A 'disrespected' Chandler Parsons says DeAndre Jordan 'was scared' to be a franchise player

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Chandler Parsons has one over on DeAndre Jordan. (Getty Images)

If Dallas Mavericks fans are hurt by DeAndre Jordan’s decision to renege on his agreement to join the team, how you think Chandler Parsons feels? The Maverick swingman was the team’s unofficial designated recruiter in talks with the once and future Los Angeles Clippers center, and he’s also the guy’s friend.

[Follow Dunks Don't Lie on Tumblr: The best slams from all of basketball]

Now the center in question is turning his back on the Mavericks after refusing to answer calls the team’s representatives sent his way prior to the end of the NBA’s free agent moratorium on Wednesday. And Parsons?

There’s really only one word for it, and if you’re in second grade you’ll get in trouble for using it. He’s pissed.

From a talk with ESPN Dallas’ Tim MacMahon:

Parsons: “I’m shocked, very disappointed, frustrated, disrespected. This is something that I’ve never seen in my career, and I know that it doesn’t happen very often. When a man gives you his word and an organization his word, especially when that organization put in so much effort and I walked him through this process and was very, very open and willing to work with him, it’s just very unethical and disrespectful.”

Parsons then went into angry detail about the frantic 48 hours that preceded Jordan’s agreement with the Clippers:

Parsons: “Yeah, he was very randomly responding to me, but he was not responding to Mark at all, which in my eyes is very unprofessional. An owner that bent over backwards, did whatever you said throughout this process and was giving you a chance to be great, I don’t know how you shut him out and close the door on him when he’s in your city and just wanting to meet with you and get a face-to-face with you like you said that you were going to and just completely ignoring you, I don’t know how he did that.

“The kind of guy that he is, the kind of guy I thought he is, would never do something like that. That’s tough for me to swallow, just from the fact that I know how excited Mark was. I know how invested Mark has been throughout this whole process. That’s what I don’t get.

“Be a professional. Pick up the phone. If you’re not going to meet with him, pick up the phone and tell the guy that you’re committed to what you’re feeling, what you’re going through and maybe he can talk it out and help you. But do not ignore the guy. Do not make him sit there and sweat it out. That’s just very unprofessional. I can’t get over that part.”

Chandler then went on to conclude that Jordan “wasn’t ready for being a franchise player,” that “he was scared,” and that while he talked up acting as “tired of being in the shadows” behind Chris Pauland Blake Griffin in Los Angeles, ultimately Jordan’s fear of having to lead a team was too much.

To Parsons, at least. Whew.

Rare do rip jobs from NBA players go on record like this, but even if you support Jordan’s decision to switch back to the Clippers (and we do), Parsons is absolutely correct in housing this much invective. This isn’t even something that is going to fade away in a few months after cooler heads prevail. Guesswork about Jordan’s interest in being a franchise player aside, Parsons was also absolutely correct in his estimation of Jordan’s professionalism. Even Dwight Howard, upon leaving Los Angeles in 2013, at least flew to the city to tell Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak the news in person.

Jordan, instead, sealed himself off from any encroaching Mavs representative while Parsons and owner Mark Cuban had to hear about Jordan’s card games with Clipper teammates while watching as Clipper forward Blake Griffin mocked the whole thing on Twitter. There is something to be said about not wanting to give a team one last chance to convince you away from a tough decision, a reasonable fear on Jordan’s part, but there’s not a lot even a killer negotiator like Mark Cuban can do over a phone call to persuade things. Might as well just give him the courtesy of taking his call.

Parsons went on to accurately describe just how tough a situation the Mavericks are in right now. Had Jordan chose the Clippers on July 3 or even if he had decided to go back to the Clippers just a day or two later, Dallas would have had ample time to formulate backup plans. Those plans wouldn’t have brought in contributors that would be as good as DeAndre Jordan, and there is always a chance (for a franchise that has been turned down by free agents both big and small for four consecutive offseasons) that those plans wouldn’t have been executed in full because of reasons that were out of Dallas’ control.

Technically, this will just be another case of a free agent turning the Mavs down, in the same way that Dwight Howard and Deron Williams did. However, for Jordan to commit to the team in person and then wait until the exact last minute of the free agent moratorium to make his Los Angeles official hurts the team both personally and professionally.

Now the squad will have Dirk Nowitzki, entering his 18th NBA season, Chandler Parsons coming off of what could have been major knee surgery, and Wesley Matthews outfitted with a crazy (even for his grit, talents, and the upcoming salary cap rise) four-year, $70 million deal while recovering from an Achilles tear. Raymond Felton is currently slated to start at point guard, and though the team has some wriggle room under the cap, the blitzkrieg that was the first seven days of NBA free agency means that the cupboard is rather bare right now.

DeAndre Jordan had a right to do what he did. And the Mavericks and their fans have a right to be very, very angry.

"I haven't resigned as FIFA president" - Sepp Blatter

Weeks after he said he will be stepping down as FIFA President, Sepp Blatter today June 26th told Swiss newspaper, Blick, that he has not resigned as President of the world football body.

