The Olympic taint

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Fresh Concerns over Bhopal Toxic Waste Disposal
Feb 9 2012 by Jade in Brighton

The Abandoned Union Carbide Factory in Bhopal © JL / BMA
Urgent warnings have been issued by experts in India following revelations that authorities plan to burn toxic waste from Bhopal in Mumbai

Activists, doctors and environmental experts have suggested that the plans, proposed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), could well lead to a “second disaster.”

Electronic newspaper Mid Day quotes Satinath Sarangi, managing trustee of the Sambhavna Trust Clinic in Bhopal and member of the Bhopal Group for Information and Action (BGIA)’s alarming warning; “the toxic waste lying in Bhopal contains toxic materials such as dioxine, furins, halogenated nitrates, organic chlorinated chains and we are not sure what additional toxic compounds have developed in the past few years. Any exposure to these materials can lead to cancer and genetic disorders. Therefore, transferring the waste without a proper disposal facility and without necessary arrangements could cause another disaster.”

The Union Carbide factory has remained heavily contaminated with poisons for the past 27 years but around 346 tonnes of previously recovered waste remains at different sites awaiting destruction.

The Union Carbide site remains heavily contaminated © JL / BMA
Previous attempts from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to transfer the toxic waste to other waste disposal facilities in Madhya Pradesh, as well as others in neighbouring states, have been prevented by concerned environmental authorities and local residents who resisted the plans.

Experts aren’t certain that the proposed incinerator in Mumbai is able to deal with the toxic waste and other critics have warned that incinerating the waste is dangerous and irresponsible. A decision is still to be made. The group of ministers (GoM) have so far refused to express their view on the matter.

Further concerns of how the waste itself will be transported have come to light. Critics have proposed several alternative solutions including the possibility of international overseas disposal, where the waste may be better dealt with.
Sarangi suggests that the “CPCB should ask DOW Chemical to bear the expenses, as its subsidiary was responsible for the disaster in Bhopal.”

Environmental Negligence
In other news, it has emerged that levels of toxicity in groundwater and soil in Bhopal were deliberately withheld during the 1989 settlement with the Indian Government. During the settlement, samples collected by Union Carbide Corporation (UCC) were found to contain high levels of toxicity which was not disclosed.

Documentation reveals that UCC were aware of the large-scale environmental contamination of the area both prior to, and after the disaster. Critics argue that UCC deliberately withheld such information to prevent further liability and to minimize damage to their corporate image. Toxicity and contamination remain an ongoing problem in Bhopal to this day and UCC, now a Dow subsidiary, are still wanted on criminal charges.

Dow Chemical, who are opposing any responsibility for environmental remediation, see the 1989 settlement as ‘full and final,’ despite outstanding liabilities being present with the takeover of UCC in 2001. Survivors and activists in Bhopal heavily contest both the settlement which failed to recognise any environmental impacts made by UCC, as well as Dow’s dismissal of responsibility.

Please support The Bhopal Medical Appeal by staying in touch with us on Facebook or Twitter. You can also join us on YouTube and Flickr and if you want to support the work of our clinics you can visit our Donate page. Thanks!

 Tags: bhopal, Bhopal Gas Disaster, bhopal medical appeal, Bhopal Survivors, DOW Chemical, Indian Government, mumbai, satinath saringi, union carbide, water
Posted in Industrial hazards, News | No Comments »
PETITION: LOCOG should drop DOW Chemical from the Olympics

The New England Manager is …………………………

Assuming the powers that be, want an English  Manager .

Assuming they will choose a Premier League Manager or Someone with Experience.

Assuming those from the Championship League concentrate on getting promotion, which rules them out

Then the shortlist could be one of these

Stuart Pearce - England
Tony Pulis Stoke
Harry Rednapp Spurs
Brendan Rodgers- Swansea
Alan Pardew Newcastle
Roy Hodgson- West Brom
Sam Allerdyce –West Ham
Martin O’Neil – Sunderland – Northern Ireland

I rule out Martin O’.Neil because he is new to the Sunderland Job.
I rule out Alan Pardew because he ruled himself out
I rule our Brendan Rodgers because he is the newest recruit to the Premiership but I expect he will become a candidate next time .
I rule out Roy Hodgson because though he is a safe pair of hands he could be seen to lack dynamism and his Liverpool flop.
I rule out Sam Allerdyce because he is Sam Allerdyce and better off at West Ham
I rule out Tony Pulis but I am not sure why. I expect he would make a great ambassador
Which only leaves Harry Rednapp ? but I rule him out too, because although he is a great manager – Will he give up Spurs, Europe and Fame for potential obscurity ?

There is one name on the list that has been overlooked – Stuart Pearce
As Manager for a Match he is in a strong position.
He has experience
He is unassuming and focused.
Genuinely passionate about England Under 21 team which he has managed in an exemplary way.

So I give the fulltime job to Stuart Pearce, whatever the result of the friendly,- popular with the players and supporters and I look for a junior for him to develop as Under 21 manager. – A retiring  player but not Mr Keane !

One other point who ever is offered the job the FA should stop interferring and trust the competence of who ever. More to the point the FA should concentrate on referees. If its not brown envelopes its incompetent that too many decisions are created my refereees. Take a tip from here and appoint a ref in each half of a pitch, switching round at half time. 

Next Manager of the Team ?

John McDonnell

Andy Burnham -Deputy

John Cruddas

Hiliary Benn- Deputy

Or Harriet Harman -Deputy.

One man would change the face of Parliamentary politics and stop all the bowing, curtseying and lifting one's trouser leg

George Galloway

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Oh the Footie Team ?

Stuart Pearce of course

Until the next election ?

Terry is still my captain:

Capello slams FA sacking of race-case England skipper

By Matt Lawton

Last updated at 12:41 AM on 6th February 2012

Fabio Capello appeared to issue a direct challenge to the authority of the Football Association board on Sunday night by claiming he still considers John Terry his captain.

In an astonishing interview with Italian television, the England manager undermined the FA’s decision to strip Terry of the captaincy until his racism trial has been heard in July.

Capello was quoted as saying: ‘I completely disagree with the FA about the John Terry decision and I have told that to the chairman.

‘I considered and still consider Terry the England captain. I think we first should wait for the trial conclusion.’

Another translation of the interview appeared on Associated Press. ‘I spoke with the chairman and I told him that I don’t think someone can be punished until it becomes official. The court will decide.

‘It’s going to be civil justice, not sports justice, to decide if John Terry committed that crime he is accused of. And I thought it fair that John Terry keeps the captain’s armband.’

The FA have made no secret of the fact Capello was unhappy with the decision the board reached without consulting him, with the terms of his contract examined beforehand.

On certain technical issues the FA board can take such action and it says as much in Capello’s contract.

But publicly criticising the body who pay him £6million a year is unlikely to impress the FA board, never mind the challenge to the board when they have considered it necessary to take the moral leadership on a sensitive issue.

Last night FA officials refused to comment as they tried to obtain a recording of the interview, given to RAI at Stamford Bridge yesterday, to establish if the translation that appeared on the internet was accurate.  

If Capello still considers Terry the England captain, and it is thought he has indicated as much to the Chelsea defender since the decision to strip him of the captaincy for a second time was announced on Friday, it gives the FA a real problem.  

How, for instance, does Capello appoint a replacement with any sincerity and how do other players respond? How, for that matter, do Capello and the FA continue together when the Italian has undermined the moral stance they have taken. Capello will be back in his office this week. Talks with FA chairman David Bernstein were already scheduled but now those will take even greater significance.

It will be up to both men to determine if Capello can continue for the remaining five months of his contract — and there were calls last night for the coach to be fired, with Stan Collymore tweeting: ‘Strip Captain of armband for alleged affair. Keep Captain in Police/FA/Court race storm. Capello out.’

The England manager’s stance that Terry is innocent until proven guilty has not changed.  

But Capello is at loggerheads with the FA and those talks this week will be crucial to how the Italian and his players move on from an episode that threatens to derail England’s summer.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2096899/Fabio-Capello-John-Terry-England-captian.html#ixzz1la1vTSHG

PFA contact clubs over homophobia

Sunday 29 January 2012

Police investigate death threat against Anton Ferdinand

• Spent gun cartridge sent to Queens Park Rangers
•

Ferdinand to face John Terry for first time since league meeting

Agony for Murray in epic semi-final

Friday 27 January 2012

by Greg Leedham

A sponsorship the Games can do without

2012 commissioner resigns over Dow sponsorship

City striker Balotelli faces ban over Parker stamp

Manchester City 3-2 Tottenham: Mario Balotelli escapes red card to see off Spurs

Arsenal 1-2 Manchester United: Wenger under fire as Ferguson's men snatch late win

Call for sheep shearing to become an Olympic sport

19 January 2012

  By David Boderke

Farmers Guardian

THE humming of clippers and the bleating of sheep could be heard at a future Olympic Games – if the New Zealand Farmers Federation gets its way.

Calling for sheep shearing to become an Olympic sport, the federation claims wool clippers are world-class athletes and that sheep shearing is now a bona fide sport which deserves international recognition.

Speaking ahead of the World Shearing Championships, due to be held on New Zealand’s North Island in March, federation spokeswoman Jeanette Maxwell suggested the time had come to elevate shearing’s sporting status to the ultimate world stage.

“One way,” she said, “would be to make shearing a demonstration sport at a Commonwealth Games, if not the Olympics itself.”

She pointed out competitive shearers clip up to 700 sheep over an eight-hour period - a feat which has been likened to running two marathons back-to-back.

• The New Zealand’s Government’s elite sports funding body SPARC already recognises shearing as a sport, providing it with grants to help run competitions

The Olympic struggle of the London 2012 resisters

East London activists

write on their seven years of campaigning

over the 2012 Olympics development

Red Pepper

Illustration by Cressida Knapp

Resistance to the 2012 Olympics has been widespread and under-reported, starting with London’s bid to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to host the Games back in 2004.

Protests are planned to continue through to after the sporting events finish, in order to challenge the ‘legacy’ of a corporate spectacle.

Many of the campaigns have organised around local issues, but the range of tactics has been impressive and has often strengthened community organising on issues beyond the Games.

The Olympics, wherever they are hosted, present a significant challenge to local, grass-roots politics because built into the nature of the ‘mega event’ is an anti-democratic value system that puts profit over people.

This is demonstrated by the ‘host city contract’ that any city hosting the Games must sign, but which is not easily available to the public.

 It requires the host city to operate using different laws for the duration of the Games.

It is required, for example, to ban any event that could have an impact on the successful staging of the Games taking place in or near the city during or in the weeks before the Games.

This amounts to the temporary outlawing of protest.

During the bid process, the No London 2012 campaign fought to prevent London hosting the Olympics.

The campaign started in December 2004, with a broad network of people involved, from boat owners to squatters, sporting enthusiasts to local residents, campaigners against racialised policing to environmental activists.

The network opposed the bid for a wide variety of reasons, including the destruction of local housing and sporting facilities, the loss of common land and habitats, civil liberties implications and the inadequate consultation process designed to manufacture consent.

No London 2012 organised protests during the IOC visit in February 2005 that included a cycle protest, a march and a narrow boat regatta.

They set up an online petition, sent all voting IOC members a lobby submission highlighting the damaging impacts the Games would have, and did local media work to get information to people in the five Olympic boroughs.

During the bid process, the Hackney and Leyton Football League was campaigning around sports issues, the Marshgate Lane traders’ association was fighting the effects of compulsory purchase and associated job losses, the Clays Lane Housing Co-Op was attempting to negotiate its survival should the bid be won and the Hackney Marshes User Group was opposing the bid on the grounds that the Olympics would negatively affect Hackney Marshes and other green spaces.

In July 2005 London won the Olympic bid.

Many campaigners were demoralised because they knew that once the bid was won it would be difficult to fight the separate problems the Games would bring.

Yet organising continued and still does.

This demonstrates commitment and shows that when grass-roots campaigning is ongoing, and not simply reactive, it is sustainable.

The key to this community activism has been to connect specific struggles to existing groups already working on housing, conservation and so on.

This gives more purpose to campaigns as the aim is not to stop the Games, which would be impossible given the PR, money and power of the IOC and associated corporations, but to fight for various causes before, during and after the Games.

If this continues, the real legacy of the Games will be the resilience of communities against the Olympic profiteers.

A brutal process

Once London had won the bid, there were immediate battles to be fought over land and home evictions and the taking over of green spaces.

For example, 425 tenants from the Clays Lane Housing Co-op, which was situated on the site of what is now the athletes’ village, had to be relocated when the LDA (London Development Agency) was granted a compulsory purchase order.

Tenants were dispersed into accommodation across London and were, on average, left £50 a week worse off as well as losing the community and social make-up of the estate.

Julian Cheyne, one of the residents of Clays Lane and a Games Monitor activist, had his home forcibly taken by the 2012 juggernaut.

‘Compulsory purchase is a brutal process and from day one the Clays Lane community was lied to while promises were made and broken without a second thought,’ he says.

One of the consequences of the Olympics is that communities have been set against each other.

The Manor Gardens allotment holders, who fought a long and successful fight to preserve their community, found they were to be relocated to Marsh Lane Fields, which was common land being defended by the Lamas Lands Defence Committee.

Likewise, the Clays Lane travellers, having successfully resisted being sent to live next to a flyover at Jenkins Lane, in the east of Newham, found their alternative move involved the loss of open space and a community centre at Major Road. These different communities did find ways of working together to try to resist the moves.

However, when another small group of travellers was moved to a site on Hackney Marshes it caused deep resentment among those defending the Marshes.

