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A pair of Champions League final tickets can cost up to 14000 on black market

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Borussia, who have an average home crowd of around 80,000, held a draw after over 500,000 fans applied for its allocation.<br />
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Over 20,000 seats have been reserved for the Uefa ‘family’ - the governing body, national associations, sponsors, broadcasters and hospitality packages.<br />
Greedy touts are cashing in on the unprecedented demand by offering desperate fans black market seats at eye-watering mark-ups.<br />
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The face value of final tickets was already a shock for German supporters used to much lower prices for Bundesliga games.<br />
The most expensive Category 1 tickets for the match have a face value of ?330.<br />
Same again: The 2011 final between Manchester United and Barcelona had a similar problem<br />
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But Madrid-based agency 1st4footballtickets.com is charging up to ?13,760 per pair -10,450 for the tickets plus ?3,310 in fees and taxes.<br />
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The cheapest Category 4 seats to the match have a face value of ?60 but are on sale on the same website for up to ?2,260 - ?1,710 for the tickets plus ?550 in fees and taxes.<br />
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Similarly, a pair of prime Wembley seats from agency ticket4football.com will set fans back up to ?7,350.<br />
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The firm, which claims to have the 'most specialised and fully dedicated football ticket website' is based in Murcia and warns that Spanish law governs any disputes.<br />
Tickets are also being offered on internet auction site eBay for ?1,500 per pair.<br />
The Ticket Touting Order of 2007 outlaws the re-sale of tickets by UK firms at an inflated price but that does not prevent foreign sellers flogging seats.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL687eUWB19cp7TmLDVClFlh-sCgffcIMruPmj0qdaby_q109UYwfivpHlMlP_PrcfjSa8KFqal5dwjCp6XqFeFAQEiU_L5RS1T1n-NKQaoSLHoYR_fwvWmIEsCn5zcdQSiuinVkO_Qbo/s1600/article-0-012E500000000578-383_634x459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL687eUWB19cp7TmLDVClFlh-sCgffcIMruPmj0qdaby_q109UYwfivpHlMlP_PrcfjSa8KFqal5dwjCp6XqFeFAQEiU_L5RS1T1n-NKQaoSLHoYR_fwvWmIEsCn5zcdQSiuinVkO_Qbo/s1600/article-0-012E500000000578-383_634x459.jpg" /></a><br />
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Only 9,000 were sold to the general public on Uefa’s website.<br />
All-German: Dortmund and Bayern Munich will battle it out after overcoming the Spanis<br />
Uefa says that it is trying to clamp down on touts in the run-up to the final.<br />
A massive security operation is under way with staff at Wembley working closely with Uefa, the Metropolitan Police, Brent Council and the two competing clubs.<br />
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In a statement, Uefa warned: 'Any unauthorised offer or sale of tickets to this match in the UK is a criminal offence under British law.<br />
'Uefa and The Football Association are working with the authorities to combat ticket touting activities in the lead-up to the Uefa Champions League final and we will be taking appropriate legal action against ticket touts found to be breaking UK law and/or the ticketing terms and conditions.<br />
'All official sales channels are now closed and tickets as well as hospitality packages are completely sold out. <br />
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'We urge you not to purchase tickets or hospitality packages from unauthorised sellers.<br />
'Any unauthorised sale renders tickets invalid.<br />
Familiar surroundings: Wembley holds the final for the second time in three years<br />
'Identity checks may be carried out at Wembley Stadium and ticket holders will be denied entry if their tickets have been purchased from unauthorised sources.'<br />
Uefa sparked outrage over the 2011 Champions League final at Wembley between Manchester United and Barcelona when the cheapest tickets on general sale cost ?150 plus a ?26 administration fee.</div>
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Uefa will operate a fan park next to the Olympic Stadium in Stratford, east London, for the final.</div>
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German-bound: UEFA announced today that the Olympiastadion in Berlin would hold the 2015 final
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A pair of Champions League final tickets can cost up to 14000 on black market

Borussia, who have an average home crowd of around 80,000, held a draw after over 500,000 fans applied for its allocation. Over 20,...

