Sportsday - rolling football news

1. Garcia resigns from Fifa in protest
2. McCoist remains Rangers manager
3. Liverpool's Sturridge to spend Christmas with Boston Red Sox
4. Leicester boss Pearson accepts FA charge
5. GET INVOLVED: Are Chelsea capable of winning quadruple?

That's your Sportsday for today. Stay here for Capital One Cup quarter-finals and FA Cup live text action on the website.

Spurs hit back at AVB

PA

Current Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino and Andre Villas-Boas (right)

Tottenham accuses Andre Villas-Boas of rewriting history after their former manager claimed the club reneged on promises.

Tuesday marked a year to the day since the Portuguese's exit from White Hart Lane, following a topsy-turvy 18 months at the helm.

"The chairman [Daniel Levy] proposed a challenge to increase Tottenham's competitive level, but immediately Luka Modric left and we didn't get any of the targets I had identified, such as Joao Moutinho, Willian, Oscar or Leandro Damiao," Villas-Boas told channel TVI.

"These were promises that were not kept. I had a group of players I had not chosen.

A Tottenham spokesman said in response: "It's unfortunate that Andre has felt the need to pass comments like these.

"Not only has he attempted to rewrite history, he has clearly forgotten the facts."

Johnson 'proud' of Yeovil FA Cup run

Manager Gary Johnson says he is "proud" Yeovil Town were able to beat Accrington to book an FA Cup third-round meeting with Manchester United.

The third-tier Glovers overcame their League Two opponents 2-0 in Tuesday's second-round reply to make sure of a tie against the Premier League side.

"I know they are a league-lower side and everyone will say we didn't do it convincingly enough," Johnson told BBC Somerset. "But that won't matter when Man Utd run out on the Huish Park pitch."

Hartley & Lawes re-sign for Saints

Getty Images

Courtney Lawes was involved with England in the Autumn Internationals

Club captain Dylan Hartley, lock Courtney Lawes and back rower Calum Clark are three of seven players to sign new contracts with Northampton Saints.

Director of rugby Jim Mallinder said: "We have a group that has shown time and again that they have the ability to compete at the highest level of club rugby, and retaining players is very important to us.

"The seven forwards that we have announced today are all good players already, but they still have the ability to improve and we are looking forward to seeing them develop further at Franklin's Gardens."

Football

Robbie Savage

BBC Football analyst Robbie Savage with colleague Alan Shearer (right): Having a good day!!

MK Dons frustrated by FA Cup decision

MK Dons boss Karl Robinson believes the Football Association was wrong to force a replay of the FA Cup second-round tie against Chesterfield.

Chesterfield won the game 1-0, but were subsequently punished for fielding an ineligible player.

"I don't think it's the right decision. I don't think either team needs that outcome," said Robinson.

The FA will publish its full written reasons for the decision this week, but the governing body is able to apply punishments it deems appropriate for each individual case.

Cricket captains make football final

Getty Images

Teams owned by former India cricket captains Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly will clash in the final of the inaugural Indian Super League (ISL) after Atletico Kolkata pipped FC Goa on penalties in the second semi-final on Wednesday.

I'm not a racist - Tonev

PA

Celtic winger Aleksandar Tonev insists he is not a racist as he prepares to resume a seven-match ban for abusing Aberdeen full-back Shay Logan.

The on-loan Aston Villa player was described as neither a "credible or reliable" witness by a Scottish Football Association-appointed judicial panel in a report that was made public on Tuesday after he lost his appeal against his ban for using racist language.

Tonev told the Celtic website: "A lot has happened in the last few months. It has been a very difficult time for me and everyone involved. All I can do is move on from this now.

"I have made my case all along that I never used the words I was accused of using. I say again that I did not do this, I know what I am and I am not a racist."

Blatter responds to Garcia decision

Fifa president Sepp Blatter on Michael Garcia's decision to quit the organisation's ethics committee on Wednesday:

"I am surprised by Mr Garcia's decision. The work of the Ethics Committee will nonetheless continue and will be a central part of the discussions at the ExCo meeting in the next two days."

Garcia spent two years investigating corruption in World Cup bids. However, he was dissatisfied with the handling of the subsequent report.

Read the full story.

Dennis to go for The Hour Record

Australian Rohan Dennis will attempt to claim The Hour Record early next year amid reports Jack Bobridge and Alex Dowsett will also launch bids.

Bobridge, the four-kilometre individual pursuit world record holder, and Dennis have track pedigree.

Both were members of Australia's team pursuit squad which finished runners-up to Great Britain at the London 2012 Olympics.

Austria's Matthias Brandle set the current mark, with a distance of 51.852km, in October, after cycling's world governing body, the UCI, revised regulations to make the Hour more appealing.

