Route One's Daily Football News Round-Up - 22/10/2012

We find the latest football news stories making the headlines, so you don’t have to.

Never before has a T-Shirt caused so much controversy in football. 

QPR manager Mark Hughes has said that he won’t punish his six players for not wearing the Kick it Out shirt which backs an anti-racism campaign. Manchester United chief Sir Alex Ferguson however has indicated that Rio Ferdinand “will be dealt with” for the same ‘crime’.

Anton Ferdinand was among the QPR who neglected the shirt, and Mark Hughes said that each player had a right to make the decision. 

“A lot of people have made stands,” he said. “Possibly some of our guys felt that they needed to stand shoulder to shoulder which I think you have to accept.”

David Moyes meanwhile has slammed the decision to send off Steven Pienaar in Everton’s 1-1 stalemate with QPR as ‘ludicrous’.

The South African international was booked twice – the second of which appeared to be an accidental coming together of legs with the Hoops’ Jose Bosingwa. 

The Toffees were left to play out the remaining half hour with ten men, and Moyes was livid. He told BBC Sport: "To send a player off under those circumstances is a ludicrous decision.

"We had the same referee [Jon Moss) against West Brom. He didn't perform well on that day, he didn't perform well today.”

Alan Pardew has stated that Fabricio Coloccini played like Bobby Moore in the frantic Tyne & Wear derby yesterday.

The Newcastle United boss said: "He was absolutely phenomenal. 

"If you want a defensive example of how to head it, kick it, cover people and have the calmness to play, then this was it. That was like watching Bobby Moore. It was that good." 

The Argentine helped to batten down the hatches for his side, after they were reduced to ten men just 25 minutes into the game following Cheick Tiote’s sending off.

The game finished 1-1 after Yohann Cabaye’s early strike was cancelled out by a late Demba Ba own goal.

Route One's Daily Football News Round-Up - 10/10/2012

We find the latest football news stories making the headlines, so you don’t have to.

The FA has unveiled plans to bring in an official ‘code of conduct’ for players on England duty.

Pic Courtesy of TeamTalk

Head Honcho David Bernstein wants the guidelines introduced following a string of indiscretions – the most high profile being Ashley Cole’s “Bunch of T****” outburst.

He said: "They are incredible role models with incredibly high profiles and their behaviour is extremely important.

"This really should have been brought in years and years ago." 

Players found guilty of breaking the code could be suspended from international duty, rather than the meagre fines currently handed out as punishment.

Marouane Fellaini is set to miss the next three weeks of Everton’s campaign after suffering a knee injury in Saturdays’ game with Wigan.

The powerful midfielder has been a force to be reckoned with this season, playing a key part in the Toffees’ strong start.

"Fellaini suffered a small tear at the juncture of muscle and tendon in the knee," said a Belgian FA spokesperson.

Meanwhile Fellaini’s boss David Moyes has been named Premier League Manager of the Month for September.

The Merseysiders are sitting pretty in fourth - just five points behind leaders Chelsea. 

Sunderland frontman Steven Fletcher took the player honours after bagging five goals in just four appearances since his £12 million move from Wolves. 

Kettering Town could be out of existence by the end of the month after failing to raise a side for last night’s game against Leamington.

The former Football League club have been in existence for over 130 years, but are facing extinction after a number of players refused to play for the club having not been paid for a month.

The Poppies could only name ten men for Saturday’s encounter with Bashley, which they subsequently lost 7-0.

There is currently no electricity at the club’s Nene Park ground after they failed to pay a supplier, and owner Imran Ladak must find £3,000 as part of a CVA to avoid a winding-up order.

At the other end of the financial scale, Newcastle United have signed a £24 million sponsorship deal with ‘pay day loan’ firm Wonga.

The link-up enables the Magpies to change the name of their stadium back to St James’ Park, rather than the reviled Sports Direct Arena moniker created by owner Mike Ashley.

The deal hasn’t been without controversy however. Nick Forbes, the leader of Newcastle’s city council, said he was "appalled and sickened" that the club would sign a contract with a ‘legal loan shark’. 

