Wayner Rooney and Ashley Cole's horror as fellow clubber dies after 'drug collapse'

The young man is treated by paramedics outside Whisky Mist early today

The unconscious clubgoer is put on a stretcher and placed in an ambulance

Police speak to a young man outside the club after the incident

Wayne Rooney, who was celebrating becoming PFA Player of the Year, is escorted from the nightclub early today

A 17-year-old tourist died early today after partying in London's Whisky Mist nightclub, where Wayne Rooney was celebrating being named Player of the Year.

The teenager from Lisbon, Portugal, collapsed in the club at approximately 1.20am.

He was then taken to a central London hospital where he later died.
Another man was arrested on suspicion of supplying class A drugs.

A team of paramedics battled to save the clubber's life as he lay on the pavement outside the nightclub. This morning the club was still cordoned off as police carried out further inquiries.

Rooney had been at the club along with his brother Graeme and fellow England footballer Ashley Cole after he was earlier awarded the PFA Player of the Year Award.
The player looked baffled by the commotion outside the club as he left but his spokesman claimed the footballer was 'unaware of any incident having taken place'.

The spokesman added: 'As Wayne was leaving the club he was asked - as were all other guests - whether he had seen anything.

'He simply told police that he had seen nothing and was not aware of any incident.'

Manchester United hero Wayne Rooney picks up PFA gong and insists: I'll be fit for World Cup!

And the winner is: Rooney and Milner pick up their awards

I'll be fit: Rooney has assured Fabio Capello he will be fit for the World Cup

Wayne Rooney, who has been named the PFA’s Player of the Year, has given England coach Fabio Capello a boost by declaring he will overcome his groin injury long before the World Cup.

Capello had been sweating on the fitness of his two most important players — Rooney and captain Rio Ferdinand, who continues to struggle with a combination of back and groin problems.

But Rooney said: ‘The groin will be fine for the World Cup, there are no worries about that. I’m hoping to play for United in the last game of the season.’
Both Rooney and Ferdinand missed Manchester United’s victory over Tottenham on Saturday. Rooney injured his groin as a result of over-compensating to protect the ankle he damaged in the first leg of United’s Champions League quarter-final tie with Bayern Munich.

Arsenal striker Robin van Persie admits he's not as good as Barcelona star Lionel Messi - yet

Aiming high: Van Persie (right) wants to reach Messi's level

Robin van Persie insists it is far too early to compare him with Lionel Messi.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger recently claimed Van Persie would be considered a 'world great' if his season had not been disrupted by injury.

Van Persie has just returned to the side after five months out with an ankle problem and the Dutchman beleives he needs a longer run in the team before he can be mentioned alongside Barcelona superstar Messi.
He said: 'I still have to prove it [that Wenger is right]. Those are big words, because players like Messi are unbelievable. It is a bit early to say.

'It is not really pressure on me, but I hope to be in that place one day. I think I have the qualities to do so, but you need time, you need games and you need to be fit.

Manchester City make move for Yoann Gourcuff - hailed the 'new Zinedine Zidane'

 
City target: Gourcuff could be on his way to Eastlands

Manchester City have set their sights on Bordeaux star Yoann Gourcuff with Franck Ribery set to snub a move to Eastlands. Bayern Munich winger Ribery is reportedly favouring a summer switch to Chelsea or Real Madrid, forcing City to turn their attentions to Gourcuff.

According to the Daily Star the 23-year-old attacking midfielder, who has been touted as the next Zinedine Zidane, would cost City boss Roberto Mancini in the region of £25-30million.

Gourcuff began his career with Rennes before securing a deal to Italian giants AC Milan. But after two injury-hit seasons at the San Siro, Gourcuff sealed a deal back to France with Bordeaux.

The switch was initially on loan but became a permanent deal after impressing during his first season with the French champions.

We'll give blood and sweat in attempt to overturn Atletico Madrid and add to glorious European history -Liverpool star Steven Gerrard promise

Eye for goal: Gerrard scores against Burnley on Sunday

Party time: Gerrard celebrates at Turf Moor

Steven Gerrard is determined to help Liverpool add another glorious chapter to their European history when they face Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their Europa League semi-final clash.

Liverpool trail 1-0 from the first leg, but Gerrard believes the Merseysiders can come back to win the tie.

He said: 'We need to be positive from the start of the game and get the fans behind us and believe that we can achieve the victory.
We've done it before so we are going to give it everything we have got on Thursday night.

