The English Football Association unveiled a new disciplinary code this week designed to punish players quicker and allow faster appeals procedures to ensure greater transparency in the way footballers are punished. The idea was initiated by the FA’s chief executive, Mark Palios.

In the end it was the nimble, canine legs of Simply Fabulous outpacing the sturdy, equine legs of Tiny Tim that helped settle one of the most heated debates within the racing fraternity. Racehorse or greyhound, which is the fastest? For anyone looking for a sporting upset then Kempton Park racetrack was the place to be on Wednesday.

They are a club that have built their success on a twin policy of winning on the field while conquering the corporate world. But this week Manchester United, the world’s most financially successful club, could be plunged into one of the biggest crises in their history.

Manchester United’s chief executive David Gill and finance director Nick Humby held a crisis meeting in London this week to draw up responses to the 63 questions submitted by John Magnier and JP McManus, the club’s largest shareholders — United’s latest attempt to end the feud between the Irish pair and Sir Alex Ferguson.

Mark Stein, the South African-born former Chelsea striker who has demanded a transfer from Dagenham & Redbridge because of the manager’s alleged racism, claims that other black players may follow his example. ”Black players have more confidence in their ability and they will not tolerate racism,” he says.