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Messi out to end Argentina misery

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Lionel Messi will play his 100th match for Argentina against Jamaica in the Copa America but it will be a century marked by too many tears and no titles.

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Lionel Messi will play his 100th match for Argentina against Jamaica in the Copa America but it will be a century marked by too many tears and no titles.

Silverware envy has followed the little genius wherever he goes at the tournament in Chile where he will also celebrate his 28th birthday next week.

“I'm very happy to reach this record. Hopefully I can celebrate another victory and once and for all lift a cup,” the Barcelona striker said in an interview published on Thursday by Argentinian daily La Nacion.

Messi, Sergio Aguero, Carlos Tevez and the rest of the Argentina squad have been sent across the Andes on a mission to end 22 years without a major title since the country won the Copa America in 1993.

His extraordinary debut against Hungary on August 17, 2005 set the scene for an international career in total contrast to his success as a Barcelona player which has seen him win four world player of the year awards, four Champions League titles, seven Spanish league titles and three Copas del Rey.

The 18-year-old Messi came on as a second-half substitute against Hungary and a minute later was marching off again after getting a red card for elbowing opposing defender Vilmos Vanczak.

Team-mates went into the dressing room at the end and found Messi crying in a corner, Argetinian media reported at the time.

Since then, his 99 games for Argentina have produced 46 goals. It is an impressive return, but pales in comparison to his record of 412 goals in 482 games for Barcelona.

Nevertheless, Messi seems certain to eventually go on and beat Javer Zanetti's record of 145 caps for Argentina and Gabriel Batistuta's record of 56 goals.

Messi won the under-20 World Cup in 2005 and an Olympics football gold at the 2008 Beijing Games. He is now estimated to earn more than $70 million a year but there is no Copa America and no World Cup to his name.

Messi was in the Argentinian team beaten by Brazil in the 2007 Copa America final in Venezuela and by Uruguay in the quarter-finals of the 2011 tournament on home soil. In 12 games at the Copa he has scored just three goals.

There has been more heartbreak in the World Cup.

In 2006, he scored on his World Cup debut in a 6-0 demolition of Serbia and Montenegro. But Argentina were beaten by Germany on penalties in the quarter-finals.

In 2010, with Diego Maradona as coach, Argentina were among the favourites but lost again in the quarter-finals, again to Germany. There were more tears for Messi.

Last year, Messi scored four goals as Argentina pushed through to the World Cup final in Rio de Janeiro's Marcana Stadium. But with one foot in the gates of glory, Messi saw Mario Goetze score a 113th-minute winner and Germany again ruined his day.

Messi knows that he can be the most brilliant player, waltz around countless defenders, but he will not overtake Maradona as the legend of the Argentinian game until he get his hand on a trophy with his country.

The 99 games for Argentina have been “an amazing experience” but “unfortunately without a title,” he said. – AFP

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Sterling in new laughing gas saga

Raheem Sterling has allegedly been caught on camera inhaling nitrous oxide, just months after being warned about his conduct by Brendan Rodgers.

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Raheem Sterling has allegedly been caught on camera inhaling nitrous oxide, just three months after being warned about his conduct by Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers.

The 20-year-old was filmed on a yacht in Ibiza where it appears he is inhaling the substance — known as laughing gas — through a balloon.

In the latest footage, the England international can be seen laughing and dancing on holiday with male and female friends, according to The Sun. It is an entirely legal practice, but after similar footage emerged in April, Rodgers warned that he did not think a professional footballer should be doing it. Sterling was also pictured smoking a shisha pipe. Rodgers said at the time: ‘Young players make mistakes, as long as they learn from them, that is what is important. I don’t think it is something you should be doing, it’s as simple as that. We want players here who are super-professional and focused on their football.’

It is illegal to sell nitrous oxide to those under 18 in England and Wales. Stephen Ream, from drugs charity Re-Solv, said: ‘As an international footballer, there are concerns about the message his behaviour is sending out.’

Liverpool declined to comment yesterday.

Of course, Sterling may not be a Liverpool player when he returns from his holiday, with Manchester City intent on signing him — though they have had a £40million bid rejected.

Meanwhile, Martin Skrtel has ended speculation about his future and agreed a new deal at Anfield. The Slovakian defender, who has been at Liverpool since January 2008, had entered into the final 12 months of his contract and had been at loggerheads over the terms. He described one offer as ‘unacceptable’.