'The players are positive about Thursday night, I can guarantee that. We are up for it and we need to give every bit of sweat and blood out on that pitch.

'Let's hope we can win it with two goals but if they score we have to get a third. We have to adapt during the game and do whatever it takes to win.
There's been many occasions where we have had our backs to the wall and people have doubted us, but as a player we never doubt ourselves.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger reveals the news every fan wants to hear - I'm ready to splash the cash this summer

Frustrating season: But Arsene Wenger could be pointing the way to more success if he buys new players this summer

Outclassed: Barcelona knocked Arsenal out of the Champions League

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has insisted he is finally ready to splash the cash this summer, but insists it was the cost of the club's new ground that prevented him spending out in the past.

The Gunners have now gone five seasons without winning a trophy, leaving some supporters to demand more players are bought in before next season.
Arsenal's new 60,000 capacity home cost nearly £400million to build, and Wenger claims: 'The construction of the Emirates Stadium meant that for many years we could not spend a lot of money,' said Wenger.

'Our financial situation has greatly improved. We are finally able to buy the players we think we need.'
Wenger is expected to bring in Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh on a free transfer, but will look to strengthen his squad in other positions.

As well as falling out of the title race, Arsenal were outclassed by Barcelona in their Champions league quarter-final.

Cesc Fabregas and the secret deal! Arsenal paid captain £3m to stave off Barcelona interest

New deal: Arsenal gave Cesc Fabregas a one-off payment of £3million

On the spot: The Arsenal skipper has been linked with a move back to Barcelona

Fans' favourite: Fabregas is adored by the Emirates faithful

Arsenal have handed Cesc Fabregas a one-off £3million sweetener and upped his wages to £110,000 a week in a bid to keep him at the club, it has been claimed.

With Barcelona heading the queue of European clubs eyeing the Spain midfielder, the Gunners are said to have agreed a wage-cap busting deal that increased his £80,000 a week salary.

Barca remain keen to re-sign a player who came through their academy, but Arsenal hope to retain their star after quietly sanctioning the mega-deal last summer, reports goal.com.

Portsmouth facing 17 point penalty: FA Cup finalists to be hit by massive penalty at the start of the new Championship season

Pomp and circumstance: Avram Grant's side will enjoy their day at Wembley

Final insult: Off the pitch things are getting worse for Portsmouth administrator Andrew Andronikou

FA Cup finalists Portsmouth are likely to start next season in the Championship with a further 17-point penalty because major creditors are unhappy with the report prepared by administrator Andrew Andronikou.

The club, who have already been subject to a nine-point penalty for entering administration, a deduction which effectively relegated them from the Premier League, will be allowed to start next season with a clean slate only if they can secure support from 75 per cent of their creditors to come out of administration - a process known as a company voluntary arrangement, or CVA.

But The Mail on Sunday understands that there are already serious objections to a CVA among major creditors, some of whom wish to question the report published by UHY Hacker Young, which estimates the debts of the club at £119million.

If the club cannot exit administration with the support of its creditors, then it will be liquidated and the new owner - likely to be Hong Kong businessman Balram Chainrai - will have to reapply to join the Football League, having set up a new company to run the club.

Hull 0 Sunderland 1: No ifs or butts, Hull are clearly the architects of their own demise

Head case: Hull City's Jozy Altidore (left) clashes with Sunderland's Alan Hutton (right).Both players were sent off (below) by referee Lee Probert.Alan has a cut eye, a smashed nose and a chipped tooth.





Bleak town: Jimmy Bullard - who missed a first-half penalty - shows his dejection

Some Hull players were in tears, others lay motionless on the turf. But relegation — barring a miracle in their last two games — was surely just reward for a group of men who could not keep their heads in the heat of battle.

Architects of their own downfall, Hull must now slink off to the Championship, where a mounting financial crisis awaits. Yesterday their fight ended because they failed to exert the necessary self-control when it really mattered.

Jozy Altidore reacted furiously when Alan Hutton threw the ball at his head just before half time and butted him by way of thanks. Altidore was sent off and Hutton followed once he had picked himself up.

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce, who was dimissed himself later on, marched onto the pitch to protest about referee Lee Probert’s handling of the first-half fracas.

Bruce said later: ‘It was GBH not a sending off. It was wrong of Alan Hutton to throw the ball at his opponent’s back but we all do things in the heat of the moment and it wasn’t going to do any damage. But Alan has a cut eye, a smashed nose and a chipped tooth.

