World Top Sports and Recent Tournament News

Rory McIlroy loses to Hunter Mahan in WGC Match Play final

noreply@blogger.com (reaid) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 15:20:00 +0000

Rory McIlroy missed the chance to become world number one when he lost to Hunter Mahan in the final of the WGC Match Play in Arizona on Sunday.
The 22-year-old US Open champion from Northern Ireland fought back on the back nine before losing 2&1.

He could not repeat his heroics of earlier in the day when he recovered from three down after four holes to beat Lee Westwood in the semi-final.
"I played a great back nine but left too much work to do," said McIlroy.
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There was a little stretch around five, six, seven and eight where I lost the match."
McIlroy recovered his composure on the back nine, pulled back two holes and had a great opportunity for an eagle on the 15th but he missed the putt and Mahan held his nerve to halve the hole in three.
"When I hit the tee shot on 15 I thought 'here we go' but Hunter made a good up and down and then I knew it would be tough after that," said McIlroy.
"I'm happy with how I'm playing and hopefully it's only a matter of time before I win."

Now he is looking forward to the Masters, which starts on 5 April. He said: "I can't wait. That's what I'm building up to. I've got two events before the Masters and it would be nice to get a couple of good results before that."
Mahan was delighted with the way he held off one of the world's best players.
"I felt great with my game coming in," he said. "Rory is a great player, the best in the world right now. I knew he was going to make a charge and I'm pretty pleased with the way I held on."
Defeat for McIlroy in Arizona means Englishman Luke Donald stays world number one.
The final was all-square after five holes but then Mahan took control by winning the next three holes.
Mahan birdied the sixth and then took advantage of McIlroy's double-bogey on the seventh and bogey on the eighth.

The American birdied the 10th to go four up before McIlroy finally found some magic by chipping in on the par-five 11th for an eagle.
McIlroy then birdied the 13th, only to watch the Californian roll in an eight-foot putt, after chipping out of a bunker, to halve the hole.
The Northern Irishman birdied the 14th - this time Mahan could not match him - to reduce the deficit to two down.

The next three holes were halved and Mahan took the title on the 17th.
Earlier McIlroy had beaten Ryder Cup team-mate Westwood 3&1 with a superb exhibition of matchplay golf.
McIlroy went behind on the second, found a greenside bunker on the third and then the greenside rough on the driveable fourth, as Westwood went three up after four holes.
But the world number three missed a putt from 10 feet to save par on the fifth and McIlroy birdied the sixth to bring the deficit down to one.
The man from Hollywood, County Down, drew level at the par-five eighth with a birdie putt from 14 feet.

Then he birdied the ninth, 12th and 13th and, amazingly, after being three down through four holes, was three up after 13.
Westwood hit back with an eagle on the par-five 15th but McIlroy wrapped it up on the 17th.
Westwood then lost the third/fourth place play-off to Mark Wilson. He was three down after 13 but won the next two holes to set up a last-hole finish but could not hole a 20-foot putt and Wilson won 1 up.

Phillips and Bardsley withdraw from Scotland squad

noreply@blogger.com (reaid) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 14:59:00 +0000

Blackpool winger Matt Phillips and Sunderland full-back Phil Bardsley have withdrawn from the Scotland squad ahead of the friendly against Slovenia.

Phillips has a hamstring injury while Bardsley has a suspected tear in his calf.
Celtic midfielder Scott Brown has also pulled out of the squad for Wednesday's encounter.
Wigan midfielder James McArthur was added after Brown withdrew but no-one else has been called up.
Celtic captain Brown missed the victory over Motherwell on Saturday because of a groin injury.
"They're going to be missing" said Scotland assistant manager Peter Houston.
"Craig's quite happy with the cover he's got and the players here against a Slovenian team that'll be a good match."

Houston said he was excited that young players like Phillips were emerging for the national side.
"The future is bright," he added. "Wednesday (friendly against Slovenia) is a build up towards trying to assemble a squad to take us forward."
Houston also expressed delight that Scotland had goalkeepers of the quality of Allan McGregor and Craig Gordon to call upon.

McGregor has been a consistent performer for Rangers, while Sunderland keeper Gordon is available following a year-long spell on the sidelines through injury.
"They're as good as anything, in my opinon, and playing at their best are hard to separate" said Houston.

Scotland can expect to face an organised Slovenia side on Wednesday, the Dundee United boss added.
"They're trying to get on the up as well. They've qualified for championships before and are solid enough: play 4-4-2 most of the time with two sitting midfielders."

Newcastle 0 - 1 Brighton

noreply@blogger.com (reaid) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 09:57:00 +0000

A Mike Williamson own goal handed Championship side Brighton a place in the FA Cup fifth round at the expense of Premier League Newcastle.

Will Buckley's 76th-minute shot struck the defender and looped over the helpless Tim Krul.
Newcastle wasted good chances, Leon Best twice firing just off target when well placed and having another shot saved by Peter Brezovan.
Yohann Cabaye had a shot charged down as Newcastle sought a late equaliser.
With Newcastle's Senegal strikers Demba Ba and Papiss Demba Cisse due to make early returns from the Africa Cup of Nations, Best and Shola Ameobi were keen to make an impression up front.
Best almost made a perfect start when he found space on the edge of the box and his low drive flew narrowly wide.

He wasted an even better chance in the 12th minute when Ameobi picked out Best, who headed over from six yards.
The best opportunity of the first half fell to full-back Danny Simpson. He stormed into the box to latch on to Hatem Ben Arfa's clever pass but stabbed his shot into the chest of Brezovan.
The Seagulls rarely threatened, although lively winger Buckley gave Italian defender Davide Santon a difficult time.

The second half started in a similar vein with Ameobi rolling the ball to Best, whose his angled shot struck Brezovan's legs. From the resulting corner, Ameobi's 10-yard strike was deflected just wide.
Newcastle became increasingly frustrated and tempers began to fray with Cabaye kicking out in a challenge with Adam El-Abd and appearing to catch the Brighton defender in the face.
El-Abd had been involved in a heated row with Best, which was then mirrored on the touchline when Brighton assistant Mauricio Taricco and Jon Carver, his opposite number at Newcastle, had a lively conversation after Simpson was booked for a strong tackle.

