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Football Association told to reform

Author: Craig Williams
Date: 25/09/2009
Football betting

Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe has warned the Football Association to implement reform or face government cuts in funding.

Sutcliffe has warned the FA that they need to act on recommendations made in a structural review of the organisation by Lord Burns four years ago.

The review claimed the association needed to introduce two non-executive directors in a bid to kick-start reform and improve opportunities for women and ethnic minorities.

Failure to do so, according to Sutcliffe, could lead to a £25million cut in grassroots funding.

Meanwhile, Manchester City midfielder Stephen Ireland has been given the all-clear despite being hospitalised following Wednesday's Carling Cup win over Fulham.

The 23-year-old midfielder was sent for precautionary tests after complaining of dizziness and feeling unwell when substituted in the second half of City's 2-1 third-round victory.

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Burnley striker Martin Paterson has been ruled out for three months following surgery on a knee injury.

Paterson, 22, was injured during Tuesday night's 3-2 Carling Cup defeat at Barnsley and immediate surgery has revealed the full extent of the injury.

Bolton Wanderers have revealed that Sean Davis is also facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines following surgery to repair damaged knee ligaments.

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has ruled out a move for Sol Campbell following his decision to leave Notts County.

Campbell quit the ambitious League Two club five weeks into a five-year contract on Wednesday amid suggestions that he still wants to play at the top level.

But Redknapp will not be making a move for the 35-year-old former Spurs defender after citing the bad feeling that still exists between him and the fans over the way he left to join north London rivals Arsenal on a free transfer in 2001.

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone believes the lifetime ban handed to Flavio Briatore following his role in the race-fixing scandal was too harsh.

The former Renault team boss has been banned indefinitely from the sport following the conspiracy which led to Nelson Piquet Jr deliberately crashing his car to help team-mate Fernando Alonso win the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.

Ecclestone was part of the World Motor Sport Council which handed down the punishment in Paris at the beginning of the week.

But after admitting his friendship with the Italian has suffered, Ecclestone also believes that Briatore has been treated harshly.

In rugby league, Injured Hull KR centre Chev Walker has set his sights on returning from his horror leg break within six months.

The 26-year-old shattered his left tibia and broke his fibula in two places during last week's play-off defeat at the hands of former club Leeds Rhinos.

But after citing the example of Arsenal striker Eduardo da Silva who recently returned from a similar injury, Walker has targeted a swift return to action.

Captain Andrew Strauss has warned England's out-of-form players that the clock is ticking on the one-day international careers.

Strauss has warned those players struggling for form that their futures could well hinge on a successful ICC Champions Trophy.

England were thrashed 6-1 in their recent one-day series against Australia and arrive in South Africa as online betting long shots to win their first ever ICC tournament.

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