Rooney doesn't understand English... Capello in jibe at United ace



Former England manager Fabio Capello has responded to Wayne Rooney's criticism that the Italian's lack of English was a major problem with the players by claiming the talismanic striker cannot speak the language himself.



Capello, who failed to master even basic English despite four years of regular lessons, said during an interview on Italian radio that he could not communicate with Liverpudlian Rooney when talking tactics.



'Look, when I spoke they did understand me,' said Capello.



Jibe: Former England boss Fabio Capello took a swipe at Wayne Rooney's English



'But every now and then, when I tried to explain tactics, things didn't work out. You know what? Maybe it's because Rooney doesn't speak English. He doesn't understand English.'

The Rooney camp did not want to counter Capello's hypocritical comments.



But, by coincidence, a new Rooney website was launched on Tuesday to aggregate all the social media and sponsorship activity for his fan base - and gives him the platform to hit back at Capello's jibe as and when he wants.



Don't listen to what Simon says



A lack of live football outside Euro 2012 for BBC's football commentators may be a contributing factor in Simon Brotherton's error-strewn calling of the Spain-Croatia game.

A complaint to the Corporation pointed out that Brotherton continually referred to David Villa, who wasn't in the Spanish squad, instead of David Silva and that Croatia substitute Ivan Perisic finished the domestic season by winning the double with Borussia Dortmund in Italy.



Euro 2012 sparking ticket interest



Team GB football at the Olympics is a slow sell with so many tickets to shift. But Euro 2012 might be helping to spark interest, judging by the 10,600 seats snapped up on the first day of sale to see Stuart Pearce lead his side in the warm-up match against Brazil at Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium on July 20.



Sky's the limit for Neville, says Roy



England manager Roy Hodgson this week endorsed his coach Gary Neville's Sky Sports pundit job-share by saying how helpful Neville's television-honed expertise has been in putting together video analysis of games and training sessions.



Dual role: Hodgson has endorsed Neville's Sky Sports pundit job-share

Hodgson sets such store in this type of preparation that he added Liverpool's head of technical analysis Andy Scoulding, who worked with him at Anfield and Fulham, to the England backroom staff.



The acid test of Neville's conflicting roles will not come until the inevitable moment next season when his Sky bosses will expect him to be his normal trenchant self when a current England player comes under his TV microscope.



Fans' political football



The official England fans football team mounted a protest on Tuesday about Ukraine's human rights record by wearing T-shirts emblazoned with the message 'Free Yulia' (Tymoshenko), the country's jailed opposition leader.



Three of the side and manager Garford Beck wore the shirts while the national anthems were played before the match against the Ukraine supporters' side, despite strong advice from the FA and Foreign Office officials not to do so.



The 'apolitical' FA, who have been so committed to the England squad being 'good tourists' at Euro 2012, would not comment but Beck claims he was put under unnecessary pressure to conform.



Paddy Power pay pants fine



Shameless self-publicists Paddy Power have paid Nicklas Bendtner's £80,000 UEFA fine for revealing their branded underwear after scoring for Denmark against Portugal.



That's pants: Bendtner was fined £80,000 and banned for one match

The company still insist they did not offer the Arsenal striker a financial incentive for his actions. However, agents are alleging they received calls from Paddy Power offering significant sums if their clients took part in the Euro stunt.

Barber stakes claim to replace Glick



Former Tottenham and FA commercial director Paul Barber has not wasted any time in standing for the Football League board position vacated by Derby's Tom Glick.



Barber only started work as Brighton CEO this month, following two years as chief executive of Vanacouver Whitecaps. His election rivals are Crystal Palace's Phil Alexander and Wolves' Jez Moxey.

