..::Football II::..

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Inter fined for racist abuse during Tottenham clash

UEFA has punished the Italian side with a 45,000 euro fine after fans waved inflatable bananas at Emmanuel Adebayor and his teammates during their Europa League match in March.

Inter Milan has been fined 45,000 euros after fans racially abused Tottenham striker Emmanuel Adebayor during their Europa League round of 16 clash in March.

The Togolese scored during extra-time of the second leg of the tie to put Spurs through on away goals, but he and his teammates were the victims of abuse by Nerazzurri fans who waved inflatable bananas at them.

The Italian club had already been fined by Serie A authorities after former Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli was the subject of racism during its derby clash with AC Milan.

Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas publicly asked UEFA to hand out a more stringent punishment in the wake of the incident involving Adebayor during his side's clash at the San Siro.

Earlier in the season, fellow Italians Lazio were also fined for racist chanting from supporters in their Group J encounter with Tottenham at White Hart Lane, while they were again punished for similar behavior in November's return game in Rome.

 

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Agnelli: Italian football is not interesting anymore

The Bianconeri president has bemoaned the state of stadia in the country and believe Serie A has fallen behind its competitors in the world game
Juventus president Andrea Agnelli has claimed that stadium attendances and crowd trouble make Serie A an uninteresting spectacle to fans.

The 37-year-old cited the development of the Premier League as an example for Italian football to follow, particularly in terms of budget.

“Is Italian football interesting to watch today?" he told the Financial Times. "Half the stadiums are empty, there is violence. I mean, it’s not the best product.

“You are reading messages in Chinese across all Premier League stadia. We access multinational companies, but we access their local budgets. We want to be talking to their headquarters.”

Despite Serie A's decline, Agnelli is optimistic about Juventus, with the club having recovered from relegation in 2006 following the Calciopoli scandal.

“The current team have great potential. I feel they're mine, whilst with the others I was, let me say, a privileged observer. This is my creature," he added. "Our brand is enhanced now by our tremendous comeback story. That gave us the opportunity to show, in a louder way, how strong we are and how focused on leading the Italian system we are."

Juve is currently nine points clear at the top of Serie A as it chases a second consecutive Scudetto.

 

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Song targets title win against Athletic

 

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Sir Alex Ferguson 'not really bothered' by Van Persie return to Arsenal

The striker will walk out at the Emirates Stadium as a Premier League winner but the Red Devils boss doesn't think the game will be a worry for the star Dutchman.
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has stated that he is "not really bothered" by the hype surrounding the return of Robin van Persie to former club Arsenal on Sunday.

The Netherlands striker returns to the Emirates Stadium for the first time since he joined the Red Devils for 24 million pounds last summer.

United captured its 20th Premier League title on Monday and Arsenal will give the newly crowned champions a guard of honor, but the manager doesn't see van Persie's return as anything other than a normal fixture.

"I'm not really bothered about Robin's return to Arsenal," Sir Alex told reporters at a press conference. "I don't think he's bothered about it either.

"There was some booing of him at Old Trafford [in the corresponding fixture] but that's modern society.

"Robin showed in his celebrations how much winning the league meant to him."

Arsenal is fighting hard for a Champions League spot and could do with a good result on Sunday, but Ferguson has warned the Gunners he will still be playing his best XI despite having already wrapped up the title.
“We have a few bumps and bruises from the other night but it is hopefully nothing serious and I expect to have a strong side on Sunday,” Ferguson said. "Having won the league, there's always a danger of falling into the trap of 'it's all over and we can relax' and enjoy ourselves but I think we've got a duty to other clubs who are chasing Champions League places. “Also, the rivalry we've had with Arsenal and then Chelsea over the years does put an edge to these games anyway so hopefully we'll represent ourselves in the right way.”

 

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Allardyce full of regret at failure to sign Lewandowski for Blackburn

The current West Ham boss had the chance to sign the Poland international in 2010 but was hindered by a lack of funds as well as a volcanic ash cloud that prevented negotiations West Ham boss Sam Allardyce has expressed his regret at missing out on the chance to sign Borussia Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski when he was manager of Blackburn.

Rovers were in talks with the Poland international in the summer of 2010 but the club's financial state - as well as the volcanic ash cloud that meant that all flights in and out of the UK had to be suspended - scuppered the move, with the forward eventually joining BVB instead.

With Lewandowski having gone on to score 74 goals since – including all four in his side's 4-1 Champions League semifinal win against Real Madrid on Wednesday – Allardyce admits that he is always reminded of the near-miss every time that he sees the striker play.