"I have not resigned. Rather, I have made my mandate available at an extraordinary congress."he said

In early June, Blatter had said that he will be stepping down as FIFA president "I decided to stand again for election because I thought it was the best option. The election is closed but the challenges have not come to an end. Fifa needs a profound restructuring. Although the members of Fifa have re-elected me president, this mandate does not seem to be supported by everybody in the world of football. This is why I will call an extraordinary congress and step down." he'd said on June 2nd

Thursday, June 25, 2015 Footballer Cavani sent off for slapping Chile defender who 'inserted finger into his anus' (photos)

Why would you insert your finger inside another man's anus? That's what Chilean defender Gonzalo Jara did yesterday during a match with Uruguay. He patted Uruguay star Edinson Cavani on the butt then inserted a finger into his butt. Cavani turned and flicked a hand into Jara's face, who fell on the floor like he had been kicked. Cavani was sent off after the incident because he already had one yellow card. The match officials didn't see what the defender had done to Cavani. But after the match, post match cameras showed what had happened and Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez is asking Jara to be sanctioned, saying Cavani had been the victim of provocation.

Chile won the match 1-0. Watch the video after the cut...

Nigerian Defender David Oniya Dies From Heart Attack During Match READ MORE: http://www.naij.com/460639-nigerian-defender-david-oniya-dies-from-heart-attack-during-match.html

A 30-year-old Nigerian defender, David Faramola Oniya, has died after collapsing during a friendly match between his Malaysian club T-Team and Kelantan.

T-Team captain David Oniya died after collapsing on the pitch during a friendly in Malaysia on Saturday

According to the BBC, David Oniya died on Saturday, June 13, after he collapsed three minutes into the match in Kota Bharu and was taken to hospital.

T-Team CEO Syahrizan Mohd Zain said Oniya did not receive medical treatment quickly enough.

Faizal Mohamad pula dikejarkan ke hospital.pelanggaran kepala

Posted by T-Team FC on Saturday, 13 June 2015

“He suffered a heart attack but it could have been a different story had the ambulance driver was alert,” Zain said.

“The driver was at the stands watching the game when Oniya suddenly collapsed and our defender was deprived of oxygen for several minutes,” he added.

Reportedly, the match was stopped after 60 minutes when a message about Oniya’s death was received from the hospital.

READ MORE: http://www.naij.com/460639-nigerian-defender-david-oniya-dies-from-heart-attack-during-match.html

Bangladesh break Jinx, get half-a-dozen scalps

Ajinkya Rahane was unfortunate to miss out on his fourth Test ton by just 2 runs. But his aggressive batting at No.5 helped India recover from a middle-order hiccup and finish yet another rain-curtailed day on 462/6. Three days into the Fatullah match, only 103.3 overs have been bowled in total. (Source: AP)

Written by Daksh Panwar | Fatullah | Updated: June 13, 2015 12:42 am

After staying behind a thick cloud cover for two days, the sun came out on Friday morning. Simultaneously, Bangladesh came out of their shell too.

Over the course of the first two days, the Test match had seen four sessions and a bit washed out by rain. The start of Day Three’s play, therefore, was pushed 30 minutes ahead of the schedule to make up for some of the lost time. It meant you needed to get up early to catch the first ball.

Surprisingly, however, there was little traffic on the road. Twenty kilometres just flew by. As you subsequently find out, in Bangladesh, Friday and Saturday are your weekly off days. It was evident in the number of people who had showed up at the stadium. It was rather impressive. There were long queues of fans wearing green floppy hats and the peculiar conical ones, almost all of them clad in the Bangladesh’s ODI jersey.

The onus was now on their team to show up with the ball. And show up they did. To be fair, though, any persuasion they needed was provided by India’s intent. To borrow a phrase from Bill Woodfull and tweak it to explain where the match stood at the start of the day: Of the two teams playing out there, one was playing to win, the other to stay competitive.”

Virat Kohli, it appeared, wanted his batsmen to score quickly and take the total from 239/0 to past 500 before contemplating a declaration — something you could make out from the morning warm-up session where India’s bowlers put in a lot more hard work than the batsmen.

However, intent is one thing and execution is another. The home team would not roll over and play dead. They had copped enough flak from the local media and fans on Day One for their defensive mindset. They introspected, Shakib Al Hasan later revealed, and concluded that they were giving away too many freebies.

“We wanted to bowl well, in the right areas. So that if India wanted runs, they would have to come and earn them,” Shakib said.

In the first half and hour, Bangladesh’s bowlers didn’t give away any free boundaries, putting pressure on the naturally aggressive Shikhar Dhawan, who had made a fluent 150 on the first day. India’s first boundary, in fact, came in the eighth over of the day when Dhawan flicked Taijul Islam to fine leg. Two ball later, Murali Vijay cut one past point to raise his sixth Test ton. 

Selectors wanted to sack MS Dhoni in 2012 but N Srinivasan put foot down, says former selector

N Srinivasan used his authority as BCCI president to overule the selectors.

By: Express News Service | Kolkata | Updated: June 12, 2015 7:33 pm

It’s one of the worst kept secrets of Indian cricket but finally a former national selector has put it on record.

That MS Dhoni would have been sacked as ODI captain and Virat Kohli made the new skipper back in 2012 if N Srinivasan, the then BCCI president, hadn’t vetoed an unanimous decision by the selectors.

Three years after the episode, Raja Venkat, a former first-class cricketer and a national selector from East Zone between 2008-2012, has detailed the dramatic events that saved Dhoni’s captaincy. He also revealed how the selectors had felt that the team spirit had hit “rock bottom” under Dhoni and there were “factions with the team” which prompted them to seek a change in leadership.

