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- Europa League – live clockwatch!
- Tottenham v Benfica – live!
- Bayern Munich left rudderless by Uli Hoeness's tax evasion disgrace | Raphael Honigstein
- Hughton wants more black managers
- Football League delays decision over Massimo Cellino's takeover of Leeds
- 279. Adam Lallana, Southampton
- QPR chairman Fernandes backs Redknapp
- Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness sentenced to three-and-half years in prison – video
- Football Weekly Extra: Manchester City and Arsenal found out in Europe
- The Fiver | Bored by the monotony and venality of life as a professional athlete
- Roberto Martínez discusses Everton's injuries - video
- Alan Pardew: 'I must become a better manager after head-butt ban'
- Eric Cantona arrested and cautioned after assault in London
- Pub opening times for England's World Cup matches under review
- MP Chris Bryant calls for parliamentary inquiry over concussion in sport
- Galaxy beat local rivals Tijuana in good Champions League week for US teams
- Football quiz: Manchester United v Liverpool
- Hoeness jailed for tax evasion
- Yeung had conviction before takeover
- Kim Kallstrom close to Arsenal debut but Özil and Ramsey miss Spurs game
- World Cup Fiver | Fifa's ceremonial ostrich
- Exit Arsenal and Manchester City: the key Champions League lessons | Michael Cox
- Barcelona players react to defeating Manchester City in Champions League – video
- Manchester City 'still alive and kicking' after Champions League exit – video
- Lionel Messi: 'We've returned to the Barça we want and the fans expect'
| Europa League – live clockwatch! Posted: 13 Mar 2014 02:44 PM PDT MBM report: It's the first legs of the Europa League last-16. Follow the action around the continent with Scott Murray  |
| Posted: 13 Mar 2014 02:44 PM PDT MBM report: Spurs are struggling against the Portuguese league leaders. Join Paul Doyle  |
| Bayern Munich left rudderless by Uli Hoeness's tax evasion disgrace | Raphael Honigstein Posted: 13 Mar 2014 01:55 PM PDT The Bundesliga and European champions made no contingencies to replace their president before his predictable conviction and face a tricky new era without him The game for "Ulrich H" is not quite over. The official court documents and orientation signs for the trial observers in Munich's Justizpalast court house had persisted with the charade of granting anonymity to the accused until the very end. But in the immediate aftermath on Thursday afternoon of Rupert Heindl sentencing the Bayern Munich president to three years and six months in prison, it became clear that an end to this, the most spectacular tax evasion case in the history of the Federal Republic, was still a few months away. Uli Hoeness's defence lawyer Hanns Feigen announced that he would appeal against the verdict. The federal court (BGH) will have to decide the matter in a few months. The key issue is whether Hoeness's voluntary disclosure of his tax evasion to the authorities in January 2013 was indeed voluntary and sufficient enough to preclude criminal sanctions. Heindl didn't think so. The bank account statements and transaction details provided by Hoeness did not make for a valid disclosure, said the judge. The sheer scale of the 62-year-old's tax evasion – Hoeness had failed to pay €28.5m in taxes on interest and capital gains from a secret Swiss account – made a jail sentence appropriate, explained Heindl. The former West Germany international and 1974 World Cup winner will not be jailed until the appeal court has heard the case. Even if Heindl's verdict is upheld, legal experts believe Hoeness is only likely to serve half the sentence. He might even be allowed regular day leave. There's neither a risk of repeat offending nor a one of flight. He's got nowhere to go. Outside the Justizpalast, a crowd of roughly 500 Bayern supporters received the verdict with incredulity. Their cheers of support had been so loud on Thursday that they had been audible inside room 134, where the case was heard. "I'm in total shock, I can't believe it," one fan told the TV reporters, while another one held up a "Free Uli" banners. Such an outcome had been on the cards for more than a year but Hoeness's stature in Munich and beyond was such that friend and foe believed he might find a way to get away with it. As the websites of Bayern Munich and Suddeutsche Zeitung (the Munich-based broadsheet) temporarily broke down due to the spike in traffic, and politicians praised the verdict, reactions from within German football predominantly spoke of sadness. "We are surprised about the dimension of this case," said the German FA's president, Wolfgang Niersbach. "I feel so sorry for Uli," said Eintracht Frankfurt's chairman, Heribert Bruchhagen. A majority of Bayern's 223,000 club members probably still want Hoeness to stay in power, even now. First as general manager and then as president, he has established Bayern as Germany's wealthiest and most successful club in his 35 years at the reins. He was awarded standing ovations at a tearful AGM in November. Bayern are often described as one big family, and Hoeness did indeed rule like a patriarch. He brought in former players into key positions and discreetly looked after those who had fallen on hard times, such as Gerd Müller. Germany's most successful striker was suffering from alcoholism before Hoeness employed him as a youth coach. In the rest of country, where Bayern have plenty of fans but even more detractors, they could scarcely believe their eyes. "Mia san Mia, the club's Bavarian motto, translates as 'We are who we are'," commented Suddeutsche. "In reality, this translates as 'We don't care what you think'." Unfortunately for Hoeness, neither the undying support of Die Roten faithful nor his past deeds will spare him an ignominious end to his presidency. He is "Mr Bayern" and the club are "FC Hoeness", they've become synonymous over the last three decades. Consequently, his fall from grace has damaged the club too much. Hoeness's perceived integrity as an independently successful businessman allowed him to take the moral high ground aggressively in many debates; his Bayern were the club who got it right, on and off the pitch. "Unlike some of our foreign competitors, we won't do crazy things," Hoeness used to say. "His role as public admonisher and supposed role model is over," wrote Frankfurter Rundschau. The club's board met in an emergency meeting on Thursday afternoon. An official statement is not expected before Friday. The league leaders have had plenty of time to prepare for this day but the truth is no plan had been in place to deal with this eventuality. No one, not even the captains of industry from Bayern's minority shareholders (Adidas, Allianz, Audi) were prepared to ask for his resignation before the verdict was in. Whether Hoeness ultimately escapes jail or not will not make difference any more, however. The eye-watering sums involved have made his position untenable. Hoeness placed huge leveraged bets with his Swiss banks; at times, the court heard he was investing more than €150m illicitly. The fact that he has since lost most of his fortune again didn't reduce his tax burden but has in all likelihood destroyed his credibility even more. Hoeness, a man who had cultivated the image as a careful, considered operator has been revealed as a compulsive gambler. He gambled on the markets, and he gambled on a tax agreement between Germany and Switzerland coming into force. It would have allowed for an anonymous tax payment and freedom from prosecution but Germany's Bundesrat (federal council) stopped the bill in 2012. Hoeness lost these bets. But the loss is not just his. There is no obvious heir in place to assume the mantle and the club are wary of a future without their leader. A Bayern without his bloody-mindedness, his business connections, his good judgment in football matters and his human touch behind the scenes are impossible to fathom. The game is over for him. But for the European champions, you sense, it's only just beginning anew. theguardian.com © 2014 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds  |
