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Monday, April 30, 2018
Sunday, April 29, 2018
Salah furious over image rights dispute with Egyptian FA
Sportsnet.ca
Salah furious over image rights dispute with Egyptian FA
CAIRO — Premier League leading scorer Mohamed Salah said Sunday he is insulted over the unauthorized use of his image and blames the Egyptian Football Association in a dispute that comes less than two months before the World Cup in Russia.
The Egyptian soccer star is furious his image features prominently on the outside of the national team’s plane, which was provided by official sponsor WE.
Liverpool’s winger, a huge celebrity in his native Egypt, has a sponsorship deal with rival telecommunications firm Vodafone.
"Sorry but this is a major insult … I was hoping the deal would be classier than this," Salah tweeted Sunday.
Officials at Egypt’s soccer association did not respond to repeated phone calls seeking comment.
However, Egypt’s Youth and Sports Minister Khaled Abd Elaziz said he is communicating with all of the concerned parties to solve the dispute.
"Especially since Egypt is going to participate in the 2018 World Cup," Elaziz tweeted hours after Salah’s. "Mohamed Salah is an idol for Egyptian youth, loving and loyal to his homeland and represents his country in Europe in the best way."
Ramy Abbas, Salah’s agent, said he has been waiting for a response from Egyptian officials.
"We have not even been contacted for a resolution! Nothing! Complete silence!" he said in his own tweet on Saturday.
Abbas argued that EFA and its sponsor, advertising agency Presentation, had no right to use Salah’s image without written consent from MS Commercial, Cayman, the firm that owns Salah’s image rights.
Salah’s tweet went viral on social media and Egyptian fans launched a twitter hashtag, Support–Mohamed–Salah to show solidarity with their beloved player.
Egypt opens World Cup competition in June. The country qualified for the tournament for the first time in 28 years and its chances in Group A against host Russia, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay rest largely on the 25-year-old Salah’s shoulders.
Impact fall to Atlanta United, suffer fourth straight loss
Sportsnet.ca
Impact fall to Atlanta United, suffer fourth straight loss
ATLANTA — Miguel Almiron and Kevin Kratz each scored a pair of goals to rally Atlanta United past the Montreal Impact 4-1 on Saturday.
Almiron tied it at 1-all for Atlanta (6-1-1) with a penalty kick in the 70th minute that slipped through despite a deflection off goalkeeper Evan Bush. Chris Duvall conceded the penalty with a handball in the area.
Kratz entered as a substitute in the 74th minute and gave Atlanta the lead in the 78th with a free kick into the left corner.
Almiron connected with Josef Martinez for a give-and-go to make it 3-1 in the 84th minute, and Kratz added another free kick to cap the scoring in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time.
Saphir Taider gave Montreal (2-6-0) the early lead in the 13th minute with a header to finish Duvall’s cross.
Saturday, April 28, 2018
Iniesta exit deprives Barca of humble star who kept winning
Football – Inquirer Sports
Iniesta exit deprives Barca of humble star who kept winning
BARCELONA, Spain — Andres Iniesta means so much more to Barcelona than the 30-plus titles he helped add to its trophy case. The Spaniard, who is leaving the club at the end of the season, was pure elegance with the ball, and a popular player off the field. As Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu put it, […]
The post Iniesta exit deprives Barca of humble star who kept winning appeared first on Inquirer Sports.
Friday, April 27, 2018
PSG coach Unai Emery leaving at end of season
Football – Inquirer Sports
PSG coach Unai Emery leaving at end of season
PARIS — Paris Saint-Germain coach Unai Emery is leaving the club at the end of the season, the latest to pay the price for failing to lead the team to the European glory its owners crave so much. Emery joined PSG from Sevilla two years ago on a two-year contract, which will not be extended. […]
The post PSG coach Unai Emery leaving at end of season appeared first on Inquirer Sports.
Thursday, April 26, 2018
Canadian international Arfield leaving Burnley from Glasgow Rangers
Sportsnet.ca
Canadian international Arfield leaving Burnley from Glasgow Rangers
TORONTO — Canadian international Scott Arfield is set to leave Burnley for Glasgow Rangers.
Burnley manager Sean Dyche confirmed the move and the Scottish Sun reported that Arfield, whose contract with the English Premier League side expires at the end of the season, has agreed to a three-year deal with Rangers. Scottish reports say Rangers plan to announce Arfield’s signing before Sunday’s Old Firm clash at Celtic.
"Rangers contacted the club, through the right channels, to speak about Scotty," said Dyche, who brought Arfield to Burnley. "He wanted a new challenge and the Rangers’ one is an inviting one for him. He was a Rangers fan as a kid and also this a really good opportunity for him."
