Watford first up for FA Cup holders Chelsea
LONDON (AFP) - Holders Chelsea set out on the first steps towards a defence of their FA Cup crown with a home tie against Championship side Watford, finalists in 1984, in the third round draw made on Sunday.
West Ham will host London rivals Arsenal, who last lifted the trophy in 2005 and have not picked up any silverware since, in one of three all Premier League fixtures.
The other two top-flight affairs see Aston Villa host Blackburn and Hull travel to Wigan.
Everton, the side Chelsea beat under then interim coach Guus Hiddink in last season's final, welcome League One side Carlisle to Goodison Park.
The Toffees' Merseyside rivals, seven-time winners Liverpool, were drawn against second-tier Reading.
Non-league Kettering could be set for a dream trip to Old Trafford to face 11 time winners Manchester United should they manage to negotiate their second round replay with Leeds.
Either Oxford or Barrow will definitely get the chance to claim a Premier League scalp, with the winner of their replay set for a trip to Sunderland's Stadium of Light, while York, from the semi-professional ranks of the Blue Square Premier league (the fifth division) travel to Stoke.
Another non-league side, Staines Town, who forced a replay with 2004 finalists Millwall at Wheatsheaf Park, have the incentive of a home tie with Derby.
The 2008 winners Portsmouth have been drawn at home against Coventry.
Of the remaining Premier League clubs Manchester City will return to Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium, Tottenham host Peterborough, Bolton are at home to Lincoln, Fulham face Swindon, Wolves will meet either Tranmere or Aldershot and Birmingham are away to Nottingham Forest.
Watford first up for FA Cup holders Chelsea
LONDON (AFP) - Holders Chelsea set out on the first steps towards a defence of their FA Cup crown with a home tie against Championship side Watford, finalists in 1984, in the third round draw made on Sunday.
West Ham will host London rivals Arsenal, who last lifted the trophy in 2005 and have not picked up any silverware since, in one of three all Premier League fixtures.
The other two top-flight affairs see Aston Villa host Blackburn and Hull travel to Wigan.
Everton, the side Chelsea beat under then interim coach Guus Hiddink in last season's final, welcome League One side Carlisle to Goodison Park.
The Toffees' Merseyside rivals, seven-time winners Liverpool, were drawn against second-tier Reading.
Non-league Kettering could be set for a dream trip to Old Trafford to face 11 time winners Manchester United should they manage to negotiate their second round replay with Leeds.
Either Oxford or Barrow will definitely get the chance to claim a Premier League scalp, with the winner of their replay set for a trip to Sunderland's Stadium of Light, while York, from the semi-professional ranks of the Blue Square Premier league (the fifth division) travel to Stoke.
Another non-league side, Staines Town, who forced a replay with 2004 finalists Millwall at Wheatsheaf Park, have the incentive of a home tie with Derby.
The 2008 winners Portsmouth have been drawn at home against Coventry.
Of the remaining Premier League clubs Manchester City will return to Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium, Tottenham host Peterborough, Bolton are at home to Lincoln, Fulham face Swindon, Wolves will meet either Tranmere or Aldershot and Birmingham are away to Nottingham Forest.
Watford first up for FA Cup holders Chelsea
LONDON (AFP) - Holders Chelsea set out on the first steps towards a defence of their FA Cup crown with a home tie against Championship side Watford, finalists in 1984, in the third round draw made on Sunday.
West Ham will host London rivals Arsenal, who last lifted the trophy in 2005 and have not picked up any silverware since, in one of three all Premier League fixtures.
The other two top-flight affairs see Aston Villa host Blackburn and Hull travel to Wigan.
Everton, the side Chelsea beat under then interim coach Guus Hiddink in last season's final, welcome League One side Carlisle to Goodison Park.
The Toffees' Merseyside rivals, seven-time winners Liverpool, were drawn against second-tier Reading.
Non-league Kettering could be set for a dream trip to Old Trafford to face 11 time winners Manchester United should they manage to negotiate their second round replay with Leeds.
Either Oxford or Barrow will definitely get the chance to claim a Premier League scalp, with the winner of their replay set for a trip to Sunderland's Stadium of Light, while York, from the semi-professional ranks of the Blue Square Premier league (the fifth division) travel to Stoke.