Crolla update

PA

BBC Radio Manchester's Bill Rice:

"Anthony Crolla's trainer Joe Gallagher says he's had a plate and pin put into his broken ankle today, and has a confirmed fractured skull along with 12 stitches in a head wound from his hairline to eyebrow. He's in Oldham Hospital recovering but is hoping to be home by the weekend."

Watch the oldest football footage

Do you want to watch the oldest piece of football footage? Footage that dates back to 1898?

The Lancashire Telegraph has film of the match between Blackburn and West Brom which finished 4-1 to Rovers.

Are golfers turning into cyclists?

Cycling participation levels have boomed in recent years, while golf's have fallen dramatically. Are golfers morphing into cyclists?

BBC Sport has explored what two wheels have over a five iron.

Rio 2016 to deal with 'super bacteria'

Organisers of the Rio Olympics in 2016 are creating a task force to deal with so-called "super bacteria'' discovered in Olympic sailing waters.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, organisers said they were in contact with specialists at the respected health research institute behind the discovery.

Taylor agrees new Sale contract

Sale Sharks hooker Tommy Taylor has signed a new one-year contract with the Premiership club.

The 23-year-old academy product has not played this season after having surgery on a knee injury picked up playing for an England XV against the Barbarians.

Taylor has played 66 times for Sale since his debut, scoring three tries.

"He's recovered from the injury, he is bigger for it, and we just can't wait to get him back," said director of rugby Steve Diamond.

Ashes hosts announced

PA

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have revealed the venues that will stage its home international matches from 2017-19.

Old Trafford and Edgbaston have been awarded the remaining Ashes Tests for 2019, with Headingley, Lord's and the Oval already announced as venues for the five-Test series.

Meanwhile, MCC have announced that Lord's will host the 2019 World Cup final and the 2017 Women's World Cup final.

See the full 2017-19 schedule here.

Hamashima leaves Ferrari

Andrew Benson

BBC Sport chief F1 writer

Another one bites the dust at Ferrari. Hirohide Hamashima, former Bridgestone tech chief, leaves role heading tyre performance analysis.

Tottenham v Newcastle (19:45 GMT)

Hull goakeeper Steve Harper: Good luck to @NUFC tonight in the League Cup Quarter Final

Follow the live text coverage of this match and all the night's other fixtures on this website.

Kauto Star's dressage debut

Record-breaking steeplechaser Kauto Star has performed a demonstration dressage routine in front of over 6,000 people at the Olympia Horse of the Year Show.

The 14-year-old, who was retired in 2012 after winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup twice and the King George VI Chase a record five times, is likely to begin competing in dressage events in 2015, but has been ruled out of a future Olympic bid.

Watch rider Laura Collett explain to BBC Sport's Nick Hope how she was pleased with his showing.

Cricket

Gallo Images

Captain Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers have compiled an unbroken partnership of 283 as South Africa closed day one of the first Test on 340-3 against a wilting West Indies.

The hosts lost all three wickets to fall at Centurion with the score on 57 but Amla (133 not out) and de Villiers (141 not out) piled on the runs as SA took charge.

Garcia resigns from Fifa committee

Richard Conway

BBC Radio 5 live sports news correspondent

Uefa president Michel Platini on Garcia resignation: "We wanted all transparency but this is a new failure for Fifa."

McCoist 'remains in charge' at Rangers

The meeting between the Rangers board and manager Ally McCoist has ended and BBC Sport understands he remains in charge of the Ibrox club.

Garcia resigns from Fifa ethics committee

Getty Images

United States lawyer Michael Garcia spent two years investigating alleged World Cup corruption.

His findings were released as a 42-page summary by Fifa-appointed independent judge Hans-Joachim Eckert.

Garcia said his summary was "incomplete and erroneous" and he appealed against it to Fifa's Appeal Committee, who consequently dismissed the suggestion.

Garcia investigated the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

Here are extracts from his resignation letter:

"For the first two years after my July 2012 appointment as independent chairman of the Fifa ethics committee's investigatory chamber, I felt that the ethics committee was making real progress in advancing ethics enforcement at Fifa. In recent months, that changed.

"It now appears that, at least for the foreseeable future, the Eckert decision will stand as the final word on the 2018/2022 Fifa World Cup bidding process.

"While the appeal committee's decision notes that further appeal may be taken to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, I have concluded that such a course of action would not be practicable in this case. No independent governance committee, investigator, or arbitration panel can change the culture of an organisation.

"Accordingly, effective today, December 17, 2014, I am resigning as independent chairman of the investigatory chamber of the Fifa ethics committee."

Wenger backs Henry as talent-spotter

Getty Images

Thierry Henry could be the right man to unearth the next great talent, according to Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, the man who helped transform the France forward's career.

The 37-year-old former Gunners' striker is to return to England to take up a new role as a media pundit having left the New York Red Bulls after the MLS season finished.

