Salah's agent hits back at Egypt FA for 'irrational' accusation

The Liverpool star and his representative has been threatened with legal action after he aired a series of grievances with his national association

Mohamed Salah’s agent has hit back at a threat of legal action from the Egyptian Football Association (EFA), as the Liverpool star’s ongoing feud with the governing body continues.

Salah’s relationship with the EFA has long been strained and things appeared to reach boiling point earlier this year, when the winger’s photograph was featured on a team plane funded by telecoms company WE, a situation which infringed on another commercial deal held personally by Salah.

He was then said to be unhappy about being given honorary Chechen citizenship during the World Cup at a dinner hosted by Ramzan Kadyrov, the controversial head of state of the Chechen Republic, where Egypt were based.

The 26-year-old laid out some general requests and grievances about the EFA’s treatment of him in a letter sent by Salah’s agent, Ramy Abbas Issa, but the lawyer was accused of being “irrational” and trying to demand Egypt’s governing body have “double standards” when dealing with certain players in a statement released on Monday.

They also threatened legal action “if the third party persists” with “entering into conflicts that harm the interests of one of the best and most valuable Egyptian football players”.

But Abbas Issa has hit back, adamant the requests he and Salah have put forward since the image rights problem have not been anything out of the ordinary.

Taking to Twitter, Abbas Issa wrote: “The only way to make our requests seem unreasonable is by distorting them. We never asked for Mohamed to be transported separately from the rest of the team.

“When we discussed discretion at the airport it was only related to his arrival to the camp in Egypt.

“They need to focus less on me having hurt their feelings, and more on resolving the issues that we have been fighting for since November 2016, without response from their side.

“We suspected that the issue in relation to the image rights was going to explode right before the World Cup, and we wrote in November 2017 to address this issue early. There was no response. The only ‘response’ was the aeroplane and everything else.

“We even found out about the aeroplane long before it was unveiled and we wrote to them, again, no response.

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“Even the rights to display a logo on the players’ suits was sold! I had never before seen a suit with its brand on display!!

“We are not asking for special treatment. I would be very glad if the requests we made for Mohamed are granted to every single player of the national team that needs them.

“As for the hotel security, I think it would be the only way we can ensure that Mohamed’s bedroom door isn’t knocked on at 2am, and again at 4am, for autographs and pictures.”

Europa League can deliver very good season for Emery & Arsenal – Parlour

The former Gunners midfielder believes success in continental competition would have a new regime at Emirates Stadium heading in the right direction

Unai Emery has been urged to take the Europa League seriously, with Ray Parlour of the opinion that success in that competition can deliver “a very good season” for Arsenal.

The Gunners are having to contend with a second successive campaign outside of the Champions League, with Arsene Wenger overseeing a tumble out of the Premier League’s top four.

Europe’s second tier competition has not always been a priority for those involved, with Thursday night football often viewed as a hindrance to domestic efforts.

Arsenal did, however, make the semi-final stage in 2017-18 and Parlour believes landing major silverware under a boss with a proven track record in the tournament can get the club heading in the right direction once more.

He told the Daily Star: “I think the Europa League could be important.

“That’s the ideal competition to win because you win a trophy, which a lot of clubs are still waiting for their first trophy, but if you can win the Europa League you’re back in the Champions League as well so that becomes a very good season for any club.

“That’s why I was so disappointed last season because they had a great opportunity, especially the first game against Atletico Madrid when they had a man sent off. If you win the game 1-0 or 2-0 you probably go through to the final and maybe win the final.”

Arsenal should be able to ease their way into the Europa League knockout stage, with Parlour aware that Emery will only make a decision on how hard to push in continental competition once the Premier League picture becomes clearer in 2019.

The former Gunners midfielder added: “The one thing about the first few rounds you can rotate your squad, play your different players because it’s not strong obviously.

“When the third-place teams come in from the Champions League there are some great clubs coming into the Europa League then.

“The great thing about it is you can assess your situation should you qualify for the next stages. Whether it starts February, March you can have a look at it then and say, ‘Where are we in the league?’

“If we’ve got no chance of getting in the top four, being realistic we have to concentrate on the Europa League so I think we’ll look at it then.

“Maybe he’s fourth in the league and he’s thinking we’ve got to keep this going in the league and that’s when he’ll assess it.

“Injuries, suspensions, all these factors come into it.

“You don’t abandon anything at the start of the season, you always say, ‘Right hopefully we can challenge.’”

