Tottenham held to 0-0 in North American tour opener

July 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment

(Reuters) – English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur were held to a scoreless draw by the San Jose Earthquakes in the opening match of their pre-season tour of the United States on Saturday.

Both teams created opportunities, with Robbie Keane having a goal disallowed for offside then missing perhaps the best chance for Spurs, but neither was able to break the deadlock.

The north London club were missing most of their World Cup players and they looked rusty as they began their preparation for the start of the Premier League next month.

Their next game is against New York Red Bulls on Thursday, where they are likely to face a familiar foe in former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry who joined New York last week.

The final tour game will be against Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon on July 25.

(Reporting by Julian Linden in New York; Editing by Greg Stutchbury; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

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Referees got it 96 percent right: FIFA study

July 11, 2010 By Leave a Comment

(Reuters) – Referees were right 96 percent of the time at the World Cup, according to a study by FIFA’s referees’ committee.

The study looked at key decisions such as free kicks, penalties and goal decisions but did not examine minor rulings such as throw-ins.

The data was collected by video examination carried out by referees committee members and FIFA instructors, Jose Maria Garcia-Aranda, head of refereeing for the sport’s governing body, told Reuters.

“We are working very hard and we are not surprised with the results we have gained because the level of refereeing is much, much better,” he said.

“We have been working with the referees for many years, we have prepared them as well as possible with new technology and video de-briefing.”

It marks the first time that FIFA has released such data on refereeing performances and while there is no way to compare with previous tournaments, Garcia-Aranda said he was confident decision making had improved.

“Even without the formal data we can say that the number of good, difficult decisions has been up this year,” he said.

“We are talking about thousands of decisions made in 62 games, some of them very, very difficult decisions and the vast majority of them were correct,” Garcia-Aranda said, adding that the ‘success rate’ was higher than for players taking penalties.

TEVEZ GOAL

There were a number of high profile wrong decisions in the tournament such as the failure to award England a goal against Germany when Frank Lampard’s shot hit the crossbar and went over the goalline and the missed offside on Carlos Tevez’s goal for Argentina against Mexico.

Hungarian referee Viktor Kassai, who took charge of the semi-final between Germany and Spain, said he was not surprised by the figure of 96 percent correct decisions.

“Top referees figures should be around that, it sounds a realistic figure to me,” he told Reuters.

“The problem always is of course that in a match if you have 200 decisions, if one is wrong and that is a vital one, then no-one cares about the other 199.

“We are like the goalkeepers who can make ten great saves but then let in a howler at the end – which gets remembered? Regardless of the numbers though, we have to aim for faultless performances.”

(Writing by Simon Evans; Editing by Patrick Johnston)

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I’ve left no better players at home, riles Lippi

June 21, 2010 By Leave a Comment

(Reuters) – Italy coach Marcello Lippi refused to accept he had omitted more talented players from his squad after the uninventive world champions were held to a surprise 1-1 draw with New Zealand on Sunday.

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Their second World Cup Group F draw in a row means the Azzurri meet Slovakia on Thursday needing to win to secure their passage to the last 16 or face possible humiliation.

Lippi has ignored Sampdoria’s creative forward Antonio Cassano ever since returning to the job in 2008 while the likes of Alessandro Del Piero and Giuseppe Rossi were excluded despite their ability to do something different.

“I am absolutely convinced there are no phenomenons that I left at home,” Lippi, who will be replaced by Cesare Prandelli after the tournament, told a news conference.

“We have players who have personality, players who have proved it in the championship. We have the Serie A top scorer of 29 goals (Antonio Di Natale).

“I don’t think it’s a question of personality, it’s just fluidity. There is no one else I could have brought. They would have had the same problems as the lads who were out there today. It’s premature to talk about that.”

Lippi said he had no idea if Shane Smeltz’s seventh minute opener for New Zealand should have been flagged offside but reckoned it was a clear penalty when Daniele De Rossi was tugged back to allow Vincenzo Iaquinta to equalize on 29 minutes.

A vastly improved performance is required against Slovakia in Johannesburg on Thursday if the Azzurri are to go through but even a draw might suffice for the traditional slow starters.

Asked if the possible return to fitness of creative midfielder Andrea Pirlo could make the difference, Lippi said: “If he is available but I don’t have certainty.”

