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Americans put Liverpool up for sale

VENOM — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 15:53:05 GMT

Liverpool owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr will sell the club after appointing British Airways chairman Martin Broughton as chairman.

The American duo, whose time in control of Liverpool has been marked by controversy, have asked Barclays Capital to advise on the sale process.

A statement on the club's website said Liverpool have the "full support of its existing bankers for this process".

Hicks and Gillett had initially instructed chief executive Christian Purslow to find £100million of outside investment to reduce the club's £237million debt.

But with that still unresolved and issues over funding for a new stadium in Stanley Park and providing a substantial transfer budget for manager Rafael Benitez becoming increasingly significant the Americans have decided their best option is to sell up, admitting they have taken the club as far as they can.

"Owning Liverpool Football Club over these past three years has been a rewarding and exciting experience for us and our families," said a joint statement by the co-owners.

"Having grown this club this far we have now decided together to look to sell the club to owners committed to take the club through its next level of growth and development."

Broughton will work to oversee the sale alongside Purslow, commercial director Ian Ayre and financial director Philip Nash, who have already had a significant impact on improving the club's financial position off the pitch.

"We are delighted Martin Broughton has agreed to take the position of chairman, working alongside the club's excellent senior management team," added Hicks and Gillett in their statement.

"Martin is a distinguished business leader of excellent judgement and with a great reputation.

"He is a genuine football supporter and will seek to oversee the sales process in the best interests of the club and its supporters."

Broughton said he was determined to find new owners who could help the club improve both on and off the pitch.

"Liverpool is a great club with a fantastic history," he said.

"I will run this sale process in the right way, for the benefit of the club and its fans.

"Liverpool is one of the world's greatest clubs and my aim is to try to ensure we find new owners who are able to build on the club's recent improved financial performance in order to help deliver sporting success."

Delap: Ref influenced by Ramsey

VENOM — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:11:33 GMT

Rory Delap believes the severity of the injury suffered by Aaron Ramsey saw Ryan Shawcross sent off on Saturday.
The Stoke centre-half saw red after his clumsy challenge left Arsenal midfielder Ramsey with a badly-broken leg.

Referee Peter Walton initially appeared reluctant to punish the Potters ace, as the tackle lacked malice.

However, the England hopeful was dismissed after the match official saw the extent of the damage he had caused.

Delap thinks Walton's thought process was wrong and feels injuries have to be accepted as part and parcel of football.

"The referee appeared to react to the seriousness of the incident rather than the actual tackle," Delap said in the Daily Mirror.

"I said to him 'Did you see it?' and he said 'I don't think he meant it - but I've got to send him off.'

"I've been in a similar situation myself when Theo Walcott was injured from a challenge I made on him.

"I caught him but it was more a case of his pace and, well, my lack of it, I guess.

"I've been on the end of it too, when I broke my leg four years ago, so my thoughts are with Aaron."

Shawcross, who left the field in tears after realising what he had done, must now try to clear the incident from his mind and turn his focus to a first England call-up.

Places in Fabio Capello's World Cup squad are up for grabs and Stoke boss Tony Pulis feels Shawcross is deserving of an opportunity to put himself in the frame.

"While we are all deeply saddened at what has happened to Aaron, we believe that Ryan is worthy of this chance to represent his country and hopefully put himself in contention for a place in the England squad for the World Cup finals," said the Potters chief.

"It has been a difficult time for Ryan and he is still upset at the seriousness of the injury to Aaron.

"But it is important to remember what he has achieved over the past two years when he has emerged as one of the best young defenders in the country.

"The amount he has come on in that time has been unbelievable, so I always felt that if he produced a consistent level of performances for us this season, as he has done, an opportunity would come along sooner rather than later."

2 Pak players involved in match-fixing: US TV

VENOM — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 07:16:15 GMT

LAHORE: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has provided match fixing proves to Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) against alleged involvement of wicket keeper Kamran Akmal and medium pacer Rana Naveed-ul-Hasan.

PCB chairman Ijaz Butt on Friday made the startling revelation that ICC had provided PCB with the concrete proves of their alleged involvement in match fixing. Despite repeated questions, Ijaz Butt had refused to name the players.

On investigation, a highly placed official in PCB exclusively told Voice of America on the condition of anonymity that “the two players were wicket keeper Kamran Akmal and medium pacer Rana Naveed-ul-Hasan”.

