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Australian Open 2011: Aravane Rezai's father banned from tennis over threats to boyfriend

from Neil McLeman in Melbourne 25/01/2011
THE father of world No 22 Aravane Rezai has been banned from tennis after threatening her boyfriend on the eve of her Australian Open defeat.
Arsalan Rezai, who has a long history of abusive behaviour, also had a violent confrontation with his 23-year-old daughter.
Victoria Police have confirmed they are investigating the incident last week.
One French tennis official said: "It is to be impossible for him to tolerate her having a boyfriend."
Arsalan Rezai, a political refugee from Iran, has a history of bizarre behaviour as he pursues his obsession of making his daughter the No 1 in the world. He was fined Euros 500 in 2006 for threatening the father of one of Rezai's opponents at a junior tournament.
The 23-year-old Rezai, who was seeded 17th at the Australian Open, was beaten in the first round in three sets by Barbora Zahlavova Strycova of the Czech Republic.
Afterwards, she said: "I do not want to look for excuses but I had a lot of trouble on the morning of the match." She then pulled out of the women's doubles without telling her partner. The boyfriend is understood to be a fellow player.
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A WTA statement said: "The health and well being of our players is the No.1 priority for the WTA.
"A serious safety matter has been brought to the WTA's attention, which has resulted in a family member of Aravane Rezai being indefinitely suspended from all future WTA events pending our investigation."
A police spokeswoman said: "Police are investigating an alleged incident involving a 23-year-old woman on the 18th of January."
Rezai is the latest in a long line of nightmare tennis father. Jim Pierce, the father double Grand Slam winner Mary,
was banned by the WTA for shouting abuse during matches - and getting into a fight with two Dutch fans at the French Open.
Damir Dokic, the father of naturalised Aussie and former world No 4 Jelena, was jailed in 2009 in Serbia for threatening to bow up the Australian ambassador in Belgrade.

Australian Open 2011: Andy Murray's next opponent's coach says 'I was a high-class bum'

from Neil McLeman in Melbourne 25/01/2011

THE Aussie coach of Andy Murray's next opponent Down Under is a self-confessed "high-class bum".
And Jack Reader will send out Alexandr Dolgopolov out on the Rod Laver Arena tomorrow morning telling him to enjoy the biggest game of his life.
The Ukrainian's career has taken off over the last two years since working with the laidback, long-haired Reader. Previously Dolgopolov had worked with his father Oleksandar, a former ATP pro and coach.
"When I got a call from his agent, 'I thought: 'You beauty','' said the Aussie.
Under Reader, the 22-year-old Dolgopolov has risen in the rankings from world 350 to - after the Australian Open - at least No .34. ''The biggest thing was getting him to enjoy his tennis again,'' said Reader. ''He grew up on the circuit and I think he expected to be there.
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"The last thing I say to him before he goes on the court is 'enjoy' because too many people take tennis too seriously. It is just a game. But he works hard and we have fun.
"Alexandr has come good a bit quicker than I thought. I was priming him for the French Open. But good luck to him and you'll see more of him. I believe he's only 60 to 70 per cent of where I think he can be."
The colourful Reader, nicknamed Jack the Stripper and Jack Sparrow, was a journeyman pro who did not win his first computer point until he was 28 and achieved acareer-high singles ranking of 700.
''I would coach for three months just to get the money together to play one satellite tournament,'' he said.
"I was a high-class bum, I suppose. Tennis got me travelling. In Port Lincoln it would get me a trip to Adelaide or up the coast to Whyalla. After that it got me around the world. I can speak a few languages, had a good time.''
Murray's quarter-final match with Dolgopolov, who is playing his first Australian Open, is third on the Rod Laver Arena tomorrow (wed) - at about 3am UK time.

Yanga yamwaga Ugali Papic amwaga mboga Jangwani
Tuesday, 25 January 2011 20:58

KOCHA wa Yanga, Kostadin Papic

Sosthenes Nyoni
KOCHA wa Yanga, Kostadin Papic jana alitangaza rasmi kukatiza mkataba wake wa kuifundisha klabu hiyo kwa kukabidhi barua kwa uongozi akiwa amebakiza miezi kabla ya kumalizika mkataba wake Aprili mwaka huu.

Hatua ya Papic kutangaza kujiondoa rasmi kuinoa Yanga inafuatia wiki kadhaa za marumbano kati yake na uongozi wa klabu hiyo hasa baada ya viongozi wao kutangaza kumwajiri aliyekuwa kocha mkuu wa Ruvu Shooting, Fredy Felix Minziro.

Awali kabla ya Papic kuiambia Mwananchi juu ya uamuzi wake huo kulikuwa na kikao baina yake na uongozi wa Yanga uliofanyika jana kwenye hoteli ya Movenpick jijini Dar es Salaam kuanzia majira ya saa 4 asubuhi hadi saa 6 mchana.

Mapema kabla ya kufikia uamuzi huo Papic aliliambia gazeti dada ya Mwananchi, Mwanaspoti muda mchache kabla kuikabili Polisi Dodoma katika mechi ya ligi kuwa kitendo cha uongozi wa Yanga kumwajiri Minziro kuwa msaidizi wake bila ridhaa yake ni dharau kubwa hivyo hataweza tena kuifundisha timu hiyo.

