NEWS & FEATURES

Swansea's Bodde suffers new injury blow

Midfielder flies back to Netherlands after being taken off in reserve match

Ferrie Bodde (centre) celebrates scoring for Swansea in a match in November 2008

Swansea City midfielder Ferrie Bodde has suffered yet another injury blow after he was taken off during a reserve match.

The 29-year-old, who has been plagued by injuries for the past three years, was carried off after only two minutes of the Swans reserve-team fixture against Arsenal at Parc y Scarlets on Wednesday.

"It is not the same knee that has kept Ferrie sidelined for three years"
- Swansea statement

A statement on the Swansea official websitesaid that Dutchman Bodde has flown home to see his surgeon in a bid to discover the extent of the damage.

The statement added: "The good news is that it is not the same knee that has kept Ferrie sidelined for virtually the last three years following two operations."

Swansea's head physio, Kate Rees, added: "At the moment there is a lot of swelling around the knee.

"We may have to wait for that swelling to go down before his surgeon in Holland is able to give us a full diagnosis.''

Bodde has not played for Swansea since 27 February 2010, and has made only 59 appearances in all since signing for the Welsh side from ADO Den Haag for £85,000 in July 2007.

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Barclays Premier League

Premier League clubs sign Sports Charter

All 20 League clubs are committed to tackling homophobia in sport

Premier League clubs have added their signatures to the Sports Charter

All 20 Premier League clubs have signed the Sports Charter that tackles homophobia and transphobia in sport.

The Sports Charter was launched in June 2011 at 10 Downing Street when Chief Executive Richard Scudamore signed on behalf of the Premier League.

On Thursday, all 20 Premier League clubs signed the Charter individually.

"We are pleased to reaffirm our commitment with each of our clubs signing the Charter"
- Richard Scudamore

"The Premier League and our member clubs believe that everyone should be able to participate in, watch and enjoy sport - whoever they are and whatever their background," said Scudamore.

"When the Sports Charter to tackle homophobia and transphobia in sport was launched in June 2011 the Premier League signed it and we are pleased to re-affirm our commitment to it today with each of our clubs signing it individually."

Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone added: "Nearly 3,000 individuals and clubs have already signed up and I'm delighted that Premier League clubs have taken a stand by signing the Charter too.

"It sends a really strong signal when clubs in the best league in the world say enough is enough."

The Charter is made up of four bullet points, which read:

• We believe that everyone should be able to participate in, watch and enjoy sport - whoever they are and whatever their background.
• We believe that sport is about fairness and equality, respect and dignity. Sport teaches individuals how to strive and succeed, how to cope with success and disappointment, and brings people together with a common goal.
• We are committed to making these values a reality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. We will work together, and individually, to rid sport of homophobia and transphobia.
• We will make football a welcome place for everyone - for those participating in the sport, those attending matches and for those working or volunteering in it. We will work with all these groups to ensure they have a voice, and to challenge unacceptable behaviour.

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Barclays Peirmer League

NEWS & FEATURES

First Published: Thursday 02 February 2012

Tottenham confirm Nelsen signing

New Zealand defender joins Spurs after being released by Blackburn

Defender Ryan Nelsen in Barclays Premier League action for Blackburn Rovers in August

Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed the signing of veteran defender Ryan Nelsen.

The 34-year-old has been able to join the White Hart Lane outfit outside the transfer window because he was released from his contract at Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday and was a free agent.

Nelsen bolsters Spurs' defensive options going into the final few months of the Barclays Premier League season, after they allowed Sebastien Bassong to join Wolves on loan on deadline day.

New Zealand international Nelsen, who captained his country at the 2010 World Cup, has ended a seven-year association with Blackburn by leaving Ewood Park.

He joined Rovers in 2005 from DC United and went on to make 172 Barclays Premier League appearances, scoring eight goals in the process as well as being the club captain.

Nelsen has played only once for Blackburn this season, but he is expected to go straight into the Spurs squad for their vital match at Liverpool on Monday.

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NEWS & FEATURES

NEWS & FEATURES

First Published: Thursday 02 February 2012

FIFA 12 Match Predictions 4-6 Feb

EA SPORTS FIFA 12 Predicts the weekend's Barclays Premier League matches

Watch the simulated highlights to discover what FIFA 12 Predicts for Chelsea v Man Utd

EA SPORTS simulate each Barclays Premier League fixture during the season, generating a prediction of the result using the FIFA 12 engine that takes club and player form into consideration.

