Every morning TheScore.ie brings you the stories you need to know before that first cup of coffee.
1.FRIENDLY Giovanni Trapattoni’s Ireland play their final game of 2012 this evening as Greece visit Dublin. The Italian has named a considerably young side for the friendly, with Ciaran Clark and Seamus Coleman starting in defence, James McCarthy joining Glenn Whelan in midfield and Robbie Brady and James McClean occupying the wings.
Shane Long gets the nod up front with Simon Cox but Wes Hoolahan should make an introduction at the halfway point.
Read what Trap had to say at his press conference yesterday here.
2. #GAA Liam O’Neill, president of the GAA, has called for teams to be allowed one member of their management staff on the sideline during games in order to stop violent clashes.
“I see no advantage in people being on the sideline. We have to come to a stage where the sideline is sacrosanct. I counted on the sideline in front of the stand in Armagh 45 people, including the eight or so people in the tunnel,” O’Neill said.
3. #DRUGS TEST Jockey Frankie Dettori failed a drugs test at Longchamp in France in September, the jockey’s lawyer revealed yesterday. The Italian rider’s positive result will be the subject of a hearing conducted by France Galop, French racing’s governing body, in Paris next week.
4. #ALLEGATIONS London’s Metropolitan Police have dropped their investigation into Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg. A complaint had been made by the Society of Black Lawyers on the back of media reports that he had allegedly racially abused Chelsea player Jon Obi Mikel but the Met last night announced it had ceased its investigation.
Meanwhile, the English Football Association’s investigation continues and results are expected later this week.
5. #MIDWEEK FOOTBALL There are a host of international friendlies being played across Europe tonight. Ireland’s Group C opponents Germany are in Holland to take on the Netherlands, while their other rivals for second spot, Sweden, host England in Stockholm. France are away to Italy and world champions Spain play Panama.
Read previews of those games here.