With Kohli taking charge as India’s full-time Test captain at Fatullah, Venkat did a recap. “It was a four-Test series in Australia in 2011-12 and after India had lost the first three matches, we decided that a change of guard was necessary,”Venkat wrote in his column for Bengali tabloid Ebela.

“Mohinder Amarnath and Narendra Hirwani (then selectors from North Zone and Central Zone respectively) had accompanied the team Down Under and upon their return they reported that there were several factions within the team. Team spirit had hit rock bottom. We wanted someone who could restore unity in the team. Virat was our choice, for he was not into any faction and had also brilliantly led North Zone to the 2010-11 Deodhar Trophy title. Before that he had impressed as the captain of India Under-19 team.”

The 2012 tour of Australia had not only thrown bad results — India were whitewashed 0-4 after they had already lost all the four Tests in England — but also gave raise to reports about factions within the team.

And so, the selectors met and passed an unanimous decision, Venkat recalled, to sack Dhoni. Amarnath, it has been reliably learnt, was very vocal in that meeting. He tore into Dhoni’s negative captaincy and reactive attitude. The former India batsman confirmed Venkat’s story, although he refused to give his own version or add anything to it. “You’ve to respect what he has written. I haven’t gone through it, but I hope details are there. For my part, I don’t want to add anything. I will say, when I’ve to say (about it),” Amarnath told The Indian Express.

When contacted by this paper, Venkat said: “We had unanimously decided to bring in a new captain. We believed Dhoni’s time was up and Virat should take over. We had met to pick the squad for the ODI …

I am glad Ravi Shastri is there and India don’t have a coach: Geoffrey Boycott

Ravi Shastri has lot to offer to Team India, feels Geoffrey Boycott. (Source: File)

By: Press Trust of India | London | Published on:June 12, 2015 7:01 pm

Geoffrey Boycott has hailed BCCI’s decision to persist with Ravi Shastri as Indian cricket team’s director and said that at the highest level an international side needs a manager and not a coach.

“I am glad Ravi is there and they do not have a coach. Because personally I like Ravi Shastri a lot as he has lot to offer. Personally the use of a coach is over emphasised, manager is a better word. At the top, people shouldn’t be coaching,” Boycott was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

“If anything they need for managing and organising, for me the captain leads the team, sets the tone on the field.”

The 74-year-old former batsman feels India’s new full-time Test captain Virat Kohli has to find his own way to get his teammates’ support and try to harness his passion and emotion.

“Virat Kohli has to find his own way to get the players behind him. His runs will help definitely. But runs alone won’t be enough. He follows a fantastic personality in Mahendra Singh Dhoni, a truly great leader of men,” Boycott said.

“So Kohli will be compared to Dhoni, and Kohli has to in my opinion, an advice for him, in each passion and emotion he has, but he has to try not to let that passion and emotion boil over. He has got to harness it. He has got a racing heart. Very important to harness it and I wish him well,” he said.

Talking about this summer’s Ashes series, Boycott, who played 108 Tests and 36 ODI, was of the opinion that Ian Bell should be dropped from the England squad for Kevin Pietersen.

“Bell seems to lack confidence and belief in himself at the moment, which is crazy really because he has all the talent in the world. KP would be better player than him at this moment,” he said.

As Delhi prepares to do yoga, why some veterans are feeling left out

An unusual afternoon storm gathers over JLN Stadium on Saturday, where Baba Ramdev will on Sunday conduct a rehearsal camp for International Yoga Day (June 21). (Source: Express photo by Praveen Khanna)

Written by Jonathan Selvaraj | New Delhi | Updated: June 14, 2015 11:35 am

On June 21, as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s International Yoga Day initiative, 45,000 people are expected to set a record as they practice asanas on the lawns of India Gate. On the same day, a rather smaller and less heralded delegation of 41 Indians will be at a Swissotel in Bangkok — also doing asanas, at the 5th Asian Yoga Sports Championships.

The participants have been selected on the basis of their performance at the 2014 national championships held in Hyderabad by the Yoga Federation of India. The championships were the 39th by the YFI since the inaugural one in 1976. “We recognise state bodies in 25 states,” says Deo Dutt, YFI president.

Dutt estimates that in the last championship in Hyderabad, nearly 2,000 children participated. Players representing India have routinely won gold medals at Asian and World level tournaments that have drawn participants and medalists from countries as unlikely as Iran, China and Pakistan. Apart from hosting tournaments, the YFI routinely hosts camps across the country.

Of the thousands of players — YFI’s term for participants — in their national championships, several have won plaudits on national TV. Others have taken their skills overseas, opening yoga schools across the world. Vipul Bhatti has done both. Termed “the rubber man” by a judge on the TV show India’s Got Talent, Bhatti has now started teaching students in China. Other former participants turned coaches are holding session with over 20,000 people in South Korea on June 21, says Deo Dutt.

All this seemingly ties in perfectly with the PM’s desire to promote yoga in the world. And yet, considering its history and contribution to the cause, the YFI doesn’t feature as prominently in the government’s plans for the occasion. While several players and participants of YFI camps will be at India Gate, the federation itself has not been involved with the organisation of the event.

The organisation has, in fact, been searching for a place in the sun for some time now. “We were recognised by the Indian Olympic Association until 2011. At that point when V K Malhotra was the interim IOA chief, a clause was removed that saw us and 38 other federations, including the School Games Federation of India, de-recognised,” says Dutt. Non-recognition has generally meant difficulty in attracting sponsors, and making it tougher for players to make the most of the sports quota for government jobs and admission to colleges.