Krul was finally called into serious action in the 70th minute when he dived full length to keep out Craig Mackail-Smith's 20-yard strike.
But six minutes later he was beaten. Buckley jinked into the penalty area with a clever step-over and hit a left-footed shot which was diverted past Krul by Williamson.

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew made a triple substitution as he tried to salvage a replay.
The closest the visitors came was a Cabaye shot from the edge of the box that was blocked by Ashley Barnes. Newcastle's appeals for hand ball were waved away.

Tiger Woods and Robert Rock share Abu Dhabi lead

noreply@blogger.com (reaid) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 09:48:00 +0000

Tiger Woods and Robert Rock are two shots clear at the top of a congested leaderboard after a low-scoring third round at the Abu Dhabi Championship.

Former world number one Woods hit six birdies in a bogey-free 66 while England's Rock birdied the last two holes to claim a share of the lead.
First-round leader Rory McIlroy is tied third with three others on nine under.
Peter Hanson's eight-under 64 lifted him to a share of third with Francesco Molinari and Scotland's Paul Lawrie.

Swede Hanson rolled in four birdies on both the outward and inward nine to record the lowest round on a day of low scoring and catapult himself 29 places up the leaderboard.
The lead changed hands 24 times with South Africa's James Kingston, France's Jean-Baptiste Gonnet, Hanson and Rock all leading the standings and, at one stage, eight players were level at the top.
Woods, who showed glimpses of the form that has won him 14 major titles, looked set to hold the outright lead on his own though after a tremendous two-putt birdie on the last lifted him to 11 under.

"It's fun when I'm able to control the golf ball like I did,'' Woods said.
"It just seemed like I didn't do a lot of things right but I didn't do a lot of things wrong today. It was just very consistent."
The American opened his round with a 10-foot birdie putt and followed that with a run of five pars before picking up another shot after knocking his tee shot on the par-three seventh to five feet.
Further birdies followed on the 10th and 12th and he edged in front after rolling in his fifth of the round on the 14th.

Woods downplayed his chances of winning the tournament, insisting that he would have to shoot below par on Sunday in order to win only his second Tour title since 2009.
"There's a ton of guys with a chance to win,'' Woods said.
"I can't go out there and shoot even par and expect to win. I've got to go out there and go get it.''
Rock's round mirrored Woods's with five birdies in his opening 14 holes - a bogey five on the par-three 16th being the only blight on his card.

But he responded magnificently with birdies on the final two holes.
Lawrie also birdied the last, his seventh of the round in a four-under 68, to improve to nine under alongside McIlroy.
The Northern Irishman, playing alongside Woods, bounced back from Friday's up-and-down round by birdieing the first and fourth holes.
McIlroy three-putted the sixth for a bogey but he atoned by almost holing his tee shot on the seventh and tapping in a simple birdie.

Further birdies on the 15th and 17th lifted him to nine under and he showed good composure to par the last after finding trouble with his tee shot.
"I definitely felt today was a lot better than yesterday,'' McIlroy said.
"Hopefully I can just keep that going tomorrow and maybe get off to a fast start and put pressure on the guys in front of me.''

McIlroy's compatriot Graeme McDowell (68) and Wales' Jamie Donaldson (67) both knocked in six birdies to remain in contention on seven under, with 14 players within four shots of the leaders.
England's world number one Luke Donald birdied three of his first four holes but a bogey on the eighth and a double on the ninth halted his charge and a further dropped shot on the back nine saw him slip back to one over.
Lee Westwood, who has been struggling with a neck injury, produced a bogey-free 68 to move up to four under.

Sir Alex Ferguson writes to fans asking them to behave at Anfield

noreply@blogger.com (reaid) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:27:00 +0000

Sir Alex Ferguson has written to all Manchester United fans travelling to Anfield for Saturday's FA Cup fourth-round tie against Liverpool.

The United boss has asked for the fans to behave and for "positive, witty and loud" support.
The letter made no mention of the recent racism row, instead urging fans to help protect future allocations.
Ferguson did the same before the league game in October which resulted in more United tickets for this match.
"I wrote to fans attending the away match in October urging them to co-operate with stewards and officials at Liverpool, so we can make a strong case for restoring our allocation for future United games at Anfield," said the letter from Ferguson.

"The fans did almost everything asked of them that day and, as a result, we have a much improved allocation for this important FA Cup tie.
"Please do everything you can to continue that good work and protect next season's allocation."
Luis Suarez will again be missing for Liverpool as he serves the sixth game of his eight-match ban, after being found guilty of racially abusing Patrice Evra when the two sides drew 1-1 in the Premier League game at Anfield in October.
In the wake of the Suarez saga, the Football Association called on the two clubs to meet before the tie and hold peace talks over any bad blood between the two sides.
Ferguson said at the time that they were uncalled for.
"FA Cup ties are tense affairs at the best of times," his letter continued.
"Add in the fact that Manchester United against Liverpool is the biggest game around and it becomes even more so.

"Your support is vital to the team and down the years that has been especially true at Anfield."
Merseyside Police match commander, chief superintendent Jon Ward, said the behaviour of the "majority of the fans" at that last meeting at Anfield in October between the two sides was very good.
"We know that this match will be a busy operation," he said. "We hope that the fans will continue to act as ambassadors for their clubs and their cities and enjoy what I am sure will be a good game.
"We work closely with both clubs, Greater Manchester Police and the Football Supporters Federation and, if it's brought to our attention, any inappropriate remarks and behaviour will be acted upon."

Kenny Dalglish warns Liverpool after defeat at Bolton

noreply@blogger.com (reaid) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 11:34:00 +0000

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish had a stern warning for his players after their 3-1 defeat at Bolton.

The Reds were 2-0 down after 29 minutes and Dalglish said : I don't think the approach was correct. I don't think the way we went about our work was correct.
If that's the level they expect this football club to play at, they won't be here long.
"The most disappointing thing for me was I don't think they were ready to play the game."
Liverpool had won their last 10 matches against Bolton but succumbed to a heavy defeat thanks to what Dalglish labelled "the worst performance since I came back."
"If they think they can just turn up and get a result and not be competitive and not match the opposition for effort, then they have had a lesson today," he added.

"If we have learned from it then fine but we have to look at ourselves - without taking anything away from Owen Coyle and the way Bolton played - and what we can do and try to prevent it happening in the future."
Dalglish, who returned to the Canfield helm in January 2011 has been part of eight of Liverpool's 18 league titles as a player and manager, the last of which came in 1990.
"The foundations the football club have always been built on is respect for other people," said the 60-year-old Scot.

