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Leeds United are ‘expected’ to name Jesse Marsch as Marcelo Bielsa’s replacement as manager on Monday, according to a new update on the situation.

The Lowdown: Bielsa sacked as Leeds manager

On Sunday, it was confirmed that Bielsa had been sacked as Whites boss following a dreadful run of form which has them get dragged into a Premier League relegation battle.

It was a very sad day for anyone of a Leeds persuasion, with the Argentine becoming an iconic figure at Elland Road, both in terms of his footballing brilliance and his down-to-earth character.

The hunt is now on to sort his successor and it looks as though it is all but done.

[freshpress-quiz id=“383507″]

The Latest: Marsch set to be appointed by Leeds

According to BBC Radio 5 Live on Monday morning [7:40am], former RB Leipzig manager Marsch will be named as Leeds’ new manager later in the day.

The radio report stated: “Leeds are expected to appoint the American coach Jesse Marsch later.”

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The Verdict: Huge job on his hands

Assuming all goes as planned today, Marsch is an exciting appointment in many ways, with many rating him highly during his time at RB Salzburg, who he guided into the Champions League.

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His playing style is also not dissimilar to Bielsa’s, with high intensity and good football the order of the day, so the players shouldn’t find it too much of a change in philosophy.

That being said, Marsch will need to come in and hit the ground running immediately, not only in terms of Leeds’ Premier League survival hopes but also to show that he is worthy of filling the void left by such a beloved figure in Bielsa.

In other news, another figure has been mentioned as a possible Bielsa replacement. Find out who it is here.

As it happened: Afghanistan v Sri LankaTwo teams, both doing a lot of things wrong. In the end, Sri Lanka did just about enough right and got on the points table with a 34-run (DLS method) win, preventing Afghanistan from recording their first World Cup win over a full-member nation. In the process, they also ensured that Lasith Malinga finally figured in an ODI win after July 6, 2017 – he had been part of 21 losses and one no-result in between.For Afghanistan, the day started well with the right call on the coin, but Hamid Hassan missed his lines and lengths completely upfront to concede 31 runs in his first two overs. Dawlat Zadran was better only in comparison and the ground fielding even worse than what Hassan dished out. If Afghanistan were in the contest despite all that, it was only due to one man: Mohammad Nabi. Nabi’s four wickets – including three in a chaotic over – put Sri Lanka in a hole they never quite got out of but rain and a revised target later, a batting effort even poorer than the Sri Lankans’ meant Afghanistan finished second best.WATCH on Hotstar – Kusal Perera’s punchy half-century (India only)Lasith Malinga savours the winning moment•Getty Images

But, chasing 187 in 41 overs after Sri Lanka were bowled out for 201 in 32.4, Afghanistan met with their old frailties: lack of patience, an obsession with big shots, and a failure to bat in phases. Hazratullah Zazai looked good – in his smash-everything way – early on, but despite a let-off when he skied Malinga only for Kusal Mendis to drop a sitter at deep square leg, he only managed 30 off 25 before Nuwan Pradeep had his number. Though it really was Thisara Perera’s wicket, as he followed Zazai’s mistimed hook and threw in the dive to grab the dipping ball at fine leg.That made it 44 for 3 – Mohammad Shahzad and Rahmat Shah had been dismissed earlier – and 57 for 5 was only around the corner, but amid a drizzle that didn’t really go away but never really threatened to push the players off the field either, Gulbadin Naib and Najibullah Zadran scripted a remarkable recovery.The pair, up against a bowling attack with more experience and nous than them, fought hard, played their shots but without much risk, and added 64 runs for the sixth wicket. A straight drive from Naib off Malinga was especially pleasing to the eye, though when they threw their bats, they mostly went aerial.But once Thisara got a gentle cutter to nip in big time to hit Naib’s off stump, the wheels came off the chase. Najibullah tried, farming the strike in the company of the tail-enders, and kept Afghanistan in the fight. who knows what might have been had he a partner he could depend on. As it turned out, he went for a run that wasn’t and could only trot off once Dimuth Karunaratne knocked the stumps down at the non-striker’s end. That, really, was the end of it. Malinga applied the finishing touches with two yorkers that took out the stumps, but Pradeep was the star of the bowling effort, his pace and the steep bounce he generated netting him 4 for 31, his career-best figures, and the Man-of-the-Match award.In the first innings, it was all about Nabi. Four times in five balls he looked like he had a wicket. Three of those times, he actually did. Sri Lanka, who started their 22nd over on 144 for 1, were suddenly 146 for 4 at the end of it. Nabi’s ploy was to go slow, slower, and slowest, and it worked like a charm on a grippy surface.Lahiru Thirimanne was the first of those three, waiting for Nabi’s flighted delivery on off stump to arrive, then pushing at the ball and under-edging on to the stumps. Next ball, Nabi had new man Kusal Mendis edging, but just past Rahmat at slip; the very next ball, it went to hand. A ball later, this time Angelo Mathews, nicked off to Rahmat off Shahzad’s pads. Just like that, Sri Lanka’s projected score on ESPNcricinfo’s forecaster dipped from 333 to 217.Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan and Hamid Hassan celebrate a wicket•Getty Images

