Football news

Jurgen Klinsmann praised an encouraging performance from his United States team after his first match in charge ended in a 1-1 draw against Mexico on Wednesday.

Robbie Rogers saved the new coach from a debut defeat with a 73rd-minute equaliser, and said he had been inspired by the German all-time great.

“It was a special moment,” Klinsmann said.

“It was a special moment before the game, listening to the anthem and feeling the energy from the stadium and the players.”

No bail change for Yeung

Birmingham City owner Carson Yeung, who has been charged with money-laundering in Hong Kong, was yesterday refused permission to attend the club’s first home game of the season.

Yeung, a one-time hair-dresser turned football tycoon, appeared in court to seek a change to his bail conditions so he could go on a four-day trip to Britain. He was barred from leaving the southern Chinese territory after his arrest in June.

Magistrate David Dufton re-fused the application and Yeung’s lawyer, Jonathan Kwan, said they would consider making an appeal at the High Court.

Zhirkov heckled over Anzhi move

Russia’s footballers yesterday expressed outrage after Yuri Zhirkov was heckled by fans over his move to an ultra-rich club from the Muslim North Caucasus.

Zhirkov was whistled and pelted with a cigarette packet at an international friendly, in a show of anger by hard-core Moscow fans over his move from Chelsea to Anzhi Makhachkala.

He was substituted, apparently upset by the reactions, 70 minutes into the friendly against Serbia that Russia won 1-0 with a goal from Pavel Pogrebnyak.

“I’m glad we didn’t concede any goals,” Pogrebnyak said.

“But what upset me were the fans chanting unprintable words in Zhirkov’s direction. I hope it doesn’t happen again.”

Riots trouble Spurs keeper Gomes

Tottenham goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes admits he has been concerned by the rioting which has hit London.

The disturbances, which began in the Tottenham area on Saturday, were followed by similar scenes in cities including Manchester, Liver-pool and Birmingham.

Gomes, based in Chigwell, has stayed away from the affected areas, and told Brazilian football website globoesporte.com: “We have not seen anything yet, because our neighbourhood is quieter, but people are very scared. We are advised to stay at home.”

He added: “The training ground is located two minutes from my house and I drive. None of the players I spoke to with the club had problems. The club only asked us to be careful.”

Coyle confirms Wright-Phillips talks

Bolton boss Owen Coyle has confirmed talks are ongoing aimed at bringing Manchester City winger Shaun Wright-Phillips to the Reebok Stadium.

Wright-Phillips knows he will have limited chances at City this term and will be allowed to leave by manager Roberto Mancini.

However, Bolton are unable to match Wright-Phillips’s estimated £70,000-a-week wages and, so far, have been unable to find a way of bridging the gap.

Work is continuing though, with Coyle admitting he would “love” to have Wright-Phillips in his squad.

“Shaun is a tremendous player. He is someone I would love to bring to the club. Whether it is possible, only time will tell,” Coyle said.

Banned Doni calls for justice

Atalanta captain Cristiano Doni has vowed to seek “justice” after being handed what is effectively a career-ending ban from football.

The 38-year-old has been banned for three-and-a-half years as the Italian Football Federation announced the outcomes of their probe into alleged match-fixing.

In addition, team-mate Thomas Manfredini was banned for three years and the club will start the new season with a six-point penalty.

Doni told La Gazzetta dello Sport: “I’m disappointed. Angry. And I cannot stay silent.

“The sentence which condemns me and Thomas Manfredini left me open-mouthed, and reading the reasons I was lost for words. We want justice.

“If I were guilty, I would pay, would not even go on to defend myself,” he added.

Rovers put Trust in their shirts

Blackburn will wear the Prince’s Trust logo on their shirts for the forthcoming season instead of a sponsor’s brand.

The partnership will see the club donate the space on their kit to the charity instead of selling it to a commercial venture.

Aston Villa became the first top-flight club to give publicity to a charity three years ago when they carried the name of a local children’s hospice on their shirts.

Blackburn’s £5 million spon-sorship deal with Crown Paints expired at the end of last season and the team wore the logo of owners Venky’s, the Indian poultry firm, on their kit for their recent matches in the Barclays Asia Trophy.