News about Marcello Lippi

Manchester United have received allegations that 'scumbag' fans are posing as disabled supporters to gain access to away matches this season. The club are given dedicated wheelchair spaces for every away fixture but Chas Banks, secretary of the Manchester United Disabled Supporters' Association, told the latest meeting of the Fans' Forum there has been 'widespread misuse' of these tickets by a group of disabled fans. These have either been passed on to non-disabled supporters directly or through a third party in breach of United's ticket rules. 

After suffering a 1-1 draw to relative minnows Singapore on Thursday, China's captain has called time on his international career. Zhang Linpeng had been dubbed the country's best footballer by international icon Marcello Lippi and had played 105 games for China, 13 of which were wearing the armband. In that time, he would also score six goals, and played the majority of his time at center back on the right of defense and through the middle.

In a televised confession to state broadcaster CCTV, Li confessed to 3 million yuan (£330,000) in bribes to become the national team's coach. He also admitted to being involved in a match-fixing scandal in order to gain promotions with his club teams. "I resorted to influencing referees, bribing opposition players and coaches, often through clubs affiliated with other clubs in order to achieve good results," he said.'

Everton made 40 appearances over the course of two years, and Goodison Park was a surprise triumph. He then returned to take up a variety of club coaching positions before he was recruited as the national team head coach.

ALVISE CAGNAZZO: This cult hero may be the most unique and enjoyable pre and post player careers, but it may not be the only one. On the touchline, behind a camera, or on film, footballers are often on a streamlined path back to football. It's rare, nearly unheard of, that one would stand in front of the masses seated in pews rather than in the plush lounges in a pub or house.

Conte was supposed to speak to the media on Thursday ahead of Spurs' match against Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday. During his playing days at Juventus in 1994, the Italian first worked with Ventrone.

MARTIN SAMUEL -CHIEF SPORTS WRITER: Perhaps because he is a good guy. Perhaps because he will have detected a shift in the national mood. Following the European Championships last year, there had been skepticism. He was so careful, he froze in the final against Italy, when the victory fell from his grasp. This is not to say that his detractors are correct. They are still out there and growing in number and voice under Southgate's reign as captains - a distinct possibility - but if England fails to imitate the last two tournaments under Southgate, their remaining two years could be difficult. Southgate doesn't need that. He could take a break and return as a club manager. He would not be short of options. Then there is the hopeful viewpoint. Southgate is crowned from Qatar and places the trophy on the sideboard. His stature will never be higher. Why spend the next campaign trying to recreate magic? The last three World Cup winners stayed on – Didier Deschamps of France won the first tournament since Italy's Vittorio Pozzo in 1934 and 1938 - but the five that followed did not win twice. Any World Cup-winning manager, from Franz Beckenbauer in 1990 to Marcello Lippi in 2006, stood down.