Andre Russell’s lawyer has defended the allrounder in the wake of a one-year ban issued by an independent anti-doping tribunal and has said they are exploring the possibility of filing an appeal

Nagraj Gollapudi31-Jan-2017

Calling his client a “clean athlete”, Kingston lawyer Patrick Foster has said he “disagrees” with the one-year ban imposed on West Indies allrounder Andre Russell by an independent anti-doping tribunal on Tuesday. The tribunal found Russell guilty of failing to file his whereabouts three times in 2015. Under the World Anti-Doping Agency code, three misses within one year amounts to a single failed dope test.Immediately after the three-member tribunal delivered its verdict in Russell’s home town Kingston, his lawyer Foster issued a media release, stating there was a “possibility” of an appeal being filed.”Mr Russell and his legal team are carefully reading and reviewing the ruling as regards the next steps and the possibility of an early appeal of the decision of the Panel’s ruling,” Foster said. “While we respect the ruling, we respectfully disagree with it and are very disappointed that the Panel saw it fit to impose a one-year ineligibility period.”During the hearings that took place last year, Russell’s legal team had contested the allegation levelled against the player that he was “grossly negligent” about filing his whereabouts despite several reminders. That allegation was made by the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) through a case filed last March.Just as he had stressed during the hearings, Foster said on Tuesday that his client has never violated any doping rules. “Throughout his career as an international and domestic T20 cricketer, Mr. Russell has been tested on many occasions by various anti-doping agencies/bodies in several countries pursuant to WADA guidelines and he has never registered an adverse analytical finding.”Foster pointed out that the tribunal itself in its ruling seemed to have agreed with Russell’s conduct. “We note that in the ruling, the Panel states that they believe, ‘…in the instant case the Respondent athlete as per the evidence heard, has not displayed a pattern of last minute Whereabouts Changes or other conduct which raise a serious suspicion that the athlete was trying to avoid being available for testing….’ This aspect of the Panel’s decision we wholeheartedly agree with.”Foster said that Russell would continue to adhere to the rules even as he decides his next step on whether to challenge the verdict.”Mr. Russell is a clean athlete who seeks to uphold the integrity of Cricket. He respects and makes every effort to be compliant with the rules of sport generally, cricket and to comply with anti-doping rules and procedures. Our client will continue to cooperate fully with JADCO and WADA.”

Celtic's majority shareholder Dermot Desmond has reportedly agreed terms with 50-year-old manager Brendan Rodgers to take on the vacant post at Parkhead this week.

The Northern Irish tactician is set to be officially announced as the successor to Ange Postecoglou, who joined Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur earlier this week, at some point today.

Sky Sports recently claimed that the former Leicester City boss will be backed by the board in the summer transfer window with a view to making the team competitive on the European stage.

Who is Kwadwo Opoku?

It was recently reported that Celtic are one of the clubs interested in signing promising Los Angeles FC winger Kwadwo Opoku, who could be available for a fee of up to €4.8m (£4.1m) this summer.

He is a left-footed attacker who mainly operates down the right flank and that could make the talented youngster Rodgers' next version of former Hoops forward Patrick Roberts.

During the ex-Liverpool manager's first spell in Scotland, the Englishman spent two seasons on loan from Manchester City and racked up 12 goals and 24 assists in 65 outings for the club across all competitions under his management.

The now-Sunderland ace was a creative outlet who started on the right and used his preferred left foot to cut inside in order to make things happen in the final third.

Opoku could follow in his footsteps based on his impressive form in the MLS for LAFC throughout 2022.

The 21-year-old dynamo, whose performances last year were hailed as "magnificent" by journalist Owuraku Ampofo, scored eight goals and provided three assists in 20 starts for his side, with all eight strikes coming on his favoured foot.

However, his assist total did not tell the full story as the Ghanaian maestro created an eye-catching 11 'big chances' for his teammates and this suggests, given that Celtic's Jota registered 11 assists from 13 'big chances' created, that his fellow attackers let him down.

The MLS Cup winner, who has produced two goals and two assists across 11 MLS starts this year, has been compared to Bayer Leverkusen's Moussa Diaby by talent scout Jacek Kulig, who also listed the gem's "flair" as one of his strengths.

Opoku is an exciting young talent who could be an excellent long-term addition to Celtic's squad, whilst also being able to provide quality in the final third as immediately as next season if he can replicate his MLS form from 2022.

Therefore, Rodgers could land his next version of the left-footed wizard that was Roberts at Parkhead by working with Desmond to secure a deal for the £4.1m wide man this summer.

Celtic target Yang Hyun-jun 'very much' wants to complete a move to Parkhead this summer according to Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph via GIVEMESPORT

What is the latest news about Yang Hyun-jun?

