football corruption claims

Tommy Wright: Barnsley sack assistant boss amid football corruption claims

The report included footage of Wright apparently accepting money in return for allegedly helping persuade the Championship club to sign players.

He was hanging on Wednesday while the club investigated the allegations.

But the 50-year-old has now been dismissed with immediate effect after a meeting with chief executive Linton Brown.

A Barnsley statement read: "After considering Mr Wright's response to allegations in today's Daily Telegraph about breaching FA rules over player transfers, Mr Wright was dismissed.

"The club was unaware of such matters or involved in any wrongdoing. The club will continue to fully investigate the issues at hand and will co-operate with the regulatory authorities as necessary."

As part of an ongoing investigation into alleged corruption in football, the newspaper claims Wright accepted £5,000 at a meeting in Leeds in August.

A spokesman for Wright has said: "Any suggested acts contrary to criminal law or those of the Football Association and FIFA are categorically denied."

Wright joined Barnsley in February 2015 as number two to former boss Lee Johnson, and continued in the role under current head coach Paul Heckingbottom.

The latest allegations come a day after the Telegraph claimed eight current or former Premier League managers had taken bribes for player transfers.

Sam Allardyce left his post as England manager on Tuesday after claims in the newspaper that he offered advice on how to "get around" rules on player transfers.

The FA, Premier League and EFL have pledged to investigate this week's newspaper allegations.

In a joint statement, they said: "English football takes the governance of the game extremely seriously with integrity being of paramount importance.

"Any substantive allegations will be investigated with the full force of the rules at our disposal, which are wide-ranging and well-developed. In addition, should we find any evidence of criminality we would inform and seek the support of the appropriate statutory authorities."

The League Managers' Association (LMA) has accused the newspaper of holding up any investigation because it has yet to hand over any evidence. It said in a statement it wanted "full and complete unconditional disclosure of all the information it has, immediately".

The Telegraph has said it will pass on all relevant material to the football authorities.

Jack Wilshere: Arsenal midfielder available for loan move from Gunners

England boss Sam Allardyce said Jack Wilshere needs more first-team football after leaving him out of his squad

Arsenal are willing to let England midfielder Jack Wilshere go out on loan to get first-team football.

The 24-year-old, whose career has been plagued by injuries, only made three appearances for the Gunners last season after fracturing his left fibula.

He played six times for England over the summer - including three games at Euro 2016 - but was not named in Sam Allardyce's first squad this week.

Arsenal paid £35m for Switzerland midfielder Granit Xhaka this summer.

• How to follow Transfer Deadline Day

Wilshere, who has 34 caps, has only started 80 Premier League games for Arsenal, making two substitute appearances so far this season.

He had a loan spell at Bolton in 2010.

Wilshere has less than 48 hours to find a loan club before the transfer deadline. He could be the second established England international to move on loan this week, with Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart set to move to Italian side Torino.

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Wayne Rooney stays as England captain under new manager Sam Allardyce

England captain Wayne Rooney after the national side's early Euro 2016 exit

Wayne Rooney will continue as England captain, with manager Sam Allardyce saying it was an "easy decision".

Rooney is England's record goalscorer and took on the armband from Steven Gerrard a year ago.

Allardyce said Manchester United captain Rooney was "hugely respected by his peers" and has "enjoyed the responsibility" as captain.

The England squad is preparing for Sunday's opening 2018 World Cup qualifier in Slovakia.

Rooney, 30, led Roy Hodgson's England side during Euro 2016, which ended with a disappointing last-16 exit to international minnows Iceland.

But Allardyce said Rooney had been "an excellent captain for England" and as the most senior squad member was the "right choice to lead the team".

"You would hope the captain would make a decision on the pitch if he felt it needed to [be made]," said Allardyce, 61. "For me, that's the captain's role. It's a big responsibility at club level and even more so at international level. First and foremost lead by example.

"It's all about the personality. Can you handle the responsibility of being captain? I think he [Rooney] has enjoyed the responsibility. Some players don't want that responsibility."

Allardyce on Rooney's position

Rooney was employed as a midfielder during Euro 2016 under Hodgson. At Old Trafford this season under Jose Mourinho, Rooney has played in a deeper position behind the striker.

"Wayne Rooney's position has changed at Manchester United and that is where I will play him," Allardyce said.

"Dele Alli has started well too, so that makes it a difficult choice. We'll wait and see, but we are looking at balance of positions.

"We want to have two players in each position and not leave ourselves short. Hopefully we make that selection after this [training camp] and we know the best XI to start with."

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Man City goes top after pounding the Hammers

Manchester City's Raheem Sterling rounds West Ham goalkeeper Adrian to score his second goal.

Manchester City joined rivals Manchester United and Chelsea at the top of the English Premier League as it collected maximum points against West Ham on Sunday.

It now sits in first place on goal difference.

Pep Guardiola's men were two up at halftime through Raheem Sterling and Fernandinho. The Hammers managed to pull one back shortly after the break with a headed goal from Michail Antonio, but Sterling's second sealed victory in stoppage time.

Chelsea also ran in easy winners against Burnley Saturday, winning 3-0 with goals from Eden Hazard, Willian and Victor Moses.

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Iker Casillas and Cesc Fabregas left out of Spain squad

Casillas won the 2010 World Cup with Spain and the 2008 and 2012 European Championship

Former captain Iker Casillas and Chelsea players Cesc Fabregas and Pedro have been left out of new Spain manager Julen Lopetegui's first squad.

Casillas is Spain's most-capped player with 167, but the 35-year-old has been overlooked for matches against Belgium and Liechtenstein in September.
Chelsea's Diego Costa and Manchester United's Juan Mata are recalled after being left out of the Euro 2016 squad.
Former Porto boss Lopetegui replaced Vicente del Bosque in July.
29-year-old Fabregas has played 110 times for Spain, while Pedro, also 29, has won 60 caps.
Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea, West Ham counterpart Adrian, Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta and Manchester City pair David Silva and Nolito join Costa and Mata in the squad.
Spain face Belgium in a friendly in Brussels on 1 September before hosting Liechtenstein in Leon four days later in their first World Cup qualifier.

Squad

Goalkeepers: David de Gea (Manchester United), Pepe Reina (Napoli), Adrian (West Ham)
Defenders: Sergio Ramos, Dani Carvajal (both Real Madrid), Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba (both Barcelona), Marc Bartra (Borussia Dortmund), Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea), Javi Martinez (Bayern Munich).
Midfielders: Sergi Roberto, Sergio Busquets (both Barcelona), Saul Niguez, Koke (both Atletico Madrid), Marco Asensio, Lucas Vazquez (both Real Madrid), Thiago Alcantara (Bayern Munich), David Silva (Manchester City), Juan Mata (Manchester United)
Forwards: Paco Alcacer (Valencia), Nolito (Manchester City), Alvaro Morata (Real Madrid), Vitolo (Sevilla), Diego Costa (Chelsea).