| Hughton wants more black managers Posted: 13 Mar 2014 01:32 PM PDT • Sole non-white man at helm in England's top four divisions The Norwich City manager, Chris Hughton, is at a loss to explain why he is the only black manager in England's top four divisions and has called for football to take collective responsibility to address the imbalance. Chris Powell's sacking as Charlton manager this week means Hughton, who is in his second season in charge at Carrow Road, is the only non-white manager out of 92 Premier League and Football League clubs. "To be the only black manager in the divisions is something that is really disappointing," Hughton said. "There's no doubt there is a massive imbalance in those from a playing capacity going through to management. "There is a really disappointing void and it's our responsibility to make sure that changes. I have seen good strides made in general in involvement in football circles. What we have found is there are far more black and ethnic [minority] coaches involved at lesser levels – at grassroots level, associated with clubs, at academy level, at under-21 level – but those same percentages don't apply to first-team management. "I have seen significant work done at other levels. It's good to see some of those balances a little bit more correct at other levels but it's taking it to the next step, which is mainstream management. "We all have a responsibility in the game to continue to work and to continue to evaluate why that is the case. That starts from the FA, from the football clubs themselves and the football environment." theguardian.com © 2014 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds  |
| Football League delays decision over Massimo Cellino's takeover of Leeds Posted: 13 Mar 2014 01:14 PM PDT • Governing body expected to await outcome of tax evasion trial The Football League has delayed its decision whether to ratify Massimo Cellino's takeover of Leeds United after holding meetings on Thursday and is now expected to wait for the outcome of his tax evasion trial in Italy. Cellino is in court in Sardinia on Tuesday regarding non-payment of import duty on a yacht and is facing a €1.165m fine if found guilty. The Italian has been under investigation by the governing body since the announcement of his proposed takeover through his holding company Eleonora Sports, with the League investigating whether he passes their "fit and proper persons" test. That prohibits people with unspent convictions for dishonesty offences from being directors, 30% owners or from exercising control over one of its clubs. However with Cellino's court case still pending, a statement from the League admitted the decision will now not be taken "in the next 10 days". "At its meeting today, the Board of The Football League gave detailed consideration to the proposed takeover of Leeds United by Eleonora Sport Limited," read the statement. "The Board discussed the eligibility of the proposed purchasers under the Owners' and Directors' Test and examined evidence of both the source and sufficiency of funding. The majority of outstanding issues have now been resolved to The League's satisfaction and the Board anticipates receiving further information on the remaining issues, from the representatives of Eleonora, in the next week. "The Board recognises the pressing need to resolve the matter and to provide certainty to all parties. It therefore anticipates being able to reach a conclusion in the next ten days. Cellino has paid the club's wages and funded their debts over the past two months yet has become increasingly frustrated with the lack of progress made by the Football League and the current owners, GFH Capital, during takeover talks in recent weeks. The Italian, who has owned the Serie A club Cagliari for the past 22 years, admitted earlier this week that he has been "humiliated" by his treatment since the takeover was announced and vowed to walk away if he doesn't pass the League's test. "At this point I wonder why I have been treated so badly after paying the salaries and debts over the past two months," he told the Guardian. "I will wait until a decision by the League. If I am not accepted, I will go away silently like I came. I am too old to fight wars which are not mine." The statement comes after Leeds' managing director David Haigh insisted there was "no chance" of the club going into administration without Cellino's money. He told the Yorkshire Post: "The club is in good hands. It has money and there is no chance of the club going into administration. None whatsoever. "I keep hearing these whispers, where people have put two and two together to make 550. We had a winding-up order recently, which caused fans to panic. "But the club is not in any kind of precarious financial position. Either now or in the future. It is not true and never has been. "As a director of a company, there is a test of solvency that you have to go through. Can the company meet its debts, as and when they fall? And yes, Leeds United can." theguardian.com © 2014 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds  |
| 279. Adam Lallana, Southampton Posted: 13 Mar 2014 12:00 PM PDT Click to enlarge, and debate the strip below the line. Keith Hackett's verdict appears in Sunday's Observer and here from Monday. Competition: win an official club shirt of your choiceFor a chance to win a club shirt of your choice from the range at Kitbag.com send us your questions for You are the Ref to you.are.the.ref@observer.co.uk. The best scenario used in the new YATR strip each Sunday wins a shirt to the value of £50 from Kitbag. Terms & conditions apply. For more on the fifty year history of You Are The Ref, click here. theguardian.com © 2014 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds  |
| QPR chairman Fernandes backs Redknapp Posted: 13 Mar 2014 10:32 AM PDT • 'Nothing wrong with Harry,' tweets QPR's Tony Fernandes Tony Fernandes has responded on Twitter to fans' concerns over the club's promotion struggle by backing Harry Redknapp. QPR have lost four and drawn two of their past seven Championship matches leaving them 10 points adrift of an automatic return to the top flight. The QPR chairman tweeted: "Nothing wrong with Harry. Team playing hard. Some defensive lapses. Need to tighten up. And of course score goals. Playing much better. "Takes time to rebuild. May take years to get it right. There was little to build on. Give support to team. And hope for Charlie [Austin] back." Fernandes, who became the owner of QPR in 2011, hired Redknapp to lift QPR clear of the Premier League relegation zone. The former Tottenham manager was unable to do so, blaming the players purchased under Mark Hughes. He also cited a poor attitude and an apathy towards substandard results. Despite signing 19 players this season – including Ravel Morrison on loan from West Ham – QPR have lacked consistency and promotion looks doubtful. Fans were made aware recently of QPR's financial state that showed the need for promotion. Teams in the second tier next season not adhering to the Football League's financial fair play regulations will be subject to transfer embargos. A team promoted to the top flight will face only a fine, which could be a crucial factor for the stability of the west-London club. Fernandes authorised Hughes and Redknapp to spend significantly, raising the wage bill by £20m. It led QPR to spend £78m on wages last year, which was £17m more than the club's entire income of £61m. QPR's accounts revealed the largest loss (£65m) recorded by any club in England in 2012-13, while total debt rose to £177m. The QPR chairman has stated that it is not necessary to win promotion, despite the losses. He said that "achieving promotion is not critical to our long-term strategy but remains our short-term goal". The club have no need for any more cash input to build a squad. "We are in a position where we can work with what we have, and raise capital to invest in the squad by selling players who are not part of the manager's plans." Fernandes also said the club's debt is owed to shareholders. "It is important to understand that this debt is through shareholder loans. The debt in the club is owed to the shareholders by the shareholders." theguardian.com © 2014 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds  |
| Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness sentenced to three-and-half years in prison – video Posted: 13 Mar 2014 10:22 AM PDT The president of Bayern Munich, Uli Hoeness, has been found guilty of evading €27.2m in taxes (£22.7m) by keeping funds hidden in a secret Swiss bank account  |
| Football Weekly Extra: Manchester City and Arsenal found out in Europe Posted: 13 Mar 2014 09:38 AM PDT On today's Football Weekly Extra, AC Jimbo welcomes back our old pal Paolo Bandini, who takes his seat in the pod next to Barry Glendenning and Jacob Steinberg. We begin by reviewing the the performances of Manchester City and Arsenal, both of whom were knocked out of the Champions League by vastly superior opposition in the form of Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Next, we hear from Sid Lowe about Atlético Madrid, conquerors of Milan, and take a whizz around some of the far-flung corners of the world game, including Scotland and the MLS. Finally, we look forward to the two biggies in the Premier League this weekend, the north London derby and Manchester United taking on Liverpool. Jimbo's paper review will be with you on Friday morning and the inimitable Philippe Auclair will be joining us on Monday. We'll see you then.  |
| The Fiver | Bored by the monotony and venality of life as a professional athlete Posted: 13 Mar 2014 09:20 AM PDT TAXI FOR BENDTNER? ERM, MAYBE NOTTaxi Driver is a 1976 movie about an unstable Vietnam veteran who gradually becomes overwhelmed by the complexity and venality of life in New York and decides, in true all-American tradition, that the best way to restore order is to go and shoot someone. It's considered a classic film but no sequel has ever been made. Until now. Taxi Passenger is a 2014 romp about an unreliable Premier League footballer who regularly becomes bored by the monotony and venality of life as a professional athlete and decides, in true Nicklas Bendtner tradition, that the best way to restore his reputation is to go make an utter galoot of himself. According to the Danish newspaper BT, the events that gave rise to the grim farce occurred in Copenhagen on Tuesday night. It seems that moments after Bendtner's Arsenal team-mates finished fighting unsuccessfully for their Big Cup lives against Bayern Munich, Bendtner and other chums began fighting unsuccessfully with a stationary vehicle. We say fighting, but what Bendtner is actually alleged to have done is unbutton his trousers and rub himself against a taxi before whipping it with his belt and calling the driver a "little wh0re", which might have been considered k1nky if Bendtner, who last November was cautioned by police following a violent misunderstanding with a door, had invited the car to dinner beforehand or perhaps serenaded it a little. Alas, it seems the preliminaries were rather less romantic. "They were pretty drunk," said the owner of the wronged cab about Bendtner and the player's pals. "I got out of the car to put the bike stand on the back of the cab, and Bendtner and two of the others climbed into the back seat. When I sat back down I saw that the taxi radio had been kicked loose and was dangling down. They'd also taken some of my personal belongings that had been lying between the seats and, when I asked to have them back, Bendtner completely freaked out. He said that, if he was not so famous, he would have smacked me, and he called me a 'little fat pig'. I asked him to leave the car – I had to ask them three times, and said I'd have to call the police if they didn't." It was then that things are alleged to have taken a turn for the weird. "He stood at the back of the car and rubbed up against the side window after unbuttoning his pants while he whipped the cab with his belt and shouted he wanted to '[eff] me'," explained the driver. "I've had drunks and alcoholics in my cab in Copenhagen over the last 25 years, but I've never experienced anything like this." Arsenal are investigating the report and Bendtner has yet to make any public comment on the matter so, for the time being, let us refer back to what Bendtner said in an interview with another Danish organ, Jyllands-Posten, earlier this month. "I have, for example, talked to clubs who say they have heard this or that story about me," gurgled Bendtner back then. "So I have to tell them that is not true. Of all the things that I have been associated with, I have only done one thing wrong and that was in Copenhagen [an arrest for drink driving]. Regardless of this, I have, bit by bit, in people's eyes been made into a psychopath." Perhaps we should treat reports about Bendtner with scepticism. And, indeed, comments from Bendtner. LIVE ON BIG WEBSITE TONIGHTQUOTE OF THE DAY"The referee mocked Paul [Robinson] about the scoreline. It's totally unacceptable. When my skipper is fighting the way he does, the fans are turning up to watch, and I'm working hard as I am to keep us in the league and you get mocked, it is unacceptable. This is people's livelihoods. You can't have that" – Birmingham manager Lee Clark reveals why he gave it the full Ketsbaia after Federico Macheda's face-saving late equaliser against Burnley. FIVER LETTERS"If Mesut Özil is suffering from umlaut-knack (yesterday's Fiver), it might be kind to rest the umlaut and refer to him as Oezil for a few weeks? I noticed that Fifa has already decided to take this approach. Then again, Fifa appears to be suffering from accent-knack generally, possibly brought on by knocking out their webpages on an old typewriter" – Robert Minchin. "It would appear that after his close encounter with a taxi, Nicklas Bendtner is a fan of JG Ballad's Crash. I'm looking forward to him recreating other vignettes from the great man's oeuvre, especially his 1970 work The Atrocity Exhibition. A title which sums Bendtner up perfectly" – Matt Emerson. "I was shocked and surprised to see that an idea generated by the Fiver (or more specifically, its readers), namely the proposed Phillipa Suarez/Glenn Leete hot date in Monaco trying out every seat in the Stade Louis II Stadium (Fiver letters passim), has been adopted by the (it's safe to assume) less photogenic coupling of Messrs Savage and Shearer, who are doing a copycat exercise at Wembley for Sport Relief. Can the Fiver not sue for copyright, or at the very least get a cut of the proceeds and let Suarez and Leete have a rare old time of it while in Monte Carlo?" – Gary Brenner. "May I express my concern for Ryan Slattery (yesterday's Fiver letters) who seemed extremely upset about not getting chosen for letter o' the day. Having said that, can I be the first of 1,057 to point out to him that his metaphor regarding the lottery is erroneous since, if the winning selection was purely a game of luck, the quality in his letter or lack thereof would have little bearing on whether he won the prize. Though given the Fiver's sense of humour, he may after all be completely correct" – James Taylor (and no others). "Do you actually have any copies of Falling for Football or are you going to keep rolling over the prize ad infinitum as some sort of letter-attracting Ponzi scheme?" – Tom Brazear. • Send your letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. And if you've nothing better to do you can also tweet the Fiver. Today's winners of our letters o' the day are: Robert Minchin and Matt Emerson, who each win a copy of the very enjoyable Falling for Football, courtesy of the kind gents at Magic Spongers. We'll have another copy to win on Friday. JOIN GUARDIAN SOULMATESWe keep trying to point out the utter futility of advertising an online dating service "for interesting people" in the Fiver to the naive folk who run Guardian Soulmates, but they still aren't having any of it. So here you go – sign up here to view profiles of the kind of erudite, sociable and friendly romantics who would never dream of going out with you. BITS AND BOBSAKING NEWS … Eric Cantona has been arrested and cautioned after reports of