The Screamer: It's the talk of football

14 April 2012

Thierry Henry has been snubbed for the second time this week, failing to even make the shortlist for the FIFA World Player of the Year award. Fabio Cannavaro, Ronaldinho and Zinedine Zidane were revealed as the three remaining candidates yesterday, with the winner set to be revealed at a gala in Zurich next month.

Despite being the only player who made it to the finals of the Champions League and the World Cup last season, Henry also missed out on the European award earlier this week when Real Madrid's Cannavaro was awarded the Ballon D'Or.

The decision was criticised by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger who said it had been 'a mistake' to give it to Italy's World Cup-winning captain on the basis of the tournament in Germany.

Barcelona superstar Ronaldinho has won the FIFA award for the last two years.

Despite having a poor World Cup, he is the frontrunner again although Zidane — winner in 1998, 2000 and 2003 — may have a chance after retiring from football following his infamous red card in France's World Cup Final defeat to Italy.

Lord Stevens will reveal his bungs inquiry findings on December 11 or soon after — but he will now report to the Premier League board rather than all 20 club chairmen. The three-man board will then decide whether or not disciplinary proceedings can be brought.

Reading defender Ibrahima Sonko says Carlo Cudicini has rebuffed his attempt to apologise for their collision at the Madejski Stadium in October which put the Chelsea goalkeeper in hospital. Cudicini was knocked unconscious and swallowed his tongue and Sonko said: "I went through the club and gave them my number to give to him and explain how sorry I was for what happened. But he never came back to me."

Manchester United's bid to prise Owen Hargreaves away from Bayern Munich in the transfer window has received a setback after it emerged the England midfielder may not return to action as soon as he had hoped following complications with his broken leg. United were expected to revive their interest in Hargreaves, who aimed to be playing again by the end of the year after breaking his fibula in September. But Bayern say the leg has not healed as well as had been expected, and Hargreaves must rest for another fortnight.

Sheffield United's Claude Davis will be sidelined for three weeks after suffering strained ankle ligaments in the 1-0 win over Watford on Tuesday. United will make an improved offer for Leeds defender Matthew Kilgallon in the transfer window after having a £750,000 bid rejected in the summer.

Mark Kennedy has hit out at Republic of Ireland manager Steve Staunton for refusing to consider him for a recall. The Crystal Palace midfielder, 30, has not played for his country since 2000, and said: "I've played many games against numerous Irish players and he hasn't come to any, which I think is pretty poor."

Ian Atkins is set to quit Torquay after the appointment of manager Lubos Kubik. Atkins, who helped Torquay save their Football League status last season, has been offered the position of director of football, but he has emerged as a target for managerless Brentford and believes it would be impossible to work with new first-team coach Richard Hancox, whom Atkins dispensed with after becoming Torquay boss.

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