Summary

  • Raheem Sterling asked for rest, says Roy Hodgson

  • Wales v Cyprus tonight, kick-off 19:45 BST in Cardiff

  • Scotland and Northern Ireland news conferences

  • Wigan prop Flower faces minimum eight-match ban

  • Police look into Flower's double punch on St Helens' Hohaia

  • Get involved: Was England's Raheem Sterling right to ask not to play? #bbcsportsday

  1. Postpublished at 18:00 BST 13 October 2014

    And we will end Monday's Sportsday with that rallying cry. Find out how the Welsh fare against Cyprus by following our live text commentary which kicks off very shortly (I'm sure Robbie will be).

    Then, Sportsday will be back on your screens from 08:00 BST tomorrow to bring you all the reaction, and the build-up to the tasty qualifiers involving Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Ciao for now!

  2. Wales v Cyprus (19:45 BST)published at 17:55 BST 13 October 2014

    Former Wales midfielder Robbie Savage:, external Huge game for Wales tonight, three points are needed if we are going to qualify a draw will not be enough! Come on Walessss.

  3. Ozil tweets thankspublished at 17:54 BST 13 October 2014

    Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil:, external Thanks for your support following my injury. I'll come back on the pitch soon as I can to help Arsenal, now and in the future.

    The Germany midfielder has been ruled out for up to 12 weeks with a knee injury and today has been linked with a £30m move to Bayern Munich.

  4. Fifa: 'Change of culture' neededpublished at 17:51 BST 13 October 2014

    Dan Roan
    BBC sports editor

    Fifa's chief independent ethics investigator has called for a "change of culture" at the organisation, reiterating the need for "greater transparency".

    In a thinly-veiled attack on president Sepp Blatter's leadership, Michael Garcia says: "The investigation and adjudication process operates in most parts unseen and unheard.

    "That's a kind of system which might be appropriate for an intelligence agency but not for an ethics compliance process in an international sports institution that serves the public and is the subject of intense public scrutiny."

    Garcia concluded his lengthy investigation into the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding process last month and handed his report to Fifa's ethics adjudicator Hans Joachim Eckert.

  5. Footballpublished at 17:47 BST 13 October 2014

    Ikechi AnyaImage source, Getty Images

    Another injury concern for Scotland boss Gordon Strachan ahead of tomorrow's Euro 2016 qualifying trip to Poland. Watford winger Ikechi Anya will miss tonight's training session, although Strachan says he is not ruling him out of the match yet.

  6. Portugal coach handed a reprievepublished at 17:42 BST 13 October 2014

    Fernando SantosImage source, Getty Images

    Portugal receive a boost ahead of tomorrow's Euro 2016 qualifier in Denmark after new boss Fernando Santos was cleared to take his place on the touchline, despite an eight-match ban.

    Santos, appointed Portugal coach last month following the sacking of Paulo Bento, was banned for eight matches by FIFA after being 'sent off' in his last match in charge of Greece - the last 16 defeat by Costa Rica at the World Cup finals.

    However, the Court of Arbitration for Sport today said the 59-year-old had been handed a 'stay of execution' pending the outcome of his appeal.

  7. Lennon joining 'great club'published at 17:41 BST 13 October 2014

    New Bolton Wanderers manager Neil Lennon believes he has joined "a great club with a great history and tradition" after saying he left another in Scottish champions Celtic.

    "I know Bolton as a club from my time in the Premier League, I know a lot of players who have played here and I spoke to (former Wanderers boss) Owen Coyle, who said what a great club it is. He only had good things to say about the club."

  8. Berahino's England rallying crypublished at 17:38 BST 13 October 2014

    Saido BerahinoImage source, Getty Images

    In-form striker Saido Berahino is confident he and his England Under-21 team-mates can complete their European Championship qualification mission in Croatia.

    England are on course for a place at the Euro 2015 finals in the Czech Republic after taking a 2-1 lead in their play-off against Croatia with victory at Molineux last Friday.

    A tricky second leg in Vinkovci still lies ahead on Tuesday but West Brom forward Berahino says: "It is going to be different out there but we are professional enough and have been in those situations before, so we're going to do a job and make sure we qualify."

  9. Get involvedpublished at 17:37 BST 13 October 2014

    Raheem Sterling's request to "sit out" England's 1-0 win over Estonia on Sunday has caused plenty of debate today. Here are a few more of your thoughts...

    Paul Carter:, external Hodgson gets blame for Sterling feeling tired? Who has he played most minutes for this year? Over to you Brendan!

    Mark Greenhalgh:, external Too tired to play. Did he get his win bonus? If he did spend it on a proper fitness coach. Bobby Moore a proper Three Lions legend.

    Aashish:, external Can't blame Raheem caught in club v country dilemma, who pays the wages? But Hodgson scores OG in weak man/media management

  10. Marussia to regroup after Bianchi accidentpublished at 17:29 BST 13 October 2014

    Marussia's sporting director Graeme Lowdon believes the mini-break ahead of the next grand prix will allow the whole team to regroup.

    The past week has been difficult for the Marussia team following the accident in the Japanese Grand Prix that has left Jules Bianchi fighting for his life.

