Townsend suspended by FA

Andros Townsend has been banned from football for four months, three of them suspended, for breaching betting rules.



The Tottenham winger admitted the charge last month and voluntarily withdrew from the England squad for the forthcoming European U21 Championship.



Three quarters of his ban is suspended until July 1, 2016 and will be immediately invoked if there is a further betting offence.



The remaining month is backdated to May 23, meaning Townsend must refrain from all football activity until June 23.



The 21-year-old, who spent the second half of last season on loan at QPR, has also been fined £18,000.

AVB: Let's make history

Andre Villas-Boas is hoping to rewrite the history books when Tottenham travel to Chelsea on Wednesday night.

Spurs haven't won at Stamford Bridge since 1990 but need to break that streak in order to clinch qualification for next season's Champions League.

Having broken a 23-year duck this season by beating Manchester United at Old Trafford, Villas-Boas is confident they can also win at his former club.

"We tried our luck at Old Trafford, it worked. We managed to change the history and the pattern. We will try the same way (against Chelsea)," he said.

"The knowledge that I have, I will try to pass it onto my players to see if in any way it can help in the decision-making."

Villas-Boas added: "We have had an excellent season. We beat all the big teams in the country, apart from Chelsea.

"We have an opportunity to go there and put our destiny in our hands, so we have motivation factors that go along with a fixture like this, we have the players' ability that is absolutely outstanding."

Harry Redknapp was axed as Spurs boss last season after they missed out on Champions League football and Villas-Boas is all too aware of the level of expectation within the White Hart Lane boardroom.

"The club is ready, but getting into it is the most difficult thing," he said.

"The resources that UEFA makes available in the Champions League are not available in the Europa League and I don't have to speak about the amount of notoriety you get from playing in the Champions League.

"It is the ultimate objective for any club going forward."

AVB : Bale will stay

Andre Villas-Boas has been assured that Tottenham talisman Gareth Bale will be at White Hart Lane next season, regardless of whether Spurs qualify for the UEFA Champions League.

The Wales international forward, who added the Football Writers' Association award to his PFA double on Thursday, is one of the most sought-after players in world football having drawn interest from various clubs throughout Europe.

Villas-Boas sparked fears over his future last week as he claimed the Spurs superstar could leave the club this summer if they failed to make the top four.

But the Spurs boss back-tracked on Thursday, stating his comments had been misunderstood, and said he would be surprised if the 23-year-old left White Hart Lane.

Villas-Boas said:

"The information that I have from the club, which was mistakenly written about last week, is that the player is here to remain, independent of the objectives of Champions League qualification being achieved or not.

"I would be extremely surprised (if he left).

"In football anything can happen. It's impossible to predict, but this is the assurance I have had from the club.

"We understand that the more awards the more recognition the player will have, the more media attention, but the club has to move forward by holding onto its best players.

"With the recognition and the further experience that he has had from this year, next year for Tottenham he will be even more assertive."

Bale's progress this year has not gone unnoticed by Real Madrid, but Villas-Boas and chairman Daniel Levy are digging their heels in over the player's future.

Villas-Boas added:

"Whatever price tag the player has doesn't matter to us because he's our player.

"He's a player we have to hold onto for the remaining seasons to make sure that we reach our objectives and continue to progress as a club."

The Real hierarchy have always publicly remained coy on the prospect of adding Bale to their squad, but their sporting director Zinedine Zidane heaped praise on the Welshman this week, leading to speculation that a big-money bid could be on the cards.

Such words from a man of Zidane's standing will no doubt have caught Bale's eye, but Villas-Boas has no issue with the Frenchman's comments.

"It's fine, I have no problems with it," Villas-Boas said. "In the end it's great for a player of Zidane's dimension to be speaking about Gareth.

"It's good to have that public recognition from someone who has reached the biggest heights of the game."

-->

Zidane: Bale fee not an issue

Real Madrid ambassador Zinedine Zidane claims Europe's top clubs would be prepared to spend big on Tottenham Hotspur's Gareth Bale.

The Welsh forward, who recently landed a PFA awards double by being named Player and Young Player of the Year, continues to be heavily linked with a summer move away from White Hart Lane.

Spurs are understandably reluctant to part with their most prized asset, with Bale having helped to fire them into contention for a top-four finish in the Premier League.

They would demand a sizeable fee if a deal were to be done, but Zidane does not see that being an issue for the sides reported to be leading the hunt for Bale's signature.

The former World Player of the Year said: "After the season he has just had - and still being so young, of course - Gareth Bale is going to be one of the most expensive players in the world if he decides to move.

"Tottenham could demand £40m, £50m, maybe even £60m for him. It is a lot of money, but there are maybe three or four teams in the world that can pay that sort of transfer fee, and it won't put them off.