Another non-league side, Staines Town, who forced a replay with 2004 finalists Millwall at Wheatsheaf Park, have the incentive of a home tie with Derby.
The 2008 winners Portsmouth have been drawn at home against Coventry.
Of the remaining Premier League clubs Manchester City will return to Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium, Tottenham host Peterborough, Bolton are at home to Lincoln, Fulham face Swindon, Wolves will meet either Tranmere or Aldershot and Birmingham are away to Nottingham Forest.
Blatter breaks silence to reveal Henry support
PARIS (AFP) - FIFA president Sepp Blatter has revealed that he telephoned France captain Thierry Henry to offer him support over his controversial handball in the World Cup play-off win over Ireland.
"I called Thierry, because he tried to get in touch with me," Blatter said, as reported in Sunday's edition of the L'Equipe sport newspaper.
"He was honest by admitting that he did use his hand, but it wasn't his responsibility to tell the referee.
"When I was a centre forward in my junior team, I definitely gained an advantage by pulling a defender's jersey in order to score a goal. And I didn't go and see the referee to tell him about it."
The FIFA chief had previously refused to comment on the incident, prompting criticism from Football Association of Ireland (FAI) chief executive John Delaney.
Blatter added: "In the specific case of the Henry handball, the referee (Martin Hansson) should have taken the time to reflect rather than immediately awarding the goal."
France's play-off with Ireland was poised at 1-1 on aggregate in the second leg in Paris when Henry controlled the ball with his hand before teeing up William Gallas for the decisive goal, sparking furious protests from the Irish players that were taken up by the Irish government.
Henry's international colleague Karim Benzema also spoke out in defence of his under-fire team-mate.
"I don't think he's a cheat. We mustn't forget everything that he's done for the France team," Benzema said on the TF1 football programme Telefoot broadcast on Sunday morning.
Asked if he realised that Henry had handled the ball in the build-up to Gallas's goal, the Real Madrid striker replied: "No, I didn't know."
"You know, you don't know (how you would react in that situation), it happens quickly," he added.
Henry and Benzema will be on opposing sides in the first 'El Clasico' of the Spanish season on Sunday evening, when Benzema travels to face Barcelona with Real Madrid.
Blatter breaks silence to reveal Henry support
PARIS (AFP) - FIFA president Sepp Blatter has revealed that he telephoned France captain Thierry Henry to offer him support over his controversial handball in the World Cup play-off win over Ireland.
"I called Thierry, because he tried to get in touch with me," Blatter said, as reported in Sunday's edition of the L'Equipe sport newspaper.
"He was honest by admitting that he did use his hand, but it wasn't his responsibility to tell the referee.
"When I was a centre forward in my junior team, I definitely gained an advantage by pulling a defender's jersey in order to score a goal. And I didn't go and see the referee to tell him about it."
The FIFA chief had previously refused to comment on the incident, prompting criticism from Football Association of Ireland (FAI) chief executive John Delaney.
Blatter added: "In the specific case of the Henry handball, the referee (Martin Hansson) should have taken the time to reflect rather than immediately awarding the goal."
France's play-off with Ireland was poised at 1-1 on aggregate in the second leg in Paris when Henry controlled the ball with his hand before teeing up William Gallas for the decisive goal, sparking furious protests from the Irish players that were taken up by the Irish government.
Henry's international colleague Karim Benzema also spoke out in defence of his under-fire team-mate.
"I don't think he's a cheat. We mustn't forget everything that he's done for the France team," Benzema said on the TF1 football programme Telefoot broadcast on Sunday morning.
Asked if he realised that Henry had handled the ball in the build-up to Gallas's goal, the Real Madrid striker replied: "No, I didn't know."
"You know, you don't know (how you would react in that situation), it happens quickly," he added.
Henry and Benzema will be on opposing sides in the first 'El Clasico' of the Spanish season on Sunday evening, when Benzema travels to face Barcelona with Real Madrid.
Blatter breaks silence to reveal Henry support
PARIS (AFP) - FIFA president Sepp Blatter has revealed that he telephoned France captain Thierry Henry to offer him support over his controversial handball in the World Cup play-off win over Ireland.
"I called Thierry, because he tried to get in touch with me," Blatter said, as reported in Sunday's edition of the L'Equipe sport newspaper.
