Severe weather conditions forced the cancellation of the Dundee United vs Rangers match in Scotland’s Premier League, officials said yesterday.
A statement on United’s official website said: “Today’s match has been called off due to the severe weather conditions overnight and this morning.”
The Scottish FA had worked furiously all week to ensure all SPL games would go ahead despite strike action from Scottish referees threatening the fixture card.
But, after drafting in Alain Hamer, the Luxembourg match official who also took charge of Celtic’s game on Saturday, the clash in Tayside fell victim to the weather instead.
City will bounce back – Mancini
Roberto Mancini insisted his Manchester City stars will bounce back from their frustrating 1-1 draw against Stoke when they face SV Salzburg in the Europa League and Bolton in the Premiership.
There was a strong whiff of disappointment in the air at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday after City spurned the chance to grab a second away league win in six days by conceding an injury-time equaliser to Stoke.
“It was a tough test for us because Stoke play long ball, long ball, long ball,” Mancini said.
“But I’m happy because my team played good football and that was very difficult here. In the second half particularly I thought we played very well.”
Grosskreutz extends Dortmund contract
German international striker Kevin Grosskreutz boosted Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund yesterday as he extended his contract by two years to 2014, club president Hans-Joachim Watzke announced.
The 22-year-old Grosskreutz, signed in 2009, has scored four times this season including one on Saturday in the crushing 4-1 victory over Borussia Moenchenglabach.
Klopp himself has extended his contract to 2014 while goalkeeper and captain Roman Weidenfeller should also soon extend his present one, which terminates in June, as well as defender Marcel Schmelzer.
FIFA hit by fresh corruption claims
New allegations of corruption have arisen just days before FIFA executive committee members are due to vote on the World Cup hosts in 2018 and 2022, Swiss newspaper SonntagsZeitung reported.
The newspaper said a list of FIFA officials who have taken “millions in payments” is circulating.
“There are many names from postbox companies,” an anonymous Swiss resident who has seen the list told the newspaper, which explained that some FIFA executive committee members are hiding behind these companies.
The newspaper added that a well-known member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is also on the list.
Chelsea target Guardiola – report
Premier League champions Chelsea have set their sights on replacing current coach Carlo Ancelotti with Barcelona mentor Pep Guardiola – if the Italian decides to leave the club, according to reports yesterday.
Ancelotti’s future at Stamford Bridge has come under scrutiny recently following the shock sacking earlier this month of his assistant Ray Wilkins.
The Sunday Telegraph reported that Chelsea want to replace Frank Arnesen with Barcelona’s former director of football Txiki Begiristain, and in doing so lure Guardiola.
The report said “sources close to Begiristain” had confirmed that the Spaniard has held talks with representatives of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich.
Holloway a fan of Mourinho
Blackpool manager Ian Holloway hopes to be able to get a chance to pick the brains of Jose Mourinho – but first he would rather the Real Madrid manager got him some tickets for tonight’s Clasico against Barcelona.
“I would love to go over there. Charlie Adam (Blackpool captain) asked me if the lads could go over,” said Holloway. “I said ‘Well done if you can get any tickets for that’. I am asking to see if I can get some tickets.
“I am fascinated by the way his (Mourinho) teams seem to improve wherever he has gone. I would love to learn and if I can make any kind of contact I will.
“There are lots of people I am trying to learn from.”
McLeish tips Johnson for England
Birmingham boss Alex McLeish has tipped centre-half Roger Johnson for an England call-up after the defender produced another impressive display in City’s 1-1 draw with Fulham.
Johnson’s display alongside Scott Dann at the heart of the City defence won him more plaudits from McLeish.
“Roger has played down the divisions for a few years and is now 27, and he doesn’t want it to pass him by,” McLeish said.
He is desperate to play for England and when you look at some of the other players who have been touted, I think Roger is capable of being named in that bunch of players and easily capable of playing, even if Fabio Capello gives him just one.”