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Mid-Day Ticker: Rooney’s ban upheld, LeBron gets Liverpool share and more

RooneyCamera (Getty Images)

By JOHN BOSCHINI

What’s the cost of cursing into a camera? Two games, as it turns out, even if your name is Wayne Rooney.

The English FA upheld Rooney’s two-game suspension after the Manchester United striker directed profanities at an on-field camera in United’s 4-2 defeat of West Ham on Saturday. Rooney had just completed a hat trick with a penalty kick to give the Red Devils a 3-2 lead when he looked directly into the camera and cursed twice.

Rooney will miss this weekend’s clash with Fulham and, more importantly, United’s FA Cup semifinal date with Manchester City at Wembley Stadium. Rooney had called the initial decision “excessive” and appealed the decision to no avail. The 25-year-old Englishman apologized following the game.

Here are some more stories to help your Thursday along:

JAMES RECEIVES SHARE OF LIVERPOOL

Lebron James is getting a share of one of the most storied soccer franchises in the world. The reigning NBA MVP signed a long-term deal with Fenway Sports Management, which is owned by Liverpool chairman John Henry, and he will receive a minority share of the English club as part of the deal.

“This is a great opportunity for me,” James said. “Eighteen championships. I see myself trying to do the same things they have.”

FSM, who handles marketing for the Boston Red Sox, Roush Racing and Liverpool, will take over marketing for James.

RANGERS FACES ACTION OVER OFFENSIVE CHANTS

UEFA is set to discipline Rangers after fans of the Scottish powerhouse chanted sectarian songs at a recent Europa League match.

UEFA will meet later this month to decide a punishment, but the most likely outcome is a hefty fine and a requirement for Rangers to play its next European match in an empty stadium. Rangers has confirmed that they will fight any disciplinary action.

ZENIT FINED FOR RACIST FAN

The Russian Football Union has fined Zenit-St. Petersburg $10,000 after a fan offered Brazilian great and current Anzhi captain Roberto Carlos a banana at a recent match.

Russia, which will host the 2018 World Cup, does not have the cleanest history when it comes to racism in soccer. In 2008 Zenit was fined after its fans were responsible for throwing bananas and making monkey chants at Marseille's black players. The RFU did adopt a seven-point anti-racism plan in November to try to combat the issue.

OCTOPUS TABBED AS SUCCESSOR TO PAUL

Paul the Octopus may be gone, but it looks like a new eight-legged ocean dweller, Pavlik, is taking the reigns as the psychic octopus. Pavlike (The Slavic version of Paul) resides at Kiev’s Alushta Aquarium, the former home of Paul, and will be trained in the art of predicting soccer games. Pavlik is set to debut as a psychic pundit during the 2012 European Championships.

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Do you think Rooney's ban is fair? What do you think of James owning a part of Liverpool? What's your take on the Rangers/Zenit fan situations? Think Pavlik will live up to Paul's high standard?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Go to a NBA game and trow a Banana on the court, you will eventually figure it out buddy. Common sense guy.

    The Russians & Polish never surprise me with their racist shenanigans. Lack of education or understanding of social differences is their issues as a whole.

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  2. As an Everton supporter, I’m delighted to hear of the association of Liverpool with the Whore of Akron. It’s only unfortunate that he won’t actually be involved in running the team. That would be great.

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  3. *zonks brow wif ‘eel of ‘and in Liverpudlian fashion* Of course. Wonder if the heat on Qatar’s fields in 2022 will feel like living in a glass onion.

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  4. While I agree with the ridiculousness of the Qatar pick, I was at the US v Romania game at the Rose Bowl in ’94, and it was something like 122 degrees on the field. Not exactly temperate.

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  5. It makes much more sense to select a location that requires us to invent remote control clouds than it does to pick a location that will be temperate during the Summer. Once again, well done FIFA.

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  6. From Wikipedia: “Bieber also said that he would not become a United States citizen; he praised Canada as “the best country in the world”, citing its health care system.”

    DAMMIT!!!

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  7. $10000?wow thats all? russia should really take something like that more seriously if they supposedly deserve to host a world cup

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  8. Meant to say looks like Lebron’s Mom was out celebrating the news last night. Wonder if she was wearing a red dress while she was assaulting the valet.

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  9. Looks like Lebron was out celebrating the news last night.

    Liverpool won those titles over their 119 year existence. Lebron has 93 more years to catch up. Good luck there sucko.

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  10. Why not train another great Beatles-affiliated aquatic creature to predict soccer results? Ringo the Walrus would be EPIC!

    Reply

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