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Loan army! How Chelsea & Sarri decide who says and who goes

The Blues have a huge pool of players to chose from as they continue with their policy of trying to stockpile the best talent from around Europe

Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Tammy Abraham could still be set for loan moves ahead of a variety of European transfers windows closing on August 31, as Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri has recently admitted that he still feels his squad is too big.

The Blues have over 30 players on loan already and they have used their innovative loan system to help them to save and make money during an era in which transfer fees have sky-rocketed.

Chelsea are experts in scouting, both at home and overseas, resulting in the club attracting some of the world’s most exciting youngsters to their top-class facilities at Cobham Training Centre, another contributing factor in their remarkable success in youth competitions in recent years.

The Under-18s made history by pulling off an unprecedented quadruple, while the Blues also claimed a fifth successive FA Youth Cup last season, matching a record set by Manchester United’s ‘Busby Babes’ of the 1960s.

Given the depth of talent at Chelsea, temporary moves have become an essential part of the club’s overall strategy, with the Londoners’ academy churning out talented teenagers on an annual basis, and more than 50 players vying for 25 spots in the senior squad.

So, while many members of the loan army don’t make the grade at Stamford Bridge, their value generally increases year-on-year as they earn more and more experience at clubs across the world.

Furthermore, there are some notable success stories, like Andreas Christensen and Victor Moses, both of whom have now become key players in the senior squad, while Ruben Loftus-Cheek ended up in the England squad for the 2018 World Cup after impressing during a loan stay at Crystal Palace last season.

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Sarri will have his say on what happens with the highest-value loan stars, with players such as Loftus-Cheek and Abraham having already been evaluated by the Italian during Chelsea’s pre-season programme and the opening weeks of the new Premier League season.

However, Chelsea generally don’t loan players until they reach the age of at least 19, while they have an entire loan department dedicated to deciding upon the right loan move at the right time for the right player.

It helps that the loan team is home to a number of ex-professionals, with former Blues Eddie Newton and Paulo Ferreira running the show, and Tore Andre Flo also operating as one of the mentors.

The loan department also boasts a dedicated psychologist, who ensures that the loanees always have access to the kind of the mental support they may need to cope with moving abroad or dropping down a few levels to gain first-team experience.

Clubs that sign any of the loanees will also be asked to meet with Chelsea coaches from time-to-time to provide updates, while the player receives feedback from not only his current club, but also from Cobham Training Ground and the analysts who study their performances.

Jeremie Boga has been farmed out by Chelsea three times already and he explained to Goal just how closely the loanees are monitored by their parent club.

” I was always in contact with them every two months, but sometimes at random,” Boga told Goal. “I think that they were a bit concerned at one moment with my game time around December but I started playing again so I just kept in contact.

“They gave me feedback on how I play in every game, so they kept a close eye on me.”

The loan system was the brainchild of former technical director Michael Emenalo, who was highly regarded in west London, as underlined by the amount of tributes that poured in when he left the club for Monaco last season.

However, Chelsea’s use of the loan system has been criticised within certain quarters. Ethical questions have been raised over the stockpiling of talent, which gives Chelsea another competitive advantage over smaller clubs.

As far as the Blues are concerned, they are breaking no rules and the lucrative transfer fees they receive from selling players after successful loan spells has helped the club become more self-sufficient economically.

The critics claim that the practice only makes it more difficult for youngsters to break into the senior squad, given the sheer volume of players on the club’s books, but Chelsea feel that the players are benefiting from the loan system, arguing that they wouldn’t remain bound to Stamford Bridge if they weren’t improving.

“We look after these players,” loan coach Flo stated. “We make sure that they get the best possible help. I think that most of them benefit from that, instead of going to another club.

“Obviously, when they are not ready, they go to a lower team, maybe even a division down. But we help them with their game, tell them what they have to improve upon, what they are doing well and each individual have a really good follow-up.

“I think they benefit from that but we also need to make them aware that to break into Chelsea’s first team is an extremely difficult thing to do. All of them want to be the best player they can possibly be and we think that being a Chelsea loan player can help them to do that.”

Mbappe is going to see many reds this season if he continues like that – Savanier

After hearing of the PSG star’s lack of repentance for his action, the Nimes midfielder predicts a difficult season ahead

Paris Saint-Germain prodigy Kylian Mbappe is destined to see “many” red cards this season, according to Nimes midfielder Teji Savanier.

The pair clashed in stoppage time of Saturday’s Ligue 1 meeting at Stade des Costieres, with both men dismissed in the closing moments of PSG’s 4-2 success.

Mbappe has refused to be repentant regarding the incident, which came about after he was tackled hard by the home player. 

