DIEGO MARADONA expects a hero's welcome when he takes his Argentina side to Scotland.

The South American legend was unveiled as the new boss of his country's side yesterday.

 And his first task as manager will be to lead his team out at Hampden Park on November 19.

 Maradona claims he is loved by Scottish football fans after the 'Hand of God' incident that knocked England out of the 1986 World Cup.

 He revealed: "I'm going to a country where they adore me because of the goal against the English.

 "The English and the Scots get on horribly - serious bad blood.

(thesun) 

WAG Coleen Rooney pays a visit to a tanning salon as she prepares for Hallowe'en

Francia: poliziotto hooligan
interdetto dagli stadi

I fatti risalgono al 26 settembre 2007, in occasione di un match di coppa di Lega tra Lens e Lilla: ubriaco, venne alle mani con tre colleghi in servizio che alla fine lo arrestarono. La sentenza: due mesi di carcere con la condizionale e tre anni fuori dagli stadi

Strip club star John Carew is red hot, says Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill

Martin O'Neill believes he has got John Carew playing the best football of his career - despite disciplining the striker for a lap-dancing jaunt.

Carew, 29, was on the bench at Wigan on Sunday after being fined a week's wages for going to a Birmingham club the night before Villa played host to Ajax in the UEFA Cup.

But the Norwegian impressed boss O'Neill by responding with his sixth goal of the season in a 4-0 win at the JJB and is set to start tonight against Blackburn.

"He stepped out of line, we dealt with it and it is over," said O'Neill. "I won't hold it against him forever and a day - until he's out again.

"I've been fined as a player and I might have sulked for a month but the way John reacted at Wigan was superb. He came on as a sub and in about 10 minutes made a goal and scored one, which isn't a bad way to resolve the situation."

Villa became Carew's seventh club when he joined in January 2007 in a swap which saw Milan Baros join Lyon.

But he seems settled now after a new deal in the summer worth £52,000-aweek and O'Neill believes he is finally getting the best out of him.

O'Neill added: "I've been delighted with him since he arrived. I think he's played more games for us than he would have done at his last three clubs.

"There are games this season and last when he's been unplayable. I also think John has become more consistent because he genuinely enjoys the environment at the football club. But he still wants to score more goals for us."

Carew accepted his punishment but said he went out as he had been ill so did not expect to play against Ajax and had a soft drink on a brief visit to the bar after a meal elsewhere.

(mirror)

FA dish out derby warning to Arsenal and Spurs fans

The Football Association have urged supporters to behave at tonight's north London derby after admitting to concerns over the level of crowd violence creeping back into stadiums.

Arsenal take on Tottenham just four days after 29 arrests were made as Sunderland and Newcastle fans clashed at the Stadium of Light.

Five arrests were made at Arsenal's last home match against Everton when fans fought inside the ground.

A section of Spurs supporters were also condemned after directing homophobic chants towards Sol Campbell during their visit to Portsmouth last month.

The north London derby is always a high-profile fixture and has been given added spice with Spurs being rooted to the bottom of the table and Harry Redknapp's appointment as manager.

An FA spokesman said: 'We have seen some incidents in the last two weeks which are completely unacceptable and have no place in football. The FA, clubs and police have been working hard to identify those involved.

'Our message to any fans planning on causing trouble is that there will be a joint approach between the football authorities and the police to deal in the strongest possible way with any troublemakers.'

Local police are not anticipating any trouble and have not increased the number of officers on duty in and around the stadium, a presence in excess of 400.

But a police source said that Arsenal fans started the trouble against Everton 11 days ago with a section of the upper tier above the visiting support throwing objects at those below them.

Some Everton fans aimed missiles back but only succeeding in hitting their own, before stewards stepped in and were met with 'hostile and vociferous' action.

Several officers were assaulted but it is understood that police consider the match as a 'one-off as Arsenal are a peaceful, decent club' and although 15 arrests were made when Spurs drew 1-1 in the Carling Cup back in February, this figure is considered to be 'well within what was expected'.

Meanwhile, Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor admitted feeling pity towards rivals Tottenham.

The Togo striker told talkSPORT: 'I think every player feels sorry for them. At the moment Tottenham are really bad, they lack confidence and when you lack confidence it's always difficult to win games.'

(Dailymail)