Alan Pardew safe at Newcastle United

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The Newcastle board, who invested heavily in French players recommended by chief scout Graham Carr in January, have a new set of summer targets, and have taken some responsibility for the club’s failure to land better, and more players a year ago in the wake of their fifth place finish.<br />
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Rumours about Pardew’s future have circulated on social media sites over the last three days, with many supporters calling for a change of regime. The club’s decision not to make an official statement on the matter only fuelled rumours that Pardew had in fact been sacked.<br />
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Pardew is now the second longest-serving manager in the Premier League at two-and-a-half years following Tony Pulis’ exit from Stoke City. And he will be expected to make a better start to next season, with a handful of new additions from the summer transfer window.<br />
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All smiles: But Newcastle owner Mike Ashley met Pardew for clear-the-air talks after the poor season<br />
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Newcastle have however distanced themselves from a move for former striker Andy Carroll whose fee and wages remain outside the Newcastle transfer policy.<br />
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Meanwhile France international Mathieu Debuchy, one of the January signings, has admitted the last season was disappointing.<br />
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The full-back said: 'It’s not been good enough for a team such as Newcastle United to do what we did in the last campaign and everyone knows that. We will do better next time.<br />
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'There is a determination within the squad to improve next season. We want to do a lot better.'<br />
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 Challenge: Newcastle full-back Mathieu Debuchy said the club want to do a lot better next season </div>
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Alan Pardew safe at Newcastle United

The Newcastle board, who invested heavily in French players recommended by chief scout Graham Carr in January, have a new set of summer ...

Andy Carrolls injury will not jeopardise move from Liverpool to West Ham

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By Dominic King</div>
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PUBLISHED: 21:35 GMT, 22 May 2013 | UPDATED: 21:36 GMT, 22 May 2013 </div>
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Andy Carroll's prospects of moving to West Ham won’t be jeopardised by the injury that will keep him out for up to four months. </div>
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West Ham agreed a ?15million deal with Liverpool on Tuesday for the England international but he faces a prolonged spell on the sidelines after hurting himself in the final game of the season against Reading.</div>
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Liverpool are awaiting confirmation of the severity of Carroll’s heel problem – he has not reported back to Melwood yet to see club doctors – but, technically, he remains a West Ham player until June due to the terms of his season-long loan. On the move: West Ham have agreed a ?15million deal with Liverpool for Carroll</div>
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While Carroll enjoyed his stint at Upton Park, he has privately not ruled out the prospect of returning to Liverpool and trying to revive his career. One possible route for him, however has been blocked after Newcastle made clear they do not want to buy him.</div>
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A swap deal involving Carroll and Hatem Ben Arfa had been mooted but Liverpool have gone cool on their interest in the French winger, whose form dipped towards the end of the season and are reassessing their targets.</div>
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Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has held discussions with Carroll about what the future holds. </div>
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No deal: The rumoured swap deal involving Caroll and Ben Arfa will not happen</div>
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‘I spoke to him and we had a good chat,’ said Rodgers. ‘The boy is a talent. It’ s just something we need to assess between now and the end of window. In terms of the money, that’s something out of my control. But he’s a talent so we will assess the whole situation. </div>
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‘The objective at the beginning of the season was for him to go out and play. He’s gone away to think of what we spoke about and we will talk again through the weeks. It was just a general conversation in terms of the experience of getting out and playing. </div>
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‘He enjoyed that, apart from the injury. At the start of the season the whole thing was about going and getting games because he wasn’t going to be a starter here. We will talk again with him and the club to see how it all evolves.’ </div>
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Andy Carrolls injury will not jeopardise move from Liverpool to West Ham

By Dominic King PUBLISHED: 21:35 GMT, 22 May 2013 | UPDATED: 21:36 GMT, 22 May 2013 Andy Carroll's prospects of moving to ...

