A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Zimbabwe coach suspended
THE Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) have suspended national coach Norman Mapeza and his assistant on suspicion of being linked to a match-fixing scandal which has led to the suspension of more than 80 players.
ZIFA chief executive Jonathan Mashingaidze said the board had decided to suspend all players and coaches named in a report on suspected match-fixing during Zimbabwe’s friendly matches, mostly played in Asia, between 2007 and 2010 “until they are cleared by the independent ethics committee”.
ZIFA has set up the ethics committee to probe the allegations.
Spanish giants top money league
MANCHESTER United are falling behind Barcelona and Real Madrid in the “Money League” of the world’s richest clubs, according to a new report.
The report by analysts Deloitte says although United’s revenues continue to grow they have not kept pace with the Spanish giants, who have the advantage of being able to negotiate their individual TV rights deals. United’s failure to qualify from the group stage of the Champions League this season will see the gap widen further next year, say Deloitte.
Real Madrid remain top of the money league with revenues in 2010/11 of €479m with Barcelona second on €451m Manchester United third on €367m, followed by Bayern Munich and Arsenal.
Ivory Coast to face Zambia in final
EMMANUEL Mayuka came off the bench to score a late goal and give Zambia a shock 1-0 win over four-times champions Ghana in their African Nations Cup semi-final yesterday.
Ghana dominated on a wet and steamy evening and Asamoah Gyan missed an eighth-minute penalty, but Mayuka produced the winning goal against the run of play in the 78th minute.
Mayuka received the ball with his back to goal, controlled it with his first touch then swung and sent a shot curling past Adam Kwarasey and in off the post.
In the other semi-final a brilliant individual goal from Gervinho just before half-time helped the Ivory Coast to defeat Mali 1-0.
Bates in no hurry with appointment
LEEDS chairman Ken Bates has confirmed caretaker-manager Neil Redfearn will be given at least another three games in charge to prove he is the man for the permanent job. Bates, in no rush to instal a permanent successor to Simon Grayson, sacked last Wednesday, said he had been inundated with applications.
“I’m happy to say that Neil will be in charge for at least the next three games,” said Bates. “That’s Brighton, Coventry, and Doncaster. Those three games are all very winnable.
“We have been inundated with applications from the cheeky to the outlandish. We’ve also had Sven-Goran Eriksson apply, but he won’t be coming.”
Morrison lands himself in some fresh hot water
RAVEL Morrison may have started a new chapter of his career at West Ham but the teenage midfielder, whose career has been synonymous with controversy, has landed himself in fresh bother after posting an alleged homophobic threat on Twitter.
The 19-year-old, who left Manchester United for Upton Park on the final day of the January transfer window, has been asked by the English FA to explain himself.
“Crack head?” he wrote. “Go suck out u little faggot your a guy that talks if u see me you try slap me I’m in manchester every week.” The tweet was later deleted.
West Ham said in a statement, “Ravel and the club will co-operate fully with the FA’s request,”
There have previously been charges of witness intimidation and an altercation with his girlfriend and, when Alex Ferguson lost patience with him, his sale was sanctioned.
GuardianService