It had started beautifully for Sri Lanka after they were put in. In overcast conditions, Hassan conceded 15 and 16 runs in his first two overs, and Sri Lanka were on their way till Nabi and Naib got together to stem the flow of runs.By the end of the tenth over, though, Sri Lanka were cruising, the 136-run rollover against New Zealand forgotten.True, Karunaratne was crawling, after carrying his bat through the collapse the other day, but Kusal Perera, opening instead of Thirimanne, was in fine fettle, chugging along in style. They put on 92 for the first wicket – the highest partnership in the game. Afghanistan’s fielding, average at the best of times, was fraying at the edges at that stage, and it was all Sri Lanka.The tide had to turn, and it did, and it was courtesy Nabi, who struck first ball of the 14th over. Karunaratne stepped out, swung, but never got any sort of connection to a ‘slower’, going only as far as Najibullah at long leg.Then came the three-wicket burst, and the meltdown was on. Hassan, after that awful two-over spell, came back and hit a beautiful length and aimed fourth stump. Dhananjaya de Silva succumbed, hanging his bat out and bringing Shahzad into business.Udana’s straight six off Nabi was really just an aberration as the wickets continued to fall. When Kusal nicked a reverse-sweep off Rashid Khan for 78, Sri Lanka were 180 for 8.That’s when the rain came down, kept everyone out for almost three hours, and when the game restarted, lasted four more overs and, courtesy Suranga Lakmal’s biggies off Dawlat, Sri Lanka got past 200. It was enough in the end.

Duncan Fletcher on Ian Botham: ‘He thinks the players listen to him, but they do not’ © Martin Williamson

Ian Botham had an unhealthy influence on Andrew Flintoff and has long caused difficulties in the England set-up, according to England’s former coach Duncan Fletcher in the latest extract of his autobiography, Behind the Shades.”It did worry me that Botham influenced Andrew Flintoff far too much on that [2006-07] Ashes tour,” Fletcher wrote. Although the pair are good friends – Botham has long been a hero of Flintoff – Fletcher said that other members of the England side don’t hold him in the same high regard.”He thinks the players listen to him, but they do not,” Fletcher said. “Often you would go into the dressing-room and hear the players in exasperation saying things like: ‘Have you heard what Botham is saying about the wicket?’ Botham’s commentary has long caused problems.”After England’s match against Canada in the World Cup, England were invited by Rod Bransgrove – the Hampshire chairman – onto his boat for a party. “In the dressing room…Kevin Pietersen, who knows Bransgrove well from Hampshire, was asking the other players who was going on the boat,” Fletcher wrote. “At least four or five of the senior players asked: ‘Is Botham going?'”Pietersen found out Botham was indeed going and, when he relayed this in the dressing-room, a unanimous call of ‘no thanks’ rang out. None of the players went. For once they were standing up to someone in the media.”Fletcher and Botham’s relationship “deteriorated over time”, and tensions between the pair were constantly kindled by Botham’s “unbelievable” views. “Back in 2004 in Jamaica, Sky called a meeting with Michael Vaughan and me, intended to improve the relationship between the broadcasters and the team,” Fletcher wrote. “Present at a restaurant, owned by a relation of Michael Holding, were Holding himself, executive producer Barney Francis and David Lloyd.”It was interesting that Botham was not there because most of the conversation centred around him as he appeared the one obstacle to improving the relationship. Some critics said he was inconsistent in his thoughts and did not do enough investigative work before a day’s commentary.”

