Manchester City celebrate with the trophy after winning the Premier League title, on Sunday, 06 May 2018. Photo: REUTERS

MANCHESTER: Champions Manchester City will have to wait to break the Premier League points record after they were held to a 0-0 draw by Huddersfield Town at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

City, who lifted the Premier League trophy in front of their fans after the match, mustered only two shots on target all game, as relegation-threatened Huddersfield dug in for a vital point.

The draw means City have 94 points, one short of the season record set by Chelsea back in 2004-05, but they still have two games left to play.

Huddersfield gave their survival hopes a huge boost with a point that moves them three clear of the bottom three ahead of their midweek trip to Chelsea.

The post Man City given Premier League trophy after draw with Huddersfield appeared first on The Himalayan Times.

Newly elected President of All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) Karma Tshiring Sherpa speaking during an interaction programme in Kathmandu on Sunday, 06 May, 2018. Photo Courtesy: Reporters Club Nepal

KATHMANDU: Newly elected President of All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) Karma Tshiring Sherpa said there was a need of law to overcome the threat of match fixing.

“There is a threat of match fixing in Nepali football so i want to draw attention of government and lawmakers over this matter. They must bring strong laws and regulations to overcome such threat,” said Sherpa during an interaction program in Kathmandu on Sunday.

“FIFA have introduced software and methodologies to monitor the match fixing so we will also opt them in order to observe such threat,” added Sherpa.

He also stated that his main focus would be to maintain the transparency in Nepali football. “We will make financial regulations which will help us to maintain the transparency not just in ANFA but in whole Nepali football sector,” claimed Sherpa.

The A Division outfit Himalyan Sherpa Club’s President also informed his committee will decide to host the national league which has been stalled since several years and install the football training centres in 45 districts.

“Players are forced to change their profession in the absence of proper domestic football structure and playing environment. Now this trend will end during our tenure,” claimed Sherpa.

Furthermore, Sherpa also shared a plan of establishing 14 football academies in seven provinces.

The post Strong law needed to overcome match fixing threat: ANFA Prez Sherpa appeared first on The Himalayan Times.

File: Alex Ferguson Photo: REUTERS

LONDON: David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo were among those to offer messages of support to British football‘s most successful manager Alex Ferguson, after the former Manchester United boss underwent emergency surgery for a brain haemorrhage.

United said in a statement on Saturday that Ferguson’s surgery had gone “extremely well”, but the 76-year-old would need a period of intensive care to aid his recovery.

Ferguson won a total of 49 trophies during his illustrious managerial career, which also included spells at St Mirren and Aberdeen. The Scotsman led United to an impressive 38 trophies during his nearly 27-year reign at the club.

Real Madrid forward and five-times Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo kickstarted his career at United under Ferguson from 2003 to 2009.

“My thoughts and prayers are with you, my dear friend. Be strong, Boss!” the Portugal captain said on social media as he shared a picture of him and Ferguson during their time together at Old Trafford.

Beckham was part of the famous “Fergie’s Fledglings” group, along with Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and brothers Gary and Phil Neville, that led United to numerous trophies from the mid-1990s, including the historic 1999 treble.

“Keep fighting Boss. Sending prayers and love to (Ferguson’s wife) Cathy and the whole family,” Beckham said on Instagram with a picture of him signing his United youth contract as Ferguson stood by his side.

Many current and former United players, including Michael Carrick, Rio Ferdinand, Diego Forlan and David de Gea also offered messages of support as did United’s Premier League rivals Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool.

“The thoughts of everyone at LFC are with Sir Alex Ferguson and his family… a great rival but also a great friend who supported this club during its most difficult time, it is hoped that Sir Alex will make a full recovery,” Liverpool said in a statement.

Ferguson and his family also received well wishes from clubs all around the world.

Italian sides AC Milan and Inter Milan, Spanish champions Barcelona and Scottish champions Celtic were among a host of clubs to support the Scotsman.

Soccer greats, managers, fans, politicians and news outlets sent messages of support as did athletes and governing bodies from other sports, including the National Basketball Association (NBA).

“Sir Alex I’m praying you get through this, you’ve won everything in life any player or manager dreams of, I as a friend am stunned…,” England great Paul Gascoigne said.

The post Football unites to support managerial great Ferguson appeared first on The Himalayan Times.