Andy Murray doubtful of being fit in time for Wimbledon

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By Mike Dawes</div>
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PUBLISHED: 17:33 GMT, 26 May 2013 | UPDATED: 09:48 GMT, 27 May 2013 </div>
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Andy Murray remains hopeful of playing at Wimbledon but admits he has a 'long way to go' before he is 100 per cent fit.</div>
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Murray is sitting out the French Open, which started on Sunday, in a bid to improve a long-standing back problem.</div>
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He announced he would miss Roland Garros a week after retiring from his clash with Marcel Granollers in Rome on May 15 but said at the time he was optimistic he would be fit enough to compete at SW19. Threat: Andy Murray is in danger of missing Wimbledon after injuring himself during the clay court season</div>
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That remains the case but the world No 2 is facing a race against time with Wimbledon starting on June 24.</div>
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Asked if he would be able to compete in the season's third grand slam, Murray told ESPN: 'That's the plan. The grass is a bit easier on my back than the clay and I am hoping that Wimbledon is going to be fine.</div>
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'I am going to try to get myself ready to play (the warm-up event) at Queen's but I just have to wait and see.'</div>
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Having given the back complete rest, Murray has recently returned to the practice court but has been limited in what he can do.</div>
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'I have been doing three hours of rehab and treatment every day to make sure it's as good as possible for the grass court stretch but I still have a process I am going through to build up my training to see if I have any setbacks or not when I start to push a little bit more,' he said.</div>
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'I have hit some balls the last couple of days but I haven't been doing any movement on the court yet. I did 15 minutes the first day, 20 minutes on the second, I am just trying to build it up slowly. Hopefully by the grass court season I will be feeling better but it's a process I need to be patient through.</div>
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'It's very easy standing in the middle of the court having a controlled practice session for 30 minutes, it's another thing playing for four hours on a clay court or even a grass court when you are playing against the best players in the world.</div>
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'I have a long way to go before I am 100 per cent.'</div>
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Murray revealed he had been living with the back problem for some time.</div>
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 All the way: Murray reached the Wimbledon final last year before winning Olympic gold on centre cour</div>
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He added: 'It's been tough, it's something I've been dealing with on and off for 18 months.</div>
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'It's worse on certain surfaces and in certain conditions and when it flares up it's tough to have it calm down. It has obviously been tough for me on the clay over the last couple of years. It's just something I have been having to deal with the last little while and hopefully it will get better.'</div>
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Murray has reached the final at the last three majors - and claimed his first grand slam crown at the 2012 US Open - and he conceded it will be tough watching the French on television.</div>
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'It's the first time in a long time it has happened to me,' he said. 'The French Open was very important for me this year to try to reach the final for the first time and to reach the final for the fourth major in a row. That's not happened many times.</div>
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'It's tough watching it because I would love to be out there.'</div>
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Andy Murray doubtful of being fit in time for Wimbledon

By Mike Dawes PUBLISHED: 17:33 GMT, 26 May 2013 | UPDATED: 09:48 GMT, 27 May 2013 Andy Murray remains hopeful of playing a...

Asad Rauf withdrawn from ICC Champions Trophy after Mumbai Police investigation

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By Lawrence Booth</div>
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PUBLISHED: 16:20 GMT, 23 May 2013 | UPDATED: 22:17 GMT, 23 May 2013 </div>
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Umpire Asad Rauf has been withdrawn from next month’s Champions Trophy in England after it emerged that he was under investigation by Mumbai police, allegedly as part of the IPL spot-fixing scandal.</div>
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The 57-year-old Pakistani, part of the ICC’s elite panel of umpires, is one of the game’s most respected officials and has stood in 13 matches in this year’s IPL. He was due to officiate in the global 50-over tournament which starts in Cardiff on June 6.</div>
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ICC chief executive David Richardson said: ‘In the wake of reports that the Mumbai police are conducting an investigation into Asad Rauf’s activities, we feel that it is in Asad’s best interests, as well as those of the sport and the event itself, that he is withdrawn from participating in the ICC Champions Trophy.’ No go: Asad Rauf will not umpire in the Champions Trophy in June</div>
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An official statement on the subject read: 'The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced that it has withdrawn elite panel umpire Asad Rauf from the ICC Champions Trophy 2013 that will be staged in England and Wales from 6-23 June.The decision has been made after media reports on Wednesday indicated that the umpire was under investigation by Mumbai Police.'</div>
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Rauf has stood in 48 Tests and 98 one-day internationals. Last week, three players from the Rajasthan Royals franchise - including former Test bowler Sreesanth - were suspended amid allegations they had been involved in spot-fixing in this year’s IPL.</div>
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Asad Rauf withdrawn from ICC Champions Trophy after Mumbai Police investigation

By Lawrence Booth PUBLISHED: 16:20 GMT, 23 May 2013 | UPDATED: 22:17 GMT, 23 May 2013 Umpire Asad Rauf has been withdrawn fr...