an assault in London … BRE Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness has been sentenced to three-and-a-half years for tax evasion amounting to £22.7m. Manchester City assistant Ruben Cousillas reckons Sergio Agüero's hamstring-ouch in the Big Cup defeat to Barcelona was just a hamstring-strum. "Apparently it's nothing serious. He felt some kind of pain in his muscle, so [taking him off] was a precaution. We are doing some tests." Arsenal's knack-inspectors are still eyeing Mesut Özil's leg. "He's out, I don't know how long for," diagnosed Arsène Wenger. "It's a hamstring [-twang]. The scans are ongoing." It means Wenger could give Championship Manager's Kim Kallstrom a run out in the north London derby. Tonton Zola Moukoko still unregistered we assume … Alan Pardew says he's seeking advice on how not to nut opposition players. "I've spoken to the LMA about maybe some management consultant issues that I could look at that might help," he said, using his head for the right reasons. "I just want to reiterate my apologies." And Nasty Leeds are fine, absolutely fine, there's nothing at all to worry about, says managing director David Haigh. "I keep hearing these whispers, where people have put two and two together to make 550 … The club is in good hands." STILL WANT MORE?Another proud day for the Premier League's no-nonsense, so-robust-it-stings "owners and directors test" – Proper Journalism's David Conn reveals how it took one look at Carson Yeung with his previous criminal conviction for financial crime, and waved him right on through. Michael Cox picks his way through Arsenal and Manchester City's European pretensions and works out what went wrong. Almost everything, it turns out. A comment from Lord Ferg made the world wonder how 'top, top' $tevie Mbe really is. Ken Early knows the answer in this piece from Eight by Eight magazine. The Rumour Mill has fallen in love again after taking a shine to impossibly handsome Italian Claudio Marchisio. It can only end in tears. Oh, and if it's your thing, you can follow Big Website on Big Social FaceSpace. SIGN UP TO THE FIVER (AND O FIVERÃO)Want your very own copy of our free tea-timely(ish) email sent direct to your inbox? Has your regular copy stopped arriving? Click here to sign up. And you can also now receive our weekly World Cup email, O Fiverão; this is the latest edition, and you can sign up for it here. PB!theguardian.com © 2014 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds  |
| Roberto Martínez discusses Everton's injuries - video Posted: 13 Mar 2014 08:48 AM PDT Everton's manager Roberto Martínez is unsure whether Phil Jagielka and Steven Pienaar will be fit to face Cardiff on Saturday  |
| Alan Pardew: 'I must become a better manager after head-butt ban' Posted: 13 Mar 2014 07:58 AM PDT • Newcastle manager handed seven match suspension Newcastle manager Alan Pardew believes he can emerge as a better manager following his record seven-match ban for head-butting Hull City's David Meyler. Pardew was this week banned by an independent FA commission over his clash with Meyler during Newcastle's 4-1 win at Hull on 1 March. He is barred completely from the stadium for those first three matches, and must sit in the stands for the remaining four. The punishment sees Pardew, 52, become the first Premier League manager to be handed a full stadium ban. The first game of that sanction comes with Saturday's visit to Fulham, and speaking ahead of that match Pardew said: "It was an independent panel and it was a decision that I was going to accept. I had no intention to appeal the decision whatever it was, and therefore was going to accept what they decided to do." Pardew was additionally fined £60,000 and warned as to his future conduct by the FA. That followed a £100,000 fine and a formal warning from his club. The former Reading, West Ham, Charlton and Southampton manager has repeatedly apologised in the weeks since the incident, and was again contrite in Thursday's press conference. "I just want to reiterate my apologies, to David and Steve [Bruce, Hull's manager] in particular, to fans up and down country, but particularly my own at Newcastle who have been terrific, and the club and Mike [Ashley, Newcastle owner] for supporting me over a situation I should never have got involved in and was stupid. "I sent a letter to Steve to say there was no animosity on my side towards David, and to say sorry basically for the incident that happened. I deeply regret it." Pardew also revealed he has spoken to both the Newcastle board and the League Managers' Association over his behavioural issues. "It's something that I went to the board for, because what I must do when I come out of this situation is become a better manager," he said. "I've had something like 678 games and only had one touchline ban before this one, but that doesn't mean to say what I did has any justification. I've spoken to the LMA about maybe some management consultant issues that I could look at that might help." Saturday's match at bottom side Fulham is Newcastle's first since the unsavoury incident at the KC Stadium, and Pardew is confident his team will not suffer too much in his absence, with assistant manager John Carver fully briefed. "Our game plan is in place," he said. "John Carver knows it inside-out and I trust him 100% to deliver it. I've never had much luck going to Fulham with Newcastle. It's a big game for us and Fulham and we will be looking to get a win." theguardian.com © 2014 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds  |
| Eric Cantona arrested and cautioned after assault in London Posted: 13 Mar 2014 07:03 AM PDT • Former Manchester United star taken into police custody The former Manchester United striker Eric Cantona was arrested and cautioned for common assault following an incident in north London on Wednesday lunchtime. Even in retirement, the mecurial Frenchman has never been far from controversy. From mooted bids for the French presidency to roles in award winning movies, his post-football career has been as eventful as his time at Leeds United and Manchester United. Scotland Yard did not name the 47-year-old Frenchman, who turned to acting in flims including Elizabeth and Looking for Eric after quitting as a player at the age of 30 in 1997, but confirmed that a man in his mid-40s had been arrested in a statement. "Police were called to Regents Park Road, NW1, at 12.55pm on Wednesday 12th March, following reports of an assault. Officers from Camden Borough attended and a man in his mid-40s was arrested on suspicion of common assault," said a Scotland Yard spokeswoman. "He was taken into custody and subsequently cautioned for common assault. The victim, a man, did not require medical assistance at the scene." Cantona had earlier been seen at the Queens pub on Regents Park Road in Primrose Hill, a leafy and prosperous part of north London between Camden and Regents Park. In January 1995 Cantona was infamously convicted of assaulting Crystal Palace fan Matthew Simmons, launching a kung fu kick over the advertising hoardings at Selhurst Park. Cantona had been sent off and Simmons had been shouting abuse at the Frenchman. He was initially sentenced to two weeks in prison, later reduced to 120 hours community service. The Football Association banned him for eight months and fined Cantona £10,000. After Sir Alex Ferguson had persuaded him to stay at the club, later making him captain, he went to finish his Manchester United career with four Premier League titles in five seasons and having won the Double twice. In 2011, Cantona told the BBC that while the kung fu kick had been a mistake, he looked back on it with a certain fondness. "When I did the kung fu kick on the hooligan, because these kind of people don't have to be at the game... it's like a dream for some, you know, sometimes to kick these kind of people," he said. "So I did it for [the fans]. So they are happy. It's a kind of freedom for them." Cantona, who took on a role as director of football for the revived New York Cosmos in 2011, said then that he preferred not to dwell on the past. "I don't care about the past. It was a great memory but I don't want to think about it. I want to look forward," he said. "You can feel very quickly as a prisoner of your past, of the memories. I prefer to be free and think about tomorrow." At a press conference following his appeal against his jail term in 1995, Cantona famously said: "When the seagulls follow the trawler, it's because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea." On Thursday, Cantona's agent in Paris refused to comment on his arrest. "I don't know. There is nothing to say," said a spokeswoman. theguardian.com © 2014 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds  |
