Arsenal sink Sevilla

Championship round-up

Poyet charged

All three British clubs involved in Champions League action this evening were victorious. A Cesc Fabregas inspired Arsenal destroyed Sevilla 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium, Manchester United beat Sporting Lisbon in Portugal thanks to the only goal of the game from Christian Ronaldo and Rangers came back from a goal behind to beat VfB Stuttgart 2-1 at Ibrox.

Watford are now three points clear at the top of the Championship table after a 1-2 win against Cardiff City at Ninian Park. The visitors were ahead at the break thanks to a Darius Henderson strike but Jimmy Floyd Hasslebaink equalised for the Welsh club on the hour. However, Henderson registered his second goal after 77 minutes to earn all three points for the Hornets. Meanwhile, Southampton and Colchester United drew 1-1 at St Mary’s Stadium.

The Irish Football Association has revealed that Jonny Evans was the player fined along with Keith Gillespie for misbehaviour after the Euro 2008 qualifier in Iceland. Gillespie was fined a larger sum for fighting on an aeroplane as the team boarded their flight to London. Evans was not punished in relation to that incident but for drinking after the defeat in Reykjavik. The money from the fines is to go to charity. At first the IFA, although confirming Gilespie’s fine, refused to reveal the identity of the other punished player. IFA chief executive Howard Wells said they had then named both because some people were jumping to the wrong conclusion.

Uefa president Michel Platini has written to all European leaders maligning the influence of money in football and calling on governments to accept their role as “the last hope for a healthy and balanced future of European football”. Platini added: “Money has always been in sport and football has had a professional component for 150 years. But money has never been the ultimate objective of football: the main purpose has always been to win trophies.” However, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has rejected Platini’s pleas. A spokesman said:

“We believe that football can find a way forward. The recent Premier League broadcasting deal highlights this, with money being split amongst the league’s clubs as well as being redistributed to the grassroots. We have made great strides through the Football Foundation with funding from government, the Premier League and the FA supporting over 4,000 community projects worth over half a billion pounds in seven years. There is no doubt that the influx of money into football is a testament to its success and has brought many benefits. It, of course, brings challenges too and we welcome the ongoing constructive debate within the game.”

Typhoon Wipha is causing havoc across China and has led to the postponement of key matches at the Women’s World Cup. The host nation were due to meet New Zealand while Australia faced Canada but both games will now be played on Thursday. The typhoon hit China’s east coast at 1830 BST on Tuesday and led to the evacuation of more than 1.5m residents. Weather warnings had already caused Group C matches to be delayed to Thursday. The latest rescheduling means that the final four matches in the competition’s group stages can now be played simultaneously, as originally scheduled, with the winners and runners-up in Groups C and D still to be decided.

New Zealand defender Jack Pelter has signed a one-year contract with Sunderland after proving his fitness.

Cardiff City and Cardiff Blues rugby club have signed a deal that will see football and rugby played at the new 30,000-seater stadium at Leckwith. The Blues will quit their Arms Park home in 2009, along with City who are leaving Ninian Park.

The Football Association has charged Leeds United assistant manager Gus Poyet with misconduct after he criticised referee Andy D’Urso after his side’s second round Carling Cup defeat to Portsmouth at Fratton Park. Poyet suggested D’Urso held a vendetta against him and Leeds boss Dennis Wise going back to their playing days and followed this up by stating:

“Andy D’Urso is not good enough for us and I don’t want to see him at a Leeds match again.”

Poyet has until October 4 to appeal.

Nathan Davies