NEWCASTLE INTERESTED IN SIGNING QPR'S LOIC REMY

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew remains interested in France striker Loic Remy, after a move to Liverpool from Queens Park Rangers collapsed.

Newcastle interested in signing QPR's Loic Remy

Remy, 27, scored 14 goals on loan with the Magpies last term, prompting a bid from Liverpool this summer.

However, the transfer fell through, leaving the ex-Marseille forward to return to QPR for pre-season.

"It's a straightforward deal if Loic and QPR decide to do business with us," Pardew told BBC Newcastle.

"The results speak for themselves, the fans loved him and I think it's a great place for him personally.

"There is a lot of baggage in the way at the moment because of what happened at Liverpool, and the fact he has a parent club in QPR.

"But I wouldn't say we're not interested in him, of course we would be."

Pardew has brought in six signings so far this summer in forwards Ayoze Perez and Emmanuel Riviere, midfielders Jack Colback, Remy Cabella and Siem De Jong plus defender Daryl Janmaat.

Former Marseille striker Remy has scored five goals in 24 appearances for France, and played at the 2014 World Cup, coming off the substitutes' bench to feature against Ecuador and Germany.

KESHI AND NFF CLOSE TO REACHING AGREEMENT

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has revealed it is close to agreeing a new contract for Stephen Keshi to return as national coach.

Keshi and NFF close to reaching a deal

The 52-year-old led Nigeria to their third African title in 2013 and the last 16 at the World Cup in Brazil but his deal was allowed to expire.

Initially the NFF and sports ministry appeared reluctant to negotiate a new, improved contract for Keshi but in the last week all parties have shown they want to reach an agreement.

And the NFF board has approved acting president Mike Umeh's call for an emergency meeting to ensure Keshi's re-engagement "within the shortest possible time".

According to reports from BBC Sport, the coach will be rewarded with an improved contract worth $43,250 a month, up from his previous $30,900.

The new deal falls short of Keshi's expectations but he is believed to be ready to commit to a three-year deal.

His previous reign as coach was littered with problems over money as he experienced a number of delays in receiving his salary, and he also struggled for control over team selection.

The NFF also failed to provide Keshi with an official car and accommodation as stipulated in his previous three-year contract.

The former Nigeria captain was also burdened with the responsibility of paying one of his assistants from his monthly-salary after the NFF refused to approve the assistant's appointment.

These are some of the issues Keshi wants ironed out before putting pen to paper on a new contract.

All being agreed, Keshi's immediate assignment would be the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, which begin with a home game for Nigeria on 6 September.

The defending champions are in a qualifying group with South Africa, Sudan and either Congo or Rwanda with the top two advancing to January's Nations Cup in Morocco.

Meanwhile, the NFF said that an extraordinary congress will no longer take place on Thursday as planned because of "unforeseen circumstances" and promised a new date for the congress.

During Wednesday's executive committee meeting Musa Amadu was confirmed as NFF general secretary, while changes were made to the electoral and appeal committees.

The elective congress will take place on 26 August in Abuja.

SEYCHELLES CANCEL THEIR AFCON 2015 QUALIFIER AGAINST SIERRA LEONE FOR FEAR OF EBOLA

Seychelles have cancelled Saturday's 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Sierra Leone because of fears over the Ebola virus.

It means Seychelles have forfeited the match and consequently their place in the competition.

Earlier on Thursday it was confirmed to BBC Sport that Sierra Leone were prevented from boarding a plane at Kenya's Nairobi Airport that would have taken them to Seychelles for the second-leg tie.

The decision to stop the team travelling was taken by Seychelles immigration authorities, who are concerned about the spread of the deadly virus.

It followed the news that Sierra Leone's president has declared a public health emergency in the country to curb the outbreak.

Seychelles Football Association president Elvis Chetty told BBC Sport: "The decision is for Seychelles FA to forfeit the match.

"I would like to state that the Seychelles FA lays no blame at the feet of the Sierra Leone FA for this.

"We have taken the decision because of the advice sent to us by the Seychelles Ministry of Health.

"We also received a letter from the Ministry of Immigration saying it would not allow the Sierra Leone team to enter our jurisdiction.

"They are asking us to postpone the game for an indefinite period, so we feel it is right to forfeit now rather than drag it out."

Sierra Leone, who had led the tie 2-0 after last week's first leg, are now set to be awarded a place in the next stage of the qualifiers.

