News

Allardyce told to rest up

Author: Sir David Smith
Date: 22/11/2009
Football betting

Blackburn Rovers manager Sam Allardyce has been told he needs to have surgery on a coronary artery and will miss his team's next three matches.

He will miss Sunday's game against his former club Bolton Wanderers as well as the Premier League clash at Fulham and the home encounter with Stoke City.

However, he is expected to be ready to return to take charge of next month's Carling Cup quarter-final with Chelsea.

Allardyce recently complained of chest discomfort and investigations have revealed a narrowing to one branch of his coronary arteries.

Rovers chairman John Williams said: "Sam is very disappointed, particularly at missing the Bolton fixture, but his well-being is of prime consideration.

"We all appreciate that Premier League football is a stressful business and prevention is always better than cure."

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Meanwhile, The Republic of Ireland's hopes of reaching next summer's World Cup finals in South Africa have finally been banished after the French Football Federation said they would not be willing to replay Wednesday's controversial play-off game.

The Republic had wanted a rematch after France's winning goal in the two-legged encounter was scored only after Thierry Henry had handled the ball.

FIFA had earlier ruled that the result would stand although Henry said a replay would 'be the fairest solution'.

In cricket, South Africa all-rounder Jacques Kallis will miss the entire one-day series against England with a rib injury.

Kallis has been troubled by the problem since the Champions Trophy in September and will play no part in the five-match series, which began with a washed-out game in Johannesburg on Friday.

However, coach Micky Arthur expects Kallis to play a full part in the Test series which begins in mid-December.

Lee Westwood has taken charge of the Dubai World Championship after a third-round 66 moved him comfortably ahead of main Race to Dubai rival and online betting favourite Rory McIlroy.

Westwood moved to 15 under par for the season-ending tournament, which will define which player will finish the year as the European tour's number one ranked player.

The Englishman's six-under-par round - in which he did not drop a shot - has moved him two strokes ahead of compatriot Ross McGowan.

However, it has also propelled him five strokes clear of McIlroy after the youngster from Northern Ireland bogeyed the last three holes of his round to card a 69.

Eddie Jordan has said there is a good chance that Michael Schumacher will return to Formula One with the new Mercedes team next season.

If Jordan's theory is true, the 40-year-old seven-time world champion will be reunited with Mercedes GP team boss Ross Brawn in 2010.

Schumacher almost returned to the sport in the 2009 season for Ferrari when Felipe Massa was injured, but had to have a rethink because of a neck injury.

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