News

Fergie handed touchline ban

Author: Rose Young
Date: 13/11/2009
Football betting

Sir Alex Ferguson has been fined £20,000 and handed a four-match touchline ban for his comments about referee Alan Wiley following Manchester United's 2-2 draw with Sunderland in October.

Ferguson has been punished for questioning Wiley's fitness, with two games of his four-game ban suspended until the end of next season.

Ferguson had fumed after the draw at Old Trafford: "He was not fit enough for a game of that standard.

"The pace of the game demanded a referee who was fit. He was not fit. It is an indictment of our game."

Will United retain their Premier League crown this season? - Latest Football Betting

Meanwhile, United winger Nani is set to feel the wrath of Sir Alex Ferguson after criticising the veteran Scot in an explosive interview.

Nani accused the Old Trafford boss of "shattering his confidence" in a season when he was finally expected to emerge from the shadow of Cristiano Ronaldo.

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard has been ruled out of England's clash with Brazil with a thigh injury picked up while training ahead of the friendly in Qatar.

Lampard will return to London for treatment on the injury in a further blow to head coach Fabio Capello, who is already without an array of leading players for a game against the online betting favourites for the World Cup.

Elsewhere, Premier League chairman have voted overwhelmingly against a proposal to allow Celtic and Rangers to join the English top-flight.

Bolton Wanderers chairman Phil Gartside had table a proposal which would allow the two Scottish Premier League giants to join a new two-tiered league encompassing up to 40 teams.

However at a meeting of existing league chairman, the idea was rejected after being branded: "not desirable or viable'.

In cricket, Kevin Pietersen believes he would have returned to action quicker if he had not been pushed too hard in the early stages of his rehabilitation from Achilles surgery.

The England batsman has not played since the second Ashes Test at Lord's in July but should make his return to international cricket in next week's 50-over clash with South Africa A.

However, Pietersen is frustrated that a lay-off that was initially expected to be only seven weeks has ended up lasting four months.

When asked about his long absence, he said: "I will leave that until the end of my career. I don't want to go into it."

England rugby league coach Tony Smith will start with the same side that beat New Zealand 20-12 in the Four Nations semi-final in Saturday's final against Australia.

Youngsters Sam Tomkins and Kyle Eastmond once again have the chance to impress at half-back, while Leeds Rhinos captain Kevin Sinfield starts at hooker.

Meanwhile, 20-year-old Sam Burgess will be featuring in his last game on English soil after agreeing to leave Bradford Bulls and move to NRL club South Sydney.

He impressed when coming on as a substitute against the Kangaroos in England's 26-16 defeat at Wigan last month before producing a scintillating performance against the Kiwis.

Tiger Woods marked his first round in Australia for more than a decade by firing an impressive six-under-par opening round of 66 at the Australian Masters in Melbourne.

The world number one is in a three-way share of the lead with 21-year-old South African Branden Grace and Australia's James Nitties.

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