| Pub opening times for England's World Cup matches under review Posted: 13 Mar 2014 06:55 AM PDT Theresa May considering 'national order to relax licensing hours' despite Home Office's initial fears about public disorder Pubs and bars could be allowed to sell alcohol until 1am on the nights of England's World Cup games this summer under proposals being considered by Theresa May, the home secretary. May launched a two-week consultation on the idea of extending opening hours after David Cameron ordered a rethink – despite her department's initial fears about the scope for public disorder. In a statement to parliament, the home secretary said she was considering "a national order to relax licensing hours during the Fifa World Cup in June and July 2014, or whether to leave this as a local decision using the existing temporary event notice system". Suggesting she still has some reservations about the policy, May said the government was "mindful of the need to strike a balance between the risks that late-night drinking can lead to increased crime and disorder and public nuisance, and reducing the burden on the those wishing to celebrate the Fifa World Cup." The consultation will look at a range of possible later opening hours – but no later than 1am – and the dates and areas in which they might be appropriate. Previously, Home Office minister Norman Baker rejected calls by the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) for their members to be allowed to stay open late to show England's opening game against Italy, which kicks off at 11pm on 14 June. He left pubs with the option of applying individually to local authorities for a licence extension through the temporary event notice system at a cost of £21 each. Baker was overruled by the prime minister, who made a statement on his Twitter feed ordering the Home Office to think again. If approved by the department, the national order would be similar to those put in place for celebrations during the royal wedding and diamond jubilee to mark occasions of "exceptional international, national or local significance". Brigid Simmonds, chief executive of BBPA, said: "We welcome this consultation as an opportunity to make clear the wish of publicans, the wider industry and, most importantly, England fans to enjoy World Cup 2014 in their local pub – the next best thing to being there. "Over the next fortnight I encourage publicans and fans to make their voice heard by responding to the consultation." theguardian.com © 2014 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds  |
| MP Chris Bryant calls for parliamentary inquiry over concussion in sport Posted: 13 Mar 2014 06:44 AM PDT • 'Football Association and Rugby Football Union are in denial' A parliamentary inquiry should be convened to highlight the dangers of concussion in sport because organisations such as the Football Association and the Rugby Football Union are in denial, the MP Chris Bryant has said. The Labour MP told the Commons all the evidence now showed concussion could prove fatal, especially in young players. At the weekly business statement in the House, he urged Commons leader Andrew Lansley to back an inquiry in a bid to save lives. Lansley said he could not offer such an action but pledged to raise the issue with the Department of Health and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Bryant said: "All the scientific evidence now agrees that concussion can be fatal and yet many of the sporting bodies in this country – including the RFU, Welsh Rugby Union, the FA, Premiership and many other sports are in complete denial about the danger posed to many of their players and, in particular, young players. "I don't want a debate on this because I think the danger is too serious. I want you … to organise with me the setting up of a parliamentary commission of inquiry into concussion in sport, so we can save people's lives." Lansley, a former health secretary, replied: "I can't offer you that. I recognise the problem, indeed, with my health interests over many years I can remember a number of occasions neurologists describing to me some of the difficulties and some of those doctors have been at the forefront of making the case to some of the sporting bodies you're talking about. "I will address this issue both to the Department of Health and at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to see if they can facilitate some response." theguardian.com © 2014 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds  |
| Galaxy beat local rivals Tijuana in good Champions League week for US teams Posted: 13 Mar 2014 06:34 AM PDT Concacaf Champions League: LA Galaxy 1-0 Club Tijuana; Sporting KC 1-0 Cruz Azul  |
| Football quiz: Manchester United v Liverpool Posted: 13 Mar 2014 06:31 AM PDT Today's questions have history  |
| Hoeness jailed for tax evasion Posted: 13 Mar 2014 06:17 AM PDT • Bayern Munich and Germany legend evaded €27.2m in tax Uli Hoeness, the former Germany international and president of Bayern Munich, was sentenced to three-an-a-half years in prison on Thursday for seven cases of tax evasion amounting to €27.2m (£22.7m). Hoeness's legal team has a week to appeal against the sentence. The 62-year-old had admitted to tax evasion in January last year. For years, he had made large profits in stock market speculations via a secret Swiss bank account. By choosing to go public, Hoeness had opted for what German law calls "voluntary disclosure": evaders can avoid trial by correctly detailing the taxes they have skipped and paying them back with 6% interest. But during this week's trial, it not only emerged that the sums Hoeness had evaded were almost ten times higher than assumed – previous reports had spoken of €3.2m (£2.6m) – but also that he had failed to disclose his accounts within the rules. An effective voluntary disclosure would have had to be done with the same detail as a tax return, the chief prosecutor had said. Hoeness had provided end-of-year statements for the relevant period, but failed to provide sufficient details on individual taxable transactions. Federal prosecutor Achim von Engel had described the case as an "unusually grave case of tax evasion". The defence had demanded a suspended sentence, emphasising Hoeness's social engagement at the club. Even before Thursday's verdict, the most high-profile trial against tax evasion in German history has already had a noticeable effect: more than 26,000 German tax evaders opted for voluntary disclosure since the Hoeness revelations hit the headlines in 2013. In Bavaria alone, the figure has quadrupled since 2012. Reactions varied from schadenfreude to outrage at the harshness of the sentence. Hoeness's supporters protested audibly outside the Munich court even before the verdict was read out. On Twitter, Daniel Mack, a candidate for the Green Party, described the sentence as "the longest sending off in history". Bayern Munich say they will not comment on the sentence until after any appeal, though a statement from the supervisory board – which contains high-profile executives from Adidas, German Telekom, Volkswagen and Audi – is expected later on Thursday. theguardian.com © 2014 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds  |
