Football clubs in the Czech Republic are so cash-strapped that the country s Premier League is sitting on a financial timebomb, according to press reports Wednesday.
Leading daily Sport pointed the finger at all clubs in the top flight but in particular 2008 and 2009 league champions Slavia Prague.
The report said the club owes its players back pay amounting to 30 million koruny (1.2 million euros) and owes 112 million koruny (4.5 million euros) to its former owner, British investment company ENIC.
The situation has become so dire that players at the capital club currently languishing in 14th place after 17 league matches are looking elsewhere.
Slavia midfielder Petr Trapp announced this week he was quitting over unpaid wages. Fed-up Tunisian pair Tijani…
Danny Pugh has signed an extended deal contracting him to English Premier League club Stoke City until 2013.
Pugh, 28, joined Stoke on loan from Preston North End in November 2007, before signing permanently in January 2008 for a reported fee of 500,000 pounds.
After struggling for first-team appearances this season, he returned to former club Preston on loan in November, and is set to stay with the Championship side until January.
Despite Pugh finding himself out of favour, Stoke boss Tony Pulis believes the squad player still has a future at the Britannia Stadium.
It is important we look after the players who helped start off what we have achieved over the past three years and Danny is one of them, Pulis told stokecityfc.com.
Although he ha…
Diego Costa snatched an injury-time equaliser to secure Chelsea a 1-1 draw against Manchester United and preserve the Premier League champions unbeaten run under Guus Hiddink.
Louis van Gaal described United s performances against Derby County and Stoke City as sparkling and his side began Sunday s game in dominant fashion at Stamford Bridge, though chances were few and far between in the first half.
Kurt Zouma was carried off on a stretcher shortly after half-time with what looked to be a serious injury to his right knee and Jesse Lingard turned home in fine style just two minutes later to put the visitors ahead.
David de Gea made a handful of superb saves to keep Chelsea at bay in the reverse fixture at Old Trafford and he frustrated Hiddink s side again, makin…
Ivory Coast can lay down a marker ahead of the FIFA World Cup when they tackle tournament debutants Bosnia-Herzegovina on Friday.
The sides will go head to head in St Louis, Missouri as their preparations for Brazil kick up a gear in the United States.
The Ivorians have been unfortunate in the past two editions of the tournament, having been handed tough draws after being seen as outside favourites to spring a surprise.
In their bow on the world stage in 2006 a tough draw brought Argentina and Netherlands in a group that the Ivorians were unable to get through.
And in 2010 they also fell at the first hurdle, finishing third in their pool behind powerhouses Brazil and Portugal.
However, in their six games at the finals, only Portugal have prevented Ivory Coa…
Villarreal forward Cedric Bakambu has signed a two-year contract extension that commits him to the LaLiga club until 2022.
The DR Congo international scored 11 times in 26 appearances in Spain s top flight last season, with Premier League duo West Ham and Newcastle United reportedly interested in his services.
But the 26-year-old will remain with Fran Escriba s side, who secured a place in the Europa League group stages with a fifth-place finish in LaLiga last term.
Bakambu joined the Yellow Submarine from Bursaspor in August 2015 and has scored 33 times across 84 matches in all competitions.
Villarreal president Jose Manuel Llaneza will flank Bakambu at a Friday news conference to mark the player s new deal.
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Real Madrid have come out in support of tennis star Rafael Nadal following what they described as unjustifiable and unacceptable attacks by France s former secretary of sport.
Roselyne Bachelot claimed a lengthy lay-off for the 14-time grand slam champion in 2012 was without any doubt because he tested positive [for performance-enhancing drugs] and not because of injury.
Uncle and coach Toni Nadal responded furiously, revealing the world number five is considering legal action in the wake of the remarks.
Nadal is an avid Madrid fan and an honorary member of the club, who said in a statement: Real Madrid C.F. would like to express their full support to our honorary member, Rafa Nadal, undoubtedly one of the greatest sportsmen of all time in Spain and in the …
Market: Adam Le Fondre to score 2+ goals
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With the chance to briefly climb back to the top of the A-League, Sydney FC will welcome a struggling Central Coast Mariners to the WIN Jubilee Oval on Friday morning.
Starting with the hosts, enjoying a very impressive run over the Christmas period, Sydney boss Graham Arnold will have his sights firmly set on securing a return back to top spot in the A-League. Coming off the back of another impressive showing in their 2-1 win over Brisbane last week, it has been the form of former Bolton striker Adam Le Fondre most impressing fans around the WIN Jubilee Oval. The 32-year-old bagged both goals in their victory over Brisbane now has three goals in his last two outings. Now two clear at the top of the A-League goalsc…
Barcelona will have to stump up in excess of €100million if they want to install Borussia Dortmund winger Ousmane Dembele as Neymar s successor.
Brazil superstar Neymar completed his €222m move to Paris Saint-Germain on Thursday and various reports have linked France international Dembele with Camp Nou as Barca prepare to spend their world-record bounty.
Speaking to Eurosport during its coverage of the DFL-Supercup, where Dembele set up Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang s strike in a 2-2 draw before Bayern Munich prevailed 5-4 on penalties, Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke left little room for doubt over his valuation of the 20-year-old.
Asked about a possible €100m fee, he said: In every case, not enough.
Watzke cited Wolfsburg s struggles since allowing…
Atletico Madrid are interested in signing Giovanni Simeone from Cagliari, according to . Simeone is on loan at Hellas Verona at the moment, and the Argentina international striker’s performances for the Italian club have caught the eye of defending La Liga champions Atletico.
Simeone has made six starts and three substitute appearances in Serie A for Hellas Verona so far this season, scoring eight goals and providing two assists in the process. The 26-year-old Argentina international striker scored six goals and gave two assists in the league for Cagliari last season.
Atletico are managed by Giovanni Simeone’s father Diego Simeone. Atleti regularly compete for the La Liga title and play in the Champions League.
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Gareth Southgate acknowledged his job as England manager would have been on the line had they not pulled off a 2-0 Euro 2020 last-16 win against Germany.
Reports over the past week have suggested the Football Association (FA) are keen to keep Southgate on beyond the 2022 World Cup, but he has not courted popularity with England s wider fanbase after conservative team selections throughout Euro 2020.
Those same supporters were in raptures at Wembley on Tuesday, when Raheem Sterling s third goal of the tournament and much-needed header for captain Harry Kane gave the Three Lions a stirring triumph over their old rivals.
Southgate reverted to a 3-4-3 setup to match Germany s formation, with defensive midfielders Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips stationed in front o…