Akizungumza na Mwananchi baada ya kumalizika kikao kati yake na uongozi wa Yanga, Papic alisema,"Kama nilivyosema awali kuwa nitaondoka hivyo natangaza rasmi mkataba wangu na Yanga umekwisha.

"Sitaweza kuongea mengi zaidi muda huu kwani nimechoka isipokuwa jambo la msingi na ambalo ninaweza kueleweka ni kwamba nimejiuzuru.

"Kuna vitu vichache tu vya kumalizana nao pamoja na kushughulikia tiketi na Jumatatu nitaondoka kurudi Serbia,"alisema Papic.

Wakati huo huo, Uongozi wa Yanga umezidi kukaliwa kooni kwa kutakiwa kufanya ukaguzi wa mahesabu baada ya kugundulika kuwa kuna baadhi ya wachezaji wamesaini mikataba miwili.

Habari ambazo Mwananchi imezipata zinasema kuwa mfadhili wa klabu hiyo Yusuf Manji ameendelea kuusisitiza uongozi chini ya Lloyd Nchunga kutaka ukagazi wa mahesabu ufanyike haraka ikiwa ni pamoja na kuwepo wa uwazi wa mapato na matumizi ndani ya klabu hiyo.

Chanzo hicho kimesema hatua hiyo imekuja baada ya kugundulika kuwa kuna baadhi ya mikataba ya wachezaji wa Yanga imechakachuliwa kwa kuandikwa miwili miwili huku ile inayopelekwa kwa mfadhili wao ikiwa na fedha nyingi.

"Unakuta mkataba aliopewa mchezaji una fedha ndogo, mfano ni Omega Seme mkataba wake ni milioni 5, lakini uliopelekwa kwa mfadhili wetu ni milioni 13, sio yeye tu wapo wachezaji wengi wamefanyiwa hivyo,"kilisema chanzo hicho.

"Nchunga (mwenyekiti) amekuwa mstari wa mbele kutaka mahesabu yakaguliwe, lakini kuna baadhi ya viongozi hawataki na ndio maana wamekuwa wakitofautiana kwenye vikao vyao vya kamati ya utendaji."

Mwaka 2008 wanachama wa klabu ya Yanga walitaka ufanyike ukaguzi wa mahesabu kufuatia shilingi milioni 150 za kadi za wanachama kutafunwa na pia shilingi bilioni 1 kutumika ndani ya siku 100 hivi karibuni kitu ambacho kinazidisha mashaka kwa viongozi wa klabu hiyo na kutakiwa kufanya ukaguzi wa mahesabu.

Katika hatua nyingine Yanga jana ilitangaza viingilio vya mpambano wao wa kimataifa wa kombe la Shirikisho kati yao na Dedebit ya Ethiopia utakaopigwa Januari 29 kwenye Uwanja wa Taifa jijini Dar es Salaam.

Afisa habari wa Yanga, Louis Sendeu alivitaja viingilio hivyo kuwa ni Sh 3,000 kwa jukwaa la viti vya rangi ya bluu na kijani, Sh 5,000 kwa jukwaa la viti vya rangi ya machungwa huku wale watakaokaa Jukwaa la viti maalumu A watalipa Sh 20,000 na viti maalum B ni Sh 10,000.

Aidha alisema kuwa kikosi cha timu ya Dedebit kitawasili nchini kesho huku akiwataja waamuzi wa mpambano huo kuwa ni Abd Elgdir (kati) na wasaidizi wake ni Mohamed El Tour na Al Saeed Salim wakati kamisaa ni Line Kila Hafen.
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0 #3 Ruga 2011-01-26 08:53 Emmanuel, acha kuwa kama hujui mpira, Hujui kocho kwa kushikiriana na uongozi ndio wanaochagua kamati ya ufundi (ikiwemo nafasi ya kocha msaidizi)
Kiukweli me naona kweli yanga walikuwa wamemchoka.
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0 #2 emmanuel 2011-01-26 07:15 safi sana yanga kwa kukomesha ukoloni wa hawa mkocha wa kigeni wanaotakakufany a hadi kazi za uongozi.kocha ataajiri vipi kocha mwenzie...hii ni dharau...
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0 #1 AY 2011-01-26 05:52 Inaonesha wazi kuwa Yanga walikuwa hawana haja nae tena Papic na ndio maana wakamfanyia makusudi yale aliyoyatangaza tokea mwanzo kuwa hayataki na tokea hapo alitamka kuwa pindi akipelekewa msaidizi ambaye aliwahi kuwa kocha mkuu atawacha kazi, nao wakamfanyia hayo. Waliofanya Ynaga si uungwana kwa hivo haraka wamlipe haki zake zote na wala wasimtendee dhuluma. Aibu Yanga

Yanga, TFF zapishana kauli


*Ni kuhusu mechi na Dedebit
*Papic atangaza kujiuzulu

Na Elizabeth Mayemba

WAKATI uongozi wa Yanga, ukitangaza mechi yao dhidi ya
Wahabeshi, Dedebit FC itapigwa Uwanja wa Taifa, Shirikisho la Mpira wa Miguu Tanzania (TFF) nalo limetangaza kuwa mechi hiyo itachezwa Uwanja wa Uhuru, Dar es Salaam.

