Sport news in brief
Newcastle set for legal battle with Premier League
Newcastle owner Mike Ashley is gearing up for a legal battle with the Premier League over the collapse of a Saudi-backed takeover.
Ashley has instructed lawyers Blackstone Chambers over a simmering row with the governing body after Amanda Staveley’s consortium withdrew its £340milion offer in July following a 17-week wait, ultimately in vain, for officials to complete their owners’ and directors’ test.
A statement on the firm’s official website on Monday said: “Shaheed Fatima QC and Nick De Marco QC are acting for Newcastle United FC and Mike Ashley (instructed by Dentons) in a dispute with the Premier League about its rejection of a takeover bid made by PCP Capital Partners, the Reuben Brothers and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF) based on its Owners and Directors test.”
Newcastle claimed last Wednesday that the bid had been rejected by the Premier League, who insisted the
following day that it had not.
Having taken legal advice as he attempted to resurrect the deal, Ashley accused the governing body of not acting “appropriately” in repeatedly seeking further clarification over the relationship between the Saudi state and the PIF, a major stumbling block alongside the issue of TV piracy.
Australia must learn from England, says Zampa
Leg-spinner Adam Zampa admits his Australia side can “learn a lot” from England after waking up on the wrong side of another unlikely swing in fortunes.
The tourists were well on course to claim victory in the second one-day international at Emirates Old Trafford, sitting pretty on 144 for two after 30 overs as they chased down a target of 232.
A dramatic collapse unfolded, with England bowling them out for 207 as an inspired spell from Jofra Archer and Chris Woakes, well backed up by the Curran brothers and Adil Rashid, levelled the series at 1-1 to set up a decider on Wednesday.
Zampa has been one of his country’s standouts in Manchester, taking seven wickets at an average of 13 across the two games, but recognises the opposition as the yardstick side on the circuit.
“England are just a really, really good cricket team and we can learn a lot from them,” he said. “They’re really adaptable. Their one-day cricket over the last four or five years has been unbelievable, they really attack with the bat and do the job with the ball as well. They read conditions really well, the bowlers literally hit the top of off stump the whole time and they are very disciplined.
“We owned (a lot of) the game but it seems to be a thing playing against England, they can turn the game around pretty quickly.”
Hamilton’s accusation ‘offensive’, says FIA
Lewis Hamilton has been told by Formula One’s governing body that his accusation they endangered lives in the Tuscan Grand Prix is “offensive”. The FIA have taken a dim view of Hamilton’s incendiary remark which the six-time world champion made in the aftermath of Sunday’s crash-strewn race at Mugello.
Hamilton felt the lights on the safety car were turned off too late in a deliberate ploy to back up the field and spice up the restart. The switching off of the flashing bulbs indicate when the race is resuming. A huge pileup ensued after the safety car peeled into the pits.
Hamilton said: “They are trying to make it more exciting but today they put people at risk. It was over the limit. It wasn’t safe.”