Blackburn appeal to higher power
BLACKBURN ROVERS may have Allah on their side this season. The Premier League club has built a prayer room at its Ewood Park stadium, primarily to accommodate Muslim fans who have to, if possible, pray up to five times a day. Mosques attached to stadiums are common in Arab countries but, last season, all Scottish Premier League sides were required to have facilities for Muslim players to be able to pray before and after games.
Smoking gun
THE England FA, rightly, is concerned by revelations that Manchester United star Wayne Rooney enjoys smoking cigarettes. There was extra concern that England manager Fabio Capello appears unfussed by the revelation. "It's a part of life and, with Rooney, a part of his private life, too," said Capello in interviews published in England. "It really depends on whether he is smoking five, or 20." The FA was so worried by that comment, a media officer encouraged Capello to later clarify he did not endorse smoking.
A quick word with…
MINISTER for Sport Kate Ellis, after a meeting with her British counterpart at the Beijing Olympics where each country's bid for the 2018 World Cup was discussed: "They were out of the starting blocks a long time ago and they seem quite advanced and very confident."
Ruud shock
IF Graham Arnold is considering a new job after his Olympics flop he could do worse than send his CV to LA Galaxy. Citing "personal reasons", Dutch legend Ruud Gullit took a mid-season holiday and decided not to return as the would-be glamour club's coach for the second half of the season. Galaxy owners decided the best response to instability was to also sack club president Alexi Lalas, the man who brought David Beckham to LA. "Good luck to him," Beckham said of Gullit's departure.
Meanwhile, in Istanbul…
HARRY KEWELL missed Galatasaray's Champions League qualifier with Steaua Bucharest on Wednesday through, um, injury suffered from an over-zealous tackle by a teammate during training that caused a knee strain. The first-leg 2-2 draw with Steaua sets up a tasty return match in 10 days. Kewell is likely to play a minimal role for Australia against South Africa this week but will make his home debut in Istanbul on Saturday
City fans nervous
JUST what does a 1911 treaty between Britain and the (former) Kingdom of Siam have to do with Manchester City's ambition? Possibly quite a lot. City owner Thaksin Shinawatra, charged with fraud in his native Thailand, jumped bail after visiting Beijing for the Olympic Games opening ceremony. Instead of returning to Bangkok, the former Thai PM fled to the UK. Thai officials are requesting the Brits extradite their former leader under the terms of the century old treaty. Man City fans will be concerned that Shinawatra's assets, valued at 76 billion Thai baht (about $2.6b), will be frozen by authorities this week and their investment tap turned off.
Graham Arnold looked like he'd been pulled from a washing machine after the whistle was blown on Australia's Olympic football campaign with the 1-0 loss to Ivory Coast on Wednesday. Perhaps he was preparing to be put through the wringer by critics back home. It must have been dusty in Tianjin because, as players and coaching staff shook hands with their African opponents, Arnie seemed a little red-eyed. A hug from assistant Ron Smith made that better. Arnold bravely gambled omitting Bruce Djite and Nathan Burns from his squad. Irony? A fabled striker during his playing days, Arnold was unable to find anyone in the country capable of putting the ball in the net. You can have the tightest defence in the world but, up the other end, you have to take every and any chance you get. Medal talk (by anyone) was fantasy and somewhat naive. Australia simply lost to - and drew with - better teams.
Turks go cold on North
GALATASARAY'S interest in Newcastle Jets captain Jade North was genuine - until the Turkish giants felt slighted by a clumsy media leak by the A-League club. Galatasaray refused to be drawn into a bidding war for the Socceroos defender and, instead of raising their initial offer of €500,000 ($853,638), dropped their bid to €300,000. North may now head to France instead.
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