Kutokana na hali hiyo kauli mbili tofauti kati ya Yanga na TFF, inaonekana kuwakoroga viongozi hao wa pande mbili kuhusiana na mechi ya michuano ya Shirikisho.

Akizungumza Dar es Salaam jana, Ofisa Habari wa TFF, Michael Wambura alisema kuwa shirikisho hilo liliwasiliana na viongozi wa Yanga kwamba mechi hiyo itachezwa Jumamosi katika Uwanja Uhuru, Dar es Salaam.

Huku TFF itangaza hivyo, Yanga nayo kupitia Ofisa Habari wake Louis Sendeu, alisema jana kuwa mchezo huo utapigwa Uwanja wa Taifa na pia alitangaza viingilio cha mechi hiyo.

Sendeu alisema VIP A wataingia kwa sh. 20,000, VIP B sh. 10,000, VIP C sh. 5,000 na viti vilivyobakia ni sh. 3,000.

"Tumeamua kuweka kiingilio cha chini kabisa ili kuwawezesha mashabiki wa soka nchini waweze kuhudhuria katika mchezo wetu, ili kuishangilia timu yetu inayoiwakilisha nchi katika michuano ya kimataifa," alisema Sendeu.

Alisema wapinzani wao wanatarajia kutua nchini kesho, pamoja na waamuzi wote watakaochezesha mchezo huo, ambao wanatoka Sudan na kamisaa anatokea Namibia.

Sendeu alisema wanatarajia mashabiki wote nchini wataungana kwa ajili ya kuishangilia timu yao kwa nguvu ili ipate ushindi.

Alisema timu yake inaendelea na mazoezi kama kawaida katika Uwanja wa Uhuru, Dar es Salaam na lengo ni kushinda mchezo huo ili waweze kusonga mbele katika michuano hiyo.

Wakati huohuo, Kocha Mkuu wa timu hiyo, Kostadin Papic jana ametangaza kujiondoa katika klabu hiyo.

Sendeu alisema kuwa kocha huyo inadaiwa ameamua kuchukua uamuzi huo, baada ya kutangazwa Felix Minziro kuwa msaidizi wake ambaye yeye hakuta awe yeye.

TFF 'yaichakachua' Kamati ya Waamuzi


Na Zahoro Mlanzi

SHIRIKISHO la Mpira wa Miguu Tanzania (TFF), limeifanyia mabadiliko Kamati ya Waamuzi kwa kumuondoa aliyekuwa Mwenyekiti, Shaibu Nampunde na
kumteua Kapteni Mstaafu, Stanley Lugenge kuwa Mwenyekiti ili kuongeza ufanisi katika kamati hiyo.

Akizungumza Dar es Salaam jana, Ofisa Habari wa shirikisho hilo, Boniface Wambura alisema Kamati ya Utendaji ya shirikisho hilo iliyokutana Januari 16, mwaka huu imepitisha majina ya wajumbe waliopendekezwa kuunda kamati ndogo ndogo za shirikisho hilo.

Alisema kamati hizo zitakaa madarakani kwa miaka miwili na kufanya kazi kwa niaba ya Kamati ya Utendaji ambapo miongoni mwa kamati hizo, Kamati ya Waamuzi ndiyo iliyofanyiwa mabadiliko makubwa.

"Mabadiliko hayo makubwa ni pamoja na aliyekuwa mwenyekiti, Nampunde sasa ataongoza Kamati ya Ufundi na Maendeleo ambapo Kapteni Mstaafu Lugenge atachukua nafasi yake akiwa na Wajumbe, Omari Kasinde, Riziki Majalla, Joan Minja na Mohamed Nyama," alisema Wambura.

Alisema wajumbe Llody Nchunga na Jamal Bayser, wamehamishiwa kamati nyingine kutoka ile ya Nidhamu kutokana na mgongano wa kimaslahi ambapo sasa Bayser anakuwa Mjumbe wa Kamati ya Habari na Masoko na Nchunga yupo kwenye Kamati ya Katiba, Sheria na Hadhi za wachezaji.

Wambura pia alizungumzia mchezo wa kirafiki kati ya timu ya taifa 'Taifa Stars' na Palestina utakaopigwa Februari 9, mwaka huu kwamba maandalizi yanaendelea vizuri.

Alisema licha ya kuwepo kwa mchezo huo, TFF itahakikisha kabla ya kuumana na Afrika ya Kati Machi 26, mwaka huu inaipatia mchezo mwingine wa kujipima nguvu timu hiyo ili ifanye maandalizi ya uhakika

Papic ajiuzulu Yanga
Imeandikwa na Mwandishi Wetu; Tarehe: 26th January 2011 @ 07:31 Imesomwa na watu: 315; Jumla ya maoni: 0

Kocha mkuu wa Yanga aliyejiuzulu, Kostadin Papic.
Habari Zaidi:



KOCHA Mkuu wa Yanga, Mserbia Kostadin Papic ametangaza kujiuzulu wadhifa huo kuanzia jana.

Habari zilizopatikana jana na kuthibitishwa na Ofisa Habari wa wa Yanga, Luios Sendeu
zilieleza kuwa Papic alitangaza uamuzi huo jana katika kikao na viongozi kwa kile alichodai uongozi umemletea Kocha Msaidizi Fred Minziro bila matakwa yake.