"It is built on the philosophy that the next game is the most important one, not the one that is two or three down the line.
"If they needed a lesson to be taught to them then this was it."

St Mirren 0 - 2 Celtic

noreply@blogger.com (reaid) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 06:15:00 +0000

James Forrest celebrated being named as one of Fifa's 13 young players to watch by scoring as leaders Celtic survived a tough test in Paisley.

St Mirren's Marc McAusland and Celtic's Gary Hooper both forced good saves in an even first half.
Celtic goalkeeper Fraser Forster denied Paul McGowan and new Buddies signing Dougie Imrie after the break.
But Forrest's low controlled shot after 70 minutes and Scott Brown's curler 17 minutes later won it for Celtic.
And it stretched the Glasgow side's run to 12 successive wins in the Scottish Premier League as they moved five points clear of Rangers ahead of the reigning champions' meeting with Aberdeen later in the afternoon.
Celtic manager Neil Lennon had shuffled his pack, bringing in Cha Du-ri, Ki Sung-Yueng and Forrest coming in for Adam Matthews, Emilio Izaguirre and Anthony Stokes.

But, although they started well, it was the Buddies who created the first chance after 12 minutes.
Former Celtic winger Graham Carey's corner as flicked on to the far post, where defender McAusland's half-volley from 10 yards was trapped on the line between the gangly legs of Forster.
Gary Hooper showed the confidence and eye for goal that has attracted a couple of failed bids from Southampton with an audacious attempt to catch out St Mirren goalkeeper Craig Samson.
However, his swift volley on the turn from all of 35 yards was pushed wide by the former Scotland Under-21 international.

Steven Thompson was thankful for a goal-line clearance by one of his own defenders after powering a header towards his own net as he attempted to clear a corner.
The Buddies' new signing from Hamilton, Dougie Imrie, had gone straight into Danny Lennon's side in place of the experienced Gary Teale.
And a cross from the former Clyde and Inverness forward, operating on the right despite preferring his left foot, found its way to Carey at the back post, where the winger sent a half-volley across the face of goal.
Forrest, whose progress limited Carey's chances at Celtic, at last managed to evade his markers and his near-post cross was headed across goal by Hooper.

Another Forrest cross landed on top of the crossbar, but a draw at half-time was fair on the balance of play.
St Mirren came out confidently after the break and Imrie shot straight at Forster before the goalkeeper produced a superb reaction save after Paul McGowan's flick diverted a wayward shot towards goal from 14 yards.
The frustrated Lennon hauled off Georgios Samaras and Ki after 57 minutes and the introduction of Kris Commons and Stokes gave Celtic new impetus.
St Mirren had a lucky escape moments later when Thomas Rogne's header from a corner came off McAusland's up-stretched arm.

It was the long arm of Forster that was to the fore when he superbly sent for a corner a powerful Imrie drive after the forward was found in space on the edge of the box from McGowan's neat flick.
St Mirren were undone after 70 minutes when Brown did well to play a first-time pass from Samson's punched clearance into the path of Forrest and the Scotland winger's low drive with the outside of his foot found the inside of the post from 18 yards.

Lee Mair forced another fine reaction save from Forster, while Hooper fired just wide at the other end.
However, Brown's superb finish from 18 yards ensured a victory against a Paisley outfit who have not scored in the last six meetings between the sides and who have not won a league game since beating Rangers on Christmas Eve.

Fulham 5 - 2 Newcastle

noreply@blogger.com (reaid) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 06:08:00 +0000

Clint Dempsey scored a hat-trick as Fulham stunned Newcastle in an extraordinary game at Craven Cottage.

Danny Guthrie's emphatic strike put Newcastle ahead, before Danny Murphy's penalty kick-started Fulham's comeback.
Dempsey bundled in his first and then finished off a blistering counter-attack before Bobby Zamora scored another penalty to make it 4-1.
Hatem Ben Arfa's individual effort gave Newcastle hope but Dempsey secured the points with a fine run and finish.

This remarkable match was always likely to hinge on how well Newcastle would cope without their Africa Cup of Nations stars - namely Cheick Tiote and Demba Ba - both of whom have been fundamental to the Magpies' successful campaign.
And, judging by their superiority throughout the first 45 minutes, it was a test they seemed well equipped to handle.

Ben Arfa, handed a start in the absence of Ba, featured on the right side of a front three that also contained Shola Ameobi and Leon Best, and the Frenchman was central to Newcastle's numerous first-half attacks.
The Magpies should have gone ahead when Fabricio Coloccini waltzed into the box unmarked, but then only managed to stab his effort straight at keeper David Stockdale from point-blank range.
It was a big miss that was forgotten moments later when Newcastle finally made their dominance count through Guthrie's long-range opener.

After collecting a pass from Ben Arfa, who had robbed Bryan Ruiz of the ball in the Fulham half, Guthrie rifled a thunderous left-footed shot past the outstretched Stockdale - a strike that sent the travelling support at the Putney End of the stadium wild with delight.
The error summed up Fulham's abject first-half performance. But the home side were handed a lifeline at the start of the second half when former Magpie Damien Duff was clumsily shoved in the back by full-back Davide Santon as he ran on to a long ball.

Santon, who was already on a yellow card, was lucky to escape further punishment before Murphy sent Dutch keeper Tim Krul the wrong way with the resulting penalty.
The goal ignited Fulham and suddenly the west Londoners looked the more likely to get a second. Zamora was denied by Krul, who smothered the England striker's attempt, before Chris Baird lashed the rebound just over the bar.

With Newcastle eager to re-establish their lead, they were found outnumbered at the back as substitute Andrew Johnson led a pacy counter-attack.
With Zamora to his right, Johnson played in the England striker, whose shot was parried to Dempsey, who turned in from close range.
Fulham were in the ascendancy, exposing Newcastle with every attack and the American soon put daylight between the sides with Fulham's third.

Set free down the right by Zamora, Dempsey fired low into the bottom corner to make it 3-1.
Newcastle were shell-shocked and had no answer to Fulham's second-half onslaught. The home side's incessant pressure meant a fourth goal was never far away - and it came courtesy of another penalty.
Centre-back Mike Williamson was unable to stop Johnson driving into a shooting position before Krul brought down the former Crystal Palace striker.