There have been other arguments over the loss of open space.

The situating of equestrian events in Greenwich Park has met strong opposition from the NOGOE 2012 campaign; local footballers have denounced the loss of football pitches at East Marsh; and residents at Leabank Square and elsewhere have protested at the loss of Arena Field.

The decision to create a ‘temporary’ police operations centre at Wanstead Flats has resulted in an application for judicial review, which is due to be heard shortly.

The Save Wanstead Flats campaign has seen lively community events, such as protest picnics on the site of the proposed police base, and has received wide support.

Eviction and gentrification

The twin spectres of eviction and gentrification work together as long term processes, often preceding and outlasting mega events, to reshape communities with damaging results.

Community campaigns have emerged around gentrification in the Olympic boroughs.

In Dalston, Hackney, a squatted social centre, called Everything4Everyone, was established in a listed theatre building.

It was occupied between February and November 2006 in response to the gentrification of Hackney and the threat to the building being posed by the new Dalston Junction station and blocks of luxury flats.

The area was being ‘developed’ in preparation for the Olympics.

The space had a roof garden, hosted film and music nights and a daily café.

The theatre was eventually demolished but the social centre brought local people together and events continued in the square opposite after the building had gone. One such event was a public assembly to discuss how ‘regeneration’ affected locals.

Hackney’s Broadway Market faced similar problems.

The estate agents appointed by Hackney Council sold off commercial properties worth £225 million for just £70 million, the majority of which went to offshore developer cartels. A campaign to save Broadway Market was initiated.

One of the threatened properties was Tony’s Cafe, which had been running from the same building for 30 years.

Tony repeatedly tried to buy it from Hackney Council but he was passed over in favour of a wealthy developer. This happened to many tenants.

A campaign to save the cafe saw people occupying the property on three occasions to resist eviction and even re‑building it after it was partially demolished by the developer.

In the end, it was evicted to make way for luxury flats, but the resistance saw many people taking direct action for the first time.

Not so green

Initially, 2012 was going to be the ‘greenest games’ – until the organisers realised this promise could not be kept. The Eastway Cyclists had to argue long and hard to get adequate facilities to replace those lost.

Clays Lane residents tried to take the ODA to court, but were refused legal aid, over the threat to their health posed by the disturbance of radioactive materials on the Eastway Cycle Track.

This campaign over the botched remediation of the park has been continued by members of the Games Monitor group, who have uncovered serious health concerns through a prolonged Freedom of Information campaign.

‘They said the Olympics would provide “a unique opportunity to clean up this contaminated area”,’ recalls Games Monitor researcher Mike Wells.

‘Rather than clean up the site, works have spread the contamination far and wide and include the deliberate and illegal burial of radioactive contaminants in the Olympic Park, 250 metres from the main stadium.’

The Nuclear Trains Action Group (NTAG) has long protested over the transport of nuclear waste from Sizewell through London.

These shipments have been suspended during the Olympics, which the group claims as a victory for its long-running campaign.

Official and unofficial activities by workers have shown that London 2012 is vulnerable to organised action.

The RMT transport union has secured a bonus for drivers working during the increased traffic of the Games alongside a 5 per cent backdated pay increase with inflation guarantees for the next three years for all London Underground staff.

However, outside of its transport power base, the RMT has had activists and members organising around the Olympics subject to blacklisting, alongside members of the building workers’ union UCATT and Unite.

John McDonnell MP said that the blacklisting is ‘one of the worst cases of organised human rights abuse in the UK’.

Workers on the various Olympic construction sites have struggled to organise effectively, due to the intentional corporate bureaucracies of the Games and direct harassment.

Yet there has been lively resistance to the blacklisting of union organisers with creative demonstrations at dawn among other actions.

Facing the prospect of a near 30 per cent pay cut, electricians in the Unite construction national rank and file action committee have staged a series of walkouts and road occupations in London and beyond.

And it is not just the official unions that have been active.

A report published in 2010 by the IWW union highlighted the poor safety record that has lead to a number of incidents, some fatal, which have been covered up.

What legacy?

Activists have recognised the need for the wide variety of Olympic campaigns to unite to support each other in the short term and use the spectacle of the Games to build long term, grass-roots networks.

There have been several attempts to build anti-Olympics networks, such as the Counter Olympics Network (CON), which is currently hosting information nights, film screenings and history walks and organising actions in the lead up to the Games.

Beth Lawrence from CON explains: ‘It’s essential to bring campaign groups together, so we can learn from each other and also bring a global dimension to resisting the Olympics.

We’ve learnt from Canada and Chicago and will help others resist the bid in their city.’ Radical media and research groups have been working hard attempting to bring people together and tell the real story of their, not our, Games.

These include the Spectacle film collective, the corporate-critical research co-op Corporate Watch and the Games Monitor website, a comprehensive collection of resources dedicated to exposing the myths of the Games.

Mega events present a massive challenge to community organising, as they throw so many issues at us simultaneously and they are almost impossible to stop in their tracks once the bid has been won.

Yet the willingness of people to struggle against the Games shows that the legacy will not be entirely theirs.

www.gamesmonitor.org.uk, www.corporatewatch.org

Thierry Henry will go straight into Arsenal's squad for Monday night's FA Cup third-round tie with Leeds after signing on loan from New York Red Bulls, with captain Robin van Persie set to be rested.

Ivory Coast forward Gervinho is absent at the start of international duty ahead of the African Nations Cup, but Morocco striker Marouane Chamakh is available before his delayed departure. Defender Johan Djourou is suspended after his red card at Fulham, while Kieran Gibbs (groin), Thomas Vermaelen (calf), Bacary Sagna (ankle), Carl Jenkinson (back), Andre Santos (ankle), Abou Diaby (hamstring) and Jack Wilshere (ankle) are all out.

Leeds were rocked ahead of the trip with news Paddy Kisnorbo will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury. The defender suffered the problem in the 2-1 win over Burnley and scans have shown ligament damage which will require surgery and sideline him for at least six months.

 Fellow defender Alex Bruce is struggling with a hamstring tear and will be assessed ahead of the journey to the capital. However, United's defensive worries could be eased after Tom Lees (concussion) and Darren O'Dea (hip) returned to training following recent injuries. Winger Robert Snodgrass remains sidelined following his appendix operation last Thursday, as does skipper Jonny Howson, who has missed the last five games due to a knee injury. On-loan winger Andros Townsend has been given permission to play by parent-club Tottenham, with boss Simon Grayson confirming he is targeting new signings ahead of the clash.

MANAGER QUOTES

Arsene Wenger: "You cannot take away from people what they have done, and what (Thierry Henry) has delivered will stay forever. It can just make the statue a bit bigger. Let us hope he will do that. Thierry is a world-class player and even at this club a player of that dimension is always very difficult to find, especially at this period of the season. He can just add something more to the team. Who would turn down a player of his quality? We have a good spirit in the side and he will add something more, experience-wise, and on the nervy side as well, when we are under pressure."

Simon Grayson on Kisborno's injury: "It is a big blow for us as a football club but more so for him. He has come through 18 months of hell with his ruptured Achilles tendon, worked hard through some dark days and for that to happen to him was a disappointment for everybody. He is very down and low. You can't really imagine what he is going through because he has worked extremely hard to get back to where he is. He is a great lad and this is a terrible sort of injury again."

MATCH FACTS

Arsenal have made it past the third round in each of the last 15 seasons in the FA Cup, a longer run than any other side.

The Gunners last lost in the third round in 1996, drawing 1-1 at home to Sheffield United before losing 0-1 at Bramall Lane.

Arsenal have lost only one of their last 35 FA Cup games at home under Arsène Wenger: 0-1 against Leeds in February 1997 (W23 D10 L1).

Thierry Henry scored 11 goals in 11 games against Leeds in all competitions, including four in his last appearance against them at Highbury.

This will be the 15th meeting between the sides in the FA Cup: so far Arsenal have won six, drawn seven and lost two.

The two sides met at this stage last season, drawing 1-1 at the Emirates before the Gunners won 3-1 at Elland Road.

Arsenal have netted at least three goals in four of their last five matches against United (in all competitions).

The Whites have only won one of their last 13 FA Cup matches against top-flight opponents: 1-0 at Old Trafford in 2010.

BETTING ODDS

Arsenal 2/7, Draw 9/2, Leeds 9/1

Ferguson willing to sell Rooney during transfer window

Exclusive: Broken relationship with manager may lead to exit but club issue joint denial

James Lawton  Saturday 07 January 2012

Sir Alex Ferguson
 
Manchester United
 
The Christmas bust-up between Wayne Rooney and Sir Alex Ferguson has run so deep that it could lead to the player's departure as early as the current transfer window.

One source close to Manchester United yesterday suggested that their working relationship has been seriously damaged – a situation that has raised fears at Old Trafford that a move could indeed happen this month.

This belief is provoked by strong feeling around the club that Ferguson believes he has lost control of Rooney.

Both United and Rooney moved quickly last night to deny that the striker may be leaving the club, issuing a joint statement that stressed both have “utmost respect for each other and look forward to working together in the coming seasons.”

However, fuelling the suspicion that despite the ravages of injury afflicting his team Ferguson is ready to wash his hands of the protégé in whom he has shown such massive faith, and patience, since signing him as a teenager from Everton in 2004, is the degree of his anger when Rooney appeared so plainly to be in no condition to train after a Boxing Day night out.

It had plainly not abated when he called Rooney off the field at Newcastle on Wednesday night, clearly disgusted by an abject performance from the England forward at a time when United desperately needed to keep pace with neighbours Manchester City at the top of the Premier League – and in tomorrow's FA Cup tie.

Ferguson's sense of betrayal can only be heightened by his memory of the acrobatics he was required to perform barely a year ago when Rooney, with his private life and football form apparently in meltdown, demanded a transfer amid rumours that City were ready to take him across town on increased wages.

Whatever his private feelings, Ferguson held the line with Rooney, agreed to an improved contract in return for a lukewarm apology to the fans and no immediate improvement in the form that had made his World Cup appearances for England so disappointing – especially after a brilliant club season which had won him the Player of the Year award.

Ferguson also had to endure a public lecture from Rooney about United's lack of ambition.

A sharp improvement in Rooney's form at the end of last season and a burst of scoring before Christmas that came at the end of another run of mediocrity might have encouraged Ferguson to believe that his most talented player was in the mood for another tour de force in the second half of this season.

That optimism severely dissipated, however, when Rooney appeared at the Carrington training ground unfit to train – and then crisis was compounded by not only Rooney's failure to perform at Newcastle but also his indifferent demeanour.

United issued a combined statement with Rooney last night that claimed there was no problem in the relationship between manager and player.

“We can assure all United fans that the manager and the club are committed to Wayne Rooney and Wayne is committed to the manager and the club,” it read.

“The player and the manager have always had and retain, the utmost respect for each other and look forward to working together in the coming seasons.

”Any suggestion that Manchester United and Wayne Rooney are to part company is complete nonsense.“

Hansen sorry for 'coloured' remark

India asks London to throw out Dow

Racist tweets abuse at City star Richards

Fury over all-male awards shortlist

Ken Livingstone warns of 'crisis of legitimacy' for 2012 over Dow deal

• Former London mayor: 'Olympic Games could be undermined'
• Indian Olympic Authority to discuss issue on 5 December

Champions League -

Van Persie brace sees Arsenal top group

Wed, 23 Nov 21:41:00 2011

 Robin van Persie brace secured Arsenal's progression from Champions League Group F with a 2-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund at the Emirates Stadium.

 
: Arsenal v Borussia Dortmund

Wenger assures fans over his future

Bender stays behind for surgery
Match gallery
Champions League Group F standings
Champions League fixtures/results

Van Persie 'the best in the world'Bet on Football - Get £25 Free..

After a frenetic first half which produced little, Van Persie gave his side a 49th minute lead with a clinical header after fine work out wide from the inspired Alex Song, before the Arsenal captain doubled his tally from close range four minutes from time.

Shinji Kagawa pulled a consolation goal back for Dortmund in stoppage time, but it was an entirely efficient victory for the hosts as they sealed their place in the last 16 of the competition by topping Group F.

Arsene Wenger named an unchanged starting line-up as his side attempted to secure their passage through to the knockout stages with Laurent Koscielny continuing at right-back while the returning Abou Diaby was handed a spot on the substitutes' bench.

Starlet Mario Goetze, a reported £30 million target for the Gunners, started for the Germans, who needed a win to realistically keep alive their slim hopes of making the second round, and the midfielder was at the forefront of everything in what was a frantic opening.

Arsenal were forced to play on the break for much of the early stages, and Theo Walcott nearly punished the visitors as he surged through on goal to latch on to Aaron Ramsey's pinpoint through ball, but Roman Weidenfeller was swiftly off his line and made an impeccable challenge.

Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp had to make two enforced changes in the opening half hour as Sven Bender clashed with Thomas Vermaelen in innocuous fashion and had to be replaced by Moritz Leitner, while Goetze could not shake off an early knock with Ivan Perisic his replacement.

The visitors missed the dynamism of the two midfielders as Arsenal began to dictate much of the play, albeit without being able to muster more than one shot in the first half as the match as a whole lacked a cutting edge.

Aaron Ramsey was typically inventive in the midfield while Walcott posed a threat from the right, but Weidenfeller was frequently on hand to alleviate any danger in the Dortmund half as his side pressed incessantly.

Arsenal made a sluggish start to the second half as first Per Mertesacker was almost caught dallying on the ball by Perisic, before a slick one-two between Kagawa and Robert Lewandowski saw the Japanese midfielder fly through on goal, only for Wojciech Szczesny to make a fine stop with his legs at his near post.

