Kick It Out: PDC should be clear

Paolo Di Canio: Message from Kick It Out

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Sunderland boss Paolo Di Canio has been asked to state his commitment to anti-racism after refusing to confirm or deny whether he is a fascist.

The 44-year-old Italian was asked on several occasions at a news conference on Tuesday if he supported fascism and was clearly angered by the questioning, warning that he may not speak to media who continue to quiz him on the subject.

During the press conference, Di Canio refused to expand on a 2005 interview with an Italian news agency when he said he was "a fascist, but not a racist".

His appointment has led to the resignation of the club's vice-chairman David Miliband, Labour MP for South Shields and former foreign secretary.

Anti-racism group Kick It Out expressed concern about the far-right in football and said Di Canio should make his position clear.

A statement issued on Tuesday evening said: "It is not part of Kick It Out's remit to sanction the selection of staff of football clubs. However, football clubs have a responsibility to ensure that their employees demonstrate a commitment to anti-discrimination and equality of opportunity. It may be in the interest of both the club and Mr Di Canio to acknowledge a full and frank commitment to these policies.

"It is all too easy for positive progress and engagement to be compromised by inappropriate statements, and both Sunderland supporters and members of its local community will be looking for reassurance on these points.

"When fascism is referenced within the context of English football, there is a wider concern. The spectre of the rise of far-right groups in some parts of Europe cannot be allowed to undermine the progress made in the game domestically, and the increasing number of incidents involving both neo-Nazi and Ultra groups which have happened in places like Italy and Greece, must not be replicated here.

"Kick It Out and its partners have held concerns for some time about similar groups operating in the UK. Now is the time to reinforce this vigilance."

Di Canio however blasted the furore over his appointment as Sunderland manager as "ridiculous and pathetic" and had a warning for those in the media who continue to question him on the subject.

He said on Tuesday morning: "I don't have to answer any more this question. There was a very good statement from the club, (with) very, very clear words that came out from me.

"My life speaks for me so there is no need to speak any more about this situation because it's ridiculous and pathetic.

"I can't every two weeks, every two months, every 10 months answer the same questions that are not really in my area.

"We are in a football club and not in the House of Parliament.

"I'm not a political person, I will talk about only football. People that respect others have to be straight and I don't want to give a chance any more to someone for example who comes to a press conference and talks about something that is not football."

Di Canio has been pictured making a fascist salute to Lazio fans in the past and the Durham Miners' Association has asked the club to return a symbolic banner which is kept at the Stadium of Light if Di Canio remains in his post, describing his appointment as a "betrayal and a disgrace".

Asked on Tuesday if he would meet the association, Di Canio said: "I don't understand this problem. I am a manager, I'm a normal man, I'm a family man.

"The words sometimes fly away, what counts in life is the facts, who you are, what you are doing, what you did in the past so I think that should be enough and that they will be happy one day."

He also insisted the controversy would not impact on the squad, who are only a point off the relegation zone.

He said: "It's not a distraction, they are footballers and only because the club has changed the manager is it a big shock."

Di Canio himself said, like at Swindon previously, he would win over those fans unhappy at his appointment.

He said: "It was the same for a different reason at Swindon. There were many, many people who could not believe that Di Canio was the right manager for the club.

"After two months, there were 9,000 people at the end of the game clapping their hands for my players and singing my name.

"It is more important the Sunderland fans sing my players' names as they need the extra lift. They will then be happy, probably, as they will think they were wrong and now we have to keep Di Canio forever.

"The press call me the mad Italian but I would confidently bet everything I have on Sunderland remaining in the top flight.

"When I got the call, I felt fire in my belly. I would have swam to Sunderland to take the job."

Sunderland's new partnership with The Nelson Mandela Foundation is not under threat following the appointment of Di Canio, the organisation confirmed on Tuesday.

A statement said the Centre had met with the club and Di Canio "to discuss the public debates around Sunderland's new coach" and that the club has reaffirmed its commitment to anti-racism and equality.

Meanwhile, the BBC said it did not pay a fee to Di Canio to write six columns for the BBC Sport website between August 2012 and last month.

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Ancelotti: Ramires foul ´a clear penalty´

Carlo Ancelotti is adamant Chelsea were denied a late penalty in their 1-0 Champions League quarter-final loss to Manchester United.

Blues midfielder Ramires appeared to have been brought down by United’s Patrice Evra in the first leg’s dying stages, but the referee’s whistled stayed silent despite Chelsea’s appeals for a spot kick.

The penalty could have put Chelsea level, after Wayne Rooney’s goal handed United a 1-0 lead on 24 minutes.

“One. It was clear,” the Ancelotti said. “It was the foul on Ramires.”

“That one was a clear penalty.”

Blues custodian Petr Cech was also insistent there was a case of oversight on the match official’s part.