As such, while YFI secretary Ashok Agarwal’s ultimate goal is to take yoga to every corner of the country, his immediate goal is more modest — to get YFI recognised by the Sports Ministry.

Copa America: Hosts Chile beat Ecuador 2-0 in opener

Arturo Vidal scored from the penalty spot in the 67th minute after being pulled down by Miller Bolanos. (Source: AP)

By: Reuters | Santiago | Published on:June 12, 2015 11:19 am

Second-half goals from Arturo Vidal and Eduardo Vargas gave hosts Chile a 2-0 victory over Ecuador in the opening match of the Copa America on Thursday.

Vidal scored from the penalty spot in the 67th minute after being pulled down by Miller Bolanos before Vargas latched on to a pass from Alexis Sanchez to double Chile’s lead with a low right-foot shot six minutes from time.

Ecuador’s best chance came from an Enner Valencia header that bounced back off the crossbar with the score still at 1-0.

Despite their victory, the Chileans created very little for much of the tie and will need to improve if they are realize their hope of a first Copa America title at the 37th attempt.

They face Mexico in their next match on Monday.

The Mexicans take on Bolivia on Friday in their Group A opener before heavyweights Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay, the defending champions, get their campaigns underway over their weekend.

Sanchez could have had two goals inside the first four minutes at Santiago’s national stadium but scuffed his first effort and then failed to beat goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez with a lob.

With the match goalless at halftime, Chile coach Jorge Sampaoli threw on Napoli striker Vargas in a bid to break the deadlock.

The change seemed to breathe life into the Chilean front line and they gradually took control as the game opened up before running out deserved winners.

Chile’s win extended their fine run against the Ecuadorians at the Copa America.

In 14 encounters dating back to 1939, Chile have won 12 and found the back of the net on all 14 occasions. They have no better record against any other side in the tournament.

Ecuador have now won only one of their last 16 Copa matches in a dismal run dating back to 1999. They face Bolivia next.

Euro 2016 qualifier: Cristiano Ronaldo nets three as Portugal defeat Armenia 3-2

The treble took Ronaldo's competition record to 26 goals.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s hat trick gave 10-man Portugal a 3-2 win at Armenia in a 2016 European Championship qualifier on Saturday.

Marcos Pizzelli scored from a free kick for Armenia in the 14th minute, but Ronaldo converted a penalty to level before the half-hour mark.

The Ballon d’Or holder scored twice more in the 55th and 58th to secure victory and keep Portugal top of Group I. The treble took Ronaldo’s competition record to 26 goals.

Portugal’s Tiago Cardoso was sent off with a second yellow card in the 62nd, and Hrayr Mkoyan scored the hosts’ second goal 10 minutes later.

“An oddly difficult victory? No. We knew that we would face a good team,” Portugal midfielder Joao Moutinho said. “Fortunately we have a player like Cristiano, who can decide the match at any moment.”

Portugal tops the group with 12 points, while Denmark remained second on 10 after beating Serbia 2-0.

Serbia and Armenia were left at the bottom of the group with one point each. Albania was third with seven points and a game to play.

Armenia went ahead through its only shot on target in the first half when midfielder Pizzelli struck home a free kick from 25 meters (yards) out.

But Ronaldo didn’t waste his chance to pull the visitors level in the 29th, firing in a penalty kick after Henrikh Mkhitaryan fouled Moutinho.

Portugal toiled the rest of the way to halftime, and mustered only a shot by Fabio Coentrao, which was saved by goalkeeper Roman Berezovski a minute before the interval.

Ronaldo then scored two more — first chipping Roman Berezovski before hitting from long range— to give Portugal the cushion it needed after Mkoyan scored a rebound from Rui Patricio’s save.

In Copenhagen, Yussuf Poulsen got his first international goal to put Denmark ahead in the 13th.

Daniel Agger missed a spot kick for Denmark in the 34th, but substitute Jakob Poulsen sealed the win over Serbia three minutes from time.

We are going for the win if weather permits: Murali Vijay

Murali Vijay was a satisfied man after reaching three figures. (Source: AP)

Fatullah | Published on:June 12, 2015 7:26 pm

Murali Vijay said he scored a sixth Test hundred despite not batting at his best and credited opening partner Shikhar Dhawan for allowing him to pace his innings, which was halted by multiple rain breaks in the one-off game between India and Bangladesh.

Vijay, who of late has been one of India’s prolific run-getters in the longest format, went on to score 150 on day three after being stuck on 89 for over two days due to persistent rain.

“We can’t do much about weather, it is not in our hands. All we (Dhawan and him) planned to do was to play throughout day two but sadly no play was possible. We are in a good position and hopefully we can do something special in the remaining two days,” Vijay told reporters after stumps on day three with India reaching 462 for six.

“The wicket was good wicket to bat on initially and then it became slower so I had to adjust a bit. Shikhar gave a brilliant start so I just wanted to hang in there and play for as long as possible,” he said.

How did he cope up with frequent stoppages?

“I was not batting at my best to be honest. My priority was not to give my wicket away, tire the fast bowlers and cash in when their four spinners operate. It is difficult (to bat between breaks) but you have to be up for it as a professional,” said Vijay.

Vijay was a satisfied man after reaching three figures, a mark he has missed five times in 56 innings by getting out in the 80s and nervous 90s.

