Portsmouth still want place in Europe

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Portsmouth still want place in Europe Portsmouth plans to appeal to the FA in an effort to secure a Uefa club licence so that they can play next season in Europe.

The team led by Avram Grant had one of the finest shows of the season this week when they took on Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley and won 2-0 allowing them to move on to the FA Cup Final.

The stunning victory came just a day after they were once again confirmed part of the Barclays Premier League, but due to their financial plight there is a large amount of doubt about whether they will actually be allowed to take back a place in the Europa League.

As Chelsea has secured their chance to play in the Champions League, normally Portsmouth could claim the Europa League Place given to the winner of the FA Cup, but since the club is in administration they would not be able to formally apply for a Uefa licence which is required.

Portsmouth administrator, Andrew Andronikou, however has said that the team will appeal to the FA and are currently seeking legal advice and starting the process if the club is able to launch the appeal come Friday.

Andronikou continued to state that clearly they are qualified to pitch for the league, but in terms of financial covenants they may not be qualified.

He continued to say that although he feels that they do have grounds for an appeal, he is not certain but plans to act in accordance with the 100,000 Portsmouth fans and try to make the best move he can for the club.

Premier League clubs will be able to extend parachute payments

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Premier League clubs will be able to extend parachute payments The Premier League clubs have agreed that they will extend the period for parachute payments an additional two years, to four years.

Although the proposal will need to be approved and voted on at their June Annual General Meeting, at the moment the concept is understood to have universal backing.

Chairman Lord Triesman of the Football Association and Richard Scudamore the chief executive of the Premier League offered their backing to the plan and it is expected to pass in June without a problem.

All sides will benefit from the parachute payment extension and help to reduce the need for wholesale budget cuts directly before the Championship takes place.

Co-owner of the West Ham club, David Gold, was able to offer his support at a Thursday meeting and stated that this will be good news for the future of English football.

Gold stated that he is delighted with the Premier League decision and that the clubs back it completely and that it is a great first step for clubs that are relegated.  He added that it will help the clubs that have been affected negatively by relegation and will also help all of the Football League straight down to the lower teams.

Additionally, he also revealed figures that make up the revised payment plan and claims that over the next four years clubs will get around £48m.  He stated that it will be based on a percentage plan from available television monies, out of which there is now another 25% to add on to the third and fourth years.

Top Ten Most Popular World Cup Songs

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Latest research undertaken by PRS for Music reveals that Three Lions proves to be the UK public’s favourite ever World Cup song.

1. The Lightning Seeds Three Lions
2. New Order World In Motion
3. Fat Les Vindaloo
4. England World Cup Squad Back Home
5. Embrace World At Your Feet
6. Ant & Dec We’re On The Ball
7. Luciano Pavarotti Nessun Dorma
8. Andy Cameron Ally’s Tartan Army
9. England World Cup Squad This Time We’ll Get It Right
10. Dario G Carnaval de Paris

If you are a budding musician, and feel inspired to try to emulate those in the list above, then check out the Sing Up England! competition.  It is a free to enter competition looking for the best original song about the FIFA World Cup 2010 and runs from today until kick off on June 11th. For full details on how to enter visit www.m-magazine.co.uk/singupengland.

Limited Edition Mutual Respect Print of iconic Pele and Bobby Moore swapping shirt image

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Limited Edition Mutual Respect Print of iconic Pele and Bobby Moore swapping shirt image One of the most iconic and endearing sporting photographs ever taken – of footballers Pele and Bobby Moore swapping shirts at the 1970 World Cup Finals – is to get an artistic makeover thanks to a renowned artist whose previous work was made into an Oscar and BAFTA-winning film. What’s more you have the opportunity to own a limited-edition print version of the new painting.

British artist and football fan Richard Piers Rayner has turned his talent to one of the most famous sporting pictures ever taken.

Stockton-born, Rayner, famous for his work illustrating Road to Perdition and who has also worked for DC Comics in America on Hellblazer, Batman, Swamp Thing and Legion, and for Marvel illustrating Dr Who, X-Men and Captain America, has now turned to his love of football to give his unique artistry to this memorable image.

Rayner says: “I loved the rare and irresistible opportunity to recreate one of sports defining images. In a brief moment at the end of the game opponents acknowledge the sportsmanship of their contest. There is no better reason to call it the ‘Beautiful Game’, and no better challenge than to bring all that colour and drama back to life.”

The original photograph, taken by John Varley at the Estadio Jalisco Stadium in Guadalajara, Mexico 7 Jun 1970, shows Bobby Moore and Pele swapping shirts following England’s Group C defeat at the hands of Brazil. Quoted as being Bobby Moore’s ‘favourite photo’, the then world champions were effectively handing over the baton of world supremacy to champions-elect and the world’s greatest-ever player.

This limited edition ‘Mutual Respect’ print (33cm x 44cm) of the painting by Richard Piers Rayner is available for £175, and includes courier dispatch and first-class packing. These prints are not framed but come fully mounted and ready for framing on high quality art paper. Each copy is signed by the artist and numbered 1-500. There will be just 500 limited-edition prints available and each comes with a certificate of authentication. A black-wooded framed version is available for £225 (inclusive of delivery).

To own a limited-edition print of the painting by Richard Piers Rayner log on to www.yfppublishing.com

Funny World Cup Videos Part 1 – Zinedine Zidane’s headbutt in the 2006 final

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With the world cup just around the corner, sports social media site Sportpost.com has got into the spirit by releasing a number of funny videos of alternative world cup moments. The series of four videos are aimed at football fans and have been posted on the Sportpost site and its YouTube channel.

The four animated football videos include alternative endings to famous world cup moments including Zinedine Zidane’s head butt in the 2006 final; Gazza crying at Italia ’90; Maradona’s hand of god and Beckham’s red card against Argentina. The videos have been created for anyone who has ever wondered what Materazzi really said to Zidane, or how Gary Lineker tried to cheer up Gazza. As the sports world gets geared up for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, the highly controversial videos are already causing a stir amongst football fans and are proving popular on YouTube as well.  We will post one of these each day for your convenience.

First up is the infamous Zinedine Zidane headbutt in the 2006 final in Berlin.