Sport

Wenger: Giroud deserved red

Arsene Wenger admits Olivier Giroud deserved his red card for headbutting Nedum Onuoha in Arsenal's 2-1 win over QPR.

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Friday 26th December 2014

The Frenchman was dismissed early in the first half for headbutting Nedum Onuoha after claiming he was pushed by the defender when going in to block QPR goalkeeper Rob Greens clearance.

Arsenal held on with the 10 men despite a nervy finish, and Wenger cannot complain about Girouds subsequent three-match ban for the incident.

Wenger said: It was a deserved red card. Madness is a strong word, he did not kill him you know, he touched him and should not have done it.

He should be in control, he knows he made a mistake but I know him well enough to know he wont do it again.

Wenger stood up for his striker despite the fact he will miss the important clashes over the new year period at West Ham and Southampton, as well as the FA Cup visit of Hull.

Girouds compatriot suggested the reaction may have been triggered by a concern about picking up another injury having only recently returned from a lengthy absence for a broken tibia.

He told me he was pushed in the back and projected against the keeper, Wenger said. "Maybe because the injury he had it plays a part in his mind and he doesnt want to be injured again.

Usually he is in control of his response.

Despite scoring and assisting a goal and picking up the man of the match award, Alexis Sanchezs earlier missed a penalty for the Gunners at the Emirates Stadium.

With this, Wenger made it clear that Spanish midfielder Santi Cazorla is the designated penalty taker for Arsenal.

He said: Cazorla is number one taker at the moment.

Colin Kaepernick investigated in possible sex assault

FILE 2013: San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick is being investigated after a possible sexual assault in Miami. (Reuters)

Colin Kaepernick, the quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, is being investigated by Miami police after allegations of a possible sexual assault earlier this month. 

Miami police said Thursday that they are looking into claims that an assault involving Kaepernick occurred at the city's Viceroy Hotel. The alleged incident occurred on April 1 and was first reported to police two days later. 

San Francisco General Manager Trent Baalke issued a statement saying the team  is "aware of the recent media report regarding Colin Kaepernick and is in the process of gathering the pertinent facts." 

TMZ, which first reported on the investigation, said that the alleged incident occurred in Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Ricardo Lockette's apartment.

A police spokesman told USA Today that there are no charges.

"There is an investigation regarding an allegation," the spokeswoman said.

Kaepernick played for Nevada before making his NFL debut. He led the 49ers into the playoffs two years in a row. 

FoxSports.com obtained a copy of the incident report and it said a woman said she woke up inside a hospital and could not remember how she ended up there. She claims that she joined Kaepernick at Lockette's apartment. She claims that the two were joined by another player, Quinton Patton, and she mixed drinks for the three. 

She claims Kaepernick undressed her after she went into the bedroom and he apparently left, but she said the two did not have sex, the report said. She recalled the two other players looking into the bedroom, but could not remember anything else from the alleged incident, the report said.

Man arrested in shooting death of Auburn freshman football player Jakell Mitchell

Dec. 14, 2014: Auburn Police investigate a shooting at the Tiger Lodge apartments in Auburn, Ala. (AP/Montgomery Advertiser/Albert Cesare)

AUBURN, Ala. –  The girlfriend of a slain Auburn football player said he was arguing with a man at a party when a third man pulled a handgun and opened fire.

Redshirted freshman football player Jakell Lenard Mitchell, 18, died after being shot in the chest early Sunday morning at an off-campus apartment complex. It was the same apartment complex where two former football players and a third man were shot to death outside a 2012 pool party.

Auburn police arrested 22-year-old Markale Deandra Hart of Camp Hill, Alabama, on murder charges on Sunday afternoon. Hart was being held at the Lee County Jail on $150,000 bond. Police have not released a motive for the crime, but said they don't expect additional arrests.

Mitchell's girlfriend, Ayanna Hughuley, 17, said Mitchell was arguing with a man in the parking lot, when a third man pulled a handgun.

"He had his gun like this and was looking at Jakell," Ayanna Hughuley, 17, said of the suspect while holding her hand down at her waistband.

"He just started shooting. Jakell fell on the ground and he tried to get back up and run, and then he fell again. He started shooting at Jakell again while Jakell was on the ground," Hughuley said.

She said she didn't know what started the disagreement and doesn't think that Mitchell knew Hart.

Auburn Police Capt. Will Mathews said police answered a call about 12:25 a.m. Sunday of shots fired at the Tiger Lodge apartment complex, a few miles from the Auburn campus. He said Mitchell was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Mitchell lived in an on-campus dormitory, but had gone to a party at the apartment complex, said his father, Mario Mitchell. Students had just finished final exams for the semester.

Mitchell redshirted this season for the Auburn Tigers out of nearby Opelika High School. Able to play both back and tight end, he was expected to contend for a starting spot next season. Mitchell missed his senior season at Opelika as he recovered from an ACL injury. He had rushed for 392 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2013 as a high school junior.

Mario Mitchell, who played football for Troy University, said his son had initially planned to go to school out of Alabama.

"It was, 'Dad, I've got to get out of here. I've got to get out of this city,'" Mario Mitchell said. "Then he met Coach (Gus) Malzahn. It was like love at first sight for them two."

He said his son also dreamed of being an FBI agent when he finished school.

Malzahn said he was "devastated and saddened" by the death of the player, a halfback described by the team website as versatile on offense with blocking, catching and running skills.

"My thoughts and prayers are with Jakell's family and friends, who are suffering through this senseless tragedy," he said in a statement. "I know the Auburn Family is hurting, especially our players and coaches. ... We have lost a member of our family too young, too soon."

Blue spray paint dotted the Tiger Lodge parking lot where police marked possible evidence. Mitchell's car, tagged with a license plate "Jakell," was towed from the parking lot late Sunday morning.

Jeremy Johnson, Auburn's backup quarterback, was one of those who drove up before midday Sunday to remember Mitchell. Johnson wasn't present at the time of the shooting, but wanted to come by after learning of his teammate's death.

"I couldn't believe it," Johnson said, growing emotional. "Jakell was a real good kid."

Drake Ledet, an Auburn sophomore living in an apartment near the shooting scene, said he heard several gunshots after midnight.

"I'd say it was at least eight (shots)," Ledet said, adding he looked outside to see what was happening. "People were screaming."

The apartment complex is the same where authorities say Desmonte Leonard killed three men at a party in the summer of 2012. The complex, a few miles from campus, is popular with students. Its name was changed following the 2012 shooting.

Jurors convicted Leonard of capital murder in the shooting deaths of former Auburn football players Ed Christian and Ladarious Phillips along with DeMario Pitts. Three other people were wounded.

At least one Tiger Lodge resident said Sunday he wanted out of his lease.

"There have been four people killed here. Once again this place is on the national news," said Auburn junior Barrett Kearens.