Chetty added: "Looking purely from a football point of view, I am extremely disappointed about the situation. The country has been more excited about this match than it has been for a long time."

Seychelles have informally registered their decision with the Confederation of African Football and will submit a written notice in the coming hours.

NFF CRISIS TAKES NEW TWIST

The crisis in Nigeria football is yet to simmer down as the chairmen of the state football associations have rejected the impeachment of Aminu Maigari as president of the nation's apex football body.

Impeached NFF President Alhaji Aminu Maigari

In spite the postponement of the emergency congress for Thursday in Abuja, delegates of the Nigeria Football Federation [NFF] Congress resolved "to reject the resolutions of any alleged board meeting of the executive committee not duly called and/or presided over by Alhaji Aminu Maigari as the incumbent president of the executive committee of the NFF until after the election of Tuesday 26th August, 2014."

The NFF under the current acting president, Mike Umeh, on Wednesday postponed the congress owing to "unforeseen circumstances" despite members of the congress arriving in time for the gathering billed for Thursday.

"As a result of unforeseen circumstances, the emergency Congress of NFF earlier proposed for Thursday, 31st July, 2014 but not convoked, will now be convened at a later date. Board apologized for any inconveniences caused members of the NFF Congress by the postponement," part of the statement from the NFF said.

But the delegates of the NFF congress made it clear in a pre-congress resolution that they are acting "in compliance with the requirements of Article 24 of the NFF Statutes - Quorum of the General Assembly and Article 25 of the NFF Statutes - Decisions of the General Assembly" that allows more than 50 per cent of the congress to rubberstamp or reject decisions by the NFF executive committee.

Supersport.com has been informed that 26 delegates of the 44 voting members of the NFF, which constitute more than 50 per cent required for taking valid decisions at the congress, signed a pre-congress resolution rejecting the removal of Maigari.

Serob Legacy Hotel in Abuja, where Thursday's congress was billed to hold before NFF postponed it, was taken over by security personnel thereby stopping any form of activities concerning the congress to take place.

Maigari is reported to have been quizzed by security operatives based on an alleged petition by the NFF on plans by the delegates to hold the congress in Abuja after it was postponed.

But 26 of the delegates, who are state FA chairmen, had already met and agreed in a pre-congress resolution.

"We the undersigned members of the General Assembly [the Congress] of the NFF being more than 50% of the congress [in compliance with the requirements of Article 24 of the NFF Statutes - Quorum of the General Assembly and Article 25 of the NFF Statutes - Decisions of the General Assembly] have in view of what we consider to be the continued flouting of the NFF Statutes and given the constraints of time that disallows us from giving the requisite notice to call an emergency congress before the elective congress slated for 26th August, 2014 met in preparation of the Emergency Congress slated for Thursday July 31st 2014 in Abuja and reviewed the situation that arose following the Jos legal action, Fifa notice of suspension, the subsequent withdrawal of the legal action and the resultant lifting of the Fifa suspension of our beloved country Nigeria," the state FA chairmen stated in their pre-resolution.

Minister Dr Tamuno Danagogo

The delegates explained that the impeachment of Maigari did not follow "the procedures and conditions precedent as provided in Article 35(3) of the NFF Statutes - Agenda for meetings and Article 37 of the NFF Statutes - Dismissal of a person or body."

The state FA chairmen also alleged that "a certain member of the NFF executive member has publicly alleged the falsification and wrongful use of his signature on the purported impeachment document."

They also dismissed "the allegation of financial misappropriation, misapplication and maladministration" levelled against Maigari by the NFF executive committee under the acting president, Mike Umeh.

"However, we also note that, pursuant to Article 28(j) of the NFF Statutes - approval of NFF financial statement by the General Assembly and Article 28(k) of the NFF Statutes - approval of the NFF budget by the General Assembly, the Aminu Maigari led NFF executive committee has at each Annual General Assembly [Kaduna 2011, Port Harcourt 2012 and Warri 2013] presented its consolidated annual audited accounts for the preceding year and proposed budget for the incoming year for approval by the congress.

"The most recent being the Annual General Assembly held in November, 2013 in Warri where the audited accounts for 2013 and the proposed budget for 2014 were unanimously approved with commendation. At no time during the NFF General Assembly throughout these proceeding years [2011, 2012 and 2013] did the NFF Finance Committee or the Internal Audit Committee or the External Auditors or the General Assembly raise any queries with regards to the financial activities of the federation led by Aminu Maigari," the statement said.

