Kolo Toure became ‘obsessed with his weight’, according to the English FA’s hearing into the Manchester City defender’s doping ban.Toure was handed a six-month suspension on May 26 after failing a doping test, with the 30-year-old admitting to taking his wife’s diet tablets.
Claims that Toure had received permission from Manchester City club doctor Jamie Butler were denied by a commission into the hearing, with the details released on Friday: “(Butler) never told him it was safe to use water tablets. He would have unequivocally have said such were prohibited and should not be used,” a report read.
The report said ‘the FA does not positively assert that (Toure) had an intention to enhance sporting performance or to mask the use of a performance-enhancing substance’.
But it also stated ‘there was no dispute that (Toure) was at fault’, and the committee rejected the request from Toure’s counsel Adam Lewis that the suspension should not be longer than three months.
The six-month suspension was upheld as the ‘appropriate penalty’, as was the date (March 2) it was handed down.
Toure can return to playing for City from September 2, but will be subjected to a two-year period of target testing that began in May.
So many authorities, so many agendas. Football today is at the whim of so many different authoritative bodies that the work they do is arguably conflicting. Just take England for example. The top clubs have to deal with rules from the Premier League, the FA, UEFA and FIFA. It isn’t possible for clubs to adhere with full effect to all of the agendas set out in front of them. Furthermore the actions of some undermine the proposals of others. How can UEFA expect the European clubs to take them seriously on the implication of the financial fair play rules when there are never ending exposures of widespread corruption within FIFA? It may not be UEFA’s fault but ultimately if the top governing football body does not set an example how are people supposed to learn. FIFA has its own agenda, mainly the spread of football to nations that do not currently participate to any high level. However this goes against the idea of a meritocracy that UEFA is trying to introduce. FIFA giving the World Cup to Qatar is like saying that this year’s Champions League Final should be played in someone’s back garden in Luxembourg. The agendas don’t match. But what are we going to do about it?
What this really comes down to is an argument that has plagued politics for years: central vs. local government. Which is the more effective way to govern?
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Centralised Government
So what are the benefits of organizing sport through a more centralised system? Firstly: clearer objectives. Not only that but a clearer prioritisation of objectives that clubs and countries must adhere to. Centralised government provides, in theory, better organisation by using the top minds to set out plans for the whole of football instead of letting lesser minds at lower levels determine how things are run.
If we put this in football terms it would be similar to taking away the powers of the FA and having a FIFA committee determining what the FA should be doing each year. The benefit of this is that, in theory, with more people to choose from FIFA should have more competent people working for it who have better strategies at hand. Certainly the FA is not the best-run organisation in the world and at times it definitely seems as though it could do with some help. Moreover, if the FA is not directly accountable to FIFA or UEFA then the rules they could be imposing might contradict measures imposed by other bodies. Also, with one higher organisation dictating the agenda for our country there wouldn’t be conflict between the FA and the Premier League.
Local Government
The benefits of local government, or localized football authorities, are that it is far easier for them to identify the problems at hand within the areas of governance. They should also, in theory, be more efficient with their resources as the amount of red tape involved is less than it would be if they had to report everything back to, and have their actions approved by, a higher body. Ultimately this is the deciding factor.
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Football as a sport is too large to be governed by one singular institution. But that does not mean that our system does not need to be altered. There needs to be local authorities that are properly represented by both FIFA and UEFA. The local authorities need not be directly accountable to the higher bodies but they should have some input into the agendas of the more international organisations. There is no ‘either or’ argument for this debate in football just as there isn’t in politics. The lack of cohesion in the organisation of football is damaging for the game but inevitably a worldwide body would not have the ability to identify and address the problems that football faces in each country. The representation of each country in FIFA and UEFA is what needs to improve. Only then can we combine the necessary authority of a singular body with the local expertise of national organisations.
Chelsea forward Daniel Sturridge has stated that he is happy at the club, and has praised under-fire manager Andre Villas Boas for helping him to develop as a player.
The young forward has played a key role for the Stamford Bridge this season, has admitted he is enjoying regular football and is eyeing silverware.
“The manager has helped me a lot. He’s playing me a lot so I can’t complain. I’ve not had a Chelsea manager do that for me before,” he stated to Sky Sports.
“It’s helped me so much because previously I’ve not had a chance to play week in and week out, except when I was on loan at Bolton.
“To play at one of the best clubs in the world and start every week is a dream come true. I love playing for Chelsea. Some of the stuff I’ve read about me asking for a contract is not true.
“I’ve not spoken to the club to ask for a new contract, or told them I’m unhappy. I’m just doing a job. Working hard.
“I’m not worrying about my contract. I’m committed to Chelsea.
“A successful season now would be winning the FA Cup or the Champions League. If we could do one or the other it would be great.
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“I think we’ve got to get some sort of silverware, and to get in the top four, to qualify for next season’s Champions League,” he confessed.
With round 14 of the Premier League beckoning some of you will already have your 11Kicks Fantasy Football teams ready for this weekend. The Premiership and thus the Fantasy Football season is now really in full swing and plenty of points have been won in the campaign so far. You will undoubtedly have some Premier League players who have performed miracles for you points-wise, whereas some of your players will be injured, suspended or just in a bad run of form and therefore you’ll be looking to replace them.