Andy Murrays focus is away from the French Open as he hopes to be fit for Wimbledon

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‘I’m doing three hours of rehab and treatment every day to make sure it’s as good as possible for the grass-court stretch.’</div>
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Murray also implied that he may have overtrained in his desire to try to master the surface he finds most difficult. <br />
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‘It was pretty much OK in Monte Carlo,’ he said. ‘I trained hard to try and get myself ready for Madrid, it was a bit of an issue there.</div>
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The world No 2, so driven that he hardly ever takes a break, added that after withdrawing from the Italian Open, ‘it’s probably the first time this year that I’ve had a seven- or eight-day period when I’ve done nothing’. So there appear to be lessons to be learned from another deflating clay-court season, although if he is standing on Centre Court holding the Wimbledon men’s singles trophy aloft on the last Sunday, those will be forgotten.</div>
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On Monday, Robson finds herself billed by the bookies as a 50-50 chance to defeat former world No 1 Wozniacki in the first round, despite the large gulf in experience.</div>
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The reason is the British player’s propensity to cause an upset and the Dane’s poor form, having lost four consecutive first-round clashes. If Wozniacki can get into grinding mode, she will still be tough to beat. For the last five years, she has reached at least the third round, so Robson still has plenty to do.</div>
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The French insistence on starting their event on a Sunday, and a very cold one at that, again meant that the tournament got off to a less-than- scintillating start with the first of three batches of opening-round matches.</div>
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 Tough: Laura Robson will kick off her French Open campaign on Monday against Caroline Wozniacki</div>
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Serena Williams, the heavy favourite to add to her solitary Roland Garros title in 2002, registered her 25th consecutive victory with a 6-0, 6-1 annihilation of Georgia’s Anna Tatishvili.</div>
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For her trouble, the defeated player walked away with ?18,260 as part of the bumped-up prize-money for first-round losers that has become the norm at the Grand Slams, who are trying to shore up the finances of rank-and-file top 100 players with big prize-money increases.</div>
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A week after getting hammered in the Italian Open final by Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer also made surprisingly short work of rising Spaniard Pablo Carreno-Busta, dropping only seven games against him. </div>
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 Easy: Roger Federer beat Pablo Carreno-Busta in straight sets on Sunda Dominant: Serena Williams was also a winner on day one as she beat Anna Tatishvili 6-0 6-1<br />
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There has never been a better time to be first-round loser at a major, and in four weeks’ time at Wimbledon, the defeated will be earning ?23,500 for departing at the same stage.</div>
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Incredibly, it was the 36th time in 39 Grand Slam opening rounds that the great Swiss has gone through in straight sets. Some have feared that this may be the Slam in which Federer’s remarkable achievement of 35 consecutive quarter-finals in majors comes to an end, but with a reasonably generous draw, there seems no sign of that happening.</div>
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It was left to old-stager Lleyton Hewitt to provide the most stirring contest of the day. He was edged out 7-5 in the fifth set by world No 18 Gilles Simon.</div>
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Andy Murrays focus is away from the French Open as he hopes to be fit for Wimbledon

‘I’m doing three hours of rehab and treatment every day to make sure it’s as good as possible for the grass-court stretch.’ Murray a...

Arjen Robben could still leave Bayern Munich despite Champions League final winner

