Manchester City are to consult with fans over a possible redesign of the club’s badge, the Premier League leaders have announced.
Manchester City have had three major badges since the 1930s and adopted their current crest in 1997.
Fans will be asked to fill out a questionnaire with a dedicated consultation space and exhibition being set up at the Etihad Stadium for the next four weeks.
Man. City chief executive Ferran Soriano said: “The badge is the most visual representation and is so central to our heritage. We are looking for our fans to share their views as to what they consider to be the most authentic symbols of the club.”
Neymar Sr confirms United approach
Neymar’s father has confirmed Manchester United did try to sign his son earlier this year.
Neymar Santos Sr admitted United bid for his son this summer, but Barcelona rejected the offer out of hand.
“The offer reached Barcelona and the club contacted us saying they were not going to sell,” Neymar Sr told Boa Tarde Fox.
“They asked if we were interested, but that wasn’t the case. Barcelona are not selling, he has three years still to go on his contract. It was Manchester’s deal, but that offer is not on the table now, it has fallen through.”
Neymar joined Barca in 2013.
Marseille take rap for crowd trouble
Marseille have been punished for the crowd trouble that marred last month’s Ligue 1 clash with Lyon at the Velodrome.
OM were fined €40,000 and ordered to shut the South Stand for two games and the North Stand for one game, with a suspended sentence of one game behind closed doors.
The disciplinary committee of the Professional Football League (LFP) issued the verdict over the Sept. 20 match, with the referee stopping play for 23 minutes after hooligans hurled bottles and other objects on to the pitch.
There were incidents with midfielder Mathieu Valbuena, once a favourite at OM but now playing for rivals Lyon, drawing the wrath of the home fans.
Mourinho appeal
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has said he will appeal against the FA’s £50,000 fine and one-match suspended stadium ban.
Mourinho was sanctioned for comments made following the October 3 loss to Southampton in which he said referee Robert Madeley was “afraid” to give Chelsea a penalty.
Mourinho yesterday confirmed he had received the FA’s written reasons and will appeal.
“The moment we got the written reasons and we decided to appeal is the moment to stop with my opinions and not to add anything more,” Mourinho said.
Martial, Pochettino win monthly awards
Manchester United forward Anthony Martial and Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino have bagged the Premier League player and manager of the month awards for September.
Martial scored three league goals last month, the first coming on debut against Liverpool and then two more against South-ampton.
Spurs won all their three of their Premier League fixtures in September, including an impressive 4-1 win over table-toppers Manchester City.
It is the first Manager of the Month award for Pochettino since the Argentine took over at Spurs, though he also won it with Southampton in January 2013.
Arsenal row over Kroenke payment
Arsenal’s shareholders and supporters questioned a multi-million pound payment to majority shareholder Stan Kroenke at the club’s AGM on Thursday, discomfiting chairman Chips Keswick.
The club paid Kroenke Sports and Entertainment (KSE) three million pounds for unspecified “strategic and advisory services” for the second successive year.
Shareholders repeatedly asked for details of the services the payment had procured, with the situation escalating to the point when Keswick was asked: “Is there a written contract or is it like Platini and Blatter’s verbal agreement?” which prompted an irate response.
“I am not Mr Platini, I am not Mr Blatter, and there is not a written whatever-you-wanted be-cause good advice is where you can get it,” Keswick said.
Bournemouth boss signs extension
Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe has signed a contract extension beyond 2018 at the south-coast club having been rewarded for steering them into the Premier League.
The club did not disclose the terms. However, British media said the contract will take him through to 2020.
The 37-year-old coach was tied to the club until 2018 but has negotiated a longer deal after a clause in his contract was triggered by last season’s promotion.
Bournemouth’s former de-fender, who has masterminded three of their six promotions, has become the club’s most successful manager since taking over during the 2008/09 season.