News Headlines

Home nations get poppy go-ahead

Fifa agrees that England, Scotland and Wales can wear poppies on black armbands during the upcoming internationals.

Newcastle rebrand St James' Park

• St James' Park to be renamed as Sports Direct Arena • Club cite need to attract new stadium and shirt sponsor Newcastle's owner, Mike Ashley, faces a potential backlash from supporters after the announcement that St James' Park is to be rebranded as the Sports Direct Arena as part of...

Football news in brief

• Roberto Martínez apologises over Antolín Alcaraz spitting • African player of the year nominees announced Wigan Athletic The Wigan manager, Roberto Martínez, has apologised to his Wolverhampton Wanderers counterpart, Mick McCarthy, over the spitting incident which...

Stuart Pearce calls on the home nations to back his Team GB

• Manager hints at selecting Ryan Giggs for Olympics • Pearce preparing England Under-21s to face Iceland Stuart Pearce has called on the home nations to cast aside their fears about endorsing the Great Britain Olympic team. The Football Associations of Wales, Scotland and Northern...

Arshavin hits out at 'severe' Wenger tactics

Andrei Arshavin, the Arsenal midfielder, has issued a forthright critique of his manager, Arsène Wenger, suggesting the Frenchman makes substitutions based on philosophy rather than performance, revealing players feel he is so stubborn as to be unapproachable and describing him as the "most...

Athletics at odds with League rule

Yet another hurdle has arisen in the protracted saga of the London Olympic Stadium legacy after Ed Warner, chairman of UK Athletics, promised the IAAF that athletics would have priority at the venue.

AWOL Tevez says Mancini ignored calls

Carlos Tevez has insisted that he attempted to contact his Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini around 10 times to ask for his permission to return to Argentina but received no communication from the Italian before taking the flight which means he is facing another two-week fine.

Capello risks row with Everton over injured Jagielka

Fabio Capello faces a dilemma over whether to play Phil Jagielka against Spain on Saturday with his club, Everton, previously working on the understanding that the defender, who has a broken toe, would be rested for the two friendlies over the next five days.

'St James' Park' ditched by Ashley

It has been too quiet for rather too long at Newcastle United, and with that perhaps in mind, owner Mike Ashley has taken the bold decision to redress the largely good news to have been generated by Alan Pardew's unbeaten side so far this season with a development rather less palatable to...