their lead in the Southeast
rematch [http://tinyurl.com/6lg4w8] he craves after losing his Division to five points with the win.
world middleweight titles to Lamont Peterson in December
after establishing via Twitter and YouTube that a mystery man –
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media Limited 2007 guardian.co.uk
Page G24 Sport Tuesday January 10 2012 16:53 GMT
against Sri Lanka in the United Arab Emirates to accelerate the
reparation of their reputation.
Oldham praise Liverpool and police for “I think the credit goes to the team and all the players after
handling of Tom Adeyemi incident that difficult time. They just wanted to collect their thoughts
and prove to the world that we are good players, a good team,
• League One side release statement on and I think they just proved it. They are really focusing on their
website • Follows alleged racist abuse of cricket and making my job easier.”
Misbah picked up where the England captain Andrew
Oldham defender
Strauss left off before the team’s departure from Heathrow
Press Association Airport last week by stressing the need to move on, and refusing
to dwell on the events of 2010.
Oldham [http://tinyurl.com/4t84hb] Athletic have praised
“That’s the past, we don’t get into that,” he added. “I
Liverpool [http://tinyurl.com/42nq4e] and Merseyside police
am only focusing on what we can do in the ground. I think
for their handling of the alleged incident of racist abuse directed
everybody knows in both teams that we just have to forget the
at Tom Adeyemi [http://tinyurl.com/6rnpvjl] during Friday’s FA
past.”
Cup tie at Anfield.
He ruled out a special meeting with Strauss before the start
On Sunday, police investigating the incident arrested a
of the series, but said: “Our target is just to play cricket in the
20-year-old man from Aintree, Merseyside, on suspicion of a
true spirit ... good relations, and play really good and hard
racially aggravated public order offence. He was later released
cricket.”
on bail.
Liverpool also issued an official apology to Adeyemi and, in
a statement on their website, Oldham thanked both parties for
their continued communication and support throughout the
MCC committee calls for lifetime cricket
investigation to date. bans for corruption
“The chairman and directors of Oldham Athletic football
club would like to thank Liverpool football club and officers of • Punishment urged for captains, vice-
Merseyside police for their concerns and painstaking efforts
captains and coaches • Committee also
in investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident
involving Tom Adeyemi,” the statement said.
recommends uniform use of DRS
“Excellent communication has been maintained and the Press Association
club and player have been notified of every detail during the
The MCC [http://tinyurl.com/yclgubc] world cricket
progress of the investigation. The professional standards
committee has called for life bans to be introduced as a top-end
applied throughout have been praiseworthy.”
punishment for corruption in cricket.
The statement continued: “The club would also like to thank
Headed by the former Australia captain Steve Waugh,
the numerous fans from Liverpool and Oldham, and also those
the MCC’s anti-corruption working party has submitted
from around the country who have sent letters of support to
10 recommendations to be put to the International Cricket
Tom. This type of incident is contained within a minority and
Council’s anti-corruption and security unit (ACSU). As well
should not deflect from a superb match that was enjoyed by
as the life bans for captains, vice-captains and coaches found
both sets of club officials and fans.”
guilty of corruption, the list includes the possible use of
“mystery shoppers” to probe players thought to be susceptible
to criminality.
Spot-fixing scandal is in the past, says It was undercover reporting which uncovered the Pakistan
Pakistan’s Misbah-ul-Haq scandal in 2010, when the captain Salman Butt and bowlers
Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir were found to have
• Captain wants to move on from events of taken part in a spot-fixing plot during the tour of England.
2010 • Test series is first against England All three were jailed and also handed long bans by the
ICC. Butt was banned from cricket for 10 years, of which five
since scandal
years were suspended, meaning he could be back playing in
Andy Wilson in Dubai September 2015, whereas under the MCC proposals his career in
cricket would be finished.
England have been promised a tough but fair fight in the
The MCC, in a statement detailing the outcome of their
forthcoming Test series against Pakistan by Misbah-ul-Haq, the
two-day meeting in Cape Town which concluded on Monday,
veteran who took over as captain in 2010 from the disgraced,
said any covert operation should be “preferably directed at
and now imprisoned, Salman Butt.
somebody already suspected”.
