News Headlines

David Lacey: Pragmatism pays off for Arsenal

A little more graft, a little less craft and Arsenal will remain in the running for the Premier League titleIt was just as well Arsenal won on Wednesday. Arsène Wenger was starting to sound like a common-or-garden football manager. Professor Higgins was metamorphosing into Eliza Doolittle....

Grant: I have no regrets over outburst

• Portsmouth manager charged with abusing official Keith Friend• 'It is easy to give decisions against struggling teams'Avram Grant says Portsmouth are falling victim to unfair refereeing decisions because they are an "easy" target and says he has no regrets over the confrontation with...

Why do these idiots keep buying football clubs? | Barney Ronay

Looking at Portsmouth there seem two types of businessman: the normal ones and the ones who get involved in footballThe week has seen a peculiar bleeding together of its two big stories. As Portsmouth stood shivering on the steps of the High Court it was hard to avoid the comparison with poor old...

What I see in the mirror: Karren Brady

'My bum and I have had a hate relationship for 40 years'There are things about myself that I like and things I really don't. ­People say my hair is my best feature and I used to take that as a sort of insult, but as you get older, I think you ­appreciate things more. My hair is...

Unthinkable? Supporter-owned football clubs

English football's endemic financial crisis claimed another bouffant hairdo yesterday as Sven-Göran Eriksson moved on from Notts County. "The problem with this club is that it has been living beyond its means," said Ray Trew, one of the new investors. Notts County, like Portsmouth and Cardiff...

Nick Herbert on homophobia in football: 'The FA isn't doing nearly enough'

Chief political correspondent Nicholas Watt speaks to Nick Herbert, the shadow environment secretary, about gay rightsNicholas WattAndy Duckworth

Poor Gerrard and his inner ear problem

With 40 different kinds of sliding and fondue, what is there not to like about the Winter Olympics?You'd have to question the wisdom of those in charge of the Guardian sports section. Each week they hand over the keys to this here prime piece of real estate to a man who won't get to do any building...

Rooney: Ferguson limits my sponsors

Wayne Rooney yesterday revealed that he is limited to five sponsorship deals by his manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, whose tight control over players' off-field commitments would clearly not have run to tolerating John Terry's free rein at Chelsea.