"I think about it every time I see him play," Allardyce told reporters. "My distant memory isn't that great, but I think John Williams [former Rovers chairman] and the board said we are not going to commit that amount of money.

"I think they wanted three or four million euros, but we were particularly strapped financially at the time at Blackburn.

"I watched him play but I didn't get the chance to meet him. I think his agent said he couldn't come over because of the ash cloud.

"He's probably worth 40 million euros now."

"There were a lot of people looking at him at that time as well but we had the edge over everyone else because of the attraction of the Premier League. He could have used us as a stepping stone but it didn't happen."

 

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Eriksen flattered by Dortmund interest

The Dane says "it is great" to be linked with a club like BVB but insisted that he is only focusing on winning the Eredivisie with Ajax.Ajax star Christian Eriksen has admitted that he is pleased to be linked with Borussia Dortmund but insists he is focusing on winning the title with his current club.

With Mario Gotze set to leave the Westfalenstadion for Bayern Munich in the summer, the Bundesliga giants are said to be targeting the Dane to replace him.

And while Eriksen admits that he could move on from the Amsterdam ArenA this summer, having heard of interest from BVB.

"I've read that," the 21-year-old told AD about reports linking him with the German club. "It's great that [the media] link me with such a good club. But right now I'm only focusing on one thing. I want to become a champion and after that we'll see.

"If nothing happens, I'll renew my contract. I owe Ajax so much. I don't want to leave for free."

Ajax is edging closer to winning the Eredivisie title where it sits top of the table, four points clear of PSV.

 

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Luis Suarez will not appeal 10-game ban for Ivanovic bite

The Liverpool striker accepts the punishment handed to him by the Football Association on Wednesday and will start serving his suspension on Saturday against Newcastle.Liverpool striker Luis Suarez has decided not to appeal his 10-game ban for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic.

The Uruguay international was handed the suspension on Wednesday for a blatant bite on the Serbian's arm during Sunday's 2-2 draw with the Blues at Anfield, with manager Brendan Rodgers suggesting that the punishment was excessive.

But the Football Association has confirmed that the 26-year-old Suarez will not be appealing the decision and will sit out all 10 matches, the first of which will be Saturday's clash with Newcastle.

An FA statement read: "Liverpool forward Luis Suarez has not appealed the suspension issued to him by an Independent Regulatory Commission this week.

"A three-person Independent Regulatory Commission upheld the FA's claim that a suspension of three matches was clearly insufficient and the player will now serve a further seven first-team matches in addition to the standard three.

"The suspension begins with immediate effect and applies to Liverpool's next 10 domestic first-team fixtures.

"The FA intends to publicise the Independent Regulatory Commission's written reasons in due course."

 

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Arsenal will respect Van Persie, says Wenger

The Netherlands striker returns to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday as a champion with Manchester United, but the Gunners boss says they will treat their former hero with respect.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says Manchester United striker Robin van Persie will be treated with respect when he returns to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

The 29-year-old Netherlands striker left the club last summer in search of trophies after eight years in north London, joining Sir Alex Ferguson's side in a 24 million pound deal.

Van Persie fired the Red Devils to the Premier League trophy with a hat trick against Aston Villa on Monday, meaning he and the rest of the Manchester United team will be awarded a guard of honor by Arsenal on Sunday.

It is a gesture set to rile Gunners fans, who are still furious about his departure, but Wenger says their former strike hero will be shown respect.

"We will respect the players that have played for us a long time as we always have done and treat them well before and after the game," Wenger told reporters. "As a champion or not as a champion it is exactly the same. What I want is for us to have a good game and to beat them, it doesn't matter what kind of status they come with."

Arsenal is hunting for a top-four finish alongside London rivals Tottenham and Chelsea, and Nacho Monreal hopes that pre-match talk about van Persie does not come as a distraction, with the Gunners needing to be wary of the whole United team.

"Their players are of the highest level, you can't just focus on one player because their team is full of players who can create and score," Monreal said. "We must be on our guard and be aware of certain key players, like Robin, who has scored a sack of goals this year and is playing well. He is one of their main threats."

 

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'Why not?' - Reina hints at finishing career at Liverpool

In a fans' Twitter Q&A session the Reds goalkeeper said he can see himself ending his playing days at Anfield, carrying on beyond the three years left on his current deal Pepe Reina has revealed he could see out the rest of his career at Liverpool, saying "it would be a nice history to be here more than 12 or 13 years".