During the impasse in discussions, he had been a target for Inter Milan, but Skrtel is now ready to sign a deal when he returns from his holidays.

Liverpool, who are due back in training on July 6, also expect to complete the signing of Charlton and England Under 19 defender Joe Gomez. He is due to have a medical on Merseyside today.

Nathaniel Clyne should also move to Anfield now that Southampton have signed a replacement right back in Cederic Soares, on a four-year deal. Liverpool’s opening bid for Clyne, somewhere below £10million, was rejected. – Daily Mail

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Provisional one-game ban for Neymar

Brazil's Neymar and Colombia striker Carlos Bacca have been provisionally suspended for one match after being sent off in their teams' Copa America clash.

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Santiago - Brazil's Neymar and Colombia striker Carlos Bacca have been provisionally suspended for one match after being sent off in their teams' Copa America clash, organisers said on Thursday.

Wednesday's Group C match in Santiago, which Colombia won 1-0, was marred by scuffles involving most of the players at the final whistle and Chilean referee Enrique Osses showed Neymar and Bacca the red card.

The tournament's disciplinary tribunal has given the Brazilian and Colombian football federations 24 hours to prepare a case for their defence and definite sanctions will be announced on Friday.

Neymar will miss Brazil's last group match against Venezuela on Sunday and Bacca will be unavailable for Colombia when they meet Peru the same day.

Brazil and Colombia were tied on three points apiece after two matches, level with Venezuela who were playing Peru in their second match later on Thursday. – Reuters

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Fifa probe: Argentines surrender

Businessmen Hugo and Mariano Jinkis have turned themselves in to authorities in Buenos Aires.

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Buenos Aires - Argentine businessmen Hugo and Mariano Jinkis, who are wanted by US prosecutors as part of the Fifa bribery investigation, turned themselves in to authorities in Buenos Aires on Thursday.

Hugo Jinkis, 70, and his son, 40, were among 14 current and former Fifa officials and corporate executives indicted in the United States last month on charges of racketeering and corruption that shocked many in the soccer world.

US prosecutors say the two, together with Argentine Alejandro Burzaco, conspired to win and keep lucrative media rights contracts from regional soccer by paying tens of millions of dollars in bribes.

Burzaco surrendered to police in northern Italy last week.

“They have presented themselves to the authorities, in line with the law,” Hugo Jinkis' lawyer Jorge Anzorreguy told reporters.

Argentine news agency DyN said the two were taken to a police station in Buenos Aires after turning themselves in at a local court. It was not clear if they would face immediate demands for their extradition to the United States.

“As a matter of longstanding policy, we do not comment on extradition matters,” a spokeswoman for the US Embassy in Buenos Aires said.

Only one of the 14 people indicted in the United States still remains at large. A lawyer for the suspect, Brazilian broadcast executive Jose Margulies, said earlier this week that he had returned to Brazil and was preparing to fight extradition.

The Argentine tax authority has denounced all three Argentine suspects for “tax evasion, illicit fiscal association and money laundering”.

Burzaco was president of Argentine sports marketing firm Torneos y Competencias when he was charged. Hugo and Mariano Jinkis are controlling principals of Full Play, another sports media and marketing business headquartered in Argentina.

Reuters

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Olympiakos chairman released on bail

The chairman of Greek champion Olympiakos has been suspended from sporting activities and released on bail.

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Athens - The chairman of Greek champion Olympiakos has been suspended from sporting activities and released on bail after testifying at an investigation into alleged corruption in Greek football.

Court officials say Vangelis Marinakis has been ordered to appear twice a month at his local police station as part of the conditions of his bail, which was granted after testifying Thursday for more than five hours.

The bail was set at 200 000 euros.

Prosecutors are investigating allegations that Marinakis led a criminal organisation that instigated bribes and blackmail attempts to try and fix results in the top flight of the Greek league.

Marinakis denies the allegations, accusing rival clubs of making false claims against him.

The investigation is ongoing and no decision has been made on whether Marinakis will stand trial.

ANA-AP

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Neymar - Barca hero, Brazil zero

Neymar’s needless sending off at the Copa America against Colombia means he may have played his last game at the tournament.

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A little under two weeks ago Neymar netted the goal that wrapped up Barcelona's Champions League triumph against Juventus but his needless sending off at the Copa America on Wednesday means the Brazil forward may have played his last game at the tournament.