(Editing by Michael Holden)

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Highlights: Germany 4 Australia 0

June 14, 2010 By Leave a Comment

(Reuters) – Highlights of Sunday’s second Group D game in the 2010 World Cup finals which saw Germany beat Australia 4-0 at the Moses Mabhida Stadium. 4 – Germany fullback Philipp Lahm blocks the ball in front of goal to deny Australia midfielder Richard Garcia whose right-foot shot from 12 meters is set up by Tim Cahill’s header. 7 – Miroslav Klose breaks clear for Germany but shoots straight at goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer and Australia eventually manage to scramble the ball clear. 8 – GERMANY 1 AUSTRALIA 0 – Striker Lukas Podolski opens the scoring with a rising left-foot drive from 10 meters that Schwarzer gets a hand to but cannot keep out after Thomas Mueller, who looks offside, cuts the ball back across the area.

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12 – YELLOW CARD – Germany midfielder Mesut Ozil is booked for diving by Mexican referee Marco Rodriguez.

24 – Klose squanders a fantastic chance to put Germany further ahead when he blasts the ball wide with the goal at his mercy after being put through by Podolski.

24 YELLOW CARD – Australia defender Craig Moore is booked for dissent.

26 – GERMANY 2 AUSTRALIA 0 – Klose puts Germany in control with a brave header as he gets between Australia captain Lucas Neill and Schwarzer to meet a perfect Lahm cross from the right. Klose has now scored 49 goals in 97 games for his country.

31 – Ozil is sent clear and lifts the ball over the advancing Schwarzer with his left foot but Neill manages to volley clear from under the bar.

45 + 1 – HALFTIME – Rodriguez brings the first half to a close with Germany in total command against a shaken Australia side who have it all to do in the second half.

46 – SUBSTITUTION – Australia bring on attacking midfielder Brett Holman to replace the defensive-minded Vince Grella in the hope of providing more support to isolated forward Cahill.

56 – RED CARD – Cahill is shown a straight red card for a strong challenge on Bastian Schweinsteiger that leaves the German on the ground and the Australians reeling.

60 – Schwarzer denies Klose by rushing out to save his right-foot shot with his feet and Sami Khedira just fails to get on the end of Klose’s low cross from the rebound.

64 – SUBSTITUTION – Australia forward Nikita Rukavytsya replaces midfielder Garcia.

66 – Podolski crosses for Klose whose first-time effort flies just wide of Schwarzer’s right-hand post following another fine move by an unstoppable Germany side.

68 – GERMANY 3 AUSTRALIA 0 – The lively Mueller gets the goal he deserves with a lovely piece of individual skill as he turns Scott Chipperfield and fires a right-foot shot through Neill’s legs that goes in off the post.

69 – SUBSTITUTION – Cacau replaces Klose in attack for Germany.

70 – GERMANY 4 AUSTRALIA 0 – Substitute Cacau makes an instant impact by firing home from close range in front of goal after being set up by Ozil’s low cross into the area.

74 – SUBSTITUTION – Germany bring on forward Mario Gomez to replace attacking midfielder Ozil and Australia introduce Mile Jedinak for Brett Emerton in their midfield.

81 – SUBSTITUTION – Germany introduce winger Marko Marin for Podolski in attack.

90+2 YELLOW CARD – Cacau booked for diving.

90+3 FULL TIME – GERMANY 4 AUSTRALIA 0 – Germany’s young side send out a warning to their rivals for the World Cup trophy with a comprehensive victory over a 10-man Australia team who were outplayed from the start by their impressive opponents.

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Hollywood filmmakers urge Iranian govt to free director Jafar Panahi

May 3, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, May 3 (ANI): Hollywood movie makers Steven Speilberg and Martin Scorsese have requested the Iranian government to release filmmaker Jafar Panahi.

Robert DeNiro, Robert Redford and Francis Ford Coppola jointly issued a statement opposing Panahi’s arrest that happened on March 1.

“We stand in solidarity with a fellow film-maker”, the petition read.

According to the petition, the group of actors and moviemakers “strongly urge the Iranian government to release Mr Panahi immediately.”

Panahi’s son Panah told reporters last month that his father was arrested when plain-clothes police broke into his family home.

The diector’s wife, daughter and 15 other guests were also arrested with him, reports the BBC.

The Tehran prosecutor”s office confirmed to the reporters about the arrest but denied its connection with politics.

“The arrest of Jafar Panahi is not because he is an artist or for political reason. He is accused of some crimes and was arrested with another person following an order by a judge,” prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi said.

The 49-year-old filmmaker’s most recent film Offside won the 2006 Berlin Film Festival”s Silver Bear award. (ANI)

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Benitez critical of disallowed goal in Liverpool defeat

April 23, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez complained about a disallowed goal after Thursday’s 1-0 Europa League semi-final first leg defeat at Atletico Madrid.