The 30-year-old joined the Reds in 2005 and has consistently been the club's first choice, making 382 appearances in all competitions.

In a Q&A session with fans on Liverpool's official Twitter feed, the Spain international said there is every chance he will stay at Anfield beyond the remainder of his contract.

When asked if he wants to finish his playing career at Liverpool, Reina said: "It would be a nice history to be here more than twelve or thirteen years, why not?"

Reina has kept 11 clean sheets in 27 Premier League games this term and will be hoping to make it 12 when the Reds travel to Newcastle on Saturday as they face the rest of the season without the suspended Luis Suarez.

Brendan Rodgers' men lies seventh in the Premier League table and look like missing out on European football next season, but Reina is prepared for a long-term future with the club.

"I've got three more years so I'll be around for at least three more years I guess and then it depends on Liverpool," Reina said.

 

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Barclays Premier League 2013.04.27 Fixtures

Barclays Premier League 2013.04.27 Fixtures

Manchester City Vs West Ham

Everton Vs Fulham

Wigan Vs Tottenham

Stroke City Vs Norwich City

Southampton Vs WBA

Newcastle United Vs Liverpool

​

 

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La Liga 2013.04.27 Fixtures

La Liga 2013.04.27 Fixtures


Levante Vs Celta Vigo

Athletic Bilbao Vs Barcelona

Atletico Madrid Vs Real Madrid

Real Zaragoza Vs Mallorca​

 

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Serie A 2013.04.27 Fixtures

Serie A 2013.04.27 Fixtures


Atalanta Vs Bologna

Cagliari Vs Udinese

Pescara Vs Napoli​

 

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La Liga 2013.04.27 Fixtures




Athletic Bilbao Vs Barcelona

Atletico Madrid Vs Real Madrid


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Sir Alex Ferguson says Manchester United will spend again this summer

Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed that Manchester United's owners have made more money available to him this summer in a bid to 'kick on' from the club's record 20th championship.United will get their hands on the Premier League trophy again in a couple of weeks but the planning for 2013-14 is already underway.

And Ferguson says the Glazer family have already told him he will be backed in the transfer market, despite admitting previously he might only be looking to add a couple more players 12 months on from the headline signing of Arsenal striker Robin van Persie.He said: "Having spoken with the Glazer family, there is every intention to kick on.

"We possibly need two players. It depends. If a player came along who met our criteria we would push the boat out and get him, irrespective of how many players we have."Ferguson expects a tougher challenge next season, admitting Chelsea would be a big rival if Jose Mourinho returns to West London, but his short-term focus is on eclipsing the Blues' points record of 95 which would mean winning their last four games.

"Chelsea will definitely be involved next season," Ferguson added. "They have some good players and it looks likely Mourinho will be going there."I said last week I don't mind winning the league in the last game of the season, but now we have won it with four games left, I look at it being one thing to win the league and another to do it by beating the record.

"Ninety-six points would be phenomenal. I don't know if that could ever be beaten."

 

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SAF kawru ganna try karai da mandaMatanam Hithenne LEW or Falcao thamai

 

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Newcastle 0-6 Liverpool (76 mins)
Newcastle la patta kamak kanne

 

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Athletic Bilbao 2-2 Barcelona: Messi magic in vain as Basques deny Blaugrana at the death

Barcelona missed a potential chance to secure the title this weekend as a late goal saw Athletic Bilbao steal a point with a 2-2 draw at San Mames.

After the 4-0 mauling at the hands of Bayern Munich in midweek, Lionel Messi began from the bench but Tito Vilanova selected a strong team. However, the Basque side began the game impressively and deservedly took the lead into halftime with a goal from Markel Susaeta.

Messi was let loose after the break and after equalizing with a sublime individual effort he assisted Alexis Sanchez for what looked like the winner until Ander Herrera levelled the game in the final minute of normal time.

Bilbao pressed high from the outset and with six minutes played Gerard Pique was caught in possession on the right, deep in his own half. Herrera subsequently drifted into the box but his low cross was narrowly missed by the stretching Aritz Aduriz as he slid in at the back post.

The Blaugrana kept cool heads, though, and came agonizingly close to taking the lead in the 16th minute. Cesc Fabregas' delightful reverse pass fed straight into the path of Alexis' run, but his cross-goal shot from 20 yards came back off the frame of the goal.

The Catalan defense was not coping with the intensity of the game quite so well and with 28 minutes on the clock Marcelo Bielsa's men broke the deadlock. Aduriz beat Pique to the byline before driving the ball across the face of goal for Susaeta to tap in at the back post.

