Sneijder: Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal recalled Galatasaray playmaker Wesley Sneijder for the first time since September in naming his squad for the 2014 World Cup qualifiers against Estonia and Romania later this month. Sneijder missed two qualifiers in October last year through injury and then friendlies against Germany and Italy because of a lack of match fitness after being sidelined at Inter.
Miyaichi: Wigan manager Roberto Martinez is keen to keep on-loan winger Ryo Miyaichi next season. Martinez is a huge fan of the 20-year-old and would be keen to extend their working relationship if Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger will allow it. “We will have to speak with Arsenal and we need to assess and make sure they are happy with the progression of the player,” said the Latics boss.
Fined: Southampton have been fined £20,000 by the FA after admitting a charge of failing to control their players during last week’s match at Norwich. Saints were charged for the unsavoury scenes that followed referee Mark Clattenburg’s decision to award a penalty for a Luke Shaw foul on Grant Holt.
McGeady: Aiden McGeady has been ruled out of Ireland’s World Cup qualifying matches against Sweden and Austria due to injury. The Spartak Moscow winger was named in manager Giovanni Trapattoni’s provisional 29-man squad but was absent yesterday when the Italian cut his list to 23 players.
Football survey: A survey of 2,500 football fans suggests the vast majority believe racism has never left the British game. Research by Loughborough University found half had witnessed or experienced racism between 2010 and early 2012. The survey also suggests fans want anti-racism campaign Kick It Out to do more, with 79 per cent claiming the campaign had only been “partially effective”.
A-League: Leaders Western Sydney Wanderers moved to the brink of the Australian A-League premiership with a 3-1 win away to Melbourne Heart yesterday. The win moved the Wanderers eight points clear at the top of the table and they can secure first place before they play again if Central Coast Mariners fail to beat Brisbane Roar today.