Chelsea are facing a striker shortage for the crucial Christmas programme after Carlo Ancelotti confirmed yesterday that he has given permission for Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou to attend Ivory Coast’s African Cup of Nations training camp on Sunday.
In addition, Nicolas Anelka’s hamstring injury is worse than suspected and a scan yesterday revealed a slight tear that will keep him out for several weeks, leaving Ancelotti with Daniel Sturridge and Fabio Borini as his only available strikers for the West London derby with Fulham on Monday.
Chelsea’s festive fixture list, beginning with Saturday’s visit to Birmingham City, does not inspire trepidation but their squad is stretched to breaking point. Anelka and Michael Essien are injured, while Drogba, Kalou and John Obi Mikel will leave for the African Cup of Nations this weekend and may not return until the start of February.
Ancelotti had been hoping to keep Drogba and Kalou until after Chelsea’s FA Cup third-round tie against Watford at Stamford Bridge on January 3, but a recent conversation with Vahid Halilhodzic, the Ivory Coast coach, has disabused him of that notion. Under Fifa rules, national associations have the right to call up their players 14 days before a tournament and Halilhodzic is sticking to his guns despite a plea from Ancelotti, the Chelsea manager.
“Officially the players have to go 14 days before the start of the African Cup of Nations,” Ancelotti said. “That starts on January 11. I spoke with the manager two weeks ago. He would like to have the players, all of them who are involved in the Premiership, on December 27. We cannot go against Fifa rules.”
Drogba’s early departure has been compounded by the injury to Anelka, whom Ancelotti had been relying on to steer him through a difficult period. Only yesterday Ancelotti revealed his intention to deploy the Frenchman as a lone striker next month, but must instead turn to Sturridge and Borini, because Anelka is unlikely to be fully fit before the Barclays Premier League match against Hull City on January 9.
Ancelotti is adamant that both youngsters have his confidence despite never having scored for the club,and claims that the lack of bodies will not force him to seek reinforcements in the transfer market next month.
Sturridge has been limited by injury to five appearances since signing from Manchester City last summer, but did play a vital role in winning the controversial penalty converted by Frank Lampard against West Ham United on Sunday. Borini has played six matches this season as a substitute.
Sturridge will make his first Premier League start for the club alongside Drogba on Boxing Day and is likely to be partnered by Borini when Fulham visit Stamford Bridge.
“It’s not a good moment for his injury, but I think that Anelka will be back quickly,” Ancelotti said. “Sturridge has an opportunity to show his qualities. He played against West Ham very well in that second half and maybe against Birmingham he can play from the beginning.
“We have a lot of confidence in all my strikers. I didn’t ask for new players, we have good solutions internally, even if we lose the African players. ”
Chelsea’s Christmas results in recent years have been mediocre, but Ancelotti is confident his side can maintain their four-point lead in the Premier League.
“These are important games, but we are in a good position at the top,” he said. “We’re not in our best moment because we didn’t play well in the last few games, but because of this we have to stay concentrated to try and win our next matches.
“We play strong teams having very good results. The players are focused. They know it’s a very important moment in our season. Also, because we have some injuries, maybe it’s necessary to give something more.”
Source:The times
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Andrew Strauss hits timely hundred as England take control
Buffalo Park (first day of two; South Africa Invitational XI won toss): an England XI have scored 317 for five against a South Africa Invitational XI
As successive England batsmen milked the equivalent in standard of an undergraduate attack on Friday on a pudding of a pitch, it became hard to imagine that the start of the first Test against the fiercest bowlers South Africa can muster stood only five days away.
Andrew Strauss completed a hundred, Alastair Cook, Kevin Pietersen and Jonathan Trott reached fifties and the bowlers toiled for most of the day before taking a wicket. The first three “dismissals” go down in the book as “retired out”, with the top order ending what amounted to outdoor nets when they chose.
Given recent rain, they were doubtless grateful for anything, but as preparation for the challenge of Makhaya Ntini, Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel on what is sure to be a quicker surface in Centurion on Wednesday, its value had limits. The biggest gain must be in confidence, and at least batsmen are now out of one-day mode.
Only Ian Bell, playing on in the final half-hour, missed out and Pietersen will be as happy as anyone despite becoming the first batsman to be dismissed. An innings of 71 was his highest score since returning after Achilles tendon trouble and he looked in sound touch from his first two balls, both driven to the ropes.
Those two strokes brought him level with Trott, who had taken 70 balls to reach eight. It was a real grind for the Warwickshire player whose loose drive two days earlier appeared to have persuaded him that abstinence was the key. He stuck to his new plan as faithfully as the chairman of a Victorian temperance movement.
Cook played as straight and solidly as he had in the first warm-up game and Strauss gradually widened his range, crashing balls through the off side before easing himself through the nineties. The problem faced by all batsmen was in piercing the infield as the ball refused to come on to the bat. Bowlers were not of express pace, but they plugged away.
Andy Flower, the England team director, said: “We are making the most of the practice we were given so far. Obviously we would have preferred a bouncier pitch, but they have done a really good job getting this ready, so no way would I criticise the groundsman. But, yes, we are expecting bouncier pitches for the Tests.
“Kevin’s innings was probably the most pleasing aspect because the other guys have been playing cricket and been in the runs recently. He has not had that, so getting in and getting that time in the middle was vital for him. You could see as his innings progressed how he looked more balanced and assured.”
As for clues to the composition of the Test side, Bell’s inclusion, with Paul Collingwood resting, suggested that England may yet plump for six specialist batsmen. However, much will depend on the faith the selectors have in James Anderson’s dodgy right knee, to be tested when he bowls today.
England XI: First Innings
*A J Strauss retired out 100
A N Cook retired out 52
I J L Trott retired out 50
K P Pietersen c Van Wyk b Vallie 71
I R Bell b Eccles 8
†M J Prior not out 19
L J Wright not out 1
Extras (b 5, lb 1, w 2, nb 8)16
Total (5 wkts, 88 overs) 317
J M Anderson, S C J Broad, G P Swann, R J Sidebottom and P D Collingwood to bat.
Fall of wickets: 1-101, 2-169, 3-274, 4-293, 5-304.
Bowling: Myoli 16-1-82-0; Eccles 16-0-79-1; Wiese 17-4-40-0; Pietersen 12-2-41-0; Adams 13-5-14-0; Vallie 7-1-32-1; Bossenger 7-0-23-0.
South Africa Invitational XI: A P Agathagelou, D J van Wyk, S E Avontuur, M Y Vallie, *W Bossenger, C Pietersen, D Wiese, K W Eccles, †M Mosehle, R A Adams, A Myoli, T Bavuma.
Umpires: B G Jerling and L J Willemse.
Source: The times
Rafael Benítez turns on his critics as pressure mounts
Rafael Benítez has come out fighting in the build-up to Liverpool’s crucial match against Arsenal tomorrow.
The Liverpool manager attacked two of his biggest critics and claimed that the priority of the club has shifted from silverware to debt management.
At a time when Liverpool are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the appointment of Bill Shankly, arguably their greatest manager, the Scot’s latest successor to the Anfield throne has intimated that Shankly’s oft-repeated mantra about Liverpool existing only to win trophies is no longer as relevant as it once was.
Benítez, clearly tired of shouldering all the blame for Liverpool’s season of woe, offered a rare insight into the financial restrictions he is working under at the debt-laden club.
He followed that up by ridiculing the managerial records of Graeme Souness and Jürgen Klinsmann, who led the criticism of the Spaniard after Wednesday night’s Champions League defeat by Fiorentina.
Tiger Woods quits golf 'to be a better husband'
Tiger Woods is to take an “indefinite break” from professional golf, he announced late last night, capping a tumultuous fortnight.
The troubled golfer said he was taking a “hiatus” from the sport so that he could “focus ... on being a better husband, father, and person”.
In a statement on his personal website, Woods, 33, said that he was profoundly sorry for the disappointment and hurt that he had caused his family. “It may not be possible to repair the damage I’ve done but I want to do my best to try,” he said.
The father of two continued: “After much soul-searching, I have decided to take an indefinite break from professional golf.” Woods has not been seen in public since his car accident in the early hours of Friday, November 27. The crash, outside his Florida mansion, was said to have come after he and his 29-year-old Swedish wife, Elin Nordegren, had a furious row about an alleged affair with Rachel Uchitel, 34, a Manhattan nightclub hostess.
Neighbours had reported seeing Ms Nordegren standing by Woods’s crashed SUV with a golf club in her hand. The golfer, who was found bleeding and semi-conscious, was later charged with careless driving, which carries a $164 (£98) fine.
It also emerged that the world number one was investigated for driving while unfit after his wife told a Florida state trooper that he had been drinking before his car crash and had been prescribed addictive drugs.
The news unleashed a media firestorm and led to a deluge of reports that the golfer had numerous affairs with young women.
Among the 13 women to have emerged with claims of extramarital affairs with the sportsman were Jaimee Grubbs, 24, a Las Vegas cocktail waitress, Jamie Jungers, 26, a lingerie model, Mindy Lawton, 33, an Orlando pancake waitress, and Holly Sampson, 36, a porn actress.
While the storm raged around him, Woods remained silent and out of sight. In a statement released last week, he referred to “personal sins” and “transgressions” and apologised for letting his family down. In last night’s statement he used the word “infidelity” for the first time.
The golfer was last due to play golf on December 1 at the Chevron World Challenge title, but cancelled after the crash. He is the winner of 14 major golf events.
Woods’s once squeaky clean image has taken a battering and adverts featuring the golfer have vanished from American prime-time television amid blanket coverage of the lurid claims of his infidelities.
Gatorade, the energy drinks company, cancelled a contract with Woods as the financial ramifications of the scandal started to emerge. Woods signed a five-year deal with Gatorade in 2007 for an estimated $100 million (£61.7 million), which means that he stands to lose about $40 million.
Yesterday, he won a court order banning British media from reporting certain new details about his personal life. The legal action, by London-based lawyers, is the first serious attempt by Woods to try to limit the increasing damage to his reputation.
There has been speculation that one of the women who claims to have slept with the golfer was preparing to sell compromising photographs. Woods’s lawyers have cast doubt on the existence and validity of any images.
There were also suggestions yesterday that Woods’s problems may be part of a serious psychological addiction that only expert treatment can bring under control.
“One might suggest that Tiger Woods shows signs of being a sex addict,” said Judy Kuriansky, a psychologist and sex expert at Columbia University, New York. “From the outside it would seem he fits — and once you put a medical diagnosis on it, you have an excuse.”
Earlier this week Woods’s mother-in-law collapsed at his Florida mansion and spent half a day in hospital. Barbro Holmberg had arrived in the US from her native Sweden to be with her daughter.
Source:The times
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Michael Schumacher reunion with Ross Brawn at Mercedes seems ideal but unlikely
Will Michael Schumacher come back in 2010? Once again Formula One is speculating about its most successful driver and the possibility that he might be tempted into a return to the cockpit with Mercedes Grand Prix, formerly Brawn GP.
Jenson Button’s puzzling decision to leave that team and head for McLaren has led to rumours that Schumacher might be a target for Mercedes, as the team scouts around for a big name driver to join its new signing Nico Rosberg.
