Tapping news; more transfer window highlights; plus the England squad giving back
Team of the week: all in this together
? �1m: amount raised by the England squad's "Together We Are Stronger" campaign in the three years before last summer's World Cup ? players donating match fees. Gareth Barry: "It's not just about playing football for us: we realise we can use our status to improve people's lives. It's important to support others who are less fortunate than ourselves."
? �100m: tax avoided by Premier League players last year using legal tax avoidance schemes, now subject of an HMRC inquiry. Among the top saves by England players: Gareth Barry's �136,000.
? Also on last week's HMRC avoiders list: Rio Ferdinand ? cutting tax on part of his income to 22%. (Rio's wider world view: 2010 ? says government cuts could hurt society. "Cuts to policing would have a massive impact. If they're going to start taking these things away, making cuts on these things one by one, we could turn into countries we've looked at in the past and looked down our noses at. Hopefully it's not going to be a downward spiral.")
Plus: offshore news
Ken Bates on his Leeds legacy, six years after taking over: says he's created a community club run on "sound business lines" by ending "the culture of freeloaders in the boardroom".
(90: number of days Bates spends in the UK each year to maintain tax-exile status while fronting the offshore company that holds 72% of Leeds shares on behalf of three unidentified trusts.)
Man of the week
David Sullivan, West Ham: backing Avram Grant after Martin O'Neill turned them down: "The board is 100% behind Avram. He's a really decent person who deserves our support. West Ham is a club that does the right thing ? and the right thing is to support our manager." (April 2010 ? Sullivan says the board is "100% behind Gianfranco". David Gold: "Gianfranco Zola has been through hell and back. But he knows he's part of West Ham. We couldn't ask for any more.")
Transfer window
Last week's best mover ? Darren Bent, December: "I can't believe how well it's gone [at Sunderland]. If the offer of a contract extension came up I'd be more than happy. It's all about the football up here. It's all passion, passion, passion, but the supporters' intensity has never scared me. And Steve Bruce is a top man manager. He seems to get it right every time."
January: Submits second transfer request in six months; joins Villa.
? Bruce's verdict: "We're massively let down. It's left a sour taste. The way the world is now everyone wants better jobs, better this and better the other. You'll have to ask Darren why he couldn't have waited until the summer and shown us a bit of respect." (8: Average length, in months, of Bruce's pre-Birmingham jobs ? including an eight-game run of loyalty at Wigan.)
Plus: tapping latest
Ian Holloway says Villa are "a disgrace" for tapping up Charlie Adam in an attempt to secure a cut-price deal. "It's a scandal. Villa should not talk about my player. I've got the raving hump because it's wrong. If I'm asked about any player I offer money for, I don't talk about it." Also this month: Holloway tells the press he's offered money for Barnsley's Adam Hammill ? enough to activate his cut-price release clause: "We really like the boy. The clause guarantees you can get him ..."
Meanwhile: love news
October, Roman Pavlyuchenko: "It's true I wanted to leave, but not now. The Tottenham fans are something special to me. I've fallen in love with them and will always love them. I am grateful for their support: I will respond with more goals and good play."
January: Rejects new contract due to the pay rise being "not enough ... We will see what the transfer window brings."
Best newcomer
New to Sepp's football family: Sergio Jadue, named president of Chile's FA despite being charged with "grievously assaulting" and injuring his wife. Chilean women's minister Carolina Schmidt: "It's a horrifying result ? a stain on our country. It's remarkable that someone with this type of record can garner such support in football." Jadue: "I love my wife."
Sacking of the week
10 Jan: Nasser al-Johar appointed by Saudi Arabia. "We are in a difficult spell and I don't have a magic wand, but we will improve. I don't feel any pressure, and I am not saying that to be diplomatic ? I am so relaxed I�could coach three teams right now."
18 Jan: Saudi lose 5-0; Johar sacked.
Plus: decency news
Germany: St Pauli say executives from Susi's Show Bar "must stop using their executive box for stripping purposes during Bundesliga games". The box owners installed a pole and mirror and held shows for guests. "They can do what they like after games," says president Stefan Orth. "It was all just too much."
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/jan/23/said-done-tax-gareth-barry
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