Prosecutors seek 15-month ban for Juve coach Conte
ROME, Italy ● Juventus coach Antonio Conte is facing a 15-month suspension for his role in the in the “Calcioscommesse” match-fixing scandal, Italian agency Ansa said Thursday. Conte is accused of failing to notify authorities about match-fixing in two games when he was in charge of Siena during the 2010-11 season. The Italian Football Federation [...]
Wenger: Van Persie future decided before opening EPL
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia ● Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has intimated that he intends for Robin van Persie’s future to be resolved in time for the start of the new Premier League season. Wenger has reiterated he is keen to retain the services of star striker Van Persie, despite the Dutchman stating he will not sign [...]
Greece played with sponsor on jersey…
GDANSK, Poland ● Although the situation of Greece in the Eurozone is nothing to laugh about, it is good there is some room for jokes. So tweeted a footbal site in Holland about the fact that Greece was playing with a sponsor on the front of their jerseys. It turned out to be [...]
Croatia fans burn European Union flag
POZNAN, Poland ● Croatian soccer fans burned a European Union flag and paraded around with posters of a convicted war criminal before their team faced Italy at the European Championship on Thursday. Several thousand Croatian supporters crowded into an area around Poznan’s main old town square, drinking and singing before the Group C game in [...]
Nasri’s ‘Shut your mouth’ outburst aimed at French journalist
DONETSK, Ukraine ● Samir Nasri’s outburst after scoring Monday at the European Championship was aimed at a French journalist who questioned his form the day before. When Nasri scored late in the first half in the 1-1 draw against England, he ran away in celebration and shouted “Shut your mouth” in French. He then brought [...]
Lewandowski quiet on United talk
WARSAW, Poland ● Poland forward Robert Lewandowski is refusing to be distracted by talk of a move to Manchester United. Poland coach Franciszek Smuda set tongues wagging earlier this week when claiming the Borussia Dortmund striker was on his way to Old Trafford. Lewandowski did his cause no harm by bagging the opening [...]
Spain: Tensions won’t flare with Mourinho arrival
GDANSK, Poland ● Spain’s Real Madrid and Barcelona players don’t expect tension to flare when Jose Mourinho shows up to watch their first European Championship match on Sunday. The Madrid coach will be at the PGE Arena in Gdansk for the world champions’ game against Italy amid a feud between Mourinho and Barcelona midfielder Xavi [...]
Spirits Torres high after Chelsea talks
LONDON, England ● Fernando Torres claims he “lost hope” at Chelsea but is optimistic about next season at Stamford Bridge, claims the BBC. The Spain striker, 28, has struggled since joining from Liverpool in a £50m deal in January last year. “There were times where I lost hope and that has never happened to me [...]
Vassily Berezutsky ruled out for Russia
MOSCOW, Russia ● CSKA Moscow defender Vassily Berezutsky will miss next month’s European Championship in Poland and Ukraine with a hip injury, Russia manager Dick Advocaat revealed Sunday. “Berezutsky is going to leave the Russian team,” Advocaat told the gazeta.ru website following the country’s first training session in Moscow. “He won’t recover from an injury,” [...]
