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Mid-Day Ticker: Leeds fan jailed for attacking Kirkland, Atletico eyes Chicharito and more

By FRANCO PANIZO

The Leeds United fan who assaulted Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Chris Kirkland this past weekend will spend the next few months behind bars.

Aaron Crawley, a 21-year-old Leeds fan, has been jailed four months after pleading guilty to assault and entering the field of play during Friday’s game between the Whites and Sheffield Wednesday. Crawley was arrested Sunday after he notified officials that he was the man who aggressively shoved Kirkland in the facing before running back into the stands during the second half of the match.

Crawley, who has been given a lifetime ban by Leeds, said he did not remember attacking Kirkland until he saw replays of it on television due to the amount of alcohol he consumed prior to the match. Crawley told police officials he had several cans of lager, three-quarters of a litre bottle of vodka and seven to ten pints of cider.

Crawley has had other incidences of unruly fan behavior in his past.

Here are more stories from around the world of soccer:

ATLETICO MARDID TARGETING CHICHARITO

Atletico Madrid may not be keen on losing red-hot striker Radamel Falcao in the near future, but they are already planning who will replace him if they do. Atletico is eyeing Manchester United’s Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez as the forward who could replace Falcao if he leaves during the upcoming winter transfer window, according to reports. The Mexican international has fallen deep down the depth chart at Manchester United, and Atletico is reportedly willing to pay approximately $20 million to acquire him should Falcao head for greener pastures.

VAN BUYTEN SIDELINED FOR UCL GAME

Bayern Munich will be without defender Daniel van Buyten for their upcoming UEFA Champions League game against Lille, as he continues to nurse a rib injury. The Belgian defender did not travel with Bayern Munich to France on Monday, and he will miss Tuesday’s group stage game. Bayern Munich are currently in third place in Group F with three points.

FERGUSON, FERDINAND RESOLVE ISSUE

If there was any rift beginning to form between Sir Alex Ferguson and Rio Ferdinand, it has been patched up. The Manchester United manager said he and Ferdinand had a conversation to clear things up about the recent T-shirt incident in which the central defender did not wear an anti-racism T-shirt during the club’s warm-ups ahead of their game with Stoke City on Saturday. Ferguson cited a communication problem as to why there was even an incident about it in the first place.

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What do you think of Crawley’s punishment? Would Chicharito make a good replacement for Falcao? How will Bayern Munich fare without van Buyten?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Re: Crawley, did no one else realize that he’s just quoting Chumbawanba’s Tubthumping?
    “He drinks a Whiskey drink, he drinks a Vodka drink”
    “He drinks a Lager drink, he drinks a Cider drink”
    I guess Crawley blacked out regarding drinking the whiskey as well. Or maybe they only have 4 types of booze in the UK?

    Reply
    • I’m assuming (always dangerous) that he meant hard cider – which is about 5% alcohol. Try Woodchuck Amber. And if he drank that much, how did he have time to get on the field — wouldn’t have been in the bathroom at lot???

      Reply
  2. I’m a bit surprised Atletico Madrid can afford to part ways with $20 million on a transfer fee, even with the eventual sale of Falcao, given their ridiculous debt.

    Reply

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