Tottenham Hotspur striker Emmanuel Adebayor has apologised for his red card against former club Arsenal and insists there was no malice in his challenge on Santi Cazorla.
Adebayor had given Spurs a dream start at Emirates Stadium by scoring the opening goal after 10 minutes, but he was sent off just eight minutes later for a lunging tackle on Cazorla.
Spurs went on to lose the North London derby 5-2 and Adebayor has accepted he let everyone down by being dismissed.
"I completely understand my sending off changed the entire outcome of the game and I whole-heartedly apologise to my team-mates, the manager and all the Tottenham fans for letting them down," Adebayor told The Sun.
"But I must stress that my challenge was not malicious in any way whatsoever.
"I was genuinely trying to win the ball and probably stretched my foot out a bit too far in the heat of the moment.
"Nobody could have felt more devastated than me as I walked off the pitch.
"I so much wanted to help Tottenham win and thought for a moment that I'd actually set that win up when I scored, but football changes so quickly.
"One minute a hero, the next a villain."
Hughes: I'm the right man for the QPR job
Mark Hughes has encouraged QPR to promote 'stability' and keep him in charge for the rest of the season after Saturday's loss to Southampton heaped more pressure on the club to look for a new manager.
However, Hughes has urged the club that it is important to look towards the future at Loftus Road.
"Stability is absolutely what this club needs in the long term," he said. "Until you get to that point where you can establish yourself in the Premier League, then you have to go through periods where there is doubt or apprehension about what the future holds.
"We are at that point in time now, but I think wholesale changes once again for this club would be the wrong decision in my view. You would expect me to say that but I honestly believe it.
"The owners understand that we're at that place in time. We just need to get through this, come out the other side and look back at this and think, 'we needed to go through that period to grow stronger'. It is difficult for everybody at the moment but we're not going to run away from it."
Allardyce open to Anelka deal
Sam Allardyce would be willing to work with Nicolas Anelka again after West Ham United were linked with a January move for the striker.
Hammers boss Allardyce signed Anelka for Bolton Wanderers in 2006 and the Frenchman has been tipped for a return to the Premier League in the New Year.
Anelka left Chelsea to join Shanghai Shenhua at the start of this year and Allardyce would be interested in signing the 33-year-old if he became available.
"It could interest me, of course it could," said Allardyce. "It would be of interest if that is a possibility financially for us and he wanted to come.
"I have had no conversations with Nicolas' agent or anything like that at this time."
Much has been made over the years of Anelka's demeanour on and off the pitch but Allardyce reckons the perception of the former Arsenal and Real Madrid forward is off the mark and hopes the family man could be tempted to head back to London.
Asked whether he ever had a problem with Anelka's questionable temperament, Allardyce said: "He never was like that in his entire time I had him.
"He was disappointed I left, when he came and played for me I had him at a very, very good time - probably at the height of his career, I would think, because he had matured into a dedicated professional.
"I think he has always been dedicated but he got sidetracked by certain situations through his younger days but he learnt from that, his experience across Europe.
"He had a girlfriend, who is now his wife, and his family and I think that has matured him - I think Nicolas has still got his family here in London, I don't think they moved out to China."
Hodgson set to forget defensive pair
Roy Hodgson says he has 'moved on' from the John Terry and Rio Ferdinand debate, and wants to focus on finding England replacements for the defensive duo.
Manchester United centre-half Ferdinand has not been involved since Hodgson became coach and his omission from the Euro 2012 squad caused controversy following a succession of injuries.
Terry, meanwhile, recently retired from international football and Hodgson now wants to look to the future rather than constantly discuss the issues which emanated from the Chelsea captain's racism case.
"I have moved on from the Ferdinand and Terry debate. The team have moved on from it," said Hodgson.
"We can never dictate what is being done on the outside. All we can do is control our own environment and already we think we have some pretty interesting alternatives.
"Phil (Jagielka) and Joleon (Lescott) have done well. (Gary) Cahill and (Steven) Caulker did well against Sweden and I am also looking for (Chris) Smalling and (Phil) Jones.
"That is what I have to do. I have to hope that amongst that group of players - and maybe someone else will come on the scene and force his way in - I can find a couple of players who can do the job in the way John and Rio were when they were playing a few years ago."
Hodgson also believes he has now put his own stamp on the England team after being forced to hastily put together a squad for the European Championship.
"I would like to think it is my team," he added.
"The players are very much committed to what we are trying to do. We have seen that in all the games so far, irrespective of results.
"I can only hope I will get enough contact with them because to really get a team playing the type of assured football we want they need the coaching, video and talking time."
Kagawa heads Asian award shortlist
Manchester United playmaker Shinji Kagawa is favourite to pick up the inaugural Asian Football Confederation (AFC) International Player of the Year award, with the Japan star named on the three-man shortlist alongside compatriot Yuto Nagatomo and Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.