The delegates further stated that none of their members "have been served with the details of the motion of dismissal of Alhaji Aminu Maigari along with the justification as required by Article 37(2) of the NFF Statutes."

However the delegates rounded off in their pre-congress resolution that they will not recognise any other person than Maigari as president of the federation till the August 26 election into the NFF executive committee.

"In view of the foregoing, we therefore note and resolve to reject in its entirety the alleged dismissal of the president of the NFF, Alhaji Aminu Maigari and the appointment of an acting president of NFF in the person of Mr Mike Umeh, the current vice president of the NFF or any other person.

"We therefore resolve that the status quo as at July 1st, 2014 [the date prior to the Jos High Court injunction] be maintained and peace restored to the football house devoid of camps and factions and that anyone who wishes to change the leadership of the NFF should be patient and do so at the Elective General Congress fixed for Tuesday, 26th August, 2014 in line with NFF Statutes," the state FA chairmen said.

The delegates also included representatives of the Nigeria National League [NNL], Nigeria NationWide League [NNWL] and the Nigeria Referees Association [NRA].

On July 9, Fifa suspended Nigeria on account of government interference after a state High Court in Jos refrained Maigari, the NFF executive committee and congress from running football in the country leading to the appointment of a sole administrator by the sports minister, Dr Tamuno Danagogo.

Nine days later, Fifa lifted the suspension on Nigeria after the withdrawal of the court case against the NFF and reinstatement of the football federation's executive committee headed by Maigari.

© supersport.com

RONALDO COULD FACE MANCHESTER UNITED IN PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY

Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo is working hard to be fit and ready for the European Super Cup. 

Despite still exercising alone, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti can now start reintroducing him into team training and thinks he could even feature against Manchester United in their next game.

Cristiano Ronaldo could face Manchester United in pre-season friendly

Carlo Ancelotti surprised everyone during his press conference after the defeat to Roma by speaking about the Portuguese's recovery and describing his injury as "all but forgotten".

However, a competitive game like the European Super Cup on 12th August in Cardiff could still come too soon for a footballer who is only running and exercising with the ball right now.

Despite that, the player feels good. He has no pain in his knee and is going to continue with the recovery plan that his coach outlined to the media.

In any case, Cristiano Ronaldo has been advised not to rush his come-back despite there being silverware on the line in Cardiff on 12th August. Returning too quickly could just make things worse. He still has two weeks left until the game against Sevilla and has been with the squad for five days since arriving in Los Angeles after his holidays.

NEYMAR TO BE BACK IN ACTION BEFORE THE KICK-OFF OF LA LIGA NEW SEASON

Injured Brazilian playmaker, Neymar, is expected to be 100 per cent fit for Barcelona by the time the new Spanish La Liga campaign kicks off.

Barcelona's Neymar to be back in action before the kick-off of la liga new season

The Brazilian forward fractured his third lumbar vertebra during the FIFA World Cup quarter-final with Colombia after being challenged by Juan Camilo Zuniga and he was ruled out for the rest of the tournament.

Neymar was subsequently ruled out for the rest of the tournament, but the 22-year-old has told Japanese media he is now well on his way back to full fitness.

"I am recovering from the injury day by day. I'll be coming back to Barcelona 100 per cent fit," he is quoted as saying on Barcelona's official website. 

"I want to have a really good season and I'm looking forward to helping my team-mates to get some good results."

The 22-year-old is currently in Japan taking part in a series of promotional events and is due to return to Barca on 5 August. He is targeting the Joan Gamper Trophy match against Club Leon on 18 August, which is a week before the 2014-15 La Liga season begins.

Barcelona play Mexican side Leon in the friendly at the Nou Camp on 18 August, with the winners awarded a trophy named for the Catalan club's founder Joan Gamper. They begin their La Liga campaign at home to Elche the following weekend.

The Catalan giants ended last season without major silverware for the first time in six years and coach Gerardo Martino was sacked and replaced by former Spain and Barcelona midfielder Luis Enrique.

IVORIAN FA ANNOUNCE HERVE RENARD AS THE NEW COACH OF COTE D'IVOIRE

The Ivorian FA has announced Frenchman Herve Renard as the new coach of Cote d'ivoire national team on Thursday, succeeding fellow countryman Sabri Lamouchi, who resigned his position after they failed to progress from the group stage at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Frenchman Herve Renard has been named the new coach of Cote d'ivoire national team

Renard, 45, led Zambia to the 2012 CAF African Nations Cup title and was most recently coach of Sochaux, leaving in late May after confirmation of their relegation from French Ligue 1.