"A player like Bale can be the difference between a big club winning the league or the Champions League.

"They would be getting the best player in Europe this season - and he is at an age where he can still play at the top for another 10 years."


-->

AVB: Gareth Bale is similar to Cristiano Ronaldo

Gareth Bale won the PFA Player of the Year and PFA Young Player of the Year awards after an impressive season under Andre Villas-Boas. The Portuguese manager has likened the Welsh star to former Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo.

“There are similarities,” he said. “Both are extremely technical, powerful and pacy. They grew up as strikers, but became wingers. Gareth [Bale] is now playing a more advanced role.”



Bale has been linked with a big-money move to Real Madrid in recent months, but it remains to be seen if Spurs will be persuaded to part with their star man. Bale has 19 goals and 4 assists in the Premier League this season as Tottenham Hotspur fight for Champions League qualification. The Welshman has indicated that he would stay in North London if Spurs finish in the top-four.




-->

Bale dismisses rumours

Tottenham winger Gareth Bale has played down talk of a summer move away from White Hart Lane.



Bale was speaking after collecting the Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year Award and Young Player of the Year awards.

The 23-year-old's consistent performances have propelled Spurs towards a top four finish this season.

But Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas has admitted he fears losing the Wales international if the club fail clinch a Champions League spot.

Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona are among the teams already linked with Bale, but the player insisted his focus is on Tottenham.

Bale said: "I just take no notice, it's all speculation, I can't do anything about it.

"I just concentrate on my football and play as well as I can and do my best for the team."

-->

Bale admits pain issue

Gareth Bale may have to play through the pain barrier in the games that remain this season as he hopes to help Spurs make the top four.

style="border-radius: 25px 25px 25px 25px; border: 5px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" width="320" />

The 23-year-old, recently named in the PFA Player and Young Player of the Year nominations, has had an outstanding season for Tottenham and took his tally to 23 goals when scoring the third in Sunday's 3-1 win over Manchester City. Bale was back in the side after recovering from ankle ligament damage picked up in the Europa League quarter-final clash against Basel earlier in the month, although he admits he is still in some pain from the injury but plans to play on until the end of the campaign regardless. "It was touch and go whether I was going to play - but thankfully I got through it okay," he said. "It was a bit sore in the first half but I got more confident in the second half. It hurts but it's just about managing it and carrying on." Meanwhile, the Wales international says the spirit Spurs showed when coming from 1-0 down to score three goals in the final 15 minutes against City proves they are up for the challenge of securing a return to the Champions League for next term. "We showed great character and hopefully we can carry that on in the last five games," he added. "It shows the team spirit we have in the dressing room. "We need to keep that character, team spirit and togetherness in the last five games and push for our objectives this season."


-->

Bale is named in Spurs squad

Manchester City head to Tottenham on Sunday knowing victory is essential to maintain their ever-loosening grasp on the Premier League trophy for a few more days.

style="border-radius: 25px 25px 25px 25px; border: 5px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); width="400" />

Spurs have named Gareth Bale in their squad ahead of the clash with City and must now decide whether to take a risk on their star man.

Bale, named among the six nominees for the PFA Player of the Year award on Friday, suffered an ankle injury in the first leg of Spurs' Europa League exit at the hands of Basel.

Winger Aaron Lennon is hoping to be back in contention after sustaining a knee injury in the second meeting with the Swiss side.

Manchester City pair David Silva and Sergio Aguero are doubtful for the trip to White Hart Lane with hamstring problems.

Playmaker Silva has missed the last two games after pulling up in the derby win at Manchester United while striker Aguero withdrew as a precaution at half-time of the midweek game against Wigan.



Following defender Micah Richards' successful return from injury in midweek, right-back Maicon (knee) and midfielder Jack Rodwell (hamstring) could also be in contention.


-->

Zidane says Bale is most impressive player in Europe

Zinedine Zidane says Tottenham's Gareth Bale has impressed him more than any other player in Europe this season.



The Welshman has been in dazzling form this term, scoring 27 times for club and country, and his displays have caught the attention of the former World Cup winner, who has been tipped to join the coaching staff at Real Madrid next season.



Zidane went to watch Bale in Tottenham's Europa League tie against Lyon in February and described him as a "unique" talent due to his combination of pace and technical ability.



He told : "This year the player who's impressed me most is not actually playing in the Champions League. He's playing in 'the other cup' and that's Bale.



"He's unique. He makes things look easy, his pace is frightening, his acceleration is unbelievable because of his ability to go through the gears in very little space.



"Plus, he's very good technically which is also important. We mustn't forget that he plays football very well!



"And he's really impressed me. I've seen him two or three times live, including recently at Lyon, which wasn't necessarily his best game, but where every time he got the ball he can surprise you."



Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas described Bale as "world class" after another man-of-the-match performance against Swansea at the weekend and Zidane agrees he deserves to be spoken about in such terms.



But he doesn't feel the 23-year-old can yet be compared to the likes of Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo.



"He's perhaps not quite at the level of the other two, but he's different," Zidane added.



"So personally I don't think he's far off."

Mourinho: 'Don't compare me to Andre Villas-Boas"

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has said that he sees no similarities between himself and Andre Villas-Boas.

Despite both Portuguese coaches working for Porto at a young age and managing Chelsea in the Premier League, los Blancos boss believes that Villas-Boas's career does not have any resemblance to his own.



"I don't see anything of myself in Andre Villas-Boas," Mourinho told RTP1.



"He has accessed places others couldn't. I follow his career regularly. I know there is a Jose Mourinho effect in the young Portuguese.



"There is a lot of young people who dream about being a coach. Twenty years ago the youngsters wanted to be players, not coaches."



Mourinho looks set to leave Madrid in the summer after all but conceding La Liga to bitter arch-rivals Barcelona.

Bale sits out Wales training

Gareth Bale did not train with the Wales squad on Tuesday but he is expected to be fit to face Scotland in Friday's World Cup qualifier.

Having played 90 minutes for Tottenham on Sunday, Bale is following his own recovery programme before taking a full part in training with the squad.

West Ham United pair Jack Collison and James Collins are following similar recovery schedules.

Sunderland midfielder David Vaughan was also missing from Tuesday's session.

Vaughan, another to play 90 minutes on Sunday as Sunderland drew with Norwich City, is expected to join up with the squad at their base near Cardiff on Wednesday.



Bale needed treatment on an ankle knock during the first half of Spurs' match with Fulham on Sunday, but the 23-year-old was able to finish the match as his side lost 1-0 at home.

Wales have given no indication of any doubts over Bale's availability to face Scotland at Hampden Park on Friday, where Chris Coleman's side will be looking to build on recent encouraging performances.

"We think he is going to be fit, he is in and around the team and will be training in the next couple of days with Friday in mind," said striker Sam Vokes.

"It is fantastic to play alongside him, the last couple of goals I have scored for Wales have come from his assists, and in the Scotland game here he turned the game on its head.

"He has been different class for club and country for a while now, every game he plays in he is excellent and he will be a big player for us on Friday."

Wales secured their first win of the qualifying campaign in October as Bale scored twice, including a stunning winner a minute from time, to beat Scotland.

In their last outing, Bale was again the dominant force as he scored one and created the second for Vokes in a 2-1 friendly win over Austria in Swansea.

Sandwiched between those games was a 2-0 away defeat by Croatia, who Wales play again four days after facing Scotland.

Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen (shoulder) and Leeds United striker Steve Morison (calf) are the only players to have pulled out of Coleman's original squad for the qualifying double-header.

Striker Jermaine Easter, on loan at Millwall from Crystal Palace, and Bristol City defender Lewin Nyatanga have been drafted in as cover.

English trio are kept apart

The three Premier League clubs have been kept apart in the Europa League quarter-final draw.

Chelsea will take on Russian side Rubin Kazan, Tottenham tackle Swiss outfit Basel and Newcastle will face Portugal's Benfica.

Rubin Kazan are currently sixth in the Russian Premier League and required extra-time on Thursday to defeat Spain's Levante 2-0 on aggregate in the last 16.

However they are likely to prove tough opponents for Chelsea after knocking out holders Atletico Madrid in the last 32 and emerging unbeaten from a tough group that included Inter Milan.

Rubin's game against Levante was played at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium - due to problems with their own pitch in the republic of Tatarstan - and they could also face the Blues at a venue where they lost the 2008 UEFA Champions League final to Manchester United.

Swiss champions Basel defeated Zenit St Petersburg 2-1 on aggregate to reach the last eight after hanging on to lose the second leg only 1-0 after the Russians missed a late penalty.

Basel failed to reach the Champions League group stage this season after losing to CFR Cluj in the play-off round.

Benfica, who are currently two points clear in the Primeira Liga, dropped into the Europa League after finishing third behind Barcelona and Celtic in Champions League Group G.

They beat Bordeaux 4-2 on aggregate in the last 16 after scoring two late goals to win the second leg 3-2.

"It's a great draw for us," said Newcastle manager Alan Pardew. "The Estadio da Luz is a great venue. I've been there and it's a fantastic stadium. Importantly, we are at home in the second leg and that will give us an advantage."

Benfica director Rui Costa said: "Newcastle deserve all our respect but we trust in ourselves. We will give it our best to go through."



Europa League draw:

Chelsea v Rubin Kazan

Tottenham v Basel

Fenerbahce v Lazio

Benfica v Newcastle



First-leg ties to be played on April 4, second-leg ties to be played on April 11.