Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson fined for criticising officials

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has been fined £12,000 by the FA for criticising a match official.

The Red Devils boss was furious after his side conceded a late equaliser at Tottenham in January - insisting the visitors should have been awarded a penalty for Steven Caulker's trip on Wayne Rooney.

Referee's assistant Simon Beck was the subject of the ire of the Scot, who said in the wake of the 1-1 draw: "It was a clear decision. And he [Beck] was 10, maybe 12 yards away from the incident and he doesn't give it. And yet he gave everything else."

We remember him well from his time at the Chelsea game whenDidier Drogba was three yards offside and he gave onside. I think he had a shocking game today, and I'm disappointed in his performance, I really am.

"I think he has had a bad game, and we never got anything from that side of the pitch. We got a bad break."

The FA charged Ferguson with a breach of rule E3, and have subsequently found him guilty at a private hearing despite his pleas to the contrary.

The news of the fine came through after Ferguson criticised England Under-21 coach Stuart Pearce for disclosing that Phil Jones was suffering from shingles.

Jones withdrew from the Under-21 friendly with Sweden on Tuesday which prompted Pearce to reveal the nature of the 20-year-old former Blackburn player's injury.

However, the problem is evidently not as bad as first feared as Ferguson has named Jones, who can play in defence or midfield, in his squad to face Everton in the Premier League on Sunday.

And Ferguson is not happy with the way the situation has been handled.

John Terry has an inflammed knee and will be on the sidelines at the weekend

Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez says defender John Terry will miss Saturday's match at home to Wigan with an inflamed knee.

However, goalkeeper Petr Cech and Terry's fellow defender David Luiz have recovered from knocks and Eden Hazard is back after a ban.

And striker Demba Ba will also be available, although he will wear a protective face mask after his nose was broken at Newcastle last weekend.

Benitez said on Friday: "I am really pleased with the medical department, they are doing a great job.

"We have just two players injured, Oriol Romeu, a long-term injury, and now John Terry has inflammation in his knee. It's not serious but he will not be available tomorrow.

"David Luiz, Petr Cech and even Demba Ba will be available. With different situations, but they will be available.

"That is really important. We cannot use (John Obi) Mikel or Victor Moses, who are in the African Nations final, but I am really pleased to have two more players and more options. It is much better."Daily Fotball News

Martin Kelly signs new long-term Liverpool contract

Liverpool defender Martin Kelly has signed a new long-term contract with the club.

The actual length of the 22-year-old's new deal has not been revealed.

Kelly, who is a product of the Liverpool academy, has made seven appearances this season.

His last game came on 23 September last year in the 2-1 defeat by Manchester United, a match in which he suffered a serious knee injury that sidelined him for six months.

"I'm delighted to have signed. It means everything to me and my family. I've been at Liverpool since I was seven, so it's in my heart and I love the club," said Kelly.

"When you play in the Liverpool shirt, you have to show the fans what it means. I just love playing and trying my hardest for the supporters and for my family.

"Being a Liverpool supporter myself, it's brilliant to put the shirt on and I'm doing what I have loved doing since I was a kid. I'm over the moon.

"Today shows the faith that the club have in me and that the hard work I have put in since I was young has paid off. Hopefully I'll put the injuries behind me. We have excellent medical staff here, who are going to work me and keep me on top of my injury. I'll be coming back even stronger."

The club's managing director Ian Ayre said: "It's fantastic news and it runs on from various other players who have committed to us.

"I think everybody has been starting to see and enjoy Martin's potential and the work he has showed to get into the first team and these are the things we are looking for.

"He was very unfortunate to get his injury but he has worked very hard with the physios and the medical team and hopefully we'll see him back soon.

"Signing him up for the long term is very important for us."

Kelly joins the likes of Luis Suarez, Martin Skrtel, Daniel Agger, Jonjo Shelvey and Raheem Sterling in agreeing a new deal at Anfield since the arrival of manager Brendan Rodgers.

The day after fellow defender Jamie Carragher announced his retirement at the end of the season, Rodgers was pleased to see another local lad commit his future to the club.

Rodgers said: "Martin has shown a commitment to our vision here. He is a young player who really impressed me when I came in.