"He was honest by admitting that he did use his hand, but it wasn't his responsibility to tell the referee.
"When I was a centre forward in my junior team, I definitely gained an advantage by pulling a defender's jersey in order to score a goal. And I didn't go and see the referee to tell him about it."
The FIFA chief had previously refused to comment on the incident, prompting criticism from Football Association of Ireland (FAI) chief executive John Delaney.
Blatter added: "In the specific case of the Henry handball, the referee (Martin Hansson) should have taken the time to reflect rather than immediately awarding the goal."
France's play-off with Ireland was poised at 1-1 on aggregate in the second leg in Paris when Henry controlled the ball with his hand before teeing up William Gallas for the decisive goal, sparking furious protests from the Irish players that were taken up by the Irish government.
Henry's international colleague Karim Benzema also spoke out in defence of his under-fire team-mate.
"I don't think he's a cheat. We mustn't forget everything that he's done for the France team," Benzema said on the TF1 football programme Telefoot broadcast on Sunday morning.
Asked if he realised that Henry had handled the ball in the build-up to Gallas's goal, the Real Madrid striker replied: "No, I didn't know."
"You know, you don't know (how you would react in that situation), it happens quickly," he added.
Henry and Benzema will be on opposing sides in the first 'El Clasico' of the Spanish season on Sunday evening, when Benzema travels to face Barcelona with Real Madrid.
PSG blow as Coupet ruled out for three months
PARIS (AFP) - Paris Saint Germain goalkeeper Gregory Coupet will be out of action for at least three months after undergoing surgery late Saturday on his broken left ankle, the French first division club said Sunday.
The 36-year-old picked up the injury during Saturday's 1-0 win over tabletoppers Auxerre and club doctor Eric Rolland noted that Coupet was lucky not to have done worse damage to his leg.
Coupet's leg buckled underneath him after he caught his studs in the turf while making an 82nd-minute clearance.
The goalie arrived this summer for two seasons and is expected to be replaced by Armenian-Cameroonian Edel who stepped in on Saturday.
The injury is another blow for the former Lyon stalwart and France internPSG blow as Coupet ruled out for three months
PARIS (AFP) - Paris Saint Germain goalkeeper Gregory Coupet will be out of action for at least three months after undergoing surgery late Saturday on his broken left ankle, the French first division club said Sunday.
The 36-year-old picked up the injury during Saturday's 1-0 win over tabletoppers Auxerre and club doctor Eric Rolland noted that Coupet was lucky not to have done worse damage to his leg.
Coupet's leg buckled underneath him after he caught his studs in the turf while making an 82nd-minute clearance.
The goalie arrived this summer for two seasons and is expected to be replaced by Armenian-Cameroonian Edel who stepped in on Saturday.
The injury is another blow for the former Lyon stalwart and France internPSG blow as Coupet ruled out for three months
PARIS (AFP) - Paris Saint Germain goalkeeper Gregory Coupet will be out of action for at least three months after undergoing surgery late Saturday on his broken left ankle, the French first division club said Sunday.
The 36-year-old picked up the injury during Saturday's 1-0 win over tabletoppers Auxerre and club doctor Eric Rolland noted that Coupet was lucky not to have done worse damage to his leg.
Coupet's leg buckled underneath him after he caught his studs in the turf while making an 82nd-minute clearance.
The goalie arrived this summer for two seasons and is expected to be replaced by Armenian-Cameroonian Edel who stepped in on Saturday.
The injury is another blow for the former Lyon stalwart and France internPSG blow as Coupet ruled out for three months
PARIS (AFP) - Paris Saint Germain goalkeeper Gregory Coupet will be out of action for at least three months after undergoing surgery late Saturday on his broken left ankle, the French first division club said Sunday.
The 36-year-old picked up the injury during Saturday's 1-0 win over tabletoppers Auxerre and club doctor Eric Rolland noted that Coupet was lucky not to have done worse damage to his leg.
Coupet's leg buckled underneath him after he caught his studs in the turf while making an 82nd-minute clearance.
The goalie arrived this summer for two seasons and is expected to be replaced by Armenian-Cameroonian Edel who stepped in on Saturday.
The injury is another blow for the former Lyon stalwart and France international, who was sidelined for months in 2007 with damaged cruciate ligaments.