He was selected from a three-man shortlist which also included former Sporting and Benfica coach Jose Manuel De Jesus from Portugal and Frederic Antonetti, who formerly coached French side Rennes.

A statement from the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF-CI) on Twitter read: "Herve Renard will be the new coach of the national team of Cote d'Ivoire."

Many locals and editorialists had rooted for Ivorian Francois Zahoui, whose application was kicked out in the first phase of screening along with 32 other candidates who applied for the job.

“Zahoui was the clear choice of many Ivorians because he had a wonderful run at the 2012 Afcon,” Serge Kanga, editor-in-chief of sports daily Fanon told supersport.com.

“They have just brought in another foreign hand, who has been given objective to win titles. But what we really need is the development of our grassroots football and Zahoui was the best person because he knows the land in and out,” he said.

  The FA president said Renard had the best project and salary proposal and that it was the      best choice for the team .

Renard will face the challenge of reconditioning a waning team with aging players, a critical media and local fans, who are increasingly despondent about the future of their national team.

Renard signed a two-year contract which could be renewed depending on his performance, according to the Ivorian FA president Augustin Sidy Diallo.

MOURINHO: TORRES WILL NOT BE SOLD THIS SUMMER

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has told Sky Sports News in an exclusive interview that Fernando Torres will not be sold during this transfer window.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho says Fernando Torres will not be sold this summer

Torres became Chelsea’s record signing in 2011 when he joined from Liverpool for a fee of around £50million.

Mourinho has three strikers at his disposal this season following the recent arrival of Diego Costa and the return of Didier Drogba but the Chelsea boss insists each of the trio are essential to his squad.

"We have a good squad," Mourinho said.

"The perfect squad would be with this 18 players, not 17 or 16, but rules are rules and we are working hard, even here, for not to have these kind of problems in the future.

"(We want) to have more English players in our squad which we are going to have in the future but in this moment we are still in the middle of this process.

"So at the moment we have to make a decision about one player not to be on that list.”

And when asked whether this one player was Torres, the 51-year-old was quick to confirm the Spain international would be staying at Stamford Bridge:

"No. Three strikers is fundamental in a squad and we have three strikers; Fernando, Didier and Diego so one of them is not (going) for sure," he added.

Sky Sports News

NIGERIA'S EFE AMBROSE SENT OFF IN UCL

Nigeria international defender, Efe Ambrose,  was saw red as he was given the matching order by the centre referee in a match that saw the Scottish champions Celtic humiliated 4-1 by Legia Warsaw in the first leg of their Champions League qualifier in Poland on Wednesday night.

Ambrose shown a red card by the centre Referee

Ambrose received a straight red card for a challenge on Michal Kucharczyk just before half time in a game that also saw Legia miss two penalties.

Ambrose walks out of the pitch after receiving a red card

Celtic – who gave a debut to new signing Jo Inge Berget - had got off to the perfect start, Callum McGregor cutting in from the right to fire in a deflected long-range shot to open the scoring on just eight minutes. 

However, the home side were level just two minutes later when Miroslav Radovic drilled the ball through Fraser Forster's legs after slack defending by Adam Matthews.

Kris Commons blazed over the bar as Celtic sought to regain the initiative but Legia took the lead on 36 as Radovic scored his second after scooping Ondrej Duda’s headed knock-down over the line.

Ambrose gave a bad tackle that resulted into a red card

Ambrose’s dismissal added to Celtic’s problems and although they made it through to half time without conceding again, Legia dominated the second half.

Charlie Mulgrew's late tackle on Ondrej Duda just before the hour mark saw the first penalty of the night awarded – Ivica Vrdoljak missing the target.

But in the 84th minute Michal Zyro headed in the third before Mulgrew conceded another spot-kick with a trip on substitute Jakub Kosecki, Forster saving Vrdoljak’s spot-kick.

And Legia then added a late fourth in the final seconds when Kosecki latched on to a pass from Lukasz Broz, giving them a three goal advantage ahead of next week’s second leg at Murrayfield.

NFF AND KESHI YET TO REACH AGREEMENT

According to report from Supersport, the Nigeria Football Federation [NFF] and Stephen Keshi are yet to agree on the financial terms for the head coach role of the Super Eagles.

