Changing Room Chat: Punters piqued by team orders

FELIPE Massa was not the only one to feel the sharp end of Ferrari's team orders in Sunday's German Grand Prix - the betting public around the world were also let down.

Talking on the eve of the SOCCEREX forum for the business of the sport, SBOBET executive director Bill Mummery said the failure of Formula 1 to apply their own rules and allow Fernando Alonso's victory to stand was unfair on punters.

"There were clearly manoeuvres that amounted to team instructions and equally clearly are not allowed in the Formula 1 rules," Mummery said. "It is not only unfair to the sport, but it is unfair to the spectators who pay a very high price for their tickets, but it is also unfair to people who have made a wager on those outcomes."

Ferrari were fined $100,000 for the use of banned team orders after race engineer Rob Smedley told Massa that team-mate Alonso was faster than him, which led to the Brazilian allowing Alonso past.

Irish bookmaker Paddy Power said they have refunded more than 15,000 in bets on Massa before and during Sunday's race.

Minis ready to return to rallying

MINIS will return to the World Rally Championship starting next year, German automaker BMW announced yesterday.

BMW, which pulled out of Formula 1 last year due to the global economic crisis, plans for Minis to compete in "selected rounds" of the 2011 championship before contesting the entire 2012 season. BMW said it plans to be involved in the sport for "several years."

British company Prodrive has been developing the Mini Countryman WRC since 2009, having overseen Subaru's WRC program from 1989 to 2008.

Away delay a blue do for Annan

PARTICK Thistle have never shied away from garishness when it comes to away kits and this season's African-inspired pink number is no different.

However, it appears to be making its way over from Africa on the slow boat as the kit won't be ready for the Jags' League Cup first-round trip to face Annan Athletic on Saturday.

As a result, the Galabank side, who play in Gold and Black stripes, will have to wear their all-blue away strip for what the Dumfriesshire side are billing as the biggest match in their history.

Mouthing Off

AN unseemly spat is developing between the Daily Record and the Sun – mostly over who can come up with the best headline on controversial French player Peter Luccin, once banned for spitting at Celtic star John Hartson

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"Gies a gob Bhoys", suggests the Daily Record explaining that Luccin is on a two-week trial at Parkhead. Neil Lennon it seems is more interested in the man's spirit than his spit. Not to be outdone, the Sun weighs in with "Spat's my Bhoy", revealing that the Frenchman, who picked up a four-game ban from Uefa for his antics in European tie in December 2002, is a free agent and could have a chance of playing in Celtic's Emirates Cup games with Lyon and Arsenal this weekend.

The Daily Express tries to make its readership salivate with an altogether more seemly story. Rangers have made a bid for Rapid Vienna's Croatian striker Nikica Jelavic. "Gers bid to Nik striker", it proclaims, and reveals that an initial bid from the Ibrox club was turned down.

The Daily Mail concentrates on the arrival of "Hooperman", or former Scunthorpe United striker Gary Hooper, who has checked in at Parkhead with a pledge to fire the goals which will deliver success for Lennon's side.