With his current side Gangwon FC struggling to survive in their league despite his impressive performances, it seems as if a move away is something that appeals to the 21-year-old as he believes that he is ready to take the next step of his career and foray into European football, and Celtic seems like the perfect club for that next step.

He stated: "I will not change my mind about moving to Europe. But if I am blocked from making the move in this transfer market, I have to do my best for Gangwon FC and I will. I accept this and understand I will act professionally.”

What we do know is that the Scottish club have reportedly made a large bid for the attacker, but it remains to be seen as to whether anything will materialise at this moment in time.

What has Anthony Joseph said about Yang Hyun-jun to Celtic?

When asked about the potential transfer, Joseph told GIVEMESPORT: "Celtic did make an approach last week for Yang Hyun-jun and he very much wants to move to Celtic. And he has been trying to push it with his agent as well, the club aren’t too happy that his agent is really pushing it and some of the comments he’s made publicly as well.”

Will Yang Hyun-jun be a good signing for Celtic?

Indeed, with Brendan Rodgers at the helm, it remains to be seen as to how he might change things potentially at Parkhead and how he will line the side up, upon his return, with all players potentially getting a chance to impress in pre-season.

But, one thing that we do know is that the winger possesses a great dribbling ability, having completed 1.2 dribbles per match with a success rate of 61%, as well as averaging a Sofascore rating of 7.02 across 36 K-League outings in 2022 and chipping in with a very impressive eight goals, and created six 'big chances'.

Of course, one thing that Ange Postecoglou managed to do well during his time at Celtic was the recruitment, as the likes of Kyogo Furuhashi, Daizen Maeda, and Reo Hatate have all been nothing short of superb since making the move to Scotland. So, it seems a no-brainer for Celtic to bring in another exciting player from the same region.

Celtic could look at a season-long loan move for Arsenal left-back Kieran Tierney this summer, according to reports.

Could Celtic sign Kieran Tierney?

The Hoops have made a head start on their summer business under new manager Brendan Rodgers, with 20-year-old midfielder Odin Thiago Holm signing a five-year deal.

He looks set to be the first of many through the door, with Parkhead officials reportedly handing Rodgers a £30m transfer budget over the coming months.

One player who has been linked with a reunion with Rodgers is Leicester City defender Daniel Amartey, who will soon be out of contract with the Foxes, and another player who the Northern Irishman knows well is Tierney, with speculation over a return emerging.

The Scottish Sun shared an update in the last 48 hours regarding Celtic and Tierney, claiming the former Hoops defender would consider a return to Parkhead in what ‘would be a stunning statement of intent’.

They say that a season-long loan could be a possibility if a substantial loan fee and compromise over wages can be agreed with Arsenal and the player.

However, the report adds that Premier League side Newcastle United are the favourites to sign Tierney, who is weighing up his future following a frustrating 2022/23 season.

Kieran Tierney’s career…

Tierney, dubbed an ‘absolute baller’ by talent scout Jacek Kulig, progressed through the Celtic academy and made 170 senior appearances for the Hoops, scoring eight times and registering 37 assists.

The 26-year-old won 11 major honours with Celtic and made a £25m move to Arsenal back in 2019, where he has gone on to win the FA Cup and Community Shield.

The Scot, on £110,000-a-week at the Emirates, shares the same agency as Hoops midfielder Aaron Mooy and has turned out on 123 occasions for the Gunners, however, he started just six times in the Premier League last season.

Celtic brought in left-back Alexandro Bernabei last summer, but after making more appearances under Rodgers than Mikel Arteta, perhaps a reunion with the Hoops boss could appeal to Tierney. Celtic can offer Champions League football and possibly regular game time back in Scotland, making this one to watch.

Newcastle United may have received a boost in their pursuit of James Maddison, with Newcastle World reporting that the player has already asked about the club and living in the area ahead of a potential transfer switch.

Are Newcastle United signing James Maddison?

The midfielder has really come into his own since moving into the Premier League with Leicester City and has continued to get better season after season. In 2022/23 for example, he played 30 times for the club in the top flight and despite the Foxes being relegated, he still managed to contribute ten goals and nine assists along the way.

That goals plus assists total was the best at his club and only slightly below his contribution rate a season earlier, when he managed 20.

He outscored actual out-and-out strikers such as Kelechi Iheanacho and Patson Daka – showing just how impressive his finishing ability is for a player who isn't naturally a number nine – all while blowing the rest of his squad away in terms of assists and chance creation.

What is the latest news on Maddison?

According to a report from Newcastle World, Newcastle could be ready to boost their own attacking output by bringing Maddison to the club. The Toon have been linked with the player for a while but they've been handed a boost today with the news that the England man – who is valued at around £60m by Leicester – has already been making enquiries about the Magpies and best places to live in the city. The report claims that rumours of him preferring a switch to London are false, and he is open to heading north.

