A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Fifa start cases against 10 officials
FIFA OPENED cases against another 10 officials from the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) yesterday related to the now infamous meeting held in Port of Spain, Trinidad, in May. Fifa said they were investigating the 10 regarding possible violations of the Fifa Code of Ethics following the meeting which led to the downfall of former Concacaf chief Jack Warner and his Asian Football Confederation counterpart Mohamed Bin Hammam. They both left their positions and Fifa’s executive committee following bribery allegations stemming from the May meeting.
They were accused of attempting to bribe CFU officials to vote for Bin Hammam in June’s presidential election against Sepp Blatter. Trinidadian Warner subsequently resigned from Fifa and Qatari Bin Hammam was found guilty and banned from soccer for life.
Rooney must wait another week
UEFA HAVE delayed giving the English Football Association their written reasons behind England striker Wayne Rooney’s three-match ban “for another week at a minimum”.
The European governing body had been expected to provide the FA with the reasoned decisions for the ban – imposed on the England striker for kicking Miodrag Dzudovoic during the 2-2 draw with Montenegro which saw them reach ther finals – by today.
Levante continue to live the dream
SURPRISE LEADERS Levante continued their remarkable early-season run in La Liga when Ruben Suarez netted a stoppage-time winner to help beat Real Sociedad 3-2 last night.
Six straight wins had lifted the unbeaten Valencia-based side, whose annual budget of around €20 million is one of the smallest in the league, above Barcelona and Real Madrid to the top of the standings.
Their latest success gave them 23 points from nine matches, two ahead of Barca following the champions’ 1-0 win at Granada on Tuesday.
Daniel Estrada put Sociedad ahead in the fourth minute. Nano levelled for the home side nine minutes after the break with a deflected shot and Valdo nodded Levante in front seven minutes later before Inigo Martinez drove the ball through a crowd of players for an 86th-minute equaliser. Suarez smashed in a superb long-range free kick deep into added time to ensure Levante can live the dream for a few more days at least.
Hodgson relieved Long injury not too serious
ROY HODGSON has admitted his relief at West Brom striker Shane Long only being sidelined for six weeks after fearing a much longer lay-off.
Long suffered a knee injury in a challenge from Aston Villa’s Alan Hutton during Saturday’s derby, a tackle Hodgson claimed merited a red card. But he could be back by early December although that will still rule him out of Ireland’s Euro 2012 play-off with Estonia.
Hodgson said: “I was a bit relieved although six weeks is still a lot. It means he will still possibly miss six games. You don’t take the situation lightly – but we know it could have been a lot worse.”
The West Brom manager is hoping another Albion striker, Simon Cox, can help Ireland overcome Long’s absence.
“It is a blow for them and a big blow to Shane who is a very patriotic Irishman who was looking forward to helping his country get to the European finals,” said Hodgson. “But it looks like they can fill the gap and maybe Simon Cox can help them.”
Celtic storm into last four
CELTIC STORMED back from a goal down at Easter Road last night to thrash Hibernian 4-1 and book their place in the semi-finals of the Scottish League Cup.
An unfortunate own goal by Hoops defender Daniel Majstorovic after four minutes gave the home side the interval lead, but in a second-half turnaround a James Forrest double and goals from Anthony Stokes and Gary Hooper put the Parkhead men in the hat alongside Kilmarnock and First Division sides Ayr United and Falkirk.
To compound a miserable night for Hibernian their winger Ivan Sproule, whose shot had cannoned off Majstorovic for the goal, was sent off by referee Willie Collum in the 71st minute after picking up a second yellow card for a foul on Forrest.
After that, It was a case of damage limitation for the Edinburgh side who, in the end, were glad the margin of defeat was not even greater.
Gallas and Pienaar set for return
TOTTENHAM COACH Clive Allen has revealed long-term absentees Steven Pienaar and William Gallas could be in contention to face QPR this Sunday after the pair returned to training.
South Africa midfielder Pienaar underwent groin surgery in the summer and French defender Gallas has been battling calf injuries, resulting in them both missing the start of the season. “I don’t know if William will play but he could well be involved,” said Allen.