Such a strategy would seem to fit both Schumacher and Mercedes. It would mean a chance for the greatest German driver to team up with a German manufacturer that has always wanted his services; it would give Schumacher an opportunity to rekindle his stunningly successful relationship with Ross Brawn, the team principal with whom he worked at Benetton and Ferrari, and it could offer the seven-times world champion a competitive car to restart his career.
So far Mercedes have refused to comment on speculation that they have already approached the German legend who is in Las Vegas at present preparing for a karting event. But when asked about it this week Nick Fry, the Mercedes chief executive, would only say that there were still plenty of top-class drivers available and the team was not leaving any stone unturned in its search for a replacement for Button.
However Schumacher’s spokeswoman, Sabine Kehm, was sceptical on Friday that he might consider a full-time comeback. She said she was sure no negotiations were in progress. She pointed out that Schumacher’s decision to replace Felipe Massa at Ferrari for the final races of this year after the Brazilian was injured, was a special case. Although that comeback was thwarted by a neck injury, it would have involved only a few races and not a full championship campaign.
“The whole story with Mercedes is a beautiful one with so many things fitting together with Michael and Ross, but it is a full season next year and there are no negotiations going on,” Kehm said. Although Schumacher’s injury, which was caused when he crashed a motorbike this year, is thought to be on the mend, he will be 41 at the start of next season and he said recently he did not fancy coming back to Formula One and being seen as the old man of the sport.
While a gamble on Schumacher may or may not be on Ross Brawn’s wish list, he is also known to be in talks with Kimi Raikkonen, the ex-Ferrari driver and Nick Heidfeld, the German driver formerly at BMW Sauber. Brawn is likely to be keeping an eye on Robert Kubica, Heidfeld’s former team-mate, who has signed for Renault. If the French car manufacturer pulls out of Formula One, Kubica could be a great choice to partner Rosberg.
Jenson Button’s puzzling decision to leave that team and head for McLaren has led to rumours that Schumacher might be a target for Mercedes, as the team scouts around for a big name driver to join its new signing Nico Rosberg.
Such a strategy would seem to fit both Schumacher and Mercedes. It would mean a chance for the greatest German driver to team up with a German manufacturer that has always wanted his services; it would give Schumacher an opportunity to rekindle his stunningly successful relationship with Ross Brawn, the team principal with whom he worked at Benetton and Ferrari, and it could offer the seven-times world champion a competitive car to restart his career.
So far Mercedes have refused to comment on speculation that they have already approached the German legend who is in Las Vegas at present preparing for a karting event. But when asked about it this week Nick Fry, the Mercedes chief executive, would only say that there were still plenty of top-class drivers available and the team was not leaving any stone unturned in its search for a replacement for Button.
However Schumacher’s spokeswoman, Sabine Kehm, was sceptical on Friday that he might consider a full-time comeback. She said she was sure no negotiations were in progress. She pointed out that Schumacher’s decision to replace Felipe Massa at Ferrari for the final races of this year after the Brazilian was injured, was a special case. Although that comeback was thwarted by a neck injury, it would have involved only a few races and not a full championship campaign.
“The whole story with Mercedes is a beautiful one with so many things fitting together with Michael and Ross, but it is a full season next year and there are no negotiations going on,” Kehm said. Although Schumacher’s injury, which was caused when he crashed a motorbike this year, is thought to be on the mend, he will be 41 at the start of next season and he said recently he did not fancy coming back to Formula One and being seen as the old man of the sport.
While a gamble on Schumacher may or may not be on Ross Brawn’s wish list, he is also known to be in talks with Kimi Raikkonen, the ex-Ferrari driver and Nick Heidfeld, the German driver formerly at BMW Sauber. Brawn is likely to be keeping an eye on Robert Kubica, Heidfeld’s former team-mate, who has signed for Renault. If the French car manufacturer pulls out of Formula One, Kubica could be a great choice to partner Rosberg.
France rejects Ireland plea to replay World Cup qualifying match
The French football federation (FFF) has rejected Ireland’s request to make a joint appeal to Fifa for a replay of their contentious World Cup play-off match.
Despite high-profile support for a restaged tie, with Arsène Wenger and Thierry Henry advocating a return match yesterday, the FFF said that while it “understands the disappointment and bitterness of the Irish players”, the decision of the world governing body is final.
“Fifa is the ruler of the game and we have to abide by what they say,” a spokesman said. “What they decide, we have to do. They have ruled it will not be replayed. We should move on.”
Wenger believes that the FFF should have helped to cleanse Henry’s tainted image by sanctioning a replay after the former Arsenal striker’s handball had led to the decisive goal in Paris on Wednesday night.
“The federation should do that,” the Arsenal manager, who helped to turn Henry into a global superstar, said. “Thierry has done so much for French football that the federation has to help him. I think the credibility of France going to the World Cup is dependent on that.”
Henry had earlier defended himself, calling the handball an “instinctive reaction”. He admitted embarrassment and said that a replay would be the “fairest solution”, but fell short of fully apologising for what many fans have viewed as blatant cheating.
In a carefully worded statement, Henry expressed sorrow for the Ireland players and supporters at the manner of France’s qualification. However, he denied that he had deliberately deceived Martin Hansson, the referee, and his fellow Swedish officials.
“Naturally, I feel embarrassed at the way that we [went through] and feel extremely sorry for the Irish, who definitely deserve to be in South Africa,” Henry said. “There is little more I can do apart from admit that the ball had contact with my hand leading up to our equalising goal and I feel very sorry for the Irish.
“I said at the time and I will say again, yes, I handled the ball. I am not a cheat and never have been. It was an instinctive reaction to a ball that was coming extremely fast in a crowded penalty area.
“As a footballer, you do not have the luxury of the television to slow the pace of the ball down 100 times to be able to make a conscious decision. If people look at it in full speed, you will see that it was an instinctive reaction.
“I have never denied that the ball was controlled with my hand. I told the Irish players, the referee and the media this after the game.”
Wenger said that his former captain, now with Barcelona, should offer a full apology. “Yes, he should,” the Arsenal manager said. “He should say, ‘Yes, I made a mistake, that’s it.’
“He is not a guy who wants to be petty, he wants to be classy. He can come out and say, ‘Yes, that’s not me, that is not how I want to play.’ ”
Like his federation, Raymond Domenech, the France coach, was in no mood for compromise. “On the pitch, I didn’t see the handball. I have since looked at the footage and it is indeed a refereeing mistake,” he said yesterday. “For me, it’s a game incident and not cheating. Therefore, I don’t see why we are asked to apologise.”
Domenech’s view is perhaps not entirely unconnected with the fact that he will receive a reported €862,000 (about £770,000) bonus for leading his team to South Africa.
Hansson broke his silence yesterday. “I cannot comment on the game itself, but life must go on,” the referee said. “I think I will survive this storm.” He still hopes to make the elite group of officials who will go to the final.
Cantona in attack on France coach
Eric Cantona waded into the Thierry Henry controversy yesterday by launching a stinging attack on the striker and Raymond Domenech, the France coach.
“What shocked me most wasn’t the handball,” the former Manchester United and France forward said. It “was that at the end of the match, in front of the TV cameras, this player [Henry] went and sat down next to an Irish player to console him, even though he’d screwed them three minutes earlier. If I’d been Irish, he wouldn’t have lasted three seconds.”
Cantona described Domenech as “the worst coach in French football since Louis XVI”. He said: “If it was up to me, I’d put Laurent Blanc [the Bordeaux coach] in charge.”
Despite high-profile support for a restaged tie, with Arsène Wenger and Thierry Henry advocating a return match yesterday, the FFF said that while it “understands the disappointment and bitterness of the Irish players”, the decision of the world governing body is final.
“Fifa is the ruler of the game and we have to abide by what they say,” a spokesman said. “What they decide, we have to do. They have ruled it will not be replayed. We should move on.”
Wenger believes that the FFF should have helped to cleanse Henry’s tainted image by sanctioning a replay after the former Arsenal striker’s handball had led to the decisive goal in Paris on Wednesday night.
“The federation should do that,” the Arsenal manager, who helped to turn Henry into a global superstar, said. “Thierry has done so much for French football that the federation has to help him. I think the credibility of France going to the World Cup is dependent on that.”
Henry had earlier defended himself, calling the handball an “instinctive reaction”. He admitted embarrassment and said that a replay would be the “fairest solution”, but fell short of fully apologising for what many fans have viewed as blatant cheating.
In a carefully worded statement, Henry expressed sorrow for the Ireland players and supporters at the manner of France’s qualification. However, he denied that he had deliberately deceived Martin Hansson, the referee, and his fellow Swedish officials.
“Naturally, I feel embarrassed at the way that we [went through] and feel extremely sorry for the Irish, who definitely deserve to be in South Africa,” Henry said. “There is little more I can do apart from admit that the ball had contact with my hand leading up to our equalising goal and I feel very sorry for the Irish.
“I said at the time and I will say again, yes, I handled the ball. I am not a cheat and never have been. It was an instinctive reaction to a ball that was coming extremely fast in a crowded penalty area.
“As a footballer, you do not have the luxury of the television to slow the pace of the ball down 100 times to be able to make a conscious decision. If people look at it in full speed, you will see that it was an instinctive reaction.
“I have never denied that the ball was controlled with my hand. I told the Irish players, the referee and the media this after the game.”
Wenger said that his former captain, now with Barcelona, should offer a full apology. “Yes, he should,” the Arsenal manager said. “He should say, ‘Yes, I made a mistake, that’s it.’
“He is not a guy who wants to be petty, he wants to be classy. He can come out and say, ‘Yes, that’s not me, that is not how I want to play.’ ”
Like his federation, Raymond Domenech, the France coach, was in no mood for compromise. “On the pitch, I didn’t see the handball. I have since looked at the footage and it is indeed a refereeing mistake,” he said yesterday. “For me, it’s a game incident and not cheating. Therefore, I don’t see why we are asked to apologise.”
Domenech’s view is perhaps not entirely unconnected with the fact that he will receive a reported €862,000 (about £770,000) bonus for leading his team to South Africa.
Hansson broke his silence yesterday. “I cannot comment on the game itself, but life must go on,” the referee said. “I think I will survive this storm.” He still hopes to make the elite group of officials who will go to the final.
Cantona in attack on France coach
Eric Cantona waded into the Thierry Henry controversy yesterday by launching a stinging attack on the striker and Raymond Domenech, the France coach.
“What shocked me most wasn’t the handball,” the former Manchester United and France forward said. It “was that at the end of the match, in front of the TV cameras, this player [Henry] went and sat down next to an Irish player to console him, even though he’d screwed them three minutes earlier. If I’d been Irish, he wouldn’t have lasted three seconds.”
Cantona described Domenech as “the worst coach in French football since Louis XVI”. He said: “If it was up to me, I’d put Laurent Blanc [the Bordeaux coach] in charge.”
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Rafael Benitez: sell Fernando Torres and I will quit Liverpool
Rafael Benítez reassured Liverpool supporters last night that he would never sanction the sale of Fernando Torres to pay part of the club’s debt.
Asked whether an offer of £100 million or more would tempt Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr to sell their superstar striker, the Liverpool manager smiled and said: "It won’t happen. I’d quit."
