Football news

Kaka and Alexandre Pato are out of Brazil's friendly against Ireland in Dublin tomorrow, the Brazilian football federation said.

World Player of the Year Kaka suffered a knock on the left knee and forward Pato, who had been hoping to make his Brazil debut, twisted his right ankle during weekend action with Milan in Serie A.

No immediate decision was taken over whether extra players will be called up in their places, the federation said.

Defoe replaces Agbonlahor

Portsmouth's new signing Jermain Defoe has been called up into the England squad for tomorrow's friendly against Switzerland after Aston Villa's Gabriel Agbonlahor withdrew injured.

Striker Defoe, who joined Portsmouth from Tottenham Hotspur on the last day of the January transfer window, was left out of Fabio Capello's initial 30-man squad which was trimmed down to 23 on Saturday.

Agbonlahor was in line to win his first cap at Wembley tomorrow but limped out of Aston Villa's 2-1 defeat at Fulham on Sunday.

Aguero sidelined for 10 days

Atletico Madrid striker Sergio Aguero will be out of action for around 10 days after twisting a ligament in his right ankle during the 1-1 draw at home to Real Murcia, the Primera Liga club said.

He will miss Argentina's friendly against Guatemala in Los Angeles tomorrow.

'Offensive' footballs banned

Bangladesh has banned the sale of footballs inscribed with a Koranic verse to avoid offending the faithful in the predominantly Muslim country, a government spokesman said.

In a statement the youth and sports ministry sought cooperation from the home affairs ministry to enforce the ban in the South Asian nation of more than 140 million people.

"Marketing footballs inscribed with Kalima (a verse declaring the oneness of Allah and Prophet Mohammad as his Messenger) is an outrageous and contemptuous act, which has hurt the sentiments of devout Muslims," the statement said.

Mascherano to stay at Liverpool

Javier Mascherano expects his permanent transfer to Liverpool to be completed this week.

The Argentina midfielder is registered as a Reds player on a long-term loan from owners MSI, so there was no need for the deal to be finalised before the transfer deadline last week.

However, the 23-year-old hopes the £18.6 million transfer will go through shortly. "It's not finished yet but I am hoping to stay here," he told Liverpool's website.

"I have a lot of confidence that after this week I will be able to say 'everything is right and I am staying here in Liverpool'."

Vieira apologises for red card

Patrick Vieira has apologised for his dismissal during Sunday's 1-0 win over Empoli at the San Siro stadium.

Vieira made his long-awaited Serie A return from injury at San Siro, but his comeback lasted just 39 minutes as he was sent off for dissent.

"I made a mistake," he told the Inter Channel. "I told the referee to go to hell and I shouldn't have done that. I regret leaving my side a man down.

"Luckily we won anyway and I'm happy about that. But at this time of great pressure on the officials, I don't want to say that the referee was wrong to send me off because it was my fault."

Hleb on Barca's wanted list

Barcelona have reportedly made Alex Hleb their top target.

The Belarus international has been in fantastic form for the Gunners this season after a difficult start to his Arsenal career.

Hleb can play on either wing or through the middle as a support striker and is valued at around £12 million by Arsenal.

A Barcelona source said in the Daily Mirror: "Hleb is an interesting player who we have watched many times. But any new signings will be for the end of the season."

Manchester United fined by FA

Manchester United have incurred an automatic £25,000 fine from the Football Association after seven of their players were booked during the 1-1 draw at Tottenham.

The fine is imposed any time a team picks up six or more yellow cards in a match, but United will not face any disciplinary action after a number of players remonstrated with the assistant referee after Tottenham's goal.

Should six or more of their players be booked again in a single match this season then United would face a £50,000 fine.

Ramos patient on King recovery

Tottenham manager Juande Ramos has insisted he has no choice but to nurse Ledley King back to fitness slowly.

The Tottenham defender underwent knee surgery last summer and was unable to make his first appearance of the season until Boxing Day.

He has impressed Ramos since returning to action but has not been risked in every game. "I really want him to play every week," the Spurs boss said.

"But this is something we can't control and we have to wait and see how his injury is. Right now he can't play any more than he does."