But just seconds later, Arsenal went in front: Song distinguished himself as he jinked his way past two challenges out on the left and dinked a pinpoint delivery to the back post, where Van Persie was on hand to head past Weidenfeller with a clinical finish. It was his 16th Champions League goal for the Gunners.

Gervinho really ought to have doubled Arsenal's lead on the hour mark as he stole in behind the Dortmund back four to latch on to Ramsey's precise through ball, but he never looked convincing and dallied long enough to allow Mats Hummels to make a timely last-ditch challenge.

Lucas Barrios was introduced to further bolster Dortmund's attacking options midway through the second half as Klopp made his final substitution, but Arsenal defended stoutly to restrict the visitors to speculative efforts.

Van Persie capped yet another match-winning display with a close range finish after Vermaelen had expertly flicked on Arteta's inswinging corner, and his 38th goal in 41 games for the calendar year ensured his side all three points.

Kagawa pulled a goal back for the intrepid visitors in the final minute of play following an aberration from the hosts at the back, but it was nothing more than a mere consolation for the German side as Arsenal were left to celebrate becoming the first English team to seal their place in the last 16 this season

Accused pair to meet in clash

Arsene Wenger: This may be my last season at Arsenal...

By Rob Draper

Last updated at 10:45 PM on 19th November 2011

 Arsene Wenger has revealed that he will consider his future as Arsenal manager at the end of the season if he feels he is no longer able to get the best out of his team.

Wenger, whose side continued their impressive run with a fifth successive Premier League win, 2-1 at Norwich on Saturday, has two years left on his contract at the Emirates.

But he has now admitted that the summer departures to Barcelona and Manchester City of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri, which ripped the heart out his young team, were 'painful' and had ruined his long-cherished project of building a title-winning team from players developed within the club.

   And he conceded that he is prepared to question whether he is the man to take Arsenal forward.

Wenger said: 'The only reason I would not respect my contract to the end would be if I feel I am not good enough to do the job any more.

So I will wait until the end of the season and see then if I have managed to get the most out of the team.

'I am certainly not going to say that I will quit if we don't finish in the top four in the Premier League.

But after 15 years at Arsenal I have to analyse the situation in an honest, completely objective way.

But I think every manager would say the same thing.'

Wenger was responding to questions about a frank interview he had given to the French sports newspaper L'Equipe, in which he appeared to question his future at the club he has managed since 1996 with unprecedented success.

The 62-year-old Frenchman was reported to have said: 'I won't be there [at Arsenal] in 15 years.

Will I be there next season?

We will look at things at the end of this season.

I still have two years on my contract after that.
 

Changing of the guard: Wenger has been hurt by the loss of stars he has nurtured, such as Cesc Fabregas

'This is a new cycle.

When we left Highbury I looked to the long term with a young team.

It didn't work and we are building again.

For me, we're now talking short term, it's obvious.

But whether it's with me or someone else, it changes nothing.

My successor needs foundations on which he can be successful.

'It's true that last season was the toughest I've had at Arsenal … What is hard is the feeling that something is finishing. For the first time, I lost young players who were reaching maturity.

'That was tough for me. It's painful to lose key men you've invested a lot in.'

Commenting on the interview on Saturday, Wenger added: 'I am completely committed to Arsenal. It is the club of my life.

I have a contract here and I will honour it.

The story in L'Equipe is something I did about two weeks ago and it is nothing really.

'The journalist involved just asked me if there was any way that I would ever leave Arsenal and I said the only way I would ever leave is if I was not achieving what is expected of me.

But I love the club and I think I have always shown my total commitment to it.

I would expect to respect my Arsenal contract to the end even if some people are questioning what I do.'

Wenger's friends concede that he was shaken by the events of the summer when Nasri and Fabregas quit the club, despite the manager believing he could persuade at least one of them to stay.

It was this as well as an unwillingness to compromise Arsenal's negotiating positions which led Wenger to delay signing replacements, such as Santi Carzola, who moved to Malaga instead of Arsenal, and Juan Mata, who eventually joined Chelsea. 
 

Arsenal's team morale was also clearly affected by the Fabregas and Nasri departures as the club slumped to an 8-2 defeat at Manchester United and lost 4-3 in a calamitous display at Blackburn.

But they have since recovered and moved to sixth place in the table.

 Wenger was full of praise on Saturday for his Dutch striker Robin van Persie, whose two goals against Norwich took his 2011 Premier League goals tally to an incredible 31.

Wenger said: 'His form at the moment is exceptional.

He is certainly one of the best strikers in the world at present and he always makes the right decision in a fraction of a second.

 He is also very left-footed but he scored his second goal here with a wonderful chip with his right foot.

'He is 28 now and hopefully he will stay here for the rest of his career.

I will certainly do my utmost to keep him.'

The world really has changed.

But Sepp Blatter hasn't noticed yet
 

Christina Patterson  Saturday 19 November 2011
 i
 There was a point where it all got rather surreal.

That was the point when an old white man, who runs an organisation that seems to attract an awful lot of criticism, appeared to accuse a young black man of racism.

The white man was Sepp Blatter, the 75-year-old head of football's "governing body".

The young black man was Rio Ferdinand, a footballer who plays for England and Manchester United. And the surreal moment was when Blatter, or possibly someone tweeting on his behalf, told Ferdinand that the person Ferdinand had called, in a tweet, a "black man" had a name.

You can see why he'd want to bring it up.

It's a brilliant name, the kind you'd be dying to toss into a conversation, maybe even join Twitter to tweet.

Perhaps that's why Blatter, or someone on his behalf, issued a photograph of him hugging Tokyo Sexwale. Perhaps it had nothing to do with the fact that Tokyo Sexwale (which isn't, apparently, pronounced "sex whale") is black.

But it certainly looked, when Sepp Blatter issued the photo with a headline saying "committed to the fight against racism", as if the Minister of Human Settlements of South Africa had been given his rare starring role on the Fifa website because of the colour of his skin. Rio Ferdinand seemed to think so.

"I need the covering eyes symbol!!" he tweeted.

"Fifa," he explained, "clear up the Blatter comments with a pic of him posing with a black man..." A "pic", he didn't need to say, whose message seemed to be "some of my best friends are black".

To be fair to Blatter, some of his best friends are black. Jack Warner, who once told an audience that a "white foreigner" who was trying to interview him was "trash", and who resigned from his post as vice president of Fifa after being accused of offering bribes, is black.

So is Mohamed bin Hammam, who planned to run against Blatter as Fifa president, but who, after investigations by an "ethics committee" some were surprised to discover existed, was, unfortunately, banned from Fifa for life. You couldn't really say that Fifa wasn't, in all kinds of ways, an equal opportunities employer.

But you could certainly say that its approach to what a lot of people, but not necessarily Fifa, call racism, is quite old-fashioned.

 It's old-fashioned in the way that those signs that used to be displayed outside guest houses saying "no blacks, no dogs, no Irish" now seem a bit old-fashioned. If, say, you'd just come over from Jamaica, because the British Government invited you, and were looking for somewhere to stay, and saw one of those signs, you were meant to just smile and keep walking until you found somewhere else.

And if, say, another player on the pitch should refer to the colour of your skin, in a way that didn't sound complimentary, and maybe use "a word or a gesture which is not the correct one", then what you should do, according to Blatter, is say that "this is a game" and "at the end of the game we shake hands".

You should do this, he implied, because these are the examples that triggered the question, even if the other person has called you a "nigger" or a "fucking black cunt".

He seemed to be surprised when his comments didn't go down all that well. He seemed to think that he had been "misunderstood". He was "committed", he said, though it might have been nice if he'd come up with a different metaphor, to "kicking" racism "out".

Perhaps when Blatter sees football fans making monkey noises, and throwing bananas when a black player comes on the pitch, which sometimes happens in Spain (and which is why one black British player left his Spanish team after one season), he thinks they're just being friendly.

Perhaps, like Berlusconi talking about Obama, he thinks it's funny to talk about a black person's "tan". Perhaps he doesn't realise that the world has changed.

It takes time to change a culture, and an awful lot of effort. Sometimes people get confused.

Sometimes they mix up race and culture, and think that if you criticise a culture, you're also criticising the colour of someone's skin.

They think that stating certain facts – about levels of Nigerian fraud, say, or absent Caribbean fathers, or the lyrics of certain rappers – or even not liking the work of particular artists, makes you a racist.

They seem to like calling other people racist. It seems to give them a nice, warm glow.

Race has nothing whatsoever to do with culture. It's the thing we can't, whatever efforts we make, change.

To insult someone for their race, and not for what they do or say, or even for how they play a game, is about as low as a human being can go.

On Thursday, a black man testified in a London court.

He testified even though his father had died the night before. He spoke about the night, 18 years ago, when his friend, Stephen Lawrence, was killed.

He described how some young white men had chased them, and how one waved "something shiny" before his friend fell.

He said that when his friend got up, and ran, "blood was streaming out around his neck".

As he talked, Duwayne Brooks cried. When his best friend died, he said, the word his killers yelled out was "nigger".

Splatter Blatter should be charged with bringing the game into disrepute if he ever sets foot on British soil.

He should be subject to arrest by Common law if necessary for racist remarks.

The effort the FA and PFA  have gone to, in an effort to rid the game of racism is commendable but it is still occurring on and off the pitch and Septic’s remarks have put back the clock.

If its OK for him to make slanderous remarks and then apologise why not others found guilty ?

Newsarse

Thursday 17 November 2011
Sepp Blatter sets out to shake hands with all the black people
 
After claiming that racism in football doesn’t actually exist, FIFA president has today set out to shake hands with all of the black people so we can just forget about it and move on with our lives.

Blatter denied that racism existed in football, and insisted that footballers some times merely say mean things to other footballers in the heat of the moment – which should be forgotten once they shake hands.

“I said what I said in the heat of battle in the interview, and now we should just shake hands and forget about it so

I can get back to enjoying my million dollar salary.”

“I’ve already shaken hands with six black people this morning, so I’m guessing I’ve got about fifty to go, right?”

“Wait, there’s HOW many of them?”

Sepp Blatter racist comments

Critics have suggested that such were the levels of ignorance shown by his comments, that next time his is the only name on the FIFA presidential ballot he will almost certainly lose the election to himself.

FIFA member Shane McDonald said, “This latest outburst will leave FIFA members will have no choice but to vote against Sepp Blatter, by voting instead for Sepp Blatter – it will be the perfect example of democracy in action.”

“Plus I don’t believe he’s really racist, I know for a fact some of his closest photo opportunities are black.”

SEP-TIC BLATTER

International football federation Fifa president Sepp Blatter’s ignorant claim that racism is not an on-field problem was compounded by his oafish and contradictory advice that victims of racist abuse should simply shake hands with their abuser.

Instead of apologising for this 1970s attitude that racism is nothing more than banter that ends with the final whistle, he posted a picture on the web of himself in a clinch with South African minister and former ANC armed wing combatant Tokyo Sexwale.

Did he really think that a cheesy all-friends-together picture clears him of any stench of racism?

He has since taken issue with Rio Ferdinand and other critics, pointing to work carried out by Fifa to raise awareness about racism.

That contradiction is precisely the point.

How seriously can Fifa efforts to outlaw racism be taken when the organisation’s president feels justified in minimising the effect of racist name calling?

Blatter is no stranger to controversy over his chronic inability to understand the significance of equality issues.

He tried to raise a laugh by telling gay football fans not to be sexually active during the World Cup in homophobic Qatar and also suggested that women’s football could be made more attractive by players wearing tighter shorts.

The man is an embarrassment who is well past his sell-by date and should be replaced immediately by Michel Platini.

Platini graced the game at the highest level as a player and is in tune with the needs and attitudes of the 21st century to encourage the respect agenda that must underpin the major world team sport at all levels.

Fifa's Sepp Blatter: settle race rows with handshakes

• President denies racism between players is a problem
• Issues statement later underlining anti-racism credentials
• FA charges Liverpool's Luis Suárez with making racist remarks

Stamford bridge outfit involved with new racism controversy

On the occasion of the England v Sweden match  tonight

The Radical asks about the England Football Team

And if  Fabio Capello can be forgiven ?

One decision where he made may have left the England team psychologically damaged ?

Just a thought, in case it hasn’t been pointed out before, but was the manager Fabio Capello’s decision to leave Theo Walcott at home, for the World Cup in South Africa a major contributing factor to the teams dismal performance ?

Theo had already bought air tickets for his nearest and dearest, to go with him,he had played in all the warm up matches and interestingly has played for England in every match since, when he was fit.

Theo was not selected in the party to travel.

Theo Walcott is an International player of class.
And he has regained his confidence to play a major part in Arsenal’s recovery.

Sorry Fabio but my vote goes to Theo and here’s to your replacement – an English man?

And will Fabio be paid on his decisions?  We made him a multi millionaire for getting it wrong ?

Will his recommendation of who is to follow him be as bad ?

Fans slam board over ground name change

England captain Andrew Strauss derides ICC as a 'toothless tiger'

Accolades pour in for Manchester United veteran manager Alex Ferguson

Police launch investigation into John Terry-Anton Ferdinand incident

• Met opens formal investigation after assessing complaint
•

Chelsea match marred by chants about Anton Ferdinand

Cricket's rulers plan to widen net in battle against cheats

• International Cricket Council may hold further investigations
• Spot-fixers to be sentenced after two-day hearing

Champions League - Matchpack Arsenal v Marseille

Mon, 31 Oct 16:48:00 2011

Team news, match facts and quotes ahead of the Champions League Group F fixture between Arsenal and Valencia at Emirates Stadium.

