Tottenham Hotspur assistant Joe Jordan has received a one-match touchline ban for his part in a confrontation with AC Milan’s Gennaro Gattuso.Jordan and Gattuso squared up to each other during Spurs’ 1-0 Champions League victory against Milan in the San Siro on February 15.Gattuso, who appeared to be the aggressor in the situation, received a four-match ban. The Italian midfielder later claimed he was provoked by verbal abuse from Jordan, although the Scot denies the allegations. UEFA have now announced that the 59-year-old will also be punished. “The control and disciplinary body has imposed a one-match ban on the Tottenham Hotspur assistant manager Joe Jordan following incidents that took place at the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg against AC Milan in Italy on February 15,” the European governing body said in a statement.”The punishment applies to Tottenham’s next game in the competition – the English club’s quarter-final first leg on 5 or 6 April.””An appeal may be lodged against the ruling within three days of the dispatch of the reasoned decision.”Meanwhile, UEFA have also handed one-match bans to Arsene Wenger and Samir Nasri for using inappropriate language towards the referee after their Champions League loss to Barcelona.The Arsenal pair confronted match official Massimo Busacca after Robin van Persie was sent off during the match for a second yellow card.”Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and midfield player Samir Nasri have both been suspended for one UEFA club competition match following charges of improper conduct,” a UEFA statement read.”The Arsenal manager has also been fined 10,000 euros.””An appeal may be lodged against the ruling within three days of the dispatch of the reasoned decision.”
Raul has confirmed that he is leaving Real Madrid after spending the last 16 years at the Bernabeu.
The 33-year-old, who is expected to sign a two-year deal with Schalke, is Real's leading all-time goalscorer and also represented Spain on more than 100 occasions.
He said:"Today is a very difficult day for me. I love almost everything about playing football and I want to hold on to the feeling of being a player. I've always done my utmost on the pitch. The word surrender doesn't exist for me or Real Madrid.
"I'd like to thank everybody for their support throughout the years, the fans, my team-mates, coaches, presidents and the press. I want to say a special word of thanks to my family
"I'd be nothing without them. I also want to wish Alfredo Di Stefano a speedy recovery. I will always be ready if Real Madrid need me. Hala Madrid."
President Florentino Perez added:"There are a lot of men who are part of the history of Real Madrid. Raul has earned his place in the club's history with his tireless work for the club and his infinite love and support for everything that's Real Madrid.
"I hope that all the players who will join Real Madrid in the future fit the legacy that Raul has left behind at this team.
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"Raul represents everything that this club's about. He has been one of the best players around this club and perfectly represents the spirit of Real Madrid.
"Raul is in charge of his own career and he has made the decision to leave Real Madrid. However, this is not a permanent farewell, as I'm sure he'll return to this club, just like honorary president Alfredo Di Stefano once did. Wherever you go, this will always be your home and you will not be forgotten."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
If you have ever predicted a goal from a set piece, the time of the next goal or where a penalty will be placed, then there is finally a game for you to prove your mental powers. The Heineken Star Player app allows you to do so in selected UEFA Champions League games.
Once downloaded you are able to follow live UEFA Champions League games on your mobile and compete with your friends or anyone around the world in a live learderboard that scores how clever you are at predicting what will happen during the game.
You score points by guessing what will happen at certain points of the Champions League game, for example when a corner is won, you will get options as to what will happen, a goal, a defensive header away or the goalkeeper to come and claim it etc. You will try and score as many points in the game as possible to climb up the leaderboard and boast to your friends and rivals that you know more about the beautiful game than they do. You also have to predict similar outcomes to free-kicks, penalties, timing of goals and whether the keeper will make the next save. The addictive style of the StarPlayer app will keep you hooked week after week, trying to improve on your final score from previous games and all while being able to watch the greatest club competition in the world.
Fantasy football is the only football competition on the market that has survived for years, but this new technology blows this away, with the interactive, live streaming of games and second by second decisions to be made by you at the touch of your screen. With constant updates and trivia questions, proving your guess work is no fluke, the fun-packed app can also be played on Facebook with your friends and you can even play it in the pub or on the move. The free app is growing in size and the more people that join Heineken and get involved the more impressive gaming can be had with your fingertips.
StarPlayer is a groundbreaking ‘dual screen’ digital initiative from Heineken which transforms TV watching into a social interactive experience for football fans. The game, which was created and devised by digital agency AKQA, taps into competitive banter of the fans by creating a live TV game experience that can be played from home.
Do you ever find yourself playing on your phone while watching the football in your living room? Then why not get involved and download this unique app that will get you and your mates eager to get competitive over who truly knows their stuff.