Asked whether he was thinking of a maiden double hundred, Vijay said: “I was not thinking too far ahead. I was just thinking of pushing the score beyond 500 because I knew rain was coming. I picked up the wrong ball to play that shot.”

If Vijay is rock solid with the bat in the five-day format, he is equally effective in limited overs cricket. He was expectedly asked about batting in different formats.

“All you got to do as an opening batsman is go out with an open mind, stick to the basics and bat according to the wicket. At the moment, I am in the right space and batting well.

“Test cricket is all about good starts and from there it is about building partnerships. Initially I never go in with a plan and just go with the flow. There is a role for everybody and we are doing in the right way.”

Vijay said the team is aiming for a win despite rain threat looming large over the game.

“We are going for the win if weather permits,” he said. He also predicted the two Indian spinners, Harbhajan Singh and Ravichandran Ashwin, to do well.

“They both are different type of spin bowlers and it is good for us. The wicket is deteriorating and it is going to help both of them,” added Vijay.

Real Madrid Transfer News: Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema Out? Alvaro Morata, David De Gea In?

Álvaro Morata Álvaro Morata's fine first season with Juventus culminated with a goal against Barcelona in the Champions League final. Reuters an who threatened to deny Barcelona on Saturday. Watching their great rivals Barcelona lift the Champions League title on Saturday in Berlin will have only fueled Real Madrid’s burning desire to return to the winner’s circle next season. After winning their 10th European Cup in 2014, Real Madrid finished this season empty handed, a failure that cost manager Carlo Ancelotti his job. Rafa Benitez is now getting to grips with the challenges at the Bernabeu, and, according to new speculation, is keen to aid his challenge next season with the man who threatened to deny Barcelona on Saturday. Álvaro Morata briefly brought Juventus level in the German capital, continuing what has been an encouraging first season in Turin. Another of his high points was scoring in both legs of Juventus’ Champions League final against Real Madrid, the club where he came up through the youth ranks before being allowed to leave for a transfer fee of €22 million in search of regular first-team action last summer. But Madrid shrewdly inserted a buy-back clause in the deal, allowing them to sign Morata for €30 million this summer and €35 million in a year’s time. Spanish sports daily AS reports that Benitez is keen for Madrid to activate that clause right away, seeing him as the man to occupy the central striker role for the team. With Manchester City striker Sergio Agüero also having been linked with a transfer to the Bernabeu in recent weeks, there is further doubt cast upon the future of Real Madrid’s current first-choice No. 9, Karim Benzema. Reports in Britain over the weekend claimed that the France international’s agent had met with Manchester United officials about a potential transfer to the Premier League giants. Benzema has long struggled for support from the Bernabeu crowd, yet has become a key performer in the past two seasons and his agent insists there are no plans for him to move. “Karim wants to see out his contract,” Karim Djaziri told Marca. “He wants to retire at Real Madrid. I haven't met with any club in London. Not with United and not with anyone else. We haven't held talks with anyone other than Real Madrid What is Karim going to do in Manchester? He's happy in Madrid. He doesn't want to leave. Benzema would only leave if Real Madrid told him he was surplus to requirements, because he isn't going to leave of his own accord.” There have been rumors, too, over the future of another Real Madrid forward. Having made his feelings known that he wanted Ancelotti to stay, the Italian’s dismissal is thought to have led Cristiano Ronaldo to seek talks about the club’s direction. At the same time came reports that long-time suitors Paris Saint-Germain were willing to put down a record €125 million to bring the current Ballon d’Or winner to the French capital. Now, a survey in France Football has shown that Ronaldo is the player PSG fans most want to sign. Still, they appear unlikely to get their wish, with Ronaldo’s contract still having three years to run and there being no serious suggestion yet that either he or the club are keen to part ways. It has long been clear that Real Madrid’s first order of business in the transfer market this summer would be to try and secure the signing of Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea. The 24-year-old has for some time been expected to take over the No. 1 role from Iker Casillas, whose position has been under threat for more than two years. United have understandably been reluctant to lose the Spain international, but, with just a year remaining on De Gea’s contract, they may well be compelled to do a deal. And his exit may now have take a step nearer, with Goal.com reporting that De Gea has informed Manchester United that he wants to be allowed to join Real Madrid and go back to a city where he played previously with Atlético and where his family and girlfriend are based.

Barclays and Standard Chartered launch Fifa payment reviews

Two UK banks named in FBI papers have launched internal reviews into whether they were used for corrupt payments by Fifa officials.

Standard Chartered confirmed it was investigating, while Barclays is also understood to have begun a review.
HSBC was also named in FBI indictments against 14 people, including seven Fifa officials arrested in Switzerland. The banks were not accused of wrongdoing.
Labour has called on PM David Cameron to hold urgent talks about Fifa.
In a letter to Mr Cameron, shadow culture secretary Chris Bryant said an emergency summit was needed as "Britain cannot stand idly by" during the crisis.
He also called for British sponsors of Fifa and the World Cup, together with broadcasters and all the UK's Football Associations to establish "a common position".
"If no substantial change is forthcoming at Fifa, serious consideration should be given to the option of Uefa withdrawing from Fifa and coordinating alternative competitions," he wrote.
Last week, Mr Cameron said he wanted to see reform of world football's governing body.
Meanwhile Corinne Blatter - Fifa President Sepp Blatter's daughter - told the BBC that people were "working behind the scenes" against her father, saying he was not the person "taking money".