Thomas Vermaelen and Carl Jenkinson are both fit to start.

Marouane Chamakh has suffered a knee injury and is not fit, but Yossi Benayoun is available again after sitting out Saturday's win over Chelsea due to the terms of his loan deal.

Kieran Gibbs (stomach) remains out, along with midfielders Abou Diaby and Jack Wilshere and full-back Bacary Sagna (all ankle).

Andre-Pierre Gignac made an appearance as a substitute in a win over Dijon at the weekend despite suffering from groin pain recently.

Midfielder Stephane Mbia remains sidelined as he has a broken foot.

MANAGER QUOTES

Arsene Wenger: "They are a side who can defend well with very physical and quick players on the break, so I believe that the counter attack suits them more than dominating the game.

They have gained in confidence in between the two games like we have so it should be an interesting tie.

But for us it's an opportunity to qualify and of course we want to take this chance."

Didier Deschamps: "We could play 4-4-2. But is it a system that can pose them problems without putting us in difficulty?

I saw their match at Stamford Bridge, they conceded three but the three in midfield and three up front have quality. I still have time to ponder 4-4-2. I am going to rotate a bit anyway because of tiredness."

MATCH FACTS

Marseille have lost six of their last eight CL games against English teams (one win, one draw).

Arsenal have lost only two of their 17 games against French opposition in European competitions (nine wins, six draws).

Marseille have won their last three CL away games in the group stages, keeping a clean sheet in all of those games (goal difference 11-0).

The Gunners have lost only one of their last 35 CL home games (1-3 in the semi-finals 2008/09 against Manchester United). They won 25 of the remaining 34 (nine draws).

The French outfit have kept a clean sheet in seven of their last nine European games (excl. qualifiers).

A win would secure Arsenal a place in the round of 16.

In their last ten home games (of which they won nine and drawn one), Arsenal have scored an average of 3.3 goals per game.

Arsenal midfielder Alex Song has already won 18 tackles, by far the most of all players in the competition.

MATCH ODDS

Arsenal 8/13, Marseille 9/2, Draw 3/1.

PA Sport / Opta .

Terry to stay England skipper amid inquiry

Terry categorically denies accusations that he racially abused Anton Ferdinand but if he is found guilty, then the QPR defender's cousin, former Spurs and Newcastle striker Les Ferdinand, says the FA should ban Terry from the national team.

"It’s down to the FA, but I’d be shouting from the rooftops [for that]," he said. "They need to make a statement. If they don’t, paltry fines that have been handed out in the past prove that these people do not believe there is a problem with racism in football."

Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright also has his say in his column in The Sun on Thursday morning, and suggests Chelsea have been all too quick to back their captain, without establishing the facts of the matter.

He writes: "I must say, though, when Chelsea came out so quickly to back him 100 per cent, you'd have to question their wisdom. Of course you expect them to be loyal to their player, but did they really have time to investigate it thoroughly?

"It's the same thing with Liverpool and their rapid defending of Luis Suarez, after similar allegations from Patrice Evra. Yes, back him to the hilt. But you've got to hold your own official inquiry to look fully into the situation as well."

The Daily Mail claims to have inside knowledge of the evidence QPR will submit to the Football Association's inquiry into allegations that Terry racially abused Ferdinand in Sunday's Premier League fixture at Loftus Road.

The paper reports that QPR stars Shaun Derry, Clint Hill and Paddy Kenny have all supported their team-mate's account and questioned the explanation provided by Terry for his use of the phrase "black ****". However, QPR have already moved to deny that this is the case.

Here the paper takes up the tale: "Sportsmail understands that Clint Hill, Paddy Kenny and Shaun Derry have provided statements that point to a serious flaw in Terry’s version of events at Loftus Road on Sunday.

"Ferdinand was baffled by the statement the England and Chelsea captain issued on Sunday night, particularly his claim that YouTube footage showed him responding to an accusation from Ferdinand that Terry had just called him ‘a black ****’.

"Kenny, Derry and Hill - an active players’ union representative - question whether any such exchange took place, given that Ferdinand had no knowledge of a racial element to what was said until after the game.

"Terry does not deny that the video shows him using the phrase ‘black ****’ but argues that it was said in the context of Ferdinand’s accusation - an accusation Ferdinand and his team-mates will say was never made."

Furthermore, the Mail reports that Terry "has tried to contact both Anton and Rio Ferdinand to resolve the situation.

But both brothers have refused to take Terry’s calls, further underlining the fact that - contrary to Terry’s claim - Anton Ferdinand does not consider the matter to be ‘finished’."

Terry aside, the big issue in the Premier League is the future of Carlos Tevez, with plenty of debate in today's papers over whether the striker will sue Roberto Mancini for defamation, and whether City will let him rot in the reserves.

However, The Independent has an interesting line with Rory Smith claiming the club are ready to anger another former captain, Kolo Toure, by punishing him over his failed drugs test last season.

Toure has served a suspension imposed by the FA but will find out soon whether City will also hit him with a fine.

The paper reports: "Already mired in acrimony with Carlos Tevez, Manchester City are bracing themselves for a battle with another of the club's former captains after it emerged Kolo Toure plans to contest any potential punishment levelled at him for his six-month suspension for a failed drugs test.

"The 30-year-old Ivory Coast international defender is scheduled to appear in front of an internal disciplinary panel, chaired by the club's football executive Brian Marwood, next week as City attempt to determine whether to fine the player for his prolonged, and self-inflicted, absence.

"Toure, who started the Carling Cup match against Wolves last night, failed the test after last February's Manchester derby and was immediately suspended by the club, before being found guilty of taking a banned substance in May.

He was suspended for six months and did not return to action until August.

It later emerged he had ingested the substance after taking his wife's slimming pills without the express permission of the club's medical staff."

Eurosport

The Welsh lost starting prop Adam Jones to a calf injury and flanker Sam Warburton to a red card in the first quarter of the Eden Park match, which they lost 9-8 after playing for more than an hour with 14 men.

With replacement prop Paul James already on the pitch, an injury to him or the other prop Gethin Jenkins would have automatically triggered a situation where neither team was allowed to push at the scrum.

That would have a been a considerable advantage to Wales, whose seven-man pack were coming under huge pressure at the scrum and conceded one of three penalties France's Morgan Parra converted when their front row collapsed.

Still fuming about the red card shown to Warburton for his tackle on France winger Vincent Clerc, Gatland cited the incident as an illustration of why referee Alain Rolland's dismissal of his captain was against the spirit of the game.

"We'd already lost Adam Jones, and we discussed in the box, did we fake an injury to one of our props to go to uncontested scrums?" he told reporters on Tuesday.

"But morally, I made the decision that was not the right thing to do.

"We could have easily done that in the first 25-30 minutes.

But in the spirit of the game, in the spirit of the World Cup semi-final, I didn't think that was the fairest or the right thing to do.

"That's why I honestly believe Alain Rolland made the wrong decision, I think the right decision would have been a yellow card.

"Under the terms of the rules and regulations, he is perfectly entitled to give a red card but every game is different and you've got to take into account the circumstances, situation and the intent.

"In that situation, given the circumstances and his experience, the yellow card was the right decision."

The International Rugby Board (IRB) and referees' chief Paddy O'Brien have offered their full support to Rolland and reiterated their "zero tolerance" policy on spear tackles.

Reuters

Ban Alain Rolland from officiaiting Rugby ever again

Alain Colm Pierre Rolland (born 22 August 1966 in Dublin) is a former Irish rugby union footballer and current international referee.

Rolland had a French father and speaks fluent French, supposedly making him an 'ideal neutral' referee for matches involving teams from Great Britain and France.

During his playing days as a scrum-hal...f, Rolland earned three caps for Ireland.

He started the match on 27 October 1990 against Argentina, and gained further caps as a replacement against Italy in 1994 and the USA in 1995. He also won 40 Leinster caps, playing for Blackrock College.

Rolland retired as a player at the dawn of the professional era and turned to refereeing instead, with his first Test appointment coming on 19 September 2001 when Wales beat Romania 81-9 at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium.

He made his Six Nations refereeing debut six months later, when France beat Scotland 22-10 at Murrayfield, with his first Tri-Nations match following in July 2003, with New Zealand’s 52-16 record defeat of South Africa.

Rolland refereed in the 2003 and 2007 Rugby World Cups and was appointed to referee the final of the 2007 Rugby World Cup [1].

Rolland combines his role as a referee with his life as a mortgage broker in Dublin.

Rolland, like Donal Courtney and Alan Lewis, is a member of the Leinster Branch of Referees.

Although South Africa were unquestionably the best team throughout the tournament.

Alain Rolland made several poor decisions that made sure England never had a chance of retaining the William Webb Elllis Trophy.

Wales ready for their date with destiny

Rugby World Cup 2011: Wales driven on by optimism of youth

• Warren Gatland hoping infusion of youth pays dividends
• James Hook in for unlucky Rhys Priestland against France
Paul Rees in Auckland

Fabio Capello has to make big decision over Wayne Rooney for Euro 2012

• Ban rules striker out of group games
• Manager and FA will decide whether to appeal

I had access to Yuvraj and Bhajji, claims Mazhar Majeed

Ashis RayAshis Ray, TNN | Oct 11, 2011, 12.57AM IST

Times of India

LONDON: Mazhar Majeed, the Pakistani players' agent at the heart of the spot-fixing scandal, bragged to the undercover reporter, Mazhar Mahmood of the now defunct tabloid News of the World, that he "had access" to Harbhajan Singh and Yuvraj Singh.

Majeed also dropped the names of West Indies' Chris Gayle and Australia's Ricky Ponting and Brett Lee. He did not elaborate on what he meant by this.Mahmood had recorded this conversation, which was re-played on the fourth day of the trial of Pakistani cricketers in the Southwark Crown Court.Majeed was also heard describing the former IPL commissioner, Lalit Modi, as a "good" friend.

In the tapes heard in the court on Monday, Majeed has described Mike Gatting, Phil Tufnell, Geoffrey Boycott and Imran Khan as "good friends".

In this series of name-dropping, Majeed has also mentioned a discussion with Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt about setting up a Twenty20 tournament in Pakistan.

Mahmood, the undercover journalist who carried out the sting operation that resulted in spot-fixing charges being levelled at three Pakistani cricketers Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer, gave evidence as a prosecution witness.

He described in detail and played tapes of his encounters with Majeed.Mahmood, who had posed as an Indian businessman in the sting operation, was in court shielded behind a blue screen to protect his identity from the public.

Majeed claimed he had been "fixing" matches for two and a half years and confirmed that he controlled several Pakistani cricketers for this purpose, including Butt,Pakistan's Test captain at that time, and pacemen Asif and Aamer.

The first two have pleaded "not guilty". Aamer appears to have entered a "guilty" plea, but this cannot be officially stated as there are reporting restrictions imposed by the presiding judge, Mr Justice Cooke.

Previously, jurors were shown footage of Majeed being handed £140,000 cash in batches of £50 by Mahmood on the eve of the Lord's Test match last year.

The former lined these up on a table in front of him, and counted one of the bundles.

Thereafter, he told the journalist when precisely three no-balls would be bowled by Aamer and Asif the next day.Mahmood's testimony is crucial to the prosecution argument.

He lured Majeed into allegedly agreeing to a plot during Pakistan's 2010 tour of England, to get the three Pakistani cricketers to bowl pre-determined no-balls.

Aftab Jafferjee, the prosecuting barrister, highlighted that point - in one instance, Majeed phoned Aamer at 1.30am, 3am and 6am on the first day of the Test.

The jury was shown tapes of the action from Lord's, pausing to see Aamer's "enormous" overstepping of the popping crease and Asif's no ball.

It also emerged that Majeed was not only dealing in no-balls with the undercover tabloid journalist, but also at least three other underworld figures, trying to fix other events during the match.

One of these was referred to in the court as the head of a "shady" Indian syndicate.

Majeed made dozens of calls to the unidentified man, and claimed that "my guy in India makes £40-50,000" on every fixed no-ball.Jafferjee remarked:

 "It is as if the sport simply is there as a vehicle with which money is to be made by fixing aspects of the game."

As the details were read out, Butt sat pensively in the dock, watching proceedings, his arms folded

Stuart Pearce's visitors threatened when Martin Kelly's header from a Henri Lansbury corner was saved by Petursson and it didn't take long to open the scoring.

In the 12th minute, Marvin Sordell capitalised on a stray pass and referee Clement Turpin played a fabulous advantage to allow Oxlade-Chamberlain to advance on goal. The youngster clipped a confident finish past Petursson to register his first goal at this level.

Oxlade-Chamberlain's second came three minutes later as Petursson made a hash of a routine cross by Nathan Delfouneso and the ball dropped for the Gunners teenager to accept the simplest of gifts.

Aston Villa attacker Delfouneso's night ended soon afterwards with what looked like a hamstring problem as Martyn Waghorn took his place and the rhythm of the game became disjointed.

There was hardly any goalmouth action although Petursson again looked less than convincing when Matthew Briggs got forward to supply a cross from the left. Iceland offered little in way of response to the early double blow and failed to trouble Jack Butland in the first half.

The game was over as a contest four minutes after the break when Oxlade-Chamberlain sped past four defenders, showing tremendous pace and purpose, and his cross was palmed into the net at the near post by Petursson. Although it could go down as an own-goal, the Arsenal rookie will certainly be claiming a treble.