"Ni kweli taarifa hizo za kocha kujiuzulu, lakini ametangaza uamuzi huo kwa mdomo, tunasubiri barua yake, yeye ametwambia anajiuzulu.

"Uongozi wa Yanga unamtambua Papic bado kocha mpaka atakapotupatia barua rasmi, maana ametueleza kwa mdomo tu, " alisema Sendeu.

Papic amekuwa katika msuguano wa chini kwa chini na uongozi wa Yanga akipinga kupelekewa Minziro awe msaidizi wake kwani hataki Kocha ambaye ametoka kwenye timu ya Ligi Kuu afanye naye kazi.

Minziro alikuwa Kocha Mkuu wa Ruvu Shooting. Papic ameinoa Yanga kwa msimu mmoja akirithi mikoba ya Mserbia mwenzake Dusan Kondic na juzi aliiongoza timu hiyo kupata
ushindi wa mabao 2-0 dhidi ya Polisi Tanzania na kuendelea kuongoza Ligi Kuu Tanzania Bara ikiwa na pointi 31.

Minziro juzi alikuwepo benchi wakati wa mchezo kati ya Polisi na Yanga na walionekana na Papic kama watu wasio na tofauti.

Naye John Mhala Anaripoti kutoka Arusha kuwa AFC ya Arusha imeanza kuweweseka na kipigo cha mabao 6-1 ilichokipata Ijumaa kutoka kwa Yanga katika mchezo wa Ligi Kuu Tanzania Bara na sasa imewaondoa kambini wachezaji wake wawili kwa madai ya utovu wa nidhamu uliochangia kufungwa mchezo huo.

Habari kutoka ndani ya klabu hiyo zilizothibitishwa na Mwenyekiti wa klabu hiyo Peter Temu na Kocha Mkuu, Rashid Iddy Chama zilisema baadhi ya wachezaji walicheza chini ya kiwango hali ambayo kwa namna fulani ilichangia kipigo hicho.

Kwa mujibu wa chanzo chetu wachezaji walioondolewa ni beki Andrew Carlos na kipa Said Omari, wakati beki Salumu Ngaga yeye ameondolewa kwa madai ya kumfanyia fujo Meneja wa timu hiyo Salumu Kitula na haihusiani na mechi ya Yanga.

Akizungumzia kutimuliwa kambini wachezaji hao, Temu alikiri kuwepo tukio hilo na kudai hatua ya kwanza ilikuwa kuwaondoa kambini na kwamba baadaye wataitwa kujitetea kuhusiana na tuhuma za utovu wa nidhamu ambao haukuwekwa wazi.

Chama alikiri kutimuliwa kwa wachezaji hao na kwamba tayari wameshapewa barua ya kuondoka kambini na yeye ameshajulishwa juu ya jambo hilo.

AFC Arusha ilifungwa mabao 6-1 na Yanga Ijumaa iliyopita, ikiwa ni mwendelezo wa kufanya vibaya kwenye ligi hiyo, ambapo mpaka sasa inashika nafasi ya 12 kati ya timu 12 zinazoshiriki ligi hiyo ikiwa imeshinda mchezo mmoja, kutoka sare miwili na kufungwa michezo kumi.

Yanga ndiyo inaongoza ligi ikiwa na pointi 31. Naye Evance Ng'ingo anaripoti kuwa, klabu ya Yanga imesema mchezo wake na Dedebit ya Ethiopia utafanyika Uwanja wa Uhuru Dar es Salaam na kuwa maandalizi yanaenda vizuri.

Ofisa Habari wa Yanga, Luios Sendeu alisema jana kuwa Waethiopia watawasili Dar es Salaam kesho, wakati waamuzi wa mchezo huo ambao wanatoka Sudan pia watawasili kesho.

Waamuzi hao ni Abdul Elders, Mohamed Arif na Said Mohd, wakati Kamishna wa mchezo atakuwa ni Linekela Temba kutoka Namibia.

Awali katika taarifa ya jana Shirikisho la Soka Tanzania (TFF), lilisema mechi hiyo ingefanyika Uwanja wa Uhuru, Dar es Salaam.

Sauti za Busara wawapa somo wasanii

Imeandikwa na Evance Ng'ingo; Tarehe: 26th January 2011 @ 07:18 Imesomwa na watu: 11; Jumla ya maoni: 0

Mwimbaji wa muziki wa kizazi kipya, Juma Kasimu 'Sir Nature' akizungumza na waandishi wa habari wakati wa mkutano wa kutangaza Tamasha la Sauti za Busara, Dar es Salaam litakalofanyika Februari 9-13 mwaka huu mjini Zanzibar, ambapo Nature ni kati ya wasanii watakaotumbuiza. Kushoto ni Meneja Mkuu wa Zantel Zanzibar ambao ni wadhamini wakuu wa tamasha hilo, Nahaat Mahfoudh na Makamu Mwenyekiti wa Tamasha, Simai Said. (Na Mpigapicha Wetu).





MAZOEA ya matumizi ya CD yamesababisha baadhi ya wasanii wa muziki wa muziki wa kizazi kipya kukosa nafasi katika Tamasha la Sauti za Busara.