FBI indictment

Arrests - including seven Fifa officials held in Switzerland - came in the run-up to Friday's Fifa leadership election, in which Mr Blatter was re-elected as president for a fifth term.
Mr Blatter's victory, which came after rival Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein withdrew from the second round of voting, came after he had faced calls to resign in the wake of the crisis.
European football's governing body Uefa had backed Prince Ali in the election, while Mr Cameron was among many prominent names calling on Mr Blatter to step down.
The seven Fifa officials were arrested after the US Department of Justice issued a 47-count indictment - which followed an FBI investigation - charging 14 people with racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies over a 24-year period.
Investigators say they have uncovered more than £100m ($150m) paid in bribes.
Along with the FBI investigation, Swiss prosecutors have launched a second criminal case looking into the bids for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, which were respectively awarded to Russia and Qatar.

Analysis

By BBC business correspondent Joe Lynam
Dozens of banks were named in the 164-page FBI indictment of seven Fifa officials last week.
Some are tiny banks that most of us had not heard of - but three large UK banks were also there.
They weren't accused of anything - merely cited by the FBI as evidence of payments made by "co-conspirators" and the banks they used to funnel illicit wire transfers.
Nonetheless Barclays, Standard Chartered and HSBC will be actively looking at all payments through their global networks which might be tied to the accused officials and Fifa in general.
HSBC and Standard Chartered will be especially nervous. They've already paid fines in the past three years of almost £1.3bn ($2bn) and £650m ($1bn) respectively to US regulators for permitting money laundering or for flouting US sanctions.
Barclays might also be anxious because the roll-call of huge fines paid to domestic and international watchdogs seems to get longer every month.

Labour's shadow health secretary Andy Burnham earlier called on England to boycott the next World Cup in 2018.
The former sports minister told BBC Radio 5 Live's Pienaar's Politics there was a "pretty overwhelming case" for the FA to act.
He said he had long had doubts about Russia hosting the event.

Media caption Greg Dyke says Prince William is "upset about what has happened"

However, FA chairman Greg Dyke said it cannot act alone.
He told BBC One's the Andrew Marr Show: "It's got to be done by enough nations to have an impact, if it's done.
"It would be ridiculous to try to do it on your own because all we'd do is pull out of the World Cup and everyone would say 'well done' and they'd forget all about us.
"We've got to do it alongside other large footballing nations."

'Put the sport first'

Mr Dyke added that FA president the Duke of Cambridge was also unhappy with the recent events concerning Fifa.
"I was talking to him about it at the FA Cup final on Saturday. He is obviously upset by what's happened and he feels quite strongly about it," Mr Dyke said.
On Saturday, Prince William urged the world football governing body to "show that it can represent the interests of fair play and put the sport first".

Greg Dyke said Uefa president Michel Platini must unite Europe

"It would be very difficult but sometimes you've got to take a stand and you've got to say whether it's right or wrong," he said.
"And I can't see how it feels right to me to send an England team to Russia to play in a World Cup as if nothing has happened. Qatar too - but that's an issue that's further down the line.
"If enough people take that stand and follow our lead, then we will see new arrangements for the 2018 World Cup which I believe is what we need."
Mr Blatter has said the organisation can move on from its current crisis, following his election win.
"It's no longer a storm, it's less strong at the moment," he said. "I will continue to struggle and fight for good things."

England face 'exceptional' second Test chase against New Zealand, says Sir Ian Botham

England have their backs to the wall in the second Test after New Zealand established a lead of 338 on day three at Headingley, says Sir Ian Botham.

BJ Watling (100no) became the first New Zealand player to make a Test century at the ground and, with support from Martin Guptill (70) and Brendon McCullum (55), powered the tourists to 338-6 after the teams finished level after the first innings.

Watch the pick of action from the second day of the second Test between England and New Zealand

With the highest successful run-chase at Headingley being Australia’s 404-3 against England in 1948, former all-rounder Botham told Sky Sports that New Zealand are in the box seat.
“It would be exceptional if England get to 350,” he said. “If the opposition get that many, it’s backs to the wall stuff so New Zealand will be very, very happy.
“I thought they played good cricket all day. They’ve really bossed the game. BJ Watling was magnificent, while McCullum played himself in – he wanted to occupy the crease.”

BJ Watling: Became the first New Zealand player to score a Test century at Headingley

England – 253-5 overnight – lost took three wickets for six runs as Tim Southee (4-83) chipped away before Stuart Broad (46 off 39) and Mark Wood counter-attacked in a ninth-wicket partnership of 51.
Broad’s tally was his highest score in eight Tests since India seamer Varun Aaron broke his nose at the crease at Old Trafford last summer.
Reflecting on the morning session, Botham said: “New Zealand had England in trouble early on with the ball. England were scratching around, pushing at the ball.

Martin Guptil singled out BJ Watling for praise for his century knock

“The batsmen were out feeling and prodding – they weren’t doing anything decisive. Ian Bell and Moeen Ali in particular were feeling for the ball outside of off stump.
“At that stage England were digging themselves a hole – they weren’t really going anywhere. They will sit back and think ‘should we have attacked a bit more?’
“It will have done Broad the world of good to get some runs because he’s looked woeful leading up to this innings.”
Wood (3-64) and Broad were also England’s standout performers with the ball but Botham felt that overall, the home side’s attack had bowled too short.