Neymar was shown a red card at the end of their 1-0 Group C defeat to Colombia after he became involved in scuffles between the South American rivals and will miss Sunday's match against Venezuela and probably at least one more game.

The 23-year-old had earlier been booked for a handball and he complained afterwards that he was being victimised by match officials and criticised Chilean referee Enrique Osses, who also dismissed Colombia forward Carlos Bacca after the melee.

“They have to use the rules against me,” Neymar told reporters. “The ball hit me on the hand unintentionally and I got a yellow.

“This is what happens when you put in a weak referee. There was a misunderstanding but there was no need to send everyone off. I didn't even see that he had expelled me.”

The defeat was Brazil's first in 12 matches and the first game coach Dunga had failed to win since taking over following the 2014 World Cup finals.

It left Colombia and Brazil tied at the top of Group C on three points along with Venezuela, who have played one game fewer and meet Peru later on Thursday.

Neymar admitted he had a poor game against Colombia but said he was confident his team mates would get the result they needed against Venezuela and seal a place in the last eight.

“I admit we were not good and that I did not play well,” he said. “I take full responsibility.”

Neymar had a superb second season at Barca, helping the Catalan giants win a treble of Champions League, La Liga and King's Cup titles. – Reuters

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You must have ambition - Komphela

New Amakhosi coach Steve Komphela is under no illusion that he’s got big shoes to fill.

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Johannesburg – Steve Komphela is under no illusion that he’s got big shoes to fill.

Following Stuart Baxter’s impressive run at Kaizer Chiefs, which saw him win two league titles, the Nedbank Cup as well as the MTN8 in the three years he had spent with the club, the former Bafana Bafana assistant coach believes he’s got what it takes to step up to the challenge.

Komphela was announced as Amakhosi’s new head coach yesterday at Naturena on a three year deal following his resignation as Maritzburg United’s coach on Monday.

Komphela admitted that joining Chiefs was one of the more difficult decisions he had to make, having led the Team of Choice to their first top eight finish last season. But Komphela felt that this was the time to move on to new challenges.

“This was the most difficult decision I had to make but yet it felt right,” he said. “They say the greatest growth takes place in the most uncomfortable spaces. One must be comfortable with discomfort. And the challenges which lie ahead must give me comfort in that I’m comfortable in being uncomfortable.

“There’s a saying: ‘To whom much is given, much is expected’. I’m looking forward to this historic, yet great challenge. I’m looking forward to donning that golden jersey again and working with the players because that’s where I’m most comfortable.”

Komphela, however, will also take pride in the fact that he is the first black South African coach to be appointed as the Glamour Boys’ head coach in the PSL era. He was an assistant coach under Mushin Ertugral back in 2000-2002. And now as head coach, the 47-year-old understands that anything less than winning trophies at his new club will be regarded as a failure.

“It’s a massive challenge. I’ve sat down with the chairman and he took me through some of the things which are expected of me (going into the season). And that made me understand the ambition the club has going into the new season.

“At Chiefs, you’ve got to have that ambition of winning league titles. Anything less is unacceptable. I don’t want people walking up to me in filling stations telling me that I’m at the wrong place. And so, you must have that ambition to deliver with Chiefs. It comes with the job”.

Chiefs chairman Kaizer Motaung explained why the club had not opted to hire a black South African coach before.

“Not that black coaches were not welcomed at the club previously, they were,” Motaung said. “It’s just that there weren’t available coaches back then who where capable of taking the coaching job here at Chiefs. In the past we had to go further than South Africa to hire coaches who we believed were suitable to take the job”. - Cape Times

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Hoewdes snubs Arsenal, Milan

Schalke captain Benedikt Hoewedes has snubbed offers from Arsenal and AC Milan as he will rather stay at the Bundesliga club.

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Gelsenkirchen, Germany – Schalke captain Benedikt Hoewedes has snubbed offers from Arsenal and AC Milan as he will not make use of a buyout clause and rather stay at the Bundesliga club.

The Germany defender Hoewedes told Thursday’s edition of Kicker sports magazine that “these two clubs were really interested. But in the end my gut feeling was to stay at Schalke.”

Hoewedes, 27, has been at Schalke since 2007 but could have left for 17 million euros (19.1 million dollars) in summer.

Schalke failed to qualify for the Champions League as they came a modest sixth last season but Hoewedes said that he is optimistic for the future after talks with new coach Andre Breitenreiter and sports director Horst Heldt.