Wicket keeper Akmal had come under heavy fire for his repeated fumbles on the Australian tour. Its worth mentioning that both players were dropped from the T-20 series against England recently played in Dubai.

When asked if the proves were so concrete, why PCB included Akmal and Rana in the initial list of 30 players for the T-20 world cup, the source said that “both will be missing from the final list for the T-20 WC.

The source further insisted that “PCB has announced an additional wicket keeper Zulqarnain Haider along side Kamran Akmal and Sarfaraz Ahmed in 30 initial players which indicates that Akmal would not feature in the final squad for T-20 WC to be played in West Indies in April.

Akhtar: KKR yet to clear my dues

VENOM — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 07:09:16 GMT

Shoaib Akhtar has confirmed that he had payment disputes with the IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders, who are yet to clear his dues.

Responding to the reports that Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan-owned KKR have still not cleared his dues, the controversial Pakistan fast bowler said it was true.

"Yes, it is a fact they have not paid me my dues as yet despite reminders," Akhtar told PTI.

The fast bowler played for KKR in the inaugural edition of the cash-awash Twenty20 league and was one of the six Pakistani players, whose contracts were terminated after the Mumbai terror attacks in 2008.

Akhtar said that after the Mumbai incidents KKR had informed him that they wished to sell him out after paying his dues and documents were signed in this respect.

"But until now my dues have not been cleared as yet," he said.

Another Pakistani pacer Mohammad Asif, who played for Delhi Daredevils in the first IPL season also had his contract terminated prematurely by his franchise, who, however, cleared his dues.

Interestingly, Delhi Daredevils cleared Asif's dues for the period of his contract despite the fact that the pacer had been suspended by that time for flunking a dope test in the first season of the IPL.

Akhtar conceded that he had issues with some clauses in the IPL contract sell out agreement and wanted 100 per cent payment for being released by the KKR.

The fast bowler said KKR officials had told him that they had been instructed by IPL Chairman and Commissioner Lalit Modi not to make any payment to the Pakistani players, including him.

The fast bowler has not played for Pakistan since April-May, 2009 due to fitness and disciplinary issues and also underwent a knee surgery last year.

The Pakistan Cricket Board has already said it would not be issuing him a new central contract for 2010 as he is not playing anymore.

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Pato dreaming of London move

VENOM — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 07:01:00 GMT

Alexandre Pato has admitted that although happy at AC Milan, he is a big fan of English football.

The Brazilian was bought by Milan when Carlo Ancelotti was in charge and when the Italian departed for Chelsea in the summer, Pato was linked with a move to follow his former boss.

Ancelotti has never hidden his admiration of the 20-year-old and Pato has now conceded his liking for the Premier League.

"I follow English football a lot and Ancelotti," said Pato.

"And the coach that brought me to AC Milan, is now at Chelsea and I love London."

But Pato, who signed a new long-term deal at the San Siro in September, insists he is happy with life in Italy.

"Right now I'm focused on doing well in Milan. I am very happy after two years and I have 100 per cent adapted to life in Italy," he continued.

"Playing in Milan for me meant being able to play alongside players who were idols to me as a kid. Playing alongside David Beckham - his long passes are perfect for me."

Pato also hopes to play a leading role for Brazil at this summer's World Cup finals - but he does not know if Milan team-mate Ronaldinho will be with him.

"I hope I can play. I respect the coach and his decisions, but I'm sure that if I go to the World Cup, I will contribute," continued Pato.

"Does Ronaldinho deserve the national level? Ronaldinho is a great player, but it is not up to me to make this decision. "

"Terry will never be captain again"

VENOM — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 06:51:13 GMT

Fabio Capello has dashed John Terry's hopes of captaining England again but still expects JT to be a leader without the armband.

Capello stripped Terry of the honour following revelations of the Chelsea star's alleged affair with the mother of Wayne Bridge's young son.

The speculation surrounding Terry's relationship with Vanessa Perroncel proved to be so hurtful for Bridge that he now feels his position within the England squad is "untenable" and has no longer made himself available for international duty.

Capello is still hoping Bridge will change his mind.

However, the Italian has made it perfectly clear it will not be at Terry's expense, even if there is no way he can ever be restored to his former status.