"He was exceptionally good in the games he played earlier in the season."Daily Fotball News

Liverpool's Daniel Sturridge will undergo fitness test ahead of West Brom game

Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge will undergo a late fitness test ahead of Monday night's visit of West Brom, manager Brendan Rodgers has revealed.

Sturridge pulled out of the England squad for the 2-1 friendly win over Brazil at Wembley in midweek after picking up a thigh injury against Manchester City last weekend.

Rodgers plans to leave it late before deciding whether the 23-year-old, who has scored four goals in six games since joining fromChelsea at the beginning of January, is fit enough to feature against the Baggies.

He told Liverpool's official website: "Daniel we're just monitoring over the next couple of days.

"It's not overly serious but we just need to assess to see where he's at. We'll see by Sunday."

Rodgers has confirmed one player who will be available for Monday night's encounter is 18-year-old winger Raheem Sterling, who sat out the England Under-21's win over Sweden with a dead leg.

The manager also revealed he has no other fresh fitness concerns after the midweek international games.

"Raheem was on the field this morning so he'll be fine," he added. "Everyone else is fine."Daily Fotball News

Gareth Bale future may depend on Spurs' Champions League qualification, says AVB

Andre Villas-Boas admits Tottenham are fortunate to have Gareth Bale and his future could depend on a top-four finish.

Bale has been in fantastic form this season, scoring 17 goals for club and country and raising speculation regarding a move to Real Madrid in the summer.

Spurs boss Villas-Boas acknowledges that the interest is inevitable but argues that Champions League qualification will impact on the 23-year-old's future.

"Players who are performing at this level always get the attention," said Villas-Boas, quoted in The Guardian.

"It doesn't mean that the club doesn't foresee a future with Gareth. It's intimately related to the objectives that we achieve for the season.

"Hopefully, we can do just that with the Champions League and continue to progress on what we are doing.

"It's difficult for us to have a player of this dimension playing so well, calling the attention of other teams but it's also difficult for other teams, with the economic situation as it is, to buy a player of this dimension.

"At the moment, we are very, very fortunate to have him."

He added: "I think we can reach our objectives with him at this level and if we reach our objectives, we can hopefully continue to have Gareth in our club.

"He's a player we rate very, very highly and aren't willing to let go.

"The Champions League is where most of the clubs want to be, and where most of the players want to play.

"It's part of our objectives so hopefully achieving it means we can attract better players and continue to hold on to our best players."

Villas-Boas has recently deployed the Welshman in a more central role, either as a No 10 in the hole or as an out-and-out striker,drawing comparisons with Real Madrid star Ronaldo.

Having started on the flanks, Ronaldo now operates as a centre-forward and Villas-Boas thinks all the signs are pointing towards the idea that Bale could end up doing the same.

"You can see similarities in each of the players," said the Spurs manager.

"Both of them are extremely technical players, and extremely powerful and pacy.

"It's funny to see how both players compare. They grew up as strikers, but became wingers.

"Ronaldo is now 28, and has achieved so much in his career. He is an example to Gareth as to what he can achieve."

Bale may be joined up front against Newcastle on Saturday by Emmanuel Adebayor.

Adebayor has been on Togo duty at the African Nations Cup for almost a month but despite a striker shortage, Tottenham say they are happy for the 28-year-old to return to training on Friday afternoon - less than 24 hours before the game against the Magpies.

Villas-Boas was reluctant to comment on Adebayor's whereabouts on Thursday. He would only say that the striker was "in Africa" to "take care" of some "issues".

Given that Jermain Defoe is out for up to three weeks with an ankle injury, the Spurs boss is hopeful that the Togolese will be passed fit.

"It's not a big ask for him to play on Saturday," the 35-year-old said.

"He is in good form and you have to allow the player to rest and recover. If he is ready physically we will select him.

"It's always difficult with the trips from extreme heat to cold. He will not be 100 per cent, but he's still a player that can make a difference."Daily Fotball News

Manager Ian Holloway quiet on links to West Brom's Peter Odemwingie

Crystal Palace manager Ian Holloway has played down talk that West Brom striker Peter Odemwingie is set for a move to Selhurst Park.