Like Santon earlier in the game, the Newcastle keeper was lucky to escape with a yellow card. But the real punishment came when Zamora, watched by England coach Fabio Capello, hammered the penalty down the middle.
Ben Arfa closed the gap to two goals again when he cut in from the right and fired a low shot inside the near post.

But the afternoon belonged to Fulham, and particularly Dempsey, who darted between Williamson and Coloccini to latch on to Murphy's long ball and fire in the first Premier League hat-trick by an American.

Coleraine's Owens scores two corners

noreply@blogger.com (reaid) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 05:59:00 +0000

Paul Owens scored two goals direct from corners in the second half of Coleraine's 3-1 win over Glenavon in the Irish Premiership.

Owens took advantage of the strong wind at the Showgrounds to bag his unusual double.
He almost made it a hat-trick of corners but was thwarted on the third occasion by Glenavon keeper David O'Hare.

Gavin Henson should be omitted from Wales squad says Emyr Lewis

noreply@blogger.com (reaid) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 11:37:00 +0000

Former Wales flanker Emyr Lewis says Gavin Henson does not deserve a place in the national squad for the Six Nations.

Henson has been left out of the Cardiff Blues squad for Sunday's crucial Heineken Cup clash with Racing Metro.
But the 29-year-old, who has played twice for Wales since 2009, is reportedly set to be named in the squad by coach Warren Gatland on Wednesday.
"To be perfectly truthful I don't think he deserves to be there," said Lewis.
After returning from injury in December to make his Blues debut at full-back, Henson played at centre for the first time for his new club in Saturday's victory over London Irish in the Heineken Cup.
But he has been overlooked for the Racing Metro encounter, where a bonus-point victory will ensure qualification for the quarter-finals, depriving him of the opportunity to impress before Wales' Six Nations opener against Ireland on 5 February.
"Looking at the way he has played during the last three games [for the Blues] he hasn't been at his best," added Lewis.
"On what I've seen so far there are far better players than him playing better rugby.
"I'm not saying they are better players than him, I'm just saying at current form he [Gatland] has to pick other players.
"I don't think he would have been picked at outside-half so the centres would have picked themselves.
"It would be Jamie Roberts, Jonathan Davies and I would also include Ashley Beck because currently he's on top of his game and he's definitely one for the future."
Lewis, who played for Llanelli and Cardiff, does not believe Henson has been given a chance by the Blues to play in his preferred position of outside-half.
"It's unfortunate he's been moved from full-back to inside centre especially thinking Dan Parks is the outside-half," he said.
"He's [Parks] renowned for his kicking game but not very much for his creative flair.
"It would have been far better if they had brought him [Henson] in at the beginning of the season to play at outside-half.
"He hasn't had the opportunity of doing that and it is unfair on him in fairness."
Wales' 30-man training squad is likely to feature the majority who performed well at the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.
Matthew Rees missed the tournament because of injury but returned to action as a replacement during the defeat against Australia at the Millennium Stadium in December.
However the Scarlets hooker is unlikely to regain the captaincy with Gatland set to keep faith with World Cup skipper Sam Warburton.
The fitness of Jamie Roberts remains a concern with the Blues centre yet to feature for his region this year after suffering a knee injury against the Dragons in late December.
However, Roberts is likely to be included in the squad, who will spend a pre-Championship training camp in Poland.
Gatland will be without injured locks Alun Wyn Jones and Luke Charteris while Dragons hooker Lloyd Burns is another injury absentee.
Emyr Lewis expects Gatland to call up a number of new faces, including Ospreys' Matthew Morgan, as Wales prepare for the Six Nations opener in Dublin.
"It's difficult to know the way Warren Gatland is thinking," added Lewis.
"Is he looking at the four-year plan? If he is then it wouldn't surprise me if the likes of Matthew Morgan would be included just to develop him as a player.
"If he comes in I don't think that Stephen Jones would be included because obviously he will not be available during the next World Cup."

Newcastle United sign striker Papiss Demba Cisse

noreply@blogger.com (reaid) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 11:26:00 +0000

Senegal striker Papiss Demba Cisse has joined Newcastle United from Bundesliga club Freiburg in a five-and-a-half-year deal, for an undisclosed fee.

The 26-year-old agreed the move before flying out to the Africa Cup of Nations, where he will join his new clubmate Demba Ba in the Senegal squad.
Cisse, who has scored nine goals in 15 league games this term, will wear the number nine shirt at Newcastle.
"It is an honour to play for such a big club," he said after signing.
Cisse will follow in a long line of number nines for Newcastle, for whom the likes of Hughie Gallacher, Jackie Milburn, Wyn Davies, Malcolm MacDonald, Mick Quinn, Andy Cole, Les Ferdinand and Alan Shearer have all become big favourites on Tyneside.

The Senegal striker, who who has netted seven goals in 12 international appearances, scored for his country in their 1-0 victory over Kenya in a warm-up game for the Nations Cup, which gets under way in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon on Saturday.
"I would like to thank everybody for their welcome, and for inviting me to sign for the club," he added.
"I want to pay back the confidence the club have shown in me and give the supporters something to be proud of.

I am aware of the huge importance of the number nine shirt and, when I spoke with the manager, he made it very clear how important this shirt is.
"I will treat it with the respect and I hope to do my very best in this shirt."
Although Cisse was valued at around £14m in the summer, it is thought Newcastle paid closer to £10m in their quest for a long-term successor to Andy Carroll, who joined Liverpool for approximately £35m in the 2011 January transfer window.

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew admitted: "Ever since Andy Carroll left, Papiss was my first choice in the specific role he has at the end of the play.
He is a finisher with an already-established CV in the Bundesliga, where we have monitored him for the best part of two years.
Unfortunately he was out of reach, financially, for us in the summer, but it recently became apparent that Derek Llambias and Lee Charnley could do the deal in this window.
It has become obvious this season that the team and the club have done exceptionally well, and Mike Ashley has backed me to bring this player to the club.

I would like to thank Mike, Derek and everyone involved for getting this deal over the line.
I spoke to Demba about Papiss, and he cannot wait to join up with his team-mate in Newcastle.
In the short-term, of course, he is at the Africa Cup of Nations, but the competition he will bring to our squad when he joins up with us should inspire the players and reassure them of this club's ambition.
Our fans know that this shirt brings its own pressures. One of the iconic numbers in world football - the number nine of Newcastle.
It will be only fair that Papiss is given time to understand the responsibility it brings.
"As the manager, I wish him all the luck in the world to bring success to himself and this club."