West Ham 3 Wigan 2: Scott Parker fires winner as Hammers take giant step toward survival

Pure delight: Scott Parker hails the winner as West Ham takes an enormous stride toward Premier League safety

Passion play: Ilan is grabbed by Mark Noble after firing West Ham level

Do it for the fans: Radoslav Kovac is mobbed after firing West Ham ahead

Terrible start: Jonathan Spector nods into his own net to set nerves jangling around Upton Park

As a boy, Scott Parker played keepy-uppy in an advertisement for beefburgers. Against Wigan he performed the same trick for his club, West Ham.

Parker’s piledriver gave Gianfranco Zola’s team a thrilling 3-2 win over Wigan Athletic that means — barring mathematical miracles from Hull City and three wins in a row for Burnley, who play Liverpool — that the Hammers escape relegation from the Premier League.

Back after a two-match suspension, Parker seized his moment with a 25-yard strike after West Ham had gone a goal down in three minutes before fighting back to lead a seesaw match 2-1 — only for a lively Wigan to level.

‘It was a great finish,’ said West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola. ‘You could see from my jumping up and down that I felt just like a supporter.

It wasn’t an easy shot. He didn’t have an angle but he hit it perfectly.’ Even Wigan manager Roberto Martinez was impressed.

Click continue reading for more West Ham 3-2 Wigan highlights and news.

Arsenal 0 Manchester City 0: Substitute Emmanuel Adebayor endures downbeat return to the Emirates

Testing times: Roberto Mancini needs to steer Manchester City to seven points from their last three games to reach his target of 70 points

Anxious moments: Manchester City keeper Shay Given is stretchered off

Welcome back: Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure returned to the Emirates

Roberto Mancini flashed a tight little smile, tugged at his comforting blue and white scarf and hurried down the tunnel with an air of modest satisfaction. Manchester City had taken their point, a Champions League place remained a plausible ambition, and all seemed well in the manager’s world.

A few minutes later, Emmanuel Adebayor lingered at the mouth of the same tunnel. He flashed a far broader smile and blew a few extravagant kisses to the Arsenal fans who had stayed on to abuse him. He, too, looked a happy man.

Click Continue Reading for Arsenal 0 - 0 Manchester City highlight clips and news.

Aston Villa 1 Birmingham 0: Derby delight for James Milner as City pay the penalty

Hot pursuit: Richard Dunne tries to keep up with Cameron Jerome

Tussle: Stephen Warnock gets a foot in on James McFadden

James Milner scored a late penalty to keep Aston Villa in the hunt for a Champions League spot with a narrow derby win over Birmingham at Villa Park.

The England midfielder converted from the spot in the 83rd minute after Blues defender Roger Johnson had been adjudged to have brought down Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor.

Villa are now level on points with fourth-placed Tottenham although they have played a game more and have an inferior goal difference.

Martin O'Neill named an unchanged side for the encounter, keeping faith with the side which triumphed at Hull in midweek.

Click continue reading for more  Aston Villa 1-0 Birmingham hightlight clips

A World Cup penalty shootout? Peter Crouch will put himself forward but Lampard, Gerrard and Rooney would be our first choice

Looking forward: Crouch says he'd relish taking a penalty in South Africa

Playing up to the gallery: Crouch’s robot dance took the heat off Sven Goran Eriksson, while the England striker poses with girlfriend Abbey Clancy (right)

Peter Crouch has scored more goals for England than anyone else in Fabio Capello’s expected World Cup squad except Wayne Rooney. And as the 6ft 7in Tottenham striker looks forward to this summer’s tournament in South Africa, he talks exclusively to Mail on Sunday columnist Gary Lineker, England’s World Cup hero at Mexico ’86 and Italia ’90, about the chances for Capello’s squad, how Harry Redknapp saved his career — and why he’ll be thinking of his Mum if he has to take part in a penalty shoot-out.

GARY LINEKER: Your 20 goals in 37 games is a great record in international football. So are you frustrated you’re not an automatic choice for England?

PETER CROUCH: Yes, sometimes. All I can do is take the opportunities when I get them. Hopefully, I did well enough scoring twice in the last game against Egypt to play a big part in the next one, against Mexico, and in the World Cup.

GL: Capello seems to favour a big guy to play alongside Rooney. That must help your cause, especially as Emile Heskey hasn’t been playing regularly for Aston Villa.