While Henry feels he still has so much to learn before he can consider taking on a management position, Wenger believes the Frenchman already possesses one of the most important traits of the job.

"As well as his extraordinary passion for football, he always showed an incredible insight in his judgement of players. He has a real ability to unearth talent," Wenger told L'Equipe.

'Garcia resigns from Fifa'

Lawyer Michael Garcia says he has resigned in protest as Fifa's ethics prosecutor, reports Associated Press.

Grosjean on holiday

Romain Grosjean

What do F1 drivers do during their off-season? They join pilots in cockpits.

Here's Lotus driver Romain Grosjean on his way back to France from the Caribbean. Looks like he's got the controls.

Bulgaria name new coach

Bulgaria have named Ivaylo Petev as their new coach following the sacking of his predecessor over poor Euro 2016 qualifying results.

Petev, a former manager of Ludogorets, Levski Sofia and AEL Limassol, has been given a three-year contract.

He succeeds Lyuboslav Penev, who was sacked in November after a poor start to their Euro 2016 qualifiers.

Bulgaria have just one point after three games in Group H.

Get involved

Sadiq Faruk: Come May 2015, we shall see where we stand. Quadruple highly unlikely but a possibility, keeping our feet to the ground.

Tadewos W. Mentta: I even doubt Chelsea will win the @premierleague. Seen how Man City have regained their power?

We want to know whether you think Chelsea can pull off the quadruple. Send us your views via #bbcsportsday or on the BBC Sport Facebook page.

Falcao wants to stay at Man Utd

Getty Images

Radamel Falcao would love to stay at Manchester United but admits a permanent move to Old Trafford is likely to depend on how much he plays from now until the end of the season.

"I am very happy in this city, in this club and I am enjoying it here. I really want to stay," the United striker told Press Association Sport.

"From my point of view, I'd like to carry on but obviously I have to analyse the situation, see if I play more and see what decision the board takes."

Tons for Amla and de Villiers

South Africa batsmen Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers have both reached their centuries as South Africa pile on the runs in the first Test against the West Indies.

After 75 overs SA had reached 294-3 at Centurion with Amla on 112 and de Villiers on 117.

Their unbroken partnership has now reached 237.

Castrogiovanni fined and given suspended ban

Getty Images

Toulon's Martin Castrogiovanni has been fined 10,000 euros and given a four-match suspended ban after pleading guilty to a misconduct charge following his club's European Champions Cup match at his former club Leicester Tigers.

Italian Castrogiovanni, 33, made disparaging remarks about Leicester and the club's director of rugby Richard Cockerill.

The European Professional Club Rugby disciplinary panel took into account his remorse and that when he described Leicester as "amateur" he was being ironic rather than critical.

The ban is suspended until 30 April, 2016

Pakistan donate ODI proceeds to massacre victims

Getty Images

Pakistan will donate all proceeds from Wednesday's one-day international with New Zealand in Abu Dhabi to the victims of this week's Peshawar school massacre.

The Pakistani Taliban attacked the Army Public School in the city on Tuesday, which resulted in at least 141 deaths.

The Pakistan Cricket Board tried to postpone the match but said they were "constrained" by media commitments.

New Zealand have made 299-5 from their 50 overs after winning the toss. Captain Kane Williamson top-scored with 123.

Ronaldo fails with rabona

There is not much Cristiano Ronaldo can't pull off on a football field but he didn't quite manage to score with a 'rabona' in Real Madrid's 4-0 victory over Mexico's Cruz Azul in the Fifa Club World Cup semi-final.

Gareth Bale was among the players to get on the scoresheet.

Spencer wins again

Jamie Spencer was back in the winner's enclosure on Wednesday afternoon with his first ride since announcing he was to carry on riding.

He partnered Master Of Irony to victory at Lingfield after deciding to shelve plans to retire and instead ride as a freelance next season.

Twice crowned champion jockey, Spencer was told in the summer his retained contract with Qatar Racing would not be renewed in 2015.

Get involved

el-Mustafa Gbolahan: First it was unbeaten, now it's the quadruple. Chelsea have a good team now, but not great enough for this quadruple feat.

Fahad Khan: If Chelsea win the quadruple, I will give out free hats to all these pessimists to eat.

Kasper: The only way Chelsea could win the quadruple is if I was managing them on Football Manager 2015 #TacticalGenius

We want to know whether you think Chelsea can pull off the quadruple. Send us your views via #bbcsportsday or on the BBC Sport Facebook page.

South Africa dominate

Getty Images

The evening session has just started in Centurion and South Africa are in command on day one of the first Test against the West Indies, reaching tea on 225-3.

Earlier the hosts lost three wickets with the score on 57 but skipper Hashim Amla (79 not out) and AB de Villiers (85 not out) have shared an unbroken stand of 168.