Newcastle managing director Derek Llambias added: We are very pleased to bring Papiss to the club.
It is a signing which perfectly complements the type of side Alan is building, and we are sure he will prove to be an excellent acquisition going forward.
"He has travelled a long way to come and sign with us today, and we thank the Senegalese Football Federation for their assistance in helping us secure the player."

England v Pakistan

noreply@blogger.com (reaid) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 11:15:00 +0000

Jonathan Trott removes Younus Khan in his first over, but Pakistan are building a healthy first-innings lead on the second day of the first Test against England in Dubai .

Judy Murray positive despite disappointing day

noreply@blogger.com (reaid) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 10:36:00 +0000

Fed Cup captain Judy Murray believes there are plenty of positives to take despite five Britons crashing out of the Australian Open in the first round.

Six British players qualified for the tournament - the first time this had happened at a Grand Slam since 1992 - two of the women were under 20.
Laura Robson and Heather Watson were knocked out in straight sets but the Murray believes the future is bright.

"I don't think anybody was expecting them to get through that and for those kids to be able to play against two of the best players in the world at the start of the year is a great test and a great lesson for them.
"It shows them what they are up against and what the level is like at the top of the game."

Three of the four women qualified by right due to their world ranking, while Robson, 17, battled through qualifying, beating Olga Savchuk of the Ukraine, Italian Anna Floris and American Melanie Oudin.
"Laura coming through qualifiers was a bonus particularly as she was on crutches about four weeks ago so it was really great to get her through."

She spent two weeks on crutches after doctors diagnosed the early signs of a stress fracture of the left shin.
Anne Keothavong and Elena Baltacha also crashed out at the first round stage and they will join Robson and Watson ahead of next month's Fed Cup in Israel.

Keothavong will remain in Melbourne though as she is set to play in the ladies doubles partnering German Mona Barthel, who beat her in the singles draw, when she was forced to withdraw with food poisoning.
They face Petra Martic of Croatia and Kristina Mladenovic of France in the first round.

Muhammad Ali at 70 - Bill Clinton hails Ali's worldwide impact

noreply@blogger.com (reaid) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 10:16:00 +0000

Muhammad Ali's talent, charisma and strong principals were responsible for raising boxing's popularity across the world, according to former US president Bill Clinton.

Clinton also credited Ali, who turned 70 on Tuesday, with helping pave the way for Barack Obama to become the country's first black president.
"He made millions of people believe. He was something unique" said Clinton.
Three-time world heavyweight champion Ali won 56 bouts over a 21-year career.
He also made plenty of headlines outside of the ring with his sharp words and refusal to take part in the Vietnam War.

But Clinton believes his fellow American's legacy will be the way he got the whole world talking about boxing again in the 1960s.
"People had moved away from boxing. It was a huge deal in America in the 1940s and 1950s and then they wrote it off," he told BBC Sport boxing commentator Mike Costello.
"Then here comes Muhammad Ali, first as Cassius Clay, looking like a ballerina in the boxing ring - reminding people it was a sport.
He made it exciting and meaningful again. He was entertaining and when he was younger he was always mouthing off. But it was part of his schtick.
"He made it part theatre, part dance and all power."

Ali risked his glittering career, and his reputation, to oppose the Vietnam War. He refused to serve in the US Army when he was called up for service and was subsequently arrested for committing a felony.
Boxing authorities suspended his licence and stripped him of his titles before he was found guilty of the offence after a 1967 trial. The US Supreme Court reversed the conviction four years later.
"It could have destroyed him but it didn't - because people realised he had been very forthright and he was prepared to pay the price for his convictions," said Clinton. "On balance he won more admirers than detractors."

Ali's success helped break down racial barriers in the US and create the path which eventually led to President Obama's election in 2008, according to Clinton.
"All those people from the Civil Rights years and also every African-American who did everything that destroyed the old stereotypes have helped," said Clinton, 65.
There was nothing inferior about Ali - he was superior on merit without regards to his race when it came to what he loved.

"All this stuff played a role. Society changes slowly, like icebergs turning in the ocean. Sometimes great symbolic events affect changes of consciousness of a whole country. Ali reflects a lot of that."
British broadcaster Sir David Frost, who famously verbally sparred with the boxer during television interviews at the height of his fame, believes Ali touched the hearts of millions with his words.

He said: Over the years Muhammad Ali spoke with peace. Not just for boxing but peace in general.
Although he spoke in this war-like rhetoric, it was already clear that the man beyond that rhetoric was a warm and friendly and peaceable man.
"He became the most famous man in the world for a long time. He's not far off it now even."
Former British heavyweight champion Frank Bruno insists the world will never see another boxer like Ali, whom he believes put "boxing on the map".
"He paved the way for boxers like myself to want to go into boxing and make a living for themselves," said Bruno.
"We're grateful we had Muhammad Ali to inspire us."

David Haye, who won the WBA heavyweight crown in 2009, added: "I believe he is the world's greatest ever athlete bar none."

Jamie Elson misses out as Branden Grace wins by one

noreply@blogger.com (reaid) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 09:40:00 +0000

Britain's Jamie Elson missed the chance to claim his first European Tour event by a shot as South Africa's Branden Grace hung on at the Johannesburg Open.

Midlander Elson carded a stunning nine-under-par 63 over Royal Johannesburg and Kensington's East Course to give him the clubhouse lead all afternoon.
But Grace just about kept his nerve on the back nine, parring his way in from the return to card a final round 72.
Elson's only win came on the Challenge Tour the year he turned pro in 2003.
Apart from that lone victory in the Finnish Open, the Warwickshire golfer has so far failed to fulfil the promise he showed in his amateur days when he was on the same Walker Cup team as Luke Donald and Nick Dougherty.

But that could soon change if US-educated Elson, 30, can repeat the same form he has shown in South Africa this week, picking up a cheque for £123,000 - more than double his previous biggest payday.
Already the son of former tour pro Pip is up to third in the order of merit for this year's Race To Dubai.
After carding a first day 63, Elson fell back on the second day with a 75 before a third round two-under-par 70 kept him on the fringe of contention.

