Businessman Farhad Moshiri has insisted he purchased a major stake in Everton solely with his own funds after a BBC probe into his relationship with Alisher Usmanov, a shareholder in Premier League rivals Arsenal.

Sunday's (Nov 5) edition of the BBC's Panorama current affairs programme investigating the ownership of the Merseyside club was based on a huge new leak of financial documents dubbed the Paradise Papers.

Moshiri and Usmanov jointly held a 30 per cent stake in London club Arsenal before Moshiri sold his shares to Usmanov, Panorama said.

Moshiri insisted the money he used to buy his stake in Everton was his alone after Panorama asked him if it had originated from Usmanov.

"Of course it didn't," he said. "Not at all, no. It came from me. I had 10 per cent in a conglomerate way before I bought (into) Arsenal. That's my money."

He added: "A gift makes it yours. If it is a loan, you owe the money back to him; if it's a gift it is yours."

Iranian-born Moshiri said neither a loan nor a gift lay behind his purchase of the Everton holding.

Published: 06 November 2017

Read more ...

Swansea City striker Tammy Abraham was one of three uncapped players named in a youthful England squad on Thursday for their forthcoming friendly matches against Germany and Brazil.

Abraham, who is on loan at Swansea, received his first call-up along with his Chelsea club-mate  Ruben Loftus-Cheek, currently on loan at Crystal Palace, and Liverpool defender Joe Gomez.

"If I'm asking club managers to be brave and pick young players, I think I've got to do the same," England manager Gareth Southgate told journalists at a Wembley press conference.

Abraham, 20, has scored five goals in 13 games for Swansea this season.

Loftus-Cheek, 21, has played seven games for Palace, while 20-year-old Gomez has become Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp's first-choice pick at right-back for Premier League games.

Southgate's side begin their preparations for next year's World Cup against world champions Germany at Wembley on November 10 before facing off against Brazil at the same venue four days later.

Manchester United auxiliary man Ashley Young has earned a recall, over four years after his last cap, while Tottenham Hotspur left-back Danny Rose makes his return following a spell on the sidelines with a knee injury.

Explaining the return of 32-year-old Young, Southgate said: "His performances warrant it.

Published: 02 November 2017

Read more ...

Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley is ready to end his controversial reign after putting the Premier League club up for sale on Monday.

Ashley has been a polarising figure at Newcastle since taking over at St James' Park in 2007 and the sports retail tycoon has decided now is the time to step down.

Newcastle have been relegated from the Premier League twice in the Ashley era, with the 53-year-old angering Magpies fans with his failed managerial appointments and his decision to sell naming rights to the club's historic stadium.

Ashley has frustrated current Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez by failing to back the Spaniard in the transfer market.

Benitez has publicly complained about Newcastle's spending on several occasions since leading them to promotion from the Championship last season, with Ashley responding that he doesn't have the cash to compete with superpowers like Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United.

Now Ashley, who paid £134 million ($178 million, 150 million euros) for Newcastle, reportedly hopes to find a new owner by the end of the year following the formal announcement of his sale plan.

Published: 16 October 2017

Read more ...

Manchester United legend Roy Keane has responded to growing fears about the damage done by concussions in sport by telling stars to 'play chess' if they are worried about getting hurt.

Keane now serves as assistant to Republic of Ireland manager Martin O'Neill and his country can no longer call on Kevin Doyle after the striker retired last week because of concussion issues.

The family of former West Bromwich Albion striker Jeff Astle have launched a foundation to campaign for better protection for modern players after his death at the age of 59 from a degenerative brain disease, which has been attributed to repeated heading of the ball.

Concussion is also an increasing concern in rugby union and American football.

"I'm sure there is (a need for more research), that's ongoing. But if you're worried about the physical side of any sport, you're wary of it, then play chess," Keane said on Tuesday.

"It's part of the game, whether it be hurling, football, American football, the rugby lads, it's part of the game.

Published: 04 October 2017

Read more ...

Arsene Wenger said “humility” was the biggest lesson he had learnt as Arsenal marked the 21st anniversary of his appointment with a comfortable 2-0 win at home to Brighton in the Premier League on Sunday.

