Sporting briefs

Moratti: Inter owner Massimo Moratti has laughed off speculation he is lining up a replacement for Roberto Mancini after the coach announced his resignation and then changed his mind earlier this month. "There is all this stuff to deny but I no longer have the patience to do it," he told reporters.

Pires: French midfielder Robert Pires has extended his contract with Villarreal until June 2009. The 34-year-old, whose previous deal was due to expire in June, joined Villarreal from Arsenal in 2006 but missed most of his first season with a serious knee injury.

Metz docked a point: Ligue 1 bottom club Metz will be docked a point and must play a home match behind closed doors after a racist incident there last month, the French Professional Football League said yesterday. Morocco defender Abdeslam Ouaddou, the Valenciennes captain, was racially abused by a Metz fan during the Ligue 1 match at Metz on February 16.

Dragutinovic: Sevilla's Serbia defender Ivica Dragutinovic has had the first part of two-stage surgery in Germany for a persistent groin pain. He will be out for up to three weeks, the Primera Liga club said.

Schuster: Bernd Schuster has been assured by club president Ramon Calderon that he will remain Real Madrid coach even if his side fail to win the league title this season. "A little while ago Ramon Calderon told me that even if we didn't win the league I would stay on at Real Madrid because this is a project and we are building a team," Schuster said. Spanish media have reported that Schuster's job is under threat if Real Madrid fail to win the league title. Last season, coach Fabio Capello was sacked despite leading Real to the title for the first time in four years.

Sagna: Arsenal will be without defender Bacary Sagna for up to five weeks after the Frenchman was injured in Sunday's 2-1 defeat at Chelsea. "He has an ankle injury and could be out for quite a while," manager Arsene Wenger said. The right-back will miss next month's Premier League and Champions League quarter-final matches against Liverpool and the game with title rivals Manchester United.

Altintop: Turkey midfielder Hamit Altintop is likely to miss the rest of the season and is also doubtful for Euro 2008 after suffering a broken metatarsal. Altintop had surgery in Germany after injuring his foot in Turkey's 2-2 draw with Belarus on Wednesday, his club Bayern Munich said in a statement. "It's a shock," Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld said yesterday.

Ameobi: Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi has joined English Championship leaders Stoke City on loan for the rest of the season. The former England U-21 footballer has only made eight appearances for Newcastle this season and could make his debut tomorrow.

In Gozo: Division One - Nadur vs Xaghra 5-2. Played on Wednesday - Victoria H. vs Kercem Ajax 4-2. Division Two - Xewkija vs Gharb 6-0.