But Elson bounced right back into contention with another brilliant 63, a final round that included six birdies on the front nine, including five in a row from the fourth.
He then carded seven straight pars before another birdie at the short 16th was followed by a magnificent 30-foot eagle three at the last, so nearly an albatross after his approach shot ran over the hole.
Elson, who holed a 40-foot birdie putt on the final green of the European Tour's qualifying school at the end of last year to secure his card, could then only sit and watch from the clubhouse.
But he had to settle for the runners-up spot again, just as he did in Madeira last spring, as, amid increasing tension, overnight leader Grace remained sufficiently calm.

Organisers had been forced to play catch-up for most of the tournament after thunderstorms and bad light.
But Grace, who had to return to the course to complete his third round on Sunday morning, finished the tournament on 17 under to claim his first European Tour title - and the £183,700 winner's cheque.
Tied for third, two behind Elson, were a group of six players on 14 under, Scottish duo David Drysdale and Marc Warren, and four more South Africans Jaco Van Zyl, Trevor Fisher Jnr, Dawie Van der Walt and Michiel Bothma.

Hull's Richard Finch, in contention for the opening three days, had a Sunday to forget after completing his third round with a bogey five on the 17th before then falling away badly in his final round when he shot a six-over-par 78 to finish on eight under.

Wayne Rooney got Vincent Kompany sent off says Roberto Mancini

noreply@blogger.com (reaid) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:15:00 +0000

Roberto Mancini has accused Wayne Rooney of putting pressure on referee Chris Foy to send off Vincent Kompany in Manchester City's 3-2 FA Cup defeat to Manchester United on Sunday.

The defender, 25, faces a four-match ban after he was sent off for a tackle on Nani at Etihad Stadium.
Mancini said: "It was not a red card. Rooney told him his decision."
When asked to clarify if he felt Rooney had influenced the decision, Mancini added: "Yes, he was near the referee."
Mancini says the club will appeal against the red card. He said: "We will do an appeal and I am sure that we will win.
"There is no way Vincent shouldn't play against Liverpool in the Carling Cup semi-final on Wednesday.
"It was 300% not a sending off."
Kompany's 12th-minute dismissal came as part of a calamitous first half for City, in which United took a 3-0 lead.

But Mancini's side, who lead United by three points at the top of the Premier League, fought back in the second period and almost forced an unlikely third-round replay.
"My feeling is good because we gave such a good performance," added the Italian. "I am disappointed we lost but I'm happy with our performance and proud of my players.
"I am disappointed with this game but I think we took two steps forward. If we play this way against United with 10 men and with the same attitude and strength in every other game then I think we will win the title.
"We did not want to concede any more goals in the second half and did not give them any chances, which was very good.

"At this moment it is difficult because we have players injured, players away, and now I think it is incredible that Vincent cannot play against Liverpool [in the Carling Cup]."
The drama at the Etihad began before kick-off, when United named Paul Scholes on the bench after the veteran midfielder came out of retirement to sign for the Reds Devils until the end of the season.
Mancini admitted he was surprised to see the return of the 37-year-old.
"Paul Scholes is a fantastic player but yes, it was strange to see him on the bench again," said the City boss.

Louis Oosthuizen successfully defends his Africa Open title

noreply@blogger.com (reaid) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 07:22:00 +0000

Louis Oosthuizen retained his Africa Open title in East London, beating fellow South African Tjaart van der Walt by two strokes in a field dominated by home players.

Oosthuizen had shared the overnight lead with rival Van der Walt.
But the 2010 Open champion made sure of victory when he birdied the 17th, as Van der Walt could only make bogey.
Scotland's Alastair Forsyth was the top non-South African, finishing in fifth place, five shots off the lead.
Another home favourite, double US Open champion Retief Goosen, finished third. He won the Africa Open in 2009.

It was a more comfortable victory for Oosthuizen than the 2011 event, which he won after a three-way play-off.
"The 17th was playing really tough today with the wind blowing off the right," Oosthuizen said.
"When Tjaart hit it short I aimed for the middle of the green. I had been leaving my putts short all day but I hit it firmly and it rolled really nicely."

Salford City Reds appoint Stephen Wild as captain

noreply@blogger.com (reaid) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 11:54:00 +0000

Salford City Reds have appointed Stephen Wild as the club's new captain and Luke Patten as vice-captain.

Wild, 30, takes over from Australian half-back Daniel Holdsworth, who spent last year as skipper.
Head coach Phil Veivers told the club website: "They're both leaders in their own right, and this is no detriment to outgoing captain Daniel Holdsworth.
"This allows Daniel to concentrate on playing footy, without any outside influences affecting his game."

Tigers' Twelvetrees sinks Wasps

noreply@blogger.com (reaid) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 11:46:00 +0000

Two tries, two conversions and five penalties from Billy Twelvetrees ensured Leicester Tigers saw off Premiership strugglers Wasps.

Nic Berry went over to give the visitors an 8-3 lead before Twelvetrees added his second and third penalties either side of a converted try.
The England Saxons international then kicked six more points after the break.
Twelvetrees was not finished yet as he rounded off a dominant display with his second try and conversion.
Standing in at fly-half for injured England international Toby Flood, Twelvetrees ran the show after Leicester had struggled to find their feet in the first 30 minutes of the match.
After Elliot Daly and Twelvetrees exchanged penalties, Nic Berry found space to charge through untouched and give Wasps a five-point lead.

The Tigers fly-half then kicked over his second penalty before being the quickest to react in picking up the ball after Thomas Waldrom went to ground and going over for his first try.
Having converted, Twelvetrees added three more points after Wasps fly-half Ryan Davis had fired over a penalty of his own.
Wasps started the second half well, applying pressure to Tigers' line, but again they failed to punish the hosts.
And it was not long before Leicester made the visitors pay as Twelvetrees added two more penalties before going over for his second try.

This time, after a series of determined attacks on the Wasps line, he collected a smart pass from England scrum-half Ben Youngs to put the ball down under the posts before adding his second conversion of the evening.
Leicester are now just below third-placed Northampton but level on points while Wasps are 10 points clear of bottom side Newcastle.

Andy Murray wins in Brisbane ahead of Australian Open

noreply@blogger.com (reaid) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 07:44:00 +0000

Andy Murray enjoyed the perfect preparation for the Australian Open with a comfortable victory over Ukraine's Alexandr Dolgopolov in the Brisbane International final.