A native of Livingston, Scotland, Arfield qualifies to play for Canada through his Toronto-born father. Arfield’s grandfather was in the military and was briefly stationed in Canada.
The 29-year-old Arfield debuted for Canada in March 2016 and has won 12 caps for Canada.
Dyche called Arfield "a big part of our successes."
"Scotty has been an amazing servant to us, the way he conducts himself as a professional, the way he is around the community when needed to be, and then on the pitch he has been a very important player for the number of years he’s been with us," Dyche was quoted on the Burnley website.
"We are always respectful of our players and we’re not going to jeopardize anything in their future if something that comes along that’s to their benefit and Scotty feels this one is."
Madrid beats Bayern away to take control of semifinal
Football – Inquirer Sports
Madrid beats Bayern away to take control of semifinal
MUNICH — For once, Real Madrid didn’t need Cristiano Ronaldo to score. After finding the net in every Champions League game this season, Ronaldo had to let others grab the spotlight on Wednesday as Madrid ended Bayern Munich’s unbeaten record at home this season with a 2-1 win in the first leg of their Champions […]
The post Madrid beats Bayern away to take control of semifinal appeared first on Inquirer Sports.
Wednesday, April 25, 2018
What’s it like to be an ultra at English football’s pettiest derby?
Dream Team FC
What’s it like to be an ultra at English football’s pettiest derby?
No rivalry should be named after a road.
But perhaps it emphasises the complexity of Crystal Palace and Brighton’s animosity that their rivalry has been duly coined the ‘M23 Derby’.
Because outside of the two fanbases nobody really gets it.
CLAIM YOUR FREE £20 BET Sun Bets have this brilliant offer when you sign up and bet a fiver
Getty - Contributor There is nothing hostile about the M23[/caption]
So I went to find out more.
My day started in Croydon boxpark with Palace’s Holmesdale Fanatics – otherwise known as the HF – a punchy four hours before kick off.
These are the die-hards, south London through and through, larger than life characters with Palace running through their veins.
Getty - Contributor The HF[/caption]
And they don’t like Brighton.
One common misconception is that it’s a purely geographical hostility.
And while, Crawley aside, Palace is indeed the closest club in proximity to Brighton, that really isn’t the case.
Brighton’s ‘Seagulls’ nickname literally originated from a terrace chant in the 1970s mocking Palace’s ‘Eagles’, duly ditching ‘The Dolphins’ (?!) by popular demand a few seasons later.
They really don’t like Alan Mullery.
News Group Newspapers Ltd Persona non grata at Selhurst[/caption]
Mullery is public enemy number one at Selhurst Park, dating back to an intense personal battle with Terry Venables in the 1980s while the duo were in charge of either side.
One fan told me: “It seems like Brighton need Palace more than we need them. They need us to stay relevant.
“We’ve got plenty of local rivals but they’re desperate to make this into a big derby to give them a couple of cup finals every season.”
News Group Newspapers Ltd El Tel[/caption]
After one heated derby Mullery threw ‘V’ signs at Eagles supporters and allegedly entered the Palace dressing room, throwing £5 on the floor and exclaiming to El Tel: “Your team’s not worth that.”
Two seasons later violence sparked after Palace defender Henry Hughton broke Brighton fan favourite Gerry Ryan’s leg in three separate places, ending his career.
But this truly bizarre rivalry reached peak head scratching when in 2012 – the last time they met before this season – the Palace dressing room walls were coated in human s*** prior to kick off.
Getty Images - Getty Poyet was incensed by poo gate[/caption]
Initially thought to be intimidation tactics, it later ‘transpired’ that the Palace coach driver had just ‘lost all control of his bowels.’ Believe what you want.
With that bad blood in mind and the prospect of a genuine relegation six pointer, the consequences of this particular meeting were even more amplified.
They really don’t mind Glenn Murray.
Action Images - Reuters Murray was always a favourite at Selhurst Park[/caption]
I wanted to grasp their view of the Seagulls’ striker; a man who dared to go back to Brighton for a second spell after donning the famous Palace red and blue for four seasons.
As Brighton’s leading scorer this season Murray’s name has even been thrown into the World Cup squad hat.
But, according to one fan with me on my journey, the Palace faithful still adore the Seagulls’ forward after he propelled them back into the Premier League with 30 goals in the 2012/13 season.
“People forget Brighton fans cheered and laughed when Glenn did his knee ligaments in the play-off semi a few years ago,” he told me.
“I’d like to think we’re more loyal, even with him going back there.”