Before Pakistan had their first practice session on Tuesday
Recommendations also indicate polygraphs – lie detectors
at the ICC’s Global Cricket Academy since arriving in Dubai the
– may have some role to play in the probing of players under
previous night, Misbah insisted that his team have cleaned up
suspicion, but suggest that their use should be at the behest of
their act since the spot-fixing scandal that erupted during their
those under investigation.
last series against England almost 18 months ago.
The MCC, which has a role as the accepted guardian of the
“Our area of concern is to play good cricket, fair cricket,
game, also indicated dissatisfaction with the inconsistent use of
and that’s what we can do,” said the 37-year-old, who has led
cricket’s decision review system. India have refused to embrace
Pakistan to consecutive series victories in Bangladesh and
DRS, while teams decide before matches to what extent it will
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media Limited 2007 guardian.co.uk
Page G24 Sport Tuesday January 10 2012 16:53 GMT
enter play – resulting in variations between series, particularly
with regard to hot-spot technology and the predictive element
of the Hawk-Eye ball-tracking system.
Swansea confident of signing Josh
In a statement, the MCC called for DRS to be used in McEachran on loan from Chelsea
the same way across all international cricket. It said: “The
committee has urged the ICC to ensure uniformity on the • Brendan Rodgers hopeful of deal ‘in the
implementation of the decision review system. It is wrong that next 24 to 48 hours’ • Swansea manager
there are such different playing conditions – that the DRS is not
worked with young midfielder at Chelsea
used when India play. It supports the ICC’s efforts to maintain
and improve the DRS along the lines – reviews initiated by the Press Association
players – that have been established so far.”
The Swansea City [http://tinyurl.com/4ep4aw] manager,
The MCC committee also said it was “unanimously
Brendan Rodgers, has confirmed he hopes to complete the
disappointed with the fact that no place has been found for a
loan signing of Josh McEachran from Chelsea [http://tinyurl.
World Test Championship play-off until 2017”.
com/5ybu55] “in the next 24 to 48 hours”.
The committee backed experimenting with day-night Tests,
McEachran has long been coveted by the former Chelsea
and said it was “disappointed” that England’s Test series with
youth team manager Rodgers, who is confident of beating off
South Africa this year will consist of just three matches.
reported competition from Bolton Wanderers and Aston Villa to
It also heard from Majid Khan, the former Pakistan captain,
land the England Under-21 midfielder until the summer. The 18-
on security issues in his country and recommended that on the
year-old has found first-team opportunities at Stamford Bridge
basis of his report an MCC delegation should make a visit to
extremely limited this season.
consider the potential for playing international cricket there in
“We’ve obviously made an inquiry,” Rodgers told TalkSport.
future.
“Josh is a boy I know well so we’ll see if we can organise the
Due to security fears, stemming from a terrorist attack on
move over the next few days. He’ll be brilliant for the Swansea
the touring Sri Lanka team in Lahore in 2009, Pakistan have
supporters and they’ll get to witness one of the best talents this
been restricted to playing matches in other countries. They
country’s got.
play England in a three-match Test series in the United Arab
“He’s a player who sees passes from the sky. He’s an
Emirates, beginning next week.
incredible passer of the ball and I know the England set-up
have very high hopes for him as well. He’s a kid who can create
chances and has wonderful vision on the ball – he fits perfectly
Danish appeals court doubles damages into our team.
for fan’s attack on referee “I’ve got a really talented group of players at this level and
he’ll come into the squad and add to that for the second part of
• Supporter ordered to pay Danish football the season.”
federation £210,000 • Ronni Norvig tried
to punch ref in 2007 game with Sweden Chinese champions Guangzhou
Associated Press Evergrande deny Didier Drogba link
An appeals court has ordered a Danish fan to pay the
country’s football federation nearly 1.9m kroner (£210,000) • Reports claimed side were lining up
in damages for trying to attack the referee during a European £400,000-a-week deal • Shanghai
Championship qualifier between Denmark [http://tinyurl.