The Asian Footballer of the Year award, like its African equivalent, was previously open to any Asian player regardless of where in the world they played their football. But the traditional prize is now only open to those plying their trade on the Asian continent, while the new International Player of the Year gong can be won by those impressing elsewhere.
Kagawa, 23, has enjoyed a memorable 2012 having inspired Borussia Dortmund to a second successive Bundesliga title, with his performances in Germany leading to a high-profile summer move to Manchester United. At international level, he has been part of the Japan side that comfortably tops World Cup qualifying Group B.
His Blue Samurai team-mate Nagotomo, 26, has established himself as a mainstay at Inter Milan after becoming the first Japanese player to ever represent the Nerazzurri, while 40-year-old Schwarzer, who has been one of the English Premier League's most consistent goalkeepers for the past 15 years, won his 100th international cap for Australia this year.
The winner will be announced at the AFC awards night in Kuala Lumpur on November 29, along with the Asian Footballer of the Year.
South Korea winger and AFC Champions League winner Lee Keun-Ho, Australia captain Lucas Neill, Guangzhou Evergrande defender Zheng Zhi, and Iranian pair Ali Karimi and Mohsen Bengar are on the five-man shortlist for the Asian Footballer of the Year.
The Women's Player of the Year will also be decided, with Japanese trio Aya Miyama, Homare Sawa and Yuki Ogimi nominated.
Houston reach MLS final with Eastern Conference title
Houston Dynamo reached the MLS Cup, after a 1-1 draw at DC United earned them a 4-2 aggregate win in the Eastern Conference championship game.
Dynamo led 3-1 from the first leg and extended their advantage with a 33rd minute goal from Honduran Oscar Boniek Garcia.
DC's goal came seven minutes from the end through Branko Boskovic.
Houston will play the winner of the Western Conference title game between defending champions LA Galaxy and Seattle Sounders later on Sunday. Galaxy lead 3-0 from the first leg.
It is the fourth time in seven years that Dynamo, under coach Dominic Kinnear, have reached the MLS Cup. They have two titles but lost out last year to the Galaxy.
"We work hard, work together and do whatever it takes, I'm proud of this group of guys and we are excited to be back," said influential midfielder Brad Davis, who missed last year's final due to injury.
DC needed an early goal if they were to create any kind of real stress for Houston but they struggled to develop chances against a well-marshalled Dynamo defence.
Lyon head top, Bordeaux move second
Lyon moved top of the Ligue 1 standings with an emphatic 3-0 victory over Reims at the Stade Gerland.
Anthony Weber's own goal on the stroke of half-time set Les Gones on their way, and Bafetimbi Gomis doubled the hosts' advantage in the 73rd minute before Lisandro Lopez sealed matters at the death.
Bordeaux climbed to second place as Yoann Gouffran scored the only goal in the second half to sink title rivals Marseille 1-0 at the Stade Jacques Chaban-Delmas.
Les Girondins had gone into the match in eighth but the win and three points moved them up to 24, one point behind leaders Lyon. Defeat left Marseille fourth in the table, two points behind Lyon.
Dario Cvitanich's second-half goal earned Nice a 1-0 win and all three points at home to a Toulouse side who continue to slide down the Ligue 1 standings.
Cvitanich's 60th-minute effort proved the difference between the two and earned Nice a deserved win, although Toulouse will feel slightly unfortunate after hitting the woodwork twice in the match, the second of which came three minutes from the end.
The result lifts improving Nice into 11th place while Toulouse, who were in the top two not so long ago, are now down to ninth after slumping to a third successive league defeat and fourth on the trot in all competitions.
Spanish Liga - Atletico re-close gap to Barça
Mario Suarez got his marching orders after a second yellow card for a deliberate handball on 72 minutes - meaning Diego Simeone’s squad had to hold on in the final stages for their tenth league win of the season.
The result takes them to within three points of leaders Barcelona at the top of La Liga.Turan got the crucial goal just after the hour mark, finishing coolly from a tight angle on the left after a great cross from the classy Juanfran who was found by Brazilian substitute Diego Costa on the right.
Indeed it was Costa who changed the game when he was brought on for the second half to aid team-mate Falcao who had been struggling to make a mark in the opening period - the Colombian touching the ball just 20 times before the break.
An evenly matched first half had ended goalless, with some wayward finishing from the attackers on both sides. Granada should have been 1-0 up inside 10 minutes after Youssef El Arabi got free in the box from a set piece and headed wide when it looked easier to score.
An excellent counter-attack by the hosts in the 35th minute saw them hit the post when it almost looked like they had too many players advancing forward to make a clear chance.
Yacine Brahimi eventually let rip with a fierce shot that struck the woodwork with Atletico goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois stranded and his team-mate Turan getting a vital touch on the strike to prevent a sure goal.