England Bowling Coach Ottis Gibson feels the England bowlers lacked patience

“You’ve got to think on your feet on a wicket like this,” he reflected.
“I will guarantee you – without looking at any statistics – that New Zealand bowled much fuller and straighter than England have in this game.
“That has been reflected in their figures and the position they are in now.
“I think set bowling plans can be a great idea but on a wicket like this I would suggest doing the basics. Try to hit the top of off stump and you’re not going to go far wrong.
“If you bowl that line consistently and you stay patient, you’ll get your rewards – as New Zealand have proved. Tim Southee and Trent Boult have looked very, very effective.”

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere sings abusive song about rivals Tottenham

Jack Wilshere: Arsenal midfielder sang offensive song about rivals Tottenham

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere mocked rivals Tottenham in a foul-mouthed outburst during the FA Cup winners' victory parade on Sunday.

Thousands of Arsenal fans cheered the squad despite the rainy conditions as they paraded on open-top buses from the Emirates Stadium to Islington Town Hall, celebrating the club's record 12th FA Cup victory after successfully retaining the trophy with a 4-0 win over Aston Villa.

The Gunners faithful waited patiently for several hours for the team's return to the Emirates, where skipper Mikel Arteta and vice-captain Per Mertesacker presented the FA Cup on stage.
As the players, who were pictured celebrating in London after their victory on Saturday, revelled in the atmosphere, midfielder Wilshere took to the microphone, in a repeat scenario from 12 months ago.
Wilshere, who has come through the youth ranks at Arsenal, started a chant mocking local rivals Tottenham, asking the crowd: "I have one question, and one question only: what do we think of Tottenham?"... before adding: "And what do we think of ****?", then joining in as the crowd sang back: "We hate Tottenham and we hate Tottenham... we are the Tottenham haters."
Tottenham reached the Capital One Cup final where they lost to Chelsea and went on to finish fifth in the Premier League, below the Gunners once more.
Wilshere then continued with another Arsenal song, as supporters joined in the shouts of, "It has happened again, Tottenham Hotspur, it has happened again".
The microphone was then taken off Wilshere, but he retrieved it, saying: "We have got one more."
As the England international then started the chant "My old man said be a Tottenham fan....", which when sang in full includes more expletives aimed at Spurs, Arsenal broke off from the live broadcast on their in-house media channel. The studio presenter immediately apologised for any offence caused by the player's remarks.
Although not broadcast, the Arsenal supporters responded with chants of "Super Jack Wilshere".
It remains to be seen whether Wilshere will face any action from the Football Association for his outburst.
Wilshere came off the bench after 77 minutes against Villa, and was involved in the goal for Olivier Giroud in stoppage time, as the Gunners recorded the biggest FA Cup final winning margin in more than 20 years.

Five things we learnt following a brilliant night of boxing at the O2

It was a fantastic night of boxing at the O2 in London, so what did we learn?

The night revealed how Kell Brook is focussed and on fire, that Jorge Linares is a true world champion and also how you should not miss a moment's action on such a brilliant show.
But here are five things that leapt out at us...

British boxing is booming

We are starting to rule the boxing world. May began with the Fight of the Century, we then saw history made and on an unforgettable night we now have SIX world champions. That in itself says it all.
Lee Selby is the latest addition to the current list that began with Scott Quigg less than two years ago, and now includes his bitter rival Carl Frampton, Jamie McDonell, Kell Brook and the first Brit to win an Olympic gold medal and a professional world title, James DeGale. Throw in Andy Lee, the Irish middleweight WBC holder and these two islands are taking the world by storm.

James DeGale: another British world title holder

Anthony Crolla, George Groves and Nathan Cleverly can join the growing list with their next fights challenging the champions, Paul Smith has got an outside chance against Andre Ward and Tony Bellew wants his third world title crack by September. Amir Khan is never far away from a belt and how can we forget Tyson Fury is the WBO mandatory to take on the one and only Wladimir Klitschko?

We take world titles from them but they rarely come and take them from us now. We are gaining more and more respect and the age-old interpretation of a good old British fighter, bolt upright, straight shots is a thing of the past.

Jamie Moore

It is not just the quantity of our world champions, but the quality as well. Brook and DeGale beat Americans in their own backyards, McDonnell made his second defence over there too, while Quigg and Frampton want to settle domestic scores. They know they are among the best in the world but our fighters want to prove they are the best in Britain as well.
Carl Froch has finally stopped flying the flag with a title or two round his waist, the likes of David Haye and Ricky Burns did just as much a few years ago, but now there is a new breed of British fighters taking on the best and bringing those belts home.

The Welsh Mayweather is no myth

Nicknames in boxing can make or break you in terms of popularity, but the one thing Lee Selby did was justify his choice and suggest that he could well be Barry's answer to the one-time Pretty Boy.
Everyone thought he would prise the IBF featherweight title away from Evgeny Gradovich, but plenty of people thought he would do it over 12 rounds, stifle and slow the champion down, yet winning by a wide points margain; something Mayweather does for fun but is horrible for the opponent to handle. By the time it came to an end, one judge had given him all seven rounds and the other two, gave the champion just one.

Le Selby: The Pretty Boy from Barry

But on Saturday night, in easily the biggest test of his career so far, we saw more than waring down. Way more than that. Yes he was constanly on the move, circling the ring and staying clear but whenever Gradovich got close enough, he let off seriously sharp and accurate combinations as well, the right did most of the damage. We didn't see him go on the offence because he really didn't need to, but don't be fooled, like Mayweather, he can go low, straight for the head, or on the move. And there is even more to come, that's for sure.

