Football news

Javier Zanetti hit out at Pavel Nedved and the way his team were treated in Turin last Sunday. The Inter captain joined the voices condemning Nedved for the challenge that broke Luis Figo's fibula during the Derby d'Italia.

"How do I judge Nedved's foul? He went in too hard and caused a serious injury to a team-mate," Zanetti said. "We need to stop these tackles from behind."

Inter's reception in Turin was far from ideal, Zanetti added.

"Because we were late there was practically no security so anything could've happened," he said. "These are things that shouldn't happen in a league as big as the Serie A."

Africa Cup stadium ready

The first of the four stadiums for January's African Nations Cup finals has been completed and handed over to football officials, Ghana's Local Organising Committee said.

The Essipong Stadium in Sekondi, which will host Benin, the Ivory Coast, Mali and Nigeria in Group B, was built at a cost of $38.5 million.

Chinese contractors took 20 months to complete the project. It has an all-seater capacity of 20,000. Renovations to stadiums in Accra and Kumasi plus the construction of a new venue in Tamale have yet to be completed.

Jewell considers Wigan return

Former Wigan Athletic manager Paul Jewell says he would consider a return to the Premier League club but has yet to be approached since they sacked Chris Hutchings on Monday.

"I've had no contact with Wigan," he told Metro newspaper. "But after six months away I am ready and willing to return to work. I will consider any offers that come my way."

Jewell was in charge of Wigan for six years, overseeing their climb from the second division to the top flight for the first time. Hutchings's assistant Frank Barlow has taken over on a caretaker basis.

Gers fans in Barcelona rampage

Some 700 Rangers fans were involved in incidents in Barcelona on Tuesday night during which bars and kiosks were forced to close after bottles were thrown on to streets in the centre of the city.

Police said three fans were taken to hospital suffering from bruises and cuts caused by broken glass. There were no arrests.

Between 15,000 and 20,000 fans were in the Spanish city for last night's Champions League match between Rangers and Barcelona although only around 6,000 had tickets.

Inzaghi matches Muller's record

Filippo Inzaghi matched Gerd Muller's record of 62 European goals after his brace in a 3-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday.

"As far as I am concerned, the records that really matter are the two Champions League trophies I won with Milan. Aside from that, the records are fun to throw at people who say our strikers are too old," Inzaghi said.

Inzaghi has netted 62 goals in UEFA competitions in 97 games and is also just one shy of Andriy Shevchenko's total of 34 continental goals for Milan.

"It would be nice to beat Sheva's tally, as he was a great team-mate of mine and friend, so I would be pleased to do that."

Reid back in Ireland squad

Ireland caretaker manager Don Givens has recalled midfielder Steven Reid to the squad for their final Euro 2008 qualifier away to Wales.

"I am delighted that Steven Reid is back to full fitness after his injury problems and it will be a big boost for us to have him in the squad," Givens said.

The Blackburn player returns after more than a year away from the international scene while Bolton defender Andy O'Brien is also back after injury though too late to help Ireland clinch a place in the finals.

Solution to Irish football row

FIFA has sent a letter to the football associations of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland suggesting that players from either side of the border should have free choice about who they play for.

The proposal was formulated by FIFA's legal committee in response to a long-running argument between the two bodies.

Currently, players born in Northern Ireland are eligible to turn out for the Republic of Ireland but the same does not apply in reverse.

Under the new suggestion, players born in the Republic of Ireland and holding Irish nationality could choose to play for Northern Ireland.

Napoli fans banned from Palermo

Napoli fans have been banned from Saturday's Serie A game at Palermo because of concerns over the recent behaviour of their fans.

The body which monitors Italian soccer hooliganism said in a statement that events at games with Juventus, Reggina and Fiorentina had prompted the decision, which took into account Napoli fans' "propensity for illegal acts".

The Naples club have an avid fanbase but the supporters' joy at doing well in their first season back in the top flight since 2001 has become overzealous.

Cech has torn muscle

Petr Cech will miss Chelsea's home match on Saturday against Everton after tearing his right calf muscle.

The Czech goalkeeper is almost certain to be sidelined for his country's forthcoming Euro 2008 qualifiers against Slovakia and Cyprus later on this month.

The 25-year-old underwent a scan at Chelsea's Cobham training ground yesterday and a small tear was revealed.

Cech suffered the injury in Tuesday's Champions League draw with Schalke 04 and was replaced by Carlo Cudicini.