Tuesday 2 February, 2016:
Arsenal 0 – 0 Southampton
Leicester 2 – 0 Liverpool
Norwich 0 – 3 Tottenham
Sunderland 0 – 1 Man City
West Ham 2 – 0 Aston Villa
Crystal Palace 1 – 2 Bournemouth
Man Utd 3 – 0 Stoke
West Brom 1 – 1 Swansea
Neymar under fraud investigation in Brazil….
Prosecutors in Brazil are recommending that football star Neymar be charged over four counts of fraud in relation to a tax case prior to his transfer to Barcelona in 2013. It is alleged that companies were set up as fronts in order for the striker to pay a lower rate of tax. Officials in Brazil say the allegations against the Barcelona striker cover a seven-year period from 2006. The allegations are separate from a case heard in Spain on Tuesday. Neymar appeared in court in Madrid in connection with fraud allegations surrounding his transfer. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
Jackson Martinez joins Guangzhou for record £31m….
Chinese Super League side Guangzhou Evergrande have broken the Asian transfer record by signing Atletico Madrid’s Jackson Martinez for £31m. The 29-year-old Colombia striker has signed a four-year deal and will join winter training in Dubai on 9 February following a physical examination. He scored only three goals in 22 appearances for Atletico following his £24.8m move from Porto last summer. Martinez is the latest high-profile player to move to China this year. Former Chelsea midfielder Ramires and ex-Serie A duo Gervinho and Fredy Guarin are among the other big Chinese signings in 2016. The transfer of Ramires to Jiangsu Suning last week – for what was believed to be around £25m – set the previous Asian record. Martinez’s manager at Guangzhou is former Chelsea and Brazil boss Luiz Felipe Scolari, while former Tottenham midfielder Paulinho and compatriot Robinho will be his new team-mates.
Gov. Wike on Rivers State rerun elections….
It is reported that INEC has re-scheduled the Rivers State rerun elections to fill the vacant positions of Senators, Members of House of Representatives and Members of the State House of Assembly to March 19, 2016. While addressing civil servants the governor spoke about the upcoming elctions. Gov. Nyesom Wike was quoted in Vanguard as saying : “Anyone who plans to rig an election is an armed robber and should be treated as such. If you are coming to rig an election in the state, first prepare your Will before embarking on the journey. Inform your wife or husband and go ahead to say your last prayer.”
Boxer Khan to face Canelo….
Britain’s Amir Khan will fight Mexico’s Saul Alvarez for the WBC world middleweight title on 7 May in Las Vegas. Khan, 29, a former light-welterweight world champion, has not fought since outpointing Chris Algieri in New York in May. Alvarez, 25, beat Miguel Cotto by a unanimous points decision to claim the title in Las Vegas in November. Alvarez has lost once and won 46 of his 48 fights. The fight has been set at a catchweight of 155lb, eight more than Khan weighed in victory against Algieri and a jump of two weight divisions. The usual weight limit for middleweight is 160lb, but Alvarez’s last few fights have had the same weight stipulation. Khan’s announcement also rules him out of a fight against IBF welterweight champion and domestic rival Kell Brook at Wembley on June 4.
Bruno should box men of own age….
David Haye says he would not have a problem with Frank Bruno fighting again – as long as the 54-year-old was up against boxers of the same age. Bruno, a former world heavyweight champion, announced on Monday that he wanted to get in the ring again. He later tweeted that the British Boxing Board of Control would not grant him a license. Haye says Bruno should not be allowed to fight younger boxers but says a bout with other veterans may be an option.
Neymar to give evidence in court….
Brazilian footballer Neymar is due to give evidence in a Spanish court over allegations of tax fraud surrounding his transfer to Barcelona in 2013. The current and former president of the club denied wrongdoing at the court in Madrid on Monday. Barcelona said it paid Brazilian club Santos €57m for Neymar, 23, with his parents receiving €45m of the fee. But investigators allege the fee was closer to €83m and that Barcelona should have paid another €13m in tax.
Debuchy joins Bordeaux on loan….
Arsenal defender Mathieu Debuchy has joined Ligue 1 side Bordeaux on loan for the rest of the season. It is understood Arsenal blocked a possible move to Manchester United for Debuchy, who joined the Gunners from Newcastle for £12m in July 2014. The France international, 30, has made just seven appearances for Arsenal this season and not figured since November. The right-back has been allowed to return to France for the chance of first-team football ahead of Euro 2016.
Rio Olympics will go on despite Zika virus….
There is no chance that the Rio Olympics will be cancelled because of a Zika virus outbreak, Brazil has said. The authorities said there was no risk to athletes and spectators – except pregnant women – at the August event. Earlier, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned a disease linked to Zika posed a global public health emergency requiring a united response. The infection has been linked to cases of microcephaly, in which babies are born with underdeveloped brains. Experts are worried that the mosquito-borne virus in Latin America is spreading far and fast, with devastating consequences.
Abiola Dauda joins Hearts….
Scottish premier league club Heart of Midlothian have signed striker Abiola Dauda on loan after agreeing to sell top-scorer Osman Sow for a fee in excess of £1m to an as yet un-named Chinese club. Dauda, 27, a Nigerian with Swedish citizenship, arrives on loan from Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem until the end of the season. He has previously won league titles with Red Star Belgrade in Serbia and Kalmar in Sweden. “He’s got pace, power, I’m sure he’ll score goals,” said Robbie Neilson.
Serdar Tasci joins Bayern on loan….