“The same foul when there was an intention to play the ball, that’s no problem, but he didn’t have that and we all so it,” the teenager said. “It’s an action that doesn’t have a place on the field.”

Savanier, however, has taken a differing viewpoint.

“For me, it wasn’t malicious, that’s just his perception,” he said. “I’m going to look at the images and the League will look at them too. They’ll see that I wasn’t trying to injure him or break his leg. It’s my knee that hit his foot.

“I didn’t see it coming. I was surprised when he reacted like that.”

Mbappe said that he would happily react in the same way again, prompting an interested reaction from his adversary.

“Ah really? If he continues like this, he’s going to see a lot of red cards this season,” Savanier said, admitting that he felt the striker was tetchy throughout. 

“When he was booked in the first half, it’s because he spoke back to the referee. I’ve never seen him speak to the referee like he did when I’ve watched him on TV. I think he’s going to regret it.

“It’s something I regret because I’m going to be suspended for the next few games.”

Mbappe will definitely miss PSG’s home fixture against Saint-Etienne on September 14, while Ligue 1’s Disciplinary Commission will meet to decide if his dismissal merits an additional ban.

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Messi snub has cost FIFA awards their credibility, says Filipe Luis

Antoine Griezmann said it’s ‘bizarre’ that he isn’t in the top three, but his club team-mate has focused more on the Argentine’s absence

Atletico Madrid defender Filipe Luis insists Lionel Messi is the best footballer in the world, despite his omission from the shortlist for the Best FIFA Men’s Player award .

Despite inspiring Barcelona to a domestic double of La Liga and the Copa del Rey in 2017-18, Messi was overlooked for the final three-man list in favour of Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric and Mohamed Salah.

Antoine Griezmann claimed it was “bizarre” that a FIFA award will not recognise any of France’s World Cup-winning stars, but his Atletico team-mate thinks it is ignoring Messi that ruins the credibility of the prize.

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“The award is for the best player in the world. For me, today, it’s Messi. Just like in previous years,” he told Globoesporte .

“When he’s not there, it loses credibility. It doesn’t matter who wins the World Cup or the Champions League. He’s the best.”

Filipe Luis was tipped to join Paris Saint-Germain during the transfer window, only for the move to fall through.

The Brazil international has now criticised Atletico for painting him as the villain of a transfer wrangle, insisting he was happy to accept their decision not to sell him.

“The opportunity to go to PSG came up and I mentioned it to Atletico. I asked them to let me go, in the same way they did with Gabi [who joined Al Sadd],” he explained.

“The club understood it wasn’t the same situation, despite the similarities with the remaining time on our contracts.

“They said I insisted, but it’s a lie. I have a history with Atletico and that makes me sad, because they tried to worsen my image at the club.”

Court absolves Whitewater prosecutors of contempt charges

NMU D.C. CIRCUIT Confidentiality/Privilege Oct 4, 1999

Court absolves Whitewater prosecutors of contempt charges

The office of Whitewater independent prosecutor Kenneth Starr did not violate grand jury secrecy laws by revealing its intent to seek an indictment against a sitting president

In early September, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals in the District of Columbia (D.C. Cir.) unanimously ruled that the office of Whitewater independent prosecutor Kenneth Starr should not have to face contempt of court charges because Starr’s staff did not violate grand jury secrecy laws by revealing that it was considering seeking an indictment against President Clinton while he remained in office.

The court’s unsigned opinion states that revelations about who might be indicted are not “matters occurring before a grand jury” and therefore did not violate federal criminal procedure rules. The court found that the rules never have been read “to require that a ‘veil of secrecy be drawn over all matters occurring in the world that happen to be investigated by a grand jury.’ ” However, the court did not decide whether criminal contempt charges can be brought against Starr’s office.

The three-judge panel consisted of Patricia Wald, Lawrence Silberman, and Karen LeCraft Henderson, who were appointed to the court by Presidents Carter, Reagan and Bush, respectively.

The case concerned a Jan. 31, 1999 New York Times article that began, “The independent counsel, Kenneth W. Starr, has concluded that he has the constitutional authority to seek a grand jury indictment of President Clinton before he leaves the White House in January 2001, several associates of Mr. Starr said this week.” The article went on to state that some attorneys on Starr’s prosecutorial staff wanted to seek an indictment of Clinton on perjury and obstruction of justice charges, including lying under oath in his deposition in the Paula Jones matter and in his grand jury testimony.

The court ruled that the article did not contain “material that is afforded the broadest protection from disclosure.”