| Yeung had conviction before takeover Posted: 13 Mar 2014 05:53 AM PDT • Still allowed to take over club despite 'fit and proper' test Carson Yeung, now serving a six-year prison sentence in Hong Kong for money-laundering, was convicted of two other criminal offences in the past decade yet the Premier League still allowed him to take over Birmingham City in 2009 and remain chairman in 2010. Yeung's other convictions took place in 2004 and 2010 yet the Football League allowed Yeung to remain Birmingham's chairman until he stepped down last month. Both leagues have "owners and directors" tests – previously the "fit and proper persons" test – which prohibit people from becoming directors of a football club, or owners of a substantial stake, if they have "unspent convictions for offences of dishonesty". Delivering the verdict that convicted Yeung in Hong Kong last week, the presiding judge also found that £2.8m of laundered money was used to buy Birmingham City shares in 2007. In 2004, Yeung pleaded guilty in a Hong Kong magistrates' court to 14 counts of failing to disclose shares he owned in a Stock Exchange-listed company, Cedar Base Electronic Group. Yeung was fined HK$43,000 (£3,300) and ordered to pay the investigation costs incurred by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission, which prosecuted him. Breaches of the SFC's laws requiring people to disclose shareholdings of 10% or more are criminal offences in Hong Kong, prosecuted in the courts and punishable by a fine or possible prison sentence. Three years later, Yeung spearheaded the £15m purchase of a 29.9% stake in Birmingham, just promoted to the Premier League, from the then major shareholders, David Sullivan and the brothers David and Ralph Gold. Yeung did not then become a director. Two years after that, in August 2009, Yeung led the full takeover by the Hong Kong-listed company of which he was the chairman and significant shareholder, Birmingham International Holdings (then called Grandtop), registered in the Cayman Islands tax haven. Grandtop paid an £81.5m price for the club, more than three times the £24m value at which City had been trading during the preceding six-month period. Sullivan and David and Ralph Gold agreed to sell their combined 49% stake and shared £40m between them. Sullivan, Gold and their managing director at Birmingham City and now vice-chairman at West Ham, Karren Brady, all declined to comment on their sale of Birmingham City to Yeung but a source maintained that they acted properly at all times. In July 2010, a year after the takeover, while Yeung was chairman of Birmingham City, he was convicted again of failing to disclose his ownership of shares in a Hong Kong-listed company. BIHL announced that Yeung had been fined HK$16,000 (£1,240) in an eastern magistrates' court. Yeung's company Great Luck Management was also fined for a similar offence. Yeung's takeover was financed with a HK$690m (now worth £53m) loan from Best China Ltd, a company owned by Pollyanna Chu. She was the controlling shareholder of a firm, Kingston Securities, which underwrote a subsequent sale of shares in Grandtop on the Hong Kong stock market which raised money to pay her loan back. Chu was at the time the chief executive of a casino, Golden Resorts, in Macau. It has not been suggested that she or Kingston Securities acted irregularly in financing the Birmingham takeover. The Premier League had just three months earlier, in May 2009, announced the strengthening of its fit and proper persons test ; the league's chief executive, Richard Scudamore, said it would operate a more rigorous process to vet buyers of clubs and the new test barred people who had been convicted of a criminal offence involving dishonesty. Birmingham City did in fact inform the Premier League of Yeung's 2004 conviction in Hong Kong but he was still allowed to take over and become the club's chairman. This was because the same offence, of failing to disclose a significant shareholding in a Stock Exchange-listed company, had been decriminalised in the UK by the Labour government in 2000. As it would not have been a crime here, the Premier League is understood to have taken the view it should not be considered a crime of dishonesty under its owners and directors test, and so Yeung could complete the takeover. He famously promised £80m of investment for the club's then manager, Alex McLeish, and pledged that the Grandtop directors' "significant business experience and connections in Hong Kong and the People's Republic of China", would "significantly increase [the club's] global fan base, promote and enhance its brand and … provide … sustainable financing to help support the club in consistently competing at the highest levels in domestic and European football". Douglas Yau, the Hong Kong district court judge who sentenced Yeung last week, found that in the period from 2001 to 2007, Yeung was laundering £55m that was the proceeds of crime, through multiple deposits of cheques and "folding cash" in five different bank accounts. Those paying money into Yeung's accounts, the court heard, included Cheung Chi-tai, a Macau casino boss suspected by the Hong Kong police of involvement with triad-organised crime. Yau referred in his 84-page verdict to a newspaper report of a court case in March 2010, in which Cheung Chi-tai was identified as the leader of the Wo Hop To triad. Yeung told the court that he did not know Cheung Chi-tai was a suspected triad, only that Cheung was "a business associate". The judge found that HK$36m (£2.8m) of the laundered money, including HK$18m (£1.4m) from Cheung Chi-tai, was transferred to Prince Evans, a London firm of solicitors, and used to buy the Birmingham City shares in 2007. The judge, who described Yeung as a habitual liar, did not believe his claim that the money was in fact used to buy a property in London. Robert Jennings, a partner in Prince Evans, told the Guardian, however, that his firm "did not act in the purchase of shares in Birmingham City Football Club in 2007 or at any other time. We confirm that in 2007 we acted on behalf of Mr Yeung in the purchase of a residential property and we are content that we complied with all necessary [anti] money-laundering requirements at that time." The Premier League in 2010 had again strengthened its rules to the current "owners and directors test". It bars people who have "unspent convictions for offences of dishonesty", and requires prospective club buyers to show they have sufficient money, and the source of it. The Premier League took the view then, too, that as Yeung's 2010 conviction would not have been a criminal offence here, he should not be barred. The money-laundering trial revealed that a year before Yeung, a former hairdresser, took over Birmingham City in 2009, the Hong Kong police had already begun their investigation into the source of his wealth for suspected criminal wrongdoing. In 2011, after City under Alex McLeish won the League Cup, the club were relegated, Yeung was arrested, his assets were frozen, money for the club dried up and it fell into financial difficulties. Neither the Premier League nor the Football League believe their rules or governance have failed in relation to Yeung's takeover or chairmanship of Birmingham City. The Premier League said in a statement its rules go beyond the law for people investing in the UK, and "Premier League football is one of the most regulated and transparent sectors of UK sport or business". Birmingham City's board now consists of Yeung's long-time Hong Kong-based associate Peter Pannu, and Yeung family members including his 20-year-old student son, Ryan. The league said after the verdict that it is satisfied its rules are being complied with. theguardian.com © 2014 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds  |
