Summary

  • Emmanuel Eboue banned for one year and is set to be sacked by Sunderland

  • Premier League news conferences. Next: Sunderland

  • Gary Neville sacked by Valencia after four months in charge

  • GET INVOLVED: Good players, but bad managers #bbcsportsday

  1. Goodbyepublished at 16:58 British Summer Time 31 March 2016

    That's it for another edition of Sportsday, we'll back back at 08:00 BST on Friday.

    In the meantime, you can follow the India v West Indies World Twenty20 semi-final.

    Head here for commentary of that match

    Goodbye.

  2. football

    Spot the Ballpublished at 16:55 British Summer Time 31 March 2016

    Football

    Spot the Ball

    We've hidden the ball amongst shots from England strikers past and present. Can you guess where it is?

    Head here to play the quiz

  3. Hoy to compete in 24 hour racepublished at 16:52 British Summer Time 31 March 2016

    Le Mans

    Chris HoyImage source, Getty Images

    Cycling champion Sir Chris Hoy will step up his motorsport journey by racing at Le Mans in June.

    The 40-year-old Scot, Britain's most successful Olympian, will compete in the second tier at the prestigious 24-hour event.

    Hoy and two team-mates will drive a Nissan-powered Ligier JS P2 chassis at Le Mans' Circuit de la Sarthe.

    "I'm not thinking beyond Le Mans," said Hoy. "I'm just thinking about getting to the start of the race."

  4. football

    Man Utd hunting Europepublished at 16:47 British Summer Time 31 March 2016

    Football

    Nicky ButtImage source, Getty Images

    Manchester United are scouring Europe in a bid to boost their academy numbers.

    New head of academy Nicky Butt promised to search far and wide for fresh talent on the continent ready to make an impact next season.

    United’s famed academy has come under intense scrutiny this year, particularly at Under 18 level with coach Paul McGuinness eventually leaving.

    Read the full piece here, external

  5. football

    Vote resultpublished at 16:43 British Summer Time 31 March 2016

    Who will be the next Aston Villa manager?

    We asked you to vote on who the next Aston Villa manager would be and the majority of you think it will be Nigel Pearson. David Moyes came second and Garry Monk was third.

    The full results are...

    Vote result
  6. rugby union

    England want to be 'dominant'published at 16:38 British Summer Time 31 March 2016

    Rugby Union

    Jack NowellImage source, Getty Images

    England wing Jack Nowell says they want to become "the most dominant team in the world" after completing the Six Nations Grand Slam earlier this month.

    The 22-year-old, who plays for Exeter Chiefs, started all five games in the championship, scoring one try.

    "At the start of the tournament we said that we wanted to be the best side in Europe," Nowell told BBC Radio Devon.

    "To do that you have to win all five games, so to come back and to achieve that is massive for us."

  7. rugby union

    On this daypublished at 16:32 British Summer Time 31 March 2016

    Rugby Union

     2011: Sale prop Karena Wihongi was handed a four-month ban after testing positive for the banned stimulant methylhexaneamine.

    Karena WihongiImage source, Getty Images
  8. football

    There could be a way back for Eboue - Allardycepublished at 16:26 British Summer Time 31 March 2016

    Sunderland v West Brom (Sat, 15:00 BST)

    One last quote from Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce on Emmanuel Eboue, the full-back who earlier today was handed a one-year ban by Fifa for owing money to a former agent.

    Eboue is set to be sacked by the club, but Allardyce says the 32-year-old could still play for the Black Cats - if the issue is resolved very quickly.

    "There could be a way back if he gets it sorted out," added Allardyce.

  9. football

    Pellegrini and Karanka linked with Valenciapublished at 16:21 British Summer Time 31 March 2016

    Football

    Manuel Pellegrini and AItor KarankaImage source, Getty Images

    Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini and Middlesbrough boss AItor Karanka are both candidates for the Valencia job, report the Daily Star., external

    The Spanish club sacked Gary Neville yesterday after four miserable months in charge.

    Neville won just three of his 16 league games in charge and paid the price with his job.

    Former Liverpool assistant Pako Ayestaran has taken on the role on a temporary basis until the summer.

  10. football

    Sam Allardyce news conferencepublished at 16:12 British Summer Time 31 March 2016

    Sunderland v West Brom (Sat, 15:00 BST))

    A tough press conference for Sam Allardyce, who now faces questions concerning the Black Cats' former winger Adam Johnson, who has just begun a six-year jail sentence for grooming and sexual activity with a girl aged 15.

    "As a professional you have to deal with it and in the only way you can do," says Allardyce.

    "The decision has been made and you have to accept it and make sure it does not affect the dressing room - and I'm confident it won't do.

    “We’ve lost a hugely talented player in Adam Johnson, irrespective of his indiscretions. He obviously got what he deserved but we’ve lost a talented player I would’ve liked to keep but it was taken out of our hands by other factors.”

    Adam JohnsonImage source, Getty Images
  11. football

    Doukara banned for bitingpublished at 16:07 British Summer Time 31 March 2016

    Football

    Souleymane DoukaraImage source, Getty Images

    More on the news that Leeds forward Souleymane Doukara has been banned for eight matches by the FA for biting an opponent. 

    The incident happened early in the second half of Leeds' Championship 1-1 draw with Fulham at Elland Road. 