This is the sixth consecutive year that Heineken, the world’s most international beer brand, has sponsored the prestigious UEFA Champions League and with innovative ideas such as this, long may that continue.
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Join the Football FanCast League now and compete in next week’s competition for a pair of tickets to Man City v Bayern Munich
Register here – http://www.heineken.com/gb/ucl/star-player/Create-Join-League.aspx
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Entry Code – 3mtcpqkduu
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Schalke manager Felix Magath believes going a goal down was the spark his side needed to progress to the Champions League quarter-finals.After the first-leg between Schalke and Valencia ended at 1-1 at the Mestalla, the La Liga side took an early lead and scored a vital away goal through Ricardo Costa after just 17 minutes.But that goal opened the game up and with Peruvian playmaker Jefferson Farfan dominating in midfield and scoring a double as Schalke came from behind to record a 3-1 win that sent them into the last eight of Europe’s most prestigious club competition for the second time in four years.”I think at the beginning the result from the first leg was a burden for us,” Magath said.”We were not aggressive enough, that’s why Valencia could raise their game. After we conceded it got better as we had nothing to lose anymore.””Then we fought back, but the situation was quite dicey and I would have liked Jefferson (Farfan) to score the (third) goal earlier.””We had Manuel Neuer and a bit of luck, but that’s what you need in order to reach the next round.”Valencia had several golden opportunities to equalise at 2-1 down, and coach Unai Emery insisted his side had thrown away a terrific chance to progress.”It’s so disappointing. With everything in our favour we managed to throw it all away,” Emery said.”At 0-1 we had the game under control with chances to counterattack, and then they go and equalise.””In the second half, without hardly creating a chance, they go 2-1 up. We then have four chances and don’t take any of them. We’ve lost unjustly.”Emery admitted he could not speak to his players after the game such was his disappointment, while he reserve praised for Neuer who made a string of excellent saves.”I went back into the dressing room so down that I couldn’t say anything to the players, but in reality I can’t hold them responsible for anything,” he said.”I must also recognise the great performance their goalkeeper (Manuel Neuer) put in. We can’t talk of bad luck tonight; we needed to be assertive and we weren’t.”
Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill has admitted that James Milner could leave the club this summer amid reports that Manchester City are set to step up their interest in the England international.
City have already had one bid in the region of £20million for the former Leeds United and Newcastle United star rejected but are believed to readying an increased offer.
Asked if he was hopeful of keeping Milner, O'Neill told Sky Sports News:"Well, I don't know about that.
"Eventually if players want to leave the football club, or any football club for that matter, then it becomes more difficult than ever before.
"But what I will say is, we have a better chance of performing in the manner in which we did last season if we could keep the best players and James Milner comes into that equation."
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The 24-year-old has found the net 21 times in 125 appearances for O'Neill's side.Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Watching Anderson play for United, reminds me of watching Ryan Giggs in the late 90′s, early noughties, people may forget this, but contrary to revisionist history, the Welsh wonder, was not always a stellar performer.
Yes, there was THAT goal, against Arsenal, but there was also THAT miss, which seemed to sum up Giggs around this period, sublime one game, anonymous the next.
The same description could be added to United’s Brazilian midfielder, I remember standing in a pub two seasons ago arguing the case for him to be kept, while a few other Reds seemed to think he was never going to be the answer to our future midfield. All the drooling over Anderson’s first few games this season, has quickly gone to question marks, straight through to downright disbelief as his performance levels have plummeted.
The game against Norwich was a case in point, he may have scored but it was without a doubt the worst shift I’ve seen him put in for quite some time. His passing was simply dreadful, his movement, sluggish and his drive non-existent at times. The main statement being shouted by Reds, is that once Tom Cleverley returns, so will Anderson’s form. After the Chelsea game, that was my first thought: ‘give Anderson Cleverley alongside him, making those runs and giving him an easier option and his form will return,’ yet to be perfectly honest, this argument is deeply flawed. For starters, a player who’s now entering his fifth season at Old Trafford, should be able to perform alongside anyone in midfield.
Do you think if Jonny Evans could only play alongside Rio Ferdinand, he’d still be at United? Or if Michael Carrick had to have Darren Fletcher next to him, he’d have been given a new contract last season?
No. Of course not, a player for United, has to be able to adapt to having different midfield partners, Roy Keane was just as awesome alongside Paul Ince as he was Paul Scholes or Nicky Butt- admittedly Scholes was his best partner, but Keano still performed well, whoever he was alongside.
It’s very harsh to compare anyone to the great Roy Keane, but the point I’m making is Anderson cannot just be an asset as long as Cleverley’s there, otherwise he’s almost useless. Imagine the scenario -’Cleverley’s out for a month- that means we lose Ando as well’ it’s ridiculous.
