Football news

On-loan Milan midfielder David Beckham will be a substitute for his first Serie A game at Roma this evening, coach Carlo Ancelotti said.

The Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder, who is spending two months at Milan to stay in the England reckoning, has not played a competitive game since the end of the US regular season in October.

"Beckham is ready to play even if he has been out of action for two months. But it is therefore difficult to give him a starting spot tomorrow in the match against Roma," Ancelotti said.

Beckham played the first half of the 1-1 friendly draw with Hamburg in Dubai on Tuesday. Third-placed Milan are returning to Serie A action after a three-week midseason break.

Oddo wants to prolong Bayern stay

Bayern Munich right-back Massimo Oddo, who joined the German club last year on a one-year loan from Italy's Milan, wants to stay on at the Bundesliga champions.

"My loan ends in the summer. But I feel very well here and can well imagine staying on in Munich," he told the club website.

"But that is not a decision that I can take alone. It is also up to the coach, management and the club."

Oddo has regained his previous form in the Bundesliga after some tough times in the Serie A. He has also regained a place in the national side since moving to Bayern where he teams up with Italian compatriot Luca Toni, the Bavarian club's chief striker.

CSKA Moscow appoint Zico as coach

Former Japan and Fenerbahce coach Zico, who left Uzbek champions Bunyodkor last month, has signed a three-year contract with CSKA Moscow, the Russian premier league club said.

The 55-year-old Brazilian replaces Valery Gazzayev, who quit CSKA at the end of last season after steering them to second place in the Russian league and the last 32 of the UEFA Cup.

Zico, regarded as one of Brazil's greatest players, led Bunyodkor to the Uzbek league and cup double in his first season and guided them to the Asian Champions League semi-finals last year.

Mourinho to watch United vs Chelsea

Inter coach Jose Mourinho is looking forward to returning to England to watch Champions League last-16 opponents Manchester United play his former club Chelsea this afternoon.

"I must study them deeply. I am going to see them on Sunday because it is a good occasion to see them in a stadium, which gives a better all-round picture than on TV," the Portuguese told reporters.

"I've not gone back there (since leaving Chelsea), not even to go shopping or see my house. I will feel the atmosphere again at the game, it will be emotional."

Kanoute fined over 'Palestine' T-shirt

The Spanish soccer federation (RFEF) has fined Sevilla striker Frederic Kanoute for uncovering a T-shirt with the word "Palestine" written on it in several languages after he scored in Wednesday's 2-1 win over Deportivo La Coruna in the King's Cup.

The referee booked Kanoute for the gesture and the RFEF said in a statement it had fined the Mali international, who is a Muslim, an unspecified amount.

The RFEF also said it had suspended Valencia defender Miguel Monteira for three matches following his sending-off in Wednesday's 1-1 draw with Racing Santander.

Benitez receives Poll's backing

Former referee Graham Poll has backed Rafael Benitez's claims that Alex Ferguson receives lenient treatment from the Football Association.

Liverpool manager Benitez blasted his Manchester United counterpart on Friday, claiming that Ferguson does not get punished sufficiently for his outspoken criticism of match officials.

"Benitez has said what referees have been thinking for years - that Alex Ferguson can say what he wants about them and the FA will allow him to get away with it," he said.

"The authorities could point to Ferguson's two-match ban imposed earlier this season as proof that he is not out of reach of their disciplinary department, but that was for marching onto the field after the 4-3 win over Hull and for comments made directly to the referee, Mike Dean, who in reporting the misconduct forced the FA's hand."

Defoe defends Spurs return

Jermain Defoe has defended his decision to leave Portsmouth to return to Tottenham. The 26-year-old has been criticised for demanding moves when he is not in the team.

"That's not true because when I was at Tottenham last time not once did I moan," Defoe said."People are saying I spat my dummy out and just left. It's not like that, it was a fantastic opportunity."

He was dropped during his final days at Portsmouth and says manager Tony Adams could have done more to persuade him to stay.

"Maybe I thought he would try harder to keep me but he knows what he wants to do," Defoe said. "He wants to bring his own players in and he wants to play five in midfield and one up front."