Team GB not in rush to select Beckham, says Coe

British soccer player David Beckham (R) and the Chair of the London 2012 Organising Committee, Sebastian Coe, pose for a photograph during a visit to the main Olympic stadium, in London November 29, 2010.

Credit: Reuters/Matt Dunham/Pool

Caption: David Beckham right in brown suite

Former Manchester united and LA galaxy Midfielder David Beckham will have to earn his place in Britain's Olympic soccer squad on skill and merit like any other player and can expect no special favors, London 2012 organizers said on Thursday. Speaking before the 37-year-old former England captain teamed up with a London delegation for the formal handing over of the Olympic flame, LOCOG chairman Seb Coe said there would be no attempt to twist the arm of Team GB manager Stuart Pearce.
"We have put absolutely no pressure on Stuart Pearce at all," he told reporters, a day after England manager Roy Hodgson named his provisional squad for the European championships in Poland and Ukraine next month.
"Stuart has to pick the team that he thinks will lift that (Olympic) trophy. I wouldn't expect any coach to be operating on any other basis, whether its wrestling or Olympic football," added Coe.
"You can never put pressure on coaches to choose people for any particular reason other than skill and merit."

Premier League - Dalglish reaction to his sacking as Red Manager

Reaction to the sacking of Kenny Dalglish by Liverpool, as club officials, ex-players and family members all have their say, with John Hartson calling the board "a disgrace".

Kenny Dalglish: "I am disappointed with results in the league, but I would not have swapped the Carling Cup win for anything as I know how much it meant to our fans and the club to be back winning trophies.
"It has been an honour and a privilege to have had the chance to come back to Liverpool as manager. Whilst I am obviously disappointed to be leaving, the matter has been handled by the owners and all concerned in an honourable, respectful and dignified way and reflects on the quality of the people involved and their continued desire to move the football club forward."
Principal owner John Henry: "Kenny will always be more than a championship winning manager, more than a championship winning star player. He is in many ways the heart and soul of the club. He personifies everything that is good about Liverpool Football Club. He has always put the club and its supporters first. Kenny will always be a part of the family at Anfield.

Premier League - Pennant suspended for jail sentence

Stoke City winger Jermaine Pennant has been given a suspended jail sentence and banned from driving for three years after admitting multiple driving offences.

 

Pennant was given an eight-week sentence, suspended for 12 months, after admitting drink driving, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance.

He was disqualified from driving for three years and ordered to pay costs at Trafford Magistrates Court.
Earlier, Pennant admitted drink-driving home from a nightclub after being dumped by text message by his girlfriend.
The Stoke player was more than twice the limit when he got behind the wheel of his BMW to drive back from Manchester in the early hours of April 29, the Court heard.
The 29-year-old was "depressed and stressed" after months of turmoil in his private life and suffering taunts while in the nightclub, it was claimed.

Bundesliga - Raul Quit Europe Football

Former Real Madrid striker Raul has joined Al Sadd of Qatar after leaving Schalke 04 at the end of his contract.

Raul Gonzalez Blanco, Raul called normal (born June 27, 1977, age 33 years) was a football player from Spain. He has played for Real Madrid at senior level since 1994. Now he served as captain. He has played more than 100 games for the Spanish national team and is the top scorer of 47 goals.

"Al Sadd Club will hold a news conference on Sunday to introduce Raul Gonzalez to the media after signing the player who will join the team starting from next season 2012-2013," said a statement on Al Sadd's website.
The club did not give any further details but Spanish media reported that Raul, 34, had signed a one-year deal with Al Sadd, who finished third at the World Club Cup in December.
"Raul has arrived in Doha and attended the final match of the Emir Cup between Al Sadd and Al Gharafa at Khalifa international stadium," the club's statement added.
The former Spain striker had been at Schalke for two seasons, scoring 28 Bundesliga goals in 66 matches.
Last month when it was announced he would leave Schalke, Raul said: "My future lies outside Europe in a league that is not so strong in playing terms as the Bundesliga.

Akwa Ibom kick boxer macheted to death while training

Akwa Ibom kick boxer macheted to death while training

His name is Alexander Joseph, popularly known as 'Ibom' and he was macheted and shot dead while he was training at the Uyo Township stadium in Akwa Ibom yesterday morning May 12th 2012.

Eyewitnesses said the popular kick boxer was attacked by five men around 9.30 in the morning as he got ready to start training. They used the matchete on him, then shot him point blank in the face.

Ibom was Akwa Ibom's medal hopeful for the 2012 National Sports Festival which will hold in Lagos later this year. The police are investigating his death. Sad! May he rest in peace

Liga - Villarreal relegated from La-liga

Villarreal, often touted as a model for smaller clubs to aspire to, were left preparing for life in the second division on Monday after they were relegated following a dramatic finale to the La Liga season.

The team known as 'Yellow Submarine' because of their canary coloured strip, started the campaign in the Champions League after finishing fourth last year, but went in to Sunday's decider in 16th place and one point above the drop zone.

They looked to be safe from the drop as they held Europa League winners Atletico Madrid at bay with minutes left before disaster struck.
Atletico netted the only goal of the game in the 88th minute at a stunned Madrigal, and then, still only needing a draw to survive, Villarreal heard that Rayo Vallecano had scored in time added on to beat Granada 1-0 and send them down.
"I can't believe it," Villarreal vice-president Jose Manuel Llaneza told Spanish television. "I can't believe there can be so much heartache in only five minutes."
Behind him on the pitch, wealthy Ceramics tycoon and club president Fernando Roig was in tears