"Until the World Cup, John Terry will not be the captain again," said Capello. "After the World Cup? If I remain as England manager? I think not.

"I asked for the captain to set an example for the young people; for the children and the fans. What he did was not good. I told him this and he understood.

"But I took the decision only because of what happened with Wayne Bridge, nothing else. I didn't ever consider taking John Terry out of the squad, just as I didn't decide to take Wayne Bridge out.

"And I don't believe the other players will have lost respect for him because they know his leadership qualities."

Capello has never really understood the English fascination with who captains the team.

To him, it was perfectly straightforward Rio Ferdinand should step up, just as Steven Gerrard will take over against Egypt on Wednesday now the Manchester United man has been ruled out with a back injury.

Equally, past experience makes it easy to stress Terry's role within his squad essentially remains the same.

"In Spain or Italy, the captain is the oldest player or the one with the most caps," said Capello.

"Here it is different. You look at the captain in a different way.

"To me, being a leader is more important than being the captain. John Terry is a leader. I have asked him to be the same. He will be the same. He will be a leader without wearing the armband."

Stephen Warnock and Leighton Baines will be given the chance to take Bridge's place next week.

Once Wednesday's game is out of the way, and the dust has settled on Bridge's meeting with Terry at Stamford Bridge, Capello hopes the full-back will look at the situation again.

He will doubtless speak with the 29-year-old, as his assistant Franco Baldini has already done, to try and stress Bridge's perception of the situation does not square with Capello's.

Not that the Italian is guaranteed success. After all, he approached a far more straightforward problem in trying to persuade Jamie Carragher he did have a worthwhile role to play with England and met with a straight no.

"We all look at life with a different vision," said Capello.

"It is his opinion that it is better for the squad that he is not there. I think he could stay with us without a problem. I don't think it is in the best interests of the squad at all for him not to be there.

"But it is his decision, anything else is not important."

For someone renowned as a strict disciplinarian, Capello seems remarkably laid-back in his attitude to player behaviour, which seems to be spiralling out of control.

Asked if he worries about it, he shakes his head. There is only one thing that bothers him.

"There things are not good for the fans or the players. But I am not concerned. I hope when I decide the squad the best players are fit. This is what concerns me. Not these problems."

And not the WAGs (Wives and Girlfriends) either.

Capello could hardly have failed to notice the parade of glamorous females on show in Baden-Baden during England's last World Cup campaign.

The Bafokeng complex, England's base for this summer's tournament does not offer much in the way of outside interests, and as Capello is not interested in anything that goes on outside that area, wives and girlfriends are not on his radar.

"I know it was the virus of the last World Cup," said Capello.

"I hope it won't be like that again.

"I don't know where the WAGs will stay. Out of the training ground is far enough for me. What happens outside the training ground and outside the pitch is not important."

Modi turns attention to United States

VENOM — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 12:33:30 GMT

Indian Premier League chairman and commissioner Lalit Modi has confirmed plans to stage tournaments outside India.

The League is taking a particular interest in the United States.

The 2009 IPL was eventually forced to move from India to South Africa because of security concerns surrounding the country's elections taking place at the same time, but the success of the tournament has persuaded League chiefs to further explore global opportunities.

While other Asian territories, North America and the Middle East are all on Modi's hit-list, the United States is at the forefront of the IPL's plans with the USA Cricket Association keen to promote the Twenty20 format of the sport in a what remains a huge untapped market with unofficial estimates outlining between eight and 20 million cricket fans in the country.

"There are plans in the works to hold IPL matches overseas and we hope to be able to provide fans all around the world with the live IPL cricketing carnival experience," Modi said.

"We are looking at a shorter version of the league post the IPL seasons, which will help us take the game to the fans across the globe. Initially we are looking at markets which have large Indian and cricket loving populations such as USA, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Bangkok, Middle East, Canada and others.

"We will also host a few matches in the US in the next 18 months or so. My team have started examining venues and dates which may be available for this in the summer months. The duration for all these tournaments will be short and compact.

"Along with these markets, South Africa will undoubtedly be high on our priority list after seeing the astounding response we received during IPL season 2009. The remarkable success achieved there will obviously see us want to go back there soon."

Meanwhile, Modi maintains "there is no reason to worry" amid security concerns surrounding this year's event.

India's cricket chiefs yesterday met with the leader of a far right political party in an effort to seek guarantees on the issue of safety of Australia's players during the IPL.

