Football - Report: Galatasaray
fans attack Fenerbahce players
HaberTurk television says police have detained two Galatasaray fans after an attack on Fenerbahce players during a men’s under-17 match in Istanbul. Fenerbahce says one player had his nose broken and several others were beaten by Galatasaray fans Sunday. A picture posted on the club’s website shows a man kicking a Fenerbahce player. HaberTurk aired video Monday showing another man, wearing a Galatasaray jersey, kicking a member of the team in the chest. The Vatan newspaper says 13 Fenerbahce players were hospitalised after the incident which began when some Galatasaray fans intervened during a verbal argument between two rival players as they left the pitch at halftime. Galatasaray has apologised on its website after the match was suspended. The score was 1-1.
Cricket - Australia
team has new manager
Australia’s cricket team, on the verge of losing the Ashes series to England, will soon have a new team manager - an expatriate Australian whose current position is operations manager for England’s rugby team. Cricket Australia said yesterday that Gavin Dovey will take over as team manager after the ICC World Cup in April. Dovey will replace Steve Bernard, who is retiring from the role he has held since 1998. Previously, Dovey worked for the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority before moving to a role managing anti-doping with the England rugby union (RFU). England has a commanding lead after two days of the fourth cricket test at Melbourne. A win would ensure it retains the Ashes.
Football - Celtic in talks with
former Sweden star Ljungberg
Celtic manager Neil Lennon says the club is trying to sign former Sweden captain Freddie Ljungberg. Lennon says he will meet with Ljungberg, who spent nine years at Arsenal and more recently played in Major League Soccer with the Seattle Sounders and Chicago Fire, after initial contact was made with the midfielder “three or four weeks ago.” Lennon said after Celtic’s 2-0 win over St. Johnstone in the Scottish Premier League on Sunday that “it is not a trial or anything like that. It’s so that we can have a look at him and he can look at us.” Ljungberg left Chicago at the end of the 2010 MLS season, having spent the previous year with Seattle. He was with Arsenal between 1998-07 before a move to West Ham.
Football – Genoa’s Ranocchia
is Leonardo’s first buy for Inter
Andrea Ranocchia has left the Genoa camp and will begin training with new club Inter tomorrow, according to the player’s father. The two clubs were known to be negotiating a transfer and rumours are rife that they are now very close to clinching a deal. Ranocchia is expected to sign a contract with Inter in the next few days, although he might start training with them earlier. Inter already owned half the 22-year-old defender, but were not set to take up the other 50 per cent until June.
Football - Cassano begins
Milan training in Dubai
Although not yet officially signed, Antonio Cassano joined his new Milan teammates for mid-season training in Dubai yesterday.
“Cassano arrived at the Milanello training ground at 11.30am and said hello to his new teammates, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic,” read a statement on the club website. From tomorrow he can train with Milan in Dubai with permission from Sampdoria.”
Cassano remains suspended until 1 February 2011 following his row with Samp President Riccardo Garrone but will spend the rest of the campaign working with the Rossoneri.
The team flew to Dubai yesterday afternoon and will spend four days training at the Al-Ahly ground. Their programme includes a friendly match against Al-Ahly, when Cassano is expected to make his debut for the rossoneri.
Football - Paolo Maldini to
follow Leonardo at Inter?
There are surprise rumours in Italy that Inter are preparing to get another Milan great to their ranks – Paolo Maldini. New coach Leonardo and his new staff is expected to start working as from tomorrow. A report in The Gazzetta dello Sport suggests that Maldini, who played his entire career at Milan, could join Leonardo at Inter. He had refused jobs as a director at Milan and criticised President Silvio Berlusconi, particularly his handling of Leonardo last season.
Football - Inter want
Udinese’s Alexis Sanchez?
Inter are reported to be making hefty moves on the transfer market and the latest rumours are that they are prepared to offer Jonathan Biabiany in order to get Udinese’s Alexis Sanchez. Manchester United, Chelsea and Real Madrid have all been reported as interested in Sanchez. The Nerazzurri are reported to be preparing a bid of €15m cash plus talented young striker Biabiany. Lenoardo wants Sanchez as he could bring creativity to the Inter midfield.
Football - Defoe to miss
Newcastle, Fulham and Everton games
England striker Jermaine Defoe of Tottenham Hotspur is to miss three matches – against Newcastle, Fulham and Everton. He will be suspended after receiving a red card on Sunday in the match against Aston Villa. Defoe has been out of form in the past few months and made three substitute appearances before four starts but has only scored a double in Champions League action against Twente, while drawing a blank against Arsenal, Werder Bremen, Liverpool, Birmingham City, Chelsea and Villa.