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Friday Kickoff: Rangers players await cuts; Rooney, Bale fit for key bout & more

Rangers (Reuters Pictures)

It is about to go from bad to worse for a number of players at Rangers FC.

With the outlook of the near future looking bleak after the club was forced to go into administration, Rangers players are meeting with union officials to explore their possibilities in anticipation of numerous cuts. According to the BBC, manager Ally McCoist has been told that as many as 11 players could be let go on Friday as the proud club goes through a treacherous time.

In an attempt to cut costs while the club strives for financial stability, the BBC reports that a pay cut of either 50 percent or 75 percent could be instituted as well, with some wages being deferred until the end of the current season.

These developments could affect the three Americans at Rangers, as Maurice Edu, Carlos Bocanegra and Alejandro Bedoya await Friday's announcement.

Here are a few more stories to get your Friday going:

ROONEY, BALE FIT FOR KEY MATCH

Manchester United and Tottenham are two of the three teams realistically in the hunt for the Premier League title, and both clubs look set to have their star players available when they meet in a crucial match on Sunday.

United striker Wayne Rooney and Spurs winger Gareth Bale have been given the green light for this weekend's match after recent aiments and injuries.

Rooney was forced to miss the Red Devils' last two matches with a throat infection, and he sat out England's friendly against the Netherlands as well.

Bale, meanwhile, suffered a hamstring strain while training with the Wales national team ahead of the Gary Speed memorial friendly on Wednesday against Costa Rica. Bale was forced to sit out the game, but manager Harry Redknapp expects to have his prized winger on Sunday.

WENGER FUMING AT BELGIUM

Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen played the entire 90 minutes of Belgium's friendly with Greece on Wednesday, and Arsene Wenger is fuming about it.

Wenger is considering filing a complaint against the Belgian FA after saying that the oft-injured Vermaelen, who picked up a minor knock during the week, should not have been forced to play. 

"Firstly they forced the player to travel, then they forced him to play 90 minutes after being injured and had a centre-back on the bench who did not play at all, in a friendly game knowing they do not even go to the European Championship," Wenger told reporters. "For me, that is difficult to understand."

Vermaelen and star striker Robin van Persie, who suffered a groin injury while on international duty with the Netherlands, are both doubtful for Arsenal's match with Liverpool this weekend, which has hefty table implications.

FIFA VP AGAINST GOAL LINE TECHNOLOGY

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has been vocal about his wish for goal line technology to be used in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, but one of his colleagues who has a say in the matter doesn't think it is necessary.

FIFA executive committee vice president Prince Ali is opposed to the new technology being implemented, primarily because less-financially capable countries would not be able to afford it, making for an unlevel playing field.

"Referees are part of the game and I would feel a bit depressed if every day something is coming out about how they are not capable of doing their jobs," Prince Ali said. "There is no rush. I think football can survive (without goal-line technology) … it should be a process and evolution.

"There are some countries that cannot afford to implement it and … technology is always an advantage if you are used to using it against others who are not."

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What's your take on the situation at Rangers? Who do you see winning the Man. Utd-Tottenham clash? Think Wenger has a point? What do you think of Prince Ali's comments?

Share your thoughts below.

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