A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Pressure kept on Blatter
BAYERN MUNICH president Uli Hoeness wants Sepp Blatter to be deposed if the Fifa president fails to clean up soccer’s governing body in the next year. “Blatter must clearly explain in the next 12 months how he wants to dry out this swamp, and if he doesn’t do that, one must create possibilities to depose him,” Hoeness said in an interview with Sueddeutsche Zeitung.
“Every week something new comes up,” added the former West Germany player as Bayern, who have quietened their criticism of Fifa in the last few months, went on the attack again. He added: “We have been quiet for a while because we had the feeling that it was sorting itself out. But now we will once again put the matter on the boil.”
Fifa, and Blatter himself, have been under intense scrutiny and widely criticised for the handling of a number of issues over the last 13 months, including the award of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar, bribery and corruption scandals and Blatter’s remarks about racism in November, for which he apologised.
Sneijder does not rule out move
INTER Milan star Wesley Sneijder does not think he will leave in the January transfer window, but has not completely ruled out a move.
The Dutchman was throughout last summer repeatedly linked with Manchester United and the defending Premier League champions’ recent blip had led to renewed speculation.
United are thought to be lacking a creative influence in midfield and, with Michael Carrick struggling and Tom Cleverley injured, Sneijder is viewed as a solution. Reports this week say Inter sporting director Marco Branca has held talks with United regarding the playmaker, with the Italian club possibly looking to raise funds for Carlos Tevez.
But the player said: “If I must give a percentage for it, I think I am 90 per cent certain I will stay .”
Bramble faces another sex charge
SUNDERLAND defender Titus Bramble faces a third charge of sexual assault.
The 30-year-old was accused of indecently touching two women in separate incidents on a night out in Yarm, Teesside, in September.
At a hearing at Teesside Magistrates’ Court, the player was told an additional sexual assault charge relating to one of the existing complainants was to be added to the indictment.
Bramble, from Wynyard, Teesside, denied the new charge.
He had already pleaded not guilty to the original two sexual assault charges.
His case was committed to the Crown Court and a trial will take place on a date to be set.
Bramble’s solicitor, Phil Smith from London-based Tuckers Solicitors, said in a statement after the hearing that the charges were “based on poor quality and contradictory evidence” and will be “fervently denied”.
Warnock may face FA charge
THE English FA will decide today if Neil Warnock should face a charge for his attack on its disciplinary commission, after the Queens Park Rangers manager described the decision to uphold Joey Barton’s red card “farcical” and “scandalous”.
The FA will examine video footage and consider the context of Warnock’s comments, which relate to Barton being dismissed in the 2-1 Premier League defeat to Norwich City at Loftus Road on Monday, when he was adjudged by the referee, Neil Swarbrick, to have butted Bradley Johnson.
Replays showed that Barton had moved his head towards Johnson but he appeared to make little contact.
On Twitter, Barton complained that the officials had been “conned”, and posted a video link to an incident involving Fulhams Clint Dempsey and Liverpool’s Craig Bellamy, in which the American made a similar movement but was only booked.
Blows for Rangers and West Brom
RANGERS have been dealt a blow with the news that Kyle Lafferty is likely to be sidelined for six or seven weeks.
The striker left the pitch on a stretcher after just nine minutes of Monday’s Scottish Premier League win against Motherwell with what has proved to be a hamstring tear.
The player is now on crutches, Rangers announced last night, and is facing several weeks on the sidelines.
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WEST Brom captain Chris Brunt will be sidelined for up to 10 weeks after scans confirmed he broke his ankle during the Premier League clash with Everton on New Year’s Day. The club last night confirmed that Northern Ireland international Brunt will undergo surgery, having suffered the setback when he fell awkwardly during the closing stages of the 1-0 setback at the Hawthorns.
It means Brunt will be absent until the middle of March.
McClaren back at FC Twente
FORMER England manager Steve McClaren has signed a two-and-a-half-year deal to return as Twente Enschede coach, the Dutch league club said yesterday. McClaren took Twente to their first league title in 2010 and will replace Co Adriaanse who was sacked on Tuesday. The Englishman had a less successful time since – sacked in his first season at Wolfsburg in Germany and resigned at Nottingham Forest months after joining the club.
Cech expects to sign new contract with Chelsea
PETR CECH expects to sign a new extended contract with Chelsea soon – but refuses to rule out the prospect of leaving the club one day.
The 29-year-old has been a mainstay for the west Londoners since joining from French club Rennes in 2004.
Reports suggested Andre Villas-Boas could sell Cech in favour of summer signing Thibaut Courtois – currently on loan at Atletico Madrid – but the Czech international is keen to sign a new contract.
“Yes, I think [I will sign a new deal] and we will not have a problem,” he said.
“There are a lot of matches at this time of year so we agreed [before Christmas] that both sides would prepare for the negotiations and meet to resolve it when there is time for that.
The last few weeks have been hectic and we [agreed] to meet after New Year’s Day.
“I have been here for seven years and I have been more or less a regular starter, so I’m more than happy to stay.”