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Arjen Robben climbed the staircase to his room clutching the European Cup in the early hours of Sunday morning, with the Bayern Munich party still in full swing and the rest of European football plotting ways to catch the Germans.<br />
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‘That’s up to other teams, let them think about that,’ said Robben. Having soothed his personal Champions League scars by scoring the winning goal against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley on Saturday, it was not his problem.</div>
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Messages of congratulations assaulted his phone, including texts from former Chelsea team-mates Frank Lampard and John Terry.</div>
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Last year the Dutchman missed an extra-time penalty which could have won the trophy in Munich before it was lost on penalties to Chelsea.</div>
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In his post-Wembley victory speech at Grosvenor House, Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge confessed that when he saw the shock on the faces of the fans after that defeat he wondered how the club would recover.</div>
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They did it with style and Rummenigge hailed it the ‘sporting comeback of the year’. It will be complete if they beat Stuttgart in the German Cup final to win the treble.</div>
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Then comes Pep Guardiola, a new manager, leaving players such as Robben, who has only two years on his contract, uncertain of the future. How much will Guardiola change before the UEFA Super Cup date with Chelsea in August? </div>
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Tucked away: Robben fooled the goalkeeper at the death to win the cup for Bayern</div>
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Mario Gotze will arrive from Dortmund, which threatens 29-year-old Robben. Robert Lewandowski will also join, suggested outgoing boss Jupp Heynckes, which threatens Mario Mandzukic, scorer of Bayern’s first in the 2-1 win at Wembley.<br />
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Little wonder the players preferred to dwell on the club’s first European title for 12 years, especially after losing to Chelsea a year ago in their own stadium. </div>
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‘Let’s wait and see what the future brings,’ said Robben. ‘I’m proud to be part of this team. I am happy at this club, I have always been. We wrote history with what we have achieved. It is unbelievable.</div>
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 Get back up: Robben has had some knocks in his time at Bayern but recovered to spite his critics</div>
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‘This was the third final in four years and these things come in the end. That is sweet. This is the best thing about football. You can come back. I put it to sleep.</div>
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‘This is the biggest night of my life, without a doubt. It is the highest you can achieve. I’ve won titles in four countries now, cups, but in the end it is all about this Champions League one. Now you are in the history books.’ </div>
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Robben and his team-mates savoured the celebrations at Wembley, a venue which has been kind to him. They even cut up the nets to take home as souvenirs. ‘It is a special stadium,’ he added. </div>
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‘I was lucky to play the first FA Cup final in the new stadium which we won against Manchester United. We played with Holland, won 3-2 and I scored two goals, so it’s a little bit my stadium already. It’s a pity they don’t have a club here like FC Wembley. I’d have to move straight away.’ </div>
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Wembley was resplendent for the occasion and supporters of Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich generated incredible noise. The victors and the vanquished reacted with dignity to the drama. The football was fast and exciting. There was technical excellence, fine saves and flaws. Dortmund failed to capitalise on a good start and Bayern were slow to relax amid the stifling levels of expectancy.</div>
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In the end, the winner came from a long, direct, English-style ball out of central defence that Dortmund’s weary central defenders could not cope with, under pressure from Franck Ribery. Robben pounced on the scraps and applied a slightly scuffed finish.</div>
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For all Bayern’s power this season, this was not a night when the rest of Europe looked on in awe as they did when Barcelona delivered football from another world or when Bayern dismantled that Barca team in the semi-finals.<br />
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Misery: Dortmund fought their way back into the game but were foiled at the last</div>
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Here were familiar rivals, well-matched despite disparities of wealth. In Munich, the fear must be that they meddle too much in a bid to satisfy Guardiola, while in Dortmund, Jurgen Klopp faces another regeneration test.</div>
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‘I’m not envious,’ said Dortmund defender Mats Hummels. ‘Sometimes teams have more money than others. We have found a way in the last few years to show them what you can do with half the money.</div>
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Elsewhere teams pursue the Germans with mega-spending power, like Monaco and Barcelona, who completed the signing of Neymar from Santos.</div>
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It has been Bayern’s year and it may be the start of a German era akin to the ’70s but, then again, when Barcelona left Wembley with the trophy in 2011, they had the look of a team which would keep it for years. They have not won it since.</div>
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Arjen Robben could still leave Bayern Munich despite Champions League final winner

Arjen Robben climbed the staircase to his room clutching the European Cup in the early hours of Sunday morning, with the Bayern Munich...

