Ireland have rival for 2030 World Cup as Bendtner gets 50 days in jail for assault
THE five-way World Cup 2030 bid driven by the English FA, and including the FAI, has a European rival from the Balkans. Against expectations, Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece and Romania yesterday declared their intent to submit an official bid to stage the Centenary finals. A Balkan country has never hosted the World Cup while Yugoslavia staged the finals of the 1976 European Championships, which involved just four teams. The bid from these islands involves England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and is pending a current feasibility study. Sportsmail understands the bid is likely to go ahead with a proposal that four nations, including Ireland, stage the 2030 finals. Northern Ireland would have a key role as draw hosts and as a base for competing nations. UEFA president Alexander Ceferin is adamant the 2030 World Cup should return to Europe, and may push for one bid, supported by all 55 nations, rather than risk bids splitting the UEFA vote apart.
KEVIN DE BRUYNE was dealt another severe blow yesterday as it emerged that he faces another six weeks out with knee ligament damage. Fulham’s Timothy FosuMensah fell awkwardly on De Bruyne’s left knee during Manchester City’s 2-0 Carabao Cup victory on Thursday and the midfielder suffered his second injury setback of this season. De Bruyne, 27, missed two months after a trainingground accident in August, although that was a rightknee injury. City manager Pep Guardiola could be without De Bruyne for seven matches — including next weekend’s Manchester derby. The Belgian now faces a race to be fit for the December 8 clash at Chelsea.
FORMER Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner has been sentenced to 50 days in jail after being convicted of assaulting a taxi driver.The Denmark international broke the jaw of the taxi driver on a night out in Copenhagen. Bendtner will appeal the sentence and was able to walk free from the courtroom. Bendtner has not been selected for Denmark in recent months because of his poor shape.