The Footy Mumble: Pep's Barca dead, Newcastle sell their soul!

Newcastle sign new shirt deal

Newcastle United have announced a new shirt deal with Wonga.com, starting from the 2013-2014 season.

The deal will see Newcastle receive up to £24 million over the next 4 years, but fans are up in arms already over the deal.

Wonga is notorious for its lending practices and exorbitant interest rates and such is the reaction over the new deal that a British MP, Stella Creasy, has refused to set inside St. James’ Park as long as the partnership remains.

The club the deal will help fund the youth academy and also the community initiatives of the club, ironic somewhat, considering how infamous Wonga is for exploiting debt-ridden people in the lower classes of society.

Controversies are nothing new to Newcastle owner Mike Ashley, however, who re-branded the iconic stadium as Sports Direct Arena after taking over the club.

Busquets gets banned

Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets has been banned for the next two Champions League matches after receiving a straight red card during the match against Benfica.

He will miss both the matches against Celtics, and is unlikely to appeal the decision.

He won’t be alone in missing the matches though, with Gerard Pique, Dani Alves, Eric Abidal and Carlos Puyol all ruled out as well.

Barcelona linked with dope tainted doctor

Barcelona’s troubles don’t seem to be restricted to injuries, with a new allegation that the club had worked with Dr Luis García del Moral, who has been banned by U.S anti-doping officials for his role in systematic doping in cycling with Lance’s Armstrong’s team.

The allegations came after the doctor’s own website claimed he had acted as medical adviser to both Barcelona and Valencia.

Barcelona have since replied that the doctor was never on the club’s payrolls, with the alleged period believed to be the 2003-04 season.

However, they could not confirm if he was hired on an ad hoc basis by the club’s medical department or if individual players had been in touch with him.

Valencia is yet to respond to the allegations.

Guardiola’s Barca finished?

Guillem Balague, one of Spain’s most respected sports journalists, has claimed that Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona is no more.

This was said in one of his tweets after the El Clasico on Sunday, claiming that Barcelona used Pep’s style no more and has now varied.

“What an exciting draw!! For me, the death of Pep’s Barcelona (they will still win, but differently) and confirmation Madrid is back to best.”

Birmingham in talks for new ownership

Birmingham City might be in for a change with new ownership, with reports claiming that owner Carson Yeung is in talks with two interested parties.

The news was revealed by the club’s parent company, Birmingham Holdings, and all parties have signed confidentiality agreements.

Owner Carsen Yeung has run into trouble in his homeland of Hong Kong, after he was charged and arrested for money laundering. He is accused of laundering up to $93 million.

The company reportedly rejected a bid last month, reported to be from former QPR Gianni Paldini, of around $19 million, after it was deemed to be too low.