“I think everybody saw what happened. You can see it clearly on the telly, but the most important person didn’t see it, that’s the main thing,” he told ITV.

Despite conceding an away goal, Ancelotti said he was satisfied with his side’s showing on Wednesday.

“The performance was not bad. We had some moments where we weren’t able to have good control of the game with possession, in the middle of the first half, but in general the performance was good,” he said, with the second leg to played at Old Trafford next Tuesday.

“We had chances but it was difficult when we went 1-0 down to come back into the game.”

“They used the counter-attack very well, but we had some chances.”

“We hit the post and should have had a penalty and (Edwin) Van der Sar made a fantastic save from (Fernando) Torres.”

“We are disappointed but fortunately we still have 90 minutes at Old Trafford. It will not be easy, but last season at the same moment we needed to win there and we won the title.”

Thu 7 April, 2011

Ancelotti: Ramires foul ´a clear penalty´

Carlo Ancelotti is adamant Chelsea were denied a late penalty in their 1-0 Champions League quarter-final loss to Manchester United.

Blues midfielder Ramires appeared to have been brought down by United’s Patrice Evra in the first leg’s dying stages, but the referee’s whistled stayed silent despite Chelsea’s appeals for a spot kick.

The penalty could have put Chelsea level, after Wayne Rooney’s goal handed United a 1-0 lead on 24 minutes.

“One. It was clear,” the Ancelotti said. “It was the foul on Ramires.”

“That one was a clear penalty.”

Blues custodian Petr Cech was also insistent there was a case of oversight on the match official’s part.

“I think everybody saw what happened. You can see it clearly on the telly, but the most important person didn’t see it, that’s the main thing,” he told ITV.

Despite conceding an away goal, Ancelotti said he was satisfied with his side’s showing on Wednesday.

“The performance was not bad. We had some moments where we weren’t able to have good control of the game with possession, in the middle of the first half, but in general the performance was good,” he said, with the second leg to played at Old Trafford next Tuesday.

“We had chances but it was difficult when we went 1-0 down to come back into the game.”

“They used the counter-attack very well, but we had some chances.”

“We hit the post and should have had a penalty and (Edwin) Van der Sar made a fantastic save from (Fernando) Torres.”

“We are disappointed but fortunately we still have 90 minutes at Old Trafford. It will not be easy, but last season at the same moment we needed to win there and we won the title.”

Thu 7 April, 2011

Tottenham to Conduct Seven Player Clear Out to Secure £35m Transfer Fund Boost

9 comments by Christian Bailey on April 4th, 2011

White Hart Lane boss urged to sell in order to buy.

http://www.caughtoffside.com/2011/04/04/chelsea-linked-with-surprise-move-to-re-sign-bayern-munich-winger-arjen-robben/"

Campeonato Paulista wrap: Santos, Palmeiras go clear

Both Santos and Palmeiras recorded victories as they created some breathing space ahead of the chasing pack in the Campeonato Paulista.

With four sides locked on 25 points heading into the weekend’s matches, Santos and Palmeiras took advantage of playing on Saturday and moved three points ahead of Sao Paulo and Corinthians with their home wins.

Santos were expected to beat relegation-threatened Botafogo SP and did so, although they suffered a late scare in their 2-1 triumph.

Elano scored just after half-time to give the victors the lead and nine minutes later substitute Paulo Henrique Ganso doubled Santos’ lead and looked to have wrapped up the victory.

But the visitors would not lie down and grabbed a goal back on 89 minutes through Chicao, before Fernando Miguel, who had only been on the pitch for 31 minutes, was given a straight red card in the dying stages of a feisty clash.

Palmeiras’ victory was far more straight-forward, as first-half goals to Danilo and Patrick gave them a 2-0 win over Sao Bernardo.

In other matches, Ricardo Jesus’ 71st minute strike salvaged a point for fifth-placed Ponte Preta in their 1-1 draw against Gremio Prudente while Linense moved away from the bottom of the table with a 2-0 home win against Noroeste, thanks to goals from Eder Baiano and Pedrao.

In a clash of two mid-table sides, Sao Caetano claimed a valuable away win at Mogi Mirim, with Eduardo’s 59th minute goal securing all three points for the visitors in a 2-1 scoreline.

Sat 12 March, 2011

Campeonato Paulista wrap: Santos, Palmeiras go clear

Both Santos and Palmeiras recorded victories as they created some breathing space ahead of the chasing pack in the Campeonato Paulista.

With four sides locked on 25 points heading into the weekend’s matches, Santos and Palmeiras took advantage of playing on Saturday and moved three points ahead of Sao Paulo and Corinthians with their home wins.

Santos were expected to beat relegation-threatened Botafogo SP and did so, although they suffered a late scare in their 2-1 triumph.