NFF and Stephen Keshi are yet to agree on the financial terms for the head coach role of the Super Eagles

Keshi, whose contract with Nigeria ran out after the 2014 Fifa World Cup finals in Brazil, is now expected to table his demands before the federation's executive committee.

A three-man committee has already opened talks with the former Mali and Togo manager and the football federation is now looking to "finalize and approve details of Keshi’s possible re–engagement within the shortest possible time."

"Following the report of a three–man committee appointed to open channels of communication with Mr Stephen Keshi on the probability of contract renewal for the Super Eagles’ Head Coach job, the Executive Committee approved that the Acting President (Mike Umeh) convene a meeting of the NFF Emergency Committee to approve/finalize details of Keshi’s possible re–engagement within the shortest possible time," the NFF said in a statement.

A member of the NFF technical committee, Paul Bassey, has revealed that a pay rise of 10 percent has been proposed for Keshi, who earned N5 million per month previously.

He also explained why Keshi's contract is being renewed.

“There is nothing wrong with renewing Keshi contract, at least for the sake of continuity. The NFF board said it wants to continue working with Keshi while Keshi has also said he is interested in coming back once his terms are met.

“We have also proposed a 10 per cent pay rise on his salary to motivate him. We are an advisory body, and we have advised the board to negotiate with Keshi on what is obtainable to them and acceptable to Keshi,” Bassey said.

Nigeria's Super Eagles are expected to begin the defence of their Africa Cup of Nations title in September when the qualification begins.

The African champions will start the qualifiers at home against either Botswana or Guinea Bissau on September 6 or 7. South Africa and Sudan are the other teams in Group A with Nigeria.

HOWARD WEBB BACKS THE USE OF VARNISHING SPRAY IN PREMIER LEAGUE

Referee Howard Webb and Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert are just two big names to have backed the introduction of vanishing spray into the Premier League.

Vanishing spray is to be used in the Premier League this term

This summer's World Cup was the first major tournament to include the use of the shaving foam-like spray, which has previously been used in South American leagues to mark out the 10-yard distance required for defensive walls at free-kicks.

Referee Howard Webb, who represented England at Brazil 2014, supported the decision. He said: "It's visual and it's easy to follow.

"As long as I remember that I've got it on my hip and I remember to use it in those important situations around the penalty area, then I think it's something that's useful."

Mike Riley, general manager of the Professional Game Match Officials Limited and a former referee, was one of those who recommended the use of the spray in the English top flight and said: "I saw first-hand the benefits of vanishing spray for referees, and for the game as a whole. The Select Group referees are looking forward to using it during Barclays Premier League matches next season."

QPR assistant manager Kevin Bond said of the move: "The referees and the officials need all the help they can get. They've got a really impossible job and I think that's a good start."

Leicester assistant manager Craig Shakespeare said: "I think it's a great idea. Watching it in the World Cup - I'd heard about it before but actually watching it in the World Cup.

"I've never met anyone that says it isn't a good idea so I'll be taking the shaving foam down to the training ground on Friday and trying it out!" 

Aston Villa manager Lambert also endorsed the introduction of the spray and highlighted the positive effect it had on games at the World Cup. He added: "I think it's going to be a really good thing and I thnk the World Cup proved that."

Sky Sports

GERARD SAYS HE TOLD SUAREZ HE WAS TOO GOOD FOR ARSENAL

Steven Gerrard has revealed he told Luis Suarez to stay at Liverpool last season as he was too good for Arsenal.

Steven Gerrard persuaded Luis Suarez to snub Arsenal move

Suarez, who left Anfield for Barcelona earlier this month in a £75million deal, was linked with a move to Premier League rivals Arsenal last summer after they tabled a £40m bid for his services.

However, Liverpool managed to keep hold of the Uruguay international and Gerrard has admitted he played a key role in persuading Suarez to snub the overtures of the Gunners.

Gerrard admits he is sad to see Suarez leave Anfield, but holds no grudges against last season's top scorer for making the move to Spanish giants Barcelona.

"His dream all along from the first day he came was to play for Real Madrid or Barcelona," said Gerrard

"Last summer when he was out in the cold and training on his own that's the conversation I had with him. I said, 'Don't go to Arsenal'.

"With all due respect to them, I said to him that he was too good for Arsenal.

"I said, 'If you score 30 goals for us and win the PFA Player of the Year, the press Player of the Year, they (Barca and Madrid) will come back for you'.

"I have experience of those clubs myself and I know if you play well they will come back and come back. So I knew they'd be back for him as well.