Getty Images - Getty The striker injured his knee back in the play-off tie back in 2013[/caption]
As we made our way from Croydon through Norwood Junction you began to make out the inevitable and unwelcome chants of ‘Does your boyfriend know you’re here?’
Equally ‘witty’ songs were exchanged across the platform. The ‘banter’ had begun.
Outside the ground there where whispers of a few hundred visiting fans arriving without tickets, more in anticipation of a scrap.
REUTERS Police presence was understandably higher than usual[/caption]
The Arthur Wait Stand
But inside the noise was almost deafening.
Selhurst Park may not be the prettiest stadium the Premier League has to offer but in terms of generating pure, unbridled atmosphere there are few better.
One supporter – who had earned a nickname down the years based on his insatiable appetite for narcotics – popped something suspect in his mouth as the teams came out for kick off.
A frenetic 20 minutes later it was 2-1 to Palace – and 10 minutes after that it was 3-2.
Alamy Live News Zaha rose brilliantly to head home and make it 3-1[/caption]
I began the game in row 17 and finished it in row seven, such was the chaos that ensued celebrating Palace’s third.
But it wouldn’t be Palace without making it extremely difficult for themselves, as Brighton twice pegged them back in possibly the most exhilarating first half of Premier League football this season.
Murray’s goal was greeted with the odd w***ker sign but generally the former fan favourite was received, as I had been assured, pretty well.
REUTERS Murray bundled in to pull one back for Brighton[/caption]
PA:Press Association A solitary w***ker sign[/caption]
The second half was a completely different story.
Murray twice came close to an equaliser as Palace huffed and puffed.
REUTERS Been there, Roy[/caption]
That same fan swallowed something else 25 minutes from time, which either eliminated or categorically amplified the jangling nerves in the home end during those final moments.
But Palace deserved a momentous win and are indebted to a man who gets the club and the area better than anyone else involved.
Wilfried Zaha ran his opponents ragged, as he has done all season, and in that kind of form would light up any side in the division.
REUTERS South London through and through[/caption]
As for the derby itself?
It’s complex, it’s petty and it’s schoolboy at times.
REUTERS HF could easily have stood for Happy F***ers at the final whistle[/caption]
But it’s also brilliantly bonkers and served as an emphatic reminder of how titillating a tribal rivalry like this can be.
Because there’s a lot more that separates Palace and Brighton than just a road.
READ MORE:
There’s no need to be scared of Millwall’s Premier League chances The true story behind English football’s most complicated rivalry What will it take to wake the sleeping giants of English football? PLAY DREAM TEAM WEEKENDER Pick seven players to win £5k!Tuesday, April 24, 2018
Bradley under pressure as Shamrock Rovers knocked out of EA Sports Cup by Longford
Sport: : BreakingNews.ie
Bradley under pressure as Shamrock Rovers knocked out of EA Sports Cup by Longford
The pressure continues to mount on Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley.
Monday, April 23, 2018
Prime Time Sports Spotlight: Toronto FC president Bill Manning
Sportsnet.ca
Prime Time Sports Spotlight: Toronto FC president Bill Manning
Toronto FC and Toronto Argonauts president Bill Manning joined Bob McCown on Prime Time Sports, and reflected on how he became interested in soccer, his first MLS go-around with the Tampa Bay Mutiny, his time with Real Salt Lake, why he chose to join Toronto FC, the team’s Champions League final vs. Chivas, and his new role with the Argonauts.
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Why Liverpool's victory over Roma in 1984 was a glorious night with tragic consequences in more ways than one
The Independent - Football
Why Liverpool's victory over Roma in 1984 was a glorious night with tragic consequences in more ways than one
Liverpool's famous win over Roma in the 1984 European Cup final features among their greatest ever, but the story goes beyond the match itself
Sunday, April 22, 2018
Wenger says he doesn’t resent Arsenal dissent after quitting
Sportsnet.ca
Wenger says he doesn’t resent Arsenal dissent after quitting
LONDON — Outgoing Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says he doesn’t resent fan protests but says they didn’t reflect how the club is perceived throughout the world.
The 68-year-old Frenchman spoke for the first time since announcing Friday that he was quitting Arsenal after 22 years, despite having a year remaining on his contract.
Speaking after a 4-1 victory over West Ham in the Premier League, Wenger declined to discuss what prompted his decision.
But "Wenger Out" banners have been displayed by some fans as Arsenal has failed to win the Premier League since 2004.
Wenger says "I am not resentful of fans. I just feel if my personality is in the way of what I feel our club is, for me that is more important."