Former Board of Control for Cricket in India president and International Cricket Council president-in-waiting Sharad Pawar along with current BCCI president Shashank Manohar met with Balasaheb Thackeray, the leader of the Shiv Sena party, with a request to withdraw threats of disrupting IPL matches in Mumbai.

Shiv Sena had threatened to attack Australian players contracted with several IPL teams in retaliation for attacks on Indians in Australia.

The latest threats come after the opening ceremony and inaugural match of the 2010 IPL on March 11 were last month moved from Hyderabad to Mumbai because of safety concerns.

Modi explained: "As for the security threats being sighted by various players associations - please let me remind you that India is a safe and sovereign nation very capable of looking after its own security.

"We have after all played host to major events in the recent past - like the successfully concluded inaugural Champions League Twenty20, where a lot of the players who are likely to play in the IPL had already participated.

He added: "The World Badminton Championships happened in India last year, as did the Under-19 World Volleyball Championship and the stage is now set for World Cup Hockey to be conducted in India next month, then India will also play host to the Commonwealth Games. And all of this in a period of 18 months. We believe there is no reason to worry.

"I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our Honourable Union Home Minister (Palaniappan Chidambaram) for his assurance of player security. The IPL as always are leaving no stone unturned to ensure the safety and security of all concerned and are working cohesively with the respective boards of each of the participating countries - and will continue to do so."

Lee: I may never bowl again

VENOM — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 12:28:34 GMT

Injury plagued Australian pacer Brett Lee said he is unsure about his future and may never bowl again.

After coach Tim Neilson virtually shut the Test door on Lee by saying that his future lay in ODIs, the 33-year-old pacer said he might be forced to make the hard choice if he fails to recover completely from the elbow surgery he underwent in December last year.

"As far as my cricket goes, anything is possible. You can read into it what you want, but I may play one-dayers, or no cricket at all," Lee, who has taken 310 Test wickets and 324 one-day scalps, told 'The Daily Telegraph'.

"I may never bowl another ball again, and if that's the case I'm so satisfied with my career and my longevity. I'm not saying it's definitely over, but I'm not sure what I want to be just yet," he added.

Lee conceded that his career is at the crossroads and he is confused about his priorities.

"To be perfectly honest, I'm not sure what I still want to do at this point in my cricketing life. I need to get to the stage where, if I want to, I can do what I need to do on the field.

"If it's the case that I don't play again, well that's the case. There is a part of me that would like to play some sort of cricket again. But what kind of cricket that is, I don't know," he said.

He has endured 12 injuries on his body in a 13-year career, but Lee said the latest elbow problem has been the most painful.

"This has been the hardest surgery I've been through.

It's certainly been the most painful," Lee said.

"There's no miracle treatment for me. It's taking time. I still don't know when I'll be able to bowl again. I can't even give you an exact time.

"I will see how the arm pulls up because I can't achieve any aspirations in cricket moving forward unless my body is functional," he added.

Lee said whatever he decides, he would confide in skipper Ricky Ponting before taking a final call.

"I'll keep it mainly in-house than talk to the team, but at some stage I will sit down with Punter (Ponting), if that's needed.

"I'm making a lifestyle decision here as opposed to a cricketing one and I'll see what comes out of it.

"Aussies are not racist"

The attacks on Indians Down Under are condemnable but the perception that Australia is a racist society is incorrect, asserted pacer Lee.

Lee, an immensely popular figure in India having also acted in a Bollywood movie, said he was concerned by the way the Indian media was reporting on the attacks.

"I've been trying to explain to the Indian media that we're not a racist country," Lee was quoted as saying by 'The Daily Telegraph'.

"The general chit-chat around the Indian public is fine, they love Australians coming to their country, but most of the problems seem to be driven through the Indian media," he added

Lee reiterated that Indians were welcome in Australia.

"I tried to make it very clear over there that Australian people and our society, which is so multi-cultural, welcome Indian people with open arms. What has happened is terrible, no matter who's at fault," he said.

New Orleans Saints win Super Bowl

VENOM — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 12:24:03 GMT

New Orleans Saints defeated the Indianapolis Colts 31-17 at Miami's SunLife Stadium. Drew Brees won MVP.

They made the most of their first Super Bowl appearance in their 42-year history of the franchise.

