Thursday cannon fodder: celebratory curse tactics

Premier League/England

Saido Berahino: Stoke City striker guilty of drinking and driving - BBC News
The Stoke City striker has been disqualified from driving for 30 months and fined £75,000.

Alexandre Lacazette: Arsenal striker in Barcelona link after website glitch - BBC Sport
Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette has a profile on the Barcelona website, prompting links with a move to La Liga.

Why Sheffield Wednesday cannot be charged over Hillsborough | Football | The Guardian
Wednesday’s then safety officer, Graham Mackrell, has been convicted over the disaster but the club, to the families’ despair, is immune to prosecution.

Derby book Wembley final after Marriott stuns Leeds in thriller | Football | The Guardian
Derby won a breathless second leg 4-2 at Elland Road to book their place in the Championship final against Aston Villa with a 4-3 aggregate win over Leeds.

Why Chelsea’s transfer ban might actually be the best thing that could happen to them | FourFourTwo
The Blues may be unable to sign players for the next two windows, but it only means they could finally bring through some of their fine young talent.

Solskjaer’s ‘primitive tactics’ cost him players’ respect - Football365
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer lost ‘his standing in the dressing room’ after their defeat to Barca at home.

Sean Cox’s brother criticises Manchester City over celebratory flight song | Football | The Guardian
The brother of Sean Cox has described a chant sung on the plane carrying Manchester City players and staff back from Brighton as offensive to all victims of football-related violence.

West Brom want to talk with Chris Hughton about manager’s job after play-off exit | Football | The Guardian
West Bromwich Albion plan to meet Chris Hughton next week to discuss the possibility of him becoming their manager.

Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool look well set to avoid the curse of the runner-up | Sachin Nakrani | Football | The Guardian
On four previous occasions the club have followed a tilt at the title with a season that has proved to be largely disappointing.

FA Cup set to be aired exclusively on free-to-air TV after ITV deal | Sport | The Times
Good news in an era of increased paywalling of sports.

Europe

Women’s World Cup: Shelley Kerr names Scotland squad for finals - BBC Sport
No Scotland player is going to this summer’s World Cup finals on “emotion or sentiment”, said national team coach Shelley Kerr after announcing her squad for the tournament in France.

De Graafschap 1-4 Ajax: Ajax win to secure double - BBC Sport
Ajax say goodbye to Frenkie de Jong with a thumping win which secures the double in the Netherlands.

Scotland close to naming manager; Kilmarnock’s Steve Clarke the favourite | Football | The Guardian
Confirmation of Scotland’s manager is expected by Monday at the latest with Steve Clarke the leading candidate.

German French leagues reject proposal to create closed Champions League
Good.

MLS/Americas

Has MLS expansion come at the expense of the league’s established teams? | Football | The Guardian
Some believe MLS and its owners have forgotten about clubs who helped build the league in the first place.

Has the USL found the way forward in soccer’s concussion problem?
Two years in the making, the United Soccer League has proposed a rule that will change the way that world football deals with head injuries midgame.

Bruce Arena appointed New England Revolution head coach sporting director
New England Revolution has named five-time MLS Cup winner Bruce Arena as coach and sporting director.

Other

It’s taken me years to get comfortable saying this: I'm a gay footballer | Andy Brennan | Football | The Guardian
I hope his comfort means other gay athletes can be comfortable being out as well.