He said both gave him “a very positive feeling that we are developing something here and can achieve something worthy of Schalke.” – DPA-ANA

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Bafana out to improve Chan record

Bafana Bafana will be looking to improve their record at the 2016 African Nations Championships (Chan).

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Johannesburg – Bafana Bafana will be looking to improve their record at the 2016 African Nations Championships (Chan), but first they will have to take on Mauritius in a qualifying match at Dobsonville Stadium, on Saturday.

Since the biennial tournament began in 2009, Bafana have participated twice and reached the quarterfinals in 2011. They did not manage to make it out of the group stages in 2014, when they hosted the tournament.

The event is unique in that only players who participate in the nations’ local football league can be eligible for selection.

Mashaba will be without several players as they will have to return to their overseas clubs. Mashaba is expected to call up replacements.

“We need to make additions because we are going to lose six or seven foreign-based players,” said Mashaba.

“We need to add up to make a squad of 18. For the Chan qualifier they need 18 players, but we need 22 players in the camp to make sure that if anything comes up, we are covered.

“All the current local-based players are staying in the squad for Saturday’s game.”

Despite leaving the field with an injury in last week’s goalless draw against Gambia in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Durban, midfielder Oupa Manysia has recovered and will be available for selection.

If Bafana win they will move to the next stage of qualifying, the first round, they will then face the winner between Swaziland and Angola with the first leg scheduled for weekend of October 16.

The second leg will take place the following weekend. - ANA

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Neymar waits to learn his fate

Brazil’s Neymar faces a nervous wait to discover his Copa America fate after getting sent off in a post-match fracas against Colombia.

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Brazil captain Neymar faces a nervous wait to discover his Copa America fate after getting sent off in a post-match fracas as the five-time world champions crashed to a 1-0 defeat against Colombia on Wednesday.

Neymar risks a two-match suspension – ruling him out of Brazil's final group game and the quarter-finals -- after appearing to aim a headbutt at Colombia goalscorer Jeison Murillo following the final whistle.

Tournament disciplinary chiefs are expected to confirm the length of Neymar's suspension on Thursday, but reports in the Brazilian media said the 23-year-old Barcelona star faces a two-game ban.

The striker had already picked up his second yellow card of the tournament for a deliberate handball – automatically ruling him out of Sunday's final Group C match with Venezuela – when referee Enrique Osses showed him a straight red.

Neymar was scathing of the match officials after Brazil slumped to their first loss to the Colombians in 24 years.

“In my view the rules are always used against me,” Neymar told Brazilian media, criticizing Osses' decision to caution him for a handball in the first half.

“I was off balance, the ball hit my hand but it was not intentional. They put a weak referee in there to whistle up for all that. The team didn't play well.”

Brazil coach Dunga also laid blame at Osses' door after the defeat, which complicates his team's route to the knockout rounds.

“He allowed rough play and provocation and then we had the lamentable scenes at the end,” Dunga complained.

Neymar's Brazil and Barcelona team-mate Dani Alves lashed out at Chilean following the defeat.

“Referees have to stop thinking that they are the stars, the stars are not them – they are there to control the game,” Alves fumed.

“We are used to this in South America – everyone here is against Brazil.”

Alves also accused Colombia's players of seeking to provoke Neymar, 12 months after the striker suffered a broken vertebra during the two teams' stormy World Cup quarter-final battle.

“They know the personality of Neymar and they went in search of him,” he said. “They tried to provoke him and make him nervous.”

But victory was sweet for Colombia, who were subjected to rough-house tactics from Brazil last year during the World Cup in a 2-1 quarter-final exit, a match scarred by a whopping 54 fouls.

“We had a great gameplan and it worked today,” said Colombia's Real Madrid star James Rodriguez.

“Four days ago we lost to Venezuela when we played well, tonight we played well and beat Brazil, sometimes it happens like that.”

A pulsating opening 45 minutes saw Colombia gradually get on top after a frantic start dominated by defense.

Brazil, who brought in Thiago Silva at center-back in place of David Luiz, defended in depth throughout, dropping back in numbers and frustrating Colombia's attack.

Colombia also gave no quarter, with defensive midfielder Carlos Sanchez breaking up Brazil's attacks in midfield and restricting the five-time world champions to hardly any shots on goal.

Colombia slowly began to get the better of their opponents however, and soon started to threaten.

A Sanchez shot deflected just wide of Brazilian defender Miranda just after the half-hour mark and then on 36 minutes the breakthrough came.

