Israeli Soccer coach Avram Grant. Photo: Mark Freeman.

Israeli soccer coach Avram Grant gave a rousing address to fans of his team Portsmouth after its last home game of the season, attacking the English football authorities’ hard stance against cash-strapped club. Grant, who used to coach London giant Chelsea, took the microphone after Pompey’s 3-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers at the weekend, telling the crowd: “If anyone in the world wants a lesson about passion and commitment, then Fratton Park [the club’s stadium] is the place. They can take points from us, put an embargo on us, but they cannot destroy our spirit – never!” Portsmouth was docked nine points from its Premier League tally for becoming insolvent and has been banned from playing in pan-European competitions, despite qualifying for next season’s Europa League by reaching the English FA Cup final. Portsmouth, which plays on the south coast of England, is already relegated to the Championship with one game of the Premier League season left.