Football news

David Beckham will be a help and not a hindrance if his loan move from Los Angeles Galaxy goes through, Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti has said.

Talks are continuing over the 33-year-old joining the Serie A side for three months from January so that he can stay in contention for an England squad place during the US Major League Soccer close season.

Some pundits have said Beckham could affect the balance of Milan's side but Ancelotti is untroubled.

"Champions are a resource, never a problem," he said. "Beckham is a great player and can play anywhere, in the middle or on the wing."

Scudamore hoping for 39th game

The controversial plan to play top-flight English league matches overseas could still come to fruition, Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore said.

The so-called "39th game" plan, which drew criticism from FIFA president Sepp Blatter, was revealed last year with Scudamore calling for an extra round of league fixtures to be played around the globe in cities such as Beijing and Bangkok.

"Globalisation of sport is here, it's been here for a while and this is just the next manifestation of it," Scudamore said.

"It would be ridiculous of me to say the reaction hasn't moved us back to the think tank. But, hopefully it will happen within my soccer administration career."

FIFA untouched by finance crisis

FIFA's finances are in a 'privileged to comfortable' situation and world soccer's governing body had not yet suffered any impact from the global finance crisis, president Sepp Blatter said.

"We received a detailed analysis of the potential impact and can say that we are now in a situation that could be described as between privileged and comfortable," Blatter said.

"For the time being we have not lost money and are well equipped to face up to the current crisis."

Blatter announced that FIFA had bought insurance cover providing protection for up to $650 million in the event that either of its next two World Cups in 2010 and 2014 had to be cancelled or relocated.

Atletico backing to coach Aguirre

Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo gave his backing to coach Javier Aguirre, who has been criticised after three consecutive Primera Liga defeats.

The club, 10 points adrift of leaders Valencia after seven games following defeats to Sevilla, Barcelona and Real Madrid, visit third-placed Villarreal today.

"I can guarantee that the coach will continue whatever happens at Villarreal," Cerezo told reporters.

"I hope that the change the team showed against Liverpool continues and that they play a good game and win. We want to be among the top three in the league."

Former Mexico and Osasuna boss Aguirre has been at Atletico since 2006.

Ibrahimovic to extend deal

Zlatan Ibrahimovic could become the highest paid player in Europe after reaching agreement on a new deal with Inter until 2013.

The new contract, which would scare off the interests of Real Madrid, would bring in a massive wage increase to £9.6m per season, making the Swede the top earner in Serie A and the rest of Europe.

It seems that Jose Mourinho had a hand in the rapid progress of negotiations, as he has a splendid rapport with the 27-year-old.

Italian newspapers reported that the contract has been handed in to the Football League and will be ratified soon.

Ibrahimovic only extended his contract until 2012 last year and joined Inter from Juventus in 2006 for 25m euros.

Captain's job is public says Wenger

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has reminded his club captain William Gallas of his responsibilities after the Frenchman was photographed leaving a nightclub with a cigarette in his mouth.

"He has a responsibility as captain of Arsenal FC and that cannot be accepted," Wenger said.

"I didn't see the picture but I don't like that. He does have a bigger responsibility as captain and I believe it is a public job."

Gallas, 31, has gone through an indifferent spell since he was appointed captain.

Newspapers, which pictured Gallas leaving a London nightclub in the early hours of Thursday, said the cigarette was unlit.

Beckenbauer for England bid

Former Germany captain and coach Franz Beckenbauer reckons England is well-placed to win the race to host the 2018 World Cup.

Beckenbauer said: "England will have a great chance for 2018 because if it is going to come to Europe, which is my feeling for how it will go, then England will be in a very strong position.

"They have the best club football, the best infrastructure, and they have the fans.

"The national team did not perform so well when they failed to make it to Euro 2008 but they are back on track now under Fabio Capello in qualifying for the 2010 World Cup, and that is important."