“We had two or three occasions to score, two in the first half when I think the referee cancelled a goal which should have stood,” the Spaniard told reporters, referring to an effort by midfielder Yossi Benayoun that was ruled out for offside.

Benitez, though, said the intimidating atmosphere of Liverpool’s home ground would be a big help in the second leg next Thursday.

“Anfield is our trump card. The game is only halfway through and in the second half we will be at Anfield with our fans behind us,” said Benitez.

Liverpool looked jaded at Atletico’s Calderon stadium after a gruelling 24-hour journey to the Spanish capital, with only a few hundred away supporters beating airspace restrictions to cheer on the team.

About 300 visiting fans made it to Madrid after flights had been cancelled for days by the cloud of ash spewing out of a volcano in Iceland.

Liverpool were forced to take a train to London on Tuesday and the Eurostar to Paris before catching another train to Bordeaux early on Wednesday morning and then a flight to Madrid.

Asked why his team were so sluggish in a competition to which he had attached much importance, Benitez said they were hampered by the loss of number one striker Fernando Torres.

The Spain international and former Atletico player had knee surgery on Sunday and will be out for around six weeks.

“We had several chances to score but they managed it,” said Benitez. “It was a tough match against a good side.

“I would like to have been more aggressive but I couldn’t bring Torres. I’m not leaving happy but neither am I unhappy.

“It could have been worse, it could have been better.”

(Editing by Tony Jimenez. To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

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Sea Eagles untroubled by sloppy Sharks

April 12, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Manly has continued its near impeccable record against Cronulla at a steamy Brookvale Oval, running in seven tries to two in a 40-12 blitz.

The Sea Eagles’ third win from five matches was never in question after three tries in seven minutes late in the first half gave them a 30-6 advantage at the break.

The Sharks stemmed the flow of points in the second half but were ultimately outclassed in the ‘battle of the beaches’ after snapping a 13-game losing streak by beating Parramatta at home last weekend.

Recent acquisition Tim Smith opened the scoring for Cronulla in the fourth minute off the back of a penalty, but from there it was all the home side, with co-captain Jamie Lyon and elusive winger Michael Robertson both helping themselves to doubles in front of a crowd of 16,055.

Half-back Trent Hodkinson, second rower Glenn Stewart and interchange prop Matt Cross also went over for four-pointers, Cross landing a crushing blow when he forced his way over with the half-time hooter sounding in the background.

Manly had two other scores disallowed for offside and obstruction and always looked dangerous with the ball in hand.

Narrow defeats to Wests Tigers and Parramatta blighted the Sea Eagles’ start to the season but they have since atoned with three straight victories, the latest coming in their first outing at Brookvale this season.

Prop Jason King dismissed suggestions that the Sea Eagles are back.

“I don’t think we went anywhere really, we should have won those first two games,” he told Grandstand.

“We just wanted to get the little things right, that was the emphasis this week and I think we did that pretty well today.”

Lyon said the Sea Eagles were aware Cronulla would try to muscle them out of the game early and his men were prepared.

“You’ve got to get used to the grind and the arm-wrestle, that was the game plan for them,” he said.

“Lucky for us we got a couple of penalties and we probably earned them.

“I thought it was a good game from us, hopefully we didn’t get too many injuries and [we've got] a good game next week against the Storm.”

Cronulla shot itself in the foot with poor options and discipline, inexplicably leaking the flood of first-half points despite a perfect completion rate.

Skipper Trent Barrett put on a nice cut-out pass to put Grant Millington over for a second-half try, but also threw a blatantly forward one with Cronulla on the attack as the match drew to a close.

“[We were] horrible, we just didn’t hang onto the ball enough and we’re all guilty of that I suppose,” Barrett told Grandstand.

“In weather like this you can’t just defend all day, we didn’t help ourselves, they cut us up around the ruck a fair bit and our edge defence was pretty disappointing.”

He said coach Ricky Stuart was livid when the teams entered the dressing-rooms at half-time.

“Irate, that’s one word for it and deservedly so,” he said.

“We’ve got another hard one on Sunday arvo against Brisbane, so we’ve got a lot of work to do this week.

“We started good and everything was going OK, we just made too many errors and I was guilty of that as well.”

The only negative for Manly appears to be Brent Kite being put on report for a high tackle on Blake Ferguson early in the second half.

Sea Eagles:40 (J Lyon 2, M Robertson 2, M Cross, T Hodkinson, G Stewart tries; J Lyon 6 goals)

Sharks: 12 (G Millington, T Smith tries; N Stapleton 2 goals)

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Wenger to get Man U dug out sending off apology

September 1, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, Aug 31 (ANI): Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will receive an apology today from referees chief Keith Hackett over his dismissal during the Gunners’ 2-1 loss to Manchester United.

