SOCCER SHORTS: THE ENGLISH Premier League have dismissed speculation over the ownership of FA Cup holders Portsmouth after new claims surfaced. Reports in Israel appeared to suggest Fratton Park supremo Alexandre Gaydamak was really only managing the club for his controversial father, Arkadi.
A list of Gaydamak family assets published in the Israeli press cites Portsmouth as belonging to Arkadi, who when the club was sold in January 2006 by Milan Mandaric had an international arrest warrant outstanding against him. It had been issued by French magistrates, who wanted to question the 56-year-old about alleged illicit arms trading to Angola during the 1990s.
In light of reports the Premier League, whose rules contain a "fit and proper persons" test for club owners, who must submit an annual declaration to that effect, contacted Portsmouth again for assurances the situation had not changed since Alexandre Gaydamak took control. And they have been satisfied with the information they received.
Samaras keeps firing for Celtic
GEORGIOS SAMARAS took his goal tally to nine in six games as Celtic eased into the quarter-finals of the Scottish League Cup by brushing aside Livingston at Parkhead last night.
A Glenn Loovens header from a Paul Caddis cross after 23 minutes gave the Hoops a first-half lead against the Scottish First Division leaders who, despite being neat and tidy at times, never looked like producing a shock.
Greece international Samaras showed why he has established himself Celtic's as number one striker this season after making his loan deal from Manchester City permanent when he added a second just after the hour mark, heading home from close range after being set up by Loovens.
With 10 minutes remaining, Samaras turned provider for Scott Brown, on for Massimo Donati, to grab the third and there was still time for the Greek to score his second from the spot after Shaun Maloney, who had replaced Scott McDonald, was tripped in the box by Livi defender Dave Mackay.
With tougher games against Aberdeen and Villarreal coming up, Celtic manager Gordon Strachan made full use of his rotation system when he made seven changes to his side following Sunday's Premier League win over Kilmarnock.
Georgia home games get all-clear
GEORGIA HAVE been given the go-ahead by Fifa to stage two World Cup qualifiers next month in the nation's capital Tbilisi.
Georgia's Group Eight home game against the Republic of Ireland on September 6th was switched to the German city of Mainz, after Tbilisi was deemed unsafe following fighting with Russia over the breakaway provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. However, Georgia will have home advantage once more when they host Cyprus on October 11th and Bulgaria on October 15th.
Attwell gets top flight reprieve
STUART ATTWELL will be back on Premier League duty this weekend despite his high-profile error in awarding Reading a goal against Watford last Saturday.
Attwell has been chosen as the fourth official for Middlesbrough's top-flight meeting with West Brom at the Riverside on Saturday.
The 25-year-old, who earlier this season became the youngest referee to officiate in the Premier League, was thrust into the spotlight following his Vicarage Road blunder.
Attwell, under guidance from assistant Nigel Bannister, ruled Reading had opened the scoring with a John Eustace own goal in the 13th minute even though the ball had bobbled well wide of the post.
Reading manager Steve Coppell had offered to replay the game but the Football League confirmed yesterday the decision could not be overturned retrospectively.
Attwell has, however, been stood down from duty for tonight's League Cup third-round match between Ipswich and Wigan, with Mike Dean taking his place.
Owen laments Keegan's departure
NEWCASTLE CAPTAIN Michael Owen admits he and his team-mates were devastated to see manager Kevin Keegan leave the club. The 28-year-old's strike at West Ham on Saturday was too little to prevent the crisis-torn club from slipping to a third successive defeat.
Caretaker boss Chris Hughton now faces the task of raising the players for tonight's League Cup third-round clash with Tottenham, and Owen admits the manager's loss has had a lasting effect.
He said: "We all liked Kevin Keegan and we were sad to see him go. We are all feeling it at the moment - but we have got to snap out of the doom and gloom and try and get some confidence and results, and at the minute, not picking up the results is hurting the players."
