Drogba quiet on Inter rumours

Didier Drogba has declined to comment on reports suggesting he met with Inter officials.

Inter coach Jose Mourinho said on Tuesday he was unaware of the discussions, although Blues boss Luiz Felipe Scolari admitted he could not rule out the possibility that Drogba had met with Inter officials.

Drogba, currently serving a three-match domestic suspension for throwing a coin back into the crowd against Burnley, is under contract at Stamford Bridge for two more years.

"I don't have anything to say," Drogba told skysports.com.

"I have always said I have a contract with Chelsea until 2010, no comment about the supposed meeting."

Arsenal appoint new chief executive

Arsenal have appointed Ivan Gazidis, currently deputy commissioner for Major League Soccer in the United States, as their new chief executive officer, the Premier League club said on their website www.arsenal.com.

The 44-year-old, who has worked in the MLS for 14 years, will start the new job in January.

Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood said: "It is evident that he has a wealth of business acumen together with a broad knowledge of football that will not only help to maintain Arsenal's pre-eminent standing but enhance our reputation within the football community and international commercial markets."

Hayatou to stay as CAF president

Cameroon's Issa Hayatou will be elected as leader of African soccer again next year, extending his tenure at the head of the continent's most popular sport into a third decade.

The 62-year-old Hayatou was the only nomination received for the Confederation of African Football's next presidential elections to be held at their Lagos congress in February, CAF announced.

Hayatou was elected CAF president in 1988.

No 'Oscar' nomination for Mancini

Former Inter coach Roberto Mancini has again been overlooked when nominations were announced for the 2007/2008 Italian players' association awards this week.

Mancini, who helped Inter to retain their Italian title in May before being sacked after falling out with president Massimo Moratti, failed to be nominated in the best manager category for the second year in a row.

Milan's Carlo Ancelotti, Fiorentina's Cesare Prandelli and Roma's Luciano Spalletti are up for the award. Unemployed Mancini did win the Golden Bench award last week after being voted last term's top coach by his fellow Italian managers.

The awards, known in Italy as the soccer 'Oscars', will be handed out in Milan on January 19 following votes from Italy's top-flight players.

Rooney apologises for diving

Sir Alex Ferguson told reporters on Wednesday night that Wayne Rooney had apologised to him and opponents Villarreal for diving in Manchester United's 0-0 Champions League draw.

The Spanish team's players were disappointed after the striker fell in the box, despite no contact with the defender.

"He apologised to me and said he didn't mean to do that," Ferguson said.

"I think he's been watching (Villarreal forward) Robert Pires too much. At least he apologised to their players. You'd never see Pires do that."

Ferguson also said he believes that opponents are fouling United's Cristiano Ronaldo so often referees think the winger is diving.

Villarreal ended the game with 10 men after Joan Capdevila saw red for a late tackle on Ronaldo.

Juve eye Italian reinforcements

Juventus are expected to strengthen their squad during the January transfer window with Gaetano D'Agostino and Cristian Zaccardo believed to be among their top targets.

Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger and Barcelona ace Xavi have also been persistently linked with Juventus but the latest rumours suggest that the Turin club would prefer to sign Italian players.

Sicilian D'Agostino, who has just earned his first Italy call-up, has impressed at Udinese this term and reports claim that Juventus may have to pay around £8 million to get him.

Another possible new recruit is former Palermo defender Zaccardo who is currently playing for Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga.

Kaladze faces fine

Milan defender Kakha Kaladze faces disciplinary action for his criticism of referee Stefano Farina.

Farina infuriated Milan by awarding Torino a controversial penalty for handball against Kaladze in last Sunday's 2-2 Serie A draw.

The referee also turned down penalty appeals by Milan for a foul on Ronaldinho, prompting Kaladze's post-match outburst.

Although the Georgian international backed down following vice-president Adriano Galliani's condemnation of his comment that Farina "doesn't know the rules", he still faces punishment.