Football journalist Josh Bunting is one of many media members to heap praise on Maddison's "impressive" form in recent times, adding that he is a "creative" presence whether he features on the flank or behind the striker.

Considering how highly he is viewed, he is surely destined for a move back into the top flight and it certainly seems as if Newcastle is an option.

أكد البرازيلي روجيرو ميكالي المدير الفني لـ منتخب مصر الأولمبي، أهيمة المشاركة في بطولة غرب آسيا، مشيراً إلى أنها فرصة جيدة استعداداً لـ أولمبياد باريس.

ويشارك منتخب مصر الأولمبي في بطولة غرب آسيا التي تقام في السعودية في الفترة من 20 حتى 26 مارس الجاري.

ويتواجد في البطولة 8 منتخبات وهم “مصر، السعودية، الأردن، العراق، الإمارات، كوريا الجنوبية، تايلاند، وأستراليا”.

ويلتقي منتخب مصر مع الإمارات، مساء غد الأربعاء، في مباراة الجولة الأولى من البطولة وإذا حقق الفوز سيلاقي الفائز من لقاء العراق وأستراليا فى نصف النهائي.

وقال ميكالي خلال تصريحات في المؤتمر الصحفي اليوم: “المشاركة فى بطولة غرب آسيا خطوة كبيرة على طريق الاستعداد للأولمبياد وفرصة للاحتكاك بمدارس كروية متنوعة”.

طالع | أشرف صبحي وجمال علام يدعمان منتخب مصر الأولمبي قبل خوض بطولة غرب آسيا

من ناحية أخرى، حرص ميكالي على مراجعة خطة اللعب في المران الختامي للمنتحب اليوم، واستقر على التشكيل المنتظر أن يبدأ به اللقاء.

ESPNcricinfo’s wrap of the second day of the Sheffield Shield match between Western Australia and New South Wales in Perth

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Mar-2017
ScorecardFile photo – Ed Cowan was in the runs yet again•Getty ImagesEd Cowan and Daniel Hughes made half-centuries as New South Wales chipped away at Western Australia’s hefty first-innings score, but the Warriors remained on top at the close of the second day in Perth. Both teams remain in the hunt for a place in the Sheffield Shield final against Victoria, but for Western Australia to jump into the decider from fifth place would be an especially fine effort.The Warriors began the day on 5 for 360 and the retiring Adam Voges raised a half-century, as did wicketkeeper Josh Inglis, before Western Australia lost three wickets with the score on 406. Voges was caught behind off Harry Conway for 72, Inglis was bowled by William Somerville for 54, and Cameron Green also fell to Conway for a duck with no addition to the total.Having declared at 9 for 436, Western Australia had to watch on as Cowan and Hughes put on 113 for the second wicket, each reaching 69, before Cowan was lbw to allrounder Hilton Cartwright to end the stand. Hughes fell to Simon Mackin and the loss of Peter Nevill for 33 in the last over of the day left Moises Henriques unbeaten on 35, with the Blues on 5 for 242 and trailing by 194.

تلقى المدير الفني للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي برشلونة، تشافي هيرنانديز، أخبارًا سارة في التدريبات الجماعية قبل مباراة لاس بالماس في الدوري الإسباني.

ويلتقي برشلونة ولاس بالماس يوم، السبت المقبل، في تمام الساعة العاشرة مساءً بتوقيت “القاهرة” على ملعب “مونتجويك” بقيادة الحكم، بوسكيتس فيرير.

وعاد بيدري لاعب وسط الفريق الأول لكرة القدم للتدريبات على العشب ولكن ليس مع زملاءه وهو ما يلمح لاقتراب عودته للمباريات، بحسب صحيفة “ماركا” الإسبانية.

اقرأ أيضًا.. لاجازيتا توضح قرار كفاراتسخيليا النهائي بشأن اهتمام برشلونة

هناك رضاء عن حالة بيدري في الوقت الحالي حيث اقترب من التعافي تمامًا من إصابته في العضلة المستقيمة من فخذه الأيمن والتي تعرض لها في مباراة أتلتيك بلباو في “سان ماميس”.

هذه الإصابة ليست الأولى التي يعاني منها بيدري في الموسم الحالي، حيث تغيب عن 23 مباراة مع برشلونة بسبب إصابات مختلفة.

أمام لاس بالماس، لن يتواجد بيدري ولكن ربما يظهر في الجولات القادمة لبطولة الدوري الإسباني بجانب كل من فرينكي دي يونج، جافي وأليخاندرو بالدي.

مع وجود شكوك حول مشاركة رونالد أراوخو وأندريس كريستنسن، في حين أن جواو كانسيلو وفيران توريس سيعودان للقائمة النهائية.