Shenhua still interested in Chelsea striker
com/6j3zb2] and Sweden in 2007.
Ronni Norvig had appealed against a lower court ruling Reuters
imposing damages of 900,000 kroner, saying he could not
Didier Drogba [http://tinyurl.com/3aawkjg] will not be joining
afford to pay. But instead of lowering the amount, the Eastern
China’s Guangzhou Evergrande after the defending national
high court more than doubled it.
champions ended speculation over a bold transfer swoop for
Norvig ran on to the field in Copenhagen on 2 June 2007
the Chelsea [http://tinyurl.com/5ybu55] striker.
and tried to punch the referee after he awarded a penalty
“We have no contact with Drogba whatsoever nor ...
to Sweden. A Danish player stopped him. The match was
authorised anyone to contact him,” the club said. “The recent
abandoned, and Sweden were awarded a 3-0 win.
Drogba reports are pure speculation, he is not in our plans.”
Norvig has said he was drunk and called the incident a
Drogba could now be closer to joining Guangzhou’s league
“moment of idiocy”.
rivals Shanghai Shenhua after they signed his Chelsea strike
partner Nicola Anelka last month [http://tinyurl.com/6ud42jq].
The former Fulham manager Jean Tigana is set to take over as
Shanghai coach and the club have declared their interest in
bringing in Drogba in too.
The promoted side Dalian Aerbin have also been linked
with the 33-year-old, who is entering the last six months of his
current contract with Chelsea.
Guangzhou were believed to be lining up an astonishing
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media Limited 2007 guardian.co.uk
Page 10 G24 Sport Tuesday January 10 2012 16:53 GMT
$625,000 (£400,000) a week deal for Drogba, according to Tuesday ahead of the third Test between the two countries.
Tuesday’s China Daily, before the club’s denial. The club’s In a fresh salvo at the visitors, who are already facing flak
owner, Xu Jiayin, has promised to invest $100m (£65m) in the back home for their meek capitulation in the first two Tests
transfer market this year as they attempt to add Asian glory to against Australia, Haddin said the tourists were “as fragile as
their first Chinese Super League title. any team in the world”.
The Shanghai director, Zhou Jun, was quoted as saying: “We India, ranked No1 in the Test rankings until August last year,
will wait for Guangzhou for 10 days ... if they do not act, we were whitewashed in England 4-0 in their last away series and
will.” That remark prompted an unnamed Guangzhou official trail 2-0 in the current one against Australia after heavy losses at
to respond: “[Shanghai] may have already signed Drogba, 80% Melbourne and Sydney.
possibility, Zhu’s words may be just be hype.” “We spoke about a bit of that when we were batting,” the
Australia vice-captain told Sky Sports Radio Australia on
Tuesday. “The longer we could keep them out on the field the
Massimo Moratti confirms Inter are bigger chance we had of breaking them.
trying to sign Carlos Tevez “We know this side can be as fragile as any team in the world
if things aren’t going their way and they can turn on each other
and the media turns on them pretty quick.
• Internazionale looking to beat Milan to “We knew if we could keep them out there and put the
striker’s signature • Reports claim they numbers like we did on the board we knew we’d get the rewards
initially want loan deal with Manchester because they break quicker than anyone in the world.”
City Haddin was referring to Australia’s mammoth first-innings
total of 659 for four declared in the Sydney Test, which India
Press Association
lost by an innings and 68 runs for their sixth successive
The Internazionale [http://tinyurl.com/3te28h] president, overseas defeat.