Nacho Monreal’s 16th-minute goal gave Arsenal the lead at the Emirates before Alex Iwobi’s second-half strike secured all three points for the Gunners

Arsenal’s sixth win from their last seven matches in all competitions saw them close to within six points of league leaders Manchester City heading into the international break, and meant Wenger marked his landmark match with a new record.

Brighton are the 45th different Premier League club to be defeated by Arsenal since Wenger arrived at the north London club in 1996, breaking the mark he’d shared with former Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson.

This result also gave Arsenal their third win in six days, following Monday’s success against West Bromwich Albion and a Europa League victory away to BATE Borisov on Thursday.

Wenger made nine changes to the side that won in Barysaw and, while concerned by some aspects of his team’s play, was happy with the end result at the Emirates Stadium.

Published: 01 October 2017

Read more ...

Showbiz celebrities joined forces with top-name footballers on Saturday for a match in aid of those affected by the Grenfell fire disaster in west London.

A sell-out crowd packed QPR’s Loftus Road stadium, a mile from the tower, for the Game4Grenfell, with stars including Homeland actor Damian Lewis, Olympic running hero Mo Farah and singer Olly Murs turning out for teams managed by former England strikers Les Ferdinand and Alan Shearer.

There was even a surprise appearance from Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho, who took up an unfamiliar role as goalkeeper.

“I grew up very close to here and play football in the shadow of the tower every week and have done for 25 years,” actor Lewis told the domestic Press Association.

Published: 03 September 2017

Read more ...

Australian international Aaron Mooy's stunning second-half goal gave Huddersfield Town a 1-0 victory over Newcastle United and maintained their 100-percent record in their maiden Premier League season on Sunday.

Huddersfield signed Mooy full-time from Manchester City in the close season after he inspired them to promotion whilst on loan.

And the 26-year-old struck in the 50th minute to condemn Newcastle to their second successive defeat, the first time since 1999 the Magpies have lost their opening two fixtures in the top tier.

Huddersfield, though, occupy the dizzying heights of second in the table, equal on points with Manchester United but with an inferior goal difference, only the third time a promoted side have won their first two games in the Premier League.

"The boss (David Wagner) has a saying to have no limits and we all stand behind that," Mooy told Sky Sports.

Published: 20 August 2017

Read more ...

Five years after his last Wimbledon triumph, Roger Federer can capture a record eighth All England Club title Sunday and become the tournament's oldest men's champion of the modern era.

With his 36th birthday fast approaching, the evergreen Swiss will comfortably succeed Arthur Ashe, who was almost 32 when he won in 1975, as Wimbledon's most senior champion.

Victory over Croatian giant Marin Cilic will also give him a 19th career Grand Slam title and second in three majors this year after sweeping to a fifth Australian Open in January following a six-month absence.

"I was hoping to be in good shape when the grass court season came around," said Federer who, for good measure, also pocketed back-to-back Masters at Indian Wells and Miami as well as a ninth Halle grass court crown.

"The first three, four months were just like a dream really. So this is something I was working towards, you know, Wimbledon, to be in good shape. I'm happy it's paying off here now."

Federer admits his form in 2017 has surprised even himself after he shut down his 2016 season to rest a knee injury in the aftermath of his brutal five-set semi-final loss at Wimbledon to Milos Raonic.

He has 30 wins and just two losses this year and he has reached his 11th Wimbledon final without dropping a set.

- 'Unbelievably excited' -

Sunday's match will be his 102nd at the tournament and his 29th final at the majors.

Published: 16 July 2017

Read more ...

Bernard Tomic admitted Tuesday he had lost all motivation for tennis and couldn't care less if he won or lost as every single Australian crashed out of Wimbledon men's first round.

The talented Tomic was once mooted as a rising star of the sport but says he has hit a mental block, facing another decade drifting around the tour earning money but with little chance of breaking the big four's stranglehold on the major prizes.

"Holding a trophy or doing well, it doesn't satisfy me anymore. It's not there," the 24-year-old said after being dumped out by Germany's Mischa Zverev, as all seven Australian men flopped at the first hurdle.

"I wasn't mentally and physically there with my mental state to perform. I felt a little bit bored.

"I couldn't care less if I make a fourth-round US Open or I lose first round. To me, everything is the same. I'm going to play another 10 years, and I know after my career I won't have to work again.

Published: 04 July 2017

Read more ...