Archive | June 5, 2015

Tom Cleverley joins Everton….

Everton will sign Tom Cleverley on a five-year deal when his contract expires at Manchester United on 1 July. The 25-year-old England midfielder will become Roberto Martinez’s first signing of the summer. Cleverley made 38 Premier League appearances last season, 37 of those during a season-long loan for Aston Villa. “We are extremely delighted to be welcoming Tom Cleverley to Everton and I can think of many reasons as to why our fans will enjoy Tom representing our football club,” says Everton boss Roberto Martinez. “The most important one is that he is a perfect fit for what we are trying to build here as he has so much experience of playing in the Premier League and he still has his best years just ahead of him. “At the age of 25 and a player who is representing his country, Tom has experienced winning trophies and having big roles in demanding teams. Having worked with him previously, I know the type of character he is and I know that, with the Everton fans’ support, we will get a very special footballer joining our already exciting team.”

Soldado on cruise….

 

Roberto Soldado

Tottenham forward Roberto Soldado posts a snap from his holidays on Twitter. No dull moments for football stars this off season.

 

Wawrinka reaches French Open final….

Stan Wawrinka

Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka beats Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-3 6-7 7-6 6-4 to reach the French Open final for the first time. The 30-year-old will face the winners of the other semi-final between Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray which begins in the next few minutes.

Flores is Watford’s new head coach….

Watford confirm the appointment of Quique Sanchez Flores as the newly promoted Premier League side’s head coach on a two-year deal. The ex-Atletico Madrid boss becomes Watford’s fifth manager in a year. The former Real Madrid, Valencia and Spain right-back took charge of Getafe in January, but quit after only 11 games, citing personal reasons. Flores’s managerial achievements include winning the Europa League and UEFA Super Cup in 2010 with Atletico, and the Portuguese League Cup with Benfica in 2009.

Leaked letter shows path of South Africa FIFA cash….

 

 

CEO of the 2010 FIFA World Organising Committee Danny Jordaan talks to the media during a press conference at Chelsea football club's Grounds, in Stamford Bridge, in London, on 4 March 2010

A new leaked letter appears to show South African authorities seeking an indirect route for the transfer of $10m (£6.5m) to FIFA, BBC reports. The letter carried by South African media was purportedly written by then SA FA president Danny Jordaan three weeks before the first amount was paid. US prosecutors say the money was a bribe to FIFA officials to help secure South Africa’s 2010 World Cup bid. South Africa says it was a legitimate payment to fund Caribbean football. The $10m payment is a key plank in the wide-ranging US criminal inquiry that has engulfed world football’s governing body. Seven top FIFA officials, including two vice-presidents were arrested last week in Switzerland as they awaited FIFA’s congress. They were among 14 new indictments in the US investigation, which alleges they accepted bribes and kickbacks estimated at more than $150m over a 24-year period. Four other people were charged earlier. One of them, ex-FIFA official Chuck Blazer, has pleaded guilty in the US to taking bribes related to South Africa’s bid.

Continue reading

Real Madrid re-signs Casemiro….

 

Casemiro

Real Madrid have re-signed midfielder Casemiro from Porto. The 23-year-old Brazil international had been on a season-long loan at the Portuguese side from Real, with Porto having the option to buy the player. However, Rafael Benitez’s side have exercised their option to pay a buy-out clause to keep him at the Bernabeu.

 

Barca on the move too….

Lionel Messi

Barcelona too are on their way to Berlin for the Champions League final against Juventus tomorrow. Lionel Messi is pictured travelling with his team mates. Barcelona are looking to complete a treble – winning La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Champions League. Same also for Juventus who have won the Italian league and Cup.

Continue reading

Blatter not attending IOC meeting….

Jacque Rogge

Outgoing FIFA president and Olympic member Sepp Blatter will not attend an International Olympic Committee meeting in Lausanne next week. The 79-year-old Swiss became football’s representative on the IOC in 1999, shortly after first becoming FIFA boss. “In April, the FIFA president informed the IOC that he would not be taking part at the meeting in Lausanne. He has not changed those plans,” a FIFA spokesman says.

Juve on the way….

Juventus

Juventus are on their way to Berlin. The Serie A champions, led by manager Massimiliano Allegri, are pictured before their flight to Germany for Saturday’s Champions League final with Barcelona.

Continue reading

U-20 World Cup: Ghana book their place in last 16….

Ghana Under-20s in action against Panama

Ghana beat Panama 1-0 to make it through to the last-16 of the Under-20 World Cup as Group B winners. The result also knocked out the Central American side, who missed a late penalty. Emmanuel Boateng scored the only goal of the game in the 74th minute, the substitute driving home a 20-yard effort after beating his marker. Panama almost levelled when Jesus Araya hit the bar and in the 89th minute Escobar missed a spot-kick. Ghana will play one of the best third-placed teams fro Group A,C or D in the next round on 10 June.

Super Falcons World Cup Schedule….

The 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup which is the seventh FIFA Women’s World Cup will begin in Canada tomorrow (6th June) and will end on 5th July 2015. This tournament saw the World Cup expanded to 24 teams from 16 in 2011. The tournament will use the Hawk-Eye system as goal-line technology for the first time and will also be the first Women’s World Cup to be played on artificial turf. Players expressed concerns over potential injuries from the artificial turf, and a legal case asking for matches to be moved was dropped in January 2015. The cities of Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Montreal and Moncton have been selected to host tournament matches.

The Super Falcons of Nigeria, who have attended all editions of the world cup so far, will be competing in Group D with Sweden, Australia and USA in that order. The Nigerians will play their first two games in Winnipeg and then play their last group game in Vancouver.

Continue reading