Akizungumza Dar es Salaam, Mkurugenzi wa Tamasha la Sauti za Busara, Mahmoud Yusuph alisema wasanii wengi kutoka Tanzania walioomba nafasi ya kushiriki, lakini walishindwa kuonesha uwezo wa kuwa na bendi.

Alisema katika maombi hayo wengi wamekuwa wakifafanua kuwa wapo wenyewe na sio kundi ambalo wataimba pamoja.

Alisema kwa mwaka huu vikundi 40 vya muziki vitatumbuiza katika tamasha hilo litakaloanza Februari 9 mpaka 13 katika eneo la Mji Mkongwe Zanzibar.

Alisema watu 25 watanufaika na mafunzo ya kitaaluma kuhusu muziki na masuala mengine muhimu na kuwa mwaka huu tamasha hilo litatumia vyombo vyake.

Naye msanii Juma Kasim ‘Sir Nature' ambaye atashiriki kwenye tamasha alisema amelazimika kujifunza muziki wa bendi ili kupata kushiriki tamasha hilo.

Berbatov hails Man United spirit


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Updated Jan 25, 2011 6:56 PM ET
Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov was always confident his side would come back to beat Blackpool at Bloomfield Road on Tuesday night.
United appeared to be heading for their first Barclays Premier League defeat of the season when goals from former Red Devil Craig Cathcart and DJ Campbell sent them into half-time 2-0 down.

Wolves 0-3 Liverpool |Recap
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Wigan 1-2 Aston Villa | Recap Liverpool vs. Fulham BPL Scores | Table | Fixtures

The visitors left it late but a double from Berbatov and one from substitute Javier Hernandez ensured a trademark United comeback denied Blackpool a famous win.
Asked if he was confident of getting three points when they were in such a perilous position, Berbatov told ESPN: "Yes because we're always confident that if we can score one we can score more and that was the case today.
"We fight like a team. In the second half we showed spirit and we won."
Berbatov added: "You come here, it's not a friendly ground. The pitch is not as ours back home at Old Trafford.
"Blackpool played a very good game and scored goals, they could easily have scored more in the first half.
"In the end it was the team spirit that won the game."
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson was delighted with his side's fighting spirit after a "terrible" first-half display.
"They just never give in," he told ESPN. "In the first half we were battered. We couldn't handle Charlie Adam. We were terrible.
"I don't know the reason for the first half. We were all over the place. Maybe we were too confident.
"We changed at half-time, Ryan Giggs made a tremendous difference. We started to penetrate and I think we were deserved winners in the end."
Ferguson knows not to write his side off having seen countless similar comebacks in the past.


"I know the game's never done in situations like today," he said. "You know at some point we're going to do something.
"You'll get games like tonight. Maybe sometimes we won't come back but we'll always try to come back."
Ferguson reserved special praise for goalscorers Hernandez and Berbatov.
Of Hernandez, he said: "His pace and timing of the runs is fantastic. He's so good at that. He could have scored four goals. He's made a tremendous impact."
And of Berbatov he added: "He's having a great season. He has great talent. The third goal, the composure, I was screaming for him to square it to Chicharito but, no, he has the confidence and ability to do what he did."
There was a late scare for United as Rafael was taken off on a stretcher, leading to 10 minutes of stoppage time.
"He's gone to hospital," said Ferguson. "We just hope he's okay. He's got concussion, we know that, we just hope everything else is okay."

Blackpool 2-3 Manchester United






Updated Jan 25, 2011 8:16 PM ET
Manchester United recovered from a two-goal half-time deficit to beat Blackpool 3-2 and go five points clear at the Premier League summit.
At the break, on top and two goals up, it appeared Blackpool would end United's unbeaten record and achieve a result that would go down in the history books alongside the 'Matthews Final' in 1953.
But those goals from Red Devils old-boy Craig Cathcart and DJ Campbell were insufficient to resist United, who were galvanised by Ryan Giggs and Javier Hernandez.

Wolves 0-3 Liverpool |Recap
Arsenal 3-0 Wigan | Recap
Everton 2-2 West Ham | Recap
Man Utd 5-0 Birmingham | Recap
Newcastle 1-1 Tottenham | Recap
Fulham 2-0 Stoke City | Recap
Blackpool 1-2 Sunderland | Recap
Aston Villa 1-0 Man City | Recap Blackburn 2-0 West Brom | Recap Bolton 0-4 Chelsea | Recap Blackpool 2-3 Man Utd | Recap
Wigan 1-2 Aston Villa | Recap Liverpool vs. Fulham BPL Scores | Table | Fixtures