In a wide-ranging interview with The Times — his first with a British national newspaper — Benítez strenuously defended his record in the transfer market, but admitted that he had taken gambles and made mistakes.
He explained why Alberto Aquilani is a bargain buy, spoke with pride about the transformation he has overseen at Liverpool and talked of his desire to leave a winning legacy at the club.
The former Valencia manager believes that he has overseen huge changes since arriving at Anfield in 2004. "There is a massive difference between five years ago and now," Benítez said. "The name of the club round the world is at the same level as it was in the 1980s. It’s a fantastic achievement. Everybody talks about Liverpool in a good way. And we will get better."
More worrying for Liverpool is that while Benítez underlines his commitment at every opportunity — "I want to leave a winning legacy," he said — Real Madrid may come calling.
The second galáctico era is stalling and Manuel Pellegrini, the Real coach, may be on his way out. Real made a huge offer to Benítez at the beginning of the year — their third — and sources in Madrid say they are preparing another. For the moment, though, Benítez is concentrating on one team.
The Spaniard, 49, signed a new five-year contract in February but has been under pressure this season after a poor start. Liverpool have suffered five defeats in 12 Barclays Premier League matches and are on the verge of elimination from the Champions League. To make matters worse, Torres and Steven Gerrard have suffered groin problems and Aquilani, their big summer signing, has been sidelined through injury, only making his league debut eight days ago.
"People are worried," Benítez said. "But the team will improve. When we have key players on the pitch we are as good as anyone. We have proved this in the past."
Signing Aquilani for £17 million from Roma to replace Xabi Alonso was great business, he insisted. "We can only buy one or two big, £20 million players a year," Benítez said. "If we want to have money available, then we have to sell some players. We have to sell expensive and buy as cheaply as possible.
"Aquilani fit would be £20-30 million. We checked with doctors and they said he would be out one, maybe two months. We have lost some time, but I signed the player for five years, not five weeks. We needed to take the risk."
What will not happen, though, Benítez insisted, is the departure of Torres.
Even with the club’s debts at £245 million, he laughed off the prospect of having to sell him. "I’m confident it will never happen," he said. "If it did, I’d resign."
The relative lack of cash at the club has made risk-taking essential for Liverpool and Benítez admits to making mistakes in the market.
"When we have spent big, normally it’s been very good business," he said. "Torres, Mascherano, Reina, Alonso. Keane is a good player but we had to sell him because he was not playing at the level we knew he could play. Ryan [Babel] was signed for the future and we are waiting for his improvement. He has to be more consistent.
"With the fringe players, we needed to take a gamble on Bosmans and one, two million-pound players. Some of these players have not been good enough for us. It is a risk you have to accept when there is not too much money about."
When Aquilani arrived, Alonso, a crowd favourite, left. In a bitter parting, there were suggestions that the relationship between Benítez and Alonso — who was sold for £20 million profit — had broken down. The manager dismissed the theory.
"He put in a transfer request," Benítez said. "We had a professional and good relationship. Some people say the manager must put his arm around the player’s shoulder. I don’t know too many managers who do this. Some managers here in England don’t even see the training sessions. How can you put your arm around the shoulders of the players if you are not there?"
Benítez’s relationships with the co-owners and Rick Parry, the former chief executive, have sometimes been frosty, but the manager is quick to praise Christian Purslow, Parry’s successor. "Since Christian’s first day I know I’ve had his support, inside and outside the club," he said.
Manager and chief executive may face a difficult transfer window, with the priority being to lower the wage bill. Three or four players may head out of the Anfield exit door, with none of the cash heading back to Benítez, but there will be no civil war behind the scenes. "We are progressing," he said. "I’m happy and want to do the best for this club."
Source:The times
Asked whether an offer of £100 million or more would tempt Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr to sell their superstar striker, the Liverpool manager smiled and said: "It won’t happen. I’d quit."
In a wide-ranging interview with The Times — his first with a British national newspaper — Benítez strenuously defended his record in the transfer market, but admitted that he had taken gambles and made mistakes.
He explained why Alberto Aquilani is a bargain buy, spoke with pride about the transformation he has overseen at Liverpool and talked of his desire to leave a winning legacy at the club.
The former Valencia manager believes that he has overseen huge changes since arriving at Anfield in 2004. "There is a massive difference between five years ago and now," Benítez said. "The name of the club round the world is at the same level as it was in the 1980s. It’s a fantastic achievement. Everybody talks about Liverpool in a good way. And we will get better."
More worrying for Liverpool is that while Benítez underlines his commitment at every opportunity — "I want to leave a winning legacy," he said — Real Madrid may come calling.
The second galáctico era is stalling and Manuel Pellegrini, the Real coach, may be on his way out. Real made a huge offer to Benítez at the beginning of the year — their third — and sources in Madrid say they are preparing another. For the moment, though, Benítez is concentrating on one team.
The Spaniard, 49, signed a new five-year contract in February but has been under pressure this season after a poor start. Liverpool have suffered five defeats in 12 Barclays Premier League matches and are on the verge of elimination from the Champions League. To make matters worse, Torres and Steven Gerrard have suffered groin problems and Aquilani, their big summer signing, has been sidelined through injury, only making his league debut eight days ago.
"People are worried," Benítez said. "But the team will improve. When we have key players on the pitch we are as good as anyone. We have proved this in the past."
Signing Aquilani for £17 million from Roma to replace Xabi Alonso was great business, he insisted. "We can only buy one or two big, £20 million players a year," Benítez said. "If we want to have money available, then we have to sell some players. We have to sell expensive and buy as cheaply as possible.
"Aquilani fit would be £20-30 million. We checked with doctors and they said he would be out one, maybe two months. We have lost some time, but I signed the player for five years, not five weeks. We needed to take the risk."
What will not happen, though, Benítez insisted, is the departure of Torres.
Even with the club’s debts at £245 million, he laughed off the prospect of having to sell him. "I’m confident it will never happen," he said. "If it did, I’d resign."
The relative lack of cash at the club has made risk-taking essential for Liverpool and Benítez admits to making mistakes in the market.
"When we have spent big, normally it’s been very good business," he said. "Torres, Mascherano, Reina, Alonso. Keane is a good player but we had to sell him because he was not playing at the level we knew he could play. Ryan [Babel] was signed for the future and we are waiting for his improvement. He has to be more consistent.
"With the fringe players, we needed to take a gamble on Bosmans and one, two million-pound players. Some of these players have not been good enough for us. It is a risk you have to accept when there is not too much money about."
When Aquilani arrived, Alonso, a crowd favourite, left. In a bitter parting, there were suggestions that the relationship between Benítez and Alonso — who was sold for £20 million profit — had broken down. The manager dismissed the theory.
"He put in a transfer request," Benítez said. "We had a professional and good relationship. Some people say the manager must put his arm around the player’s shoulder. I don’t know too many managers who do this. Some managers here in England don’t even see the training sessions. How can you put your arm around the shoulders of the players if you are not there?"
Benítez’s relationships with the co-owners and Rick Parry, the former chief executive, have sometimes been frosty, but the manager is quick to praise Christian Purslow, Parry’s successor. "Since Christian’s first day I know I’ve had his support, inside and outside the club," he said.
Manager and chief executive may face a difficult transfer window, with the priority being to lower the wage bill. Three or four players may head out of the Anfield exit door, with none of the cash heading back to Benítez, but there will be no civil war behind the scenes. "We are progressing," he said. "I’m happy and want to do the best for this club."
Source:The times
Sunday, November 15, 2009
South Africa v England
South Africa 219-5 (18 overs) So that's presumably the end of Mahmood's spell - one wicket, 61 runs.
Wicket! South Africa 214-5 (Kallis 7 b Mahmood) Good ball from Mahmood as Kallis swings and misses.
South Africa 211-4 (17 overs) Two new batsmen at the crease now, AB de Villiers and Jacques Kallis.
Wicket! South Africa 204-4 (Bosman 94 c Anderson b Wright)What a shame, a brilliant innings brought to an end by another great England catch, as Anderson covers a lot of ground to run in and take it from another full toss.
Wicket! South Africa 203-3 (Duminy 2 c Wright b Anderson)Anderson returns, and Bosman gobbles up the bowling with glee; as the bowler tries to slow it down, the batsman's power piles the pace on. Duminy falls in an attempt to keep up with his partner, playing high into the air and straight down into Luke Wright's hands.
South Africa 195-2 (15 overs) The commentators are speculating that England may not get through their overs in time, resulting in a fine for Alastair Cook. That would just top off his day nicely, wouldn't it?
Wicket! South Africa 192-2 (Morkel 14 c Bresnan b Pietersen)Too many full tosses in this over, but it's a low one that loops into the hands of Bresnan, who takes a great catch.
South Africa 179-1 (14 overs) A wicket and two dot balls in the over - not a bad return from Denly's first.
Wicket! South Africa 170-1 (Smith 88 c Mahmood b Denly)Smith toe-ends it and Saj Mahmood takes the catch. Cook's plan to take the pace off the ball by bowling the part-timers has worked. Probably a little too late.
South Africa 170-0 (13 overs): Kevin Pietersen, in his international return, gets the chance to turn his arm over, conceding a six and a four to Bosman, but that's relatively good on this afternoon's evidence so far.
South Africa 157-0 (12 overs): "Catch it!" comes to the cry to Pietersen at deep midwicket, but Bosman is fortunate that he found the gap in the field. By the way, this is now a record stand for any country in Twenty20 internationals, which probably isn't a great surprise to you. This is tremendous batting.
South Africa 138-0 (11 overs): Some more bat-changing shenanigans, this time for Bosman, as Wright quenches that inferno of a run-rate. Slightly.
South Africa 138-0 (11 overs): Some more bat-changing shenanigans, this time for Bosman, as Wright quenches that inferno of a run-rate. Slightly.
South Africa 131-0 (10 overs): Two more sixes for Smith as Bresnan attempts to rescue his figures for today. Paul Collingwood and Andrew Strauss are sitting on the sidelines looking vaguely amused and appalled.
South Africa 116-0 (9 overs): So both batsmen now race on to 50 - Bosman off just 25 balls.
South Africa 107-0 (8 overs): After two successive sixes from Smith, one low, one high, Adil Rashid thinks he's made the breakthrough, with Prior stumping Smith as he struggles to keep his balance at the crease. Repeat viewing proves that Smith's back foot was grounded, and the third umpire confirms that decision. A single gets him off strike and Bosman rounds off the over with two sixes of his own.
South Africa 82-0 (7 overs):Graeme Smith has to change his bat. It's taken a pounding so far. It's Bosman who hits Mahmood for a one-bounce four then a scoreboard-bound six, though.
South Africa 69-0 (6 overs): Luke Wright gets his turn in the firing line (presumably Jimmy Anderson is being saved until the death) and he doesn't manage to staunch the flow of runs. However, he attempts a reflex catch as Smith spits the ball back at him from close range, and finishes the over with a yorker.
South Africa 51-0 (5 overs): Bresnan's not having a lot more luck; he's erring on the full side and Smith is taking advantage. Luke Wright makes a despairing dive but he can't prevent a six from Bosman, and that's the fifty up already.