For those who haven’t confirmed your team yet, or for those who are unsure in a few key positions, here is a rundown of some key performers for the coming fixtures, which sees Tottenham travel to the Emirates to face Arsenal in the North London Derby, which is the highlight of this weekend’s Premier League action. I have gone for a 3-5-2 formation, so have covered all positions and have picked that all-important front two who will bang in the goals this weekend and earn you big points!
Click on the image below to see my Fantasy Football Team
The English media would have you believe that Denmark and England’s friendly meeting on Wednesday night was meant to be the Jack Wilshere cotillion. The night that the Arsenal midfielder announced himself to European high society as a potential international starter and a key cog in England’s short, medium and long-term future.
This may well remain the case, however the diminutive midfielder was overshadowed by an even younger prospect on Wednesday night, one that may well interest a few Premier League managers come the summer. Christian Eriksen, the Ajax playmaker was the star in a losing performance for the Danes, and is, remarkably only a month younger than England’s great white hope.
The baby faced Eriksen had a far greater impact on the fixture than his much hyped opponent, providing the cross for Daniel Agger’s opener, and striking the post with a drive from outside the box. Wilshere, whilst appearing comfortable on the ball, was a little ineffectual, and was removed at half-time, presumably as a result of a pact with Arsene Wenger. Eriksen was allowed the full 90 minutes to showcase his talent and remained a constant threat to Fabio Capello’s men.
Despite the acclaim, Eriksen at 18 is very much in the early stages of his development at Ajax. Despite being considered good enough to make the Danish World Cup squad, he is embarking on only his first full season in the Dutch league and a bidding war between the big guns in the Premier League may be considered unrealistic for a player as unproven as Eriksen.
However, there is precedent. At 18 John Obi Mikel was subject to a 15 million pound settlement fee between current club Chelsea and Manchester United back in 2006. Far more recently of course, Andy Carroll’s scarcely believable 35 million pound transfer to Liverpool came off the back of less than one full season spell at Newcastle.
There remains a fine line between pouncing on a young talent before the acquisition of such becomes a major transfer and one that will be scrutinised as a major signing. Eriksen himself has voiced an interest in playing for Barcelona, but has left the door open to Premier League suitors.
Indeed, in the wake of the Denmark game, several of England’s big sides are already said to be eyeing up the youngster, with the Daily Mail suggesting that Liverpool are considering tabling a bid of over 11 million pounds in the summer.
Making snap judgements on the basis of a friendly is the sort of frustrating overreaction that fans feel the media are often guilty of.
If clubs made signings purely on the basis of a performance in a meaningless friendly David Nugent and Lee Bowyer would probably have been snapped up by one of the top four after impressing on their England debuts. It certainly pays to take such displays with a pinch of salt.
Yet, with English talent costing more and more the temptation to take a risk on a young foreign star at a slightly lower premium remains. If Eriksen is able to maintain his level of performance across the final months of the season, bids from English suitors would seem a formality.
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If you want to read of more material like this, feel free to join me on Twitter where I am trying to convince Richard Keys to become the spokesman for a double glazing company.
Chelsea manager Andre Villas Boas has defended striker Fernando Torres following his horror miss against Manchester United, and feels his side are still title contenders.
The Spanish forward has been the subject of criticism due to uninspiring performances since his £50 million move from Liverpool in January, and despite scoring in a 3-1 defeat on Sunday, missed a second clear-cut chance.
Torres rounded Reds goalkeeper David de Gea in the 83rd minute, only to slice his effort wide of the post; but the Portuguese coach has come to his defence, comparing the miss to Wayne Rooney failing to convert a penalty in the game.
“You have to be fair that the best world strikers have both missed great opportunities. It happened to Fernando but it happened to Wayne Rooney, too,” he told reporters after the game.
“But, yes, a 3-2 score at that period of the game would give us a mental edge for the rest of the match.”
The victory has extended United’s unbeaten run to five matches, and Sir Alex Ferguson’s men are now top of the league, five points clear of Chelsea.
Despite this, Villas Boas has still backed the Stamford Bridge club to be in the title run come the end of the season.
“What I can say is that last year we started very well and unfortunately it didn’t happen towards the winter period,” he told Sky Sports.
“This way at the moment we are five points behind Man Utd but we could say we wouldn’t expect Man City to lose points at Fulham, so this Premier League is unpredictable.
“We always consider ourselves title contenders and will have to get three points straightaway against Swansea because it gives us a good mental reaction to a defeat. And it’s important for us to continue to believe in our work.
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“They are in a good position now but it is very, very early. Nothing that would happen here will mean anything in the Premier League table, and today, not that I want to overemphasise it, you had Man City going to Fulham and Fulham getting a point.
“Arsenal lost and Liverpool lost, so all five contenders are there and anything can happen. The most regular has been United but we showed we are up to the levels of the champions – it is just this time this game didn’t go our way but we will be up there competing for the title and I am glad Sir Alex corroborates in this opinion,” he concluded.