Yeovil set for Man Utd ticket surge

Yeovil are preparing for unprecedented ticket demand for their home FA Cup clash with Premier League Manchester United.

League One Glovers beat Accrington in a replay to book a third-round tie with the 11-time winners on 4 January.

Yeovil's Huish Park home has a capacity of 9,500 and 1,300 tickets will be allocated to away fans, with 4,500 being made available for general sale.

The club are also expecting an uptake in half-season tickets from Somerset-based Manchester United fans.

"If you get a half-season ticket, you've got a chance to get a ticket for Man Utd," commercial manager Dave Linney told BBC Points West.

"I'm sure there will be a number of Man Utd fans in this area buying them and hopefully we might convert a couple."

Sturridge to spend Xmas in Boston

PA

Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge will spend Christmas in Boston in a bid to speed up his return from injury.

Sturridge will travel to America to work with medical specialists at baseball team the Boston Red Sox, having spent time in Los Angeles working on his thigh injury.

The 25-year-old has played just three games this season and is not expected to play again before the New Year.

Liverpool owner John W Henry is also the owner of the Red Sox.

Read the story

Vaughan in gear for Worcester

Worcester City goalkeeper Nathan Vaughan is swapping the production line for the goal-line on Wednesday night after being given the night off from his full-time job.

Car-fitter Vaughan, 33, was due to be on the 2-10pm shift at Jaguar Land Rover in Solihull but his employers have given him special permission to turn out for the Conference North side in their FA Cup second-round replay against Scunthorpe.

Watch Vaughan at work on the BBC Midlands Today Facebook page.

Get involved

Milo Thompson: Pat Nevin thinks rugby is holding back English football? Hasn't caused Italy, Argentina and France any problems.

Check out what the former Scotland international has to say on the matter on the BBC Football page.

Kipsang criticises Athletics Kenya

AP

Earlier (13:24 entry), Athletics Kenya revealed that former marathon world record holder Wilson Kipsang had missed an out-of-competition doping test last month.

Here is Kipsang's response:

"I wish to state it clearly that it is breach of privacy with malicious target to soil my name and efforts I have put in towards developing and streamlining the art of running in Kenya.

"I am fully aware of the communication from IAAF and I have submitted all necessary required details and the matter was settled in accordance to the governing law. In the dates mentioned, I was in South Africa to attend a global athletics conference where I was representing Africa and Kenya and Athletics Kenya was aware: and the same was updated in my whereabouts calendar.

"Missing unwillingly a single test, in fact for the first time cannot amount to issuing a press statement by a national federation. I am not the only athlete who misses a test. I am not the first one in Kenya neither in the whole world. Then, why Kipsang?"

Get involved

Tatenda Chakaduka: If Chelsea win the quadruple, I will eat my hat.

Hartlepool a fresh start - Moore

New manager Ronnie Moore says the Hartlepool United job is a "great opportunity" to put his sacking by Tranmere Rovers behind him.

Moore was dismissed by Rovers in April after he admitted breaking Football Association betting rules.

However, the 61-year-old has now been given the task of retaining Pools' league status by owners TMH 2014 Ltd.

"The last thing you want is to be remembered for something stupid with the FA," Moore told BBC Tees.

Athletics

AFP

The United States Olympic Committee will bid for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Either Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco or Washington DC will go forward as the US nomination.

The International Olympic Committee's deadline for applicants is next September, with a decision due in 2017.

The US last hosted a summer Games in Atlanta in 1996, while Los Angeles previously staged the event in 1984 and 1932. Salt Lake City, Utah, hosted the Winter Olympics in 2002.

NY marathon winner misses doping test

Athletics Kenya says former marathon world record holder Wilson Kipsang missed an out-of-competition doping test last month.

The organisation says it was notified by the IAAF about the unsuccessful attempt to test the 2014 New York Marathon champion on 11 November.

Athletics Kenya says no sanction will be imposed against Kipsang since it is his first failure to be evaluated.

Eighteen Kenyan runners failed doping tests in 2012 and 2013, according to a doping report released earlier this year - a rate of nearly one per month. That compared with 18 Kenyan doping cases in the 19 years before 2012, the report said.

Real tennis

Real Madrid

Real Madrid, who have won 21 (TWENTY ONE) games in succession, warm up for Saturday's Fifa World Club final in Marrakech with a spot of football-tennis. Here, defender Marcelo shows what a brave/foolish soul he is on the tennis court.

Get involved

Belete Eshtea: 1st invincible, and now quadruple? No, they are not even capable of winning all the three domestic trophies.

Angus Saul: Chelsea won't win the domestic treble, never mind quadruple. Last year they bottled the league. Might happen again

Samir Divecha: Even the Invincibles couldn't win the quadruple so what chance has this Chelsea team got? Simple, no chance.

'Nigel Manselllll!'