Stuart Clark grabbed two wickets and was disappointed not to have been used more © Getty Images

Stuart Clark was surprisingly under-used by RickyPonting after he had England limping in the firstsession with two early blows. Having taken sevenwickets in the first Test, Clark followed up withanother strong performance that began with himremoving the openers Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook.While Brett Lee struggled for penetration and GlennMcGrath battled with his left-heel injury, Clarkprovided some zip on a slow Adelaide pitch and wasrewarded during an opening spell of 2 for 15 off eightovers. Clark forced Strauss to pop to Damien Martyn,who took a sharp catch at mid-on, and then capturedCook’s edge as he tried a push to cover.Despite Clark’s early dominance, he was sent to theoutfield for much of the rest of the day as ShaneWarne was heavily relied on and Lee and McGrath werepreferred. Clark came back for a 12-ball spell tofinish the day and ended with 2 for 25 from 15.”You’re very disappointed when you’re not bowling,” hesaid. “You can’t bowl them out when you’re standing atfine leg and it does get a bit boring down there attimes. Ricky went down a different path and he had afew ideas in mind and I’m sure I’ll get anotherchance.”McGrath passed a fitness test this morning and trottedout one of his favourite lines to Clark. “He said hewas 100% and never felt better, so you can only takehis word and go for it,” he said. After watching histeam-mate return 0 for 51, Clark said McGrath’s footwas fine and his fitness was not an issue.Australia eased off after lunch as Ian Bell, KevinPietersen and Paul Collingwood added half-centuriesthat squeezed England to 3 for 266. “If they got 350we would have had a bad day,” Clark said. “We kept itnice and tight but they probably got away from us abit in the last session. If you stick two wicketsearly on that score and bowl them out for 250 or 270we’re right back in the game and almost on top.”Collingwood can expect some extra attention when heresumes on 98. Clark said the batsman would”definitely” be targeted, especially after his nearmiss at the Gabba. “Batters get tense around thatfigure,” he said. “He got a bit tense in Brisbane.Hopefully we’ll go there in the morning and keep himout there for a couple of overs and get him out.”

Paul Newman in Lahore talks to the scourge of FaisalabadShakoor Rana, the umpire involved in the infamous Test match dispute with Mike Gatting, could be umpiring an England A match on the current tour of Pakistan. The very suggestion brings both enthusiasm and excitement to his voice.”I would love to umpire an England A match,” he says. “That would prove the previous chapter is closed.” The ghost of one of English cricket`s darkest hours may be about to materialise.Shakoor is looking forward to watching England A take on a Pakistan Cricket Board XI in his native Lahore next Saturday when he will “say hello to my good friend John Emburey”. The tourists may then make a much closer acquaintance with the man who brought aTest to a standstill and began Gatting`s demise as England captain.A campaign to ensure Shakoor stands in at least one match of thefirst major English tour of Pakistan since the infamous Faisalabad affair of 1987 is gaining momentum here. “I`m talking to people about this to see what I can do,” said Omar Kureishi, vicechairman of the Pakistan World Cup committee. “Shakoor`s standing would be the perfect bridge-building exercise between thecountries. Even if the umpires for the tour have been appointedby the PCB, they can be changed.”Speaking exclusively to the Sunday Telegraph, Shakoor welcomedthe development and talked openly about his feelings towards Gatting and his contented family life in Old Anarkali, a prosperousdistrict of Lahore. Time appears to have mellowed him but thereare still flashes of the stubborness which saw unprecedentedscenes of conflict between an umpire and an England captain on acricket field.”Gatting did the wrong thing when he started abusing me and therewere a lot of words exchanged. But I would handle it differentlyif it happened again,” said Shakoor, now 58 and still working forPakistan railways in Lahore as an assistant sports officer,coaching cricket and lecturing on umpiring.”I didn`t like what happened and would be much more calm now.But I have no regrets. Everybody in Pakistan knows Shakoor Ranaand it has had no bad effect on my life.”It did not do much for his umpiring career, however. Since thefinger-pointing episode at Faisalabad, when a day`s play was lostwhile he insisted on an apology from Gatting which finally cameunder protest when the TCCB insisted the England captain did so,Shakoor has been restricted to just two Tests and Pakistanidomestic cricket.He will not stand on England`s tour if Arif Abbasi, chief executive of the PCB, has his way. “I am on record as saying that manwill never stand in another Test,” said Abbasi. “If I can helpit, that will remain the case. What he did was wrong.”Not according to Shakoor, even now. A popular theory afterFaisalabad was that the umpire was poised to apologise along withGatting in a compromise to ensure the Test continued but, withPakistan struggling to stay in the game, captain Javed Miandadtalked Shakoor out of it. Not so, he says.”I was never going to apologise,” said Shakoor. “I`d done nothingwrong. I`m still very proud of Mike Gatting`s written apology. Ikeep it under my pillow and read it from time to time.”He has twice visited England since 1987, once on holiday and oncethanks to a #7,000 cheque from a tabloid newspaper for an interview, but his efforts to talk to the Middlesex captain were rebuffed.”I went to watch him play and said `Hello Mike, how are you?` “said Shakoor. “He said: `Oh God, not you again.` He was upset butI just wanted to bury the hatchet.”I would have just told him to forget Faisalabad and let us befriends. But I would not have said sorry.”