Arsenal 3 Bristol Academy 0 FA Womens Cup final Match report

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By Laura Williamson</div>
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PUBLISHED: 17:14 GMT, 26 May 2013 | UPDATED: 21:51 GMT, 26 May 2013 </div>
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Arsenal jokingly call the FA Women’s Cup ‘Our Baby’. As the club celebrated their seventh victory of the last 10 years, it was easy to see why.</div>
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It took just 83 seconds for captain Steph Houghton to open the scoring with a back-post header from a Rachel Yankey cross and the result would have been even more emphatic had it not been for Siobhan Chamberlain’s performance in the Bristol Academy goal.</div>
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The England keeper denied national team-mates Ellen White and Alex Scott as Arsenal dominated the first half in particular, but a Jordan Nobbs header from Gemma Davison’s cross doubled Arsenal’s lead in the 72nd minute. White added a third in stoppage time. Arsenal celebrate their FA Women's Cup glory after beating Bristol Academy 3-0 in Doncaster</div>
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 Repeat: Arsenal lifted the FA Women's Cup for the 12th time </div>
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This was Arsenal Ladies’ 39th trophy since the club were formed in 1987 but it was a first for manager Shelley Kerr, who took over in February and saw her side beaten 4-0 at home by Liverpool in their opening league game earlier this month.</div>
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Kerr said: ‘The girls were magnificent. People were writing us off but it’s so important for this club to continue to win.’</div>
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Bristol lead the FA Women’s Super League after three wins from their first three games and field Spanish striker Natalia Pablos Sanchon, but they struggled to create chances. </div>
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 Early blow: Steph Houghton gave Arsenal the lead in just the second minute</div>
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Sanchon had a quiet game bar a spectacular overhead kick, while compatriot Laura del Rio was carrying a hamstring injury and could play only the last 15 minutes at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster.</div>
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There was further disappointment for Bristol, who host Arsenal in the league on Thursday, as midfielder Lucy Staniforth was carried off after twisting her left knee.</div>
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Bristol manager Mark Sampson, said: ‘We just weren’t at our best today.’</div>
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Arsenal 3 Bristol Academy 0 FA Womens Cup final Match report

By Laura Williamson PUBLISHED: 17:14 GMT, 26 May 2013 | UPDATED: 21:51 GMT, 26 May 2013 Arsenal jokingly call the FA Women’s...

Arsenal players Alex Oxlade Chamberlain Kieran Gibbs and Carl Jenkinson land jumbo jet

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By Steven Donaldson </div>
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PUBLISHED: 14:27 GMT, 28 May 2013 | UPDATED: 16:31 GMT, 28 May 2013</div>
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Alex Oxlade Chamberlain, Kieran Gibbs and Carl Jenkinson aren't renowned for their heading ability in a team more famed for free-flowing passing on the deck.</div>
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But the Gunners trio have been showing off how competent they can be in the air if required... by landing an Emirates airline A380 at Dubai International airport.</div>
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Of course, the England stars were not given the responsibility of landing a real life jet, but did pretty well in a simulator at the Middle East hub.</div>
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Scroll down to see the Arsenal players get behind the controls of the Emirates A380  Runway success: Arsenal players Alex Oxlade Chamberlain, Kieran Gibbs and Carl Jenkinson have been getting to grips with the controls an Emirates A380 plane in a simulator at Dubai international airport</div>
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Chamberlain, Gibbs and Jenkinson are in the Middle East as part of the club's committment to soccer schools region, and have already led a special training session at 7he Sevens facility nearby.</div>
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For the simulator, the players were talked through the basics of piloting, before jumping into the cockpit.</div>
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Chamberlain was first at the controls, guiding the plane - which in real life is a double-decker beast, carrying up to 853 passangers and costing around ?250million - home with consumate ease.</div>
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'I've got it under control boys,' the 19-year-old joked. 'We're down in one piece.'</div>
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A slightly more nervous Gibbs was next, and admitted afterwards: 'I don't think I'll be a pilot anytime soon.'</div>
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Good in the air: They are in the Middle East as part of a visit to the Gunners' soccer schools in the region</div>
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However the drama was reserved for Jenkinson, who managed to bounce the craft on landing, sending shudders through the flight deck.</div>
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'I was more excited going in there, but then when I was actually in the seat, I was quite nervous,' the right-back reflected. 'It was a lot more difficult than I anticipated.'</div>
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Leading the adventure was Captain Warren Coles, who seemed impressed.</div>
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'You all did really well - a little bit of confusion between the controls initially, but you got it at the end,' he said. 'You might have blown the tyres slightly but overall I was pretty impressed for a first go.'</div>
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Well, at least there's an alternative to being a landlord or cab driver when they eventually hang up their boots...</div>
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Arsenal players Alex Oxlade Chamberlain Kieran Gibbs and Carl Jenkinson land jumbo jet

By Steven Donaldson PUBLISHED: 14:27 GMT, 28 May 2013 | UPDATED: 16:31 GMT, 28 May 2013 Alex Oxlade Chamberlain, Kieran Gibbs and ...