Mercedes

Mercedes AMG F1: #Christmas has arrived early here at @MercedesAMGF1 HQ; #F1 Royalty is in the house!

Mercedes are referring to legendary BBC commentator Murray Walker, alongside BBC F1 producer Michael Cunliffe.

Balotelli should go - Savage

PA

People have been tweeting that Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli has been about in Manchester today. He, as you might have read, is not included in the Capital One Cup squad for the quarter-final at Bournemouth.

BBC analyst Robbie Savage believes the Reds should sell the Italy international and buy a defender.

What do you think?

Philip & Dasaolu set for GP

PA

Training partners Asha Philip - the British champion over 60m indoors and 100m outdoors - and European 100m champion, James Dasaolu, will both compete at the Sainsbury's Indoor Grand Prix in Birmingham on 21 February 2015.

Chicksen backs Brighton boss Hyypia

Brighton manager Sami Hyypia still has the backing of the club's players, says left-back Adam Chicksen.

The Seagulls are currently 22nd in the Championship table, having won just one of their last 17 league games.

"We believe in the philosophy he brings to the club and try and do everything he wants us to do in games - but we need results with that," Chicksen told BBC Sussex.

Nevin's second-sport syndrome

An interesting video from BBC football analyst Pat Nevin, who looks for reasons why British football has struggled to produce 'number 10s', and asks whether the answer could lie in sporting cultural differences.

Nevin believes different countries' 'second sports' inform the way young footballers learn and play the game, with some cultures putting the emphasis on power and strength, and others prioritising movement and spatial awareness.

He contrasts the physicality of rugby in Britain with the popularity of basketball in Spain.

What do you think of Pat's theory? Send us your views via #bbcsportsday or on the BBC Sport Facebook page.

Secret Santas

West Ham

West Ham: Can you name the Santas behind the beards?

Get involved

Joe Hunter: First it was 'Will they be the Unbeatables'. Didn't happen. Now it's 'Will they win the Quadruple'. That won't happen either.

Andrew Neill: Too many unknowns between now and May to be talking of 4 cups. Just need injuries to Hazard, Costa and/or Fabregas to kill it.

Chris Richards: We could do the quadruple but a treble is more likely, but to say we're not capable of winning the CL is crazy, 2012 anyone?

Andrew Priestly: The 'Quadruple' has been talked about before, Man Utd 2008/09 and Man City 2013/14. But this Chelsea team has the best chance.

We want to know whether you think Chelsea can pull off the quadruple. Send us your views via #bbcsportsday or on the BBC Sport Facebook page.

My helmet saved us - Cech

Getty Images

The Chelsea pair clashed heads on Tuesday

Goalkeeper Petr Cech insists his padded helmet saved him and Chelsea team-mate Kurt Zouma from serious injury.

The pair clashed heads in the Blues' 3-1 Capital One Cup quarter final win at Derby on Tuesday, forcing Zouma to be carried off.

Cech has worn headgear since fracturing his skull in a collision with Reading's Stephen Hunt in 2006 and believes it prevented further injury at Derby.

He said: "I was a bit concerned because we collided with a heavy clash. I think it was lucky he hit my helmet because the impact would have been much bigger.

"I think the helmet saved him, me as well, because he hit most of the helmet and took away a little bit of the impact."

Contador 'could have died' at Tour

AP

Two-time Tour de France winner Alberto Contador says he could have died when crashing out of this year's event.

The 32-year-old Spaniard broke his right tibia during the Tour's 10th stage, riding on for nearly 20km before pulling out.

Contador told BBC Sport's Matt Slater: "When I think I was going 77kmph at the time and I only broke my tibia, well, on balance, that's good.

"Maybe I lost the Tour, but I didn't lose my life."

Get involved

Peter Metalli: Only the media morons talk of this at this stage of the season. No one at Chelsea is talking this up.

It is a near-impossible task for an English club to achieve this due to the sheer number of fixtures involved.

Manchester United came close with the treble but they had the perfect storm of a great squad and a lot of luck that year.

As we have seen with Liverpool this season (and City in the past few seasons) it is hard enough to fight on the European and domestic fronts alone and one normally has to "give (sometimes both). Let alone going for a 100% record.

'Qatar risk losing World Cup'

Qatar must meet a March deadline for specific labour reforms or it could risk losing the 2022 World Cup finals, according to Fifa executive committee member Theo Zwanziger.

The German, who was formerly head of his country's FA and has been a vocal critic of the desert state's ability to host a World Cup under extreme summer heat, said a proposal would be made to the world governing body's Exco meeting on Friday.

"Qataris must deploy, by a March 10, 2015 deadline, the independent commission - tasked with regularly monitoring human rights conditions at World Cup construction sites and note progress - as demanded in the Piper report," Zwanziger told Sport Bild magazine.