Massimo Moratti, has confirmed the club are keen to sign Carlos India’s Sachin Tendulkar, who has been chasing his 100th
Tevez [http://tinyurl.com/obb3he]. The Nerazzurri are looking international century, has looked most accomplished at the
to beat their city rivals Milan [http://tinyurl.com/4azubx] in the crease for the visitors but Haddin said the Australians have
race to acquire the Manchester City [http://tinyurl.com/4jsgmx] identified a chink in the master batsman’s defence.
striker in the current transfer window [http://tinyurl.com/ “What we have found is if we can build enough pressure on
3e8qqz]. him he wants to score and he wants to feel bat on ball and he
When asked about his club’s interest in Tevez, Moratti told wants to get into a rhythm,” Haddin said.
the club’s official website: “If you do something you don’t do it “We find if we can push him a little wider, make him feel for
as a joke, but because you think it can be a good operation. the ball a bit we can build enough pressure to get a chance and
“We’ve acquired information on how things are going, it’s worked in the last two Tests.”
there’s room to act, we’ll see if we can do it or not. There are The penultimate match in the four-Test series starts in Perth
still three weeks left. It’s not about being optimistic but rather on Friday with the final Test in Adelaide from 24 January.
seeing how things are.”
Reports in Italy claim Inter are willing to sign the 27-year-old
Argentina international on loan until the end of the season with Mario Balotelli cools Milan rumours and
an option to buy him in the summer for €27m (£22.3m). It is says he is happy in Manchester
believed Tevez prefers a move to Milan.
Tevez, who returned to Argentina in November without
City’s permission and is yet to report back to training, is under
• City striker insists he is not looking for
contract in Manchester until June 2014. return to Italy • ‘If I have to tell the truth,
The City manager Roberto Mancini reiterated his desire for it’s that I’m really happy here’
a speedy conclusion to the Tevez saga. “I hope there will be a Press Association
good result for him in January because he has not played for
three months,” he said on Tuesday. Mario Balotelli [http://tinyurl.com/68tmsp6] insists he is happy
at Manchester City [http://tinyurl.com/4jsgmx] amid reports
linking him with a move to Milan [http://tinyurl.com/4azubx].
India ‘as fragile as any team in world’, The Italy international has been a reported target of the Italian
champions since moving to City in 2010 from Internazionale.
says Australia’s Brad Haddin
Balotelli told the Italian radio station Radio Radio: “The
newspapers are saying that I want to get away from Manchester
• India wilt when subjected to sustained but I’ve never spoken to them. They can say what they want,
pressure, Haddin says • Aussies identify but I’m in Manchester, I am under contract with City and until
weakness in Sachin Tendulkar’s defence the right time, will not talk about a new contract.”
The 21-year-old striker is tied to City until June 2015 and
Reuters
has no intention of leaving the club in the near future. “The
The Indian cricketers are the most vulnerable in the Premier League has been a new experience, even if at first it was
international game and wilt when subjected to sustained difficult,” he said. “But if I have to tell the whole truth now, it’s
pressure, the Australia wicketkeeper Brad Haddin said on that I’m really happy here.”
When asked about his relationship with the City manager,
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media Limited 2007 guardian.co.uk
Page 11 G24 Sport Tuesday January 10 2012 16:53 GMT
Roberto Mancini, Balotelli described it as “great”.
Meanwhile the manager remains convinced it would be a
travesty of justice if Vincent Kompany failed to win his appeal
against the red card he received in Sunday’s FA Cup defeat to
Manchester United.
Kompany will learn later today whether he will serve a
four-match suspension for his tackle on Nani, which Sir Alex
Ferguson felt was dangerous.
Mancini still feels his captain did nothing wrong and
would be unhappy if the verdict went against the Belgium
international. “My opinion has not changed,” he said. “I am
confident because Vinny only played 10 minutes.
“He was sent off for nothing. He has already missed one
game. “I don’t think about this [being banned]. It would be not
correct if that happened.”
Mancini also claimed he was right to point out that Wayne
Rooney gestured to the referee Chris Foy for Kompany to be
sent off, even though the United star claims to only have been
pointing out it was a two-footed tackle.
“I joked with Wayne Rooney. But he did it,” said Mancini.
“Nani was there. He didn’t say anything.”
If Kompany fails in his appeal his will start his suspension
by missing Wednesday night’s Carling Cup semi-final first-leg
with Liverpool. Kompany would also miss the return and, in
between, crucial Premier League games against Wigan and
Tottenham.
Mancini confirmed there had been no movement on the
potential transfer window departures of Wayne Bridge and
Nedum Onuoha.
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media Limited 2007 guardian.co.uk