Aduriz should have doubled the Basques' advantage two minutes before the break after ghosting in between Pique and Eric Abidal but he could not keep his header down from Oscar De Marcos' cross.

Eleven minutes into the second half Barcelona nearly fell further behind as Susaeta hit the crossbar from a 20-yard free kick and Mikel San Jose sent his header from the rebound into the side netting.

Messi was quickly introduced in place of Xavi and while Barca instantly looked a better team, Pedro and Alexis were both unable to beat Iraizoz from inside the area.

But in the 67th minute Messi provided a majestic moment of individual brilliance as he wriggled between three players, ducking inside and out, before caressing the ball into the bottom corner to equalize.

Two minutes later the Argentine was involved again as the Catalans completed the turnaround, heading Dani Alves' cross into the path of Alexis who spun and fired the ball between Iraizoz's legs.

But victory for the visitors was not to be as Adriano failed to clear a cross from the left and the loose ball was rifled into the bottom corner by Herrera.

A draw means that Barcelona cannot be crowned as champion this weekend and must instead turn its attention back to a daunting Champions League tie in midweek.

 

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Bayern Munich 1-0 Freiburg: Can earns Bavarians’ B team facile win

Bayern Munich set a new record for points in a Bundesliga season with a 1-0 victory over Champions League-chasing Freiburg at the Allianz Arena on Saturday.

Emre Can's first-half goal was enough to clinch victory for the Bavarian giants, who fielded a host of reserves, but still managed to dominate the encounter from start to finish and outclass Christian Streich's side.

The win sees Bayern move onto 84 points, surpassing the record of 81 set by Borussia Dortmund last season, while Freiburg remains one point behind fourth placed Schalke, having played a game more.

Jupp Heynckes named nearly an entirely different XI from the one that took to the field against Barca midweek, with Jerome Boateng the only survivor, as the likes of Mario Mandzukic and Rafinha stepped in.

Bayern soon settled and exhibited its customary dominance of possession, with Freiburg barely managing to get a foot on the ball in the opening exchanges.Xherdan Shaqiri was heavily involved in most of the home side’s offensive efforts, and should have done better with 20 minutes gone, snatching at a volley from the edge of the area that flew wide.

Bayern would come closer around the half hour mark when Luis Gustavo’s ball over the top released Diego Contento, but the full back, with all the time in the world to pick out a cross, instead lifted the ball too far ahead of Mandzukic at the far post.

It was a let-off for Freiburg, but its good fortune would not last much longer. Shaqiri’s inch-perfect free-kick from the right hand side was glanced with the slightest of nods by Can, steering the ball into the far side of the goal.Gustavo had an excellent opportunity to double Bayern’s advantage almost immediately, but the Brazilian could only hit right at Oliver Baumann after good link-up play from Contento and Mandzukic.

But the Freiburg keeper was made to work harder shortly after the restart, when Can’s shot proved too hot to handle, forcing him into an awkward parry.Shaqiri then attempted to force the issue with a long-range effort that went just off target, after a delightful turn to free himself in space for the shot.

And the home side was left cursing their luck once again just before the hour mark, when Mandzukic clipped onto the bar after spotting Baumann off his line, following an excellent feed from Claudio Pizarro.Heynckes brought on Franck Ribery and Mario Gomez in the closing stages, and the two substitutes almost contrived to unlock Freiburg for a second time, but Gomez could not divert the Frenchman’s cross on target from point blank range.

But Bayern was fortunate not to be hit with a sucker-punch in the 77th minute, when Tom Starke’s flap at a corner opened up space for Daniel Caligiuri to shoot, but the effort was tame and right at the feet of the recovering keeper.

However, it was a rare positive moment for the visitors amid total Bayern domination. Ribery and Gomez both wasted chances late on to add another goal, but it mattered little in the end as the hosts ran out comfortable winners.

 

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Manchester City 2-1 West Ham: Aguero and Yaya Toure secure narrow win

MANCHESTER -- Manchester City responded to losing its Premier League title with a comfortable 2-1 victory over West Ham.

Sergio Aguero struck in the 28th minute to finish a sweeping City move and Yaya Toure completed a straightforward win seven minutes from time with a stunning left-footed strike into the top corner.

West Ham grabbed a goal back with their first real attempt of the match in the fourth minute added time when Andy Carroll's strike squirmed through the legs of City goalkeeper Joe Hart - but the visitors had no time left to press for an unlikely equalizer.

