A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Rangers re-launch against Brechin
SCOTTISH LEAGUE:Rangers will be re-launched against Brechin tomorrow after Sevco Scotland were granted conditional membership of the Scottish Football Association.
The Scottish Football League announced that agreement had been reached following weeks of discussions, releasing a statement on behalf of the three football authorities.
The SFL, SFA and Scottish Premier League statement read: “We are pleased to confirm that agreement has been reached on all outstanding points relating to the transfer of the Scottish FA membership between Rangers FC (In Administration), and Sevco Scotland Ltd, who will be the new owners of The Rangers Football Club.
“A conditional membership will be issued to Sevco Scotland Ltd today, allowing Sunday’s Ramsdens Cup tie against Brechin City to go ahead. Following the completion of all legal documentation, the Scottish Premier League will conduct the formal transfer of the league share between RFC and Dundee FC on no later than Friday 3rd August 2012. At this point, the transfer of Scottish FA membership will be complete.”
North injury blow to Sligo's league hopes
AIRTRICITY LEAGUE PRMIER DIVISION:Sligo Rovers' hopes of lifting their first league title since 1977 were dealt a potentially damaging blow with the news yesterday that striker Danny North is out for the remainder of the season.
Englishman North, who has scored half of league leaders Sligo’s 28 goals this season, damaged knee ligaments in Thursday night’s Europa League clash with Slovak side Spartak Trnava.
The 24-year-old revealed on Twitter yesterday afternoon that, following a scan, the injury was worse than feared and that he had ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee, would need an operation and that his season is over.
Tomorrow’s rescheduled league meeting between St Patrick’s Athletic and Sligo Rovers at Richmond Park has been postponed due to St Patrick’s progressing through to the third qualifying round of the Europa League.
St Patrick’s, who beat Bosnian side Siroki Brijeg 2-1 in Inchicore on Thursday night now play Bundesliga club Hannover 96 in the first leg at Tallaght Stadium on Thursday night.
PAUL BUTTNER
City seem in better place than Arsenal after victory in Beijing
PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY:Roberto Mancini may be concerned about the state of his Manchester City squad but on the evidence of yesterday's high-profile friendly against Arsenal in Beijing, Arsene Wenger has more to worry about.
Two goals in three minutes from Pablo Zabaleta and Yaya Toure at the end of the first half allowed a City squad still lacking its Euro 2012 contingent to claim victory in a game that ended in monsoon conditions, with large pools of water appearing across the pitch.
In contrast, Wenger had most of his senior players available, although Robin van Persie was an obvious absentee, having been left at home amid massive speculation about his future.
Arsenal were restricted to a couple of decent Theo Walcott efforts before the interval.
City had to wait until the 41st minute to get their opener as Zabaleta strode up on the overlap and drove home Toure’s inviting pass. Toure scored his side’s second on their next attack as Sergio Aguero turned Aleksandar Kolarov’s cross into the path of the Ivorian, who stabbed home from close range.
Nasri banned for three games by France
DISCIPLINARY:Samir Nasri and Jeremy Menez have been handed suspensions from the France national team after a disciplinary hearing into their conduct during Euro 2012. Manchester City midfielder Nasri has been banned for three matches after an expletive-laden rant at reporters following France's quarter-final defeat by Spain, the French Football Federation (FFF) confirmed yesterday.
Paris St Germain winger Menez, who was not present at yesterday’s hearing, will sit out one game as punishment for confrontations with both Italian referee Nicola Rizzoli and his own keeper Hugo Lloris during the last eight clash.
New coach Didier Deschamps will be without both Nasri and Menez for their August 15th friendly against Uruguay.
Made history by awarding first penalty in a World Cup final
DEATH OF JACK TAYLOR:The English Football League have paid tribute to former referee Jack Taylor, who has died at his Shropshire home at the age of 82.
Described by the Football League as “perhaps the finest English referee of all time,” Taylor officiated in more than 1,000 matches during a career than lasted more than 30 years.
He also took charge of more than 100 international fixtures, including the 1974 World Cup final between West Germany and the Netherlands in Munich, where he made history by awarding the first penalty in a World Cup final.
Taylor was also inducted into Fifa’s Hall of Fame before working with the Football League following his retirement from refereeing, which included serving on The Leagues Referees Committee.
Greg Clarke, the English Football League chairman, said: “Jack Taylor set the benchmark for refereeing, not just in this country but across the world, and in later life he applied the same levels of integrity, commitment and sheer love of the game to his other roles in football.”