Substitute Waghorn was stretchered off with another hamstring injury but the visitors continued to press and Johann Laxdal was fortunate to get a decision go his way when he tussled with Jack Rodwell following a Henri Lansbury free-kick.

The only way the hosts could stop Oxlade-Chamberlain was to foul him and they rarely looked like getting a consolation, although Laxdal's header and a long-range shot from Aron Johansson resulted in comfortable saves by Butland.

Oxlade-Chamberlain was given a rest with seven minutes to go as another prodigious talent replaced him in Everton whizz-kid Ross Barkley.

But the night belonged to the Arsenal man, who made a massive impression in Reykjavik to continue his team's 100 per cent record in the Euro 2013 qualifying group.

Norway are the next opponents for Pearce's men on Monday in Oslo and the task will be made harder by the likely absence of Delfouneso and Waghorn, leaving the former Manchester City boss short of options up front.

Adam Marshall / Eurosport

Butt accused of link to Test betting scam

Sport

Why restrict sales of footballers to the

August /January windows?

A sort of Slaves auction market –

Yes I know-- expensive "slaves", but slave trading never the less.

Man City have one to sell? A surly type?,

Arsenal should have one to sell ?– the whiter than white Percil one? Or is he ?

Some players just don’t fit in and need a new ground.

 Why restrict "anyday sales" to only managers?

Those who buy football clubs used to be men with money to burn,

so the Radical says, let them burn it whenever !

Of course the big money only applies to the best.

And most need security of employment.

But has that ever worried this "slave" industry ?

Horse Flesh

There is only one winner and its not the punter

How many times would you bet on a 33 to 1 each way to get £ 4.63 for a £1 bet

This horse was Farringdon’s selection in the Morning Star

Arsenal v Bolton Wanderers, 3pm Saturday 24 September

Arsène Wenger keeps faith with Arsenal's training methods

Defensive frailities are fuelling the accusation that Wenger is reluctant to take advice or ease his control over training

• 
  • Jamie Jackson
  • guardian.co.uk, Friday 23 September 2011 22.30 BST

The Arsenal manager, Arsène Wenger, is confident his side do not need a new defensive coach to improve at the back. Photograph: Julian Finney/Getty Images

Arsène Wenger offered up a collector's item on Tuesday night: a refusal to answer a question. Following the shaky 3-1 win over Shrewsbury Town in the Carling Cup at the Emirates, the most urbane of the elite Premier League managers was annoyed that, again, he was being asked if he might consider bringing in a defensive coach to shore up the glaring problems that have plagued his side in this, and recent, seasons.

The aerial ball is the team's big problem. Against Shrewsbury they were once more unsure under corners and free-kicks, seemingly unable to deal with high balls aimed in at their goal. "It is difficult to deal with for everybody. Everybody is good in the air [and] is committed, that makes the attraction of the league as well," is Wenger's explanation.

But, if some defences are poor, other defences are poorer, and the statistics show that Wenger's has been the worst in this area during the past three seasons. Since the 2009-10 campaign his side have shipped the most goals from set pieces: 51, which represents 52% of all conceded (they have allowed 47 from open play). Manchester United's tally is 24, Chelsea's 32, and Tottenham Hotspur's 29.

The rearguard that will not stop leaking is now five games into this campaign, and has conceded a barely credible 14 goals to leave Arsenal fourth bottom, a scenario that Wenger admits is "very strange". Their goal difference of minus eight is the poorest in the division.

All of this is fuelling the accusation that despite having Pat Rice, the right-back in Arsenal's Double-winning side of 1971, and Boro Primorac, a former Yugoslavia central defender, as his lieutenants Wenger is reluctant to take advice either internally, or externally, or ease his control over training.

Pressed again if he would consider hiring a defensive specialist Wenger said: "No," which is fair enough if the team are winning, questionable if on a run of only three wins in their past 16 league outings, as Arsenal are. An awful sequence regarding which his irritation (or defensiveness) is visible when responding: "We are in a new season and I don't know why you should take the games at the end of the season where we were under special circumstances."

On the advantages of his hands-on approach Wenger says: "Because I'm not an intellectual and my job is to prove practically that what I think is right. The most difficult thing to give to a team is the style of play. And you manage better to transmit that when you are on pitch."

After walking into Manchester United in 1986, Sir Alex Ferguson gradually delegated more and more as the country's most successful manager decided that the bigger picture could best be seen a step removed. Again, Wenger shows exasperation when quizzed if his opposing approach is the optimum method of gaining an overview of the squad. "Look, at the age of 25 I educated coaches for licences because that's what I like in the job," he says, then pre-empts the issue of his refusal to take advice. "I'm ready to sit down with anybody who coaches, believe me."

Nigel Winterburn, a member of the famous defence put in place by George Graham that won the Double for Wenger in the 1997‑98 season, says the manager's approach has never changed. "He's one of the first coaches out in the morning and one of the last to leave – he's the one who takes all the training sessions, or at least 90% of them," the former left‑back says.

Gilberto Silva, the Brazilian who played for Arsenal as a defensive midfielder between 2002 and 2008, agrees. "The suggestion of outside help to coach players is made by people who don't know what happens at the club," he says. "Arsène never delegated things totally to his assistants. He was always watching things pitch-side, more than often coming in to talk about things to change. He never tried to reinvent the wheel or kept yapping at the players, because footballers don't like to be bossed around."

Despite Arsenal's now-perennially leaky defence Winterburn states that Wenger's philosophy is not to drill his back four separately. "No. Arsène Wenger's training is all about possession of the football, movement of the football and support of one another. Then he really expects you to be able, when you lose the ball, to organise yourself and dictate to players around you in what areas you want the opposition to go," he says.

This approach is in direct contrast to that favoured by Graham, under whom Winterburn won two league titles. He says: "We still did small-sided drills of two against two, three against three [under Wenger] which is a bit like a defensive situation, but Arsène Wenger doesn't do anything like George Graham did. George worked many hours with the back four, sometimes with no opposition there, just moving into position. Then, he would introduce the youth team: five, six, seven, eight, nine players against that back four."

Wenger conjures up an illuminating image to illustrate how much he is Mr Arsenal, how much of the club he ensures is channelled through him. "There have been a lot of things said that are wrong [about me], but on the positive side as well," he says. "I personally do not complain. When you have heavy criticism of a young player I am more worried about it. I am supposed to take the bullets and absorb them. Like a bear, a polar bear."

How many more bullets, then, can he take? "Endless. It is because I understand the game."

Against Bolton Wanderers at the Emirates on Saturday Wenger insists that Arsenal will start to remind football just how knowledgeable he is.

Brighton 3 Leeds 3: Last-gasp McCormack clips wings of Seagulls

By Laura Williamson

Last updated at 12:10 AM on 24th September 2011

 Ross McCormack might have spared Leeds the embarrassment of throwing away a two-goal lead on Friday night — but his side were not spared the wrath of manager Simon Grayson.

Brighton looked to be heading for a third defeat in a week when Leeds struck through Andy Keogh and McCormack inside the first 24 minutes.

Sharp shooter: Craig Mackail-Smith (right) scores Brighton's third goal

But two goals from Craig Mackail-Smith and an Ashley Barnes penalty gave Gus Poyet’s side the lead and a place at the top of the table, only for McCormack to strike again in stoppage time.

Eye on the ball: Brighton's Craig Mackail-Smith challenges Leeds' goalkeeper Andy Lonergan (right)

High flyer: Brighton's Liam Birdcutt

Grayson, who has seen his side concede 10 goals in four away games, said: ‘It’s a mental approach from each individual who’s out there — they seem to have a mental dip and switch off.

 

Handy Andy: Keogh (Leeds) opens the scoring for Leeds

‘The top players (need to) make sure they see situations out. I wouldn’t mind having a game where we bore everybody rigid and win 1-0. It’s really frustrating.’

 

Drama: Ross McCormack celebrates his last-gasp equaliser

Poyet, too, was disappointed with his team’s performance at the back, despite an impressive fightback less than 48 hours after their Carling Cup defeat by Liverpool.

MATCH FACTS

BRIGHTON: Ankergren, Greer, Dunk, Calderon, Painter, Noone (Vicente 46), Dicker, LuaLua (Hoskins 86), Bridcutt, Barnes, Mackail-Smith (Vincelot 90).

Subs Not Used: Brezovan, Navarro.

Booked: Greer, Barnes, Dicker, Painter, Ankergren.

Goals: Mackail-Smith 47, Barnes 60 pen, Mackail-Smith 84.

LEEDS: Lonergan, Lees, Bromby, O'Dea, White, Snodgrass (Forssell 86), Howson, Clayton, Pugh (Vayrynen 81), Keogh (Becchio 68), McCormack.

Subs Not Used: Rachubka, Kisnorbo.

Booked: Howson, Bromby, Keogh, Pugh, McCormack.

Goals: Keogh 18, McCormack 24, 90.

Att: 20,646

Ref: Lee Probert (Wiltshire).

He said: ‘We don’t play 3-3 games. I don’t know if I’ve ever had a 3-3 as a manager. I don’t like them. It’s the first time we defended so badly, and we need to put that right.’

Keogh netted Leeds’ opener in the 18th minute and six minutes later McCormack made it  2-0, darting in and finding the bottom right-hand corner.

Brighton struck two minutes after the break, Mackail-Smith  finishing after pirouetting through the Leeds defence. And the striker then won a penalty when he was judged to have been fouled by Leigh Bromby after an hour. Barnes duly slotted home.

Mackail-Smith thought he had won it when he side-footed home after 84 minutes, but there was still time for one more defensive horror show.

McCormack was again the beneficiary, poking home Jonathan Howson’s pass after the Leeds captain was allowed to charge into the penalty area in the second minute of stoppage time.

Moody back as skipper

 

 

Mahendra Singh Dhoni's side - who ended a dismal tour without a single victory against England - posted a testing total of 304 for six courtesy of Virat Kohli's 107 before rain interrupted the match as the hosts' target was revised to 241.

Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott both compiled half-centuries, but England were wobbling at 166 for four before the 21-year-old Bairstow - son of former Yorkshire and England wicketkeeper David - came in and bludgeoned a breathtaking 41 off just 21 balls which included three huge sixes to steer his side to their target.

Kohli's sixth century at this level and Rahul Dravid's 69 - in his 344th and final one-day international - provided India's earlier impetus, and then Dhoni crashed an unbeaten 50 from only 26 balls to complete the tourists' innings, and at one point it looked to be a very fine score.

Opener Ajinkya Rahane ought to have fallen to Steven Finn for only eight but was reprieved by Samit Patel, at third man, after Cook won his fifth successive toss. But the Middlesex seamer made sure England's - and especially his - frustration did not last when, also at third-man, he made good ground to lunge in and take a fine catch after Rahane somehow managed to flick an attempted swipe to leg off Jade Dernbach in his direction.

Rahane's departure brought Dravid to the crease and a large contingent of India support duly voiced their loud appreciation for one of their country's finest batsmen.

Parthiv Patel was unable to keep him company for long, holing out to mid-on in Graeme Swann's first over of off-spin, and Dravid fell losing his off bail advancing and trying to heave Swann to leg after a 79-ball innings which contained just four fours.

Kohli had nine fours - and a straight six off Patel - when he went shortly afterwards, again just dislodging a bail when his foot slipped in the crease as he played back to hit his own wicket off Swann, who finished with fine figures of three for 34.

The double breakthrough gave England some respite. But Dhoni then clubbed five fours and two sixes - the second to bring up the 300, and make sure India's innings ended with a punishing flourish.

Craig Kieswetter got England's reply off to a fast start with a swift 21, but he was trapped lbw by Vinay Kumar as Cook and Trott proceeded to build a solid second-wicket partnership to put England back on track.

But Cook and Ian Bell after him both gifted India their wickets with sloppy shots, falling for 50 and 26 respectively, and when Trott departed to Jadeja for 63 England suddenly found themselves under the cosh.

Ravi Bopara joined forces with Bairstow, and the pair staged a remarkably composed run-chase with Bairstow playing in nerveless fashion, striking only his fifth delivery for six over midwicket to grab the attention of the entire ground.

Bairstow's brilliance saw England coast past their opponents' score with six deliveries to spare, and his quite incredible knock saw a further two enormous sixes sail into the River Taff.

It was a startling statement of intent from Bairstow - who was later named man-of-the-match - and the reactions of his stunned team-mates after the match encapsulated the breathless disbelief of every spectator at the Swalec Stadium following the prodigious Yorkshireman's performance.

England's 3-0 success in this rain-blighted series was another comprehensive victory over the world champions and former top-ranked Test side - to add to their 4-0 Test and one-off Twenty20 exploits, and it capped a quite remarkable performance from Andy Flower's side this summer.

Graeme Swann provides final flourish after battered India come alive

• India 234-7; England 218-7
• England win by three wickets (D/L method)

Mike Selvey at The Oval

• guardian.co.uk, Friday 9 September 2011 22.21 BST

Graeme Swann celebrates after hitting the winning runs for England in a rain-affected match at the Oval. Photograph: Philip Brown/Reuters

For a while, in south London, it looked as if there would be something for India to cheer about with the third one-day international within their grasp and hopes still of salvaging enough from the five-match series to return home with some limited-overs salve on their Test match wounds.

In the end England won by three wickets a match reduced in the later stages by an hour's rain after 20 overs of the second innings.

But the game was never theirs until a late stand of 60 for the sixth wicket between Ravi Bopara (40) and Tim Bresnan took them from a jittery position at 133 for five and India dominant, to one where victory was all but delivered and, on Bopara's dismissal, finally sealed by Graeme Swann with seven balls remaining.