Federal district judge Norma Holloway Johnson had issued an order on her own motion in mid-July directing the Department of Justice to bring contempt charges against Starr’s office. The DOJ “responded immediately” by sending a letter to the district court requesting that the court withdraw its mandate, and Starr’s office then appealed Johnson’s order in late July.

The case began the day after the article in question appeared when the White House and President Clinton filed a joint motion to Johnson requesting that the court hold Starr’s office in contempt for disclosing grand jury material.

(In re: Sealed Case No. 99-3091)


© 1999 The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press

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Reporter's privilege upheld in murder trial

Reporter’s privilege upheld in murder trial

04/21/97

WEST VIRGINIA–Affirming that a qualified reporter’s privilege does exist in West Virginia, the state Supreme Court in mid-March overturned a Circuit Court judge’s decision ordering two newspapers to turn over unpublished photographs to a defendant on trial for murder.

The Supreme Court ruled that the defendant may obtain the photographs only if he proves to the Circuit Court the information contained in them would be highly material, relevant and critical to his defense, and unobtainable from other available sources. If such a showing is made by the defendant, the court will decide which, if any, of the photographs must be released after examining them in camera.

West Virginia does not have a shield law.

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The Charleston Daily Mail and the Charleston Gazette were ordered in November 1996 to turn over photographs of a home destroyed in a suspected arson fire, which were taken in conjunction with the two papers’ coverage of the fire the previous year. Frank West, who is charged with first-degree murder and arson in connection with the fire, subpoenaed both newspapers, requesting “copies of any and all photos of the arson homicide at the dwelling in question.” He asserted that the photos may contain exculpatory evidence which he may or may not use at his criminal trial.

The Supreme Court held that the competing constitutional protections of press freedom and fair trial rights must be balanced before the media representatives are forced to provide the information gathered. (West Virginia ex rel. the Charleston Mail v. Ranson; Media Counsel: James Brown, Charleston)

Judge orders two reporters to testify for criminal defendant

NMU ARKANSAS Confidentiality/Privilege Mar 11, 2002

Judge orders two reporters to testify for criminal defendant

A former county prosecutor who is accused of trying to defraud the state argued that reporters’ testimony would help prove that his political foes used the media to wage a smear campaign against him.

A judge ordered two Arkansas newspaper reporters to testify in the criminal trial of a former county prosecutor who claims his political enemies conspired to use the media against him.

U.S. District Judge James Moody in Little Rock ruled on March 4 that Sandy Davis, a reporter for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette , would have to appear in court and testify or “suffer the consequences.” Moody also ordered Angelia Roberts, a reporter for the Batesville Daily Guard , to testify in the trial of T.J. Hively.

Both reporters had written stories about Hively’s activities while he was in office.

Moody told the reporters that their testimony was relevant to Hively’s defense and that they would not be asked to reveal confidential sources.

Hively, who is accused of trying to defraud the state by overbilling for services his office did not perform, claims his political opponents used the media to wage a smear campaign against him, resulting in the charges against him.

Davis took the stand on March 7 and answered questions that Hively had presented to the judge, said Philip Anderson, her attorney. Hively’s attorney asked whether Davis was present at specific places on certain days and if other news media representatives were with her.

Roberts said she was never called to the stand.

(United States v. Hively; Davis’ counsel: Philip Anderson and Jess Askew III, Little Rock; Roberts’ counsel: John Tull, Little Rock)MD


© 2002 The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press

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Judge Sentences San Francisco Chronicle Reporters

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A federal judge ordered two San Francisco Chronicle reporters imprisoned for up to 18 months for refusing to reveal the sources of their stories on the grand jury investigation in the BALCO sports doping case. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White said he “does not fault” the reporters, Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams, for their convictions and is not trying to punish them, only to pressure them into complying with the law. Judge White did agree to delay imprisonment pending appeal. (9/26/06)

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Blogger jailed for failing to turn over computer in defamation suit

A Texas bloggeraccusedin adefamation and conspiracy lawsuit was jailedover Memorial Day weekendforcontempt of court afterfailing to turn over a computer that she claims was stolen from her home, the Houston Chronicle reports.

Lyndal Harrington, who wrote for the Web site Rose Speaks, is being sued by Virgie Arthur, the mother of the late Anna Nicole Smith. District Judge Tony Lindsay does not believe Harrington’s account that herhome was broken into within a week after she was ordered to produce thecomputer so it could be searched for evidence.

Harrington was released Friday, but Lindsay ordered her to hand over the computer by July 2. Harrington maintains that she cannot turn over the computer because she doesn’t have it, the Chronicle reports.

Texas recently passed a shield law for reporters, but there is no indication that Harrington attempted to use it to avoid being held in contempt.

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