D Friday, September 25, 2009 METROSPORT 23 Everton demand Diouf retracts racism claims EvErton have urged Blackburn striker El-Hadji Diouf to apologise and retract his claim he was subjected to racist abuse at Goodison Park on Sunday. Diouf is under investigation by Mer- seyside Police for alleged racist abuse of a 14-year-old ball boy during rovers 3-0 defeat. Diouf told police after the game banan- as were thrown at him from the Everton crowd. officers scoured the area next to the pitch and in the stands but no bananas were found and no pictures have surfaced to back up the players claim. And Everton spokesman Ian ross has insisted Dioufs claims were not true. that is a wholly false allegation and I really would like him to retract that and apologise to the supporters and staff of this football club, he said. I dont think theres a worse allegation in modern sport than racism and it works both ways. From my perspective, it looks like Mr Diouf is accusing Everton fans of racist behaviour. the police will tell you that is com- pletely untrue and in such circumstances wed expect him to apologise and retract his allegations because they are com- pletely groundless. We find them offensive and a lot of our supporters have been in touch to say that they find them offensive. ross stressed Everton would have act- ed on the claims if they had found any supportive evidence. We moved very quickly and had the allegation held any water at all, we would have said so, he added. Accusations: Everton deny Dioufs racism claims Picture: AFP By DAviD kEnnEDy SOCCER prEmiEr lEAguE Welbeck adds local touch to United nations DAnny WElBEck admits he is living out his dream as a local boy playing for Manchester United. After starting last seasons carling cup final at Wembley and following that by appearing in the FA cup semi-final defeat by Everton, Welbeck seemed to have disappeared off the radar. now, though, he is back and has wasted no time in making an impact, scoring the winner in Wednesdays carling cup tie against Wolves. Welbeck, 18, said: I am just like any other normal Manc boy. to be given the chance to play for Manchester United is a dream. I just have to carry on training hard to try to get more chances in the first team. toDAy SoCCEr (7.45pm unless stated) Coca-Cola league two Accrington Stanley v Crewe............ league of ireland premier Division Bray v Drogheda Utd....................... Dundalk v Galway Utd..................... St Patricks v Cork............................ league of ireland First Division Mervue Utd v Shelbourne ............... Sporting Fingal v Finn Harps........... UCD v Kildare County .................... Limerick FC v Monaghan Utd.......... CriCkEt Champions trophy: England v Sri Lanka (Johannesburg) HorSE rACing Ascot, Haydock, Wolverhampton, Worcester, Dundalk rugBy union the magners league: Connacht v Ulster (8.00), Glasgow v Ospreys (7.05) SAturDAy SoCCEr (3pm unless stated) Barclays premier league Birmingham v Bolton....................... Blackburn v Aston Villa.................... Fulham v Arsenal...................... 5.30 Liverpool v Hull................................ Portsmouth v Everton............. 12.45 Stoke v Man Utd.............................. Tottenham v Burnley........................ Wigan v Chelsea.............................. Coca-Cola Championship Blackpool v Peterborough............... Coventry v Middlesbrough .............. Derby v Bristol City.......................... Ipswich v Newcastle................. 5.30 Leicester v Preston.......................... QPR v Barnsley ............................... Reading v Watford........................... Scunthorpe v Doncaster......... 12.00 Sheff Wed v Cardiff.......................... Swansea v Sheff Utd....................... West Brom v Crystal Palace............ Coca-Cola league one Bristol Rovers v Brighton................. Carlisle v Southampton................... Charlton v Exeter............................. Gillingham v Norwich ...................... Hartlepool v Walsall......................... Huddersfield v Stockport ................ Leyton Orient v Millwall ................... Milton Keynes Dons v Leeds........... Southend v Oldham......................... Swindon v Wycombe ...................... Tranmere v Colchester .................... Yeovil v Brentford ............................ Coca-Cola league two Aldershot v Cheltenham.................. Bournemouth v Burton Albion......... Bradford v Chesterfield ................... Bury v Lincoln City .......................... Dag & Red v Morecambe ................ Grimsby v Darlington....................... Macclesfield v Torquay.................... Notts County v Port Vale................. Rochdale v Hereford........................ Rotherham v Barnet ........................ Shrewsbury v Northampton ............ Clydesdale Bank premier league Falkirk v Kilmarnock ........................ Hearts v Hamilton............................ Motherwell v Hibernian.................... Rangers v Aberdeen........................ St Johnstone v Dundee Utd............ St Mirren v Celtic.................... 12.30 league of ireland premier Division Sligo v Shamrock Rovers ......... 7.45 league of ireland First Division Athlone Town v Wexford Youths7.45 EA Sports Cup Final Waterford Utd v Bohemians..... 5.30 HorSE rACing Ascot, Chester Haydock, Market Rasen, Kempton, Gowran, Navan rugBy union the magners league: Cardiff Blues v Scarlets (6.30), Edinburgh v Leinster (6.30) SunDAy SoCCEr Barclays premier league Sunderland v Wolverhampton.. 4.00 Coca-Cola league Championship Plymouth v Nottm Forest ......... 1.15 HorSE rACing Ascot, Musselburgh, Market Rasen, Clonmel, Naas motor rACing FiA Formula 1 Singapore grand prix (Singapore) rugBy union the magners league: Munster v Newport-Gwent Dgons (5.05) wEEkEnd fixtuRES lEaguE Of iREland PETE MAHON takes charge of St Patricks Athletic for the first time when the Inchicore men host fourth-placed Cork City in tonights crucial Premier Division clash at Richmond Park. Still just three points above the relegation zone, interim boss Mahons priority will be top- flight survival and her is without the injured trio of Garret OConnor, Dave Partridge and Andy Harran. Cork boss Paul Doolin faces a late selection problem with Neal Horgan, Dan Murray and Greg OHalloran all doubtful with injuries, and Stephen ODonnell is recovering from flu. Bottom of the table Bray Wanderers can leap-frog fellow relegation candidates Drogheda United with victory in a real six- pointer at the Carlisle Grounds. Winger Gary McCabe is suspended while Derek Foran is doubtful with a groin injury. Drogheda welcome back Alan Mcnally, Robbie Clarke, James Chambers and Willie Woods after suspensions. Dundalk and Galway United, both in mid-table positions, do battle in tonights other Premier Division clash at Oriel Park. Cork provide first test for Mahon SCOttiSh pREmiER McGinn hails special skill of McCourt NIAll McGINN has lavished praise on fellow former Derry City star Paddy McCourt, who thrilled Celtic fans with his first goal for the club in Wednesdays Co- Operative Insurance Cup win at Falkirk. McCourt has enjoyed rave reviews for his performances in the reserves since joining last summer and he went some way to justify the hype with a fine solo goal in the 4-0 rout at Falkirk. Speaking at the Co-operative Insurance Cup quarter-final draw where Celtic were paired at home to Hearts, McGinn insisted his fellow countryman is a bit special. It was good Paddy got 90 minutes at Falkirk and he showed the fans what he could do. Paddy is a bit special, he runs at defenders and his close control is unbelievable. Its obviously good having a player like that in the team as its something you dont really find too often. index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html24.html25.html26.html27.html