Odemwingie drove to Loftus Road on deadline day in the hope of securing a move to QPR, an act described by Baggies boss Steve Clarke as 'total lunacy', with the two Premier League clubs unable to agree terms.

And the 31-year-old, who missed West Brom's 1-0 defeat to Tottenham on Sunday, has been linked with a loan switch to the Eagles, with the view to a possible permanent summer move if the club are promoted.

When asked about the Championship club being linked to Odemwingie, Holloway said: "I haven't got a clue about that. Someone contacted the chairman.

"I was asked would I want him? I said yes.

"I don't really think that's a realistic target for us personally".

Odemwingie launched numerous Twitter outbursts against West Brom after having his transfer request rejected, but Clarke will be aware that the Nigeria international's departure would reduce his options.

Meanwhile, West Brom are set for a second attempt by Blackburn to sign winger Jerome Thomas on loan, after a £600,000 move to Ewood Park last Thursday failed to go through in time.Daily Fotball News

Premier League clubs facing points deduction if they breach new spending controls

Premier League clubs will face a points deduction if they breach new spending controls, chief executive Richard Scudamore has confirmed.

The 20 club chairmen agreed to two significant controls on Thursday - to limit players' wage bills from next season and to longer-term measures that will restrict the amount of losses clubs can make to £105million over three years.

Clubs whose total wage bill is more than £52m will only be allowed to increase their wages by £4m per season for the next three years, but the cap does not cover extra money coming in from increases in commercial or matchday income.

Scudamore said: "As all things in our rulebook you will subject to a disciplinary commission.

"The clubs understand that if people break the £105m we will look for the top-end ultimate sanction range - a points deduction.

"Normally we stay silent on sanctions as the commission has a free range but clearly if there is a material breach of that rule we will be asking the commission to consider top-end sanctions."

The vote for financial regulations could hardly have been closer, with only 13 of the 20 clubs voting in favour, with six against and Reading abstaining.

It meant that the 'yes' vote only narrowly achieved the necessary two-thirds majority of the 19 votes cast.

Clubs sources say Fulham, West Brom, Manchester City, Aston Villa, Swansea and Southampton all voted against.

Scudamore said there would be an "absolute prohibition" on clubs reporting losses of more than £105m over the next three years with the first sanctions possible in 2016.

Of the 20 clubs in the top flight, only Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool have reported losses of more than £105m over the last three years, according to the most up-to-date published accounts.

The regulations have come about against the backdrop of UEFA's Financial Fair Play (FFP) initiative.

Under UEFA's new rules clubs are being forced to minimise losses or risk the possibility of exclusion from European competition from 2014/15.

Scudamore admitted that their own FFP measures would mean it will take longer for benefactor owners to achieve success, but that it would still be possible.

He said: "The balance we have tried to strike is that a new owner can still invest a decent amount of money to improve their club but they are not going to be throwing hundreds and hundreds of millions in a very short period of time.

"While it has worked for a couple of clubs in the last 10 years, and I am not critical of that, if that's going to be done in the future it's going to have to be over a slightly longer term without the huge losses being made.

"I think at £105m you can still build a very decent club with substantial owner funding but you have to do it over time, you can't do it in a season."

Chelsea won the Premier League two years after Roman Abramovich's takeover, and Manchester City's title success came three years after Sheikh Mansour's takeover.

Any club making any loss of over £5m a year will have guarantee those losses against the owner's assets.

"In some ways that's the most significant part; this is a three-year rolling system of secure funding - it's one year at the moment," added Scudamore.

The ceiling when the wage increase restrictions kick in will be £52m next season, £56m the following year and £60m in 2015-16. Only seven of the current top-flight clubs would be under that ceiling at the moment.Daily Fotball News

Luis Suarez feels Liverpool can push for UEFA Champions League

Luis Suarez believes Liverpool are capable of pushing for a UEFA Champions League spot this season if they maintain their recent performance level.

Liverpool sit nine points off fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspurwith 13 games remaining, but have taken encouragement from their recent 2-2 draws at Arsenal and Manchester City.

