Wednesday, 22 April, 2015
CEltIC must movE on from shoCkIng rEfErEE blunDEr: John hartson
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OHN Hartson was once on the end of a major Hampden injustice while playing for Celtic - but he cannot see any point in his old club writing to the Scottish Football Association over the latest controversy at the national stadium. Celtic issued a statement on Monday evening revealing they were “seeking an understanding” of the failure to penalise Inverness defender Josh Meekings for stopping a goal-bound leigh griffiths header with his hand. Celtic were leading 1-0 at the time but went on to lose 3-2 and some fans have questioned how referee Steven Mclean and additional assistant Alan Muir could have missed the infringement. Hartson had a goal wrongly disallowed for offside while Celtic were 2-1 down in an Old Firm league Cup final and the Welshman went on to miss a last-minute penalty that could have sparked extra-time. But he refused to dwell on the match officials’ error - and called on Celtic to move on from the latest setback rather than writing letters. “I’m not sure what sort of purpose it’s going to serve,” said Hartson as he launched a ‘Know Your Balls’ testicular cancer awareness drive at his charity’s annual golf day at Mar Hall in Bishopton. “It has happened before and will happen again. There’s a lot of disappointment at Celtic
fiorentina slump to defeat at home to verona as Champions league dream dies
and rightly so, it should have been a penalty. “I think the referee just missed it. When you are questioning people’s integrity and honesty, that can sometimes go a little overboard. The referee just missed a decision, I’m sure if he’d seen it he would have given it. “It happened to me in 2003 when I scored a legitimate goal against Rangers at Hampden Park in a cup final. It was proven to be two yards onside and it got called offside. It was a big moment for me.
“I was disappointed for two days and I got over it, and I think Celtic will get over it. “They feel they have a right to complain, and that’s what they want to do, but I’m not too sure what they are going to gain by it.” Hartson believes Ronny Deila can still class his first season as Celtic manager a success if they go on to clinch the Scottish Premiership title - they can move eight points clear of Aberdeen by beating Dundee at Dens Park on Wednesday.
Fiorentina’s fading hopes of qualifying for the Champions league all but disappeared as they lost 1-0 at home Verona after conceding a late goal, leaving them nine points behind thirdplaced AS Roma. Fiore were stunned in the 90th minute when Verona substitute Mounir Obbadi scored from close range after Alessandro Diamanti had missed a second-half penalty for the home side. Whistles greeted the end of the match and coach Vincenzo Montella had no complaints as his side paid dearly for failing to turn their domination into goals. “Everyone is free to do what they want,” he told the club’s website. “We were not good enough to bring the three points.” When Alberto gilardino was fouled by Verona keeper Rafael in the 65th minute and the referee pointed to the spot Diamanti stepped up but saw his penalty saved low down by Rafael. With that the Viola began to run out of ideas and Obbadi pounced when home keeper Neto failed to gather a shot from lazaros Christodoulopoulos. SPORTS DESK
Aston Villa and Reading charged over fans’ pitch invasions
Badree to mentor Australia spinners SPORTS DESK
David moyes has no complaints after real sociedad lose to Elche Real Sociedad boss David Moyes admitted Elche were full value for the 1-0 Monday night win that takes them six points clear of the relegation zone. Jonathas scored the only goal of the game on 18 minutes, pouncing on an error from Markel Bergara to notch his 10th of the season, and Moyes admitted he had no complaints over the result. “We didn’t play well and made a mistake that cost us the game, but we were not able to create chances and I’ve no complaints,” he told a post-match Press conference. “The players ran a lot in search of the equaliser but we lacked quality and it wasn’t a question of attitude. “Elche deserved to win the game. They created more and were the better side.” The Scot said he still expects his players to be motivated for what remains of the season. “It’s better to be where we are than fighting against relegation. I have great respect for this competition and every game is important and difficult. “I’ve never in my life played a game that isn’t important to me and I hope my players think the same,” he maintained. SPORTS DESK
West Indies legspinner Samuel Badree will mentor Australia’s young spinners as part of Cricket Australia’s spin camp this year. Badree, currently, ranked the No.1 Twenty20 international bowler in the world, will work alongside Cricket Australia’s head spin coach John Davison at the training camp in Brisbane in May. “The knowledge and experience that Sammy Badree can
share with our young spinners will be a quality extension to previous programs,” Pat Howard, Cricket Australia’s team performance manager, said. “The spin camp looks to extend the work being done in states and to challenge players on different ways to assess the game and grow personally. “We’re delighted to have Sammy join John Davison and some of the country’s best young spinners for the week, and to build on the expertise
Shane Warne and Muthiah Muralidaran have brought to our spin program in the last two seasons.” Badree said: “I am looking forward to being involved in this program to share my experiences and philosophies with the young spinners of Australia and hopefully impart something to them that would make them better players. It’s my first visit to Australia as well and I look forward to the experience. “My greatest success has been in the shorter versions of the game so I hope to impart knowledge based on that, the importance of control when bowling, adapting to different conditions and taking wickets through guile is crucial. “I look forward to being part of the spin week and sharing reasons for success, the pressures of the international game, various T20 leagues and being the No.1 T20 bowler in the world.” A group of 24 spinners will take part in the program, most of whom are yet to play state cricket. However, legspinner Cameron Boyce, who made his T20 international debut last year, is part of the squad, along with Clive Rose, Will Bosisto, Jason Floros and Beau Webster.
