Amidst the incredible chaos of the Etihad stadium on the final day of the season, where Manchester City somehow clinched the title with two injury time goals, QPR midfielder Joey Barton was sent off for violent conduct in an incident that may threaten his future in the game. In the 54th minute of an extraordinary game of football, with the score standing at 1-1 Barton swung his elbow into the throat of City striker Carlos Tevez off the ball. The referee took the only action possible – a straight red card for the already booked Barton. What happened next, however, was what will really count against the controversial Barton. With City and QPR players surrounding the referee, Barton angrily and with no clear provocation lashed out at City’s other Argentine star Kun Aguero at the side of the melee, then aimed a head-butt at Vincent Company before being escorted from the pitch by members of the Ranger’s coaching staff.

The FA and PFA are still debating how severe a punishment the one time England international will receive but it could well be heavy enough to keep him out until midway through next season. It is the latest in a long line of such incidents, both on and off the field, involving Joey Barton who has attracted trouble everywhere he has gone since his debut with Manchester City back in 2002.

He was at the centre of a ten man brawl during a pre-season friendly in 2004 against Doncaster Rovers when his frequent rash tackling became too much for this opponents. The following summer he was sent home from a pre-season tour for assaulting a 15 year old Everton fan who had verbally attacked him. Since then he has been arrested for assaulting a taxi driver in Liverpool, assaulting a teammate during a training ground dispute and assaulting another man on a night out, after which he admitted he had serious problems with alcohol.

The decision made by new England boss Roy Hodgson to leave Rio Ferdinand out of his squad for Euro 2012 quite probably brings the curtain down on the international career of one of the most skilful defenders the country has ever produced. It also ended the main focus of speculation as to who Hodgson would be bringing with him to the championships – former captain John Terry (who was this year embroiled in a racism row with Ferdinand’s brother Anton), Rio, both or neither. In the end he took Terry who is, by no means, guaranteed a start in Poland.

In truth both men are no longer anywhere near the peak of their powers. Terry, though still a fearsome competitor, has been embarrassed more than once this season, whereas Ferdinand, once the elegant, ball-playing defender who led Manchester United’s dominance of the Premier League between 2007 and 2009, has struggled with both form and fitness.

Yet, though it might be unlikely we will ever see Ferdinand in an England shirt again, it is not quite the time to write him completely out of the game. At 33 he still has plenty to offer at club level and a peak in form towards the end of the season proved he still has more than a shout at first team football at Old Trafford. However, with Vidic, Jones and Evans also competing for a spot in the centre of defence it is less clear than ever where Rio will fit into the mix next season. Not to mention the fact that, having suffered a rare trophyless year, Ferguson is likely to take to the transfer market in the summer months and he may well have a defender near the top of his shopping list.

Having secured their 3rd Heineken Cup title in 4 years with a 42-14 mauling of provincial rivals Ulster in Twickenham, it is not just the Rugby faithful of Dublin who are now calling Joe Schmidt’s team the best ever assembled in Europe. This victory was quite rightly heralded as something quite above and beyond the efforts of other sides who have had periods of dominance in the competition – the Leicester Tigers side who won back to back titles in 2001 and 2002, the Toulouse side who won two of the next three titles, the Munster teams victorious in 2006 and 2008. This Leinster team are playing rugby on a different level. In the sport which is most reliant on team work, where it is most imperative for every member of the squad to be on the same letter, of the same word, of the same line of the same page, Leinster are the most hypnotically effective machine in the Cup’s short history.

Sure, there are standout individuals – Rob Kearney, who now surely could argue his case as the world’s most potent Full Back, Isa Nacewa, probably the most effective utility player in the entire continent, Johnny Sexton, becoming as reliable as O’Driscoll in his prime, and, of course, O’Driscoll himself, still with the devastating eye for space which made him a living legend.

Yet this Leinster side are something more than the sum of their parts. They shift naturally through the gears like few other Northern Hemisphere sides (club or country) in history have ever done. Stonewall defence switches to rapid attack with imperceptible ease of movement, threat being extinguished then transformed into opportunity with an almost preternatural speed.

Neil Warnock was relieved of his post this month as manager of Queens Park Rangers by chairman Tony Fernandes. Typically, Warnock did not go quietly claiming malevolent forces within the club conspired to “poison” his reputation in a way that was both unfair and harmful to the team. It is the latest in a long line of disputes the 63 year old manager has found himself in over the course of a 30 year managerial career which has been nothing if not eventful.

Never one to back down from a challenge Warnock began his coaching career in 1980 after retiring from a playing career that had seen him play for eight different teams across the English league. Over the next three decades he guided 6 different clubs to promotions - Scarborough, Notts County, Huddersfield, Plymouth Argyle, Sheffield United and QPR - the last two of which were to the Premier League. It is, however, the various wars of words and off pitch disputes he has engaged in over the years for which he is most well-known.

One of the most storied of these came in the 2007 season when he accused Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate of fielding a weakened team against Manchester City, who were involved in a relegation battle with Warnock's own Sheffield Untied side. Warnock suggested Southgate's team selection was motivated by a desire to help out his ex-teammate and personal friend Stuart Pearce who was in charge of City at the time.

Warnock hasn't just kept his confrontational words to other managers and frequently it is opposition players who he has antagonized. A 2006 Championship match between Sheffield United and Derby County descended into chaos when Warnock reacted to a rash tackle from Derby player Michael Johnson by trying to get the opposition player sent off. This lead to Johnson and Warnock going nose to nose on the touchline, needing to be pulled apart by coaching staff and officials.