The NFC-champion Saints came from 10-0 down at the end of the first quarter - equalling the largest deficit overturned to win a Super Bowl - and still trailed by a point at 16-17 heading into the fourth before dominating the final period to deny Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning and his side a second Super Bowl victory in four years.

It was an emotional occasion for the city of New Orleans, less than five years after it bore the brunt of Hurricane Katrina, as a series of bold calls from head coach Sean Payton helped them claim the title.

The Colts had gone into a 10-0 lead thanks to a Matt Stover field goal and Manning's 19-yard touchdown pass into the end zone for 23-year-old, second-year wide receiver Pierre Garcon, Stover returning to kick the extra point.

The second quarter saw a more assertive Saints display as they outgained the Colts by 143 yards to 15, yet only came away with two Garrett Hartley field goals to show for their dominance and went in 10-6 down at half-time.

The Saints took the lead for the first time in the game when quarterback Drew Brees threw his first touchdown pass, running back Pierre Thomas making the reception and jinking 20 yards into the end zone behind some excellent blocking. Hartley kicked the extra point to put New Orleans into a 13-10 lead.

The Colts reacted by running the ball, with Joseph Addai collecting the hand-off from Manning four yards out and side-stepping his way into the end zone before Stover added a point as Indianapolis regained the lead at 17-13.

Hartley's 47-yard field goal with 2:06 remaining in the quarter made him the first kicker ever to land three goals from 40 yards or more in the Super Bowl and left the Saints a point behind, setting up a perfectly poised last 15 minutes.

The Colts suffered a setback at the end of the first drive of the fourth quarter when Stover missed a field goal attempt from 51 yards and the Saints took advantage on the next possession as Brees sent a short pass right for Jeremy Shockey.

Shockey had been injured when his former team New York Giants won the Super Bowl against New England Patriots two years ago but he was front and centre to collect Brees' pass and the Saints opted to go for two extra points rather than one from a kick.

The plan looked to have backfired when Brees' pass to Lance Moore was ruled incomplete but Payton challenged the decision and was it overturned on review to give his side a 24-17 lead with 5:46 left on the clock. The catch also saw MVP Brees equal Tom Brady's Super Bowl record of 32 completions.

The Colts' comeback was derailed with 3:24 left when, having advanced to the New Orleans 31-yard line, Manning's pass intended for wide receiver Reggie Wayne was picked off by Tracey Porter.

The defensive back raced 74 yards back upfield for an interception touchdown and, with Hartley landing the extra point, the Saints were 31-17 up.

Back came the Colts for one last throw of the dice but as they camped on the New Orleans goal-line, Garcon was penalised for pass interference inside the end zone and Manning was forced back 10 yards to the 13.

The Colts quarterback tried again and with less than a minute left on the clock Indianapolis were on the five-yard line on fourth down. Manning threw again into the end zone and again looking for Wayne, but the pass was incomplete and the game was effectively over.

The Saints ate up the clock and Brees, his team-mates and the city of New Orleans began an impromptu Mardi Gras in Miami.

Real Madrid set to tempt Mourinho

VENOM — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 11:29:50 GMT

Jose Mourinho looks set to leave Inter Milan in the summer after reports in Italy linked him with a move to Spanish giants Real Madrid

Mourinho, who guided his Inter side to the Serie A title last season, is once again flying high at the top of Italy's top-flight and is busy preparing for an emotional two-legged clash against former employers Chelsea in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Meanwhile, current Real boss Manuel Pellegrini, despite also guiding his charges to the knockout stages of Europe's elite club competition, is under intense pressure to improve his side's domestic form, with the five point gap between themselves and league leaders Barcelona a growing concern for big spending Madrid president Florentino Perez.

With Real's penchant for hiring and firing coaches - even if they have been successful - Tuttosport has revealed that Perez is set to lure Mourinho to the Bernabeu, and that he is prepared to offer the Portuguese supremo some €7m per season in a bid to make the offer too tempting to refuse.

Should Real succeed in their attempt to land Mourinho, Tuttosport believes Bordeaux's Laurent Blanc, who was an Inter player between 1999 and 2001, will be the man to replace Mourinho.

On Thursday, another Italian publication, La Gazzetta dello Sport, revealed that that Mourinho could leave the club following problems with Mario Balotelli.