And Michael Martin, editor-in-chief of the Geordies’ True Faith fanzine, said the sponsorship was "shameful".

To add further salt to the wounds, this type of deal infringes Sharia Law, meaning Newcastle’s Muslim quartet of Demba Ba, Papiss Cisse, Hatem Ben Arfa and Cheick Tiote would not be able to don the new shirt.

Bolton Wanderers have relieved manager Owen Coyle of his duties.

The Lancashire club have had a disappointing start to life in the Championship, and currently lie 18^th in the table. They were relegated from the Premier League last season.

Coyle was dignified in his exit. "I had fantastic times here as a player and it has been a privilege to have held the post of manager," he said.

Trotters chairman Phil Gartside has admitted it was "the right time for a change". 

Names in the frame for the Bolton hot seat include Mick McCarthy, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Billy Davies.

Route One's Daily Football News Round-Up - 8/10/2012

We find the latest football news stories making the headlines, so you don’t have to.

Pic Courtesy of Team Talk

Two moments of controversy this weekend has prompted two managers to call on the FA to act swiftly and decisively.

Alan Pardew believes that Robin Van Persie should be punished for seemingly elbowing Yohan Cabaye during his side’s 3-0 defeat to the Red Devils. The incident was missed by referee Howard Webb.

He said: "He [Van Persie] has looked at Yohan and he has elbowed him. I think that perhaps needs to be looked at, if I am honest.”

Meanwhile, Tony Pulis wants the FA to have a look at Luis Suarez’s ‘light footed’ performance against his team yesterday.

The Stoke boss believes the Uruguayan went to ground far too easily in the goalless draw at Anfield.

"I've been on about and banging the drum about people who fall over," Pulis remarked. "It's an embarrassment. The FA should be looking at this."

The FA is set to take action against Ashley Cole however, following the Chelsea man’s vitriolic tweet from Friday.

The England left back called the Association “a bunch of t****” in the wake of the full report of the John Terry race trial, in which the validity of Cole’s evidence is questioned.

The 31-year-old is still set to link up with the England squad for training later today.

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo both scored twice as the spoils were shared in the first ‘El Clasico’ of the campaign.

A typically frenetic game ended 2-2, with Ronaldo’s brace finishing off a remarkable week during which he has found the net eight times in just three games.

Route One's Daily Football News Round-Up - 24/9/2012

We find the latest football news stories making the headlines, so you don’t have to. 

Picture courtesy of Mobbly.com

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers was left “bitterly disappointed” by referee Mark Halsey’s performance in his side’s 2-1 loss against rivals Manchester United.

Jonjo Shelvey was sent off for a naughty lunge at Jonny Evans, and this misery was compounded by the decision to award a penalty to the Red Devils late in the game, following a trip from Glen Johnson on Antonio Valencia.

"We could control our players' performance but what we can't control is decisions by the referee," Rodgers later said.

Defeat leaves Liverpool in the bottom three, and without a win to their name in this campaign. The Red Devils meanwhile climb ominously up to second.

Jonjo Shelvey has publicly apologised for his sending off, and also for the confrontation with Sir Alex Ferguson as he left the field of play.

The England Under-21 international was seen pointing his finger and mouthing angrily at the United boss, and had to be led down the tunnel by a police officer.

“I have apologised to Sir Alex...where I come from people don’t grass people up to get someone sent off,” Shelvey was quoted as saying.

Elsewhere yesterday, Laurent Koscielny’s late equaliser secured Arsenal a point in a classy encounter at Manchester City, Demba Ba continued his hot streak with Newcastle’s winner against old boy Chris Hughton’s Norwich, and Tottenham came from behind to beat a tidy QPR outfit at White Hart Lane.

The FA’s investigation into John Terry’s alleged racially-motivated abusing of Anton Ferdinand begins today.

Back in July the Chelsea skipper was cleared in court of a criminal inquiry into the matter, but he was charged by the FA a fortnight later.

On a seemingly related note, Terry has recently announced he is to retire from international football. He believes the FA’s decision to seek further action has made his position with the national side ‘untenable’.