In his final event before the year's first Grand Slam, Murray dominated from the off to beat the third seed 6-1 6-3.
He won nine straight games from 1-1 in the first set and, although Dolgopolov rallied, easily wrapped up the title.
"I'd like to say sorry to Alex; he had a problem with his leg," Murray said.
"It's my first week with this new team and it was good. Mr Lendl - he's up there somewhere, hiding," he added of new coach Ivan Lendl.
"I really enjoyed it. Hopefully it'll bring more success in the future."

The one slight concern for the world number four and his new coach will be a drop in concentration in the second set which allowed Dolgopolov to fight back from 4-0 to 4-3.
But the positives will far outweigh any negatives as they begin final preparations for the Australian Open, which begins in Melbourne on 16 January.

Murray, twice a finalist in the season's first major, including last year's straight sets defeat by Novak Djokovic, set the tone against Dolgopolov with a comfortable first service game that finished with an ace.
Although Dolgopolov levelled to get his first ATP Tour hardcourt final off to a positive start, that was at good as it got for the Ukrainian as Murray then reeled off nine consecutive games with a mixture of solid serving and attacking returns to move to within two games of the title.

Dolgopolov, who lost to Murray in the Australian Open quarter-finals in 2011, finally held serve for the first time in five attempts to avoid a second-set whitewash and then shocked Murray by claiming one of the breaks back with a fierce forehand on game point.
However, a solid hold by Murray in his next service game quickly quelled any thoughts of an unlikely turnaround and the 24-year-old then broke serve once more to win a 22nd career title.

Dolgopolov, hampered by a groin injury sustained in his semi-final win over second seed Gilles Simon, said: "I'd like to say sorry for some boring tennis from me today, but that's the best I could do."
Murray, the only British male guaranteed a place in the Australian Open main draw, will learn his first-round opponent when the draw is made on Friday 13 January.
World number six Jo-Wilfried Tsonga overcame fellow Frenchman Gael Monfils 7-5 6-3 in the Qatar Open final to claim his eighth ATP Tour title.

World number 15 Monfils beat top seed Rafael Nadal in his semi-final while Tsonga received a bye when Roger Federer withdrew because of a back injury.
That advantage ultimately told in the final, although Tsonga started sluggishly before rallying from 5-3 down in the first set as he claimed nine of the next 11 games against a fading opponent.
Tsonga said: "I have reached the [Australian Open] final already in 2008 so maybe I can win there. I will leave this tournament with a lot of confidence."

Champions Tournament - Byrd leads but Laird well placed

noreply@blogger.com (reaid) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 07:36:00 +0000

Defending champion Jonathan Byrd hit six consecutive birdies to take the first-round lead with a six-under par 67 in the season-opening Tournament of Champions in Hawaii.

The American hit eight birdies in total to take a one-shot lead over a group including Scotland's Martin Laird.
Laird started with two bogeys in the first three holes but finished with five birdies in his last seven holes.

The Scot told ESPN: "I'm very pleased with the way I battled back."
Laird, who is joined on 68 by United States golfers Steve Stricker, Webb Simpson and Michael Bradley,

added: "I've been playing great the last few days so I wasn't too worried after three holes, there's still a long to go.
"I started landing in the right spots on the back nine and finally made some putts."
The tournament at the par-73 Plantation Course in Kapalua, open only to last season's title winners, is designed to start the season in style but three of the four reigning Major champions - Rory McIlroy and Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland and Charl Schwartzel of South Africa - opted to bypass the $5.6 million event.

The field was further reduced to 27 when former US Open champion Lucas Glover withdrew at the last moment with a sprained knee.
Byrd, whose run of birdies began at the third, was delighted with his impressive start.
"The front nine was fun. You're never sure what you've got starting off the first round of the year," said Byrd, who has not won a tournament since his play-off victory here last year.
Stricker finished strongly, overcoming a double-bogey at the par-three eighth to close with birdies at four of his last five holes.

Michael Bradley joined the group with a blemish-free round that included five birdies, while Simpson's five-under round included an eagle at the par-five fifth.
Keegan Bradley also hit an eagle at the par-five ninth, where he holed out from short of the green, to finish four-under on 69.

Newcastle 2 - 1 Blackburn

noreply@blogger.com (reaid) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 07:23:00 +0000

Jonas Gutierrez scored a stoppage-time winner as Newcastle came from behind to dump Premier League strugglers Blackburn out of the FA Cup.

The Argentine played a one-two with Leon Best and lofted a delicate finish over goalkeeper Mark Bunn.
Blackburn had weathered an early storm before taking the lead through David Goodwillie's close-range finish.
A wonderful individual goal by Hatem Ben Arfa made it 1-1 before Gutierrez snatched the victory.
The winner arrived in the fifth minute of added-time but was just reward for a dominant second-half performance by the Magpies.

Ben Arfa's magical goal - the France international beat several Blackburn players before firing past Bunn - sparked a late onslaught and the hosts had already missed several chances before Gutierrez's late intervention.
The defeat inflicts further misery on Blackburn boss Steve Kean, whose team are rooted to the bottom of the league.
In fact, Blackburn could easily have fallen behind inside the first 10 minutes as Bunn was forced into saves by Leon Best and Gutierrez. Ben Arfa then teed up Yohan Cabaye, but the French midfielder fluffed his effort.
Blackburn responded with a spell of pressure and Ruben Rochina had a left-footed shot saved by Tim Krul in the 20th minute.

The opening goal came after 35 minutes when Grant Hanley's header from a Morten Gamst Pedersen corner was saved by Krul, and Goodwillie prodded home the loose ball.
Newcastle brought on Shola Ameobi early in the second-half and the big striker was soon into the thick of the action when Cabaye pounced on Henley's loose pass to play him in, but he lifted his shot high and wide.
But the home side were back in the game 20 minutes from time when Ben Arfa slalomed around several yellow shirts and fired an unstoppable left-footed shot into the roof of the net.

The Magpies pushed for a winner which almost arrived when Mike Williamson headed a Ryan Taylor corner against the bar.
And Williamson was denied once again seven minutes from time when Bunn clawed out his flicked header on the line.
But with seconds left Gutierrez exchanged passes with Best before clipping the ball past Bunn to send Newcastle into the fourth round.

