A round-up of today's other news in brief
Barton banned for three games
NEWCASTLE United midfielder Joey Barton will be banned for three Premier League matches after accepting a charge of violent conduct following an incident during Wednesday's 2-1 home loss to Blackburn Rovers.
The 28-year-old was charged by the English FA yesterday for punching Rovers’ Morten Gamst Pedersen in the chest, an action not seen by the referee.
“I hold my hands up, I reacted badly,” Barton admitted.
McGhee holds his post at Aberdeen
MARK McGhee will remain manager of Aberdeen following lengthy boardroom discussions over his future, the Scottish Premier League club have confirmed.
The Aberdeen board held talks over the past few days after the team had a 9-0 thrashing from Celtic with a 2-1 home defeat by Inverness Caledonian Thistle on Tuesday night.
McGhee admitted he feared for his job after the game but continued to insist he could lead his side out of their poor run of form, which has seen them collect four league points from a possible 30. And chairman Stewart Milne yesterday issued a statement confirming McGhee will stay in his role at the club.
Milne confirmed McGhee will remain in charge at Pittodrie. Reports had claimed before the Inverness game that defeat would spell the end of McGhee’s 17-month reign.
Holloway defending his line
IAN Holloway has reiterated his threat to resign as Blackpool manager if the English Premier League punishes the club for his team selection at Aston Villa and said the organisation had no right to question his judgment.
The Premier League has confirmed it will investigate Holloway’s decision to make 10 changes for the 3-2 defeat at Villa Park on Wednesday. In the aftermath of the game, Holloway said he had picked a side capable of victory and would quit in response to any interference.
A precedent was set last season when Wolves received a suspended €30,000 fine for Mick McCarthy’s decision to change 10 of the team that won at Tottenham for a 3-0 defeat at Manchester United three days later.
Beckenbauer to step down
FRANZ Beckenbauer will not seek a new term on the world soccer’s governing body Fifa executive committee next year and will step down in March 2011 for personal reasons, the German said yesterday.
“I want to spend more time with my family,” said Beckenbauer, who won the World Cup as a player in 1974 and as Germany coach 16 years later. “I had and have a very good time with my colleagues at Fifa and Uefa. I ask for understanding for my decision.
The 65-year-old, who last year stepped down as Bayern Munich president, had been a member of the Fifa executive committee since 2007 as a European soccer (Uefa) representative.
A year earlier he had successfully completed Germany’s preparations and staging of the 2006 World Cup as head of the organising committee. The German soccer federation (DFB) said Beckenbauer had informed Fifa chief Sepp Blatter and Uefa president Michel Platini of his decision not to seek re-election.
Former FA chief goes on defensive
LORD Triesman, the English FA's former chairman, has complained to the Press Complaints Commission about the article in the Mail on Sundaythat forced his resignation as chair of the FA and England's 2018 World Cup bid.
Triesman’s complaint is that the article breached three separate sections of the newspaper editors’ code of practice – that it was inaccurate, a breach of his privacy, and was obtained using subterfuge.
The article, published on May 16th, was based on a recording secretly made by Melissa Jacobs, then a friend of Triesman’s, on her mobile phone, over lunch in a restaurant.
Jacobs went to the publicist Max Clifford, who sold the recording to the Mail on Sunday, which paid around €118,000.
In the extract that led to Triesman resigning, the Mail on Sunday wrote that he “accused rival nations of corruption” in their bids to host the World Cup.
Gerrard believes Liverpool are 'turning the corner'
LIVERPOOL captain Steven Gerrard has welcomed his side’s turnaround in form but warns they are still not “fully around the corner”.
After a dismal start to the season, Roy Hodgson’s side have produced a five-match unbeaten run in all competitions to move ninth in the Premier League.
That spell has come since the club’s future was settled with the completion of John Henry’s takeover recently – something Gerrard believes is no coincidence.
“There’s been a turnaround but we still haven’t got there yet,” he said. “We still haven’t got fully around the corner but we’re on our way round it. Results have improved, we’re playing better so the feeling and the confidence are a lot higher than they were a couple of weeks back.
“I think that (the takeover) has helped but I think it’s down to the manager’s ideas coming across, a lot of hard work on the training ground and everyone pulling in the right direction.”
