News in brief
The News Review:
- News in brief
- Alonso, Nadal pushing soccer out of limelight
- Pietersen’s promise pierces the sound of silence
News in brief
Telegraph.co.uk – May 2, 2005
Already under fire from fans’ groups over proposals to move the FA Cup final to a midweek slot, Thompson now risks incurring the wrath of the Premier League after declining to veto it at last week’s UEFA executive committee meeting. Premier League officials, furious at the idea of having to acquire four home-grown players per squad of 25 for next season’s European competitions, and eight of them by 2009, had expected Thompson to protest on behalf of English football. The Sunday Telegraph has learned, however, that although Thompson stated his preference for an incentive scheme and expressed the Premier League’s majority opposition, he raised no personal objections to a quota system. “There was absolutely no dissent at all,” one fellow executive committee member said. “All Geoff did was report that the Premier League were against but the recommendation was unanimously approved. ” Brian Barwick, the FA’s new chief executive, seems to have approved the switch for the FA Cup final.
Alonso, Nadal pushing soccer out of limelight
Independent Online – May 2, 2005
The crowds at the final of the Barcelona tennis Open stayed outside the centre court to watch the end of the race, even Nadal and Juan Carlos Ferrero were late because they were glued to the screen in the players’ lounge. Racing Santander players refused to get off their coach for the Primera Liga match against Deportivo Coruna until they had finished watching the race. Interest in Alonso outstrips that in other home-grown sporting heroes like Real’s Raul, NBA basketball player Pau Gasol and double motorcycling world champion Dani Pedrosa. Children swap Formula One stickers at school and the remote-controlled version of the Alonso car is one of the biggest sellers in toy shops. The driver’s image is plastered on advertising hoardings in every major city and sales of Renault saloon cars are on the up. A record 115 000 fans will pack the Circuit de Catalunya this weekend as Alonso attempts to win his home grand prix. Organisers say they expect the majority of fans to come from Spain itself.
Pietersen’s promise pierces the sound of silence
Telegraph.co.uk – May 2, 2005
The reception he gets on Friday in Durban, where he played provincial cricket, should be quite something. How quickly the English public take to him remains to be seen. It would be fair to say that Graeme Hick, Robin Smith and Allan Lamb were never fully accepted, or at least loved, to the same extent as home-grown players. In these days of globalisation, fluid international boundaries and legal minefields it is pointless complaining about somebody so obviously not English representing England. It wouldn’t even be an issue but for Pietersen’s showmanship – just as it has not been an issue with Geraint Jones. Perhaps it is best to leave it at the regret he may feel in time in not knowing what it is like to represent, at the highest level, the community which spawned him. Michael Vaughan is not complaining.