Arsenal should only celebrate because they overtook Spurs says Thierry Henry

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By Lee Bryan</div>
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PUBLISHED: 12:39 GMT, 29 May 2013 | UPDATED: 13:29 GMT, 29 May 2013 </div>
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Thierry Henry hopes Arsenal's celebrations on the final day of the season were only because they'd inflicted pain on Tottenham, NOT because fourth place is an achievement to be proud of.</div>
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The club legend - and all-time leading goalscorer - wants Arsene Wenger and his side to strive for much more than regular Champions League football, </div>
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Arsenal haven't won a trophy since their then captain left for Barcelona in 2007 and have finished no higher than third in the Premier League.</div>
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Scroll down for video Top Gunners: Arsenal players celebrated on the pitch at Newcastle like they'd won the title</div>
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 Meanwhile at Tottenham: There was disappointment at White Hart Lane as Spurs once again fell short</div>
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Their status as Champions League regulars was under threat for much of the season just gone, rescued only by a slump by Tottenham in the final two months. </div>
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Reflecting on the final day scenes, Henry told Sky Sports: 'For me as a fan or if I was a player at Arsenal, finishing in the top four would have been normal.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK2Li88dm_AleKg79Wy04bydfHoL2SSiKXXnq_4x0eEBE4oOYG2_q751ylAcnTlA3u1dbEkMT_TylXm-hVIVd90MNYgpZ-HpLcegLtR3_MEUdVxLw0GJXIuGWaYnOFc0_QUnOCm07t1IA/s1600/article-0-19BEA711000005DC-860_306x423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK2Li88dm_AleKg79Wy04bydfHoL2SSiKXXnq_4x0eEBE4oOYG2_q751ylAcnTlA3u1dbEkMT_TylXm-hVIVd90MNYgpZ-HpLcegLtR3_MEUdVxLw0GJXIuGWaYnOFc0_QUnOCm07t1IA/s1600/article-0-19BEA711000005DC-860_306x423.jpg" /></a></div>
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'We saved our season and that was it because you always want to win and I know people go on about the pictures and all of this celebration.</div>
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'But I can tell you I think it was more the fact that for any Arsenal player, when you really feel the shirt and really play for the club, putting Tottenham out of the top four, and I really do hope that’s what they were celebrating about.</div>
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'Because that is the only thing you can celebrate about. If you are an Arsenal man through-and-through that is like winning something for me. And I also said it when we did it to them in 2006 that it wasn't the fact we qualified for the Champions League, it is because we kicked them out of it and we went in.'</div>
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For perhaps the first time, too, Wenger's position was in question. But New York Red Bulls striker Henry can't imagine a time when the Frenchman - now the division's longest-serving boss - isn't in the dugout.</div>
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He added: 'For me it's very difficult for me to see Arsenal play, one day, without Arsene on the bench. Whatever, after, people can say, "Oh yeah they won, they didn't win", but for me there I will see Arsenal play without Arsene on the bench, its going to be weird.</div>
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'So I'd just love to have him there all the time. We all know that's not going to happen, one day he's going to have to go. </div>
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'But it will be hard as he's not thinking of leaving one day. It will happen eventually, we all know it, but I don't see it.'</div>
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 Aim higher: Thierry Henry wants his former club to strive for more than just a top-four place Man on top: Thierry Henry never lost to Tottenham during his time at Arsenal... and he won plenty of trophies, too, including the Premier League in 2004 (below)</div>
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VIDEO: Watch Henry score for New York Red Bulls at the weekend</div>
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Arsenal should only celebrate because they overtook Spurs says Thierry Henry

By Lee Bryan PUBLISHED: 12:39 GMT, 29 May 2013 | UPDATED: 13:29 GMT, 29 May 2013 Thierry Henry hopes Arsenal's celebratio...

Arsene Wenger confirms interest in Lyon midfielder Clement Grenier

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By Simon Jones</div>
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PUBLISHED: 21:30 GMT, 26 May 2013 | UPDATED: 09:26 GMT, 27 May 2013 </div>
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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed interest in Lyon midfielder Clement Grenier. </div>
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The 22-year-old has been likened to Samir Nasri in his style, and is rated at around ?8million by his club. </div>
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Grenier, who scored on Sunday night against Rennes in front of Arsenal scouts, came close to quitting the Stade Gerland last summer. French fancy: Lyon midfielder Clement Grenier, who scored against Rennes on Sunday, is wanted by Arsenal</div>
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However, he seized on injuries to key men - including former Gunners target Yoann Gourcuff - to make 27 appearances, notching seven goals and providing eight assists. </div>
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And now the France Under 21 star could be set to earn a move to the Premier League. </div>
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Wenger told French programme Telefoot: 'We are following him. His intelligence of play pleases me. He has interesting qualities. He reminds me of Nasri.'</div>
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Comparison: Grenier has been likened to Nasri (left)</div>
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</div>

Arsene Wenger confirms interest in Lyon midfielder Clement Grenier

By Simon Jones PUBLISHED: 21:30 GMT, 26 May 2013 | UPDATED: 09:26 GMT, 27 May 2013 Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has confir...