    Lowdon feels the next two weeks - a slightly longer gap than normal at this time of year in between races - affords the team the opportunity to take stock before heading to the United States.

    "When you've had a serious incident, whether somebody is hurt or not, it's a major challenge," said Lowdon. "It's helpful that there is time to regroup."

  11. Deja vu for Rooneypublished at 17:27 BST 13 October 2014

    Practice makes perfect they say. And so it proved for England skipper Wayne Rooney. Hours before curling in a 20-yard free-kick for the winner against Estonia, the forward converts from a similar position in a training session.

    "Do that tomorrow lad," yells beaten keeper Joe Hart. And he did...

  12. The time has come to galvanisepublished at 17:21 BST 13 October 2014

    New Bolton Wanderers manager Neil Lennon says it is his job to "galvanise" both the fans and players at the Championship strugglers.

    "The two most important facets in football are the supporters and the players," he tells the media in his first news conference as Trotters boss. "I need to get them both on side as quickly as possible.

    "Bolton is a hotbed of football and if I get them onside there will be a tidal wave of support. They all need a lift and it's my job to do that."

  13. Maicon earns new Roma dealpublished at 17:16 BST 13 October 2014

    MaiconImage source, Getty Images

    Brazilian veteran Maicon has extended his contract with AS Roma to June 2016, with an extra year's option.

    The 33-year-old wing-back, who won the treble of Champions League, Serie A title and Italian Cup when he was with Inter Milan, joined Roma in 2013 after making just 10 appearances for Manchester City.

  14. Fans raise cash for Cunningham filmpublished at 17:07 BST 13 October 2014

    Laurie CunninghamImage source, Getty Images

    More than £1.6m has been raised to make a film about the former West Brom and Real Madrid winger Laurie Cunningham.

    Producers of the film issued a crowd-funding appeal to raise £1.4 million and investors have helped them surpass that figure, reports the Birmingham Mail, external.

    Cunningham became the first British player to join Real when he signed from the Baggies in 1979 and was a member of the famous Baggies' Three Degrees alongside team-mates Brendon Batson and Cyrille Regis

    Producers say the film, called Black Flash, will be "about a tragic hero who was adored but misunderstood".

    Perhaps ex-Wolves striker Nathan Blake could play the Baggies hero (see 16:49)...

  15. Suarez on the scoresheet...againpublished at 17:05 BST 13 October 2014

    Luis Suarez's goal means Uruguay are winning 1-0 against Oman. Oh, scrap that....he's only gone and made it 2-0! Typically assured finish from the ex-Liverpool striker, who dinks over the Oman keeper.

  16. Suarez on the scoresheetpublished at 16:59 BST 13 October 2014

    Think what you like about Luis Suarez as a character but one thing is not in doubt - the boy is a lethal goalscorer.

    The Barcelona striker is playing in his second Uruguay friendly since being banned from competitive matches for biting Italy's Giorgio Chiellini, finding the net with a second-half strike.

    Granted Oman aren't the strongest opposition in the world but still...

  17. Blatter condemns referee attackpublished at 16:55 BST 13 October 2014

    FIFA President Sepp Blatter has condemned a "cowardly" pipe bomb attack on the Cyprus Referee Association's clubhouse.

    The explosive caused damage to the outside the Nicosia offices of the association at about 3.30am (0030 GMT) today, a police spokesman said.

    A fire bomb was recently thrown at the home of an assistant referee in the coastal town of Limassol, while earlier in the year a bomb damaged the car of a prominent international referee.

    Blatter offered full support to the Cyprus Football Association's efforts to protect match officials.

  18. Swapping tactics for scriptspublished at 16:50 BST 13 October 2014

    Nathan BlakeImage source, Getty Images

    Vinnie Jones has carved himself a niche in Hollywood as a British-accented hardman. Eric Cantona knows how to play himself in a film - and how to advertise French beer. But have either won any acting awards? Probably not.

    So step forward former Wales striker Nathan Blake. The ex-Cardiff, Blackburn, and Sheffield United man has been honoured by a Welsh film festival for his acting work.

    The 42-year-old took home the award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in short film The Homing Bird, in which he plays a football coach.

    Blake was honoured, along with others, at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff for Film Fest Cymru 2014.

  19. Dallaglio on Englandpublished at 16:43 BST 13 October 2014

    Lawrence Dallaglio says England must topple two of the southern hemisphere giants this autumn to prove they are good enough to win next year's World Cup.

    Stuart Lancaster's men host New Zealand, South Africa, Samoa and Australia in next month's QBE Series in a critical phase of their build-up to the 2015 World Cup.

    Former England captain Dallaglio said: "To win a World Cup you probably have to play and beat two of the southern hemisphere sides.

    "If England came away with two out of three southern hemisphere victories, that would show they are genuine World Cup contenders."

  20. Scunthorpe announce new number twopublished at 16:36 BST 13 October 2014

    Scunthorpe have named Ned Kelly as assistant to new boss Mark Robins.

    The 48-year-old enjoyed a long playing career at clubs including West Ham United, Newcastle and Wolves before moving into coaching. His most recent job was as Billy Davies' number two at Nottingham Forest.