photo by Michael Janosz/ISIphotos.com
By FRANCO PANIZO
If David Beckham makes a return to the Premiership after the MLS season, it appears it won't be with Queens Park Rangers.
The club's manager, Neil Warnock, played down rumors linking QPR with the Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder on Thursday. Warnock said that he has not been involved in any discussions regarding Beckham, but he did admit his admiration for the 36-year-old's professionalism.
Beckham is currently in the final year of his contract with the Galaxy. Having not yet re-signed with the club, Beckham has been heavily speculated with a return to England during the upcoming winter transfer window.
Here are more stories from Thursday:
DROGBA SIDELINED FOR NEXT TWO GAMES
Didier Drogba is still recovering from the horrific head injury he suffered against Norwich City on August 27, and he's to miss Chelsea's next two games as a result. Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas said Drogba is all but guaranteed to miss the club's league match against Sunderland this weekend and likely to miss the Champions League fixture against Bayer Leverkusen next Tuesday. Villas-Boas is hopeful that Drogba can return for Chelsea's game versus Manchester United on Sept. 18.
BIN HAMMAM APPEAL DATE SET FOR NEXT WEEK
The Mohammed bin Hammam-FIFA saga that feels like it will never end is taking one step closer to doing just that. Bin Hammam's appeal date is set for next week, and the Qatari official has said that he expects it to end with his life ban from soccer being lifted. In July, Bin Hammam was ruled by FIFA's ethics committee to have arranged a $40,000 bribe to Caribbean officials to vote for him in his later abandoned election against FIFA president Sepp Blatter.
QATAR'S WORLD CUP COST COULD BE $220.6 billion
It's widely known that Qatar has money, but it might need up to cough up $220.6 billion for its 2022 World Cup costs. According to a Dr. Nicola Ritter, a German legal and financial analyst, Qatar would need $171 billion to build suitable facilities and stadiums. In addition, Qatar would need the additional $49.5 billion to build a transport infrastructure that would accomodate all of the visiting guests. Part of the country's costs would include building a brand-new city called Lusall, which would host the opening and final matches of the tournament.
SANDRO EXTENDS STAY WITH SPURS
Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Sandro has signed a new five-year deal with the club that will keep him there until 2016. The Brazilian international, who is recovering from offseason knee surgery, joined Spurs last March. He quickly made his presence felt in his debut season, playing in 26 games across all competitions.
——
What do you think of QPR playing down the Beckham rumors? Expecting Drogba to return in time for Chelsea's match versus Manchester United? How badly are you hoping that a small fraction of Qatar's expected World Cup costs accidently ends up in your bank account?
Share your thoughts below.