The draw for the last eight of Europe's premier Rugby competition has been made and there are some terrific clashes in prospect. The matches, which will take place between the 6th and 8th of April, bring together some of the most powerful forces in the sport whilst reigniting a few old rivalries. As expected the last eight is dominated by Irish and French sides with three of the quarter finalist hailing from the provinces of Ireland and two coming from the French Top 14. One English club (Saracens), one Scottish (Edinburgh) and one Welsh (Cardiff Blues) complete the draw.

What makes this year's last eight so thrilling is how difficult it is to pick a favourite. Though many pundits are picking Leinster, whose breath-taking back line play throughout the group stage had some wags talking about them as the best European team ever assembled, to retain their crown, it is no foregone conclusion and they will face stern opposition in Cardiff Blues. Blues have had a shaky season in the RaboDirect Pro 12 but they never fail to put up a fight when it matters.

The other popular pick this year is Toulouse who sit atop the Top 14 and travel to Edinburgh in the quarters. Though dominant when at peak form, Toulouse's air of invincibility in the early parts of the season did come under scrutiny following their losses to Gloucester and Harlequins in the group stages and they face an Edinburgh side who went through as winners of a very tricky pool.

The possible tie of the round sees Munster and Ulster square off at Thomand Park. In recent years these two Irish powerhouses have both found themselves in the shadows of their rivals from the big city Leinster but both will see this as the season to turn the European tide back in their favour. Munster will be favourites to go through, as the only team in the competition with a 100% win record, as they took all six matches in the Group stage.

The final tie sees English champions Saracens host Clermont at Vicarage Road. It is a difficult one to call – the French side proved their chops by coming out on top in a bruising pool which featured Leicester and Ulster, while the English side will feel they have plenty to prove having never won a European title.

The Olympic Games are on their way to London this summer and with them will come millions of visitors to the capital. Though this will make for an economic boon, a great atmosphere all across the city and a memorable month of sports it will also cause serious concern for those working and living in London as to how their own schedule may be affected. With 4 million the official rough estimation for those coming to London between 27 July and 12 August later in the year this concern is fair, particularly for those commuting to the City from areas around the East End where the main Olympic activity will be going on.

Luckily great endeavours are being made to keep things running as smoothly as possible all across London's vast and complex public transport system. The tube will be starting as usual each day at around 5.30am for most routes but will have its closing time extended by one hour to make up for the huge numbers travelling through the city, particularly on the central line. The tube will, however, be extremely busy throughout the month and changes are likely to occur on a day to day basis to make up for sudden surges in use. One potential alternative would be for Londoners to catch a bus. London public transport bodies are adding a large number of buses onto the most affected routes during the games and it may be a good way to avoid overcrowded tube carriages.

As many of the plans for public transport routes are yet to be finalised by authorities it is worth keeping up to date with all changes on the official source of transport information for the London Olympic Games which can be found at http://www.getaheadofthegames.com/. This site brings together all of the information on tube changes, extra bus routes and booking river or national rail services during the Olympics. It also keeps you up to date with all information pertaining to transport concerns in other parts of the UK like Cardiff, Manchester and Glasgow.

Manchester United has always been the all-time favourite team to win the Barclays Premier League. With their history of exceptional match performances and dazzling array of skilled players, the team have consistently proved themselves more than worthy contenders for the Premier League “crown” from year to year. Last season, their stellar path to victory seemed certain, undeniable. That was until Manchester City pummelled the previously undefeated champions, winning 6-1 on Sunday, 23 October.

The fall-out from this epic and unpredicted victory resulted in a complete re-evaluation of the team's chances of winning the coveted Premier League title. While Manchester United boasts a spectacular set of expert strikers and midfielders, who storm the pitch with unchallenged ferocity and passion at each game, Manchester City has no such illustrious line-up of big names. However, the team fully makes up for this lack in “star-player” quality with a strict focus on playing in a tight and closely co-ordinated formation, much to their credit. Their tactics have paid off well, working wonders in their match against Manchester United and considerably boosting their morale in their bid for the most notorious of football prizes.

The following is a list of the most exciting performers in the wrestling world, who know how to produce consistently exhilarating matches, brimming with intensity and jaw-dropping physicality. When these superstars are pitted against one another, you know it’s going to be one hell of a fight.

1) CM Punk The so called “Voice of the Voiceless” is never far from controversy, and you get the impression he likes it that way. The most exciting performer in the ring, his survivalist style and confrontational attitude has won the hearts and minds of WWE fans.

2) Alberto del Rio Since making his debut in 2010, the Mexican has experienced a rapid rise to prominence, marking himself out as a prime contender for the World Heavyweight Championship for the foreseeable future.

3) The Miz After his famed match with Randy Orton at the Royal Rumble, and his debut against John Cena at WrestleMania, the self-proclaimed “Awesome One” possesses unrivalled confidence, and is constantly on the title hunt.

4) Randy Orton A lone wolf and prone to truly terrifying bouts of rage. This only means one thing for his opponent, and it isn’t good. The Apex Predator possesses arguably the most deadly finishing move in wrestling, the RKO.

5) John Cena The fans’ favourite. He may have lost at the Royal Rumble, but his name will last forever in WrestleMania history - his matches against The Rock will forever be in the minds of those who saw them. He brings a high-tempo physicality to the ring, and is one of the most box-office fighters out there.

The GB women’s handball team is turning up the heat in light of the needed preparations for the London 2012 Olympics. As they are the host team, the pressure to play well, if not win, is great. The team was only established in 2007 which makes this feat even more of a challenge.

The team started with three players from Denmark and the remaining 18, needed to make up the squad of 21, were found after attracting the attention of top-level talent scouts. This remarkable team is based at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre and is coached by Jesper Holmris, who has been with them since the beginning.

In the four years the team has played together they have faced fund cuts and have had to make personal sacrifices both of which have brought them closer together.