Aston Villa and Reading have been charged for failing to control their fans following pitch invasions at FA Cup matches. Villa have been charged for failing to control their fans following a pitch invasion after the FA Cup quarter-final against West Bromwich Albion.“It is alleged that Villa failed to ensure that no spectators or unauthorised persons were permitted to encroach onto the pitch in relation to their sixth-round tie against West Bromwich Albion at Villa Park,” the FA said on its website on Tuesday. Villa beat West Brom 2-0 last month and have now reached the final against Arsenal at Wembley on May 30. Reading have also been charged with failing to control their supporters during the FA Cup quarter-final against Bradford City at the Madejski Stadium. SPORTS DESK
real madrid squad is best in world: Carlo ancelotti Carlo Ancelotti has described his Real Madrid squad as the ‘best in the world’ ahead of the Champions league clash with Atletico Madrid. “Modric and Bale are both important players so it’s hard to say who will be missed more, but the main thing now is to think positively and about who will replace them,” the Italian told Corrierre dello Sport. “We are the best squad in the world and our club’s badge reminds us of that every day we train together. Excluding the injured players, the team is doing very well and I was encouraged by our performance in the first leg at the Vicente Calderon. “This will be a difficult game but we are all confident that we can reach the semifinals. However, the most important thing is to relax in the hours leading up to the game, so if I have to say one thing to the players then that is it – relax. SPORTS DESK
SANDEEP SHARMA ON THE UPSWING AFTER INJURY COURTESY CRICINFO Kings XI Punjab seamer Sandeep Sharma has said the Ranji Trophy was more difficult than the IPl for a fast bowler, and that it was a big step up from under-19 cricket. “As and when you progress to senior cricket, Ranji Trophy cricket, every team has three-four quality seamers and quality batsmen. So Ranji Trophy cricket is more difficult than under-19 cricket, where there isn’t much pressure or competition,” Sandeep, who was part of India’s victorious under-19 World Cup campaign in 2012, told ESPNcricinfo. “I would say Ranji Trophy cricket is more difficult than IPl also, because Test is always more difficult than T20 or one-day cricket. And if you have to take
four or five wickets there, you will have to bowl 20 overs or 25 overs, so it’s a difficult job for a fast bowler.” Sandeep, one of the finds for Kings XI in IPl 2014 after having finished as their leading wicket-taker, had to miss India A’s tour of Australia and the Champions league T20 last year with a stress fracture in his back. He has returned strongly to claim 28 scalps, the most for a Punjab bowler this season in the Ranji Trophy, apart from a combined tally of 20 wickets in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and the Deodhar Trophy. In this IPl, he has dismissed seven batsmen*, at an economy-rate of 5.37, to be joint-highest on Kings XI’s wickets’ chart. Sandeep, who will turn 22 next month, said coming back from injury was difficult. “I had done well up to that point,
and was also included for the India A tour. But now I am back on track, and I have been bowling well in Ranji Trophy and IPl. So I am quite happy.” There has also been a marked increase in Sandeep’s pace, which he puts down to a combination of a “balanced diet and hard training.” “I was at the NCA when I was injured. I trained quite a bit at that point of time, hard training. I am [now] doing a lot of strength work at the gym, and with that, speed work also. Speed work includes doing a lot of short sprints and long sprints, and I stick to the diet chart. Proteins, Carbohydrates, fat… everything is there in the diet.” He also spoke about drawing from the experience of Mitchell Johnson, his Kings XI team-mate, when it came to training. “Obvi-
ously he has played a lot of international cricket, and he is among the top bowlers. I get to learn a lot from him, especially from a fitness point
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of view, on how to train hard. That culture has a positive effect on me. “I keep saying this all the time that Johnson’s bowling and mine
are totally different, and I can’t learn his bowling style. But a lot of chat revolves around the mental aspects: how to carry yourself on the field, how to prepare before match and how to handle pressure situations. For sure [I try to implement immediately something I learn].” Some important advice, he said, came from Virender Sehwag. “He is a great man, and he teaches me a lot and shares his own experiences. I felt that the best advice I got was from Viru Paji,” Sharma said. “He always tells me I have been selected because obviously somebody thought I was good enough. He tells me: ‘forget there is an international player at the other end, no matter however big a performer he maybe. A batsman needs just one ball to get out and you can deliver that ball.’”