Elano scored just after half-time to give the victors the lead and nine minutes later substitute Paulo Henrique Ganso doubled Santos’ lead and looked to have wrapped up the victory.

But the visitors would not lie down and grabbed a goal back on 89 minutes through Chicao, before Fernando Miguel, who had only been on the pitch for 31 minutes, was given a straight red card in the dying stages of a feisty clash.

Palmeiras’ victory was far more straight-forward, as first-half goals to Danilo and Patrick gave them a 2-0 win over Sao Bernardo.

In other matches, Ricardo Jesus’ 71st minute strike salvaged a point for fifth-placed Ponte Preta in their 1-1 draw against Gremio Prudente while Linense moved away from the bottom of the table with a 2-0 home win against Noroeste, thanks to goals from Eder Baiano and Pedrao.

In a clash of two mid-table sides, Sao Caetano claimed a valuable away win at Mogi Mirim, with Eduardo’s 59th minute goal securing all three points for the visitors in a 2-1 scoreline.

Sat 12 March, 2011

Arsenal Are Not After Lech Poznan Striker And Leave Way Clear For Fulham

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Latvian international unlikely to be heading to the Emirates.

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Liga Sagres wrap: Porto retain clear lead

Porto continued their march to the Liga Sagres title with a 2-0 win over Braga on Sunday, while Benfica beat Vitoria Guimaraes.

Braga finished second last season to qualify for the Champions League and were one of the few teams who may have been expected to trouble Porto.

But the runaway leaders made it eight wins from their last eight matches to stay 11 points clear at the top of the table.

The hosts kept Porto out in the opening 45 minutes at the Estadio municipal de Baga, but a second-half brace from Argentine Nicolas Otamendi helped Porto to a straightforward victory.

The defeat leaves Braga sixth and in danger of going from the Champions League group stages to missing out on European football altogether next season.

Benfica continued their seemingly doomed title defence with a 3-0 win at home to fourth-placed Vitoria Guimaraes.

Brazilian Sidnei struck first in the 24th minute at the Estadio da Luz, before former Valencia man Pablo Aimar and Carlos Martins completed the scoring.

Naval beat Academica 3-1 at Estadio Municipal Jose Bento Pessoa to climb off the foot of the table with just their third win of the season.

Visitors Academica got off to a disastrous start when Pape Habib Sow was sent off after giving away a penalty in the 21st minute.

Kevin Gomis converted from the spot to give Naval the lead.

Michel Simplicio struck to double the hosts’ advantage five minutes before the break.

A second-half comeback appeared to be on the cards when Gomis fouled inside the box and followed Sow in making an early exit.

Moudou Sougou dispatched the penalty to make it 2-1 six minutes into the second half.

But Academica were unable to find another breakthrough and Giuliano struck to ease the nerves for Naval with three minutes remaining.

Portimonense slid to last place after losing 2-0 away to Rio Ave, with Joeo Tomas and Yazalde Pinto finding the net for the hosts.

A last-minute goal from Venezuelan Mario Rondon helped Pacos de Ferreira beat Maritimo 1-0.

Mon 14 February, 2011

Liga Sagres wrap: Porto retain clear lead

Porto continued their march to the Liga Sagres title with a 2-0 win over Braga on Sunday, while Benfica beat Vitoria Guimaraes.

Braga finished second last season to qualify for the Champions League and were one of the few teams who may have been expected to trouble Porto.

But the runaway leaders made it eight wins from their last eight matches to stay 11 points clear at the top of the table.

The hosts kept Porto out in the opening 45 minutes at the Estadio municipal de Baga, but a second-half brace from Argentine Nicolas Otamendi helped Porto to a straightforward victory.

The defeat leaves Braga sixth and in danger of going from the Champions League group stages to missing out on European football altogether next season.

Benfica continued their seemingly doomed title defence with a 3-0 win at home to fourth-placed Vitoria Guimaraes.

Brazilian Sidnei struck first in the 24th minute at the Estadio da Luz, before former Valencia man Pablo Aimar and Carlos Martins completed the scoring.

Naval beat Academica 3-1 at Estadio Municipal Jose Bento Pessoa to climb off the foot of the table with just their third win of the season.

Visitors Academica got off to a disastrous start when Pape Habib Sow was sent off after giving away a penalty in the 21st minute.

Kevin Gomis converted from the spot to give Naval the lead.

Michel Simplicio struck to double the hosts’ advantage five minutes before the break.

A second-half comeback appeared to be on the cards when Gomis fouled inside the box and followed Sow in making an early exit.

Moudou Sougou dispatched the penalty to make it 2-1 six minutes into the second half.

But Academica were unable to find another breakthrough and Giuliano struck to ease the nerves for Naval with three minutes remaining.