South Africa 35-0 (4 overs): Time for a bit of Saj Mahmood, who gives away successive fours to Smith, and then offers up another off a front-foot no-ball. And then he proceeds to york Smith off the free-hit, which obviously doesn't count. Cook is moving round the field and everybody is throwing a collective hissy fit. Then another no-ball, and a six off the free hit. That makes it 21 off the over. Nick Knight calls this over "a microcosm of Saj Mahmood's career so far - lots of runs and then a wicket." This is not the most settled England side I've ever seen. But really, calm down, the lot of you, there's a long way to go yet.
South Africa 14-0 (3 overs): Bosman pounces right on to Anderson with a belted one-bounce four, and the slips promptly move out. That's more successful - just a single each after that.
South Africa 8-0 (2 overs): A less good start from Tim Bresnan, who begins short and gets the just punishment from Smith, pulling him square for four. He tries a stifled appeal for lbw against Bosman but it was too high and everyone knew it.
South Africa 2-0 (1 over): Good start there from Anderson, just one run and one wide.
12.30pm: The teams are out, KP is resplendent in sunglasses, the batsmen are stretching, and the umpire delays for a bit as Graeme Smith gets his sight sorted out before calling play and allowing Jimmy Anderson to open the bowling.
12.25pm: Concerned about the weather at Centurion? So am I. David Lloyd reports that there are already storms a few miles down the road in Johannesburg and they are expected to hit Supersport Park later.
12.20pm: Good afternoon, everybody, and without further ado let's look at the team news -
South Africa: Graeme Smith (capt), Loots Bosman, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Albie Morkel, Ryan McLaren, Heino Kuhn (wkt), Roelof van der Merwe, Dale Steyn, Yusuf Abdulla.
England: Joe Denly, Alastair Cook (capt), Kevin Pietersen, Jonathan Trott, Eoin Morgan, Matt Prior (wkt), Luke Wright, Tim Bresnan, Adil Rashid, Sajid Mahmood, James Anderson.
Graeme Smith has won the toss against new captain Alastair Cook, and South Africa will bat first.
11.30am: Kevin Pietersen will play in England's second Twenty20 international with South Africa at Centurion today, the ECB have announced.
Alastair Cook will captain the side after Paul Collingwood was ruled out due to a stiff back.
The Durham all-rounder woke up with the problem yesterday after leading his side to victory in the first 20-over encounter between the two sides on Friday.
He faced a late fitness test this morning which he failed, while no early decision was made on James Anderson (knee) and Graeme Swann (side).
Source:The times
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Eoin Morgan stars before rain aids England
A brilliant innings by Eoin Morgan that deserved to win any match gained its due reward last night, but only after more Duckworth/Lewis frustration for South Africa thanks to shrewd captaincy by Paul Collingwood and dead-eye bowling from James Anderson.
The most exciting newcomer to the England team since Kevin Pietersen, Morgan inspired Collingwood’s side to their biggest total in a Twenty20 international and hit their highest individual score, an unbeaten 85 from 45 balls.
Two of his five sixes soared out of the ground. But even such impressive figures only hint at the boldness and skill of his batting, which combined power with timing and placement.
Famously, South Africa went out of the 2003 World Cup when they misread a D/L sheet and blocked what proved to be the last ball of the game against Sri Lanka in Durban when a single would have taken them through. In March, West Indies accepted an offer of bad light during a one-day international against England in Guyana, little realising that they were behind on calculations.
There was no misreading this time. With rain becoming heavier and forked lightning almost directly overhead, the thirteenth over of the reply felt sure to be the last. The scoreboard showed that South Africa needed eight to win. Collingwood recalled Anderson, his best bowler, who restricted A. B. de Villiers and Albie Morkel to five singles and a wide.
The difference between victory and defeat came down to an inch of De Villiers’s bat. Attempting to swing the sixth ball through mid-wicket, he met it with the toe of the willow and saw it trickle into the leg side.
“It became a game within a game,” Collingwood said. “But we put in a good performance all round.” His team will go to Centurion tomorrow for the final game of the two-match Twenty20 series in good heart.
A total of 202 for six passed England’s previous best of 200 for six, made against India in Durban during the first World Twenty20 in 2007, a game remembered best for Yuvraj Singh’s six sixes in an over from Stuart Broad. England lost that contest and even a score of such magnitude last night stood within compass on a pitch with bounce and carry.
To get there, South Africa needed a strong start. They were given exactly that by Loots Bosman and Graeme Smith as they raised the fifty from only 31 balls, six fewer than England.
Bowlers from both sides generally dropped too short and found yorkers difficult to produce. Bosman set a rapid tempo and his opening partner soon caught up with his run-rate.
Spin proved just as enticing, Graeme Swann’s first and third balls disappearing over the ropes. There was a clear sense of relief when Smith mistimed a cut against Luke Wright and Bosman chanced his arm once too often in the next over. But the opening partnership of 97 had come at almost 12 runs per over and a tight finish was on the cards.
Having subsided to 89 all out in their only warm-up Twenty20, against South Africa A, England made an awful start when Joe Denly was adjudged leg-before to the first ball of the match. It was impossible to know whether spectators booed Jonathan Trott on his arrival because Tragedy, by the Bee Gees, was blaring so loudly around the ground.
Trott answered formidably, striking four fours in succession off Dale Steyn before attempting an impossible run to De Villiers at backward point. Yet England continued undeterred, with Collingwood’s muscular jabs reminding of his assault against Lasith Malinga during the Champions Trophy here two months earlier.
The inhibited have no place in the 20-over game. Morgan, here striking the ball in orthodox fashion through the covers, there crouching on one knee to flip a six over very fine leg, found an ally in Collingwood, whose 57 came from 32 balls and included four sixes. They added 98 for the fourth wicket. At least Smith, the South Africa captain, could anticipate where Collingwood might put the ball. Morgan’s confidence and ability to reverse-hit made that close to impossible.
One of his sixes, against Steyn, hit the fourth storey of a block of flats outside the ground; fortunately the ball struck brickwork rather than glass. “Absolutely exceptional,” was Collingwood’s verdict.
England
J L Denly lbw b Langeveldt 0
A N Cook lbw b McLaren 11
I J L Trott run out 33
*P D Collingwood c Botha b McLaren 57
E J G Morgan not out 85
L J Wright c De Villiers b Steyn 2
†M J Prior c Morkel b McLaren 0
T T Bresnan not out 3
Extras (lb 5, w 6) 11 Total (6 wkts, 20 overs) 202 G P Swann, S I Mahmood and J M Anderson did not bat.
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-25, 3-61, 4-159, 5-167, 6-169.
Bowling: Langeveldt 4-0-39-1; McLaren 4-0-33-3; Steyn 4-0-40-1; Morkel 2-0-32-0; Van der Merwe 2-0-17-0; Botha 4-0-36-0.
South Africa
*G C Smith c Morgan b Wright 41
L L Bosman c Collingwood b Swann 58
J P Duminy lbw b Mahmood 6
A B de Villiers not out 10
J A Morkel not out 9
Extras (w 3) 3 Total (3 wkts, 13 overs) 127 †M V Boucher, R McLaren, R E van der Merwe, J Botha, D W Steyn and C K Langeveldt did not bat.
Fall of wickets: 1-97, 2-101, 3-112.
Bowling: Anderson 3-0-24-0; Bresnan 2-0-25-0; Mahmood 3-0-31-1; Wright 2-0-17-1; Swann 3-0-30-1.
Umpires: M Erasmus and B G Jerling.
Tomorrow’s fixture: Second Twenty20 international (at Centurion).
Source:The times
Late Matt Banahan try rescues dull England against Argentina
Matt Banahan's try 10 minutes from time ensured England managed to beat Argentina 16-9 in a poor quality encounter at Twickenham on Saturday.
But the Bath wing's score could not disguise the fact that for much of the match England lacked invention and rarely threatened Argentina's line.
Victory did give manager Martin Johnson his sixth win from 13 games in charge and eased some of the pressure on the 2003 World Cup-winning captain. However, England will have to up their game if they are to beat New Zealand when the All Blacks arrive at Twickenham a week on Saturday.
"There were lots of errors which put us in a bad place. It was going to be tough in the second half, there were a lot of nerves," said Johnson. "They put us under pressure, it was wet and it became a real dogfight. We could have lost at the end. It was tough to watch. The guys are happy to have won but disappointed with what they did.
We took two steps forward and one back."
It seemed that for the second match in a row, following last week's 18-9 loss to Australia, that England - showing four changes from the side beaten by the Wallabies - would be rendered try-less until they at last worked an overlap which saw Banahan go in under the posts.
But it was Argentina who, despite debutant centre Martin Rodriguez missing three penalties, appeared the more inspired and then laid siege to England's line as they chased the converted try which would have tied the scores.
After a low grade first-half, which ended in boos from the crowd, England were fortunate to be all square at 9-9.
The Pumas, without injured playmakers Juan Martin Hernandez and Felipe Contepomi, had kicked better out of hand and, despite the blustery conditions, ran the ball with purpose against an England team who seemed almost scared to give their backs a chance to show their skills.
England were drawn into a punting battle with the Pumas and found themselves coming off second best.
Fly-half star Jonny Wilkinson provided all of England's points in the first half, with a drop-goal and two penalties - and his boot looked the only way the hosts, playing in unfamiliar purple shirts, would score.
Rodriguez, one of a trio of Argentina debutants, kicked three penalties from five attempts.
World Cup-winning flanker Lewis Moody starred again, as he'd done against the Wallabies but, with full-back Ugo Monye struggling under the high ball, England's backs rarely looked like breaking through the Pumas' defence.
The closest they came in the first half was when Argentina captain Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, under pressure from Moody, knocked on and England wing Mark Cueto regathered.
The Sale flyer sprinted clear but was well tackled by Argentina full-back Horacio Agulla.
Early in the second-half, against an Argentina showing seven changes from the team that beat England 24-22 in Salta in June, Wilkinson had a chance to nudge the hosts in front but, for the first time in the match, was off target.
Cueto gave the crowd something to cheer at last with a bold counter-attack that took England deep into Argentina territory.
England won the ensuing lineout but, as the ball was worked across field, Cueto was well-tackled by Argentina right wing Luis Borges to snuff out the prospect of a try.
Just after the hour mark, Pumas hooker Mario Ledesma was penalised for a deliberate knock-on by Welsh referee Nigel Owens but Wilkinson missed.
And when Banahan became the latest England player to knock on, Johnson put his head in his hands.
Argentina's next international this tour sees them up against Wales in Cardiff on November 21.
Source:The times
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Golf breathes sigh of relief with IOC approval
The announcement that golf is to be included in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro generated a huge sigh of relief from the International Golf Federation (IGF), which conducted a 15-month campaign to achieve this end. Nevertheless, members of the IGF must be chastened to discover that golf attracted a significant number of votes against it, which suggests that there was a rump of IOC members who disapproved of the idea.
At the same meeting in Denmark, Sir Craig Reedie became the first Briton to be elected to the IOC’s executive board for almost half a century and Jacques Rogge was re-elected unopposed as president of the IOC and will serve until 2013.