Michael Vaughan will be wearing a red ribbon on Wednesday© Getty Images

The captains of nine Test-playing nations have released a joint statement in support of the fight against HIV/AIDS to coincide with World Aids today on December 1. No representative of West Indies could sign, following the dispute over contracts for the VB Series.”HIV and AIDS is a global issue that cannot be ignored,” reads the statement. “There are over 40 million people around the world living with HIV and AIDS. Over a third of these live in the ten countries that play Test match cricket. HIV and AIDS is everyone’s problem and it is the responsibility of us all to do something about it.”Our commitment is to address this epidemic by raising awareness and education levels in the cricket community. We urge young people to protect themselves from HIV and our leaders to pay more attention to the epidemic.When we step onto the cricket field we do so as rivals but in the battle against HIV and AIDS we are united. AIDS is a common enemy and we must fight it together.”The statement was signed by Ricky Ponting, Habibul Bashar, Michael Vaughan, Sourav Ganguly, Stephen Fleming, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Graeme Smith, Marvan Atapattu and Tatenda Taibu.Ehsan Mani, the ICC’s president, welcomed the support for HIV/AIDS: “I am delighted that the captains of all the Test playing nations have united in their support of the fight against HIV and AIDS,” he said.”The threat of HIV/AIDS is so real in many of the major cricketing nations that it is vital that these role models play a part in the global battle against this epidemic.”Dr Peter Piot, executive director of United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, also come forward to thank the cricketers for their collective stand: “Cricket players are leading the sports world in speaking out about AIDS boldly,” he said. “The pledge taken by the cricket captains has opened a new front of leadership in the global effort to stop the AIDS epidemic.”The player and officials participating in international matches on Wednesday will wear red ribbons, which is a sign of solidarity with all those around the world having to cope with AIDS. The games taking place will be the fourth day of the second Test between Indian and South Africa at Kolkata and the second one-day international between Zimbabwe and England at Harare.Smith and Vaughan both spoke out to offer their support. “This is a very important initiative which will help highlight the plight of those who suffer from HIV and AIDS” Vaughan said. Smith explained, “HIV and AIDS is a massive problem throughout the world, and in Africa it has reached alarming proportions. Be aware of HIV/AIDS, it is for real.”

The Indian fans who took umbrage at India’s drop to eighth place in theICC’s latest ODI rankings can take heart from the Test ratings. India havemoved up one spot to fifth place in the ICC Test table. In the latest updateto the table, India have gained three points for a tally of 94, primarilybecause results from the period August 1999 to July 2000 were dropped off.India lost five out of eight Tests during that year – a 0-3 drubbing inAustralia was followed by a 0-2 whitewash at home against South Africa.

Meanwhile, England, who lock horns with South Africa in a five-Test, have achance to make some big moves in the rankings. Even if they win the series1-0, they will supplant New Zealand in third place on the table. This comesabout because results from three years ago drop off the official table, andthat includes the 2-1 series victory New Zealand achieved over England in1999.

To move to second, England needs to achieve at least a 4-0 series win. Thisis despite the fact that in the re-shaping of the championship South Africaare the team to have benefitted most. South Africa could consolidate itsplace on the table by winning the series. But even if it were to achieve animprobable whitewash of England it would not be sufficient to overhaul therampant Australians in top position.

When the update occurs on August 1, the positions will be: (with ratingchange in brackets)
1 Australia 129 points (presuming it beats Bangladesh in second Teststarting Friday in Cairns) (0), 2 South Africa 119 (+ 4), 3 New Zealand 107(+ 3), 4 England 101 (+ 3), 5 India 94 (+ 3), 6 Sri Lanka 91 (- 6), 7Pakistan 90 (- 1), 8 West Indies 83 (+ 1), 9 Zimbabwe 58 (0), 10 Bangladesh(-2).

