Football news

Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood said he was sure Arsene Wenger won't be leaving the Londoners this summer.

Wenger was criticised at a shareholders' meeting last week following a fourth successive year without a trophy. But Hill-Wood is confident that will not affect Wenger's future at the Emirates.

"I am not concerned about it," Hill-Wood said.

"Arsene is under contract until 2011, and I am sure that is how it is going to remain.

"I think he is a big enough man to accept that a few people are not prepared to be reasonable."

Moggi shocked by Ranieri sacking

Juve's decision to fire coach Claudio Ranieri has shocked Luciano Moggi, the disgraced former Juventus director.

Ranieri, the first Juve coach to be sacked in 40 years, lost his job after a 2-2 draw with Atalanta last weekend.

"It's shocking, Juventus aren't accustomed to sackings in the final few weeks of the season," Moggi said.

"However, it has become common practice in football. If things don't go well then the coach pays first then the directors. However, I don't think that Ranieri did so badly at Juve and he wasn't the wrong choice as coach."

Real make move for Wigan winger

Real Madrid have made the first move in their bid to sign winger Antonio Valencia from Wigan.

Agent Diego Herrera told reporters the Ecuador international has attracted interest from bigger clubs and wants to leave the JJB Stadium in summer.

Wigan sold midfielder Wilson Palacios to Tottenham in January for £14 million but Valencia could be worth even more.

"I believe Wigan will sell Antonio for the right offer and they will decide that once they receive that," Herrera said.

"Real Madrid made an offer last week. There are a number of interested clubs and I will speak with Wigan about it this week."

James ruled out of June qualifiers

England goalkeeper David James is to have shoulder surgery this week and will miss the World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Kazakhstan next month.

James, who has played all five of England's qualifers so far, missed Portsmouth's home match against Sunderland on Monday.

Until Monday, the 38-year-old had played every minute of Portsmouth's Premier League season and helped them avoid relegation.

With Manchester United's reserve keeper Ben Foster also unavailable after surgery on his thumb, England coach Fabio Capello could turn to West Ham United's Robert Green or former England first choice Paul Robinson.

Liverpool to decide on Alonso

Liverpool are likely to make a decision on Xabi Alonso's future at the end of the season.

The Spaniard has been linked with moves away from Anfield but his agent told reporters that Liverpool will have the final say on any possible transfer.

"Many things could happen in the summer," Ignacio Ibanez said.

"The first is to finish the season and after that to attend to other matters. Xabi has signed for three more years and his future depends on Liverpool."

Real Madrid are believed to be leading the chase for Alonso with the 27-year-old thought to be one of presidental candidate Florentino Perez's top transfer targets.

Lafferty apologises for fake headbutt

Rangers striker Kyle Lafferty has apologised for a show of theatrics that ended in Aberdeen's Charlie Mulgrew being red-carded at the weekend.

The Northern Ireland international issued his mea culpa for his reaction to a 'headbutt' which saw Mulgrew dismissed during Saturday's 2-1 win at Ibrox.

"I know I'm going to get labelled as a diver and a cheat now. Probably for a long time, maybe the rest of my career," Lafferty said.

"But despite what's happened, that's definitely not me.

"The thing that hurts me most is what people are obviously now going to be thinking of me. But I'll take whatever punishment I get because I deserve it.

"What I did on Saturday was the biggest mistake of my career."

Bielefeld call in 'fireman' Berger

Relegation-threatened Bundesliga side Arminia Bielefeld have brought in coach Joerg Berger to rescue them from the drop with one match left.

The 64-year-old Berger, who has built a reputation of saving lowly clubs earning himself the nicknames 'fireman' and 'the great motivator', said he would take over for the one match against Hanover on Saturday and would not discuss a longer deal yet.

Bielefeld fired coach Michael Frontzeck on Sunday after the team lost 6-0 to Borussia Dortmund and dropped to third from bottom on 27 points, ahead of Energie Cottbus on goal difference.

The bottom two are relegated and the third team figures in a play-off against the third-placed finisher in the second division.