    Fulham defender Fernando Amorebieta was the victim of the bite. Doukara was also warned as to his future conduct and fined £5,000.

  12. football

    Leeds forward banned for eight gamespublished at 16:00 British Summer Time 31 March 2016
    Breaking

    Football

    Leeds forward Souleymane Doukara has been banned for eight matches after being found guilty of biting an opponent, the Football Association has announced.

  13. football

    Eboue 'let down by other people' - Allardycepublished at 15:58 British Summer Time 31 March 2016

    Sunderland v West Brom (Sat, 15:00 BST)

    Some more from Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce on full-back Emmanuel Eboue, who is set to be sacked by the club.

    "There has been a denial (from Emmanuel) in the early stages but it does not just get to Fifa and a ban - it's a long process," says Allardyce.

    "He has relied on other people and other people have let him down. He was going to be in my squad for us because he is fit enough but that all has gone now."

    Emmanuel EboueImage source, Getty Images
  14. get involved

    Get Involved #bbcsportsdaypublished at 15:53 British Summer Time 31 March 2016

    Good players, bad managers

    Paul Fry, external Teddy Sheringham. He's almost taken Stevenage into the Conference. He started at the bottom and couldn't cut it.  

    Andy Close:, external Several spring to mind - Chris Waddle at Burnley, Alan Shearer at Newcastle, Teddy Sheringham at Stevenage, Paul Gascoigne at Kettering, Tony Adams at Wycombe, John Barnes at Tranmere, Peter Shilton at Plymouth, Edgar Davids at Barnet.

    Gary Marron:, external Dean Saunders, excellent player awful at Wolves and Crawley as manager.

    Keep tweeting us using #bbcsportsday or write on the Match of the Day Facebook page., external

    Edgar DavidsImage source, Getty Images
  15. football

    'The past has caught up with Emmanuel'published at 15:50 British Summer Time 31 March 2016

    Sunderland v West Brom (Sat, 15:00 BST)

    Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce has been giving his views on full-back Emmanuel Eboue, who is set to be sacked by the club after receiving a one-year ban from Fifa for not paying an agent.

    "The problem is what has happened in the past has caught up with Emmanuel, for whatever the reason," says Allardyce.

    "He hasn't sorted it out and we were completely in the dark until we found out a few days ago. He has got a ban and the contract gets terminated on that basis.

    "I'm massively disappointed like everyone else is."

  16. football

    Man United and Liverpool await fatepublished at 15:44 British Summer Time 31 March 2016

    Football

    Liverpool fansImage source, Getty Images

    Manchester United and Liverpool are expected to discover next week if they will face more charges for illicit chanting at their Europa League tie.

    Some fans of both clubs sang songs related to tragedies involving the other side in the 1-1 second-leg draw at Old Trafford on 17 March, with Liverpool winning the tie 3-1.

    Uefa has already charged both clubs for crowd trouble, and Liverpool for illicit chants - reportedly critical of Manchester, rather than referring to the Munich air crash.

    Europe's governing body was then made aware of the allegations of chanting about that disaster and the Hillsborough tragedy - and is expected to make a decision on possible new charges next week.

  17. athletics

    On this daypublished at 15:37 British Summer Time 31 March 2016

    Athletics

    1980: The legendary Jesse Owens, the athlete who once set four world records in one day and won four gold medals at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, died. 

    Jesse OwensImage source, Getty Images
  18. rugby league

    Makinson could miss rest of seasonpublished at 15:29 British Summer Time 31 March 2016

    Rugby League

    Tommy MakinsonImage source, Getty Images

    St Helens winger Tommy Makinson could miss the rest of the season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

    The 24-year-old St Helens-born one-club man suffered the injury in Monday's 20-12 win at Widnes, in which he scored one of his side's three tries.

    "We're all gutted for Tommy," said Saints coach Keiron Cunningham.

    "He is one of the most professional players we have and will be dedicated to his rehab. But we are experienced at dealing with long-term injuries."

  19. get involved

    Get Involved #bbcsportsdaypublished at 15:27 British Summer Time 31 March 2016

    Good players, bad managers

    James Kendrick:, external Paul Merson was a decent player but was shocking as Walsall manager.

    David Thackeray:, external Tommy Docherty, a footballing great, managed both Chelsea and Manchester United to relegation. That must be up there!

    Geoff Naylor:, external Wasn't Britain's best player ever - Bobby Charlton - manager at Preston? Didn't last long as I remember.

    Tweet us using #bbcsportsday or write on the Match of the Day Facebook page., external

    Bobby CharltonImage source, PA
    Image caption,

    Bobby Charlton indeed had a spell as Preston manager, but only from 1973 to 1975

  20. football

    Recoba retirespublished at 15:22 British Summer Time 31 March 2016

    Football

    Alvaro RecobaImage source, Getty Images

    Former Inter Milan and Uruguay forward Alvaro Recoba has retired from football at the age of 40.

    Recoba, who represented Inter for 10 seasons, winning two Serie A titles and the Uefa Cup, returned to his hometown club Nacional of Montevideo in 2011.

    Having won two Primera Division titles with him in the team, Nacional announced Recoba was finally hanging up his boots.

    The left-footed attacking midfielder earned 69 caps with Uruguay and played at the 2002 World Cup.