After bitter rivals Manchester United won the league title on Monday, the atmosphere was understandably flat at the Etihad Stadium - but City completely dominated the game against a West Ham side that offered virtually no attacking threat.

Perhaps the most significant aspect of the afternoon was the constant support from the home fans in support of under-pressure manager Roberto Mancini as the Italian faces questions following City's tame attempt to retain the title it won last year.

City made three changes to the side that lost at Tottenham last time out, with Joleon Lescott replacing Matija Nastasic at center back, while David Silva and Sergio Aguero returned from injury as James Milner and Edin Dzeko dropped to the bench. West Ham manager Sam Allardyce made no changes to the team that started in their win over Wigan last Saturday.

The early exchanges betrayed two sides with nothing left to play for this season with City comfortably in second place in the table and West Ham set for a mid-table finish.

In the 22nd minute, the first real chance of the game fell to Aguero after David Silva’s pass deflected off Kevin Nolan. The Argentine, however, mishit his shot from 12 yards and the ball bounced back off the post.

As the clock struck 23 minutes, all sides of the ground gave a fine tribute to former City player Marc-Vivien Foe as they applauded and chanted his name to mark the 10th anniversary of his death.

It seemed to lift the atmosphere and in the 28th minute City took the lead. Samir Nasri and David Silva combined with a lovely one-two in the West Ham box before the Frenchman squared for Aguero to turn the ball in from six yards.

The hosts nearly doubled their advantage immediately, but Jussi Jaaskelainen kept out Nasri’s strike before reacting quickly to deny Zabaleta as the City full-back looked to turn in the rebound.

After City lost from a winning position against Tottenham last weekend, they pushed for the cushion of a second goal after the break but were denied by some last-ditch defending from West Ham.

Aguero was denied by a brilliant block from Winston Reid, Nasri could only shoot straight at Jaaskelainen from a tight angle and then completely missed the ball after Tevez squared along the six-yard box.

In the 83rd minute, Toure made sure that there would be no way back for West Ham with a wonderful goal. The Ivorian picked the ball up on the right side of the penalty area and launched a sensational left-footed shot into the top corner.

Carroll then fired in a late consolation for the visitors in the fourth minute of added time as his right-footed shot went through Hart's legs but there was no time left for a dramatic finale.

 

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Southampton 0-3 West Brom: Baggies batter nine-man Saints

West Brom ended its run of four games without a win by beating in-form Southampton 3-0 on Saturday.

Marc Antoine-Fortune's scrappy opener gave the visitors the lead after six minutes, with three Artur Boruc saves preventing Romelu Lukaku from adding to the scoreline. The Baggies added two more after the break by picking off Saints on the counterattack, with Gaston Ramirez, goalscorer Fortune and Danny Fox also receiving red cards in an eventful half.

The Baggies almost took an early lead when Lukaku broke free of Jos Hooiveld but Boruc made a fine stop to deny the Belgian in the one-on-one. However, Fortune was able to put the visitors ahead from the resulting corner after a goal-mouth scramble in which Boruc and Nathaniel Clyne failed to clear the ball.

And despite a good reaction from the hosts it was Clarke's men who almost struck again around the 20 minute mark. James Morrison and Graham Dorrans combined excellently to work the ball through to Lukaku once more, but Boruc got down low to make another good save when the forward should have done better.

Saints continued to dominate possession but found clear-cut chances hard to carve out against a solid Baggies defense, Rickie Lambert and Jay Rodriguez both headed over and Nathaniel Clyne saw a strike deflected over when he should have tested the keeper.

Saints boss Pochettino made a bold move at the break as he looked to inject some creativity into his side, bringing attacker Gaston Ramirez on for the more defensive Jack Cork. The opening 10 minutes were much the same, though, before Clyne broke forward and hit the bar with a powerful strike from a tight angle.

However the hosts continued to struggle in attack and it was West Brom which got the second goal. Lukaku was finally able to beat Boruc by rounding the keeper and finishing into the empty net after Fortune's through ball.

Soon after the goal Ramirez, brought on at the break, made Saints' challenge even harder by getting sent off for sending a stray elbow into the face of Shane Long. Baggies attacker Fortune also received a red card for an angry reaction in which he raised his arm.

Lambert may have hit back soon after if it wasn't for a poor touch, before Schneiderlin denied Morrison with a fine sliding tackle, but Saints could do nothing to stop Long bagging a third with just over 10 minute remaining. The striker was played in beyond the Saints defense and finished through Boruc's legs.

There was more late drama as Saints full back Fox was also given a straight red card for a wild lunge on Steven Reid in the latter stages of the game.