Wenger added that "if the fans were not happy I can understand that. … I don’t know if it was damaging. It was not corresponding to what I really feel our club is perceived and has to be perceived all over the world."
Saturday, April 21, 2018
Emotional Iniesta helps Barcelona win 4th straight Copa del Rey title
Sportsnet.ca
Emotional Iniesta helps Barcelona win 4th straight Copa del Rey title
MADRID — Barcelona became the first team in 85 years to win four straight Copa del Rey titles after blowing away Sevilla 5-0 in the final on Saturday.
Luis Suarez scored twice and Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Philippe Coutinho also made the scoresheet for Barcelona’s record-extending 30th Copa triumph, and sixth in the last decade.
Sevilla was trying to win a sixth Copa and save a season which will end without any trophies and maybe not even a place in the Europa League next season.
The final took place at Atletico Madrid’s Wanda Metropolitano Stadium in the capital amid the ongoing political turmoil involving Catalonia’s bid for independence.
There were jeers by part of the Barcelona crowd when the national anthem was played, but the boos were largely subdued by the reaction of the numerous Sevilla fans in the crowd. Spain’s King Felipe VI smiled and saluted the fans after the anthem.
Suarez opened the scoring with a shot into the open net after a breakaway that started with goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen in the 14th minute. Cillessen made a long pass from inside his area to Coutinho. The Brazilian playmaker entered the box free from markers before making a pass back to Suarez, who just tapped the ball in.
Messi scored with a mid-height shot from the middle of the area after a great backheel pass by Jordi Alba off the end line. Messi became the second player to score in five Copa del Rey finals, after Athletic Bilbao’s Telmo Zarra.
Suarez scored again before halftime with a low shot after picking up a great throughball by Messi and fending off a defender while entering the area.
Iniesta, who is likely to leave Barcelona at the end of the season, scored the fourth in the 52nd after a quick exchange of passes with Messi. He dribbled past goalkeeper David Soria and shot into an empty net.
Iniesta received a huge ovation by fans from both clubs when he was substituted near the end of the match. He then lifted the trophy, his sixth in the Copa.
Coutinho closed the scoring by converting a 69th-minute penalty kick after a handball by a Sevilla defender.
No other team had won four Copa titles in a row since Athletic Bilbao from 1930-33. The only other team to do it was Real Madrid from 1905-08.
Barcelona is also three points away from winning the Spanish league. Sevilla lies seventh, the final spot guaranteeing a Europa League berth next season.
Friday, April 20, 2018
Ranking every Premier League manager on how much fun they’d be on a night out
Dream Team FC
Ranking every Premier League manager on how much fun they’d be on a night out
Being a Premier League manager is a stressful job.
But away from the media spotlight, these demi-gods of the dugout are free to let their hair down — that’s just an expression of course, in reality about third of them waved goodbye to their barnet many years ago.
Time to rank them (worst to best) on their value once Sesh Fabregas comes calling…
20 Jose Mourinho
Would have been a decent night out in 2004Getty Images - Getty
The so-called ‘Special One’ sucks up fun like a cordless Dyson.
It takes about 45 minutes to find a bar he doesn’t think is ‘beneath him’ and then he just sits in the corner sipping his wine and blabbering about how tika-taka is a fraudulent tactic.
A hit with the older ladies but he calls it a night by 9:15pm.
Gets the bus home, obviously.
19 Roy Hodgson
Would have been a decent night out in 1984Getty Images - Getty
Falls asleep in his armchair after three cans of John Smith’s — doesn’t make it out.
Still better value than Mourinho.
18 David Moyes
Smiling through the painGetty - Contributor
All my life I have been led to believe the Scots are party-starters.
Moyseh is living proof that’s not true..
He allows a single tear to drop into his whisky on the stoke of midnight and doesn’t even flinch when the DJ drops The Proclaimers.
17 Javi Gracia
Not going to lie, couldn’t pick him out of a line-upREUTERS
Not going to lie, I was expecting Marco Silva to turn up.
16 Arsene Wenger
Plenty of free time for the sesh now, eh?EPA
Stories for days but it isn’t long before he starts repeating himself.
His idea of pres is a five-course meal at a Michelin star restaurant which is nice until the waiter tells me what a good grandson I am.
Petrified of Snapchat filters.
He talks to the Addison Lee driver about the dangers of technology for 25 minutes and then gets out at some traffic lights without paying.
Can’t hate him though — he’s earned the right to do whatever the f**k he wants.
15 Mark Hughes
When you somehow manage to get two clubs relegated in one seasonGetty - Contributor
Belts out a genuinely haunting version of ‘Delilah’ at the karaoke bar.