The success of rugby sevens, the other nominated sport that needed to be endorsed by the members of the IOC in Copenhagen yesterday, heightened the impression that golf is fortunate to be granted Olympic status. Rugby sevens attracted 81 votes in favour of it and only eight against with one abstention, while 63 voted in favour of golf and 27 against and there were two abstentions.
It was clear this week that a rearguard action was being conducted against golf and that what had seemed almost a foregone conclusion at an IOC meeting in Lausanne in August, when rugby sevens and golf were recommended by the executive committee for rubber-stamping in Copenhagen, was far from that.
Golf, it was noted, was the only one of the seven sports bidding for inclusion in the Olympics not to be represented at the African Olympic Congress in Abuja, Nigeria, this year. The game’s chauvinist image — perpetuated by its men-only clubs such as Augusta National, where the Masters takes place each April — was a continuing cause of concern, as was the view that Brazil is no hotbed of golf.
Then there was the hardy perennial that the Olympics would not represent a sporting summit for the competitors in a sport where the annual four major championships are seens as the most valuable yardstick of greatness.
All in all, the IGF’s campaign — headed by Ty Votaw, chief executive of the IGF, and Peter Dawson, of the R & A — could be considered to have done well to have overcome these objections. Tiger Woods, the world No 1 who will be 40 by the time of the Rio Games, is already quoted at 6-1 to win gold, with the same odds on offer for a winner from Great Britain or Ireland.
Source:The times
At the same meeting in Denmark, Sir Craig Reedie became the first Briton to be elected to the IOC’s executive board for almost half a century and Jacques Rogge was re-elected unopposed as president of the IOC and will serve until 2013.
The success of rugby sevens, the other nominated sport that needed to be endorsed by the members of the IOC in Copenhagen yesterday, heightened the impression that golf is fortunate to be granted Olympic status. Rugby sevens attracted 81 votes in favour of it and only eight against with one abstention, while 63 voted in favour of golf and 27 against and there were two abstentions.
It was clear this week that a rearguard action was being conducted against golf and that what had seemed almost a foregone conclusion at an IOC meeting in Lausanne in August, when rugby sevens and golf were recommended by the executive committee for rubber-stamping in Copenhagen, was far from that.
Golf, it was noted, was the only one of the seven sports bidding for inclusion in the Olympics not to be represented at the African Olympic Congress in Abuja, Nigeria, this year. The game’s chauvinist image — perpetuated by its men-only clubs such as Augusta National, where the Masters takes place each April — was a continuing cause of concern, as was the view that Brazil is no hotbed of golf.
Then there was the hardy perennial that the Olympics would not represent a sporting summit for the competitors in a sport where the annual four major championships are seens as the most valuable yardstick of greatness.
All in all, the IGF’s campaign — headed by Ty Votaw, chief executive of the IGF, and Peter Dawson, of the R & A — could be considered to have done well to have overcome these objections. Tiger Woods, the world No 1 who will be 40 by the time of the Rio Games, is already quoted at 6-1 to win gold, with the same odds on offer for a winner from Great Britain or Ireland.
Source:The times
Donington failure leaves Bernie Ecclestone on verge of switch
The future of the British Grand Prix is in turmoil after executives at Donington Park missed their final deadline to convince Bernie Ecclestone that they have £120 million to stage the nation’s biggest motor race.
Ecclestone, Formula One’s commercial rights-holder, has given Donington four deadlines to come up with the financing to stage the race, but the clock ticked beyond his patience late on Friday night and still no word reached his offices in Kensington, West London.
It was just the latest disappointment for Ecclestone after repeated assurances by Simon Gillett, chief executive of Donington Ventures, that everything was on target to make the Leicestershire circuit the new home of the British Grand Prix, after controversially taking over from Silverstone, regarded as the race’s traditional venue.
Gillett was mounting a rearguard action last night, planning a blitz of reassuring messages to be sent out next week, but it seems it may be too late as Ecclestone has already decided that Donington cannot be redeveloped in time to stage the race next July.
“It’s not good, is it?” Ecclestone told The Times. “Even if they get the money, I cannot see how it will all be ready in time to go. It is very disappointing because we thought it would happen, but they cannot go on missing deadlines. They could still come to us saying they have the money, but there is no way the circuit would be ready at this late stage. It looks as though we will have to start planning again.”
Which probably means a switch back to Silverstone, a plan Ecclestone was trailing almost three months ago at the grand prix this year, when doubts hardened about Donington’s ability to deliver. His confidence has gradually waned with every passing deadline and Gillett’s failure to come up with the goods late last night could be the final straw.
Gillett was unwilling to comment last night, but he has had a troubled passage since the surprise announcement that Donington had won the rights to the British Grand Prix on the eve of the 2008 race at Silverstone. There were big plans for redevelopment, with a £120 million price tag that would be financed from a debenture scheme, palatial housing developments and shopping mall. It sounded magnificent; in reality, it was always ambitious, particularly when the jaws of the credit crunch snapped tight.
Although some work has started at Donington, the circuit and the surrounding area are a long way from the standards that Formula One has come to expect. In three weeks, drivers and teams will arrive in Abu Dhabi for the newest grand prix on the calendar to compete on a state-of-the-art circuit that cost about £400 million. Donington is still a circuit in a set of fields, with almost no access by road and no railway station.
Source:The times
Ecclestone, Formula One’s commercial rights-holder, has given Donington four deadlines to come up with the financing to stage the race, but the clock ticked beyond his patience late on Friday night and still no word reached his offices in Kensington, West London.
It was just the latest disappointment for Ecclestone after repeated assurances by Simon Gillett, chief executive of Donington Ventures, that everything was on target to make the Leicestershire circuit the new home of the British Grand Prix, after controversially taking over from Silverstone, regarded as the race’s traditional venue.
Gillett was mounting a rearguard action last night, planning a blitz of reassuring messages to be sent out next week, but it seems it may be too late as Ecclestone has already decided that Donington cannot be redeveloped in time to stage the race next July.
“It’s not good, is it?” Ecclestone told The Times. “Even if they get the money, I cannot see how it will all be ready in time to go. It is very disappointing because we thought it would happen, but they cannot go on missing deadlines. They could still come to us saying they have the money, but there is no way the circuit would be ready at this late stage. It looks as though we will have to start planning again.”
Which probably means a switch back to Silverstone, a plan Ecclestone was trailing almost three months ago at the grand prix this year, when doubts hardened about Donington’s ability to deliver. His confidence has gradually waned with every passing deadline and Gillett’s failure to come up with the goods late last night could be the final straw.
Gillett was unwilling to comment last night, but he has had a troubled passage since the surprise announcement that Donington had won the rights to the British Grand Prix on the eve of the 2008 race at Silverstone. There were big plans for redevelopment, with a £120 million price tag that would be financed from a debenture scheme, palatial housing developments and shopping mall. It sounded magnificent; in reality, it was always ambitious, particularly when the jaws of the credit crunch snapped tight.
Although some work has started at Donington, the circuit and the surrounding area are a long way from the standards that Formula One has come to expect. In three weeks, drivers and teams will arrive in Abu Dhabi for the newest grand prix on the calendar to compete on a state-of-the-art circuit that cost about £400 million. Donington is still a circuit in a set of fields, with almost no access by road and no railway station.
Source:The times
Sir Alex Ferguson apologises to referee Alan Wiley
Sir Alex Ferguson has apologised to referee Alan Wiley after saying that physical unfitness had affected his decision-making during Manchester United's game against Sunderland last weekend.
A statement issued via Manchester United's official website said:
“I apologise to Mr Wiley for any personal embarrassment that my remarks may have caused and to the FA for going public with my views.
“In retrospect, I accept that this could be deemed as expressing those views in an inappropriate forum.
“It was never my intention to bring the focus of intense media attention on Mr Wiley. I intend to contact him personally after I return from a trip overseas during this international break.
“I would wish it to be noted that I have always respected Mr Wiley’s integrity and that I did not state or imply that Mr Wiley is a bad referee; that he was in any way biased; that decision-making generally during the game was poor, or that he missed any key incident during the game.
“My only intention in speaking publicly, was to highlight what I believe to be a serious and important issue in the game, namely that the fitness levels of referees must match the ever increasing demands of the modern game, which I hope will now be properly addressed through the appropriate formal channels.”
Ferguson had initially said: "He (Wiley) was not fit enough for a game of that standard. The pace of the game demanded a referee who was fit. He was not fit. It is an indictment of our game. You see referees abroad who are as fit as butcher's dogs. We have some who are fit. He wasn't fit."
Source:The times
A statement issued via Manchester United's official website said:
“I apologise to Mr Wiley for any personal embarrassment that my remarks may have caused and to the FA for going public with my views.
“In retrospect, I accept that this could be deemed as expressing those views in an inappropriate forum.
“It was never my intention to bring the focus of intense media attention on Mr Wiley. I intend to contact him personally after I return from a trip overseas during this international break.
“I would wish it to be noted that I have always respected Mr Wiley’s integrity and that I did not state or imply that Mr Wiley is a bad referee; that he was in any way biased; that decision-making generally during the game was poor, or that he missed any key incident during the game.
“My only intention in speaking publicly, was to highlight what I believe to be a serious and important issue in the game, namely that the fitness levels of referees must match the ever increasing demands of the modern game, which I hope will now be properly addressed through the appropriate formal channels.”
Ferguson had initially said: "He (Wiley) was not fit enough for a game of that standard. The pace of the game demanded a referee who was fit. He was not fit. It is an indictment of our game. You see referees abroad who are as fit as butcher's dogs. We have some who are fit. He wasn't fit."
Source:The times
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Fernando Alonso replaces Kimi Raikkonen at Ferrari
Renault's Fernando Alonso will replace Kimi Raikkonen at Ferrari next season, the Italian team has confirmed
Alonso, who finished third in Sunday's Singapore Grand Prix, will partner Felipe Massa on his return from the horrific accident he suffered at the Hungarian Grand Prix. The Spaniard has signed a three-year contract, with Giancarlo Fisichella taking the role of reserve driver.
Raikkonen, the 2007 world champion who is contracted to the team until 2010, is expected to return to McLaren-Mercedes next year to partner Lewis Hamilton. The Finn will replace Heikki Kovalainen who has been disappointing this season.
"We are very proud to welcome to our team another winning driver, who has demonstrated his amazing talent by winning two World Championships in his career to date," Stefano Domenicali, the Ferrari boss, said.
Of course, we wish to thank Kimi for everything he has done during his time with Ferrari. In his first year with us he managed to win the drivers' title, thus making his contribution to Ferrari's history, and he played a vital role in our taking of the constructors' title in 2007 and 2008.
"Even during a difficult season like this one, he has demonstrated his great talent, with several good results, including a great win in Spa. We are sure we can share more good times together in the final three races of this season."
After winning the drivers' championship with Renault in 2005 and 2006, Alonso spent an unhappy year with McLaren before returning to Renault last year.
Renault are expected to confirm that Polish driver Robert Kubica will lead the team in 2010.
Source:The times
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Lucy Macgregor seeks to establish new 'three blondes in a boat'
The number is the same but everything else about the would-be heirs to Britain’s “three blondes in a boat” is different as Lucy Macgregor and her crew begin the journey to the next Olympics, with the first high-profile regatta to be staged at the 2012 venue off Portland, near Weymouth, in Dorset, this week. Only one of them is blonde, for a start.
