Adebayor to quit international football due to a pay dispute

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Tottenham were given a slight edge when Emmanuel Adebayor announced that he will not continue to play internationally for Togo due to a pay dispute that was not promptly resolved. As a result, the Spurs striker will no longer take part at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

In his statement, the Sparrow Hawks player declared that despite the fact that he was the former captain of the team he will not continue to for Togo and last week he condemned the fact that he had not been paid after the stunning Morocco win that he led the team through.

In addition to issuing a statement, Adebayor also asked that the Togolese football federation place aside a sum of money that was paid to the Royal Moroccan Football Federation. He explained that if the fees are not straightened out then he is not going to play internationally or for his country any longer. He said that within the FA the only thing that anyone ever worries about is money, and there are plenty of players that have only received half of their money or none of it.

Adebayor also expressed concern that players turn to him to ask about when they will be paid and it is a shame. He said he asked the Moroccan Federation who told him that the Togolese FA has been paid and that means that the President has the money but has not yet distributed it to any of the actual players choosing to keep it for himself.

Health risks to professional sportsmen back in the headlines

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The controversy about health risks for professional athletes has been stirred up again, following the collapse due to a cardiac arrest of soccer player Fabrice Muamba during a match at Tottenham last Saturday.

Doctors from both clubs as well, as a cardiac consultant who was in the stands, were quick to respond with efforts at resuscitation, but it was a close thing. At latest report Muamba is recovering, but he was effectively dead for more than an hour.

In cardiac arrest, the heart stops pumping and death results in minutes if the victim gets no medical attention. It always occurs suddenly, without warning, and it happens fairly often in those who have never shown any evidence of heart disease. In the aftermath of Saturday’s events, many are calling for more intensive screening of athletes, in hopes of preventing future episodes.

The cholesterol charity Heart UK is urging football authorities to take the lead in the instigation of such screening. Chief executive Jules Payne said that an inherited condition known as FH (familial hypercholesterolaemia) is one known cause of cardiac arrest that could be detected with proper screening.

Peter Scudamore, CE of the English Premier League, said that while there can never be any guarantees, the organisation will be taking every measure necessary to reduce the risks to players.

Bolton pull together for Muamba

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Bolton Wanderers will pull together and hope for the best in the aftermath of midfielder Fabrice Muamba’s close brush with death last weekend. The match with Tottenham was called off when Muamba collapsed on the pitch and was rushed to the London Chest hospital. Following a cardiac arrest that left him technically dead for well over an hour, the 23-year-old was miraculously revived, and according to latest reports he is in a stable condition, but his long-term prospects are still uncertain.

Wanderers captain Kevin Davies has said he’s amazed and gratified by the quick response of medical personnel who saved Muamba’s life, as well as the sincere concern expressed by fans and players. Davies was the first team member to see Muamba in hospital, and told reporters that it was too soon to think about anything beyond the immediate future.

Davies was among the handful of players who turned out for training on Monday. He says the team is still pretty much in shock, but for himself and others the best thing to do is carry on; that’s what Muamba would want.

Team manager Owen Coyle has also expressed his appreciation for the overwhelming response from all quarters. In reference to the match scheduled for this Saturday with Blackburn Rovers, the first one since Muamba’s collapse, Coyle said that any team member who doesn’t feel ready for it will be excused. But, he says, whoever does take to the field will be doing their best for Fabrice and for the team

‘Old Firm’ warned about possible arrests

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'Old Firm' warned about possible arrests Following problems at the last ‘Old Firm’ football game between Glasgow Rangers and Glasgow Celtic, culminating in an altercation between Rangers Assistant Manager Ally McCoist and Celtic Manager Neil Lennon, both clubs have been warned that they could be arrested in future, if conduct does not improve.

Strathckyde Police Chief Constable Stephen House said that, in future, police officers would visit the grounds and speak to both players and managers to warn them of possible offences, together with any action that might be taken. There was also a recent high-profile incident featuring AC Milan player Gennaro Gattuso and Tottenham Hotspur Assistant Manager Joe Jordan. Mr House said that an arrest on the pitch would only be made in extreme circumstances, such as those involving potential assaults of use of obscenities, however, action would be considered after the game.

A four hour summit, convened by Scotland First Minister Alex Salmond, was held after the game, leading to an eight point action plan, including the prospects of holding games mid-week, banning the sale of alcohol near the grounds, the banning of fans convicted of domestic violence, and a new Football Intelligence Unit. There was also an increase in reported violent crime after the game, although the Chairmen of both clubs felt that there was a general over-reaction to the game.

Mr Salmond considered that the meeting had been a success, that the priority had to be to reduce violence connected to such games and that players, managers and officials should be left in no doubt as to the possible consequences.