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My view of Anderson is he needs to be kept in the team, regardless of his form for at least a few months, ever since he arrived at Old Trafford, he’s been in and out of the side more often than Ji Sung Park, playing a great game one week, then going missing, then getting dropped. Playing a great game on his return, then another great game, then having three poor ones, then getting droppped. Playing a great game for the reserves, then being brought back into the first team….you get the point. Anderson suffers from inconsistency, of that there is no doubt, but this constant cycle he’s been in of having a run of say four games, then missing four has done him nor the club any real good. Anderson still has a big question mark over him, there’s still no certainty that he’ll be the answer to United’s midfield problems, after well over 100 games for the Reds.
What he needs, is a run, a proper run, regardless of how his form dips. That’s insane! I hear you cry, after all we’ve got Liverpool, City and tough Champions League games coming up, we can’t afford to carry passengers. Well, I’m sorry but if we really want long term answers then we may have to risk the short term gains.
Anderson should be kept in the side, regardless of whether Tom Cleverley’s fit, until at least the end of November, let’s give him a real run, where there’s no excuses. If at the end of that run, he’s been the player we saw against Arsenal more often than the one who turned up for Norwich then, happy days. If not, it’s time to realise that January’s transfer window may be tailor made for that midfield signing we didn’t make in the Summer.
Article courtesy of Justin Mottershead of Red Flag Flying High
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Marseille manager Didier Deschamps is unfazed by Manchester United’s home record, saying the English giants will not win on reputation alone.Marseille travel to Old Trafford on Tuesday to wrap up the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie with United.Sir Alex Ferguson’s men held the French champions to a 1-1 draw in their initial outing at the Stade Velodrome, leaving them in a strong position to advance to the quarter-finals.United have not lost at Old Trafford since April last year, an unbeaten stretch of 24 games, and will be boosted by the shock return of Portuguese ace Nani, who is expected to play despite earlier being ruled out with a deep gash in his leg.Deschamps is aware that the form guide heavily favours Marseille’s opponents, but warned United that his side will not be intimidated by their imperious home record.”If you look at the statistics then it is a difficult task,” Deschamps said.”Manchester United have not been beaten at home for 24 games and have only conceded one goal in seven Champions League matches this season.””Though it’s three or four years since Manchester United last won this trophy, thanks to their status they’re always among four or five teams that are favourites to win at the start of every season.””On paper you’d expect them to qualify but we’ve got every chance as well. Football’s not played on paper.””Nani did well in the first leg, he created one or two problems for us. What I like about him is that he speeds the game up and every attack involving Nani is fast, but equally the likes of (Wayne) Rooney, Chicharito (Javier Hernandez) and (Ryan) Giggs can all create problems for us.””We’re only likely to get around three or four chances during the whole game so we’ll have to be very precise in our finishing.”Ferguson raised eyebrows by naming seven recognised defenders in his 11 to take on Arsenal in Saturday’s FA Cup quarter-final.The selection gamble worked as United triumphed 2-0 over the Gunners, but Deschamps said Marseille will counter with a simple and effective plan should Ferguson make any left-field calls on Tuesday. “Having watched the game against Arsenal first hand, I’m not sure what tactics Sir Alex will play, but we’ll do our best to attack them while keeping things tight at the back and trying not to give anything away,” Deschamps said.
The agent of Italy international midfielder Riccardo Montolivo has dismissed rumours linking his client with a move to Arsenal after the World Cup finals.
The 25-year-old currently plays for Fiorentina and is not about to head to England according to his representative.
Giovanni Branchini told the Italian media:"Aside from the fact that if negotiations were ongoing I would not be telling the press, these rumours make me laugh.
"This news is totally made up. Montolivo is good enough to be linked to Arsenal, but not at this stage while he is busy with the Nazionale, halfway through the World Cup.
"Don't you think it's strange that these rumours came out just before the New Zealand game? Probably some papers needed to fill their pages.
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"It's just normal that at this time of the year, with the World Cup going on, people talk about players. But people should have a bit of common sense too."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Newcastle entertain Tottenham at St James’ Park on Sunday looking to maintain their unbeaten start to the season which has raised expectation levels on Tyneside.
