Football news

Marseille's Velodrome stadium could be unavailable for two months because of the ongoing inquiry after a stage built for a Madonna concert collapsed earlier this month, a city official said.

Two workers were killed when part of the roof over the stage being built for the pop singer's concert collapsed on July 16.

"The experts have effectively asked for two months to finish their inquiry," Marseille deputy Mayor Maurice Di Nocera told Reuters.

The delay, needed for experts to analyse the scene of accident, means Marseille would not be able to play at their Velodrome stadium until September.

Friendly Argentine 'clasico' in Bolivia

A friendly between 'clasico' rivals River Plate and Boca Juniors, one of world football's greatest rivalries, is to be played in Bolivia on September 4, Argentine media have reported.

The showcase match to be played in Santa Cruz de la Sierra has been arranged to take place during a World Cup qualifying break from domestic football in Argentina.

Argentina are at home to Brazil on September 5 but River and Boca should be at full strength because none of their players are expected to be in coach Diego Maradona's largely European-based national team squad.

The next proper derby between River and Boca in Buenos Aires is scheduled for October 18 in the Apertura tournament in the opening half of the 2009/10 season.

Obama hopes to attend World Cup

US President Barack Obama has said he hoped to attend the World Cup in South Africa next year, if his schedule allowed.

Obama held talks with Sepp Blatter, head of the world football governing body FIFA, at the White House and urged him to give "strong consideration to the US bid to host the World Cup in 2018 or 2022," the White House said in a statement.

"President Obama thanked Mr Blatter for inviting him to attend next year's event and said he hoped his schedule would allow him to do so," the statement said.

Zola not giving up on Neill

West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola believes he would be the first to know if skipper Lucas Neill was leaving the club and, so far, no news is good news for the Italian.

The Australian defender did not accompany the rest of the squad on their trip to Beijing for the English Premier League's Asia Trophy amid speculation he might be on the move to Manchester City or Galatasaray.

"Lucas Neill is talking to the club, there have been some negotiations between him and the club, I hope I can say that," Zola said.

"His name is being linked to other clubs (but) last time I spoke to him, he said that if anything happened he would call me first, and he hasn't called me so I assume he's not going anywhere."

Arbeloa says Real move close

Liverpool defender Alvaro Arbeloa says he is close to sealing a transfer to Real Madrid even though the big-spending Spanish side seem more concerned with trimming their squad after an extravagant close-season spending spree.

"At present I am only focused on Liverpool but it is true that (the deal) is nearly completed," the 26-year-old told Marca yesterday.

Real president Florentino Perez has said, however, that his primary concern was to offload players before adding to a squad that has already been reinforced with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Karim Benzema.

Klaas Jan Huntelaar, Rafael van der Vaart and Gabriel Heinze are among the players considered surplus to requirements.

Napoli bid for Dossena accepted

Liverpool have accepted an offer from Napoli for Italy full-back Andrea Dossena, according to his agent.

Reports yesterday claimed Liverpool have agreed to sell Dossena, signed from Udinese last summer, after receiving a bid in the region of £4.5m.

"Liverpool have accepted De Laurentiis's proposal. Now it's a matter of days," Roberto Lo Florio was quoted as saying.

"As soon as Napoli call us we will conclude the deal," Lo Florio added.

Napoli have already made five close-season signings, namely Fabio Quagliarella, Luca Cigarini, Juan Zuniga, Hugo Campagnaro and Morgan De Sanctis.

Wolfsburg coach keen on Martins

Newcastle striker Obafemi Martins is on Wolfsburg's shortlist of potential signings, coach Armin Veh has confirmed.

Martins has suggested he is open to a move to the Bundesliga champions.

"The player is on our shortlist," Veh said.

"We have Edin Dzeko and Grafite, two rather tall front men, playing centre-forward.

"That is why we are looking for a striker that could play a bit more on or from the wing. I expect us to be on the way to securing a signing, perhaps it will be next week when we will be able to come up with an announcement."