A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Henry apologises for swearing at supporter
THIERRY Henry has apologised for swearing at an Arsenal fan following his side’s 3-2 Premier League defeat at Swansea City on Sunday. Henry, playing in his second match since rejoining Arsenal on loan earlier this month, admitted losing his temper when an Arsenal supporter insulted him at Liberty Stadium.
“I was really shocked and disappointed on Sunday, and not just at the result,” Henry said. “After the final whistle of a very tricky game, I insisted the whole team go and applaud the Arsenal supporters. When I arrived in front of our fans, I couldn’t understand the abuse the team were getting from one of them. I wanted to tell the fan in question we need their support not abuse. The sentiment was right but in hindsight could have been better expressed. So I would like to first and foremost apologise for using inappropriate language to that particular ‘supporter’.
“I didn’t intend to be malicious or threatening and am aware it could have been said in a calmer manner.”
Blatter backs Platini as Fifa president
MICHEL Platini will be a good president for Fifa, incumbent Sepp Blatter said yesterday.
Swiss Blatter, whose spell at the helm expires in 2015, believes Europe will fight to keep control of world soccer’s governing body with Uefa president Platini of France a natural candidate.
“Michel Platini is ready, if he wants. He says ‘I don’t know yet . . .’ but deep inside, he wants it,” the 75-year-old Blatter told France Football magazine yesterday.
“Of course he will be a good president. He will not be the same president that I am, because everyone is different but he will be a good president.”
Blatter reaffirmed his current spell in charge would be his last.
“At some point, you have to stop. I’m trying to reach 2015. I’m coming towards the end of my presidency but I want to install the next governance,” he said.
Trapattoni happy Wilson will stay
GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI has welcomed the decision of Stoke defender Marc Wilson to reiterate his international ambition of playing for the Republic of Ireland.
Trapattoni was responding to suggestions the Antrim man might declare for Northern Ireland, having made just a nine-minute cameo for the Republic in the Nations Cup win over Wales last February.
Yesterday, Wilson scotched any talk of an international U-turn, saying: “If I’m not going to play for the Republic then I won’t play international football.”
In a brief reply, Trapattoni said: “We’re happy he’s confirmed that he wants to stay with us. We’ll continue to monitor Wilson and we will not exclude him.”
Wilson (24) also expressed surprise at criticism he received from Trapattoni last week and insisted he would have no problem apologising if he knew what it is he is alleged to have done.
“There is not a single incident I can think of that he can be thinking about. I’m in the dark about it.”
Old friends gather for Ablett
FORMER teammates and current professionals were among the mourners who yesterday attended the funeral of ex-Liverpool and Everton defender Gary Ablett. The 46-year-old died on New Year’s Day after a 16-month battle with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish and Everton boss David Moyes were present at the city’s Anglican Cathedral along with many of Ablett’s team-mates – including John Barnes, Alan Hansen, Mark Lawrenson, Duncan Ferguson, Matt Jackson and David Unsworth – and other contemporaries from the 1980s and early 1990s. Everton’s Phil Neville and Tim Cahill were joined by former managers Joe Royle and Howard Kendall and ex-Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez. Roy Keane, who briefly worked with Ablett at Ipswich, was present along with England Under-21 manager Stuart Pearce.
Under-16s hold on to beat Portugal
TWO goals in the space of 12 first-half minutes sent the Republic of Ireland under-16s on their way to victory over Portugal in a double-header friendly match in Lisbon yesterday. A long-range effort by Sheffield United winger Connor Dimaio had Ireland ahead on 18 minutes. They were rewarded with a second goal on the half hour when Dean O’Halloran’s cross was swept home by striker Eoghan Stokes. Portugal were much improved in the second half and cut the deficit within three minutes through Hugo Meira’s close-range finish. The countries play again tomorrow morning at 11am.
REPUBLIC IRELAND UNDER 16: Burke (Moville Celtic); Rainey (Bonagee Utd), Baba (Castlebar Celtic), Dempsey (Northend Utd), O’Hanlon (Liverpool); OHalloran (Southend), Crowley (Aston Villa), C Donnellan (Corinthians), Dimaio (Sheffield Utd); Moseley (Birmingham City), Stokes (St Kevin’s Boys). Subs: Mulhall (Stella Maris) for Dimaio (53 mins), Traynor (St Joseph’s Boys) for Rainey (58 mins).
Club says Samba is not for sale
BLACKBURN have insisted Chris Samba is not for sale despite the club captain handing in a transfer request. The Congolese defender told Rovers yesterday he wanted to leave before the end of the transfer window. However, the club – who turned down two bids for the centre-back last week – have stressed they have no plans to sell the 27-year-old. “Blackburn Rovers reiterate that team captain Chris Samba is not for sale,” said a statement.
Hearts face unlimited sanctions
HEARTS have been charged with “failing to behave with the utmost good faith” over the delayed payment of player wages, the Scottish Premier League announced yesterday evening.
Disciplinary proceedings and the prospect of unlimited sanctions have been opened by the SPL, who determined January’s wages, due yesterday, did not arrive on time. Hearts reject the claim. Following a meeting of the SPL’s board of directors, a statement was issued, charging the club, with a hearing to be scheduled in due course. The SPL statement read: “The board met this evening to consider the alleged failure by Heart of Midlothian FC to comply with the terms of the order made by the SPL on January 4th, 2012 that the club pay the January wages due to the relevant players on the due date of January 16th, 2012. As a result, Heart of Midlothian FC are being charged . . . with failing to behave with the utmost good faith to the SPL.”