An easterly wind blew into Port Elizabeth on Wednesday, shrouding St George’s Park in drizzle and driving South Africa into the indoor nets two days ahead of the second Castle Lager/MTN Test match. At the same time, though, the direction of the wind would have set India thinking about the composition of their side for what could prove the deciding match of their South African tour.Local wisdom has it that the ball swings at St George’s Park when the wind comes in from the east. When the westerly or prevailing wind blows, however, the pitch dries out and, if it blows for long enough, spinners can come into their own on the fourth and fifth days of a Test.So should India, who seem bound to play only four bowlers once again, go in with two and two, or should they field three seamers and leave out a spinner? If the latter is the case, the word is that Anil Kumble will go, leaving Harbhajan Singh to wheel away on his own.Two days ahead of a Test match that India cannot afford to lose if they are to stay in the series, the St George’s Park pitch looked hard beneath a generous covering of grass. It will be shaved on Thursday, but the South African coach Graham Ford seemed to be happy with it.”It looks as if it will have some pace and carry,” he said. “That’s really all we ask for. We’ve never asked for greentops and the ball to go sideways, but if there’s pace there our guys enjoy bowling and batting on it, and I think it makes for entertaining cricket.”None of which is really any help to Sourav Ganguly, Indian coach John Wright (whose contract, curiously, now comes up for renewal in mid-tour) and the touring team, who have to find away to turn around a nine-wicket defeat in Bloemfontein’s first Test.If it is any comfort to the Indians, Ford is wary of describing the margin of victory as an accurate reflection of the difference between the two teams. “For three days it was anyone’s game before they had their collapse,” he said. “What pleased me was the way we came back after they’d had much the better of the first day. They’re a good team, make no mistake.”Are they good enough, though, to beat South Africa on South African soil, something no Indian team has succeeded in during two previous tours? And to make the task just a little more difficult, it now seems to have emerged that no one wants to open the batting with Shiv Das.Rahul Dravid filled in at the top in the first Test, but if the whispers from the Indian camp are to be believed, he has said no thank you to a repeat performance. And neither, apparently, does VVS Laxman want to go in at the top of the order. It may come down, then, to Ganguly taking on the role, a prospect which will not displease the South Africans who will have noted his discomfort against the short, lifting ball in Bloemfontein.Not that Ford is about to make too much of this. “That’s their problem, but you’ve still got to get them out wherever they come in,” he said.South Africa, meanwhile, are likely to go into the match with the team that won in Bloemfontein. This would mean there will be no place at this stage for Jacques Rudolph, although his presence in the squad inevitably puts pressure on Boeta Dippenaar, who was the only South African in the top six to fail in the first Test.”Boeta’s very level-headed,” said Ford. “He deals with the ups and downs of cricket very well. I’m not worried about him.”So India, really, are the team that has to make the tough choices. Three seamers or two? And if there are only two, will Ashish Nehra partner Javagal Srinath or will it be Ajit Agarkar who, Wright conceded at the end of the first Test, should have played in Bloemfontein?Agarkar is held in some esteem by the South Africans who respect his willingness to run in. At the same time, it is true that the home side probably haven’t seen the best of Nehra, although the washout of the East London match last weekend prevented the left-armer getting more overs under his belt.It’s a hard call for the tourists, whichever way they choose to play it. And the answer, as Bob Dylan noted nearly four decades ago, might well be blowing in the wind.

Match facts

Thursday, October 8, 2015
Start time 1900 local (1330GMT)

Big picture

A show whose credits have already rolled has come to the biggest theatre in town and Eden Gardens could be forgiven for thinking it has received a raw deal. This is the only match the venue will host on South Africa’s marathon tour, and its result will have no impact on the series.The trophy is already in the visitors’ hands and the sting was taken out of the contest when crowd trouble in the form of a bottle-throwing incident interrupted the second match in Cuttack. By then, however, South Africa’s superiority was confirmed. They had skittled India out for their lowest T20 total at home and their second-lowest overall, and were well on their way to chasing down the target. At least, Kolkata can hope for a better performance from the home side.India have a lot of work to do before the World T20 but MS Dhoni does not seem to be panicking. He understands his batsmen need to take more responsibility and his bowlers need to show more initiative. They should need no more motivation than salvaging pride, especially as South Africa will be eyeing a clean sweep. Although it would be easy for South Africa to switch off, in search of a few days break ahead of the ODIs, the appeal of a whitewash against India in India does not only speak to a rise up the rankings but is also the perfect preparation ahead of the World T20. Expect them to come out fighting.