"I just thought for his own sake, and to get respect off the Liverpool fans, he had to give us at least one year."

"My big dream was to play for Liverpool, and the foreign players' big dream is to play for Real Madrid or Barcelona - that's a fact.

"For me, I would have been really sad and disappointed to see Luis go to Arsenal.

"I'm disappointed to see him leave now but I am happy for him that's he has got what he wants and deserves.

"Since day one he has been phenomenal in training every day and in the games.

"His wife is from Barcelona and I don't think you can begrudge a player like that who has worked so hard for his dream.

"You can't go against him when he says he is leaving for Barcelona, but I'd have been disappointed if he had left and gone to Arsenal."

Sky Sports

BLATTER MOURN HUMBERTO GRONDONA

Julio Humberto Grondona, President of the Argentinian Football Association (AFA) and Senior Vice-President of FIFA, passed away on Wednesday 30 July in Buenos Aires after being hospitalised with cardiac failure. He was 82. 

Julio Humberto Grondona, President of the Argentinian Football Association (AFA) and Senior Vice-President of FIFA, passed away at the age of 82.

FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter expressed his dismay at the news, stating, “I feel a great personal sense of loss, because he was a lifelong friend. But it is also a huge blow for FIFA as an organisation, as he was one of its key figures.”

Grondona, who began his career as a football executive by founding Sarandi-based Arsenal in 1956, was named head of the AFA on 6 April 1979, a position he held until his death, a lengthy tenure that demonstrated his importance within the game in Argentina. He also served as President of Independiente between 1976 and 1981.

A member of FIFA’s Executive Committee since 1988, his previous duties included chairing the governing body’s Finance Committee, in addition to his role of Senior Vice-President. “On behalf of FIFA, I would like to extend our sincere condolences to Julio’s family,” said President Blatter.

© FIFA

MOURINHO SOLD LUKAKU DUE TO HIS ATTITUDE

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho says Romelu Lukaku's attitude was the reason he let the striker move to Everton.

 Mourinho says Lukaku wanted to be clearly the first choice striker in Chelsea

The Belgium international completed a £28m transfer to the Toffees on Wednesday, the club he spent last season on loan at, but not before Mourinho offered his take on the situation.

"The thinking behind the move was the fact that Romelu was always very clear with us, in his mentality, in his approach, he was not highly motivated to come to a competitive situation at Chelsea," said Mourinho.

"He wanted to play for Chelsea but he wanted to be clearly the first choice striker, which in a club of our dimension, it is very difficult to promise to a player.

"That reduced immediately his desire to come to us. Everton came in with an important offer. It is the reality of our club that we want to do things really well and to always be inside the rules (of the Financial Fair Play regulations).

"Financial Fair Play is always behind the thoughts of the Chelsea board and when you have the chance to create a positive impact in Financial Fair Play, Chelsea always analyse these situations."

The Chelsea manager was also keen to emphasis he has nothing against Lukaku and wished him well on his permanent move to Goodison Park for a club-record fee for Roberto Martinez's side.

"The important thing is he is happy and things work out for him. He is a good kid," added Mourinho.

"The only thing we can do is wish him well."

LIVERPOOL BEAT MANCHESTER CITY IN PRE-SEASON

Liverpool beat Premier League champions Manchester City in a pre-season friendly via penalty shootout  in New York after the two teams had drawn 2-2 in 90 minutes.

After a scoreless first half in the friendly at baseball's Yankee Stadium in front of almost 50,000 fans, striker Stevan Jovetic gave City the lead.

Jovetic scores for Manchester City

Midfielder Jordan Henderson equalised before Jovetic struck again, but winger Raheem Sterling levelled.

Jordan Henderson equalize for Liverpool

Raheem Sterling levelled for Liverpool

Simon Mignolet then pulled off a pair of saves in the shoot-out to give the Reds 3-1 win on penalties in front of a crowd of 49,653.

The win put Liverpool on top of Group B in the International Champions Cup and they move on to play AC Milan on Saturday, with the possibility of a final against Manchester United to follow.

The Yankee Stadium spectators were served up an entertaining encounter between the top two teams in England last season and City new boy Willy Caballero produced a great save in the first half to keep out a close-range Rickie Lambert header.

At the other end, Brad Jones saved a low Jesus Navas effort and Edin Dzeko had a goal ruled out for offside.