A quality player, he has good stories and is happy to bellow them in my ear as we queue for the club.
But the nostalgia only makes him realise how harsh the sands of time have been on him in recent years — refuses to pay the £2 to check in his coat and leaves without saying goodbye.
14 Rafael Benitez
Look at that face!Getty - Contributor
Patatas bravas for pres as we stand around the island in his kitchen.
He plans the whole night in fine detail — bowling, pub, guest list and all that.
But nothing kills the atmos like organised fun.
13 Sam Allardyce
Make sure you eat a big lunch before this oneReuters
Pints of wine, pints of jagerbomb, pints of Buckfast, everything in pints.
Big Sam will gobble down a larger with fag butts in it to get a giggle out of a passing stranger.
A good laugh for the most part, but it goes downhill quick once we hit the club.
He’s one of those blokes who calls a girl ‘frigid’ if they pass up his generous offer of a thrust from behind to R. Kelly’s ‘Bump n’ Grind’.
12 Pep Guardiola
The enigmaAP:Associated Press
Don’t get me wrong, he’s an interesting bloke, but his intensity makes me uneasy.
We stop off at Tennessee Fried Chicken on the way into town and he starts putting the condiments out in formation on the table.
I catch him in the kitchen at the afters, mumbling about overlaps in the final third to some poor bloke who hasn’t watched a game of football in his life.
11 Darren Moore
Handy in a scrap as wellREUTERS
Sound bloke.
Extra credit simply for not being being Alan Pardew.
10 Claude Puel
When you miss happy hour by three minutes and the barman is a stickler for the rulesGetty - Contributor
A class act from start to finish.
Perhaps a touch too serious.
Looking through his phone in the morning and all his photos are profile pic worthy, no rotters for the WhatsApp group, shame.
9 Mauricio Pochettino
He’s magic, don’t you know?Getty Images - Getty
Has a touch of the Peps about him but it’s considerably easier to steer him away from boring football chat.
A surprisingly good dancer, the bouncers immediately take his side when some pillock squares up to him at the bar.
Drinks a glass of water in between each bottle of San Miguel, which, while sensible, is f**king weird.
8 Chris Hughton
He works the salt and pepper lookGetty Images - Getty
Downs ten pints and still phones for a taxi without slurring a word — world-class.
A bit too good of a bloke if anything.
Laying fully-clothed on my bed on top of the covers at 3am, room spinning and pizza burning in the oven, I feel a bit inferior.
Maybe a text to the ex will cheer me up?
7 Antonio Conte
Takes an hour to sort his hair because, well, it’s not hisGetty - Contributor
Never had wine like it.
Absolutely steaming and only a 3/10 hangover.
Stuff of miracles.
6 Paul Lambert
Surprisingly good night out this oneGetty - Contributor
A dark horse.
His dry wit grates on you at pres but by the time you’re upstairs at Infernos he’s turned into the funniest bloke in the world.
Knows every ‘The Office’ quote and the optimum time to deploy it.
5 David Wagner
Steins. Steins.Getty - Contributor
Wags just makes you feel good about yourself.
I must have been talking some right rubbish in the kebab shop but he still laughed at every joke as if I were Will Ferrell.
Another one who can put away the beers.
4 Sean Dyche
The rave scene was huge for himAFP or licensors
“Eat this worm.”
“F**k off.”
“Go on, eat it!”
“Alright, give it ‘ere.”
3 Eddie Howe
The only one who still gets his ID checkedGetty Images - Getty
At the risk of flirting with ageism, it’s nice to spend the night with someone who doesn’t type out texts with their index finger.
He leads me to a small capacity club with decent music and Shazams all the belters so I can look them up on Spotify in the morning.
One of those faces you can’t help but yell “I really love you, you know? You’re a diamond bloke, you really are,” at freely and he doesn’t make you feel embarrassed about it.
2 Carlos Carvalhal
So many metaphorsGetty - Contributor
I pay £27.50 for a final release ticket only to spend the whole night in the smoking area listening to Carlos chat s**t.
And I would do it all again in a heartbeat.
The charismatic f**ker even gives me his jacket on the walk home.
1 Jurgen Klopp
HeroGetty - Contributor
Pretty much the same as the David Wagner night but better.
His deafening laughter is infectious and his natural charm procures us free drinks at two separate establishments.
Of course he knows the DJ…
You never seen someone vapourise a hangover like Jurgen.
You wake up in his spare room to the smell of bacon and when to stagger into the front room he turns off the big light and presses play on Shawshank Redemption.
He makes you want to do it all over again.
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