bloggarriv

Poland failed to reinstate the country’s football association before Monday’s deadline set by FIFA, risking suspension from all soccer competitions, and the loss of co-hosting rights for Euro 2012.

FIFA said it had received new information on the situation from the suspended Polish FA, but was still awaiting a full report following last minute talks between the government and the football association. ‘FIFA are taking the lead, but we have heard nothing concrete today from the Polish government and they must make their move because the deadline has now passed,’ a spokesman for European soccer’s governing body UEFA said.

FIFA had given the Polish government until 11am on Monday to reverse Warsaw’s decision to replace its FA with an administrator last week.

written by Dave \\ tags: 2012, poland

Paul Galvin has had his six month suspension reduced to three months following a meeting of temporary members appointed to the Central Hearings Committee last night. The ban is dated for the time of the incident (15 June), which means Galvin would be eligible for the All-Ireland final on September 21st should Kerry make it.

written by Dave

Robbie Keane has completed the move to Liverpool, the club he has supported as a boy, admitting that it was a dream move for him. Keane said

I’ve been waiting for this day since I was a kid. I’m a massive fan, so to be sitting here in a Liverpool tracksuit is a dream come true, I am so grateful just to be here. I love the club and this is the one dream I had still to achieve. I always wanted to be a footballer as a kid, but also to play for Liverpool, maybe you never feel it is going to happen. Now I am enjoying every minute and I can’t wait to pull on that red shirt. This is a massive club and I want to do everything I can to make them even more successful.

Robbie Keane will play at Number 7, the shirt previously worn by such legends as Kenny Dalglish and Kevin Keegan

written by Dave

Saturday July 19th

• Monaghan v Derry - Clones, 3.00pm
• Tipperary v Westmeath - Ardfinnan, 3.00pm
• Donegal v Roscommon - Ballybofey, 5.00pm
• Kildare v Cavan - Newbridge, 7.00pm
• Limerick v Meath - Gaelic Grounds, 7.00pm
• Longford v Laois - Pearse Park, 7.00pm
• Louth v Tyrone - Drogheda, 7.00pm
• Offaly v Down - Tullamore, 7.00pm

So that leaves 8 winners from Round 1. Add to that the 4 Provincial runners up leaves 12 teams to play-off for 4 places in the quater finals in 6 weeks time. Does anyone know how this is going to pan out who plays who when and where?

Round 2 takes place on Saturday July 26th. Round 3 takes place on the August bank holiday weekend.

written by Coolgarriv

Cork claim the Munster title, overhauling an 8 point deficit to beat Kerry 1-16 to 1-11.

written by Coolgarriv

As the torrential rain pours down on Páirc Uí Caoimh, Kerry go in at half time leading by an easy 1-08 to a disappointing 0-03 from Cork.

written by Coolgarriv

Power failures at UEFA’s International Broadcast Centre in Vienna interrupted coverage of last night’s semi-final match between Germany and Turkey. The BBC, one of many broadcasters affected by the loss of the UEFA host broadcaster’s feed, put up a BBC One fault caption and switched to Radio 5 Live audio during two outages: one for seven minutes at 57:15 into the match, and a second that started in the 76th minute prevented viewers from seeing Germany’s Miroslav Klose score a goal.

“All countries across the world receiving the feed lost pictures and sound,” said a BBC spokesperson. “We had people ringing up to ask what had happened, but it was more reaction than complaints.” RTÉs Bill O’Herlihy also stated that it was happening all across Europe

“The television signal in the International Broadcast Centre for the Germany-Turkey game has been interrupted several times in the second half due to technical reasons which are currently being investigated, in particular to evaluate the impact of the violent electrical storm over Vienna at that time,” said UEFA.

written by Dave

The GAA’s Central Hearings Committee has upheld the 24-week suspension handed down to Kerry captain Paul Galvin. Galvin attended the committee meeting on Monday night at Croke Park and was unsuccessful in having the ban reduced. His suspension will run from 15 June.

In a high-profile incident, Galvin knocked the referee’s notebook out of his hand in the Munster semi-final against Clare and remonstrated with a linesman following his dismissal. Galvin now has the option of taking his case to the Central Appeals Commitee.

Meanwhile, ahead of Sunday’s draw for the first round of the All-Ireland football qualifiers, the GAA has announced that the first team drawn will have home venue provided their ground meets safety requirements. 16 teams will enter the draw.

written by Coolgarriv

Liverpool will make an improved offer to sign Aston Villa captain Gareth Barry after having a second bid - believed to be £13m - turned down. Rafael Benitez is poised to go back to Villa in a renewed attempt to bring the acrimonious saga to a conclusion. The £18m-rated 27-year-old has told Villa he wants to sign for Liverpool. Liverpool hope to sell Xabi Alonso to Juventus to help fund the deal, but have yet to receive a serious offer.

Villa had received two offers from Liverpool for Barry, but boss Martin O’Neill told BBC Sport their latest bid had been turned down, forcing Benitez to go back again in another attempt to finally sign his top summer transfer target. “The offer that Liverpool have made is just not acceptable,” O’Neill told the BBC. “It might be difficult [to keep hold of him]. He said he would fancy going to Liverpool and that’s a big setback.” “It’s very frustrating,” said O’Neill. “We finished sixth last year and he was a major part of that. “He’s been a splendid player for us for some considerable time and we want to try and improve because the club are capable of doing that. “But if Manchester United are struggling to keep hold of Ronaldo then the rest of us are in a bit of trouble. “It’s difficult but if we have to go on without Gareth Barry then we’ll still have a go.”

Villa are said to be holding out for at least £18m, which could pose a problem for Benitez. The Anfield boss has admitted he is expecting to have a reduced transfer budget as a result of the feud between American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett. We have the spine of the team and we just need others in other positions, “If we had a lot of money to spend it would obviously be better,” Benitez said on the club website. “But if we don’t, it doesn’t matter. “It is not about buying the most expensive players, it is about buying the right players and we can sell some players to get the others we need. We have the spine of the team and we just need others in other positions.”

written by Coolgarriv

The GAA and the AFL have confirmed that there will be a two-game International Rules Series between the countries in October of this year. The games will take place on October 24th in Perth and October 31st in Melbourne.

Stadium and other details will be confirmed later as there will be the Rugby League World Cup taking place in Australia at the same time.

written by HonestSean