Andros Townsend charged with breaching betting regulations

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Save for those Participants subject to the prohibition in sub-paragraph (a), a Participant shall not bet, either directly or indirectly, or instruct, permit, cause or enable any person to bet on – </div>
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(i) the result, progress or conduct of a match or competition:<br />
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(A) in which the Participant is participating, or has participated in that season; or</div>
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(B) in which the Participant has any influence, either direct or indirect; or</div>
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(ii) any other matter concerning or related to any Club participating in any league Competition, as defined in Rule A2, that the Participant is participating in or has participated in during that season, including, for example and without limitation, the transfer of players, employment of managers, team selection or disciplinary matters.</div>
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For these purposes, without limitation to the application of this Rule to other circumstances, all Employees of a Club are deemed to participate in every match played by that Club while they are so employed; all Players registered with a Club are deemed to participate in every match played by that Club while they are so registered. </div>
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However, it is believed that Townsend may have been placing large bets on other top-flight matches. </div>
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The FA, which has stringent betting rules that forbid gambling on a wide spectrum of matches, noted that Townsend has taken personal responsibility by pulling out of the squad, but he still faces a lengthy ban. </div>
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An FA statement read: 'The FA charged Andros Townsend in relation to alleged breaches of its rules governing misconduct and betting. </div>
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'The Tottenham player has been charged with breaches of Rule E8 (b) in relation to a number of betting offences.' </div>
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Townsend, who has been replaced in Pearce's 23-man squad by Birmingham City's Nathan Redmond, is now expected to embark on a rehabilitation programme and the FA has vowed to provide assistance. </div>
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Their statement added: 'Townsend has withdrawn himself from the squad after the FA announced charges against him in relation to alleged betting offences.Townsend will receive the full support of the FA and Tottenham in seeking rehabilitation whilst responding to the allegations.' </div>
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The FA would not comment any further last night nor would Townsend's advisers First Artists - they want to hold a meeting with the FA before making any statements. </div>
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No go: Townsend (centre) has withdrawn from the England Under 21 squad for the European Championship</div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8315433755618738788" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>At the age of 21, Townsend has already been on loan at nine clubs. He has played 18 times for Tottenham, scoring three goals.</div>
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Clubs: Tottenham 2009-</div>
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Yeovil (loan) 2009</div>
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Leyton Orient (loan) 2009</div>
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MK Dons (loan) 2010</div>
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Ipswich (loan) 2010</div>
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Watford (loan) 2011</div>
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Millwall (loan) 2011</div>
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Leeds (loan) 2012</div>
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Birmingham (loan) 2012</div>
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QPR (loan) 2013</div>
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QPR manager Harry Redknapp, however, admitted to being deeply surprised by the nature of the allegations as he had not seen anything to suggest Townsend had such an issue. </div>
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'I just wouldn't have had him down as a gambler, but you don't know what goes on when players leave the training ground,' said Redknapp. </div>
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'If I had been asked to picked 20 footballers who like a bet on the football I wouldn't have picked him, that's for sure. 'I just didn't think he was like that and I didn't have any idea he liked a bet on the football. </div>
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'He is a good kid and a talented footballer and I will call him to make sure he's OK. The main thing is that he didn't bet on QPR's matches by the looks of things, but it sounds like he's got a real problem.' </div>
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Townsend won his first Under 21 cap last October in the Euro 2013 play-offs against Serbia. </div>
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Southampton full-back Luke Shaw also pulled out of the squad after suffering an injury. He will be replaced by Liverpool's Jack Robinson.</div>
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 Down: Townsend could not stop QPR slipping through the Premier League trapdoor </div>
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Andros Townsend charged with breaching betting regulations

Save for those Participants subject to the prohibition in sub-paragraph (a), a Participant shall not bet, either directly or indirectl...