This week FIFA 12 Predicts Sunday's mouthwatering match between Chelsea and Manchester United: Watch simulated highlights.

Here are the rest of EA SPORTS predictions for this week's round of matches (actual scores will appear in brackets):

Saturday 4 February 2012

Arsenal 2-0 Blackburn
Norwich 2-1 Bolton
QPR 1-0 Wolves
Stoke 1-1 Sunderland
West Brom 0-2 Swansea
Wigan 0-2 Everton
Man City 2-1 Fulham

Sunday 5 Febuary 2012

Newcastle 2-2 Aston Villa
Video: FIFA 12 Predicts Chelsea v Manchester United

Monday 6 February 2012

Liverpool 1-0 Tottenham

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FA Cup final, Premier League avert fixture clash

Premier League chiefs have agreed to reschedule fixtures on the penultimate weekend of the season in order to avert a clash with the FA Cup final in May, it was confirmed on Thursday.

Last season a fixture pile-up caused by the Champions League final being held at Wembley meant the FA Cup final was staged alongside Premier League fixtures, taking the shine off one of the most prestigious days in the English calendar.

A similar scenario had been expected this year with more fixture congestion expected as the calendar factors in a break before Euro 2012.

However Premier League clubs have agreed to stage all fixtures in the penultimate round of games on Sunday, May 6, the day after the cup final at Wembley.

"We realise that it is not good for either competition to have our matches conflicting with the FA Cup," Premier League communications director Dan Johnson said.

Meanwhile Premier League officials confirmed next season would begin on August 18, six days after the end of the London Olympics.

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Carlos Tevez has attempted to diffuse the latest furore about his relationship with Manchester City by denying he made the comments attributed to him in the German magazine Kicker.

In the published interview, it was said that Tevez felt the way he had been treated by City was "strange" and he did not care what people thought about his conduct. However, his representatives have this evening poured cold water on the entire interview.

A statement issued by his representative read: "Regarding an interview published in Kicker magazine today (2.2.12), Carlos Tevez categorically denies both speaking to any journalist about his situation at Manchester City and the quotes attributed to him in the interview."

The Argentinian's future has been the subject of intense debate for months now.

He has still not played for City since becoming embroiled in a dispute with the club in September and it was widely anticipated he would leave during the transfer window.

However, despite interest from Inter Milan, AC Milan and Paris St Germain, no transfer was concluded and City flatly refused to enter into discussions over a loan deal for the 27-year-old.

Tevez remains in Argentina and whilst there has been speculation he is about to return, it is understood that is not going to happen immediately.

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Latest football news

Tevez breaks silence on 'comical' City stalemate

Carlos Tevez, Manchester City's truant Argentine hitman, is resigning himself to mooching about at the golf club for the foreseeable...

Tevez reportedly told German mag Kicker Sportmagazin that he remains hopeful of resolving the current stalemate with City - but meanwhile he'll be battering it round the links with pals.

He said: "I just see I think the whole situation has become almost comical. I wanted to leave City and had offers from clubs in other leagues, both Italian and Spanish.

"But in the end it all collapsed because City wouldn't accept any of the offers. They say at City that I cost them a lot of money and so they don't want to give me away on the cheap.

"But they don't want to loan me out, either. I really have no idea what will happen in the coming months.

"I sent City a letter in which I told them why I wanted to go. In the last few days I've also contacted the Premier League to appeal against the fine which City have imposed on me.

"I'm waiting now for an answer from the Premier League. Going to the League is the only option I've got right now.'

"I can see that but there's nothing I can do about it. There were offers from Milan, from Inter and from Paris Saint-Germain. But each time nothing came of them.

"But certainly there were interested people who wanted to see me playing football again.

"Everyone has to do what works for them. Barcelona are a fantastic club, and La Liga a fabulous championship. But what happened, happened.

"There is also a personal aspect to all this. I wanted to be closer to my family, above all my children who are and were in Argentina. And because I couldn't play any longer at City I took control of the situation myself."

It may be too much sun, but the little loafer hasn't ruled out some sort of reconciliation with City boss Roberto Mancini.

He said: "That [talking to Mancini] is something I would have to discuss with City's directors. Let's see what happens.

"Of course, what I want is to be playing football. But the way things are I have to make do with playing golf or making appearances like this coming Saturday, at the farewell match of my old friend Martin Palermo."

Let's hope Tevez and City can putt their troubles behi

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