It's now four days since the infamous tunnel bust-up in Istanbul and even longer since news leaked out that Rio Ferdinand had missed a routine drugs test. But the newspapers continue to be transfixed.
Several publications claim that Hasan Sas was the man to blame for the half-time fracas during the Euro 2004 qualifier between England and Turkey.
The World Cup star wasn't even playing in the match but apparently spat at Ashley Cole, prompting Emile Heskey to lose his cool.
There were claims that the furore was provoked by racist jibes but that now appears not to be the case.
Despite the revelations that Sas was the blame, Aston Villa defender Alpay continues to get it in the neck.
 | BACK PAGE HEADLINES The Times: Shoulder-to-shoulder: why we backed Rio The Guardian: Sas spat at Cole, players tell FA The Daily Telegraph: Alpay looks for quick getaway The Independent: Fifa will intervene if FA deals leniently with Ferdinand The Sun: Hammer Rio...or we will The Daily Express: Spitting Mad The Daily Mail: Turkey spat at Cole to spark row The Daily Star: Spit fury sparked brawl The Daily Mirror: Ban Rio..or we will |
The Daily Telegraph reckons the centre-half has already negotiated a move back to Turkey and will join Galatasaray when the transfer window opens again in January.
It's not looking good either for Ferdinand.
Several papers claim the England and Man Utd ace is facing at least a three-month ban.
The Sun reckons football's world governing body is ready to overrule the English FA if they do not come down hard enough on the player.
Leaping to Ferdinand's defence is Gary Neville.
Writing in The Times, Neville "speaks for the first time about the decision to back a team-mate 'found guilty without trial'".
The Daily Mail devotes a chunk of its back page to the news that David Beckham has split from the SFX sports agency so he can concentrate on his football.
MMIX
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