Chelsea manager Andre Villas Boas has confirmed that skipper John Terry will not be available for Tuesday night’s trip to take on Swansea, but hopes to have him back in contention for this weekend’s game against Manchester United.
The England defender is suffering from a recurring knee injury, and the Portuguese coach has admitted that Terry will not play against the Welsh outfit at the Liberty Stadium.
“It’s just a bone oedema that he has been carrying for some time since he collided with a post, if I am not wrong against Portsmouth, and this stops him a little bit,” Villas-Boas told Chelsea TV.
“It’s nothing serious, but something to keep an eye on. He has had an MRI before and he should be okay for Man United.
“We have a lot of positions covered of course, because of our squad, we have Gary [Cahill] and David [Luiz] available and competing and hopefully we can make the right decision,” he stated.
The Blues have problems in midfield also, with Ramires picking up a knock, joining Frank Lampard and Jon Obi Mikel on the sidelines.
“It’s unfortunate for the team, Rami is one of the most used players of the team with excellent individual performance and always helping the team to get results,” Villas Boas continued.
“With what could have happened, it’s just good news that he will be out for a short amount of time. Hopefully he will be available for the Napoli game, and hopefully before.
“On another front, Mikel will be out of the game and Lamps still out of the game.
“Frank’s rehabilitation is going well, we are trying to reintroduce him gradually to the first-team activities.
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“Frank felt that it was still a little bit soon to come back and went on to work with the physios, so hopefully after Swansea we will get him ready for the Man United game,” the tactician concluded.
Premier League side Fulham have signed striker Eidur Gudjohnsen on loan from Stoke City until the end of the season.
Gudjohnsen, 32, underwent a medical on Monday so the deal could be completed before the transfer deadline.
The Iceland international has struggled for first-team football at Stoke, making just five substitute appearances this season.
Stoke manager Tony Pulis wished Gudjohnsen all the best with his loan move and admitted his time at Stoke did not go to plan.
“It has been an incredibly frustrating time for Eidur [Gudjohnsen],” Pulis told the club’s official website.
“But he has been an outstanding professional and a great influence around the place in his time here. Unfortunately, he didn’t get the games that he needed to build up his match fitness, but this loan move presents him with a chance to do that.”
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Gudjohnsen will bolster Fulham manager Mark Hughes’ attacking options with striker Bobby Zamora still injured after breaking his leg in September.
It also paved the way for the departure of striker Eddie Johnson, who has left Craven Cottage to join Championship club Preston North End on loan until the end of the season.
Sunderland and Blackburn have been put on red alert after Papa Demba Cisse admitted he wants to leave Freiburg, the Daily Mail understands.
£12.5 million rated Cisse scored 22 goals in the Bundesliga last season and has already struck four in three games in the current campaign heightening interest from the Premier League.
The Senegalese hit man has declared his is ready to move to a bigger club despite having three years to run on his deal in Germany.
Cisse said: “I want to leave. Yes I have a contract but I really want to try playing at a different level.”
Despite a summer spending spree that included the £13 million acquisition of Connor Wickham Black Cats boss Steve Bruce still wants to bring another striker to the Stadium of Light.
Bruce has been prompted into targeting a new front man after two embarrassing defeats to local rivals Newcastle and Championship side Brighton in the space of four days.
Rovers manager Steve Kean is also in the market for players with striker David Goodwillie the only new face at Ewood Park this summer.
With a week left of the transfer window both clubs will have to move swiftly if they are to secure the strikers signature.
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However they’ll both have to wary as Freiburg are likely to instigate a bidding war in an attempt to drive up the price.
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has revealed he tried to sign Manchester United’s Rio Ferdinand prior to the season.Redknapp gave Ferdinand his English Premier League debut at West Ham in 1996 and admitted he made an approach for the former England captain before the 2010/11 campaign began.
But last season’s Premier League runners-up rejected the audacious bid, as the Spurs boss told The Observer.
“I can’t ever see us getting Rio now,” Redknapp said.
“I was interested. Last year, I tried. I tried at the start of the season.”
Redknapp believes Manchester United are a much stronger team when Ferdinand is playing and admitted he wanted to sign another leader in defence, after his bid to lure Everton’s Phil Neville to White Hart Lane in January failed.
“When he was on the team-sheet against Chelsea in the Champions League, I thought Man United had got a much, much better chance of getting a result and it proved that way,” he said.
“I’ve said many times to the chairman, it’s not always about the best players, it’s about getting characters in your football club.”
“William (Gallas) has come in and given us experience and we’ve got Michael (Dawson) at the back but in the long term I still feel that you need to find another one or two if you’re going to keep progressing, that type of real character, who has opinions and that will to win around the dressing room – a few leaders.”
“You can’t have too many at your club. That’s why I tried to take Phil Neville from Everton in January.”
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Redknapp also said he has next season on his mind and would be after additions to his squad in the transfer window at the end of the season to ensure Tottenham do not stagnate.
“You’ve got to add to the squad. The chairman knows … if we can’t move on, then you have to accept trying to get into the Europa League every year and trying to finish sixth or seventh,” he said.
“But if you want to try to make the Champions League, you have to keep improving.”