Hazard off in ball boy spat; Chelsea out
SWANSEA, Wales ● Eden Hazard was bizarrely sent off for kicking a ball boy as European champions Chelsea fell to Swansea City in the second leg of their English League Cup semi-final on Wednesday. Leading 2-0 from the first leg, Swansea held out for a goalless draw at the Liberty Stadium to reach the first [...]
Super Eagles grounded
NELSPRUIT, South Africa ● The African Cup of Nations produced all the colour, chaos and drama with which it has traditionally been associated on Monday, as well as a couple of surprising results in Group C. Leading the way was Ethiopia, whose return to the tournament after a 31-year absence drew an estimated 10,000 [...]
Kompany cleared of red card
MANCHESTER, England ● Premier League champions Manchester City won their appeal on Tuesday against the red card handed out to captain Vincent Kompany during a 2-0 win away to Arsenal last weekend. The decision by an independent FA regulatory commission overturned a three-game ban for the Belgium international that would have started with this week’s [...]
Man City to appeal Kompany red card
MANCHESTER, England ● Premier League champions Manchester City confirmed Monday they would appeal against the red card handed out to captain Vincent Kompany in their 2-0 win away to Arsenal on Sunday. Kompany was dismissed 15 minutes from time by referee Mike Dean at the Emirates Stadium on the grounds he’d used excessive force in [...]
Don’t write City off yet, says Mancini
LONDON, England ● Roberto Mancini insists Manchester City are still firmly in the title race after the champions closed the gap on leaders Manchester United to seven points with a crucial 2-0 win at Arsenal. Mancini’s side couldn’t afford to leave north London empty-handed on Sunday after United moved 10 points clear with a 2-1 [...]
Ba’s own goal rescues Sunderland
SUNDERLAND, England ● Sunderland rescued a 1-1 draw against 10-man Newcastle on Sunday as Demba Ba’s late own goal cost his team a victory over their bitter rivals in the Tyne-Wear derby. Martin O’Neill’s team had laboured in vain to break down the Newcastle defence despite having the numerical advantage following Newcastle midfielder Cheick Tiote’s [...]
Shelvey: Ferguson grassed me up
LIVERPOOL, England ● Sir Alex Ferguson invited Jonjo Shelvey to apologise to him after the Liverpool man appeared to verbally attack the Manchester United manager following his sending-off in Sunday’s 2-1 victory for the Red Devils, and Shelvey has responded by accusing the United boss of “grassing him up”. Shelvey was dismissed close [...]
Huddlestone wins red card appeal
LONDON, England ● Tom Huddlestone has won his fight to get his red card in Tottenham’s Barclays Premier League game against Norwich rescinded. The Football Association announced midfielder Huddlestone’s claim for wrongful dismissal in Saturday’s 1-1 draw had been upheld and withdrew his three-match ban. Spurs contested the straight red card shown to the 25-year-old [...]
Le Fondre saves the day for Reading
READING, England ● Reading marked their return to the Premier League after a four-year absence in dramatic fashion as Adam Le Fondre’s late penalty rescued a 1-1 draw against Stoke on Saturday. The Royals looked set to be taught a harsh lesson in the realities of top-flight football after Australian goalkeeper Adam Federici’s [...]