| Kim Kallstrom close to Arsenal debut but Özil and Ramsey miss Spurs game Posted: 13 Mar 2014 05:14 AM PDT • Sweden midfielder may be included for north London derby Arsène Wenger has confirmed Mesut Özil and Aaron Ramsey will miss Sunday's north London derby at Tottenham Hotspur through injury, although the Arsenal manager hopes Kim Kallstrom, his only signing during the midwinter transfer window, might be fit enough to be included in the squad for the game at White Hart Lane. Arsenal have had to postpone Ramsey's return to competitive action as he struggles in the final stage of his rehabilitation from the thigh injury sustained at West Ham on Boxing Day. The Wales midfielder had long since targeted the visit to Spurs – the first of a difficult sequence of Premier League fixtures that may define the club's title challenge – for his comeback and had resumed first-team training at the beginning of last week. But there have been minor setbacks in the period since, which may also rule him out of the trip to the leaders, Chelsea, on 22 March. More realistic may be the midweek visit of Swansea City on 25 March. "We have had to defer his comeback to full training a little so he is not available [at Spurs]," said Wenger. "He is having difficulties in the final stages of his rehab. It looks to be short-term." Özil was forced off at half-time in Arsenal's Champions League last-16 second leg tie at Bayern Munich on Tuesday night with a hamstring injury and while the club continue to assess the extent of the injury, early signs suggest the Germany international will be out for at least a month. "He is out," confirmed Wenger. "I don't know for how long but it is a hamstring injury. There are scans going on." Arsenal hope to have their record signing available again for the FA Cup semi-final against Wigan Athletic at Wembley on 12 April. While the club are already resigned to being without Jack Wilshere for six weeks with a hairline fracture of his foot, they have been encouraged by Kallstrom's potential availability for the weeks ahead. The Sweden international arrived on loan from Spartak Moscow in January, despite suffering from a fractured vertebra in his back at the time. The Russian club have met his wages during his rehabilitation, which has taken him back to his native Sweden to visit the former England doctor, Leif Sward, for treatment. The hope is he will be available to make his belated Arsenal debut in the key period ahead. "Kallstrom joins the normal training group on Thursday and [Yaya] Sanogo too," added Wenger to the official Arsenal website. "I will have to decide if Kallstrom is OK to be in the squad on Sunday. I will see how he looks. It is not impossible. Kieran Gibbs has a test on Friday but I am hopeful that Nacho Monreal will be fit. They both have a good chance." theguardian.com © 2014 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds  |
| World Cup Fiver | Fifa's ceremonial ostrich Posted: 13 Mar 2014 05:09 AM PDT FOOTBALL'S SELF-IMPORTANCE KNOWS NO BOUNDS IMBROGLIOWhen President John F Kennedy stood up to address the USA! USA!! USA!!! at 3pm on 22 October 1962 to point out the severity of the Cuban missile crisis, he could barely have fathomed that 52 years later his country would still be involved in a sinister spat with their Russian cousins. But while JFK, Krushchev et al were at the sharp end of the Cold War, the political battlefield on which the two great nations fight today lends itself to another nickname: the Somewhat Tepid Contretemps perhaps? The Relatively Low Temperature Bickering? Or Football's Self-Importance Knows No Bounds Imbroglio. Because, as ever, it falls upon football to take itself with such seriousness that the bloodshed, fighting and general horror that is currently the situation in the Ukraine pales into insignificance once football sticks its moneyed neb in. At the end of last week, US senators Dan Coats and Mark Kirk took one look at Russia's move into Ukraine's Crimean peninsula and decided that simply issuing the country with economic sanctions was small fry. Instead, they invoked the mightiest power in the world: football. They've called for Vlad Putin's men to be turfed out of the World Cup on their backsides, just like Yugoslavia were from the 1992 European Championship and 1994 World Cup, and stripped of the right to host the 2018 tournament, because – and this is the best bit – it displays "a brazen disrespect for fundamental principles of Fifa". Not to be outdone on the pomposity stakes, Russian politicians Alexander Sidyakin and Michael Markelov were also keen to make the people who have died in Ukraine pale into insignificance compared to the travails of 22 blokes knocking a ball around a field. They wrote an open letter, that most self-effacing of missives, to Fifa to demand the USA! USA!! USA!!! also be thrown out of the World Cup. "It's an eye for an eye, a ball for a ball," hurrahed Sidyakin down the correct channels for international diplomacy, Twitter. The world waits with bated breath as to what Fifa will decide. From his hollowed-out volcano in Switzerland, Sepp Blatter has a decision to make. Should he remove the World Cup from a country that has great wealth and a dubious regard for human rights, something his organisation has shown willingness to do in the past, or should he turf a country with great wealth and a dubious, etc and so on out of the World Cup. O Fiverão's money, if it had any, would be on the next Fifa buffet featuring both blinis and burgers stuffed with the nine tenths of Fifa's ceremonial ostrich which is not buried in the sand. QUOTE OF THE DAY"He's a great player" – Pelé adds Neymar to his pantheon of World Cup stars, where he'll settle in alongside Nicky 'up there with Zidane' Barmby, Nicky 'passionate' Butt and Nii 'the next Pelé' Lamptey. BITS AND BOBSNigeria Football Federation marketing director Adama Idris has criticised the country's fans for only buying 300 of the 11,200 tickets allocated to them. Nigeria's average wage = £936-a-year (70% below poverty line); average cheapest category World Cup ticket = £125; June flights from Nigeria to Brazil = £1,400. "People claim to be supporters of football, but they can't even buy tickets to support their team," trilled Idris. France's minister for Industrial Renewal, Arnaud Montebourg, has lambasted the French Football Federation for getting their new World Cup strip made in Asia. "I don't understand how they can go get something done in Thailand that we can do very well at home," he sniffed. "The FFF can afford to do more so I'm not happy." In a move that will see free speech quashed by the banishing of free speeches, Sepp Blatter has announced there will be no formal addresses at the World Cup opening ceremony after the boos and subsequent social unrest that followed Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff's comments at the opening match of the 2013 Confederations Cup. São Paulo coach Muricy Ramalho has joined in the party spirit ahead of the World Cup. "They always promise a great World Cup with a legacy. That word seems to be the solution to everything. You spend billions and billions and talk about legacy. And all we see is a bad legacy. The money could have been spent on many other good things," he cheered. The £174m Arena da Amazonia stadium in Manaus has been opened with a local match and been hailed a great success by everyone present … bar snobs who expect the roof not to leak on them, those wanting to sit in their allocated seat, hungry people or anyone hoping to use the toilets. And Italy coach Cesare Prandelli says the side's only definite starter will be goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, and has warned Mario Balotelli he is not guaranteed a place in the squad. Meanwhile, the country's World Cup shirts will apparently be capable of delivering micro-massages while the players wear them – "a true Italian touch," crooned Buffon, leading Weird Uncle Fiver to get excited about what the shorts might do. O FIVERÃO LETTERS"Evidently, Uncle Sepp's myriad commercial partners are getting limited value for money if local resident Mike Royster (last week's O Fiverão letters) thinks that the humble quarter-pounder (or quarterão as he calls it) has nothing to do with The Sunkist Amstrad Gazprom Holsten Pils Chicken Cottage Fifa World Cup. And that's before I even mention Ronaldo or Adriano" – Ben Graham. "I know England have a long and glorious history of self-destruction, but surely it's pushing it a bit far to describe them as having a desire to batter themselves (last week's Still Want More?)" – Matt Taylor (and 1,057 others). • Send your letters to the.boss@theguardian.com, with 'O Fiverão' in the subject line. Or just 'World Cup Fiver' if that's easier. And if you've nothing better to do you can also tweet the Fiver. The winner of our prizeless letter o' the week is: Ben Graham. STILL WANT MORE?In the latest of our stunning World Cup moments, Ian McCourt outlines the similarities between Zinedine Zidane and Alan Pardew. Having frizzed up his hair and made himself unpopular with the red half of Liverpool, Paul Wilson continues his Mr Roy impression by selecting his England side for him. The entire history of football, including World Cup highlights-a-plenty, feature in Alex Bennett's amazing picture. And get all the latest World Cup news on Big Website's dedicated site. SIGN UP TO O FIVERÃOWant your very own copy of our weekly caipirinha-time(ish) email sent direct to your inbox? Click here to sign up. TOGETHER AT LAST!theguardian.com © 2014 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds  |
