Wolverhampton Wanderers fans have been issued the second highest amount of banning orders out of any club in the Premier League.

Overall, the number of people arrested for football-related disorder fell by 10% last season, figures have shown. A total of 3,391 English and Welsh fans were arrested at international and domestic games in 2009/10, down 395 from the previous season.The figures were welcomed as Prime Minister David Cameron flies to Zurich to lobby Fifa executive committee members ahead of their all-important vote in the Swiss city. The sport’s global governing body will announce on Thursday who is to host the 2018 tournament, with England facing tough competition from Russia, as well as joint bids by Spain/Portugal and Belgium/Netherlands.The figures showed there were no arrests at 70% of games and 92% of those whose football banning orders have expired since 2000 were assessed by police as no longer posing a risk of football disorder.No English or Welsh fans were arrested for disorder at the World Cup in South Africa, compared with almost 950 who were expelled from Belgium in one night during Euro 2000.But Crime Prevention Minister James Brokenshire said nobody was complacent. “Police will continue to work with fans and use all the tools at their disposal to ensure that we continue setting a benchmark for the world,” he said.In all, 3,248 football banning orders were in place on November 19, including 105 against Newcastle United fans – 10% of all the banning orders in the Premier League and the most of any team at that level – 91 against West Ham fans and 86 against Wolves fans.In the Championship, Leeds United fans topped the list with 152 banning orders – the most of any club in England and Wales – followed by Cardiff City (125) and Millwall (100). Fans of Yeovil Town in League One and Accrington Stanley and Stevenage in League Two were the only groups with no banning orders, the figures showed.Mr Cameron’s decision to join the England bid team in Zurich has drawn comparisons with Tony Blair’s sweet-talking of International Olympic Committee members in Singapore in 2005, which was widely credited with winning the 2012 Games for London.He will be joined in Zurich by a 30-strong bid delegation including Prince William, London Mayor Boris Johnson, England manager Fabio Capello and football stars David Beckham, Sir Bobby Charlton, Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer, Andy Cole and John Barnes.

(midlothianadvertiser)

Manuel Neuer wanted by Sir Alex Ferguson his new No1 at Manchester United

By John Edwards
Last updated at 7:50 AM on 30th November 2010

Political infighting at Bayern Munich has left the way clear for Manchester United to snap up their top goalkeeping target Manuel Neuer.Schalke’s Germany No 1 seems certain to leave at the end of the season, if not sooner, after heavily criticising his side’s 5-0 defeat at Kaiserslautern and claiming they were in danger of being relegated from the Bundesliga.Bayern and United looked to be shaping up for a straight fight for the 24-year-old, but Sportsmail can reveal that a war of words behind the scenes at the Allianz Arena has left Old Trafford boss Sir Alex Ferguson in pole position.

Red devil: Manchester United are interested in Schalke’s Germany No 1 goalkeeper Manuel Neuer

While president Uli Hoeness and chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge both strongly favour a move for Neuer, manager Louis Van Gaal is standing up to them and insisting the club stick with 22-year-old prospect Thomas Kraft, who won rave reviews on his Champions’ League debut against Roma last week.As a further encouraging sign for United, locally-born Neuer, who has retained his membership of Schalke’s supporters’ club, is wary of upsetting a fan base who would prefer him to move abroad rather than to bitter rivals Bayern.

Looking ahead: Ferguson is planning for life after Van der Sar

Neuer, under contract until 2012 and valued at around £16million, refused to discuss his future after Saturday’s mauling at Kaiserslautern, but said: ‘That was a catastrophe and I have no explanation for such a disastrous performance.’I can understand why the fans were so angry because if we keep playing like that, we will be relegated.’Ferguson is keen to sign an experienced stopper to take the gloves from Dutchman Edwin van der Sar, who is approaching the end of a brilliant career, having celebrated his 40th birthday last month.The United manager is already building for the future, after paying Aalesunds £3.5m for Denmark keeper Anders Lingegaard.

(daily mail )