"Until now apparently not much has happened," he said.

Reports of human rights violations among migrant workers in the energy-rich Gulf state prompted a Qatar-sponsored review of labour legislation by British-based law firm DLA Piper, which made several recommendations including the creation of a minimum wage for each category of construction worker.

Managing Arsenal would be 'a dream' - Henry

Getty Images

Thierry Henry's retirement announcement dominated Tuesday's sporting news and although the Frenchman is initially destined for a media career, he admits managing Arsenal would be "a dream come true".

Henry says he will have to prove himself first, telling the Daily Telegraph: "The plan is to start my badges and I guess Arsenal will help me. To pass your badges, you have to work closely with a club and I would like to think it is going to be Arsenal.

"First and foremost I don't know how or when, but everybody knows I would love to go back to Arsenal in some capacity. But I need to be equipped to go back."

Kauto Star 'non-runner' for Olympics

Nick Hope

BBC Olympic sports reporter

PA

Record breaking steeplechaser Kauto Star is likely to begin competing in dressage events in 2015, but has been ruled out of a future Olympic bid.

The former racehorse - who was retired in 2012 after winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup twice and the King George VI Chase a record five times - performed a demonstration routine at the Olympia Horse of the Year show on Tuesday.

Rider Laura Collett and owner Clive Smith both state their ambition to see Kauto Star to compete next year, but the GB Equestrian Olympic team performance manager Yogi Breisner confirms the previously held belief that reaching the standards needed for Olympic selection is beyond the former racehorse.

Get involved

Tom Howells: Remember last season when the media talked about @mcfc's #quadruple? #2Outta4AintBad

Ricky Lee Everett: Chelsea could possibly do the treble, but its far too soon to be talking about that; CL is unlikely as they aren't elite

'Saints loss unacceptable'

Defender Jose Fonte says Southampton's Capital One Cup quarter-final defeat at Sheffield United was "unacceptable" and issued an apology to their supporters after they "blew a great opportunity".

"It was not acceptable. I would firstly like to apologise to the fans, they didn't deserve this. That is not us," Fonte told Southampton's official YouTube channel.

Lewis 'more dangerous' at Worlds

Getty Images

Two-time winner Adrian Lewis believes he is "more dangerous" when competing at the PDC World Championship.

World number three Lewis, who won the title in 2011 and 2012, is seeded third and plays Shropshire debutant David Pallett in the first round on Tuesday.

"Instead of doing three hours of practice per day, I up it to five hours per day," the 29-year-old from Stoke-on-Trent told BBC Sport.

"I make sure I'm at my pinnacle for the World Championship," he continued.

South Africa steady ship at lunch

AP

South Africa have recovered to 102-3 against the West Indies at lunch on the first day of the first Test at Centurion, having lost all three wickets with the score on 57.

Fast bowler Kemar Roach has taken 2-16 but SA captain Hashim Amla (25 not out) and AB de Villiers (16 not out) have prevented any further inroads by the tourists.

Lescott 'Home Alone'

West Brom defender Joleon Lescott on Twitter: "Now it feels like Christmas #HomeAlone on TV. Might have to open the dry roasted peanuts even if it is 10.45.

Pearson accepts charge

Leicester manager Nigel Pearson has accepted an Football Association charge and requested a personal hearing, the date of which is yet to be fixed.

He is alleged to have "used abusive and/or insulting words towards a spectator" during his side's 3-1 defeat by Liverpool.

Read the full story here.

World Cup 2022 in May/June?

AFP

The 2022 Qatar World Cup saga rolls on - with Europe's biggest clubs and leagues saying it should be played between 5 May and 4 June rather than in winter.

Qatar was awarded the event in 2010, with leading Fifa figures subsequently backing a proposed winter tournament because of the scorching summer temperatures.

But the European Club Association (ECA), who represent 214 top European clubs, and European Professional Football Leagues (EPFL) both say it could be played safely at the start of the summer.

A decision is expected by March 2015.

Serbia warning

World players' union FIFPro warns members not to sign for clubs in Serbia because they run the risk of not getting paid.

FIFPro and the Serbian Players' Association said eight of the 16 teams in the top flight have had their accounts blocked by the Serbian national bank and could not play players and other employees.

"We hate to do this but it is our job to protect the players," FIFPro secretary general Theo van Seggelen said in a statement.

Get involved

Sean: The big 3 in Europe will teach Jose a football lesson regardless of how many buses get parked

Gary Timms: Do we really need to replace 'can Chelsea go unbeaten' with 'can they do the quadruple?'. Never gonna happen.

Crolla update

Boxer Ant Crolla's manager Joe Gallagher: Thank you for all messages of support 4 @ant_crolla. Hospital have been inundated with Get Well messages but for today he will not be allowed any visitors as he is in theatre & needs to rest & recover. Thank you once again for amazing support for an amazing man.