Juan Cuadrado's teasing free-kick from the right flank dropped into the area and when Brazil failed to clear, Murillo was on hand to rifle in a low shot past Jefferson.

Chelsea star Cuadrado might have doubled Colombia's lead on 43 minutes but wastefully shot wide after being teed up by Teo Gutierrez's deft backheel.

Brazil went for broke in the second half, bringing on Liverpool attacking midfielder Philippe Coutinho for Fred, and immediately looked more threatening as a result.

But they squandered a golden chance to equalize on 58 minutes when Bundesliga-based striker Roberto Firmino missed an open goal.

The ball ended up with Firmino after Ospina made a hash of a clearance. But with an open goal begging, Firmino – reportedly a summer transfer target for Liverpool – blazed over the bar.– AFP

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Reds reject second City bid for Raheem

Liverpool rejected a £40million bid from Manchester City for Raheem Sterling, leaving his camp fearing there won't be another offer.

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Liverpool rejected a £40million bid from Manchester City for Raheem Sterling, leaving his camp fearing there will not be another offer.

And after seeing his club’s nightmare run of away games to start next season, the England man might be more desperate to leave Anfield than ever.

The 2015-16 season fixtures were released yesterday and Liverpool must travel to five of last season’s top six — as well as Merseyside rivals Everton — in their first seven Premier League away games.

It is understood City continue to look at other English options such as Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere and Aston Villa’s Fabian Delph, if they cannot get 20-year-old Sterling. If City do come back for him it seems they are going to have to pay above their valuation, and somewhere near Liverpool’s asking price of £50m.

Wednesday’s bid was understood to be £35m cash and £5m in add-ons, something that flew in the face of Liverpool’s desire for a 100 per cent cash up front deal.

City are in dire need of English players as they look to meet Uefa criteria and will sign 18-year-old Fulham forward Patrick Roberts in the coming days. He is expected to go straight into City’s Under 21 development squad.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, meanwhile, has a tricky start to the season to contend with and it is perhaps the prospect of a return to Stoke City on the opening day which could prove most daunting.

Rodgers saw his side beaten 6-1 at the Britannia Stadium on the final day of last season to leave him clinging to his job, and he knows he can ill-afford a stuttering start this time around.

Elsewhere, Chelsea kick off their title defence at home to Swansea before travelling to last season’s runners-up, Manchester City, on the second weekend.Louis van Gaal faces a fairly comfortable August, with Manchester United’s trickiest test in their opener at home to Tottenham.– Daily Mail

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Brazil lose, Neymar sees red

Colombia beat Brazil at the Copa America in a game marred by ugly scenes at the final whistle that saw Neymar and Carlos Bacca shown red cards.

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Santiago - A first-half goal from Jeison Murillo gave Colombia a 1-0 win over Brazil at the Copa America in a game marred by ugly scenes at the final whistle that saw Neymar and Carlos Bacca shown red cards.

The defeat was Brazil's first in 12 matches and the first game coach Dunga had failed to win since taking over following their disastrous 2014 World Cup.

The scrappy game threw up few clear chances but Colombia put away the one that mattered to get the win over their illustrious rivals and record only their second victory in 10 Copa America encounters against the five-times world champions.

Colombia were the better side throughout with defender Murillo seizing on a loose ball to get the all-important goal nine minutes before half time after a Juan Cuadrado free kick had bobbled around in the box.

Scuffles broke out at the end of the match and Neymar and Bacca were both shown red cards. The Brazilian had already been given a yellow and will miss Brazil's next match against Venezuela and probably at least one more game.

The striker was a different man from the one who turned on the style in previous matches for club and country and his team mates blamed the referee for singling him out.

“Referees need to show Neymar more respect,” Willian told television reporters after the game. “He is always being targeted.”

Brazil's Roberto Firmino should have equalised 13 minutes into the second half but he skied a golden chance over the bar with the goal gaping.

The result leaves Colombia and Brazil tied at the top of Group C along with Venezuela, who play Peru on Thursday. – Reuters

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Vidal offers tearful apology

Chilean football star Arturo Vidal made a tearful apology after he saw his driver's license suspended for crashing his Ferrari while driving under the influence.

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Chilean football star Arturo Vidal made a tearful apology after he saw his driver's license suspended for crashing his Ferrari while driving under the influence, but he remained on the national team.