If it was another disappointment for India, then far from another humiliation to add to those of the past weeks this brought with it the promise of better things.

There were early tribulations that might have wrecked them but they were rescued from these in the first instance by the batting of their indefatigable captain, along with the all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja (78) and Ravichandran Ashwin (36 not out from 19 balls).

Then, on the sort of night when seamers ought to have dominated, India were helped by the clever spin of Jadeja, who was named man of the match, Ashwin and Suresh Raina that for a while tied England in knots.

MS Dhoni set the tone for the overall performance, making 69 calm runs and then later running out Ian Bell with a fleet-footed piece of quick thinking.

It sparked India.

As England chased 235 to win, later reduced to 218 from 43 overs, the fielding, so plodding all summer but with an injection of fresh young legs, became electric.

It was gratifying to watch, something at last with which to work for Duncan Fletcher.

The sides produced a quality contest. In an age when there is an increasing demand for the instant sugar-rush candyfloss nature of Twenty20 cricket, Friday's match served to remind that 50-over cricket carries with it a potential for narrative that the shortest form of the game cannot match.

T20 has plenty of swings, but, unlike Milton Keynes, few roundabouts.

There is no room for counterpoint, little chance of redemption. Fall behind in T20 and a side is as good as done.

The 50-over form of the game, though, offers the chance of a comeback, redemption, a quality that India showed in overcoming a dreadful start in which they fell to 58 for five against excellent new-ball bowling from Jimmy Anderson, to recover to 234 for seven through a careful rebuilding stand of 112 between the long-suffering Dhoni and Jadeja, and then to produce a rollicking finale from Jadeja and Ashwin that plundered 59 from 31 balls.

England should have nailed the game down early on, though, and a more consistently accomplished side, with an experienced leader, might well have done so. Anderson was superb from the outset, taking three wickets in his first six overs and running out Rahul Dravid for good measure, while Stuart Broad removed an impetuous Raina.

Here, though, Alastair Cook took his foot from the pedal. With the powerplays done, the field scattered and, although Swann was typically parsimonious, Dhoni and Jadeja were able to milk the bowling, reconstructing the innings with neither alarm nor indeed, for a 10-over period, boundaries, allowing leeway for a final flourish.

Although England ultimately can claim the high ground, Cook will have to learn – and may well do, of course – when the potential is there to inflict further damage and when to take what you have and retreat. Time is on his side.

The target remained manageable, however, and he and Craig Kieswetter, with an incendiary 51 from 46 balls, with three fours and three sixes were able to give the innings a 63-run kickstart in the first 10 overs that took the pressure off.

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The news comes as a minor relief for the Gunners after the defender's father had said earlier on Tuesday that Vermaelen would be sidelined for as much as six weeks after he flew to Sweden to have the surgery on his left ankle.

He told Belgian website Sporza: "The doctor in Stockholm, where Thomas was operated on last time too, recognised the problem now. He would not take any chances and immediately operated on Thomas. He expects a five to six weeks of unavailability."

However, Arsenal say that after undergoing a "minor procedure to remove an inflamed plantaris tendon" Vermaelen will be back in training within a month. They chose the surgery route to avoid the issue becoming "a persistent problem".

Vermaelen suffered the injury against Udinese two weeks ago and the club had hoped he would not require surgery given his key role within the Gunners defence.

He will miss the Gunners' opening two Champions League group stage games and the north London derby at Tottenham on October 2.

The former Ajax man missed eight months of last season with a similar Achilles injury on his right foot.

Vermaelen missed the Gunners' 8-2 mauling at Manchester United nine days ago but has otherwise been an ever present at the heart of Arsene Wenger's defence this term.

Per Mertesacker, who signed just before the transfer window shut last week, is now likely to have to step up to fill Vermaelen's place in the team over the next two months.

The German, who arrived at Arsenal from Werder Bremen for £8 million, also has competition from Laurent Koscielny, Johan Djourou and Sebastien Squillaci at centre-back.

The London club have conceded 11 goals so far this season and currently sit fourth from bottom of the Premier League table with one point.

Farah storms to 5,000m victory

Arsenal overpaid for ageing Arteta

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Research by the Deloitte group shows that Premier League clubs spent £485m this summer - an increase of 33 per cent on last year's spending - and £225m in January, making this year a record for transfer expenditure.

Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United have all spent over £50m on signing players this summer alone as football continues to defy the economic difficulties experienced by the rest of the country.

The previous record spending level was £675m in 2008, when Sheik Mansour's takeover of Manchester City heralded a new era of spending at Eastlands which has not stopped since. Analysts put the record down to increased expectations among top clubs and predict that the high spending will continue.

"Apart from last year, summer spending has held up around this £400m-£500m mark. That seems to be the norm for the last four or five years and there is no compelling reason to think why it's going to drop," said Dan Jones, partner in the Sports Business Group at Deloitte.

"Football is not immune to what is going on in the wider economy but it is pretty resistant to it. Football's revenues are continuing to increase and I don't think it will fall.

"This is a record calendar year because if you look at the top five clubs they have all had reason to spend.

"There is a new-ish manager at Liverpool, a new manager at Chelsea, ambitious owners at Manchester City, a team looking to refresh in Manchester United after a lot of retirements, and Arsenal needed to spend too."

Liverpool were one of the most active clubs in the transfer market this summer, with Craig Bellamy completing his return to Anfield from Manchester City just minutes before last night's 11pm deadline.

The Merseysiders have brought in four British players this summer - Bellamy, Jordan Henderson, Stewart Downing and Charlie Adam. Deloitte found that this summer Premier League clubs have spent around £165m on English players - a huge increase on the £50m spent last summer.

Capello: England play better away from home

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Resilient Arsenal beat Udinese to reach Champions League group stage

Champions League 2011-12 qualifiers

Arsène Wenger admits to relief after Arsenal's play-off win at Udinese

• Manager says victory 'will lift the pressure' on the club
• 'Of course, I am relieved. It was a massive game for us'

• David Hytner at Stadio Friuli
• guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 24 August 2011 23.59 BST

The Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger spoke of his relief after the victory over Udinese. Photograph: Jamie Mcdonald/Getty Images

Arsène Wenger could savour the feeling of a catastrophe averted after his Arsenal team rallied in the second-half against Udinese to secure a place in the Champions League group phase for the 14th season in succession.

The manager admitted that "relief" was also prominent among his emotions as Arsenal needed a 59th-minute penalty save from Wojciech Szczesny to break the resistance of the Italian team. After the problems and the criticisms of the summer and the early season, Wenger could also send out a message of defiance. Arsenal's season is up and running. "I feel, of course, this will lift the pressure," he said. "There has been a little bit of pressure for Arsenal to play in the Champions League and with the players that have left, the pressure would have increased if we had lost. There's a strong attitude and spirit inside the team.

"We live in a society where everyone has an opinion on everything. I'm like someone who flies a plane for 30 years and I have to accept someone can come into the cockpit and fly it better than I do. But that's our job and we have to accept it. I would like to say that the club is in, overall, a very strong position because for 14 years on trot we play in the Champions League, we have a new stadium, a fantastic training ground, a very strong financial situation and a very strong team. Sometimes you have to take a distance from the catastrophes people have predicted."

Wenger acknowledged that Szczesny's penalty save was decisive. Had Antonio Di Natale's shot gone in, it would have made the score 2-2 on aggregate. "That was the turning point, it kept us qualified and you could see that mentally it had an impact on Udinese's belief and they were not the same team afterwards," Wenger said. "Of course I am relieved. It was a massive game for us. Overall, I feel we responded in a very positive way, even when we were 1-0 down. It showed that under pressure this team can respond with football, remain calm and composed, and try to play like we can."

Arsène Wenger makes £22m bid for Rennes midfielder Yann M'Vila

• Offer shatters Arsenal's transfer record for incoming player
• Holding midfielder established as a regular for France

• David Hytner
• guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 24 August 2011 23.39 BST

Arsenal have made a bid of £22m for Rennes midfielder Yann M'Vila, right. A £15m bid for the player has been rejected.

Arsène Wenger has made a bold statement of intent by offering £22m to Rennes for the holding midfielder Yann M'Vila.

The Arsenal manager has consistently promised to make signings during what has been a testing summer only to struggle to find value in the market. But he appears to have concluded that he must pay over the odds for the right player and M'Vila, who has established himself as a regular for France, fits the bill.

Wenger has already had a £15m bid rejected for the 21-year-old and his latest offer would shatter Arsenal's transfer record for an incoming player. M'Vila is under contract until 2015. Wenger needs to reinforce his midfield, following the sales of Cesc Fábregas and Samir Nasri, and he has also tracked Eden Hazard of Lille.

He wants to strengthen in central defence, too, and he is interested in Everton's Phil Jagielka, Bolton Wanderers' Gary Cahill and Birmingham City's Scott Dann.

Nasri signs for City in £24m deal

Stadium row rumbling on

According to a newly adjusted table, Arsenal would have been runners-up in the Premier League last season and Blackpool wouldn't have been relegated if match officials hadn't made mistakes.

Extensive new research conducted by broadcaster and journalist Tim Long for his radio documentary 'Beyond The Goal Line: Football's Technology Debate,' re-examined 731 ‘significant' incidents - penalties, goal line incidents and offside goals - across the Premier League's 380 games in 2010-11.

The Gunners finished fourth on 68 points but if the decisions had have gone the correct way, they would have finished second to Manchester United on 72 points.

Blackburn and Birmingham would have also avoided relegation while Wigan and Wolves would have suffered the heartbreak of relegation along with West Ham.

He stated that the research wasn't conducted to be critical of referees but to illustrate how even the simplest of technological advances can highlight erroneous decisions.

Long spent 250 hours analysing the 713 incidents, each of which on their own could or did lead to a goal. Of these, 361 involved penalties given (or not), and 152 involved goals given (or not) as a result of offside calls.

"That isn't a massive amount of incidents when you think about it, fewer than two per game on average," the journalist said.

"So supposing there was a system that allowed the video evidence to be reviewed at the time, looking at these things wouldn't necessarily take a long time.

"I wanted to explore the extent to which decisions about offside goals or penalty calls did, in fact, even themselves out or not, and how they made a difference to the end of season table."

How the adjusted table would have looked

 

The lengthy saga surrounding the future of captain Fabregas looks to be resolved imminently as reports indicate the Gunners are ready to accept an offer of £25.4 million, with a further £5.3m coming in adds-on, from his former club Barcelona.

Fabregas is also expected to sacrifice £4.4m in wages, to be paid to Arsenal, in order to help facilitate a deal that has been well over a year in the making.

But as well as contemplating the loss of their captain, Arsenal are also believed to be hours away from losing another crucial component of their midfield.

Le Parisien and France Football both report that Nasri is on the brink of joining Manchester City in a £22m deal, having refused to sign a new contract at Emirates Stadium.

The loss of both players would leave Arsenal short of options ahead of Saturday's opening fixture against Newcastle and their important Champions League play-off, first leg tie against Udinese next week.

In July, Arsene Wenger admitted that the loss of both players would call Arsenal's ambition into question.

"Imagine the worst situation - we lose Fabregas and Nasri - you cannot convince people you are ambitious after that," he said.

"And even if you lose Nasri, to find the same quality player, you have to spend again the same amount of money. Because you cannot say, you lose the player and you do not replace him.

"I believe for us it is important the message we give out. For example, you talk about Fabregas leaving, Nasri leaving.

"If you give that message out, you cannot pretend you are a big club, because a big club first of all holds onto its big players and gives a message out to all the other big clubs that they just cannot come in and take away from you."

Ravi Bopara will bat at six for England in Test against India

• Andrew Strauss confirms selection of Ravi Bopara for third Test
• The Edgbaston Test is expected to go ahead despite rioting

• David Hopps at Edgbaston
• guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 9 August 2011 15.59 BST

Ravi Bopara, right, will get the chance to deputise for the injured Jonathan Trott against India at Edgbaston. Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Action Images

England, who will go top of the world Test rankings if they beat India in the third Test, have abandoned their characteristically cagey approach to team selection by confirming that Ravi Bopara will definitely make his Test return at Edgbaston on Wednesday.

Andrew Strauss took the chance to remove lingering suggestions that England might change the balance of their side and opt for an extra seam bowler, so again leaving Bopara in the cold, a policy that was advocated among others by the former England captain, Michael Vaughan.

Strauss confirmed that Ian Bell will bat at No3 after his 159 against India at Trent Bridge with Bopara batting at six. "I think that would be a reasonable assumption to make barring any last-minute injuries," he said. "We are all delighted that Ravi [Bopara] has got a chance. He has been knocking on the door for quite a long time.

"He fulfils the role that has been vacated by Jonathan Trott both with his batting and his ability to bowl a few overs. One of the great abilities we have shown over recent times is for players to come in and perform straightaway and it is a fantastic time for Ravi to do something similar.

The Test, sold out for the first four days, will go ahead with 300 stewards and what Warwickshire described as "an adequate number" of police. For all their prevarication, that means next to none. Policing at Test matches is virtually non-existent – the Lord's Test against India took place without a single police officer on duty. There is no chance that policing in Birmingham city centre, should further riots break out, will be drained of resources.

The India captain, MS Dhoni, sounded entirely undisturbed by riots in Birmingham city centre, and seemed more concerned about whether England's pace attack would cause havoc on another responsive pitch. The return of Virender Sehwag rouses India's belief that this time they may possess a powerful retort. Virat Kohli might also win selection ahead of Suresh Raina as India restructure a batting line-up that has failed in the first two Tests.