Manchester City took the lead in the 53rd minute when the lively Navas made progress down the right and sent over a low cross which Jovetic converted at the near post, after Steven Gerrard was unable to clear.

But Liverpool responded just six minutes later, Henderson conjuring up a delightful curling finish after the ball ran loose when Sterling tried to find Daniel Sturridge.

In the 67th minute, Jovetic quickly restored City’s lead, poking the ball past Mignoelet after a deflected shot fell perfectly for him.

However, Liverpool pressed strongly in the closing stages and, with just five minutes left to play, Lucas cleverly set up Sterling with a cushioned pass and the England man’s excellent finish set up spot-kicks.

Manchester City were far from clinical with their penalties, Aleksandar Kolarov punting their first over the bar, although he was reprieved when Sturridge did likewise.

But Mignolet then saved well from Yaya Toure and Navas, while Emre Can and Henderson converted.

Simon Mignolet celebrate after he pulled off a saves

Manchester City finally found the net when youngster Kelechi Iheanacho stepped up but Lucas then sent Joe Hart the wrong way to win it for Liverpool.

Lucas celebrate after converting the last penalty that gave Liverpool victory

Liverpool players celebrate their win over Manchester City

Manchester City's goalkeerper Joe Hart held the Toure brothers

CHELSEA BEAT VITESSE ARNHEM IN PRE-SEASON

Chelsea continued with their unbeaten run in pre-season as they defeated Vitesse Arnhem 3-1 on Wednesday night.

Having opened his Chelsea goal scoring account on Sunday, Diego Costa turned provider in the Netherlands, laying on two of the goals as we beat Vitesse Arnhem 3-1.

Diego Costa gets past Jan-Arie van der Heijden of Vitesse during the pre-season friendly

Costa, who scored his first goal for Chelsea in their 2-1 win over Olimpija Ljubljana on Sunday, took just three minutes to notch his first assist of the evening at the Gelderdome.

The deadlock was broken with virtually the first attack of the game as Costa raced on to a Nemanja Matic pass and slipped the ball into the path of Mohamed Salah, who couldn’t miss.

Former Barcelona player, Cesc Fabregas scored his first goal for Chelsea and it happens to be the goal of the night midway through the first half, curling a wonderful free-kick into the back of the net, with Matic finishing easily from another Costa pass 16 minutes from time.

Cesc Fabregas nicely convert the free-kick to record his first goal for Chelsea

The home side managed a consolation goal in the last minute when Uros Djurdjevic headed past substitute goalkeeper Mitchell Beeney who replaced Petr Cech earlier in the second half. 

With the victory, Chelsea made it four wins out of five in pre-season.

Two of Vitesse's starting line-up, Wallace and Bertrand Traore, are on loan from Chelsea, who frequently send players to the Dutch club.

CELTIC EMBARRASSED BY LEGIA WARSAW IN UCL

Scottish champions Celtic were embarrassed by Legia Warsaw in the first leg of their Champions League qualifier after a miserable display in Poland on Wednesday night that saw two missed penalties and a red card.

It could have been even worse for Celtic had Fraser Forster not saved a penalty

Celtic had taken an early lead in Poland with a curling shot into the top corner from Callum McGregor.

However, Miroslav Radovic scored twice, and it got worse before half-time when Efe Ambrose was sent off.

Efe Ambrose was sent off for Celtic in the first half

Ivica Vrdoljak twice missed from the penalty spot, but Michal Zyro and Jakub Kosecki both found the net late on.

If it was not for some heroic goalkeeping by Fraser Forster, this could have been a real embarrassment.

As it is, their hopes of progress are very much in the balance, needing to win at least 3-0, but the away goal and the balanced nature of the match in the first half will give Ronny Deila belief his side can turn the tie round.

However, the disjointed nature of Celtic's performance and their lack of ability to close the game down after being reduced to 10 men must be a concern.

There was no sign of the chaotic manner in which the game would unfold when McGregor added to his burgeoning reputation as he opened the scoring, just as he had in Iceland in the previous round.

The goal had a similar feel about it too as he cut in from the right before beating the goalkeeper at his near post, this time with a curling shot beyond the fingertips of the diving Dusan Kuciak.

But Celtic let the lead slip almost as soon as they had created it.

Radovic was allowed space inside the box and his well-hit effort was too powerful for Forster to keep out.

The game was extremely open, with neither defence looking entirely comfortable and more goals seemed a certainty.

And though Kris Commons and Teemu Pukki went close for Celtic it was the home side who took the lead.

