Controversial Liverpool forward Mario Balotelli was suspended for one match by the FA yesterday and fined £25,000 after posting an offensive message on social media.
Earlier this month, the Italian showed a picture on his Instagram account containing racist and anti-Semitic connotations.
“Mario Balotelli has been fined 25,000 pounds, suspended for one match with immediate effect, subject to appeal, and warned as to his future conduct after he admitted breaching FA rules in relation to social media,” the FA said.
“The charge was that an image the Liverpool player posted on social media was abusive and/or insulting and/or improper.”
Relief for Llera in shoot-out record
Scunthorpe United’s Miguel Llera had the unusual distinction of missing and then scoring a penalty in a record FA Cup shoot-out containing 32 spot-kicks on Wednesday night.
Llera had the chance to put the League One side through when he took Scunthorpe’s fifth penalty but minor league Worcester City’s keeper Nathan Vaughan saved his effort.
He redeemed himself though when, after 16 successive spot-kicks had found the net once the shoot-out reached sudden death, the Spaniard stepped forward again to roll his second attempt past Vaughan and give the visitors a 14-13 victory.
The second round replay had ended 1-1 after extra time.
Poyet slams club’s recruitment policy
Sunderland manager Guy Poyet appeared to criticise the club’s transfer policy yesterday when asked if he was going to strengthen his struggling squad in the January transfer window.
“I want more quality. Do I think I’ll get it? I don’t know,” Poyet, whose side face rivals Newcastle on Sunday, told reporters.
“You know what is missing. It is clear what we need to do. That is down to recruitment.
“So, if you ever get the chance to speak to anyone on the recruitment side and ask them about it, you are lucky.
“If you don’t, don’t ask me.”
Hopp takes majority stake in Hoffenheim
Billionaire Dietmar Hopp has been given the go-ahead to take majority control of Hoffenheim next season after two decades of investment, the German Football League (DFL) said yesterday.
It added that, despite strict ownership controls on clubs, Hopp, co-founder of the SAP software company, fulfilled one of the exceptions to the rule, known as ‘50+1’.
Under current rules, no individual or company can own a majority stake in a Bundesliga club unless they have been the major single investors for at least 20 years because the league wants to avoid attracting investors with short-term plans.
Walcott could make Anfield return
Arsenal forward Theo Walcott could make a long-awaited return to action at Liverpool on Sunday.
Manager Arsene Wenger revealed the 25-year-old, who has made just two appearances this season following recovery from a long-term knee injury, is set to resume full training after a groin problem suffered while on international duty with England.
“There is a slight chance of (Nacho) Monreal being available and a very slight chance for Walcott. We hope that (Alex) Oxlade-Chamberlain will be fit. We will see that on Saturday (tomorrow),” Wenger told Arsenal Player.
“He (Walcott) is back in training today (yesterday), but only today. I might take him (to Liverpool), I don’t know yet until he is back to full training. Let’s see.”
Contra accepts Guangzhou job
Guangzhou R&F have secured the services of Getafe’s Cosmin Contra as their new coach, the Chinese Super League club said yesterday.
Romanian Contra, 39, and other coaching staff will arrive in Guangzhou soon to complete the deal, the Chinese club said on their website.
According to a China Daily report, Getafe midfielder Michel, on loan at Getafe from Valencia, will also join Guangzhou.
Financially-troubled Getafe had urged Contra to accept Guangzhou’s offer and help the La Liga club to raise funds.
Petev keen to lure Berbatov back
Bulgaria will try again to persuade prolific striker Dimitar Berbatov to come out of international retirement to help revive their chances of reaching the Euro 2016 finals, new coach Ivaylo Petev said yesterday.
The 33-year-old Monaco forward, who is Bulgaria’s all-time leading scorer with 48 goals, quit the Balkan country’s national team in 2010 with Luboslav Penev, Petev’s predecessor, failing to tempt him back despite making an approach.
“I have the ambition to meet him and talk,” Petev told the Bulgarian state television. “We’ll see what will happen.”
Bulgaria are fourth in Group H with four points from as many games, six adrift of leaders Croatia and Italy and five behind Norway.