The “three blondes in a boat” name was given to the Yngling crew helmed by Shirley Robertson who won gold in the 2004 Games in Athens. Last year, Sarah Ayton skippered another all-blonde Britain crew to a gold medal. Now, though, the Yngling has been removed from the Olympic class list, replaced by the lighter, faster six- metre Elliott vessel.
They will compete in head-to-head match racing, with a round robin of races before quarter-finals, rather than the fleet racing system used in all other Olympic classes. Boats will be allocated to competitors by lot, to make it more balanced, and races will be held close to shore. The Elliott match racing could well be the most popular event in 2012 and Macgregor hopes to get the new Olympiad off to a flying start in the Skandia Sail for Gold regatta.
Macgregor is only 22, but she has been around a while. In 2005, she was handed the bow role in the Yngling with Robertson and Annie Lush and came close to qualifying as Britain’s entry for Beijing. “We were neck and neck with Sarah Ayton’s boat all the way through the World Championships, winning until the last race and then we slipped up,” Macgregor said.
With Ayton sitting out this year after giving birth to her first child — and expected to try for the 470 class — Macgregor saw an opportunity to run her own crew. She approached Lush, who had rowed for Cambridge in the women’s Boat Race, and then asked Ally Martin, 23, whom she had raced at youth level, to take her former bow role.
It has been an odd debut season. The Elliott boats were released only a few weeks ago, so racing has been held in whatever boats regattas have been able to get hold of. The World Championships were in boats twice the size of the Elliott and Macgregor’s crew finished ninth. In smaller boats they have done better, winning the World Cup regatta in the Netherlands and leading the overall standings.
“I really enjoy the boats,” she said. “They are fast and aquaplane beautifully. Those who do well will be those who push them to the limits.” Last week they won an international regatta without losing a race on the same waters and hope to keep the momentum going.
This regatta, the final stage in the World Cup series, is billed as the first event to be held at a completed 2012 venue and will offer a glimpse of how successful the Olympics can be. “It is important for people to come and see the Olympic venue as it will be,” Stephen Park, the Olympic manager, said. “Most of our sailors will spend 100-150 days a year here and this is the first time they can get their heads in a 2012 mindset against top-level competition — a chance to lay down a marker against their rivals — but this is also an opportunity for the race officials and organisers to show that they are ready to stage an Olympics.”
Britain has had a strong season. Nick Dempsey in the windsurfing and Paul Goodison in the Laser dinghy won world titles, with silver medals for the men’s 470 boat and in the 49er class. Although the best World Championship finish in the Finn class was Giles Scott in fourth place, there were four British boats in the top 11 and Ed Wright leads the World Cup series. “Results-wise it’s been fantastic, almost too good really,” Park said.
One surprising British entry in the Finn this week is Richard Hart, aged 70, who first raced in the Finn Gold Cup in 1963. One of his competitors is Florian Raudaschl, of Austria, whose father beat Hart in the event 46 years ago.
Source:The times
The “three blondes in a boat” name was given to the Yngling crew helmed by Shirley Robertson who won gold in the 2004 Games in Athens. Last year, Sarah Ayton skippered another all-blonde Britain crew to a gold medal. Now, though, the Yngling has been removed from the Olympic class list, replaced by the lighter, faster six- metre Elliott vessel.
They will compete in head-to-head match racing, with a round robin of races before quarter-finals, rather than the fleet racing system used in all other Olympic classes. Boats will be allocated to competitors by lot, to make it more balanced, and races will be held close to shore. The Elliott match racing could well be the most popular event in 2012 and Macgregor hopes to get the new Olympiad off to a flying start in the Skandia Sail for Gold regatta.
Macgregor is only 22, but she has been around a while. In 2005, she was handed the bow role in the Yngling with Robertson and Annie Lush and came close to qualifying as Britain’s entry for Beijing. “We were neck and neck with Sarah Ayton’s boat all the way through the World Championships, winning until the last race and then we slipped up,” Macgregor said.
With Ayton sitting out this year after giving birth to her first child — and expected to try for the 470 class — Macgregor saw an opportunity to run her own crew. She approached Lush, who had rowed for Cambridge in the women’s Boat Race, and then asked Ally Martin, 23, whom she had raced at youth level, to take her former bow role.
It has been an odd debut season. The Elliott boats were released only a few weeks ago, so racing has been held in whatever boats regattas have been able to get hold of. The World Championships were in boats twice the size of the Elliott and Macgregor’s crew finished ninth. In smaller boats they have done better, winning the World Cup regatta in the Netherlands and leading the overall standings.
“I really enjoy the boats,” she said. “They are fast and aquaplane beautifully. Those who do well will be those who push them to the limits.” Last week they won an international regatta without losing a race on the same waters and hope to keep the momentum going.
This regatta, the final stage in the World Cup series, is billed as the first event to be held at a completed 2012 venue and will offer a glimpse of how successful the Olympics can be. “It is important for people to come and see the Olympic venue as it will be,” Stephen Park, the Olympic manager, said. “Most of our sailors will spend 100-150 days a year here and this is the first time they can get their heads in a 2012 mindset against top-level competition — a chance to lay down a marker against their rivals — but this is also an opportunity for the race officials and organisers to show that they are ready to stage an Olympics.”
Britain has had a strong season. Nick Dempsey in the windsurfing and Paul Goodison in the Laser dinghy won world titles, with silver medals for the men’s 470 boat and in the 49er class. Although the best World Championship finish in the Finn class was Giles Scott in fourth place, there were four British boats in the top 11 and Ed Wright leads the World Cup series. “Results-wise it’s been fantastic, almost too good really,” Park said.
One surprising British entry in the Finn this week is Richard Hart, aged 70, who first raced in the Finn Gold Cup in 1963. One of his competitors is Florian Raudaschl, of Austria, whose father beat Hart in the event 46 years ago.
Source:The times
Race to Dubai bows to the reality of recession
One of the most persistent rumours in the sport was confirmed yesterday when the European Tour announced that prize money for this year’s Race to Dubai and the accompanying Dubai World Championship in November has been reduced by 25 per cent.
First reaction to the news might be disappointment that such a much-trumpeted tournament has been watered down. When the European Tour announced the event almost two years ago — and with it a contract for five years — there was scarcely a rooftop from which it was not shouted about. The exultant tone was matched by the home page of the Dubai World Championship website, which described the event as the world’s ultimate golf prize in the world’s premier golf destination. It was not then and it is not now.
Nevertheless, it was felt that the European Tour had stolen a march in the race to secure tournaments for its members in the Middle East. The PGA Tour in the United States could only look on with envy and admiration.
Perhaps a more realistic reaction is that the European Tour is lucky the reduction has not been more than 25 per cent, given the manner in which Dubai’s property-driven economy has plummeted.
The leading 60 golfers in the Race to Dubai compete in the seasonending strokeplay event for a purse of $7.5 million (about £4.6 million), with $1.25 million for first place. The bonus pool of $7.5 million will go to the 15 highest finishers in the Race to Dubai, with the top man getting $1.5 million.
By comparison, the Tour Championship in Atlanta this week also boasts a $7.5 million purse, with the winner taking home a cheque for $1.35 million.
With eight events remaining in the Race to Dubai, Martin Kaymer, of Germany, leads the way with €1,982,055 (about £1.79 million) in prize money, followed by Paul Casey, of England (€1,965,150), and Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland (€1,726,927).
George O’Grady, the executive director of the European Tour, was in the Middle East last week talking to Nakheel Leisure, the company that runs what was begun by a company called Leisurecorp. “The European Tour has offered to reduce the prize money to reflect the current worldwide economic position,” O’Grady said. Rather more ominously, O’Grady went on to say, “We will jointly examine prize-money levels in future years.”
It has been clear since Nakheel took over Leisurecorp this year and news spread of the dire financial situation in Dubai that the tournament could not go ahead as originally planned.
“Nakheel is committed to the Race to Dubai and the Dubai World Championship,” Hamza Mustafa, the managing director of Nakheel Leisure, said. “The prize funds for both competitions are significant amounts that are worthy of the season-ending tournament and world-class field that will be competing, yet reflective of a new economic climate.”
Source:The times
First reaction to the news might be disappointment that such a much-trumpeted tournament has been watered down. When the European Tour announced the event almost two years ago — and with it a contract for five years — there was scarcely a rooftop from which it was not shouted about. The exultant tone was matched by the home page of the Dubai World Championship website, which described the event as the world’s ultimate golf prize in the world’s premier golf destination. It was not then and it is not now.
Nevertheless, it was felt that the European Tour had stolen a march in the race to secure tournaments for its members in the Middle East. The PGA Tour in the United States could only look on with envy and admiration.
Perhaps a more realistic reaction is that the European Tour is lucky the reduction has not been more than 25 per cent, given the manner in which Dubai’s property-driven economy has plummeted.
The leading 60 golfers in the Race to Dubai compete in the seasonending strokeplay event for a purse of $7.5 million (about £4.6 million), with $1.25 million for first place. The bonus pool of $7.5 million will go to the 15 highest finishers in the Race to Dubai, with the top man getting $1.5 million.
By comparison, the Tour Championship in Atlanta this week also boasts a $7.5 million purse, with the winner taking home a cheque for $1.35 million.
With eight events remaining in the Race to Dubai, Martin Kaymer, of Germany, leads the way with €1,982,055 (about £1.79 million) in prize money, followed by Paul Casey, of England (€1,965,150), and Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland (€1,726,927).
George O’Grady, the executive director of the European Tour, was in the Middle East last week talking to Nakheel Leisure, the company that runs what was begun by a company called Leisurecorp. “The European Tour has offered to reduce the prize money to reflect the current worldwide economic position,” O’Grady said. Rather more ominously, O’Grady went on to say, “We will jointly examine prize-money levels in future years.”
It has been clear since Nakheel took over Leisurecorp this year and news spread of the dire financial situation in Dubai that the tournament could not go ahead as originally planned.
“Nakheel is committed to the Race to Dubai and the Dubai World Championship,” Hamza Mustafa, the managing director of Nakheel Leisure, said. “The prize funds for both competitions are significant amounts that are worthy of the season-ending tournament and world-class field that will be competing, yet reflective of a new economic climate.”
Source:The times
Mark Hughes backs Craig Bellamy after fan altercation
Mark Hughes has lent his backing to Craig Bellamy after the Welsh striker's altercation with a Manchester United supporter during the derby at Old Trafford on Sunday.
The FA are thought to be considering all options, including a charge of violent conduct, after Bellamy was alleged to have hit the man as he was hauled away by stewards having run on to the pitch to celebrate Michael Owen's winning goal. United will ban the fan for life.
Bellamy is alleged to have told the man to “get off the f***ing pitch”. The supporter reportedly responded by telling Bellamy to “f*** off” which is when the Manchester City forward appeared to strike out. A 21-year-old man, Jake Joseph Clarke, was charged yesterday by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) with “going on to a playing area without lawful authority or excuse” and is due to appear at Trafford Magistrates’ Court a week tomorrow.
