Hleb to join Emirates exodus
The cracks in the Emirates were widening yesterday after Alexander Hleb's agent stated that his client wanted to leave Arsenal for Inter Milan. "Hleb joined Arsenal from Stuttgart in July 2005 for £11.2m and showed only flickers of talent in his first two seasons," writes David Hytner in the Guardian, "but this time out the 27-year-old has been one of the team's best performers. However, he met up with Claudio Vigorelli, the agent who brokers deals for Inter, in Milan on March 3, the night before Arsenal played Milan in the Champions League. Inter are prepared to offer Hleb a huge increase on his Arsenal salary, leaving Arsene Wenger to wring his hands." (Guardian)
"He is leaving Arsenal even though they want to offer him a new long-term contract and better conditions" Nikolai Shpilevski explains how Arsenal tried to woo his client, Alexander Hleb
Capello summoned to court
Fabio Capello's preparations for England's friendly against the USA on May 28 have been thrown into confusion after the Italian manager was ordered to appear before a Turin judge as part of a £12m tax fraud investigation. "The clash with Capello's work was explained to the prosecutor and, according to a spokesman for the England manager, he has agreed 'in principle' to find a new date. The FA were aware of the tax probe before appointing Capello and are relaxed about this development, but the initial request for his time during one of the few international get-togethers before the World Cup qualifiers is still embarrassing," writes Jeremy Wilson in the Daily Telegraph. (Daily Telegraph)
United decider gets high risk rating
Greater Manchester Police have given Sunday's game between Wigan Athletic and Manchester United at the JJB Stadium the highest-risk security grade amid fears that many United fans have bought touted tickets in the Wigan Athletic end. "United sold their official ticket allocation of nearly 5,000 weeks ago, but at least double that number are expected inside the ground, with Dave Whelan, the Wigan chairman, claiming yesterday that he expects a further 20,000 outside," writes James Ducker in the Times. "Streams of Wigan supporters are believed to have been selling their tickets to United fans for extortionate sums and the fear is that trouble could flare as away followers share the same areas of the ground as home fans." (Times)
Kovalainen cleared to race
"Heikki Kovalainen, Lewis Hamilton's McLaren-Mercedes formula one team-mate, was yesterday given the green light to compete in Sunday's Turkish grand prix after his 145mph accident at the Spanish grand prix 12 days ago," writes Alan Henry in the Guardian. The Finnish driver had to submit to an official examination as F1 authorities adjudged that the crash in Spain exposed him to pressures of more than 20G. "After viewing replays he conceded it was the worst of his career. 'I have seen it and it is a serious accident from which I managed to walk away. I've had a couple of serious accidents but I have never knocked myself out like that and it has to be the most serious accident so far'." (Guardian)
Wright ton saves Lions’ blushes
Luke Wright, an all-rounder who many whisper could be the next Andrew Flintoff, saved England Lions from ignominy in their match against New Zealand side by scoring 120 off 131 balls and dragged the Lions to 280 all out. Sharp bowling by Kiwi quicks Chris Martin and Tim Southee reduced the home team to 89-5, before Wright's rescue act. Today, bowlers Hoggard and Tremlett will look to press their cases for the three-Test series beginning next week at Lord's. Elsewhere, Andrew Flintoff recovered from his second duck of Lancashire's home tie against Durham to take the first three wickets of the visitor's second innings. (Guardian, Times)
Gavaskar resigns from ICC
Sunil Gavaskar, one-time Indian Test great and more recently chairman of the International Cricket Council's cricket committee, has resigned his position at the ICC after complaints that his media work had caused too many grey areas in his role. "Giles Clarke, the chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board, was insistent behind the scenes that Gavaskar's position was untenable," writes David Hopps in the Guardian. "Matters came to a head during the race row between Harbhajan Singh and Andrew Symonds in the Australia v India Test series. Gavaskar condemned the ICC match referee, Mike Procter, for banning Harbhajan and depicted Australia and England as cricketing dinosaurs who resented India's domination. When the ICC president-elect, David Morgan, in turn condemned Gavaskar's dual role it was clear that his time was running out. "Conflicts of interest pervade our sport,' Morgan said." (Guardian)
"It is clear I cannot combine both roles and therefore I am relinquishing the chair" Sunil Gavaskar jettisons ICC work for his media commitments