The 28-year-old suffered a fractured skull and broken ankle after he was hit on the head when confronting burglars. The Briton was due to fight for the WBA world lightweight title in January. Read the full story.

Gold responds to Allardyce rumour

West Ham co-owner David Gold: @prideofeastldn: The Daily Star reports that [manager Sam] Allardyce won't be offered a new contract? dg true or not?

This is pure speculation. dg

Balotelli not in Liverpool squad

Getty Images

Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli has not travelled with the squad to Bournemouth for Wednesday night's League Cup quarter-final, reports the Press Association.

The Italian was a second-half substitute in Sunday's defeat at Manchester United, where he made his comeback after more than a month out with a groin problem.

Balotelli has stayed behind to receive further treatment on the injury at the club's Melwood training ground with a view to him being fit for Sunday's visit of Arsenal.

Meanwhile, right-back Glen Johnson, who came off with a groin injury at Old Trafford, is likely to be out for about a month, according to reports.

Get involved

James Clarke: Everyone trying to say Chelsea will win quadruple just like they said unbeaten, League and League cup is what they'll get.

Mark: Not to long ago the talk was of Chelsea going the season unbeaten. They promptly lost their next game.

Rangers fee withheld

AFP

The turmoil continues at Rangers where the Scottish Professional Football League is withholding £250,000 of broadcast money due to the Ibrox club in a bid to recoup a fine imposed for the club's use of a controversial tax scheme.

The fine was imposed in February 2013 after Rangers were found to have broken league rules in their use of an employee benefit trust scheme.

Rangers are to appeal against the decision on the grounds that the company in breach of the rules has since been liquidated.

Meanwhile, manager Ally McCoist will attend a Rangers board meeting later having tendered his resignation with 12 months' notice. A settlement fee may be agreed with McCoist leaving sooner.

England World Cup squad announcement

Getty Images

England will announce the one-day squad for January's tri-series in Australia and the World Cup, which starts in February, at 11:00 GMT on Saturday.

It is expected a 15-man squad will be named, although they may add some bowling cover for the tri-Series featuring Australia and India with James Anderson and Stuart Broad coming back from injury.

They will also announce the England Lions squad.

Get involved

Billy Dolton: As a Arsenal fan I reckon Chelsea will win the League Cup 2015 and The FA Cup in may 2015 and the league trophy but not win the UEFA Champions League

Get involved

Andy Hodge: I'm loving all this talk of Chelsea winning the quadruple. The more people talk about it, the less likely it'll happen.

UnSimpleSimon: Chelsea are capable of winning 4 trophies, but probably won't. Too many strong teams, including City, in the way. Need luck.

West Ham united

Diafra Sakho

West Ham striker Diafra Sakho (with West Ham co-owner David Sullivan): Yes Hammers. West Ham boss

Crolla has 'possible fractured skull'

PA

Best wishes to Anthony Crolla, who is in hospital with a "possible fractured skull" and broken ankle after he was hit on the head when confronting burglars.

Crolla, 28, was due to fight for the WBA world lightweight title in January, but the bout against champion Richar Abril has been postponed because of his injuries.

Promoter Eddie Hearn told BBC Sport the Manchester-based boxer was in a "stable condition".

Hearn added: "He confronted burglars at his home and was hit on the head by either a brick or a concrete slab."

Happy Fabregas

Chelsea

Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas: "We have a very strong squad, not just the team, everyone performs well."

Are Chelsea capable of a clean sweep?

As we mentioned earlier (see 08.10 GMT entry), Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is playing down talk of his side achieving a quadruple, but we want to hear your thoughts.

It's remained an unattainable feat in English football, with Liverpool (1983-84) and Manchester United (1998-99) going closest by winning three major trophies in a single season.

In recent years, we have seen Chelsea (2006-07), Manchester United (2008-09) and Manchester City (2013-14) fall short after staying in contention into the second half of the season. Is this Chelsea squad better equipped than previous sides to mount a challenge for all four?

Send us your views via #bbcsportsday or on the BBC Sport Facebook page.

Schurrle delight

Chelsea midfielder Andre Schurrle: Early bird:))) good morning!! Good win yesterday and happy to be in the semis!!

The Blues are through to the Capital One Cup last four with victory over Derby - read the report.

Vijay hits ton as Australia toil

EPA

The second Test between Australia and India has begun in Brisbane and the tourists have had the best of the first day, closing on 311-4.

Opener Murali Vijay hit 144 as the tourists recovered from 137-3 in scorching heat at the Gabba.

In Steve Smith's first Test as stand-in captain for the injured Michael Clarke, Australia used eight bowlers as injury and fatigue took its toll on the their attack.

Mitchell Marsh pulled up with a hamstring injury, Mitchell Starc and debutant Josh Hazlewood left the field with exhaustion and Mitchell Johnson bowled through a hip problem.