Tottenham Hotspur target James Maddison wouldn't find it 'easy' to succeed in north London and may need to 'adapt' his game if he was to join the Lilywhites, according to journalist Paul Brown.

What's the latest transfer news involving James Maddison?

According to The Northern Echo, Tottenham are now 'strong favourites' to sign Maddison from Leicester City this summer as Ange Postecoglou gets to work in N17.

Newcastle United are also keen on the £110k-a-week ace; however, his preference is believed to be moving to London, which has put Spurs in pole position to wrap up a deal for the England international.

The Daily Mail report along similar lines and state that Maddison would be more open to joining Tottenham than their divisional rivals Newcastle United in the off-season.

Leicester City star Harvey Barnes is another name on their radar. At the same time, Arsenal and West Ham United also retain an attraction towards the 25-year-old amid news that Spurs submitted a joint bid of £50 million to try and acquire the Foxes' duo.

Football Insider detail that Leicester City want to recoup £50 million for Maddison, while Spurs want to secure his services on a 'cut-price deal', something which may drag their pursuit on for a while to come in the transfer window.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Brown thinks that Maddison could succeed at Hotspur Way; nevertheless, he doesn't believe it would be easy for him to transition from Leicester City to Tottenham.

Brown told FFC: "There's also the fact that Harry Kane, over the years, has gradually become a striker who likes to drop a lot deeper and occupy a lot of those areas on the pitch. I don't think it would be an easy transition for Maddison there, he can certainly do it and could be a success there if he finds a way to adapt, but I don't think it would be easy for him."

Would James Maddison be a success at Tottenham Hotspur?

Maddison absolutely has the ability to be a success at Spurs should he pitch up in north London this summer, though, as always, it remains to be seen with regards to how a player settles into a new environment.

In 2022/23, the England international featured 32 times for Leicester City across all competitions, registering ten goals and nine assists, as per Transfermarkt.

As per FBRef, Maddison was an inventive presence in midfield for Leicester City from the middle of the park and successfully completed 138 shot-creating actions in the Premier League during the season.

Capable of providing a goal threat either directly or by supplying his teammates, Maddison also recorded around 2.8 shots and 2.3 key passes per match in the English top flight, according to WhoScored.

Getting used to new surroundings would present its own challenges; however, Maddison has the ability and conviction to take these factors into his stride and would be an excellent addition to Spurs' midfield if they manage to secure him this summer.

According to reports, six Paris Saint-Germain players have contacted the president of the club to complain about comments made by Kylian Mbappe in a recent interview.

What did Kylian Mbappe say about PSG?

All doesn't appear to be going so well in Paris right now. After all, their key asset – the 24-year-old World Cup winner – seems to be angling for a move away.

Indeed, as per French news outlet L’Equipe (via The Athletic), the club have handed a three-page letter to Mbappe, giving him an ultimatum.

They have given him a deadline of 31st July to make a decision about his future, accusing him of unsettling the club, after he

publicly announced that he intends to leave as a free agent next year.

Essentially, they want him to either commit to the club and sign a new contract, or accept that he has to be sold this summer.

Amid all this, a new interview with France Football – conducted during France's June international camp – was published this week.

In the interview, he said (via Goal): "Do people trivialise my performance? Yes, but at the same time, I don't blame them. In France, they saw me grow up, they see me all the time, at PSG every weekend or in the national team. And I've been scoring a lot for years. So, for people, it becomes normal.

"I never complained that my performances were trivialised. I am young and I had the chance to be an observer, not so long ago, before being an actor. And myself, I trivialised what [Lionel] Messi was doing, what Cristiano Ronaldo was doing, what the great players were doing. We are in a consumer society, where 'it's good, but do it again'. And the fact that I'm right next door, in Paris…

"I think playing at PSG doesn't help much because it's a divisive team, a divisive club. So, of course it attracts gossip, but it doesn't bother me because I know what I'm doing and how I do it."

Why are Mbappe's PSG teammates upset?

It certainly isn't a great look from Mbappe to refer to Paris Saint-Germain as a "divisive team", and this evidently appears to have annoyed his teammates.

Indeed, as per a report from Sky Sports News, as many as six PSG players have contacted club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi to voice their opinions.

Reporter Kaveh Solhekol explained on Twitter: "Six PSG players have contacted president Nasser Al-Khelaifi this morning to complain about comments made about the club by Kylian Mbappe in an interview with France Football magazine."

Incredibly, he also added: "Two of the six are players who have joined this summer."

It certainly doesn't bode well for the Ligue 1 outfit if their new signings are already unhappy about the behaviour of the club's star player.

And with all this drama in mind, perhaps it will be best for all involved if Mbappe was indeed to depart in the near future.

However, some reports suggest a deal to move to La Liga next summer for free may already have been agreed upon, with PSG even supposedly feeling this is the case.