Football news

Blackburn Rovers captain Ryan Nelsen has been ruled out for up to a month after picking up a hamstring injury, the English Premier League club said.

The New Zealand defender limped off early in the second half of Blackburn's 2-0 UEFA Cup defeat at Larissa in Greece on Thursday.

"It is the hamstring that he had the operation on," Blackburn manager Mark Hughes said. "We think it is just a bit of scar tissue. He is going to be out for three or four weeks."

Tottenham fans spur Defoe

England striker Jermain Defoe has pledged his future to Tottenham Hotspur after scoring twice as a second-half substitute in Thursday's 6-1 UEFA Cup triumph over Famagusta of Cyprus.

Defoe, left out of the starting side in recent weeks, told BBC Radio Five that Spurs fans had given him a big lift and that he responded to their support.

"There were a lot of things said during the summer but when the fans are like that with me I don't want to go anywhere," said Defoe.

Dunne's place in defence secure

Manchester City captain Richard Dunne will return to the team's defence for today's trip to Fulham, manager Sven-Goran Eriksson said.

Eriksson said he was pleased with his defence in last weekend's 1-0 victory over Aston Villa when they kept their fourth clean sheet of the season, but that there was no question of Dunne being left out.

"Dunne is our captain and he's available again so he will play."

Usmanov to up Arsenal stake

Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov aims to increase his stake in British soccer club Arsenal to at least 25 per cent plus one share.

"I want to be in a position that will allow me a blocking stake and will then wait for it to go up in value," Interfax news agency quoted Usmanov as saying.

A metals magnate with an estimated $5.5 billion fortune, Usmanov dipped into his wallet a few times this week.

On Monday he bought the 450-piece art collection of cellist Mstislav Rostropovich who died earlier this year.

The collection was due to go on sale at Sotheby's in London with a guide price of up to £20 million.

Dunga criticises Maracana pitch

Brazil coach Dunga has criticised the state of the pitch at the Maracana stadium where his side face Ecuador in a World Cup qualifier next month.

"I understand a series of matches has contributed to this but the truth is the pitch is in bad condition, it needs to be repaired," he told reporters.

"When I was a player the Maracana always had an excellent pitch."

The playing surface was used a lot during the Panamerican Games in July. Since then it has also been used by all four local clubs in the Brazilian championship.

Ronaldinho still the best - Messi

Argentina forward Lionel Messi has defended team-mate Ronaldinho after the Brazilian was substituted for the third game in a row in Barcelona's 3-0 Champions League win over Olympique Lyon midweek amid whistles from the Barca fans.

"He is still the best player in the world," Messi said.

"I don't know why people whistle him. Ronaldinho can have off moments but he always looks to do the best for the team."

Amauri could go says Zamparini

Maurizio Zamparini, the Palermo supremo, is resigned to losing star striker Amauri. The 27-year-old enjoyed a superb start last season but a serious knee injury saw the Brazilian sidelined for the remainder of the campaign.

This term he is back and has formed a superb partnership with new signing Fabrizio Miccoli.

Zamparini said: "If he shows his potential at the top level, it will be very difficult to keep hold of Amauri for next season. I don't think that he will stay in Italy. He could easily go abroad to a club like Barcelona or an English side."

United's Ronaldo in police probe

Cristiano Ronaldo is at the centre of an official police probe after an Everton fan claimed he was stamped on during a match. Police have confirmed they are speaking to witnesses and studying CCTV to establish precisely what happened during last week's match at Goodison Park when Everton faced Manchester United.

Carl Lloyd said Ronaldo sank his studs into his right arm.

Lloyd, 34, alleged the incident happened during the Premier League clash as he leaned over the advertising hoardings to retrieve the ball when it went out of play.

Ex-England duo out of trouble

Two former England footballers will not be charged over the taking of a luxury private cab they admitted driving off in on a night out, police have said.

Rob Lee, 38, and Warren Barton, 41, were arrested in July after the Mercedes €220 saloon was taken from Hackney Road, east London.

The former Newcastle United stars admitted they drove off in the car when the owner stepped out of the vehicle. They then allegedly crashed it into a van and fled the scene.

Lee played for Newcastle for 10 years and was capped for his country 21 times. Barton played for the Magpies between 1995 and 2002, and played for England three times.