A round-up of other soccer news
Staunton confirmed as Darlington manager
DARLINGTON have confirmed the appointment of former Republic of Ireland coach Steve Staunton as their new manager.
The club have also installed experienced former England international Kevin Richardson as his assistant in a double appointment.
Staunton will take over tomorrow, after Darlington’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy tie at Leeds, until the end of the season. He will take charge for Saturday’s league game at Dagenham Redbridge. Darlington are at the bottom of the English League.
Club chairman Raj Singh said: “We spoke to a handful of applicants over the weekend and Steve came across as the most professional and organised.”
Referee admits Old Firm penalty error
REFEREE CRAIG Thomson admits he should have awarded Celtic a second penalty in Sunday’s Old Firm defeat by Rangers at Ibrox.
With Rangers leading through a Kenny Miller goal, Thomson ignored appeals for a spot-kick in the 12th minute when Shaun Maloney went to ground in the box following a challenge by David Weir.
Thomson did award Celtic a penalty in the 25th minute after Sasa Papac tripped Zheng Zhi. Aiden McGeady scored from the spot.
However, by then, Miller had grabbed his second and the Ibrox side held onto their lead.
Through the Scottish Football Association’s Head of Referee Development, Hugh Dallas, Thomson admitted denying Maloney a penalty. Dallas said: “Whilst I would compliment Craig for his overall handling of yesterday’s encounter, he is disappointed at his error of judgement when he decided against awarding a penalty to the visiting team in the 12th minute.”
Zola denies rift at West Ham
WEST HAM manager Gianfranco Zola has not fallen out with chief executive Scott Duxbury and technical director Gianluca Nani over his club’s transfer dealings.
Reports over the weekend stated Zola was upset with the decision to sell Craig Bellamy and James Collins. In their place, West Ham have signed Italian striker Alessandro Diamanti and Portuguese defender Manuel da Costa.
But Zola insisted: “The squad is very good. I am very happy with the players I have got. I decided to have them and I am going to work with them,” he said.
Ribery ruled out
BAYERN MUNICH winger Franck Ribery has pulled out of the France squad for their crunch World Cup qualifiers against the Faroe Islands and Austria. The 26-year-old has a knee injury.
Second-placed France, four points behind leaders Serbia in Group 7, face the Faroe Islands on October 10th at Guingamp before meeting Austria at Saint-Denis four days later.
Foster to miss England games
MANCHESTER UNITED goalkeeper Ben Foster has been ruled out of England’s World Cup double-header against Ukraine and Belarus with a chest injury.
The English FA did not specify Foster’s injury when the squad was released on Sunday, but United have confirmed the 26-year-old is being “investigated” for an injury sustained during Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Sunderland.
Conspiracy theorists had suggested an injury was merely the excuse for omitting Foster when the decision had been taken on the grounds of form.
Foster has been blamed for Sunderland’s second goal at Old Trafford, when Kenwyne Jones showed more strength in an aerial duel. This came two weeks after what Alex Ferguson described as a “difficult” afternoon against Manchester City, when Foster was blamed for two goals.