The Mexican struck the all-important equaliser but once again it was Dimitar Berbatov who did the damage for the rampant Red Devils, tapping home his side's first 19 minutes from time before driving home his 20th goal of the season - and his fifth in four days - to send Sir Alex Ferguson's men five points clear.
The only two meetings between the pair since the day four decades ago when Jimmy Armfield retired came in the old Second Division, a time United would prefer not to be reminded of.
They will not want reminding of their first-half performance either.
Having muscled themselves into such a positive position, Sir Alex Ferguson's players knew victory in their game in hand would send them into a clear lead at the top of the table and bring that coveted record 19th championship within tantalising reach.
In his own chirpy way, Ian Holloway had done his best to play down expectations, claiming he would be happy if his side were not two goals down after 10 minutes and presenting Ferguson with his customary bottle of wine before the game.
Once the whistle went though, United were shaken out of their stride by the hosts, whose enthusiasm knows no bounds and for whom Charlie Adam, putting his transfer request and interest from Liverpool to the back of his mind, was outstanding.
It was Adam's accidental clash with Patrice Evra that forced the Frenchman off the field and meant he was out of position when he returned as the Blackpool skipper swung in his first fateful corner.
Still, there was no excuse for United's total failure to track Cathcart's run.
Tipped for big things by the Old Trafford hierarchy until injury intervened, Cathcart rose unchallenged and powered a header past a motionless Edwin van der Sar.
The veteran Dutchman was also stood still when Nemanja Vidic turned a diving header straight into his chest when he had been aiming to clear.
It was an example of the confusion within the visiting ranks.


Elliot Grandin scooped a 12-yard effort over the bar and David Vaughan brought an excellent save out of Van der Sar, which as it turned out, only staved off Blackpool's second by half a minute.
Again Adam took the corner. Dropping it into roughly the same place.
This time Darron Gibson got his head to it but only succeeded in turning it to Campbell, who bundled home at the far post to send the home supporters into delirium.
It was no surprise that Ferguson replaced Gibson with Giggs at half-time and Blackpool would have known the last time United faced such an unpromising scenario, they nearly defeated Aston Villa.
If Luke Varney had been granted the penalty he was convinced should have been awarded when Rafael sent him tumbling, Blackpool would almost certainly have avoided a similar fate.
As it was, United took inspiration from Hernandez's introduction for an out-of-sorts Wayne Rooney and the Seasiders started to get washed away by the tide of attacks.
The Mexican has come up with a few vital goals already in his debut season and he nearly had another when he streaked clear of the Blackpool defence.
But Kingson took the pace off his shot, allowing Cathcart's incredible evening to continue with a goal-line clearance.
United were on a roll though, and when Darren Fletcher crossed a couple of minutes later, Berbatov was on hand to tap United back into the contest.
Within two minutes, they had bagged another as Giggs' magnificent chip sent Hernandez streaking through.
Having let Blackpool off the hook once, the striker was not keen on doing it again and this time finished with calm assurance.
United were not finished. Even the departure of Rafael on a stretcher that required 10 minutes injury time failed to halt their momentum.
And when Scholes sprayed a magical pass to Berbatov, the Bulgarian blasted home his fifth goal in four days to seal an unlikely win.

[video]http://i4.ytimg.com/vi/gaW7NxpkuSQ/default.jpg[/video]

Wigan Athletic 1-2 Aston Villa




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Updated Jan 25, 2011 6:47 PM ET
Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ashley Young maintained Aston Villa's resurgence with the second-half goals that saw off Wigan 2-1 at the DW Stadium.
Gerard Houllier's side pulled themselves further away from the Premier League relegation zone as they followed up last weekend's uplifting win over Manchester City in impressive fashion.
James McCarthy marked his return from injury by pulling one back as Villa finished in nervy fashion but the visitors hung on to leave Wigan, with just one win in nine, in trouble in the bottom three.
Wigan looked composed and threatening for large spells but manager Roberto Martinez is unable to transform his team's fortunes by spending £24million on one player like Villa appear to have done by signing Darren Bent.

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Bent did not add to his debut goal but his arrival appears to have lifted the midlands club, who are now six points above the drop zone.
Villa manager Houllier chose to change the side that overcame City by making three changes and handing debuts to £6million new signing Jean Makoun and 19-year-old defender Nathan Baker.
Wigan left Mohamed Diame, at the centre of controversy this week after remarks about the town of Wigan were taken out of context, on the bench while defenders Gary Caldwell and Antolin Alcaraz were suspended and injured respectively.
Wigan had the first opportunity when Franco Di Santo headed wide from a Charles N'Zogbia cross.
Villa then began to assert themselves and Bent brilliantly controlled a long ball and pulled back inside the makeshift defender Steven Caldwell only to scuff his shot.
Ali Al Habsi then produced two fine point-blank saves in quick succession to deny Stewart Downing and Bent after a pass from Agbonlahor had opened up the defence.
In a lively opening Wigan responded with N'Zogbia setting up Hugo Rodallega but the Colombian's shot was deflected and Brad Friedel parried.
N'Zogbia also went close after a fine run but his shot dipped over.
Bent claimed he had been tripped by Steven Gohouri as he chased a James Collins pass but referee Jon Moss saw nothing untoward.
McCarthy showed brilliant skill on the edge of the area to clip the ball over Collins and set up Rodallega but his shot appeared to be deflected over, even though Moss gave a goalkick.
Maynor Figueroa worried Villa with a run from the left into the area but never had the ball fully under control and Richard Dunne eventually hammered clear.
After the initial burst the game settled as both defences tightened up.


