Firstly...
Anton Ferdinand has been arrested after an alleged assault outside a nightclub. The 21-year-old West Ham defender and England under-21 player was formally arrested when he attended an east London police station on Thursday. Police confirmed a "man in his 20s" was held on suspicion of assault following a disturbance outside Faces nightclub in Ilford, early on 2 October. A Scotland Yard spokesman said the suspect was bailed until next month. He said up to 15 people had been involved in the disturbance outside the club in Cranbrook Road.
"A subsequent allegation of assault was reported to police and a man in his 20s attended an east London police station on 12 October, and has been arrested on suspicion of assault," he said.
Mr Ferdinand is the younger brother of Manchester United “star” and England international Rio Ferdinand.
... and then there's this...
Alan Pardew admitted that Nigel Reo-Coker, his captain, has been affected by interest from Arsenal. The manager also learnt that John Paintsil, his right back, was refused re-entry into the country because of a problem with his immigration documents.
Pardew turned down an inquiry for Reo-Coker on the final day of the last transfer window. West Ham are thought to have told the midfield player that he will be allowed to leave for a top-four club in the summer, but it is likely that there will be renewed speculation about his future when the window reopens in January.
His other concern is that Paintsil is not being allowed back into the country after he was called up for Ghana’s friendly against South Korea in Seoul last Sunday. The defender attempted to return with a photocopy of his work permit, which is not considered as a valid entry clearance. It is not clear how he was able to arrive at the club in the summer, having been warned in January that he did not have the necessary paperwork.
“A passenger presenting a work permit and intending to remain in the United Kingdom for a period in excess of six months is required to possess an entry clearance, obtained prior to arrival, for that specific purpose,” a Home Office spokesperson said. “The onus remains upon the individual to satisfy an immigration officer that they meet the requirements of admission.”
The Takeover Panel yesterday offered a gentle rebuke to West Ham for not informing the London Stock Exchange that they had been in talks with Eggert Magnusson, the millionaire Icelandic businessman, about a takeover. The club have turned down an offer of £60 million.
... and of course, the case of the two Argentinians...
In an interview with a Buenos Aires TV show a week ago, the Argentina manager Alfio 'Coco' Basile controversially voiced his concerns over Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano. His words were picked up and wired round the world, even earning minutes of airtime on national British news. But his concerns over the players are looking increasingly justified.
In a terrific article in the Guardian, Marcela Mora y Araujo addresses tha case of two Argentines lost in translation: Tevez & Mascherano
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