But Courtois was straight back in goal and produced a brilliant smothering save on the half-hour mark to keep out Youssef El Arabi inside the six-yard box as the Moroccan lurked dangerously.
Atletico had good first-half chances themselves too, with Falcao looking to find the net after a three-match goal ‘drought’.
On 12 minutes ‘El Tigre’ had a chance at goal, but the Colombian over hit a pass instead of turning and shooting when he was unmarked in the box.
But Falcao hardly saw the ball again until just before half time when he tried an audacious effort from 40 yards out which dropped just over Granada goalkeeper Toño's crossbar.
After the break Falcao and his fellow South American Costa were able to stretch the game and the visitors were deserved scorers as Turan hit the back of the net, 15 minutes into the second period.
Simeone’s men worked hard to preserve the lead after Suarez was sent off, preserving a record of winning every game in which they have taken the lead this season – a total of 14 victories in 18 matches in all competitions thus far this term.
Granada ended the match still sitting 17th in the table, just one point above the relegation zone, having lost five of their last six games.
Regardless of the result against Sevilla next week, Atletico will go into their derby in two weeks time at Real Madrid above their city rivals. It will be the first time they approach a game ahead of their neighbours in the standings since the 1998-99 season.
Gibson return boosts Everton
Everton manager David Moyes has received a welcome injury boost after midfielder Darron Gibson returned from a thigh injury to feature in the U21 game with Reading.
The Republic of Ireland international has been out of action since picking up the injury in the 2-0 defeat at West Brom on 1 September.
But he has been progressing well and is now closing on a return to first team action, while centre-back Sylvain Distin also featured against the Royals.
Gibson's return gives Moyes some positive injury news, after captain Phil Neville was ruled out for up to eight weeks after undergoing surgery on a knee problem.
Toluca past Chivas into semi-finals
Guadalajara succumbed to Brazilian mastery as they went down 3-1 at Toluca in their Mexican championship quarter-final on Sunday.
Toluca, who finished top of the league standings and qualified in first place for the eight-team knockout phase, went through to the semi-finals 5-2 on aggregate after Thursday's 2-1 win in the first leg at Guadalajara's Omnilife stadium.
Two goals in three minutes inspired by Brazilian-born Mexico international Antonio Naelson Sinha and scored by fellow Brazilian midfielders at the Nemesio Diez ground in Toluca sealed the Chivas' fate.Sinha took a quick free-kick in the 56th minute while Guadalajara were lining up their wall and Paraguay's Edgar Benitez then passed to holding midfielder Wilson Thiago who opened the scoring.
Two minutes later, Lucas Silva made the best of a mistake by visiting goalkeeper Luis Michel to head the second goal and virtually put the tie beyond Dutch coach John van't Schip's team.
Substitute Juan Carlos Cacho scored a third goal for the Red Devils from Silva's left cross in a counter-attack in the 72nd and striker Erick Torres pulled one back 10 minutes later.
Guadalajara's arch-rivals America, looking for their 11th league title, lost 2-1 at home to Morelia at the Azteca in Mexico City on Saturday but went through 3-2 on aggregate.
"We had a wake-up call today," Eagles coach Miguel Herrera said.
"Fortunately we already held a lead, but we lacked concentration in the first half and they took advantage. Luckily Raul Jimenez scored a good goal that gave us this opportunity to go through."
Promoted Leon upset Cruz Azul 3-0 with two first-half goals from Uruguayan striker Matias Britos to qualify 4-2 on aggregate having lost 2-1 away in Wednesday's first leg.
Luis Delgado scored a late third goal for Leon after Cruz Azul's Argentina former River Plate and Lanus striker Mariano Pavone had been sent off with 10 minutes remaining.
Cruz Azul, Mexico's fourth most successful club with eight titles after Guadalajara (11), America and Toluca (both 10), have gone 15 years without winning the championship.
Border-town team Tijuana were favourites to complete the semi-final line-up defending a 1-0 lead at home to Monterrey in the second leg of their quarter-final later on Sunday.
Serie A - Wasteful Inter held by Cagliari
Inter Milan failed to make good on a host of chances and eventually relied on a late own goal to snatch a 2-2 draw at home to Cagliari at the San Siro.
Rodrigo Palacio gave the hosts a lead after 10 minutes but despite looking good value to extend their lead, each big chance went to waste and Marco Sau levelled just before the break.
And when further chances for Inter, including a two-yard open goal miss by Diego Milito, came and went, Sau struck again after superb work by Mauricio Pinilla to turn the result around.But Inter sub Ricardo Alvarez gave the flustered home team a second wind, and his cross eight minutes from time was turned in for an own goal by Davide Astori.
Inter are second, four points behind leader Juventus who drew 0-0 at home to Lazio on Saturday.
Cagliari are now 11th, six points outside the relegation zone.
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