Di Santo did get in another shot from the left as half-time approached but Friedel was not troubled by his curling effort.
Villa upped the tempo for the start of the second half as Young raced into the area from the halfway line and forced Al Habsi to palm over a fierce drive.
The visitors grabbed the lead from the resulting corner in the 49th minute.
Again Al Habsi did well to keep out Carlos Cuellar's firm header but the ball ballooned into the air and Agbonlahor reacted quickest to nod it over the line as it came down.
The game opened up again and N'Zogbia weaved his way into the Villa area only to see his shot blocked.
Villa countered through Bent but Gohouri managed to get in the way and shield the ball for Al Habsi to gather.
Downing then broke into the area but Al Habsi claimed his low cross.
Young doubled Villa's lead from the penalty spot after being brought down clumsily by Hendry Thomas just after the hour.
The Villa captain made no mistake as he sent Al Habsi the wrong way with a powerful strike.
Bent almost grabbed a third as he raced onto an Agbonlahor throughball but Al Habsi rushed out to deny him again.
Wigan did not give up the fight and pulled a goal back 10 minutes from time, although it did require a huge slice of luck.
There seemed little danger as McCarthy lined up a shot from 30 yards but the ball took a huge deflection off Collins and wrong-footed Friedel to end up in the bottom corner.
The Wigan fans thought they had an equaliser to celebrate moments later when Rodallega flashed inches wide from the edge of the area.
Di Santo also headed at Friedel as the Latics put the visitors under late pressure but they could not force the equaliser.

Fabregas claims 'I don't dive'




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Updated Jan 25, 2011 8:07 PM ET
Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas has hit back at Wigan boss Roberto Martinez and claims: "I am not the kind of guy that dives."

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Martinez was left less than impressed by the award of what he labelled a "soft" penalty during his side's 3-0 Premier League defeat at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday after Latics skipper Gary Caldwell had been sent off for pulling back Fabregas.
Robin van Persie put the resulting spot-kick over the bar before going on to complete his hat-trick.
Nevertheless, Martinez maintained Fabregas had been "very clever", adding: "Cesc comes from a different culture - you do not cheat, if you take a decision from the referee it is because you are clever and you are getting something for your team."
Fabregas moved to put the record straight when writing in his programme notes for Tuesday night's Carling Cup semi-final second leg against Ipswich.
Fabregas wrote: "I saw Roberto Martinez's comment that I might have employed some gamesmanship to win the penalty.
"I don't know why he said that - he is a fellow Catalan and we have had some dinners together at the Spanish Embassy, so I was very surprised because he has said himself that he knows me well, in which case he should know that I am not the kind of guy that dives.
"Believe me, no player wanted to score more than I did on Saturday."

Real Madrid captures Adebayor loan

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Updated Jan 25, 2011 4:07 PM ET
MADRID (AP)

Real Madrid has signed striker Emmanuel Adebayor from Manchester City on loan until the end of the season with an option to buy.
The Spanish club announced the deal Tuesday on its website, saying it has "a unilateral option" to purchase the 26-year-old in the offseason.

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No financial details were released, but Spanish COPE Radio earlier said Madrid will pay €4 million ($5.5 million) for the Togolese forward, who had been little used at the Premier League club after falling down the pecking order. That amount is what Adebayor was reportedly set to earn for the remainder of the current season.
Madrid can buy Adebayor at the end of the season with COPE putting the price tag at €17.4 million ($23.7 million).
Manchester City said Adebayor would undergo his medical in the Spanish capital on Wednesday.
Madrid coach Jose Mourinho is desperate to bolster his attack, with Gonzalo Higuain injured and Karim Benzema on unconvincing form.
Argentina striker Higuain is out until at least April after undergoing back surgery while Benzema hasn't failed to secure a regular starting spot. The France striker scored only his second league goal of the campaign in Sunday's 1-0 win over Mallorca.
Madrid can ill-afford to drop points as it chases Spanish leader Barcelona, which has won 14 straight league games to hold a four-point advantage over its biggest rival. Mourinho had warned at the start of the season he couldn't afford to lose either of his two strikers due to limited backup options at the position.
Adebayor offers a physical presence inside the box similar to Didier Drogba, who was one of the catalysts for Mourinho's successful spell at Chelsea.
The 2008 African Footballer of the Year helped Monaco to the 2004 Champions League final - where the French club lost to Mourinho's FC Porto.
He joined Arsenal in January 2006 where he scored 62 domestic goals in three years before heading to City, where his playing time has dropped off dramatically under Roberto Mancini.
City's plethora of international attackers - Carlos Tevez, Mario Balotelli and recent signing Edin Dzeko - were favored over Adebayor in Mancini's attack.
Adebayor, a former Togo international, scored 19 goals in 36 appearances for City.

Messi fined for dedicating birthday goal

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Updated Jan 25, 2011 7:00 PM ET
MADRID (AP)

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi was punished with a fine and a booking Tuesday for dedicating a goal to his mother on her birthday.
After scoring a penalty in Saturday's 3-0 win over Racing Santander, the Argentina forward lifted his jersey in front a television camera to reveal an undershirt with the words "Happy birthday, mami!" written across it.
The recent "Ballon d'Or" winner was not booked by the referee during the game, but the action was included in his match report.
Messi was punished under the Spanish federation's disciplinary committee article 91.1 for goal celebrations. Messi can expect a fine between €2,000 ($2,736) and €3,000 ($4,105) and will also receive a yellow card.

Cruyff: Barca should sell Alves


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Updated Jan 25, 2011 7:24 AM ET
Johan Cruyff feels Barcelona should consider allowing Dani Alves to join Manchester City if they make a big bid for the Brazil full-back.
Alves is contracted at Camp Nou until June 2012 but is stalling on an extension as Barca refuse to comply with his increased financial demands.