Portimonense slid to last place after losing 2-0 away to Rio Ave, with Joeo Tomas and Yazalde Pinto finding the net for the hosts.

A last-minute goal from Venezuelan Mario Rondon helped Pacos de Ferreira beat Maritimo 1-0.

Mon 14 February, 2011

Arsenal Plan Six Player Summer £55m Clear Out as Wenger Looks to Reshape Squad

Comments Off by Christian Bailey on February 8th, 2011

Emirates Stadium boss ready to swing the axe.

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Anderlecht go four points clear

Mid-table Mechelen held league leaders Anderlecht to a scoreless draw in their Belgian First Division clash on Sunday.

Marc Brys’ side defended strongly to disallow the visitors to the Argos Oil Stadion Achter de Kazerne the chance to score.

The draw means Anderlecht extend their lead at the top of the table to four points, with second side Racing Genk holding a game in hand.

Gent moved to third, despite being held to a 1-1 draw by 12th-placed Sint Truiden at Stayen on Sunday.

The visitors went ahead when Chris Lepoint was on target in the 21st minute, and Gent led for the majority of the match, before Ibrahim Sidibe equalised for the hosts, earning them a valuable point to better their prospects of staying up.

Sun 30 January, 2011

SPL wrap: Celtic move clear as Rangers stumble

Celtic kicked five points clear at the top of the Scottish Premier League thanks to a 1-0 win over Aberdeen on Saturday.

Neil Lennon’s side took full advantage of Rangers’ slip-up in the early kick-off at Hearts with another three points which takes them closer to winning their first SPL title since 2007/08.

Celtic went into the game against Aberdeen on a 10-match unbeaten run but their opponents were not in bad form either, undefeated in five under new manager Craig Brown.

But Celtic were unfazed and took the game to their opponents, opening the scoring through Anthony Stokes after 27 minutes.

The Glasgow-based side were unable to add to their lead, making for some nervy moments towards the end, but managed to hang on for all three points.

The win rubbed further salt into the wounds of Rangers, who lost 1-0 to Hearts earlier in the day.

Ryan Stevenson’s goal 13 minutes from time was enough to send a 16,737-strong Tynecastle Stadium crowd wild, with Hearts completing the home league double over Celtic and Rangers.

The result sees Hearts just two points behind second-placed Rangers and seven behind Celtic, meaning instead of the usual two-horse race between the two Glasgow sides, three teams are in contention for the SPL title.

In other matches, two goals in four minutes from Jamie Murphy and Steven Saunders gave Motherwell a 2-0 win over Hibernian while Garry Kenneth’s injury-time strike gave Dundee United a point in a 1-1 draw with Kilmarnock.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle and bottom side Hamilton Academical also played out a 1-1 draw while St Johnstone and St Mirren also could not be separated in a 0-0 draw.

Sat 22 January, 2011

SPL wrap: Celtic move clear as Rangers stumble

Celtic kicked five points clear at the top of the Scottish Premier League thanks to a 1-0 win over Aberdeen on Saturday.

Neil Lennon’s side took full advantage of Rangers’ slip-up in the early kick-off at Hearts with another three points which takes them closer to winning their first SPL title since 2007/08.

Celtic went into the game against Aberdeen on a 10-match unbeaten run but their opponents were not in bad form either, undefeated in five under new manager Craig Brown.

But Celtic were unfazed and took the game to their opponents, opening the scoring through Anthony Stokes after 27 minutes.

The Glasgow-based side were unable to add to their lead, making for some nervy moments towards the end, but managed to hang on for all three points.

The win rubbed further salt into the wounds of Rangers, who lost 1-0 to Hearts earlier in the day.

Ryan Stevenson’s goal 13 minutes from time was enough to send a 16,737-strong Tynecastle Stadium crowd wild, with Hearts completing the home league double over Celtic and Rangers.

The result sees Hearts just two points behind second-placed Rangers and seven behind Celtic, meaning instead of the usual two-horse race between the two Glasgow sides, three teams are in contention for the SPL title.

In other matches, two goals in four minutes from Jamie Murphy and Steven Saunders gave Motherwell a 2-0 win over Hibernian while Garry Kenneth’s injury-time strike gave Dundee United a point in a 1-1 draw with Kilmarnock.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle and bottom side Hamilton Academical also played out a 1-1 draw while St Johnstone and St Mirren also could not be separated in a 0-0 draw.

Sat 22 January, 2011

Liverpool to Sell £38m Trio as Hodgson Prepares for Clear Out

18 comments by The Newshound on December 22nd, 2010

Anfield boss looks to generate funds for new additions.

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Arsenal are one point clear of Chelsea

By Anish on November 27, 2010 8:26 AM | Comments | TrackBacksShare|

A see saw 4 -2 win over Aston Villa takes them to the top...

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