Lee Selby believes he 'didn't really get out of second gear'.

Selby has already pointed out that the featherweight division - one lighter than Mayweather began his reign - is tough when the word unification was mentioned. Vasyl Lomachenko and Nicholas Walters are established stars, Gary Russell Jr newly-emerged and while they are not quite Manny Pacquiao, Keith Thurman and Kell Brook, there are big fish in a 126lb pond.

Floyd Mayweather: Has Lil Wayne with him

The Welshman's crisp white shorts and their golden tassles had a twinge of the early Mayweather and the ringwalk music would surely have got Money nodding his head. Selby did not need Lil Wayne blaring out alongside him. He is a big hip-hop fan and went out to Big L's Lifestyles of the Poor and Dangerous. Money will come. And maybe, the new Money will come from Wales.

Third time is not always lucky

If there was one thing we wanted to see come true on Saturday night was Kevin Mitchell's dream of winning a world title. The boy from East London is arguably the most popular fighter and to have seen him fail on two previous attempts was bad enough, but this was heart-breaking,

Kevin Mitchell: Third time unlucky at a world title

Even he will admit there were other things going on when he challenged Ricky Burns and Michael Katsidis in 2012 and 2014 respectively, but this time the he was on-point. He needed to be against a three-weight world champion in the shape of Jorge Linares in what most people had called the one 50-50, pick'em fight of the night.
And the dream looked like it would come true in the fifth round of a tactically smart and slick fight. A cracking short, sharp right put the world champion down and it not only shifted the balance but also had Mitchell well ahead on the scorecards.

It was such a shame because we all wanted Mitchell to win that world title and he is still not a world champion.

Jim Watt

The only problem was the round before a nasty clash of heads had split his left eyelid and knowing he had to close the gap, in the ring and on the cards, Linares starter to pick him apart. We could see it slowly and sadly unfolding and when Mitchell finally slumped to the canvas in the 10th, another world title eluded him again.

Jorge Linares: was losing on the cards at one stage

A London crowd that had boomed out I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles all night, were turned to silence and the third world title attempt probably hurt us all the most, but nothing in comparison to what Mitchell had gone through. This third time was not just unlucky, it showed there is no crueller sport than boxing.

It will be hard to get Joshua decent opposition

Who will get in the ring with Anthony Joshua now? Well, we rarely know before the fight is done, but surely it is going to be hard to find someone willing to step up.

Anthony Joshua: hammered Kevin Johnson through the ropes

Kevin Johnson was supposed be the one who was going to shut one set of doors and open up a few more for those looking in. Well thay didn't happen. Not only did Joshua become the first man to stop Kingpin, but he sent out another shockwave across the heayweight division.
It took 4mins 38secs to see him off. He landed 22 shots to Johnson's none and that came from what looked like a cautious approach. When he knocked him down in the first, he caught him again while he was on his backside, just to make sure. And if you saw the grin on his face, there was that evil streak, that finishing instinct, that seperares champions from contenders.

Someone with a bit of speed and a jab has to come next on the back of Kevin Johnson, but I want to see someone who is taller, heavier, just bigger.

Glenn McCrory

He is a beast of a man and the size alone is going to prove tough to match. David Price says he wants a go and does match the physical dimensions but should a man that had been stopped by a smaller, older and weaker Tony Thompson, go in with Joshua? Arguably the two world title holders, Wladimir Klitschko and Deontay Wilde, match up but right now, are in that top echelon that AJ is aiming for.

Domestic dust-ups still do it

There were three titles on the line on Saturday night that brought the best out of boxing, but they weren't world title tilts. Two of them were for British straps, one for a Commonwealth and when you want the night to get off to a good start, the all-British fights, did more than whet they appetite. At times they had you drooling.

Dave Ryan: beats John Wayne Hibbert in a real ding-dong

The first was also a rematch as Dave Ryan defended that Commonwealth light-welterweight belt against Johm Wayne Hibbert, but it was more than that. Plenty will say it was the fight of the night and it should even be among the fight of the year contenders. Ryan held on to the belt after a ding-dong battle that left both bloodied, bruised, battered but above all, showing what all-British affairs can deliver.
Next up someone's 0 had to go, there was a vacant British lightweight title on the line for Scotty Cardle and Craig Evans. It was rough and  tough from start to finish and when Cardle was crowned champion, you could see the delight. This is a guy that shares a gym with a world champion in the shape of Quigg, at least another four fighters who had won British titles and he knew it was the first step on the ladder. Ryan will come again but the first step onto the ladder is always a tough, tough climb.

When Scotty had won that Southern Area title and me, Ant Crolla, Scott Quigg, Stephen and Callum, all spoke to him about that Lonsdale belt and what it means.

Paul Smith on Scott Cardle

Before the world titles took centre stage Nick Blackwell produced a fierce right that floored John Ryder and saw him take the vacant middleweight honours. Both had pushed Billy Joe Saunders all the way and both waned to get up into that mix, but it meant someone was going to get left behind for now, and that is what these homesoil straps can do. You might be early in your career but you want to show Britain you are the best... for now.

Nick Blackwell is the new British middleweight champion

It is to easy to criticise domestic dust-ups because there are always stories, often excitement and usually thrilling entertainment. You might look back at all six fighter's records in years to come and one or two might well move on and up, but there is no doubt British titles will always have it's place. It will never be removed from the pecking order.