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And with City waiting in the wings, Cruyff feels the Catalan club should let the 27-year-old move to the Premier League side rather than run the risk of seeing him leave for nothing when his current deal expires.
"Barcelona are a sensational team with or without (Dani) Alves," Cruyff said in El Periodico Catalunya.
"Is it better to have him with us (Barcelona)? Sure. However, if Manchester City's offer is for real it may be better to sell him rather than wait for his contract to end and then he will be free to leave.
"When a club like Manchester City comes along and breaks all the salary barriers like never before there isn't much you can do. It doesn't matter whether it is fair or not. That's the way it is.
"It's exactly the same as (Yaya) Toure. The coach (Pep Guardiola) wants Alves to stay, as he did with Toure - but what cannot be, cannot be."
Ivory Coast midfielder Toure left Barca for City last summer in a £24million deal which made him one of the highest earning footballers in the world.
Alves, currently out injured with a calf injury, has openly said that he is weighing up his options, although Guardiola said recently that he was confident the player would put pen to paper on a new deal.
"As far as I know, negotiations haven't broken down," said Guardiola.
"I don't think the situation will distract him either, though if that does happen we will all help him, but his form hasn't dipped at all since he began talking with the club about this."

Sky's Andy Gray fired in sexism row

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Updated Jan 25, 2011 3:44 PM ET
LONDON (AP)

One of British football's leading television commentators was fired Tuesday for "unacceptable behavior," days after making sexist remarks about a female match official that sparked widespread debate about the role of women in the sport.
Andy Gray, who has been the face of British broadcaster Sky Sports' football coverage for the past two decades, was dismissed with immediate effect after evidence came to light of "unacceptable and offensive behavior" in an off-air incident last month.
That emerged a day after the former Scotland striker and broadcast colleague Richard Keys were reprimanded and removed from duty for making derogatory comments about lineswoman Sian Massey, former referee Wendy Toms and West Ham executive Karren Brady.

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"Andy Gray's contract has been terminated for unacceptable behavior," Sky Sports managing director Barney Francis said. "After issuing a warning yesterday, we have no hesitation in taking this action after becoming aware of new information today."
Francis was referring to footage which appears to show Gray making a suggestive comment and gesture toward Sky Sports colleague Charlotte Jackson in the studio.
London-based law firm Schillings later said that it has been "been instructed by Andy Gray in relation to the termination of his contract by BSkyB."
The outspoken Gray, who was widely reported to be earning 1.7 million pounds ($2.7 million) a year from Sky, has made a name for himself with his forthright opinions - particularly on referees - and insight into football, and for the way he embraced technology to revolutionize the way viewers saw the game.
His Scottish brogue was also seen as ideally suited to football commentary, helping to add drama to the matches he was covering.
However, all the respect Gray had built up over the last 20 years was lost when he and Keys made disparaging remarks about Massey prior to a Premier League between Wolverhampton and Liverpool on Saturday.
The 55-year-old Gray questioned whether Massey knew the offside rule - widely seen as a barometer of basic football knowledge - and made an abusive reference to Toms, saying she had been "hopeless" as a lineswoman. The remarks were leaked to a Sunday newspaper.
Further footage which compromised Gray and another member of Sky Sports' commentary team - Andy Burton - was also passed to the media on Monday.
In that incident, Burton was talking to Gray off-air on the touchline prior to the same Wolves-Liverpool and said: "Apparently a female lino today, bit of a looker."

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Continuing to remark on Massey's appearance, Burton, who has since been taken off air, added that another member of the Sky Sports crew said Massey was "all right."
"Now, I don't know if I should trust his judgment on that?" Burton said.
Gray replied: "No, I wouldn't. I definitely wouldn't ... I can see her from here," before swearing and adding: "What do women know about the offside rule?"
Gray hadn't publicly apologized for his remarks, unlike Keys, who telephoned Massey on Monday.
Sky hasn't said when or if Keys will return to the air.
Keys and Gray have been widely condemned by media commentators, anti-discrimination groups and footballers, with many calling them to resign or be fired.
Brady said the comments made her "blood boil" and England captain Rio Ferdinand said the pair's views were "prehistoric."
Some, however, described the exchange between Keys and Gray as tongue-in-cheek banter.
Gray played his club football for Aston Villa, Wolves and Everton, among others, in a playing career that spanned 17 years. After retiring, he was an assistant coach at Villa but soon turned his focus to a career in the media, repeatedly shunning opportunities to get back into football management.
Originally a co-commentator, he became a more visible presence by operating as a pundit in the studio too, embracing technological advancements quicker than Sky Sports' rivals. His use of touch-screen technology, where he tracked players' runs and dissected team tactics, appealed to football aficionados.
The 25-year-old Massey has been withdrawn as a lineswoman for Tuesday's fourth-tier league match between Crewe and Bradford, the Professional Game Match Officials organization said.
"Sian is an excellent professional who has unwittingly found herself in the middle of a story that has nothing to do with her competence as a match official. Sian only wants to be notable for her performance as an assistant referee and is keen for things to get back to normal so she can return to officiating as soon as possible," PMGO general manager Mike Riley said.