Again Celtic's back-line - and Ambrose in particular - looked vulnerable and when Ondrej Duda headed across goal, Radovic was unmarked and gleefully slid in to beat Forster from close range.

McGregor forced a decent save from Kuciak but there was further bad news for Celtic to contend with before the interval.

As Michal Kucharczyk bore down on goal, Ambrose attempted to get a toe to the ball only to bring down the Legia man, leaving the referee a straightforward decision to brandish the red card.

Ambrose's departure meant Charlie Mulgrew dropped back to defence and it was the captain's careless challenge on Lukasz Broz that led to Legia being awarded a penalty.

But as the few Celtic fans in the stadium began to sense their Champions League dreams fading, they were granted a brief reprieve as Vrdoljak sent the spot-kick wide.

Legia pressed hard for the goals they hoped would put the tie beyond Celtic and Zyro rounded off an impressive performance with a headed goal following great work by the excellent Radovic.

Forster then saved a Vrdoljak penalty but in injury time substitute Kosecki added a fourth, to leave Celtic needing a monumental performance at Murrayfield next Wednesday if they are to avoid a place in the Europa League play-offs.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - QUALIFYING - THIRD ROUND (FIRST LEG) RESULTS

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - QUALIFYING - THIRD ROUND (FIRST LEG) RESULTS
Wednesday 30th July 2014

Aktobe 2-2 Steaua Bucharest

FK Qarabag 2-1 FC Red Bull Salzburg

AEL Limassol 1-0 Zenit St Petersburg

Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk 0-0 FC Copenhagen

HJK Helsinki 2-2 Apoel Nicosia

Grasshoppers Zürich 0-2 Lille

Feyenoord 1-2 Besiktas

Ludogorets Razgrad 0-0 Partizan Belgrade

Standard Liège 0-0 Panathinaikos

Aalborg BK 0-1 Dinamo Zagreb

NK Maribor 1-0 Maccabi Tel Aviv

Legia Warsaw 4-1 Celtic

DAVID TREZEGUET SIGNS FOR INDIAN SUPER LEAGUE CLUB

Former France striker David Trezeguet has signed for Indian Super League outfit FC Pune City, as confirmed by the league on its official Twitter account. 

David Trezeguet signs for Indian Super League outfit FC Pune City

The former Monaco, Juventus and Hércules striker will play under much-travelled Italian coach Franco Colomba, whose highest-profile job came at Napoli back in 2002-03, at the newly formed franchise.

Trezeguet found himself frozen out at River Plate, the club he supported during his childhood in Buenos Aires, despite initial remarks by new manager Marcelo Gallardo suggesting he could be handed a lifeline. 

The 36-year-old's rift with River talisman and fellow forward Fernando Cavenaghi may have ultimately led to his departure.

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE TO USE VARNISHING SPRAY FOR THE NEW SEASON

The Premier League has announced that the vanishing spray will be introduced in the English Premier League next season following its success at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

The vanishing spray will be introduced in the English Premier League next season

The use of vanishing spray was one of the big talking points to emerge from the World Cup in Brazil this summer when it was used by referees to mark out a distance of 10 yards for defensive walls at free-kicks in order to prevent encroachment and speed up play.

UEFA has already decided to adopt it for Champions League and Europa League games this season and the Premier League has now followed suit. 

The Premier League had said it did not plan to introduce the spray until it had monitored it in other competitions.

But chief executive Richard Scudamore said the Premier League was "open to developments".

He explained: "It was clear from watching the 2014 Fifa World Cup in Brazil that vanishing spray benefited referees, players, and all of those who watched the matches.

"Following consultation with our clubs and the Professional Game Match Officials Limited [the refereeing body], we have decided to introduce it in the Premier League and look forward to having it in place for the 2014-15 season."

The spray, which has been used for several seasons in the Brazilian and Argentine leagues, will also be used in next season's Champions League.

It evaporates about a minute after being administered from a canister by the match official and helps prevent players from stealing ground at free-kicks.

PGMOL general manager Mike Riley, said: "As an assessor at the World Cup, I saw first-hand the benefits of vanishing spray for referees, and for the game as a whole."

The spray will not be used yet by the Football League, which intends to hold trials of its effectiveness in next season's Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

Football League chief executive Shaun Harvey said: "The introduction of vanishing spray into the Johnstone's Paint Trophy will give us the opportunity to observe its use in domestic football so that we can better understand its effect on the flow of the game."