The Arsenal boss was forced to stand among Manchester United fans for the final 30 seconds after fourth official Lee Probert complained that he had kicked a water bottle.

Wenger was sent to the stands by referee Mike Dean in the dying moments of Saturday’s match at Old Trafford. Probert moaned to referee Mike Dean and he sent Wenger off to the delight of 75,000 United supporters.

League Managers Association chief Richard Bevan has been told by Hackett that Wenger will receive an apology.

Referees’ chief Keith Hackett admitted last night that Dean and Probert had goofed outrageously and promised furious League Managers’ Association chief Richard Bevan an apology was on its way.

“Although correct in law, it was completely out of context in the game and it was followed by the nonsense over where Wenger should sit,” The Sun quoted Bevan, as saying.

“I’ve spoken to Keith Hackett and he fully recognises the situation was an error and an apology will follow to Wenger. Lee Probert totally failed to manage the situation,” he added.enger, angry after Robin van Persie’s late effort was ruled offside, said: “It was weird, spectacular. I didn’t even know where to go.” (ANI)

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Fifth successive win leaves Barcelona nine points clear at top

April 12, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Madrid – Barcelona are now nine points clear at the top of the Spanish Liga after a 2-0 home win over lowly Recreativo Huelva on Saturday. Barca now have 75 points from 30 games, nine points more than second-placed Real Madrid, who are at home to midtable Valladolid on Sunday.

The Catalans have won their last five league games, without conceding a single goal.

Star of the show in the Camp Nou was little Andres Iniesta, who scored the first Barca goal and provoked the second one, an own goal from Huelva defender Nasief Morris.

Barca coach gave a well-earned rest to Carles Puyol, Xavi and Samuel Eto’o, but his team still looked tired and short of ideas.

And this despite going ahead in the very first minute, when Thierry Henry centred from the left for Iniesta to make it 1-0.

Barca then lost their rhythym and Huelva – who are third from bottom – came forward, albeit without penetration.

Henry had a “goal” disallowed for offside in the 65th minute. Three minutes later it was 2-0, after Morris had clumsily turned an Iniesta centre into his won goal.

Lionel Messi, looking weary and uninspired, had a late penalty saved by Huelva keeper Asier Riesgo, after handball by Jose Casado.

Later on Saturday, fourth-placed Villarreal – perhaps tired after their exertions against Arsenal – are at home to Malaga, who are seventh.(dpa)

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England’s humiliating capitulation sees Windies go 2-1 up in ODI series

March 29, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, Mar 28 (ANI): Captain Chris Gayle’s blistering 80 led West Indies to a thumping eight-wicket victory over England, who had earlier only mustered up a meagre 117 in 41.3 overs in a rain-affected third one-dayer in Barbados.

It was the second worst day of England’s tour of West Indies. Only being rolled over for 51 in the first Test in Jamaica was more humiliating than succumbing to West Indies in the third one-day international.

Gayle smashed eight sixes and five fours as he scored 80 in 43 balls to put his team 2-1 up in the five-match series.

Rain initially reduced the game to 44 overs per side before the West Indies target was later adjusted to 117 under the Duckworth-Lewis method.

“It was a good wicket to bat on, extremely good. We all did well in bowling, batting, fielding and played a good game of cricket. Our team spirit is very high and I want to commend the guys on that,” Gayle told reporters.

After being put in to bat England threw their wickets away with a succession of loose pull and hook shots as they slumped to 68 for eight.

After the top order failed to make an impression former captain Kevin Pietersen, who complained of homesickness in an interview on Thursday, swiped Dwayne Bravo’s first ball straight to mid-wicket and was out for three.

Andrew Flintoff, back in action after a month out through injury, went for a duck when he hooked a simple catch to Fidel Edwards off Bravo.

All the West Indian pace bowlers had to do was bang the ball in short and watch England’s batsmen spoon a succession of catches. Five of England’s top eight batsmen were out hooking, while Matt Prior steered a short ball on the offside to point. (ANI)

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Fabregas denies spitting claim

March 19, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London – Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas moved on Wednesday to deny claims he had spat at the Hull City assistant manager Brian Horton after Tuesday’s FA Cup quarter-final between the teams.

Arsenal came from behind to win 2-1, but the game was overshadowed by the claim from Hull manager Phil Brown that Fabregas had spat at the feet of Horton.

“I categorically deny that I spat at anybody after the match,” Fabregas said in a statement on Arsenal’s website.

“I have never done this in my whole career on the pitch, so why would I do it when I am not even playing?

