Celts fuming over FA’s Victory snub
ENGLAND’S withdrawal from the historic Victory Shield for Under 16s has further worsened relations between the FA and the other home nations.
Officials in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland were unhappy to find out about the FA ditching a tournament that started in 1925 via a letter from chairman Greg Dyke, with no warning or consultation.
This is seen as another example of FA ‘arrogance’ following the English telling FIFA that they want to send Great Britain football teams to the Rio Olympics without informing the other countries, who put the kybosh on the initiative.
And England’s desire to have more varied opposition for their Under 16 players is not going down well in Wales, the current holders of the Victory Shield.
The FA say they have kept the tournament organisers in the loop and only revised their plans after Sky Sports cut their title sponsorship — which the TV station dispute — and wanted changes to the format.
The remaining Victory Shield competitors are planning to invite another country from Europe to replace England.
Meanwhile, there was some surprise that Dyke chose to go to the Premier League Under 21 cup final between Southampton and Blackburn last Monday rather than the FA Youth Cup final first leg between Manchester City and Chelsea at the Etihad academy. The FA say Dyke had business on the south coast.
CHAMPION jockey and Arsenal fan Tony McCoy, who retires from riding at Sandown tomorrow, will be feted at the Emirates Stadium when his schedule next allows him to watch the Gunners. PELE might be struggling physically with his knees at the age of 74. But he’s certainly showing more clarity with his opinions on the game than he infamously did in the 2002 World Cup, when he picked Nicky Butt as player of the tournament. Pele (right), who was promoting an art exhibition inspired by his life at London’s Halcyon Gallery, made pertinent comments about Wayne Rooney, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Eden Hazard, Oscar and Ramires. And about Brazil’s 7-1 thrashing by Germany in the World Cup semi-final, Pele said: ‘One-nil or two-nil — but seven goals was a disaster. Only God knows what happened.’
THE ECB are running out of time to clinch a terrestrial highlights deal for the T20 Blast, which is considered hugely important for growing the game. Talks with ITV have stalled and the competition starts on May 15. There are no highlights clauses in Sky’s exclusive deal and the rights holders would have to agree when the highlights were shown — adding to the complications.