PC: In the back of your mind, it helps to know the manager seems to prefer to play with a big striker, although he has got other options. The truth is there are a lot of forwards who want to play alongside Wayne Rooney and I am one of those.

GL: Do you get the impression Capello likes you, or is he a difficult man to read?

Carlos Tevez to walk if Manchester City miss out on Champions League spot

Time to go?: Carlos Tevez has grown increasingly unhappy with life at City under boss Roberto Mancini

Carlos Tevez is set to stun Manchester City fans by fighting for a summer move if the club fail to qualify for the Champions League.

Tevez has become increasingly disillusioned at life at Eastlands under manager Roberto Mancini, and his adviser Kia Joorabchian is believed to have contacted some of Europe's leading clubs as a contingency if City miss out on the top four.

City fans will be dismayed by the split between Tevez and Mancini, having taken the 26-year-old striker to their hearts following his arrival from Manchester United at the start of the campaign.

The Argentine has scored 28 goals this season and has been nominated for the PFA Player of the Year award, which will be announced tonight.

Injury cause Ronney out of Manchester United titile bid but England Striker will made it for World Cup

Boy wonder: Wayne Rooney and his son Kai wearing a Manchester United Shirt with the name 'MY DAD' on the back at Old Trafford

Blow: Wayne Rooney looks set to miss the remainder of Manchester United's season

Wayne Rooney looks set to miss the remainder of Manchester United's season - and may not start a match again until England kick off their World Cup campaign in South Africa.

Rooney was ruled out of United's 3-1 victory against Tottenham at Old Trafford yesterday with a groin injury and manager Sir Alex Ferguson said: 'We don't know when he'll be back. We may be looking at two or three weeks.'

Despite Rooney's absence, United returned to the top of the Premier League, two penalties from evergreen Ryan Giggs and a superb finish from Nani seeing off top-four contenders Spurs, whose consolation goal from Ledley King will boost his own World Cup hopes.

Inter Milan beats Barcelona 3-1 in Champion League semifinals.

Inter Milan forward Samuel Eto'o, left, of Cameroon, challenges for the ball with Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez during a Champions League semifinal first leg soccer match between Inter Milan and Barcelona at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy,Tuesday, April 20, 2010.



Barcelona's Pedro Rodriguez, n. 17, scores during a Champions League semifinal first leg soccer match between Inter Milan and Barcelona at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy,Tuesday, April 20, 2010.

Barcelona's attempt to becoming European soccer's first repeat champion in two decades was jeopardized with a 3-1 loss to Inter Milan on Tuesday night in the first leg of the Champions League semifinals.

Barcelona appeared fatigued as the game went on, perhaps from a 450-mile bus trip the team was forced to take. Flights were grounded across Europe following the volcanic eruption in Iceland, and Inter may have to take a similar trip for the second leg of the total-goals series in Barcelona next Wednesday.


Wesley Sneijder, Maicon and Diego Milito scored for Inter, seeking to become Europe's champion for the first time since consecutive titles in 1964 and 1965. Inter frustrated FIFA player of the year Lionel Messi, whose four goals in the second leg of the quarterfinals eliminated Arsenal.

Pedro Rodriguez scored on a low shot in the 19th minute for Barcelona, but Sneijder tied the score off a pass from Milito in the 30th minute and Maicon put Inter ahead in the 48th on an overlapping run,l again from a Milito pass.

Milito scored the final goal on a header in the 61st after Samuel Eto'o broke down a wing and crossed to Sneijder, who nodded the ball back.

Click Continue Reading below for Highlights of Inter Milan vs Barcelona and pictures.

Jose Mourinho is a genius performaed brilliantly as manager for Inter Milan win.

No ordinary Jose: the Inter Milan manager puts desire ahead of genius

No way through: Lionel Messi may be a genius, but he was outnumbered by desire in the San Siro

What Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan so brilliantly demonstrated against Barcelona at the San Siro on Tuesday night was the oldest lesson in sport: put genius in a foot race with desire, and desire wins every time. Yet still some people keep putting the cart before the horse. Why are we so totally entranced by genius that we forget the thing that puts it on the podium?

Even those blessed with genius try to steer us in the right direction. Sam Snead was the sweetest swinger of a golf club of all time, but he used to get really annoyed when people complimented him on the fact. 'Do you have any idea how many hours I spend practising to make this swing look natural?' he would respond.

It's the same with Barcelona. They aren't the best team in football because of Lionel Messi and Xavi Hernandez. They're the best team when eight other outfield players are performing at the peak of their powers and doing all the dirty work to allow Messi and Xavi to do their thing.