Form guide

(last five completed games, most recent first)
India LLLWL
South Africa WWLWW

In the spotlight

India’s middle-order has marshmallowed in both matches, first squandering a strong start in Dharamsala and then completely collapsing in Cuttack. In terms of reputation, they have names to produce better numbers and MS Dhoni and Ambati Rayudu are due a few more runs. The captain has looked uninspired so far and, given the impact he can have on his charges, if he ups his game, the rest may follow.They were supposed to be flummoxed by conditions but South Africa’s seamers have adapted well so far and will want to continue proving coach Russell Domingo – who said they would be the difference for the side – correct. Kagiso Rabada has managed to mix aggression with change of pace, Kyle Abbott has been accurate at the death and Albie Morkel’s return to the highest level after 18 months in Cuttack was promising. Can they produce an encore in Kolkata?

Team news

India have reasons to make changes and the most anticipated one could be Amit Mishra’s recall in place of either Axar Patel or Harbhajan Singh. Shikhar Dhawan’s dual failure at the top could result in a shuffling of the batting line-up or the inclusion of Ajinkya Rahane.India: (probable) 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 Shikhar Dhawan 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Suresh Raina, 5 MS Dhoni (capt, wk), 6 Ambati Rayudu, 7 R Ashwin, 8 & 9 Axar Patel/Amit Mishra/Harbhajan Singh, 10 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10 Mohit Sharma/S AravindWith the series already won, South Africa could consider giving an opportunity to legspinner Eddie Leie and perhaps uncapped batsman Khaya Zondo. They will also ponder reintroducing Quinton de Kock into international cricket perhaps to give Hashim Amla some time off on a long tour and think of bringing back Marchant de Lange to bowl at a venue he knows well.South Africa: (probable) 1 AB de Villiers (wk), 2 Hashim Amla, 3 Faf du Plessis (capt), 4 JP Duminy, 5 Khaya Zondo, 6 Farhaan Behardien, 7 Chris Morris, 8 Albie Morkel, 8 Marchant de Lange/Kagiso Rabada, 9 Kyle Abbott, 10, 11 Imran Tahir/Eddie Leie

Pitch and conditions

Both Sourav Ganguly, who is now joint secretary of the Cricket Association of Bengal, and Eden Gardens’ groundsman Prabir Mukherjee have promised a batsman-friendly pitch, but, with India having conceded the series, a full house may not be on the cards. Still, at least 40,000 people could pile in to the iconic venue. Another hot, humid day is forecast with temperatures at 31 degrees, humidity over 80% and the possibility of some showers.

Stats and trivia

• South Africa have won two of their last three T20 series, both in the subcontinent. They drew the other won against New Zealand at home and have not lost a T20 series since defeat to Australia last November.
• India’s total of 92 in their previous game is the lowest T20 total by a Test-playing nation this year. They have not won a bilateral T20 ‘series’ since their one-off victory over Australia in October 2013.
• R Ashwin has dismissed AB de Villiers five times in T20s, the most by any bowler. Two of those dismissals have come in this series.

Quotes

That’s what has been the quality of this team. They have stuck to the players they believe can win the game and that’s what we need to do as a team – reunite ourselves and give our best performance.

Gareth Bale returned to feature for Tottenham in a 1-1 draw against LA Galaxy on Wednesday night, causing a controversy.

The Wales international was initially selected for Stuart Pearce’s Team GB squad, but pulled out due to a back injury.

However, with the winger featuring for Spurs before the Olympics has even started, Sky Sports state that Pearce may well make a complaint to Fifa over the White Hart Lane man’s conduct.

Sepp Blatter has also confirmed that Bale could well be in line for a disciplinary charge should the Team GB coach lodge a complaint.

“The principle is that if a club does not release a player then this association can come to FIFA and we will then ban this player during the duration of the Olympics,” said Blatter.

“So far nobody came to FIFA to say we should, but it is a possibility we could ban these players if they are not at the disposal of the national team.

“They complain and then we say let this player go or he cannot play for the club. FIFA’s position has never been so clear than it is now for the Olympics 2012 and 2016.”

Meanwhile Bale has confirmed that his return was earlier than expected.

“After about 65 minutes my calf started to cramp up a bit but it was a good workout. It was one that I needed and it was good to get a goal as well,” he told the side’s official website.

“My rehab’s gone very well at the club – we are well ahead of schedule.

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“I am glad to be back. It’s important to get a pre-season under my belt for the season forthcoming so I am just delighted to be back now without any problems,” he concluded.

By Gareth McKnight

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