Weekly News Round Up: Steven Gerrard Gets Out, Adebayor Joins Man City, Eriksson Returns To England And More

7. The Portsmouth Takeover

Dubai-based businessman Sulaiman Al Fahim finally tookover the Premier League club Portsmouth. He had struck a deal with Alexandre Gaydamak in late May to buy the English club and on Tuesday completed the takeover. Al Fahim was initially part of the Abu Dhabi United Group when they gained control of another Premier League club Manchester City last summer but is no longer part of that group.

An official statement from the Premier League confirmed Al Fahim's status at Portsmouth from now on: ''The Premier League can confirm that Mr Al Fahim has submitted all the documentation required to satisfy our fit and proper persons test. Based on the information provided the League has found no reason why Mr Al Fahim would be liable to be disqualified as a Director of a Premier League club. Accordingly we have advised Portsmouth FC that his appointment may proceed. As with all changes in club ownership the Premier League will continue to monitor any material changes in circumstance.''

6. Nelson Mandela Calls Robinho A Baby

Manchester City are currently in South Africa for the Vodacom challenge and the players happened to meet the great Nelson Mandela on the occasion of his 91st birthday. The great South African freedom fighter appeared to be taken aback by City and Brazilian international star Robinho's youthful appearance and exclaimed, "You are a baby! What are you doing here?" Robinho might be a 25-year-old but indeed he still has the appearance and perhaps the mentality of a teenager, although on this occasion Mr. Mandela was putting his looks into perspective.

5. Emmanuel Adebayor Joins Manchester City

Emmanuel Adebayor has been signed by Manchester City from Arsenal for around £25 million and is yet another striker to be part of the revolution at the Eastlands. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has shown no regret in letting the Togolese international leave the Emirates and the player himself claims to be happy with the move. The 25-year-old also claims that he accepted to move to Man City because he wanted to help Arsenal with the cash and because he realized that the fans were no longer happy with him.

4. Sven-Goran Eriksson Returns To England

Former England national team coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has returned to England but not to the Premier League. The Swede has been appointed the Director of Football of League Two club Notts County, who have recently been taken over by a Middle Eastern group. Eriksson's task is to take Notts County back to the Championship inside the next five years and this, as the Swede himself acknowledges, is "the biggest football challenge of my life".

3. Samuel Eto'o-Zlatan Ibrahimovic Swap Nears Completion

The much publicized Samuel Eto'o-Zlatan Ibrahimovic transfer saga is coming to an end. It has been confirmed that by Monday or Tuesday Eto'o will become an Inter Milan player and Ibracadabra will become a Barcelona player. The Swedish international striker will undergo a medical at Barcelona on Sunday. Eto'o has also been given the green light to move in the opposite direction.

2. Steven Gerrard Found Not Guilty Of Affray

Steven Gerrard was found not guilty of affray during a pub brawl at the Lounge Inn at Southport, Merseyside in late December. The Liverpool captain was involved in an ugly fight and clashed with the DJ McGee over which music to play. However, at the Liverpool Crown Court hearing on Friday, the 29-year-old was not found guilty of affray.

1. Manchester United Media Director Wants Top Job In Indian Football

Manchester United media director Sameer Pabari is one of the five shortlisted names for the post of I-League's CEO. Formerly with the management consulting firm, OC & C Strategy Consultancy, Pabari has been with the Premier League champions for a number of years now and is one of the two foreigners to be shortlisted for the job of I-League's CEO.

Subhankar Mondal