INT Global Football

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The Korea Football Association (KFA) has given a lifetime ban to 41 players after a match-fixing scandal.

The enquiry by the K-League and Korean FA dates back to the summer of 2011, with over three dozen players found to have been involved in the fixing.

The world governing body Fifa has also extended the ban to apply worldwide, meaning no player caught up in the scandal can transfer overseas.

However, as many as 21 of the players turned themselves in to officials during the investigation, and they have now been offered the chance to return to the game following a probation that is believed to be between two and five years.

The voluntary probation means that any player wishing to return to football must inform the K-League of their intentions before undergoing periods of community service ranging from 200 to 500 hours.

The community service activities vary from coaching local football classes to support for those with disabilities in football and the continued involvement in anti-match-fixing initiatives.

Any player who is to be reinstated will be decided solely by the KFA, following monthly reports on their respective community service activities.

 

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Blackburn Rovers have made an approach to Blackpool for manager Michael Appleton.

Rovers have been without a manager since sacking Norwegian Henning Berg on December 27, just 57 days after taking over from the unpopular Steve Kean and they appear to have made their choice regarding the new man.

Following the dismissal of Berg, a Champions League winner with Manchester United, Kevin Blackwell was strongly linked with the post, Rovers have now officially made an approach for their ideal candidate.

 

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France head coach Didier Deschamps has insisted that fixating on their next meeting with Spain is futile, and instead is focusing on their game with Georgia.

Les Bleus face Germany in a February friendly before recommencing their World Cup 2014 qualification campaign against the eastern European nation on March 22.

They are set to face la Roja to be played just four days after that latter game, Deschamps believes a win against Georgia is essential to send them into the mouth-watering Group I clash on home soil.

 

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Juan Roman Riquelme would be more than welcome at Fluminense, according to Deco.

The former Villarreal player called time on his second spell at Boca Juniors in the summer, having spent a total of 10 years playing at La Bombonera.

He has since been linked with a host of clubs, including the Brazilian champions, and Deco insists that he would not be threatened by extra competition for his playmaking spot.

 

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Blackburn have been granted permission by Blackpool to talk to manager Michael Appleton over the Lancashire side’s vacant managerial post.

The development represents a U-turn by the Seasiders, after initially rejecting Blackburn’s first approach earlier on Thursday.

However, Blackpool have now announced that both Appleton and first-team coach Ashley Westwood are set for talks with the Ewood Park outfit.

 

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Ian Holloway has indicated that Crystal Palace will look to loan back Wilfried Zaha should the attacker leave Selhurst Park in the January transfer window.

 

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LionsXII vs Selangor FA: Irfan's boys keen to add a valuable away win

Both the LionsXII and Selangor scraped through their opening games of the 2013 Malaysian Super League season with solitary-goal victories against ATM FA and Negeri Sembilan respectively a few days ago, and they will be keen to build on their winning starts.

Despite picking up the three points, the two lone strikers Fazrul Nawaz [LionsXII] and Francis Doe [Selangor] both similarly failed to impress, and could use with some extra shooting practice before the match on Saturday.

The home side will still be missing the influential Hariss Harun in central midfield, but coach V. Sundramoorthy can be pleased with the performance of debutant Hafiz Abu Sujad against ATM.

The ex-Courts Young Lions skipper partnered Isa Halim and the new combination proved difficult for their opponent to break down, and they were forced to change their tactics to attack the LionsXII via the flanks.

This is exactly one area which could cause Sundram a headache, as Selangor is known for their hardworking and speedy players down the side.

Winger Gurusamy and right-back Mahali Jasuli, who has been dubbed the 'Malaysian Cafu', venture forward as a well-coordinated team on that flank.

Meanwhile, Kunanlan and Shukor Jusoh will also be sure to cause problems down the left, so full-backs Faritz Hameed and Irwan Shah will have to be on their toes.

The LionsXII will once again look to skipper Shahril Ishak for inspiration, as the attacking midfielder carried on where he left off last season by scoring the winner against ATM FA.


LionsXII

Izwan
Faritz - Baihakki - Safuwan - Irwan
Isa - Hafiz
Safirul - Shahril (c) - Nazrul
Fazrul

Selangor FA

Norazlan
Mahali - Ramez - Asrarudin (c) - Raimi
Bunyamin - Kunanlan
Gurusamy - Amri - Shukor
Doe

 

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Championship Preview: Wolves' Saunders era begins against resurgent Blackburn

The swift dismissal of Stale Solbakken following an FA Cup defeat to Luton last week saw Wolves move even more swiftly to appoint Dean Saunders as his replacement.

The former Wales international was installed less than 48 hours after the Norwegian's sacking and is hoping to turn around a run of form that has seen the Molineux outfit pick up just 12 points from the last 48 available to them.

Solbakken insisted afterwards that letting him go was the wrong decision due to the amount of injuries, but those who are at the club are looking to hit the ground running.

Midfielder Jamie O'Hara has recently returned to the side following nine months out through injury, and thinks the former Doncaster boss can provide a spark to reignite Wolves' flagging campaign.

 

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Shakhtar Donetsk have confirmed the signing for Taison from Metalist Kharkiv for a fee of €15 million on a five-year deal.

The Brazilian attacker's form for his club caught the eye of a host of clubs across Europe, including Champions League holders Chelsea.

However, the Donbass Arena outfit have now pounced for the 24-year-old, activating his release clause.

 

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Leigh Griffiths will face disciplinary action from Hibernian over a racist comment made on Twitter, the Scottish club have confirmed.

Griffiths, currently on loan from Championship side Wolves, responded to a provocative tweet by swearing at user Zak Iqbal and telling him to go "back to your own country".

Lothian and Borders Police have confirmed they have made initial inquiries regarding the incident, but Hibs have revealed the player will be disciplined internally for his actions.