Brendan Rodgers' side were the better team for long spells in both of those games and Suarez is delighted with the progress being made by the Reds.

"I'm very pleased and very happy because Liverpool is growing," Suarez, who has scored 17 Premier League goals this season, told Marca.

"It's not the team that it once was as they have had a dip. But now we have a new coach who has a philosophy of the game with which the players are very happy.

"The only thing missing is to have more positive results so we can finish in a Champions League spot.

"We showed we can match anyone, we had chances to win many of those matches.

"If we go in to every game in the Premier League with the same intensity that we've shown in the big matches, we can be much higher in the table."

Suarez has been linked with a summer move to Bayern Munich and, when asked if Liverpool should talk about his future in the summer, he said: "Yes, we should talk this June or the next one, in 2014. My contract ends in 2018.

"I'm very happy here and my family love the life here too.

"I want to enjoy being at this club where I, like all the kids, dreamed of playing and now I'm fulfilling that dream."Daily Fotball News

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher to retire at end of season

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has announced he will retire from football at the end of the season.

The 35-year-old arrived at Anfield as a trainee in 1994 and has made 723 appearances since making his Reds debut in January 1997.

In a statement Carragher, who is second only to Ian Callaghan on the club's all-time appearance list, told liverpoolfc.com: "This will be my last season at Liverpool and my last as a professional footballer.

"I'm making this announcement now because I don't want the manager or the club to be answering questions on my future when I've already decided what I am going to do.

"I will be fully committed between now and the end of the season to doing the very best for Liverpool Football Club, as I've done my entire career since joining aged just nine-years-old.

"It has been a privilege and an honour to represent this great club for as long as I have and I am immensely proud to have done so and thankful for all the support I have had.

"There are many memories I want to share and people to thank, but now is not the time for that.

"I won't be making any further comment on this decision until the end of the season; all our focus and concentration should be on achieving the best possible finish in the league this season and trying to win the last remaining trophy we are competing in."

Carragher made his first-team debut as a substitute in a Coca-Cola Cup tie at Middlesbrough in January 1997 and was part of the treble-winning team in 2001, picking up the League Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Cup.

He was also in the side that famously won the Champions League in 2005 on penalties against AC Milan in Rafael Benitez's first season in charge.

While his Liverpool career progressed, Carragher was also starting his rise through the England ranks, where he went on to play at U20, U21 and at a senior level where he earned 38 caps.

He revealed he was quitting his England career in May 2007, but was persuaded to make a U-turn by manager Fabio Capello in 2010 and went on to play two group games in the World Cup in South Africa before retiring again.

Former team-mate Jason McAteer, who played alongside Carragher between 1995 and 1999, told Sky Sports News: "It's not just a sad day for football but it's a sad day for Jamie Carragher.

"I'm sure it's not been a decision he's taken lightly. He knuckled down, worked very hard and has become a credit to the game and the football club and that's why it's going to be a sad loss.

Former Liverpool defender Phil Thompson also paid tribute to Carragher, saying: "There have been rumours flying around about this so it's not a complete surprise, but when you see Jamie coming back into the side against Arsenal and Manchester City and doing ever so well and not looking out of place, then you are maybe a bit surprised.

"But if one person knows his body that's Carragher; he's pushed it to the limit over the years, all for the great honour of playing for Liverpool, so he will know whether it is right or wrong to call it a day. We just have to give him credit for what he's done for the football club.

"The biggest compliment I can pay him is that as he plays the game now, he could have fitted into any generation of Liverpool team.

"I know his passion for football. Carra has an obsession with the game, he watches football and knows his tactics - and he will be sought after. Hopefully he can slot into the coaching staff at Liverpool, that would be ideal."Daily Fotball News

Loic Remy could feature against Swansea, says QPR boss Harry Redknapp

Harry Redknapp says Loic Remy could make his return from injury when QPR visit Swansea this weekend.

There had been reports that the Frenchman faced up to two months on the sidelines after hurting his groin last Friday.

However, Rs boss Redknapp has rubbished those claims and says Remy will return at the Liberty Stadium providing he is satisfied the injury will not be aggravated.