Carlin wins GB honour

Getty Images

Commonwealth and European champion Jazz Carlin is named British Swimming Athlete of the Year after the public chose their 2014 champion from a pool of outstanding achievers.

Carlin won with a massive 78% of the votes after a year that saw her crowned Wales' first female Commonwealth champion in 40 years.

Carlin's 2014 also saw her stand on the podium at the European Championships after winning both the 400m and 800m freestyle.

European back pages

Sport

The Sport newspaper in Spain focuses on Barcelona's 8-1 win against Huesca in the Copa del Ray. A good midweek for Spain's top guns then.

European back pages

Marca

In Spain, Marca goes with the headline "flying" after Real Madrid eased into the Club World Cup final with their 21st successive win - a 4-0 victory over Cruz Azul.

European back pages

L'Equipe

L'Equipe's front page unsurprisingly leads on the retirement of "King" Thierry Henry. He was voted France's third best player of all time in a poll in the newspaper yesterday.

Real Madrid in for De Gea?

Today's gossip column has all the latest transfer rumours from the newspapers.

Daily Express: Real Madrid are said to be preparing to break the goalkeeping transfer record to sign Manchester United's David De Gea, 24, for a fee eclipsing the £33m Juventus paid for Gianluigi Buffon in 2001.

Daily Mirror: Liverpool are making an attempt to sign Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech, 32, on loan.

Daily Mail: Crystal Palace are planning to sign Roma's former Chelsea left-back Ashley Cole, 33, on loan.

Chester player takes the biscuit

In Tuesday night's other FA Cup second-round replays, there were wins for Luton, Cambridge, Rochdale and Tranmere.

Barnsley also progressed with a 3-0 win at Chester, despite the hosts' Gareth Roberts enjoying an energy boost by munching on a packet of biscuits during the game.

The referee wasn't too impressed. Watch the video here.

Yeovil set up Man Utd tie

Getty Images

It's not all about the League Cup. In the FA Cup, League One Yeovil Town can look forward to hosting Manchester United in the third round after two late goals saw off Accrington Stanley in their second-round replay.

The Glovers, who are 21st in the third tier, face the 11-time winners at Huish Park in a televised match on Sunday, 4 January.

The Somerset side, relegated from the Championship last season, are set to net £144,000 in TV funds along with the prize money on offer for progressing.

Yeovil manager Gary Johnson admitted: "I think all the board of directors were on their knees for 90 minutes, praying that we'd win. They'll be very proud of their football club."

Back pages

Independent

More bad news for Liverpool if the Independent is to be believed. Their lead story on the back is that Bayern Munich are showing an interest in Raheem Sterling. It never rains when it pours, eh Brendan?

Back pages

The Sun

Football hits the front pages in the Sun as they crank up the pressure on Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers ahead of tonight's League Cup quarter-final tie at Bournemouth. Apparently, Brendan was "pleading with the football gods".

Back pages

Daily Mirror

The Daily Mirror goes even further as their headline screams out about Chelsea's quadruple bid still being alive. Perhaps a tad premature, that one...

Back pages

Daily Star

The Daily Star's focuses on Chelsea's win over Derby. The words "rampage" and "stroll" show how impressive the Blues were once more. The Guardian also headlines on Jose Mourinho's men's win as it highlights the manager's concern at Kurt Zouma's injury.

The Guardian

Liverpool face Championship leaders

Reuters

On Wednesday night we have the other two League Cup quarter-finals, as Liverpool travel to Championship leaders Bournemouth. How Reds boss Brendan Rodgers could do with a win on the south coast.

The other tie sees Tottenham host in-form Newcastle United at White Hart Lane.

Before we look ahead to this evening's games, let's take a look at Wednesday's back pages.

Sheffield United shock Southampton

Getty Images

In Tuesday night's other League Cup quarter-final, Sheffield United sent Southampton to their fifth successive defeat as Marc McNulty's goal took the Blades into the last four.

It continued their impressive record against Premier League opposition in cup competitions, having knocked out Aston Villa, Fulham, West Ham and now Southampton in the last two seasons.

"It is an incredible night for the club," said Sheffield United manager Nigel Clough.

Chelsea's 'feet on the ground'

AP

The Chelsea boss said "we don't speak about" the possibility of winning the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup.

Mourinho added: "You [the media] spoke a few weeks ago about being unbeatable in the Premier League and we never did it.

"Now you speak about the quadruple. We have our feet on the ground."

It may be a long way off, but they're looking seriously impressive so far.

AFP

Chelsea might not be speaking about it, according to Jose Mourinho, but we will be. Chelsea's 3-1 victory at Derby County in the League Cup quarter-final has prompted talk of the quadruple. Are they capable of pulling it off? Hello and welcome to another Sportsday.