Dhoni played down the difficulties that Sehwag's partial deafness, hopefully only temporary, will cause him. "If he nicks and doesn't walk it may be a problem but apart from that I think he is quite good," he said. "He has practised every day and there is no good reason why he shouldn't play. He is a dynamic player who backs his instinct to play shots. We all know that an aggressive opener can have a big impact on the opposition bowling attack.

There is still no sign of RP Singh – the BCCI having not pre-arranged visas for its stand-by players – but another green pitch might tempt India to field Munaf Patel as a fourth seamer, in preference to the leg-spin of Amit Mishra.

"The wickets have not affected the spinners in any way which pushes to think whether we can play with four fast bowlers or not," Dhoni admitted.

Premier League's opening weekend under threat from rioting

• Matches at Tottenham, Fulham, QPR may be postponed
• Fears grow over security for London 2012 Games

• Sachin Nakrani and Jamie Jackson
• guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 9 August 2011 21.02 BST

The FA Premier League starts this weekend but the matches at Tottenham, QPR and Fulham may fall victim to the London riots. Photograph: Sarah Lee for the Guardian

The start of the Premier League season this weekend is facing major disruption after its officials said they would decide tomorrow whether or not to call off the three opening fixtures set to take place in London following further rioting in the city.

Fulham versus Aston Villa, Queens Park Rangers against Bolton and Everton's visit to Tottenham, where the violence which has spread across the capital first erupted on Saturday, remain in the balance after a fourth day of violence, with the Premier League unwilling to confirm the games will go ahead until they have held further discussions with the clubs in question and the Metropolitan policeon Wednesday.

The Football League has taken the same stance, meaning all London-based games in the Championship, League One and Two as well could be called off.

Fears are also growing that the disorder in London could impact on next summer's Olympic Games, with the Metropolitan Police Authority describing the situation in the capital as "extremely worrying".

The Premier League said that it would allow local police forces to make a final decision regarding the staging of this weekend's top-flight games but after the Football Association called off England's friendly with Holland at Wembley and West Ham, Charlton Athletic and Crystal Palace postponed their respective home Carling Cup ties with Aldershot Town, Reading and Crawley Town on Tuesday night for the same reason, it decided to take a more decisive stance.

"The Premier League and Football League are saddened by the recent incidents of civil unrest and the effect it is having on local communities," read a joint statement.

"We are in on-going discussions with our London-based clubs, the Metropolitan police and statutory authorities in regard to the staging of the coming weekend's fixtures in the capital.

"The Metropolitan police has conveyed to us the dynamic nature of the current situation and with that in mind all parties will review the situation on Thursday and make a further public statement then."

The statement went on to say that "with the information currently available, there is no reason to think any matches outside of London will be affected", though clubs in cities that have also been hit by the riots, most notably Birmingham, Bristol and Liverpool, remain on alert. West Bromwich Albion said they are "monitoring what is an evolving situation" ahead of Manchester United's visit to The Hawthorns on Sunday and Bristol City also postponed their Carling Cup game with Swindon.

Somewhat oddly, while Bristol City's Carling Cup tie with Swindon last night was called off following advice from local police, Bristol Rovers' tie with Watford, scheduled for tonight, goes ahead, as does the club's League Two home fixture against Torquay on Saturday.

"We are not totally sure why this is the case, but believe it because Bristol City verses Swindon is a local derby and so would require a level of police resources that are just not available due to the problems taking place in the city at the moment," said a Rovers spokesperson.

Meanwhile the International Olympic Committee said it was confident the Olympics would be secure but made clear responsibility for a safe Games lay with the British government and Metropolitan police.

It said: "Security at the Olympic Games is a top priority for the IOC.

 It is, however, directly handled by the local authorities, as they know best what is appropriate and proportionate.

We are confident they will do a good job in this domain."

Officials said there were no immediate plans to review security for the Olympics, which start next July, though there was an acceptance that London's image has been damaged and visitors may be deterred from attending the Games.

The assistant commissioner, Chris Allison, the national Olympic security co-ordinator, said: "Our planning for security is intelligence led. Public disorder is one of those risks which we have already been planning against across the country.

Obviously, in light of the appalling events in London over recent days, we will review our planning to ensure that any lessons are identified.

It is too early to say whether our planning will significantly change."

A test event was carried out, beach volleyball at Horse Guards Parade, but the finish was brought forward by 90 minutes to ensure it was completed in daylight and so avoid any riot-related trouble. Other test events to go ahead include the world badminton championships at Wembley Arena throughout the week, the Surrey Cycle Classic on Sunday, a test event for the cycling road race which will go through the streets of London, and the marathon swimming event at Hyde Park on Saturday.

Derby County join Bombardier Fight

Fine fuels Joey Barton's war of words with Newcastle United

• For-sale midfielder fined two weeks' wages by Newcastle
• West Ham and Everton thought to be interested in Barton

• Louise Taylor
• guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 2 August 2011 21.06 BST

Joey Barton quoted George Orwell in one of his tweets regarding his souring relationship with Newcastle United. Photograph: Owen Humphreys/PA

Joey Barton was cold‑shouldered by Alan Pardew, ordered to train alone and fined two weeks' wages by Newcastle United on Tuesday but, undeterred, the transfer‑listed midfielder drew solace from George Orwell.

As Barton used his Twitter account to declare that "In times of universal deceit, telling the truth will be a revolutionary act", assorted clubs weighed up the possibility of signing him after Newcastle's decision to offload their troublesome talent on a free transfer.

West Ham United and Everton are reportedly among the clubs keeping tabs on the midfielder, and Pardew was said to be privately hoping the 28-year-old will be gone by the weekend.

"There won't be a problem finding Joey a home," said Barton's agent, Willie McKay.

Newcastle's manager has stepped up his long-standing pursuit of Tranquillo Barnetta, the £6m‑rated Bayer Leverkusen and Switzerland right‑winger. With José Enrique – who, like Barton, has used Twitter to express his dissatisfaction with the Newcastle board's summer spending plans – believed to be close to leaving St James' Park following an offer from an unnamed club, possibly Liverpool, Pardew is also in the market for a left‑back.

Ideally he would like to sign Manchester City's Wayne Bridge but the former England defender's £90,000‑a‑week wages are a stumbling block.

Meanwhile Barton's suggestions, delivered via Twitter, that there is widespread dressing‑room dissent at Newcastle have been countered by well‑sourced revelations that his behaviour was part of the problem.

Barton, who is reported to have ranted at team‑mates following defeat at Leeds United in a friendly last Sunday, is said to be deeply upset that he was overlooked as captain, with Pardew preferring to give Shola Ameobi the armband at Elland Road.

His mood darkened further when Yohan Cabaye, Newcastle's new French playmaker, was instructed to take all set‑pieces.

Retorting via Twitter, Barton claimed club officials were feeding "false statements" to the local media. He then tweeted: "I also have too much respect for my team-mates and fans to get in a tit-for-tat with them.

I have too much self worth and dignity."

 Responding to the fine, he reflected: "Ha, ha the inevitable two weeks wages fine has just arrived. Needless to say, it will be appealed forthwith."

Newcastle officials will waive a fee for a player with one year outstanding on his contract. It seems a formidable on‑field motivator has become an increasingly divisive off‑field figure, with Barton's often erratic behaviour deteriorating on an almost daily basis in the wake of the club withdrawing a longstanding offer of a contract extension this summer.

Barton will argue that he wanted assurances that the £35m raised from the sale of Andy Carroll to Liverpool in January would be reinvested in new players but events took, from his viewpoint, a further unpalatable turn when his close friend Kevin Nolan was sold to West Ham.

As the Newcastle captain, Nolan had excelled at "man-managing" his sometimes unpredictable fellow scouser.

Although Sam Allardyce, the manager who brought Barton to Newcastle from Manchester City , would be keen to reunite him with Nolan at Upton Park, the Championship is unlikely to appeal.

Instead Barton believes he is good enough to play Champions League football

Joey Barton available on free transfer as Newcastle lose patience

• Criticism of board proves the last straw
• Player's agent expects no shortage of takers

• Andy Hunter
• Guardian News

Joey Barton has been put up for sale on a free transfer by Newcastle United. Photograph: Owen Humphreys/PA

Joey Barton's agent has said there will be no shortage of takers for the outspoken midfielder after Newcastle United made the 28-year-old available on a free transfer.

Barton, who cost £5.8m from Manchester City in 2007, was told he could leave St James' Park with immediate effect at a meeting with club officials on Monday morning.

Their decision followed fresh criticism of the Newcastle hierarchy from Barton on Sunday on Twitter, in which he suggested there was widespread dressing-room unrest and a relegation battle looming, and was announced in a brief statement on the club's website before the player could reveal the development himself on the social networking site.

Newcastle's current player of the year has 12 months remaining on his contract and intended to leave on a free next summer after talks over an extension collapsed.

Those plans have been brought forward after the owner, Mike Ashley, and managing director, Derek Llambias, lost patience with the midfielder's public outbursts against their regime and waived their right to a transfer fee.

Arsenal and Aston Villa are among several Premier League clubs linked with the Liverpool-born player this summer, although no one had met Newcastle's valuation before Monday's development, and Barton's representative, Willie McKay, believes his client's sudden availability will generate widespread interest.

McKay said: "We will be looking for a new club for Joey now and I'm sure there will be plenty of takers. Especially now." He described Newcastle's actions as "a wee bit suicidal".

Barton responded to Newcastle's decision with a renewed Twitter attack on the club hierarchy, whom he accused of not understanding what it meant to wear the black and white shirt. Fifty-five minutes later than he had originally intended to tweet about his free transfer, the midfielder wrote: "Somewhere in those high echelons of NUFC, they have decided, I am persona non grata. I am on a free but the honour of wearing those B+W stripes, surpasses that. One day the board might realise, what the shirt signifies. HONOUR and PRIDE. Thanks for your continued support........... #toonarmy."

The midfielder's discontent with Newcastle's owners stems from the decision to sell Andy Carroll to Liverpool for £35m in January. Barton had been close to signing a contract extension at that time and was dismayed when they accepted the staggering offer, a feeling that deepened when Kevin Nolan, the club captain and his close friend, was sold to West Ham United in June. McKay revealed in May that Newcastle would not be offering his client a contract extension and Barton tweeted that his employers were seeking a "younger, better, cheaper player".

Newcastle chose to sever ties with Barton when, after a 3-2 friendly defeat at Leeds United on Sunday, he echoed José Enrique's recent criticism of the club. The Spanish left-back, who may also leave St James' this summer, was fined for accusing Newcastle of a lack of ambition in the transfer market and of lying over claims to have offered him an improved contract.

Barton's incendiary tweets read: "If only we as players could tell the fans exactly how it is, without them above fining us lots of money. There will be a time and a place. If it wouldn't effect team morale and cause unrest within the dressing room, am certain Jose's comments would be the tip of the iceberg.....

"And again it would be left to those magnificent fans to pick up the remnants of their once great football club. #hadenoughofcertainpeople. If I wanted to leave, I'd just come out and say I want to leave. Things need addressing as am not prepared to go through a relegation again."

Magnificent England destroy India's resistance to take second Test

• England 221 & 544, India 288 & 158
• England won by 319 runs

•  
  • Mike Selvey at Trent Bridge

• guardian.co.uk, Monday 1 August 2011 21.28 BST

England's five-wicket hero Tim Bresnan, right, celebrates taking the wicket of Harbhajan Singh with Kevin Pietersen. Photograph: Tom Shaw/Getty Images

India's claim to be the foremost Test match side in the world lay in tatters in Nottingham on Monday evening.

Defeat, by a huge margin of 319 runs with more than a day to spare – by a country mile the most humiliating they have suffered at the hands of England – followed their 196‑run loss in the first Test at Lord's.

In the aftermath of that it was said they were slow starters and would pick up the pace.

A reassessment might be in order now, for this was little short of slaughter. England, who have not lost any of eight Test series and only four of 29 matches in more than two years since Andy Flower has been in full charge of the team, lead by two matches to nil in the four‑match series and have their eyes firmly on the official No1 ranking.

Only the most fervent Indian optimist, of which there are many, will believe that their team can recover from this.

England had begun the day in the ascendant, already with a lead of 379, almost certainly secure enough in itself, but added a further 103 in 19 overs in the morning, with Tim Bresnan making 90, thus setting India a notional 478 to win.

They did not have a chance, for the new ball has proved dangerous throughout the game and England had the extra pace to exploit it. Inside 26 overs, two of the galácticos were gone for single figures, Rahul Dravid to Stuart Broad and VVS Laxman castled by an irresistible delivery from Jimmy Anderson and India were 55 for six, with Bresnan, the indefatigable Yorkie dreadnought, bustling in on Yorkshire Day, having dismissed the India captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, first ball to stand on the verge of following Broad with the second hat‑trick of the match.

It did not happen but Bresnan still managed to take five for 48, his best Test figures, and with his robust batting ensured that a few cats have been set among the selectorial pigeons when it comes to the third Test in Birmingham which begins a week on Wednesday.

Bresnan has now played eight Tests and won them all, a 100% record bettered in the game's history only by the West Indian Eldine Baptiste, who played in 10 winning sides.

Only Sachin Tendulkar, batting flawlessly for two and a quarter hours while things tumbled around him, showed the technique and resolve to cope.

But having made 56 he misjudged Anderson and was lbw offering no shot, the seventh time that the bowler has dismissed Tendulkar, just one behind the eight of Muttiah Muralitharan.