Salford City Reds appoint Stephen Wild as captain

noreply@blogger.com (reaid) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:44:00 +0000

Salford City Reds have appointed Stephen Wild as the club's new captain and Luke Patten as vice-captain.

Wild, 30, takes over from Australian half-back Daniel Holdsworth, who spent last year as skipper.
Head coach Phil Veivers told the club website: "They're both leaders in their own right, and this is no detriment to outgoing captain Daniel Holdsworth.
"This allows Daniel to concentrate on playing footy, without any outside influences affecting his game."

IRB to undergo Steven Shingler's Scottish eligibility review

noreply@blogger.com (reaid) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:39:00 +0000

Steven Shingler's eligibility to play for Scotland is to be examined by the International Rugby Board after it was questioned by the Welsh Rugby Union.

The fly-half was named in Scotland's Six Nations squad but world rugby's governing body stepped in after a query from the WRU and Scottish Rugby Union.
Shingler played for Wales Under-20 against France in the 2011 Six Nations.
Both nations had declared the age-group squads as their second XVs but Shingler insists he did not sign a declaration.

The 20-year-old, who plays for London Irish in the English Premiership, claimed he "declined to sign a declaration" committing his international future to Wales.
"The International Rugby Board has been contacted by the Scottish Rugby Union and Welsh Rugby Union regarding the eligibility status of Steve Shingler," confirmed the IRB.
"It would be inappropriate to make any further comment until the matter has been fully reviewed and the Unions informed of the outcome."
Scotland insist he is eligible to be in their Six Nations squad.

The SRU said: "Although he played for Wales Under-20 against France Under-20 last season, Steven has confirmed to Scottish Rugby that he declined to sign a declaration from the WRU that he was committed solely to representing Wales at senior level.
"Steven has informed us that he made it clear that he wished to leave open his international eligibility as he was also eligible to represent Scotland and England as well as Wales."
Scotland coach Andy Robinson believes Swansea-born Shingler, who played full-back for Wales Under-20s, qualifies for Scotland as a result of his Dumfries-born mother.
But on Thursday the WRU said: "The Wales U20 team is currently the WRU nominated side for qualification.

"All Welsh players who represent Wales at U20 level against nations which also designate their U20 teams as their qualification sides are informed that they will then be registered as liable for Wales selection only at senior level.
"Shingler played for Wales U20's against France in 2011 before which he was specifically informed, as were his fellow squad members, that the match would confirm their sole qualification as potential Wales senior international candidates.
"Shingler was told by the U20 team management that if he played in the game he would become a Wales qualified player and therefore ineligible for selection for any other nation.
"The regulations and guidelines relating to qualification compliance are set in accordance to IRB regulations and any questioning of these regulations should be directed to the IRB."
On Friday the WRU said they had written to the IRB to outline how they had informed relevant players, including Shingler, that they were eligible "only to selection for Wales" following the U20 match against France.

Neither Wales nor France field an A team and both nations declared the age-group squads as their "next senior XV-a-side national representative team". The WRU are quoting IRB regulation eight on international eligibility.
"Scottish Rugby believes we have acted in good faith in this matter," added the SRU statement.
"And have also taken cognisance of an IRB ruling last year concerning two players who played for Wales Under-20 against France Under-20 in 2010 who now play for Connacht and are eligible for Ireland."

James Loxton and Matthew Jarvis are the Connacht players in question but the WRU argue that, unlike in 2010, the 2011 Six Nations Under-20s game with France was sanctioned by the IRB as a "next senior XV-a-side national representative team" so any player on the field would be committed to that country.
Shingler was selected by Scotland coach Andy Robinson along with five other uncapped players - Edinburgh's Lee Jones, Sale Sharks lock Fraser McKenzie and Glasgow trio Stuart Hogg, Duncan Weir and flanker Robert Harley.

Luis Suarez defence damages Liverpool reputation _ Jason Roberts

noreply@blogger.com (reaid) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:28:00 +0000

Liverpool could damage their reputation if they continue to insist Luis Suarez is not guilty of racist abuse, says Blackburn striker Jason Roberts.

Suarez was banned for eight games for racially abusing Patrice Evra.
Liverpool decided not to appeal against the ban but issued a strongly-worded statement defending the player.

Roberts said: "Liverpool's stance of saying he's done nothing wrong goes against the spirit of our league. When you read the report, it's quite ugly."
An independent Football Association commission ruled that Suarez, 24, had racially abused Evra during a 1-1 draw between Liverpool and Manchester United in October.
The commission's report stated that the Uruguayan striker had used the term "negro" seven times in around two minutes and criticised him for providing "unreliable" and "inconsistent" evidence at the hearing.
Liverpool decided not to appeal against Suarez's ban, but issued a statement saying it was their "strongly held conviction... that the Football Association and the panel it selected constructed a highly subjective case... based on an accusation that was ultimately unsubstantiated".

They are a proud club with lots of fans of different cultures and nationalities and it's important to think about how they would feel about being treated in the same way.
"Knowing people are from different nationalities and have different cultures is an important part of building your brand. You also have to know that players certainly don't accept being spoken to in that way."
Suarez and Liverpool claimed "negro" was a commonly used term in the striker's homeland of Uruguay and that it was often used affectionately there.

But Roberts, who received an MBE in 2010 for his services to sport in Grenada, added: "To use those words in that tone and context is certainly not acceptable in our leagues.
"It's not good enough to say, 'It's OK where I come from, so we do it here'. That's not the way we judge our society or the Premier League. They were ugly scenes and I'm worried that kids would have seen this.
"This is something that has to be told to everyone - it's not tolerated, especially in our leagues, as diverse as they are."
Roberts, 33, said foreign players needed to be better educated about what was and was not acceptable in England.

He added: "He [Suarez] should have been educated, that's certainly something that's come out of this.
"If you're going to come and play in the Premier League and live in our society, it's important that you understand the rules we abide by.
"Anyone who understands the culture here knows you wouldn't use those words, certainly not in the context in which they were used."

Roberts also said he was concerned that Evra had been forgotten during the whole affair.
"I'm more worried about how Patrice Evra has felt about the whole thing," he said.
"Not enough people have spoken about him and the issues he went through. Yes, he said some things back to Suarez and there was an argument, but he would have felt incensed by what was said and rightly so."