Football: Modric facing fine

Midfielder Luka Modric is facing an £80,000 fine for refusing to train, according to the Daily Telegraph. Modric is believed not to have boarded the flight with Tottenham for their pre-season tour of America, a move that has attracted criticism from Andre Villas-Boas. Spurs are scheduled to face LA Galaxy on Tuesday, with a meeting against Liverpool scheduled later. Villas-Boas faces the prospect of losing the player, most likely to Real Madrid and claims Modric’s decision to leave Spurs will backfire. “I think Modric is wrong,” said Villas-Boas. “This will go against him.” Villas-Boas, who is a big fan of Modric, had tried to sign him for Chelsea last summer. He still wants Modric to form part of his plans, and he admits Tottenham will be rocked by the Croatian’s anticipated departure.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 23^rd, 2012.