Mourinho's talents as a manager all lie in the fact he recognises that a footballer who consistently turns in eight out of 10 performances is far better than one who gets full marks one week and half marks the next. He would never harbour an extravagance like Dimitar Berbatov.

Whatever XI Mourinho puts on the pitch, the one thing you can guarantee is they will come close to their peak performance. What they have to offer in terms of quality depends on how much money you give him to spend.

Rooney Part II New Autobiography in need of World Cup glory

A star in print: But sales of Wayne Rooney's first book flopped

Publishers Harper Collins are banking on a memorable World Cup for Wayne Rooney, having made the decision to bring out the second edition of their £5m five-book deal with the England talisman later in the year.

The first Rooney book was published in 2006 and was one of the England player autobiographies that sold very poorly in the wake of the disappointing performance in Germany. Distinguished writer Hunter Davies, who worked with Rooney on that expensive flop, was unable to coax much interesting material from the footballer.

This time Harper Collins have chosen a lowprofile ghostwriter in freelance journalist Matt Allen, who has credits from books about Jimmy Greaves and Wimbledon's Crazy Gang, as well as Sky Sports presenter Jeff Stelling's Jellyman's Throwing a Wobbly that had 10 weeks in the best-seller lists.

Chelsea and England star Ashley Cole is '100 per cent fit' to play despite mental turmoil, insists Carlo Ancelotti

Comeback: Ashley Cole could play against Stoke


Focused: Carlo Ancelotti insists Chelsea are ready to finish the job and clinch the Premier League title

Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti insists England left-back Ashley Cole is mentally prepared to return to first-team action following months of injury and personal turmoil.

The 29-year-old has recovered from the broken ankle he sustained against Everton back in February but his marriage to wife Cheryl remains in trouble following lurid headlines linking him to a string of other women.

Cole was back in the squad for the defeat at Tottenham last weekend but remained an unused substitute. There is every chance he could make a playing return against Stoke tomorrow as Chelsea prepare for another massive weekend in the title race.

'I think he passed a bad moment because the injury was very serious,' said Ancelotti. 'But he has had time to recover very well, not only physically but also with a good mentality. Now he's fit 100 per cent. I think that he is focused, 100 per cent, on playing football. Nothing else.'

Sir Alex Ferguson is too hungry to retire, insists Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger

Old adversaries: Wenger says he wasn't surprised when Sir Alex announced he has no plans to retire


Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger never felt a 'hungry' Sir Alex Ferguson was ready to retire and is relishing going head to head with his old adversary for a few years yet.

Ferguson will celebrate his 69th birthday at the end of this year and has shown no sign of being affected by the pressures of being Manchester United manager since 1986.
However, the Scot has always stated that his health is of paramount importance and stories emerged recently claiming he would leave his job at the end of next term, with former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho lined up as his successor.

Ferguson, though, today dismissed those as 'rubbish' and Wenger, who turned 60 last year and recently became the longest serving manager in Arsenal's history, believes both men have a few more years left in them.

'You see the way he behaves and manages his team that the hunger is there,' said Wenger, whose current contract runs out at the end of next season.

'As long as he will live the hunger will be there for success. That is something that does not die in you. 'When you get older you have to analyse and consider your health, where you have the physical strength to do the job.

'But to me at the moment he does not look to have any problem. It is always interesting facing him.'

Groin injury could rule Rooney out of Man Utd run-in - just returned from ankle injury and know injured groin.

Rooney had only just returned to action after an ankle injury

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney could miss the end of the season after injuring his groin in training, but should be fit for the World Cup.

England striker Rooney, who has only just come back from an ankle injury, missed Saturday's 3-1 win over Tottenham because of the problem.

Sir Alex Ferguson has no plans to retire from Manchester United

Staying power: Sir Alex Ferguson at Carrington on Friday morning

Sir Alex Ferguson has sought to quash speculation over when he will retire by warning his Barclays Premier League rivals he will be in charge at Manchester United for years to come.

Ferguson's team face rejuvenated Tottenham at Old Trafford on Saturday lunchtime knowing a win will take them back above rivals Chelsea, who face Stoke at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, and the United manager said both he and his players are ready to rise to the challenge.

Ferguson said: 'I have no intention of retiring. The only thing that determines my staying here is my health. Unfortunately for everyone, I'm in rude health. You'll be gone before I am.