"All Craig has done is go over there and tell the guy to get off the pitch," Hughes said. "Craig wasn't privy to how much time was left to enable us to get back into the game.
"The guy made an aggressive move towards him and Craig wanted to get him off the pitch. Craig just put a defensive hand out to push him away."
TV replays show the Welshman advancing towards the melee and that the fan was being held by two stewards when Bellamy struck out. With Emmanuel Adebayor serving a three-match ban for violent conduct, City could do without another of their strikers running the risk of censure, but the club have vowed to defend Bellamy.
"You can never be quite sure what is going to happen in those situations," Hughes added. "We have not been contacted by the FA but if we are, that is what we will say."
City have already confirmed they will not discipline Bellamy. "No. I don't think there is any need to," Mark Bowen, the City assistant manager said. "My take is that he thought the fella might spit in his face or something.
"He came very close and moved towards him. Craig, with an open hand, just pushed the fella away."
Source:The times
The FA are thought to be considering all options, including a charge of violent conduct, after Bellamy was alleged to have hit the man as he was hauled away by stewards having run on to the pitch to celebrate Michael Owen's winning goal. United will ban the fan for life.
Bellamy is alleged to have told the man to “get off the f***ing pitch”. The supporter reportedly responded by telling Bellamy to “f*** off” which is when the Manchester City forward appeared to strike out. A 21-year-old man, Jake Joseph Clarke, was charged yesterday by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) with “going on to a playing area without lawful authority or excuse” and is due to appear at Trafford Magistrates’ Court a week tomorrow.
"All Craig has done is go over there and tell the guy to get off the pitch," Hughes said. "Craig wasn't privy to how much time was left to enable us to get back into the game.
"The guy made an aggressive move towards him and Craig wanted to get him off the pitch. Craig just put a defensive hand out to push him away."
TV replays show the Welshman advancing towards the melee and that the fan was being held by two stewards when Bellamy struck out. With Emmanuel Adebayor serving a three-match ban for violent conduct, City could do without another of their strikers running the risk of censure, but the club have vowed to defend Bellamy.
"You can never be quite sure what is going to happen in those situations," Hughes added. "We have not been contacted by the FA but if we are, that is what we will say."
City have already confirmed they will not discipline Bellamy. "No. I don't think there is any need to," Mark Bowen, the City assistant manager said. "My take is that he thought the fella might spit in his face or something.
"He came very close and moved towards him. Craig, with an open hand, just pushed the fella away."
Source:The times
ECB would support world Test championship 'in principle'
The ECB say they would support the introduction of a world Test championship, despite claims that England were one of two countries blocking the original plans.
Haroon Lorgat, the chief executive of the International Cricket Council (ICC), had said that England and India were opposing the idea but the ECB have denied this, saying they would be supportive of the venture "in principle".
"We are fully engaged with the ICC over proposals for a world Test championship and are supportive in principle," an ECB spokesman said.
It is though the ECB had initial reservations that the championship could be spread over four years, when the form of the teams could vary, and were worried about a potential clash with the 2012 London Olympics.
The current idea would result in countries playing each other in a group stage with the highest-placed teams competing for the championship in a one-off final.
"I would like to convince people that the way to ensure Test cricket survives is through a championship model," Lorgat said. "The only two countries who do not see the argument are India and England, but debate is growing all the time.
"The MCC seem to have come out in favour but when I met the ECB recently it was the wrong time to tackle them in detail. They were too high on the Ashes.
"I don't understand their thinking. The original plan was to have a four-year cycle for the championship, which protects icon series like the Ashes. It was very doable. Our Future Tours Programme will meet soon as the current schedule runs to May 2012. I would really like to see the Test championship included from there on."
Source:The times
Haroon Lorgat, the chief executive of the International Cricket Council (ICC), had said that England and India were opposing the idea but the ECB have denied this, saying they would be supportive of the venture "in principle".
"We are fully engaged with the ICC over proposals for a world Test championship and are supportive in principle," an ECB spokesman said.
It is though the ECB had initial reservations that the championship could be spread over four years, when the form of the teams could vary, and were worried about a potential clash with the 2012 London Olympics.
The current idea would result in countries playing each other in a group stage with the highest-placed teams competing for the championship in a one-off final.
"I would like to convince people that the way to ensure Test cricket survives is through a championship model," Lorgat said. "The only two countries who do not see the argument are India and England, but debate is growing all the time.
"The MCC seem to have come out in favour but when I met the ECB recently it was the wrong time to tackle them in detail. They were too high on the Ashes.
"I don't understand their thinking. The original plan was to have a four-year cycle for the championship, which protects icon series like the Ashes. It was very doable. Our Future Tours Programme will meet soon as the current schedule runs to May 2012. I would really like to see the Test championship included from there on."
Source:The times
Flavio Briatore 'considering legal action' against FIA ban
Flavio Briatore is reported to be considering legal action against the FIA and may set up a series to rival Formula One.
Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport said he was planning to sue the sport's governing body in the Paris courts to try to prove his innocence and win compensation for the damage to his image.
The multi-millionaire co-owner of Queens Park Rangers Football Club is facing an indefinite ban from FIA-sponsored motor sport after ordering Nelson Piquet Jr to crash deliberately during last year's Singapore Grand Prix. His suitability as an owner of QPR is also being assessed by the Football League as a result of the FIA's findings.
"I am distraught," the 59-year-old told the newspaper.
Briatore left Renault last week along with Pat Symonds, the former director of engineering, who was banned for five years yesterday. Renault did not contest the accusations and were given a suspended ban that will last until the end of the 2011 season.
The Italian will no longer retain a role in the management of the GP2 Series, the Formula One feeder championship, and will not be able to continue managing racing drivers, among them four on the present Formula One grid - Fernando Alonso, Mark Webber, Heikki Kovalainen and Romain Grosjean.
Carlos Gracia, head of the Spanish motor sport federation and a member of the FIA's world motor sport council, said Briatore's life ban was "excessive" and said he expected the Italian to mount a compensation claim.
"Briatore's [penalty] seems to me excessive, there was no clear proof against him and he was not able to defend himself either," he said. "I wouldn't rule out him going to ordinary justice because he has been left without his means of earning a living."
"Personally, I insist that Briatore's penalty seems disproportionate, while I think that a big mistake has been made with Piquet, creating a dangerous precedent," he added.
"Max Mosley has labelled the scandal as a criminal act, so I don't understand how the executor can be reprieved. He is as responsible for the scandal as the rest, and if he's not ready to handle situations with pressure, then maybe he chose the wrong job."
Earlier in the season, Briatore considered setting up a rival series when the teams clashed with the FIA over the proposed budget cap.
Source:The times
Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport said he was planning to sue the sport's governing body in the Paris courts to try to prove his innocence and win compensation for the damage to his image.
The multi-millionaire co-owner of Queens Park Rangers Football Club is facing an indefinite ban from FIA-sponsored motor sport after ordering Nelson Piquet Jr to crash deliberately during last year's Singapore Grand Prix. His suitability as an owner of QPR is also being assessed by the Football League as a result of the FIA's findings.
"I am distraught," the 59-year-old told the newspaper.
Briatore left Renault last week along with Pat Symonds, the former director of engineering, who was banned for five years yesterday. Renault did not contest the accusations and were given a suspended ban that will last until the end of the 2011 season.
The Italian will no longer retain a role in the management of the GP2 Series, the Formula One feeder championship, and will not be able to continue managing racing drivers, among them four on the present Formula One grid - Fernando Alonso, Mark Webber, Heikki Kovalainen and Romain Grosjean.
Carlos Gracia, head of the Spanish motor sport federation and a member of the FIA's world motor sport council, said Briatore's life ban was "excessive" and said he expected the Italian to mount a compensation claim.
"Briatore's [penalty] seems to me excessive, there was no clear proof against him and he was not able to defend himself either," he said. "I wouldn't rule out him going to ordinary justice because he has been left without his means of earning a living."
"Personally, I insist that Briatore's penalty seems disproportionate, while I think that a big mistake has been made with Piquet, creating a dangerous precedent," he added.
"Max Mosley has labelled the scandal as a criminal act, so I don't understand how the executor can be reprieved. He is as responsible for the scandal as the rest, and if he's not ready to handle situations with pressure, then maybe he chose the wrong job."
Earlier in the season, Briatore considered setting up a rival series when the teams clashed with the FIA over the proposed budget cap.
Source:The times
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Fans angry after Twenty20 match abandoned
Players and umpires came in for fierce criticism last night after the abandonment of the Twenty20 international between England and Australia.
They were accused of forsaking the interests of a crowd of 19,500 at Old Trafford. Play was abandoned at 8pm without a ball being bowled because of a small area of dampness around the bowlers’ take-off area at the Brian Statham End. But Jim Cumbes, the Lancashire chief executive, was left seething at the decision made by the umpires, Nigel Llong and Peter Hartley, in conjunction with the captains, Paul Collingwood and Michael Clarke, believing that conditions were perfectly playable.
“I’m angry, bitterly disappointed,” Cumbes said. “I know the umpires have tough decisions to make, and I’m perfectly aware about the safety of players, but there comes a time when you’ve got to think about the people who have paid £50 to come in. Sometimes I think we’d rather play in front of empty stadiums.”
Twenty20 cricket was introduced with the aim of attracting crowds and Cumbes issued a reminder last night that the paying public should remain the priority in the shortest form of the game, even at international level. “I’m angry because we were told when we started playing Twenty20 cricket that you should be expected to play in conditions you wouldn’t normally play first-class cricket in,” Cumbes said. “In my view, if that had been Lancashire versus Yorkshire on a Friday night, we’d have been playing. If we can’t do that at international level, let’s not play it at international level.”
Last night’s washout — which followed the abandonment of the first match at Old Trafford on Friday after seven balls of England’s reply to Australia’s completed innings — was the latest embarrassment in a summer when England matches have been blighted by the weather, despite huge investment in new drainage systems. In May, a one-day international between England and West Indies was abandoned at Headingley Carnegie, where work on the £600,000 drainage system had not been completed. There was also criticism when the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston was affected by rain after Warwickshire opted to delay their drainage work. Now the ECB is to hold an inquiry into the abandonment of last night’s match.
The outfield at Old Trafford was relaid last winter with new drainage, but the affected area was not covered by the system because Lancashire are to turn their square 180 degrees at the end of next season. On their final inspection at 7.45pm, the umpires and captains trod gingerly on the soggy area, about two metres square — which had been liberally sprinkled with sawdust — before calling the match off. Rain had fallen heavily in the afternoon, but later gave way to evening sunshine.
“The new drainage system is fine,” Cumbes said. “That area is not part of the new state-of-the-art drainage system, but it has had new drains put in. The reason for that is because the square is going to be turned at the end of 2010 and we’d only have to take those drains up again. There was no water [on that area], it was just soft.” Both captains expressed their sympathy with the spectators, who will be given the consolation of full refunds.
“It was a brave call for the umpires to make and I sympathise with everyone that has turned up,” Collingwood said. “I spoke to Michael [Clarke] and we agreed that if you were asking your bowlers to run in at 100 per cent, it was going to be pretty dangerous.”