“I can understand the frustration of losing a game to a dubious goal, that has happened to me many times in my career as well.

“But this is not the fault of me or any of the Arsenal players.”

Arsenal’s winner, scored by William Gallas with seven minutes remaining, was clearly offside.

Horton indicated on Tuesday that he would take the matter to the Football Association.

Brown was also unhappy at Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger’s complaints that his side were timewasting.

The two did not shake hands at the final whistle. (dpa)

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Disputed header by Gallas takes Arsenal through

March 18, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London – Arsenal reached the FA Cup semi-final as they came from behind Tuesday to beat Hull City 2-1.

Veteran forward Nick Barmby gave Hull a first-half lead, only for Robin van Persie to level with 17 minutes remaining.

With seven minutes to go, William Gallas headed into an empty net to give Arsenal the win, despite appearing to be offside.

Hull had controlled the early stages, but Arsenal battled back and were the dominant side in the second half.

The opener came for Hull after 13 minutes. Andy Dawson’s lofted ball found Barmby, who hit the dropping ball first time. It struck the thigh of Johan Djourou, looped up over Lukasz Fabianski and just under the bar.

Fabianski made an excellent diving save to keep out a Geovanni free-kick, and from the resulting corner Barmby looked very unlucky to have a potential second goal ruled out for offside.

Kamil Zayatte headed just over, and it was only in the final 10 minutes of the half that Arsenal began to play.

It took a superb block from Sam Ricketts to deny Andrei Arshavin, and the Russian, playing with eight stitches in his right foot, then flashed a volley just wide just before the break.

Arsenal’s surge continued after half-time.

Abou Diaby sent a header flashing just wide, and Van Persie had a header from another corner cleared off the line by Dawson.

The Dutch forward then had a low free-kick pushed wide by Hull goalkeeper Boaz Myhill, before hitting the bar with a header.

But the equalizer eventually arrived.

Nicklas Bendtner’s shot skewed across goal to Arshavin, who showed great presence of mind to square for Van Persie to ram home.

The winner arrived 10 minutes later as Kieran Gibbs pumped a long free-kick toward the Hull box.

Myhill, who had looked shaky on crosses all night, flapped at it, which may have confused referee Mike Riley, but it was Djourou’s touch that carried the ball on to Gallas, who was clearly offside as he headed it in.

Arsenal will face Chelsea in the last four, with Manchester United playing Everton in the other semi-final. dpa

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Andrew Symonds fails again as Queensland struggles

February 16, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Melbourne, Feb 16 (ANI): Australian all rounder Andrew Symonds failed again with the bat as Queensland struggled to avoid outright defeat in the Sheffield Shield match at the Adelaide Oval.

South Australia reduced Queensland chasing 333 for victory to 3-88 to take control of the match at lunch on the final day.

The Redbacks dismissed Ryan Broad, Martin Love and Symonds. Young quicks Peter George (1-12) and Jake Haberfield (2-11) both enjoyed fruitful spells.

The Bulls can shore up a spot in the Shield final against Victoria with outright points, but will need a significant partnership between Nick Kruger (42 no) and Lee Carseldine (18 no) to get remotely close, the Courier Mail reported.

Symonds completed an unhappy match by being dismissed for three, and will now fly to Melbourne for a re-assessment of his wonky right knee.

Bowling a series of fullish outswingers to an offside field, spiced with the odd bouncer, Haberfield gradually frustrated Symonds, and it was a comprehensive points victory for the bowler when the injured allrounder sliced to Michael Klinger in the gully.
ruger, however, was on form, and with newly signed Rajasthan Royal Carseldine he took Queensland to the interval without further loss. (ANI)

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Cricket Australia not to ban Oz players from playing IPL

January 15, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Melbourne, Jan.15 (ANI): Cricket Australia has said that it will not ban any of their top players from participating in the Indian Premier League this year – despite a growing injury toll which has now claimed half the team.

Though former South African batting great Barry Richards believes Cricket Australia has its hands tied because it would face a massive player backlash and even possible retirements if it prevented its stars from going to the IPL, he says: “Administrators don’t want to get the players offside so I am sure a lot of them will be playing in the IPL again.”
According to Fox Sports, Australia is in the midst of a major injury crisis with Brett Lee (ankle), Andrew Symonds (knee), Shane Watson (back) and Peter Siddle (foot) all sidelined.

With the Ashes the No.1 priority in 2009, Australia are likely to come under heavy pressure to prevent their star players from playing in the hit-and-giggle IPL.

Chances are Australia’s players will be available for the 20-over tournament, due to be staged after the three-Test tour of South Africa in February and March. (ANI)

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