Balotelli Warned Against Walking Off To Protest Racism

Italian Referee's Association (AIA) president Marcello Nicchi has said that Mario Balotelli will be sent off if he were to leave the field to protest racist chanting.

 "Everyone is free to express their own opinions but there are rules. Whoever leaves the field to make a protest, without warning the referee or without being substituted will be sent off," Nicchi told Italian news channel SkyTG24 on Friday.

"Less importance has to be given to this phenomenon as a media event and more importance from what can be done realistically, be tough and uncompromising with the idiots who sing these shameful chants."

Earlier this week, Balotelli said he would leave the field if he was racially abused by fans again, after being repeatedly being targeted by opposition fans in Italy.

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Man U Defender Rio Ferdinand Retires From England

England defender Rio Ferdinand has announced his retirement from international football.

The Manchester United player, 34, who won 81 caps, said he wants to concentrate on his club career.

After a great deal of thought, I have decided the time is right to retire from international football.

Ferdinand's England career
1997: Makes England debut v Cameroon at Wembley
1998: Named in squad for 1998 World Cup finals but does not play
2000: Left out of Euro 2000 squad
2002: Scores first England goal in 3-0 win over Denmark at 2002 World Cup
2004: Banned for eight months after missing a drugs test
2006: Plays five games at World Cup in Germany
2008: Captains England for first time in defeat by France in March - loses out to John Terry in battle for permanent skipper role
2010: Terry is stripped of captaincy and Ferdinand is given the armband but injury rules him out of the 2010 World Cup
2011: Makes his 81st appearance in a Euro 2012 qualifier against Switzerland
2012: Left out of England's squad for that summer's European Championships
2013: In March,Recalled for World Cup qualifiers against San Marino and Montenegro before later withdrawing
2013: In May,Announces retirement from international football

He played in three World Cups - 1998, 2002 and 2006 - but was ruled out of the 2010 tournament in South Africa because of a knee injury.

To have captained his country, and to play at three World Cups, marks him out among a very special group of players.

At 34, it is right to stand aside.

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David Moyes Has signed A Six Year Deal With Manchester United

• Manchester United Board unanimously approves the recommendation of Sir Alex Ferguson
• Moyes to take the helm on 1 July • Committed to long-term in 6 year deal

David, 50, has been the Everton manager since 2002, joining after a successful spell as manager of Preston North End.
Announcing his successor, Sir Alex Ferguson said:
“When we discussed the candidates that we felt had the right attributes we unanimously agreed on David Moyes. David is a man of great integrity with a strong work ethic. I’ve admired his work for a long time and approached him as far back as 1998 to discuss the position of Assistant Manager here. He was a young man then at the start of his career and has since gone on to do a magnificent job at Everton. There is no question he has all the qualities we expect of a manager at this Club.”

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Podolski Is Arsenal's Best Finisher - Wenger

The Gunners boss believes that the Germany international could score more goals if he played as a centre forward, a position in which he has only been deployed twice this season

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has defended forward Lukas Podolski against criticism of his recent form, maintaining that the Germany international is the club's best finisher.

The summer signing has had a somewhat troubled first season at the Emirates Stadium but stepped in as a striker following Olivier Giroud's three-match ban and the Gunners boss is looking to his charge to make more of an impact next year through the middle after a summer of rest.

told the press: "I believe [centre forward] is his best position, maybe because on the flanks he needs to work so hard and he's more a finisher than anyone else in the team. Him and Theo Walcott are two finishers.

"He was a little bit rusty [in Sunday's 1-1 draw against Manchester United] because he had not played a lot but of course it's a good opportunity for him to show that he has a future in this position and that he can finish.

"Honestly, I played him only against Sunderland in the first game in this position, only against Manchester United in this position, so it's not two ideal games, the first game of the season and against Man Utd but I am tempted to give him another chance in this position.

"He wants to play through the middle but today all the players who play on the flanks want to play there!

"It is only his first season. I think as well, [the fact that] he had the European Championship, you know, he came back without a real rest, changed his first season.

"Overall, if you look at his numbers, he had quite a good season - but not through the middle, on the flanks. But I'm convinced, through the middle, he can have a great goalscoring

Podolski Is Arsenal's Best Finisher - Wenger

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BREAKING: Sir Ferguson Has Been Hospitalize!!

 Alex Ferguson could miss the start of next season as he is to undergo a hip surgery, sources at Manchester United have confirmed.

The 71-year-old manager is booked in for surgery immediately after the club return from a three-week pre-season tour at the end of July.
Ferguson will take his summer break before travelling with his players to Thailand, Australia, Japan and Hong Kong before the operation.
United will face either Manchester City or Wigan in the Community Shield at Wembley on August 11, with their title defence due to begin the following weekend.
No timescale is being put on Ferguson’s likely absence but it would require a rapid recovery from the 71-year-old in order for him to be back in charge by then.
Ferguson has always said his health would dictate how long he would carry on as United manager.
He was taken ill at a function in Sotland almost 12 months ago, although his nosebleeds were put down to the amount of short flights he had undertaken.
Ferguson subsequently missed pre-season matches in Norway and Germany and also sat out a mid-winter break in Qatar.
Other than that though he has remained in good health and has been further boosted by his side again winning the Premier League title in convincing style.Hospitalise

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