Clarke disagreed with Cumbes’s view that different parameters should be applied to Twenty20 cricket. “It is disappointing when you have a beautiful day like that and you can’t get a game of cricket,” he said. “But the decision made is the right decision. You’re representing your country and you don’t just want to be bowling some full tosses so the crowd get a spectacle.”
Source:The times
They were accused of forsaking the interests of a crowd of 19,500 at Old Trafford. Play was abandoned at 8pm without a ball being bowled because of a small area of dampness around the bowlers’ take-off area at the Brian Statham End. But Jim Cumbes, the Lancashire chief executive, was left seething at the decision made by the umpires, Nigel Llong and Peter Hartley, in conjunction with the captains, Paul Collingwood and Michael Clarke, believing that conditions were perfectly playable.
“I’m angry, bitterly disappointed,” Cumbes said. “I know the umpires have tough decisions to make, and I’m perfectly aware about the safety of players, but there comes a time when you’ve got to think about the people who have paid £50 to come in. Sometimes I think we’d rather play in front of empty stadiums.”
Twenty20 cricket was introduced with the aim of attracting crowds and Cumbes issued a reminder last night that the paying public should remain the priority in the shortest form of the game, even at international level. “I’m angry because we were told when we started playing Twenty20 cricket that you should be expected to play in conditions you wouldn’t normally play first-class cricket in,” Cumbes said. “In my view, if that had been Lancashire versus Yorkshire on a Friday night, we’d have been playing. If we can’t do that at international level, let’s not play it at international level.”
Last night’s washout — which followed the abandonment of the first match at Old Trafford on Friday after seven balls of England’s reply to Australia’s completed innings — was the latest embarrassment in a summer when England matches have been blighted by the weather, despite huge investment in new drainage systems. In May, a one-day international between England and West Indies was abandoned at Headingley Carnegie, where work on the £600,000 drainage system had not been completed. There was also criticism when the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston was affected by rain after Warwickshire opted to delay their drainage work. Now the ECB is to hold an inquiry into the abandonment of last night’s match.
The outfield at Old Trafford was relaid last winter with new drainage, but the affected area was not covered by the system because Lancashire are to turn their square 180 degrees at the end of next season. On their final inspection at 7.45pm, the umpires and captains trod gingerly on the soggy area, about two metres square — which had been liberally sprinkled with sawdust — before calling the match off. Rain had fallen heavily in the afternoon, but later gave way to evening sunshine.
“The new drainage system is fine,” Cumbes said. “That area is not part of the new state-of-the-art drainage system, but it has had new drains put in. The reason for that is because the square is going to be turned at the end of 2010 and we’d only have to take those drains up again. There was no water [on that area], it was just soft.” Both captains expressed their sympathy with the spectators, who will be given the consolation of full refunds.
“It was a brave call for the umpires to make and I sympathise with everyone that has turned up,” Collingwood said. “I spoke to Michael [Clarke] and we agreed that if you were asking your bowlers to run in at 100 per cent, it was going to be pretty dangerous.”
Clarke disagreed with Cumbes’s view that different parameters should be applied to Twenty20 cricket. “It is disappointing when you have a beautiful day like that and you can’t get a game of cricket,” he said. “But the decision made is the right decision. You’re representing your country and you don’t just want to be bowling some full tosses so the crowd get a spectacle.”
Source:The times
ERC delivers withering indictment of Dean Richards in 'Bloodgate' scandal
Dean Richards, his reputation already shattered or, in the words of his own solicitor, "burned to a cinder", was identified today as the directing mind behind the Bloodgate affair. The evidence of the appeal hearing published this morning by European Rugby Cup Ltd places the blame for the deception and cover-up squarely on Richards's shoulders and makes it hard to believe he can ever recover.
It leaves no doubt that the former England No 8 orchestrated both the fabrication of a blood injury during the Heineken Cup quarter-final between Harlequins, the club of which Richards was then director of rugby, and Leinster last April, and the subsequent cover-up. He has already been suspended from any involvement in rugby for three years and it is hard to believe the game will readily accept him back.
"Mr Richards was the directing mind and had central control over everything that happened in relation to the fabrication of the blood injury on the pitch and the cover-up in the days after the match," the judgement said. In Steph Brennan, formerly the club's physiotherapist who has been punished by a two-year ban, he had a "willing lieutenant".
The evidence, in a 99-page document, makes clear the appeal committee's belief that Richards lied and lied again, even to the hearing itself. There is an almost contemptuous accusation that he was "ducking and diving" during various legal submissions in the first forty pages of evidence in the hope of avoiding ERC's jurisdiction: "The appeal committee were entitled to take the view they did not believe a word that Mr Richards said," the evidence says.
In one damning paragraph, the last shred of Richards's reputation is stripped away: "In one of the highest-profile matches in which the club had ever been involved, he was prepared to cheat Leinster out of a victory by bringing on a player at a crucial stage in the match when that player was not entitled to return to the field of play. He was quite disinterested in the consideration that, by acting the way that he did, the club which deserved to win the match might be deprived of its victory."
Richards has not been short of defenders within the Guinness Premiership during the last four months but today's verdicts will reduce their number. No-one doubts the qualities he brought to Leicester, England and the Lions during an outstanding playing career, nor the organisational powers which helped Leicester to domestic and European domination eight years ago.
He had hoped to do the same for Harlequins. Instead they have lost their good name, their chairman has resigned for an acknowledged failure to control Richards, and the club is hanging on to a place in European competition this season. The silver lining to the darkest cloud in their 143-year history is this afternoon's statement from the ERC board meeting in Dublin confirming their participation in this season's Heineken Cup though the board will reconvene next Tuesday to consider further the ramifications of Bloodgate.
The board is concerned with many of the issues and practices raised during the investigation, and whether there are implications for the wider game. They have reserved the right to ask Roger O'Connor, the ERC disciplinary officer, to investigate any other issues which may not have been covered by the disciplinary process so far. There may, therefore, be further misconduct complaints and even if ERC decide that their part is complete, the ball then passes to the Rugby Football Union's court.
The RFU cannot act until ERC have finally drawn a line under the case and handed jurisdiction on. But they may decide to conduct their own enquiry into the conduct of Harlequins over the last four months and they have confirmed the 13-man task force set up to examine the image of the game will themselves consider the implications of the five ERC judgements. That group will hold its first meeting next week, under the chairmanship of John Owen, the RFU president, and they have promised to come up with recommendations by September 30 on how English rugby can avoid so damaging an episode in the future.
Today's evidence shows the only area in which Richards did not have direct involvement was the alleged cutting of Tom Williams's lip by the match-day doctor, Wendy Chapman. "His was the dominant personality and influence on affairs," the judgement reads. "He knew, or ought to have known, that players such as Mr Williams would likely obey his directions whether it meant cheating or not."
Indeed during the evidence, the hearing heard that Williams, the wing required to bite into a blood capsule to fake an injury, described the situation in a text message to Brennan as "really, really rubbish." The committee said it "did not believe Mr Richards when he said that the prime driving force in the cover-up was the protection of the professional position of Dr Chapman. We considered the primary interest of Mr Richards was in preventing his own role in events being discovered.
"Mr Richards was by far and away the most experienced and senior individual involved. It was open to him at any stage to have said that 'enough was enough' and that the reputation of rugby and Harlequins had been sufficiently damaged. If he had admitted at any stage prior to the conclusion of the disciplinary hearing the truth of what had happened then the damage to individuals, the club and the game of rugby union would have been very much reduced."
Source:The times
It leaves no doubt that the former England No 8 orchestrated both the fabrication of a blood injury during the Heineken Cup quarter-final between Harlequins, the club of which Richards was then director of rugby, and Leinster last April, and the subsequent cover-up. He has already been suspended from any involvement in rugby for three years and it is hard to believe the game will readily accept him back.
"Mr Richards was the directing mind and had central control over everything that happened in relation to the fabrication of the blood injury on the pitch and the cover-up in the days after the match," the judgement said. In Steph Brennan, formerly the club's physiotherapist who has been punished by a two-year ban, he had a "willing lieutenant".
The evidence, in a 99-page document, makes clear the appeal committee's belief that Richards lied and lied again, even to the hearing itself. There is an almost contemptuous accusation that he was "ducking and diving" during various legal submissions in the first forty pages of evidence in the hope of avoiding ERC's jurisdiction: "The appeal committee were entitled to take the view they did not believe a word that Mr Richards said," the evidence says.
In one damning paragraph, the last shred of Richards's reputation is stripped away: "In one of the highest-profile matches in which the club had ever been involved, he was prepared to cheat Leinster out of a victory by bringing on a player at a crucial stage in the match when that player was not entitled to return to the field of play. He was quite disinterested in the consideration that, by acting the way that he did, the club which deserved to win the match might be deprived of its victory."
Richards has not been short of defenders within the Guinness Premiership during the last four months but today's verdicts will reduce their number. No-one doubts the qualities he brought to Leicester, England and the Lions during an outstanding playing career, nor the organisational powers which helped Leicester to domestic and European domination eight years ago.
He had hoped to do the same for Harlequins. Instead they have lost their good name, their chairman has resigned for an acknowledged failure to control Richards, and the club is hanging on to a place in European competition this season. The silver lining to the darkest cloud in their 143-year history is this afternoon's statement from the ERC board meeting in Dublin confirming their participation in this season's Heineken Cup though the board will reconvene next Tuesday to consider further the ramifications of Bloodgate.
The board is concerned with many of the issues and practices raised during the investigation, and whether there are implications for the wider game. They have reserved the right to ask Roger O'Connor, the ERC disciplinary officer, to investigate any other issues which may not have been covered by the disciplinary process so far. There may, therefore, be further misconduct complaints and even if ERC decide that their part is complete, the ball then passes to the Rugby Football Union's court.
The RFU cannot act until ERC have finally drawn a line under the case and handed jurisdiction on. But they may decide to conduct their own enquiry into the conduct of Harlequins over the last four months and they have confirmed the 13-man task force set up to examine the image of the game will themselves consider the implications of the five ERC judgements. That group will hold its first meeting next week, under the chairmanship of John Owen, the RFU president, and they have promised to come up with recommendations by September 30 on how English rugby can avoid so damaging an episode in the future.
Today's evidence shows the only area in which Richards did not have direct involvement was the alleged cutting of Tom Williams's lip by the match-day doctor, Wendy Chapman. "His was the dominant personality and influence on affairs," the judgement reads. "He knew, or ought to have known, that players such as Mr Williams would likely obey his directions whether it meant cheating or not."
Indeed during the evidence, the hearing heard that Williams, the wing required to bite into a blood capsule to fake an injury, described the situation in a text message to Brennan as "really, really rubbish." The committee said it "did not believe Mr Richards when he said that the prime driving force in the cover-up was the protection of the professional position of Dr Chapman. We considered the primary interest of Mr Richards was in preventing his own role in events being discovered.
"Mr Richards was by far and away the most experienced and senior individual involved. It was open to him at any stage to have said that 'enough was enough' and that the reputation of rugby and Harlequins had been sufficiently damaged. If he had admitted at any stage prior to the conclusion of the disciplinary hearing the truth of what had happened then the damage to individuals, the club and the game of rugby union would have been very much reduced."
Source:The times
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