| Exit Arsenal and Manchester City: the key Champions League lessons | Michael Cox Posted: 13 Mar 2014 05:04 AM PDT After Arsenal and Manchester City were both humbled in the Champions League last 16, what steps must English sides take to be able to compete against Europe's elite? Playing a more 'English' style can cause problems
It's a cliche to suggest continental sides struggle against physical or direct football, but against highly technical sides such as Bayern Munich and Barcelona, this is where English clubs' comparative advantage lies. Bayern are a more powerful side than Barcelona, but they had no answer to Arsenal's extremely forceful start at the Emirates, seemingly unable to deal with the tempo. Only Mesut Özil's penalty failure prevented Arsenal from leading. Barcelona, meanwhile, still struggle aerially. They were comfortable defending against a half-fit Sergio Agüero running in behind, but encountered more problems when facing the taller Edin Dzeko, who allowed City to cross the ball dangerously, and forced Víctor Valdés into a great save with a header. It isn't in Arsène Wenger or Manuel Pellegrini's mindset to play route one football, but a direct approach makes sense against this opposition. Individual mistakes are costly when dealing with through-ballsBayern Munich and Barcelona are the finest examples of teams successfully using an aggressive defensive line. They concede space in behind, but when forced to turn and chase opposition strikers, their challenges are usually controlled. In stark contrast, the English clubs committed first-leg fouls which denied a clear goalscoring opportunity: resulting in a penalty, a red card and a suspension. Martín Demichelis brought down Lionel Messi, Wojciech Szczesny did the same to Arjen Robben a day later. It comes down to decision-making, and while it's easy to claim in hindsight, Demichelis and Szczesny might have been better off pulling out of the challenges, rather than handicapping their side for the remainder of the tie. You must strike when on topBoth Bayern Munich and Barcelona enjoy a staggering level of control at one point in any game – but there's also a spell when the opposition had chances, too. For Arsenal, this was at the start of the first leg and the end of the second leg, supporting the idea that Pep Guardiola's sides take a while to get started, and can become complacent. City, meanwhile, had some decent opportunities midway through the second leg at a nervous Camp Nou. The key, of course, is scoring during these periods – and when the pressure is on. Arsenal only struck once Bayern had gone 3-0 up on aggregate, an outcome replicated by City. Had they taken earlier chances, these ties would have been closer. You need 100% fit players to pressIt was understandable that Wenger and Pellegrini wanted Özil and Agüero to feature in the away legs, but neither looked fully fit – and fresh, energetic players are vital against Bayern and Barcelona. Both sides are excellent at holding on to the ball, particularly in deep positions, and the fact they were happy to cool the tempo of the second legs, preserving their advantage in the tie, meant the English sides had to press high up the pitch to force the issue, and open up the game. This was difficult carrying a half-fit player, and both managers were forced to waste a substitution at half-time, giving them less opportunity to inject energy in the second period. Weaknesses in squad are exposed at this levelThe glaring holes in Manchester City and Arsenal's squads haven't been a significant issue in the Premier League, but they were unable to disguise their weaknesses against Europe's best. City's lack of a commanding centre-back to play alongside Vincent Kompany proved decisive in both legs, while Arsenal's absence of a trusted alternative to Olivier Giroud meant the extremely raw Yaya Sanogo started the first game. Two goals City conceded were directly because of centre-back errors, while Arsenal gave themselves an extremely tough task in Munich, having failed to take full advantage of their early dominance at the Emirates. City's problem in defence has been clear for months, while Wenger was keen to sign another striker last summer. These problems must be addressed. theguardian.com © 2014 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds  |
| Barcelona players react to defeating Manchester City in Champions League – video Posted: 13 Mar 2014 05:02 AM PDT Cesc Fàbregas, Xavi and Javier Mascherano say they are happy, but cautious, after beating Manchester City to qualify for the quarterfinals in the Champions League  |
| Manchester City 'still alive and kicking' after Champions League exit – video Posted: 13 Mar 2014 04:47 AM PDT Manchester City's assistant manager Rubén Cousillas says the team are frustrated but happy with their performance after losing 2-1 to Barcelona  |
| Lionel Messi: 'We've returned to the Barça we want and the fans expect' Posted: 13 Mar 2014 04:33 AM PDT • Barcelona striker praises form in defeat of Manchester City Lionel Messi described Barcelona as being back to their best as they saw off Manchester City to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League and keep alive their hopes of the treble. Critics had rounded on Barça and their coach Gerardo Martino after the reigning champions suffered three defeats in six La Liga matches, with the latest – a shock 1-0 reverse at lowly Real Valladolid on Saturday – seeing them fall four points behind their arch rivals Real Madrid in the title race. That loss came four days before Barça's Champions League last-16 second leg against City and would have given the English side increased hope of overturning their 2-0 deficit from the home leg. However, there would be no fairytale recovery from City as the Catalan club earned a 2-1 win on the night to progress through to the last eight 4-1 on aggregate. Messi, who was on the scoresheet along with Dani Alves – the same scorers as in the first leg – believes his side showed just what they are made of in Wednesday's match. He said: "We were coming off two very serious setbacks away from home [at Real Sociedad and Valladolid], but more so for the performances than for the results. "Here we've returned to be the Barcelona that we want, that the fans expect." Messi also rubbished suggestions Barca's title hopes have been critically undermined by their recent poor form, pointing out there are still 11 games to go – including a clash with the leaders Madrid. "I don't know if the criticism was exaggerated or not. We're the first to be self-critical and we know we haven't done things well, we know when we've done badly," said the Argentinian, whose side are also through to the Copa del Rey final. "We lost the opportunity to continue being close to Real Madrid, but the league isn't lost whatsoever. There's a long way to go." The Barça defender Alves echoed those thoughts, saying on his club's official website: "We're very happy to go on to the next round. When things aren't going well it's normal for there to be criticisms. "Besides the goal I'm happy with how the team played, we always respond. There's only one path to follow. We had a slip, but we're moving forward." theguardian.com © 2014 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds  |
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