The Magpies have yet to taste defeat in their seven Premier League games and are unbeaten in 10 stretching back to last season – their longest run since 1997. Boss Alan Pardew’s summer transfer activity is paying instant dividends and the midfield battle between Yohan Cabaye and Luka Modric will prove to be an interesting spectacle. The Frenchman has settled into English football without a hitch adding an elegance to the centre of the park at St James’ proving the perfect foil for the bruising qualities of Cheick Tiote. The attacking philopsophy that has been adopted by Pardew has also brought the best out of Leon Best and Demba Ba with the latter scoring four goals in his last two games including a hat trick against Blackburn. However the basis of Newcastle’s superb campaign to far has been the defence with Steven Taylor and captain Fabricio Coloccini looking impenetrable whilst Tim Krul has proved to be a worthy winner of the race for the number one jersey. The young Dutchman has pulled off save after magnificent save and he was man of the match against Wolves a fortnight ago pulling off a series of stunning stops to ensure a 2-1 win. Credit has to go to Pardew for his attention to detail and he’s got the best out of Ryan Taylor despite him playing in an unfamiliar left back position although he has been aided by Jonas Gutierrez’s diligent tracking back. The defence has conceded only four goals this season but will be majorly tested on Sunday against Spurs.
Harry Redknapp’s side are hunting a fifth consecutive win and have won their last two away from White Hart Lane. They were involved in one the more entertaining games this season a fortnight ago as they claimed all the North London bragging rights beating Arsenal 2-1. Kyle Walker struck the winner in that game and will be full of confidence ahead of the visit to the North East. The Londoners full backs and wingers are key to their offensive game with Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon providing pace and directness on the flanks. Supported by Walker and Benoit Assou Ekotto the Magpies back line will be in for a real test especially with Emmanuel Adebayor and Jermain Defore partnered up front. The little and large combo have struck up an instant accord with Adebayor scoring three in four games since his loan move from Manchester City. Redknapp will need him to have his shooting boot’s on this weekend as Spurs have failed to register a win in the last five meetings between the two sides.
Key Players
Yohan Cabaye – The Frenhman has looked an absolute steal since joining from Lille in the summer for £4.5 million. Cabaye has brought an elegance to the Newcastle midfield that was missing last season with his creative tendencies and energetic displays already endearing him to the Geordie faithful.
Gareth Bale – After a blistering 2010/11 campaign Bale has simmered down to a degree this season but is still as dangerous as ever on the left. His lung bursting runs and boundless energy making difficult to for defenders to stop him and Danny Simpson will be in for a difficult afternoon.
Verdict: 1-1
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Yohan Cabaye and Chiek Tiote topped the charts for distance covered again with 11.7km and 12.1km respectively. Chieck Tiote is the top ranked Newcastle player in the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index after rising 11 places to 30th after their last game. Tiote has won 55% of tackles attempted and completing 94 passes in his opponent’s half Young full back Kyle Walker scored the second in that game with an impressive long range effort that earned him a senior England call up. It also pushed him 57 places up the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index to 58th place. As well as having an impressive strike, Walker has been in excellent defensive form for Spurs this season winning 92% of the tackles he has attempted.
The draw for the knockout stages of Champions League paired Manchester United with Marseille in the last 16, meaning that Man United fans will be travelling to the south of France. Many Manchester United fans will be relishing the opportunity to visit one of the most beautiful areas of Europe and of course to enjoy some Champions League action at the Stade Velodrome. If you haven’t travelled to Marseille for European football before, here is a guide to the French city so that you can know everything you need to on your European trip.
The first thing you’ll want to do is get your hands on those coveted tickets for the match at the Stade Velodrome. The first leg takes place in Marseille on Wednesday 23rd February and you can check ticket availability by clicking here. The stadium is located in the south of Marseilles, just a couple of miles from the city centre. You can take the metro to Rond Point du Prado Station on Line 2 to Ste Marguerite/Dromel. If you go down the route of car hire then heading to Marseille from the north you need to get off the autoroute at the Aubagne Junction and follow the signs to the Stade Velodrome. You can search for car hire options, alongside flights, by clicking here.
There are a number of flight options available to you, although as the Champions League fixture approaches the demand for air travel to Marseilles is sure to increase. Flights are available from London Gatwick, Stanstead and Bristol direct to Marseille Provence Airport. You can decide to stay in Marseilles for the night and get a return flight back the next day so that you can explore the French city as well as watch the football.
Buy Marseille v Man United Champions League tickets here!
If you plan to stay in Marseilles for the night then you’ll need to book hotel accommodation alongside flights. The Football FanCast Travel Page is ideal for this as you can bring up all the hotels within a five mile radius of the Stade Velodrome. The available hotels are also listed in order of price so that your French football trip doesn’t have to cost you the earth. A handy map illustrates just where you’ll be staying, too, with Mercure Marseille Prado on the doorstep of the Olympique Marseille stadium.
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So you can book football tickets, flights, hotel and accommodation for the Marseilles v Manchester United Champions League fixture with a couple of clicks of your mouse. This will ensure your trip to France is as simple as possible, then you just have to hope that Man United do the business in the Stade Velodrome.