Spurs stuck in relegation zone

Hull beat Barnsley

Clattenburg takes break

Tottenham Hotspur remain in the Premier League relegation zone after losing 3-1 against Newcastle United at St James’ Park. Obafemi Martins and Claudio Cacapa gave the home side a commanding half-time lead. Robbie Keane pulled one back for Spurs but James Milner sealed victory for the Magpies.

In the Championship, Hull City beat Barnsley 3-0 at the KC Stadium.

UEFA have halved the two-match ban originally handed to AC Milan goalkeeper Dida after he had been found to have breached Uefa’s principles of “sportsmanship and integrity” for over-reacting to minimal contact by a fan on the pitch during AC Milan’s Champions League clash with Celtic at Celtic Park. Dida will now only miss Wednesday’s game against Shakhtar Donetsk. Celtic were fined £12,500 following the incident.

Manchester City’s Dietmar Hamann has been banned from driving for six months and fined over £7,000 for a series of motoring offences.

Blackburn Rovers defender Christopher Samba has signed a new five-year deal at Ewood Park.

Southampton’s plc board has agreed in principle to proposals that would see a unnamed UK-based investor purchase 55% of the shares in parent company Southampton Leisure Holdings. The proposal, which would require the backing of shareholders, was revealed in a statement to the Stock Exchange.

Southend United chairman Ron Martin has been arrested on suspicion of corruption and money laundering but he claims his arrest is not related to the football club.

Los Angeles Galaxy have failed to reach the Major League Soccer play-offs, which means David Beckham’s season is over already. The former England captain now faces six months without a competitive match for his club until the MLS season resumes in April.

The referee who took charge of this weekend’s controversial Merseyside derby, Mark Clattenburg, will not be in charge of a Premier League game this weekend. Apparently, this is due to a planned holiday and is not the result of criticism he received last weekend. Everton complained over Clattenburg’s handling of a match that saw Tony Hibbert sent off while Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt was only booked for an atrocious two-footed lunge. Everton were further enraged when Clattenburg ignored their claims for a penalty moments later. Jamie Carragher appeared to haul Joleon Lescott to the ground as Everton’s nine men fought for an equaliser but cries for a penalty were ignored. Clattenburg will be refereeing the UEFA Cup game between Lokomotiov Moscow and Atletico Madrid on Thursday night.

Nathan Davies