"He's close to being fit for Saturday," Redknapp said. "He trained this morning, he's very close.

"But I don't want to rush him in case he breaks down."

Remy joined Rangers from Marseille last month in an £8million deal and scored on his debut against West Ham.

Meanwhile, QPR chief executive Phil Beard admitted that relegation from the Premier League could hinder the club's hopes of building a new stadium.

"Premier League stability is important," said Beard. "We share a training ground that isn't right. We will build a new one.

"A new stadium is a long term goal. We have great fans but we need to grow that fan base to fill it.

"It is going to be a minimum of four of five years before we have a new stadium."

Redknapp added: "You only fill stadiums if you are in the Premier League."Daily Fotball News

Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna plays down PSG link

Arsenal full-back Bacary Sagna is eager to distance himself from speculation suggesting he is being tracked by Paris St Germain.

The France international is being strongly tipped to be the next high-profile departure from the Emirates.

He has hinted in the past that he may be open to offers while a dip in form has left his position in the Gunners side under scrutiny.

Sagna is, however, keen to point out that he has had no contact with anyone at PSG and has made no effort to push for a move away from Arsenal.

He claims there was no substance to reports in January linking him with a move back to Ligue 1 and insists that it remains his intention to honour his contract in north London.

"The January transfer rumours regarding PSG? I am 100 per cent devoted to my club," Sagna told L'Equipe.

"I am only thinking about defending the colours of Arsenal until the end of my contract.

"The fans are angry with me because they heard about PSG's interest, but I am not responsible for that. I have never had any contact."Daily Fotball News

Asmir Begovic expects Stoke to sell him but hasn't agreed Manchester United move

Stoke City goalkeeper Asmir Begovic says he expects to be sold in the summer, but has played down reports he has already agreed to join Manchester United.

Begovic has established himself as one of the Premier League's most consistent keepers since joining from Portsmouth three years ago and is closing on 100 appearances for Stoke.

He has been mooted as a replacement for David de Gea at Old Trafford and there have also been claims that Manchester Citywant to sign the 25-year-old as a back-up for Joe Hart.

The Bosnia international insists he has not made a decision on his future, but believes Stoke's recent signing of Jack Butland will lead to his departure from the Britannia Stadium at the end of the season.

"I believe that Stoke didn't buy Butland to be a reserve so I think I'm going to be sold in the summer."
Asmir BegovicQuotes of the week

"I read in the papers that I said no to City and yes to United," Begovic told Oslobodjenje. "But the truth is, I haven't decided on anything.

"I didn't say yes or no to anybody. I haven't signed anything - no contract, no pre-contract. But I believe that Stoke didn't buy Butland to be a reserve so I think I'm going to be sold in the summer.

"To whom? I can't move to a smaller club and I also know that some top clubs are interested in me. They are also the only ones who can afford the fee.

"Now I'm just happy that January is over. It was a hard month for us, so many rumours. Now, we can focus on our games again."

England keeper Butland will link up with Stoke in the summer after the teenager was loaned back to Birmingham for the rest of the season last week.Daily Fotball News

Leon Britton has signed a contract extension at Swansea City until 2016

Leon Britton has signed a new three-and-a-half-year contract with Swansea City, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2016.

The 30-year-old midfielder has spent the best part of 10 years serving the Swans, having joined the club from West Ham Unitedon an initial loan deal in December 2002.

He has gone on to make over 400 appearances for the club, either side of a short spell at Sheffield United in 2010/11, and has helped to take them from the fourth tier of English football to the top-half of the Premier League and the Capital One Cup final.

Britton is delighted to have committed his future to the Welsh outfit and hopes he will be given the chance to see out his playing days at the Liberty Stadium

"I know I've said it before, but I would love nothing more than to finish my career here," he told the club's official website.

"It's been my life for the last 10 years, apart from a six-month sabbatical at Sheffield United, of course, and there's no other place I'd rather be playing my football.

"I never expected things to turn out the way they have when I returned from Sheffield two years ago. The club was in the Championship at the time and there was certainly no guarantee of promotion.

"But we went straight up into the Premier League, have established ourselves in our second season and we are now looking forward to our first major cup final."Daily Fotball News