Bayern Munich have strengthened their squad by signing defender Serdar Tasci on loan from Spartak Moscow until the end of the season. Tasci, 28, has been capped 14 times by Germany and was at Stuttgart in 2007 when they won the Bundesliga. “Thanks to his quality and experience, he’s in a position to help us at once,” said Bayern’s sporting director Matthias Sammer. Javi Martinez and Jerome Boateng are among several Bayern players injured. Tasci has been at Spartak since 2013 and has started 16 of their 18 league games this season. Bayern have the option to make the signing permanent.
Giannelli Imbula joins Stoke City….
Stoke have broken their transfer record to sign midfielder Giannelli Imbula from Porto for a fee of £18.3m on a five-and-a-half-year contract. The 23-year-old became Portuguese football’s record signing when he joined Porto in a £15.1m deal from Marseille seven months ago. He has played for France Under-21s, but could also play for Belgium. Imbula, who started his career at Guingamp, played in both of Porto’s Champions League games against Chelsea this season. Potters chairman Peter Coates told BBC Radio 5 live: “If he is as good as we think he is, he’ll keep his value. You’ve got to think of it from a business point of view. We want him to be worth more than we paid for him. “This move has been on and off for a few days. We said we were withdrawing the offer, then they came back.”
No ring comeback for “Money” Mayweather….
Floyd Mayweather says he has had “crazy numbers” thrown at him to fight again. But despite offers of “nine-figure” sums of money, Mayweather, who retired after his 49th successive victory last September, is not planning a comeback. “As of right now, I am out completely,” said the 38-year-old multiple world champion. “If I do get the itch to come back, it really won’t be for the money but I have to get paid. That’s why the nickname is Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather.” American Mayweather won world titles at five weights and retired with an unblemished record.
Mancini fined and banned….
Inter Milan boss Roberto Mancini has been given a one-game ban after he made an insulting gesture during Sunday’s Milan derby defeat. The ex-Manchester City manager was dismissed for dissent as Inter lost 3-0 to fierce rivals AC Milan in Serie A. Mancini was upset his side was not awarded a penalty after a challenge between Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and Inter striker Eder. The 51-year-old has also been fined 5,000 euros. Serie A’s disciplinary tribunal said on Monday that Mancini “made a derogatory remark to the fourth official when he was removed and then addressed the spectators with an insulting gesture”. He also used offensive language towards a television presenter during an interview after the match but that issue was not mentioned in the tribunal’s report. Mancini will now watch from the stands when Inter host Chievo on Wednesday.
Steven Fletcher joins Marseille on loan….
Sunderland striker Steven Fletcher has completed a switch to Ligue 1 side Marseille on loan until the end of the season. The 28-year-old moved to the Stadium of Light from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2012 but has fallen out of favour under new manager Sam Allardyce, who sanctioned his departure this month. Fletcher had reportedly received offers from clubs in China as well as Celtic but eventually opted to join the south coast side as they push for a top-four finish in Ligue 1. The Scot is out of contract with Sunderland at the end of the season, meaning that it is likely he has already played his final game for the North East side.
Oumar Niasse joins Everton….
Everton have signed Lokomotiv Moscow forward Oumar Niasse for a fee of £13.5m. Manager Roberto Martinez wanted greater attacking options after selling Steven Naismith to Norwich and Aiden McGeady going out on loan. Everton’s top target was Dynamo Kiev forward Andriy Yarmolenko but they were frustrated in that pursuit. Senegal striker Niasse has 12 goals in 21 games for his club this season.
Abdoulaye Doucoure joins Watford but….
Watford have broken their transfer record to sign Rennes midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure and immediately sent him out on loan. The Frenchman has signed a four-and-a-half-year deal but will spend the rest of the season at Granada, the Spanish club also owned by the Pozzo family. It is understood the deal could be worth as much as £8m, which would eclipse Watford’s previous transfer record of £6.1m – the fee they paid to sign Nordin Amrabat from Malaga in January.
Boy with homemade jersey to meet his hero Messi….
The Afghan Football Federation has said that Lionel Messi is interested in meeting the young Afghan boy who became a viral star as a result of a homemade jersey. Pictures of the five-year-old spread around the world on social media; showing him wearing a jersey fashioned from a plastic bag and written on in biro. There was a worldwide search for the boy, who was eventually identified as Murtaza Ahmadi. His older brother made the jersey for him because he was upset at not having a real one. “He kept crying for days asking for the shirt until his brother Homayoun helped him make one from the plastic bag to make him happy,” Murtaza’s father said. “He stopped crying after wearing that plastic bag shirt.” The pictures have reached the attention of Lionel Messi, whose name was on the jersey, and his club Barcelona. “The management of the Afghan Football Federation has received emails from Lionel Messi and FC Barcelona regarding the meeting,” Syed Ali Kazemi, a federation’s spokesman, said according to Bleacher Report. Sounds like the plastic jersey will result in Murtaza meeting his hero – let’s hope he gets to bring his big brother along too.
Klopp welcomes Pep to EPL….
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has welcomed the arrival of Pep Guardiola as Manchester City’s next manager and expects the Catalan to come to England “to win everything”. City confirmed the worst-kept secret in football by announcing Guardiola has signed a three-year contract to join them when he leaves Bayern Munich in the summer. Klopp, who has already made the move from Bundesliga to Premier League after leaving Borussia Dortmund last season, admits there are no words he can offer to help Guardiola but has no doubt over the Spaniard’s ambitions.
Carragher meets up with Baresi….
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher was at AC Milan’s derby win over Serie A rivals Inter Milan and managed to get a picture with one of Italy’s greatest defenders, Franco Baresi. Carragher wrote: “Just getting ready for #DerbiDelaMadonina with the best defender I’ve ever seen! #baresi” Baresi was Italy’s captain during the thrilling second round game against Nigeria at the USA 1994 world cup. Jay Jay Okocha dazzled but Roberto Baggio had better experience. Italy won 2-1.
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