Beyond that Harbhajan Singh, in the middle of Broad's hat‑trick and preventing Bresnan's on Monday, threw the bat for 46, made with such vigour at times that it raised eyebrows as to the state of the damaged stomach muscles that prevented him from bowling during the England mayhem.

India, should they need it, can console themselves with the knowledge that they have twice been beaten by a team of astonishing depth and resilience.

Twice Dhoni was won an important toss this series and put England under pressure and twice England have responded. On Friday, as the ball swung and seamed under leaden skies, they found themselves 88 for six, before Broad and the lower order rescued them.

Then, on the second day, in better conditions, when Dravid's brilliance had helped take India to 267 for four, a lead already of 46, Broad conjured up his hat‑trick in a spell of five wickets at no cost. It shattered India.

Thereafter, they were not in the game as England battered an inadequate attack into submission. In four innings now India have a top score of 288.

India now need desperately to regain some equilibrium but it is hard to see whence it will come. Virender Sehwag is expected to arrive in England on Tuesday but he has only one game against Northamptonshire this week in which to prepare.

The recovery of Zaheer Khan, should he get over his hamstring strain, will help but is not a game changer, and Gautam Gambhir, who in any case did not appear unusually discomfited in the nets before the game, ought to have recovered from his bruised elbow.

On the other hand, Harbhajan, taker of more than 400 Test wickets, has had such a miserable series with the ball – two for 287 thus far – that there is a strong case for him making way for the leg‑spinner Amit Mishra. On Monday, Yuvraj Singh suffered a nasty blow on his left index finger, from Bresnan, that may cause further problems. It is not just mentally that they are battered and bruised.

As with Lord's, though, England have not escaped the match entirely unscathed. The shoulder wrenched by Jonathan Trott while in the field on the second day had eased sufficiently for him to bat, and he now has a week of intensive treatment in which to get fit again with any replacement likely to be either Ravi Bopara or the new Lions captain, James Taylor, who has a chance to impress this week.

Monty Panesar would be a top‑class replacement for Graeme Swann should his injured hand not recover. But the pace bowling goes round in circles. Never give a sucker an even break, said WC Fields, but that is what Chris Tremlett's back and hamstring niggle has done with Bresnan. Anderson is the second‑ranked bowler in the world, Broad's comeback speaks for itself, and Bresnan has taken his first Test five-for and contributed 101 runs. Who would want to call that one?

Michael Vaughan sparks storm with Vaseline comments about VVS Laxman

• Vaughan abused for tweets on Hotspot reprieve
• Former England captain bemused by 'slight over-reaction'

• Press Association
• guardian.co.uk, Sunday 31 July 2011 14.50 BST

Michael Vaughan tweeted: 'Has Vaseline on the outside edge saved the day for Laxman?' Photograph: Rex Features

The former England captain Michael Vaughan has attracted a storm of abusive Twitter responses for his suggestion that India's VVS Laxman might have beaten Hotspot technology by spreading Vaseline on his bat.

Laxman survived a DRS process during his half-century against England in the second Test at Trent Bridge on Saturday.

Soon afterwards, Vaughan posed the question of his Twitter followers: "Has Vaseline on the outside edge saved the day for Laxman?"

It is a favourite urban myth among Test cricketers that a touch of Vaseline can somehow throw thermal-imaging technology off the scent, and therefore result in an undeserved reprieve in caught-behind appeals.

There is no evident scientific basis to the rumour, but that did not deter Vaughan, a prolific Tweeter. Stuart Broad appeared to put the matter to bed on Saturday when he said he had actually checked the evidence on Laxman's bat first hand.

"I actually sarcastically had a cheeky feel of his edge when the ball went past," he said. "There was no Vaseline, no liquids or anything on there. I think it was just the Hotspot not showing the very faint edge."

Meanwhile, Vaughan has endured a stream of insulting tweets, mostly from offended Indian cricket fans.

He has retweeted them to his followers, and added: "I think their [sic] has been a slight over reaction to Vaseline gate... Taken to court!!!?? Sense of humour required for many I think..."

BBC and Sky to share F1 broadcast rights

FA needs urgent reform - MPs

Stuart Broad drags England back from the brink against India

England 221; India 24-1

•  
  • Mike Selvey at Trent Bridge

• guardian.co.uk, Friday 29 July 2011 19.22 BST

Stuart Broad batted England back into the second Test after India's bowlers had taken six wickets for 51 runs during the afternoon session. Photograph: Tom Shaw/Getty Images

These are good days for bowlers. For the second match in this high-octane series the batsmen on both sides have been made to work overtime as the ball has deviated hugely at times. It made for fascinating watching.

By the close of the first day, honours between the two sides were just about even, a situation that would have been unthinkable during the first two sessions when England, put in to bat for the second time, were reduced by exemplary swing bowling to 124 for eight.

England pride themselves on the depth of their batting, however, and they were revived by a rollicking counterattack from Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann that added 73 for the ninth wicket. Broad was eventually last out for 64 out of 221.

In reply India made the worst possible start, with Abhinav Mukund slicing the first delivery of the innings from Jimmy Anderson straight into the midriff of Kevin Pietersen in the gully. The ball continued to move alarmingly, but, with a blend of skill and good fortune, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman were able to survive to the close, with the score 24 for one.

The game turned on its head after tea when Broad and Swann, with little to lose but the remaining two wickets, decided that no longer was discretion the better part of valour and that under the dire circumstances the employment of the long handle might better serve them than scratching around.

In the 70 deliveries they were together, before Swann was caught at gully from his left glove, they shredded all the discipline that had characterised India's cricket to that point, and emphasised the value of having batting ability right down the order.

It may well be that England have never fielded as accomplished a pair of batsmen at nine and 10, with Swann having four first-class centuries to his name and Broad that immense Test hundred at Lord's last year. So if the approach bordered on agricultural at times, the strokes had the air of authenticity about them.

In the space of three overs, the pair had added 31, 15 coming in an over from Sreesanth, the field scattered and England were off the leash. Broad had announced his intention when Sreesanth, bowling beautifully to that point, overpitched a fraction and the left-hander leaned into a drive that lacerated through extra cover. When Ishant Sharma resumed at the Radcliffe Road end, Swann clipped him off his legs to the square leg boundary to roars from the crowd that, with a brace of Nottinghamshire lads leading the fightback, had come alive at last.

By the time Broad was out, caught by Tendulkar on the deep midwicket boundary in front of the Fox Road Stand, he had added a further 24 for the last wicket with Anderson, and had hit nine fours – none of them better than the ball prior to his dismissal, in which he stepped inside the line during a rare over from Harbhajan Singh and drilled the off-spinner precisely through extra cover.

The first two sessions had been torture for England as the three Indian seamers (Sreesanth rather than Munaf Patel coming in for the injured Zaheer Khan) made excellent use of the sort of conditions pacemen can dream about but rarely find. With cloud cover, the ball swung, extravagantly so, more even than on the first morning at Lord's, but there was plenty of grass to the pitch so movement off the seam as well, and good carry through to the keeper so that any edges would not be likely to fall short.

It was a toss England very much would have liked to have won. Instead, while Andrew Strauss battled his way through to lunch, he saw the back of the two most obdurate batsmen in the side, Alastair Cook, lbw to Ishant, and Jonathan Trott, driving at a swinging delivery, caught at second slip.

By the interval, though, Strauss and Pietersen had begun what appeared to be the kind of renaissance England, led by Pietersen and Trott that time, managed at Lord's in similarly trying circumstances. Far from being calmer for England, however, the afternoon session saw India tear through the batting, with six wickets falling for 55, as the seamers shared the spoils.

So well had they bowled that Dhoni was able to keep a cordon of close catchers stationed for the inevitable edge and, although Dravid was to miss Ian Bell at second slip when he had 22, they did not disappoint. Pietersen edged to third slip and departed muttering about the distraction of an unshaded window above the sightscreen on the pavilion, and then Strauss, caught at third slip as he drove, and Eoin Morgan, lbw third ball, fell to Kumar in the same over.

There were to be no heroics from Matt Prior, whose second-innings hundred helped set up England's win at Lord's, a fine delivery from Sreesanth squaring him up before finding the edge, nor from Tim Bresnan, who received something similar from Ishant with a similar catch going to Dravid.

Meanwhile, Bell had battled for 81 balls, discreet outside off stump, reining in the drive that is dangerous unless the ball is the longest of half volleys, looking only for the short delivery to punch away square. For such a diligent innings, his was a flabby downfall, however, as he poked his bat at a delivery of no particular merit from Ishant and edged to Dhoni.

Coe upbeat as London begins final countdown

Just do it?

Jimmy Anderson demolishes India's middle order to seal England win

• England 474-8d & 269-6d, India 286 & 261
• England won by 196 runs

• Mike Selvey at Lord's

• guardian.co.uk, Monday 25 July 2011 20.44 BST

England's Jimmy Anderson celebrates trapping India's Sachin Tendulkar lbw for just 12 runs on day five of the first Test. Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

England took the first step towards becoming the No1-ranked Test side in the world when they completed a comprehensive victory against the current leaders India in front of perhaps the largest fifth‑day crowd that this or any English ground has seen.

There were still more than 28 overs of the match remaining when Stuart Broad, rejuvenated in this match, rapped Ishant Sharma, the final batsman, on the pads and saw one final raising of Billy Bowden's crooked finger.

The Indian target of 458, set when Andrew Strauss declared after tea on the fourth day, was notional at best with survival the only real option for India, and they were finally dismissed for 261, the last five wickets falling for 36 in 68 deliveries with the new ball after tea.

The sides meet in the second Test which starts on Friday at Trent Bridge, another ground on which England's swing bowlers generally prosper.

This was to be the day on which Jimmy Anderson, surely the world's leading swing bowler, rose to the challenge of bowling England to success by single-handedly removing what many believe to be one of the most powerful middle orders the game has seen since the West Indies' vaunted Three Ws.

Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar have 100 Test match centuries between them but only Dravid, the most tenacious of them, has made one of those at Lord's, and that in the first innings of this match.

But Anderson had demolished The Wall within half an hour of the start, returned to trap Laxman shortly before lunch with the creakiest loosener he has bowled all summer after the crowd had been treated to a stylish half-century and then tore out a subdued Tendulkar, batting at five because of the time constraint placed on him by his fourth-day absence with a viral complaint, two balls after he had been dropped at slip by the England captain.

Only Muttiah Muralitharan has dismissed the most productive Test batsman of them all more times, and that from three times the number of matches.

With the further wickets of Suresh Raina, whose defiant 78 was top score, and Harbhajan Singh, Anderson finished with five for 65, his third five‑wicket haul at Lord's. Both he and Broad finished with seven wickets apiece in the match, with four to Chris Tremlett, who appears to be carrying some sort of niggle but tore in nevertheless.

The match will not go down as one of the finest India have played, for only fleetingly, and then as individuals rather than as a team, did they give any impression of having real claim to being regarded as the best side around. Largely, they got what they deserved.

The Indian Premier League commitments coming on top of the successful World Cup resulted in fatigue at best for some players and, in the cases of Virender Sehwag, who delayed having a shoulder operation in order to play 11 IPL matches and is still at home, Gautam Gambhir, who carried an injury into that tournament that kept him out of India's recent tour of West Indies, and Zaheer Khan, who also missed that tour, incapacity.

Others, such as Tendulkar, possibly to their detriment in this first game, were rested, it being no coincidence that the stand-out Indian batsmen at Lord's – Dravid, Laxman and Raina – were all in the Caribbean.

The single warm‑up match in Taunton showed a shambolic team that clearly believed it had only to turn up and that its talent would get it through. Instead, the hamstring injury collected by Zaheer, overweight and clearly undercooked, cost them dearly, with the whole preamble and performance here casting some cloud on the early days of Duncan Fletcher (although quite how much say he has in matters is a moot point). He has some work to do in the next few days.

Having lost the toss and being put in to bat in gloomy, clammy, swing-bowling conditions, England did outstandingly well to fight their way through the first day, their only real luck coming with the loss of 40 overs at the end of it, allowing them to regroup in better weather, and the man of the match, Kevin Pietersen, to capitalise on his first-day determination with a double century of the highest class.

It gave England the daylight that allowed them to ride out the storm briefly created by Ishant on the fourth morning.

Only the catching, one of the greatest strengths of the side in the past two years or so, has been a cause for concern, with slip catches, very catchable ones at that, being put down by Strauss, twice, and Graeme Swann, and Ian Bell missing a chance on Monday at short leg that he would normally take.

Two of these reprieved Laxman, one Dravid and Monday's by Strauss, off Anderson, Tendulkar. England cannot expect them to be so accommodating in the future.

Requiring nine wickets on the final day, England knew that this surface had more in it than some of the moribund fifth‑day pitches that Lord's has thrown up in recent times, and that the odds were stacked considerably against India being able to survive disciplined bowling. So they plugged away.

Dravid hung his bat out uncharacteristically to kickstart things, and then either side of lunch, Gambhir was lbw pushing forward to Swann, Laxman scooped head high to midwicket and, with the old ball starting to reverse swing, Tendulkar was caught only half-forward.

Four years ago, a combination of rain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and the umpire Steve Bucknor deprived England of a win, and during a sixth‑wicket stand of 60 it looked as if Dhoni, with Raina, might be digging in once more.

But Dhoni, too, played insipidly outside off stump against the new ball, Anderson and Broad made their inroads into the tail and when Anderson, from round the wicket, found the edge of the left-handed Raina's bat, the game was all but done

Bin Hammam: Ban is Blatter revenge