After spending the night in jail, the Juventus midfielder appeared in court in Santiago, where the judge freed him from custody but suspended his license and ordered him to report to the Chilean consulate in Milan every month under the terms of his release.

Vidal, who is home from Italy playing with the Chilean national team in the Copa America, collided with another car late Tuesday as he and his wife, Maria Teresa Matus, returned from a night out at a casino.

The accident has upended the South American championship in Chile, where the host nation's fans have pinned their hopes on Vidal to help bring them their first-ever continental title.

Vidal, who is the leading scorer in the tournament, was briefly taken to hospital along with his wife following the accident, then carted off to jail in the back of a police car.

Officials have not disclosed how much alcohol the 28-year-old star had in his blood.

The accident left his red Ferrari badly mangled on the driver's side, its airbags deployed.

After his court appearance Wednesday morning, Vidal rushed off to Chile's training camp, where he tearfully took responsibility for the accident and apologized to his team and the country.

“I let everyone down,” he said.

“I want to tell you what happened. Yesterday I went to the casino. I had two drinks,” he told journalists, struggling to get his words out.

“I put my wife's life at risk, a lot of people's lives at risk. I'm very sorry.”

Vidal does not face jail time because only he and his wife were hurt. He suffered “minor injuries” and his wife has “moderately serious injuries,” police Colonel Ricardo Gonzalez told reporters.

Chile has a zero tolerance law on drunk driving. On Wednesday the court took Vidal's license away pending further investigation. If convicted, his license could be suspended for up to two years.

The tone of Vidal's apology was markedly different from a YouTube video he posted proclaiming his innocence after the accident.

“It was not my fault,” he said in the recording, thanking his supporters and giving a thumbs up.

A video of the accident scene posted online by Santiago radio station Bio Bio showed Vidal combatively exchanging words with police officers.

“Go ahead and handcuff me, but you're going to sh*t all over Chile,” he said.

After a night of hand-wringing for Chilean fans, coach Jorge Sampaoli said he would not suspend the star.

“He's just arrived and we're going to see how he is and try to make him understand that he maybe made a mistake, which for us is not so decisive that we need to suspend him,” he said.

He said Vidal has always shown “very good behavior” under his watch, despite his previous brushes with controversy.

“This accident of Arturo's is not going to affect Chile because he's a player who is with the team, beyond any mistake,” he said.

Teammate Alexis Sanchez also rallied behind him.

“I back you and send you all my support as always. The most important thing is that you and your family and the other people are fine. I love you,” the Arsenal star wrote on Twitter.

Vidal, whose tough style of play has earned him the nickname “The Warrior” at Juventus, is no stranger to controversy.

In 2011, he was among five players excluded from Chile's squad preparing for World Cup qualifiers after they turned up for training late and drunk.

He was welcomed back to the fold after apologising.

This season, Juventus imposed a club record $112,000 fine after Vidal was allegedly involved in a drunken brawl outside a Turin nightclub.

In the Copa America, he has scored three times in two matches.

He hit a penalty in Chile's opening victory against Ecuador and two more goals in Monday's 3-3 draw with Mexico in Santiago -- just 24 hours before his accident.

Chile are at the top of Group A and meet Bolivia in their final first-round match on Friday. – AFP

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Villa snap up Richards

Aston Villa have signed former England defender Micah Richards from Manchester City on a free transfer, the Premier League club said.

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London - Aston Villa have signed former England defender Micah Richards from Manchester City on a free transfer, the Premier League club said.

Richards, 26, has agreed a four-year contract and will move to Villa Park on July 1.

The right back helped City win the Premier League title in 2012 but rarely played for the first team under current manager Manuel Pellegrini and was loaned to Italian Serie A side Fiorentina last season.

“I'm sure he will prove to be an excellent signing for the football club,” Villa manager Tim Sherwood told the club's website.

Richards has played 13 times for England and made nearly 250 appearances for City. – Reuters

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Wilshere fined for Spurs chants

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has been fined 40,000 pounds ($63,000) and warned about his future conduct, the FA said.

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London - Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has been fined 40,000 pounds ($63,000) and warned about his future conduct, the FA said on Wednesday.

Wilshere admitted a charge of making inciting comments during Arsenal's open-top bus celebration following their victory in last month's FA Cup final.

The 23-year-old, who scored two goals in England's Euro 2016 qualifying win in Slovenia on Sunday, led the Arsenal fans in chants mocking their north London Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

Wilshere's behaviour was found to have brought the game into disrepute. – Reuters

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