Football news

Striker Roque Santa Cruz is doubtful for Paraguay's World Cup qualifiers against Bolivia and Argentina next month because of a knee injury, coach Gerardo Martino said.

The new Manchester City signing, who has missed Paraguay's previous four qualifiers this year, was left out of the squad Martino named for next Wednesday's friendly against South Korea in Seoul.

"We don't want to rush things. We want to be sure he can make a recovery that will be good for his career," Martino, whose team host Bolivia on September 5 and Argentina four days later, said.

Santa Cruz, 27, has been struggling to make a full recovery from knee surgery in April.

Match postponed due to H1N1 flu

An outbreak of H1N1 flu among Hanover 96 reserve players has forced the postponement of their match tomorrow with St Pauli in the northern regional league.

"Postponing the match is purely a preventive measure so as not to endanger other players," German soccer federation (DFB) director Helmut Sandrock said on the organisation's website (www.dfb.de) yesterday.

The German football league (DFL), who are in charge of the top two divisions, have said the flu was not a concern, with the top-flight Bundesliga starting today.

Marseille favourites for title, poll shows

Olympique Marseille are the favourites to win the Ligue 1 title this season, which starts tomorrow, according to a poll among French football professionals released yesterday.

Among 409 players, coaches and club presidents polled by French sports daily L'Equipe, 47.43 per cent named Marseille favourites, compared with 20.54 for champions Girondins Bordeaux and 10.51 for Olympique Lyon.

Marseille, chasing their first title since winning the Champions League in 1993, finished runners-up to Bordeaux last season. Seven-times champions Lyon were third.

Fabregas going nowhere - Hill-Wood

Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood has dismissed speculation linking team captain Cesc Fabregas with a move away from Emirates Stadium this summer.

The 22-year-old is contracted to the Gunners until 2014 but his future has once again been the subject of much speculation this close season, with recent reports suggesting that Milan were ready to make a big-money offer for the Spain midfielder.

However, Hill-Wood does not expect Fabregas to leave.

"There is absolutely no chance of us selling Cesc and all this talk is just fabrication," Hill-Wood said.

"This sort of thing crops up from time to time and it is something we are perfectly used to. Cesc is happy at Arsenal, as far as I am aware."

Scotland's Burley issues booze ban

Scotland manager George Burley has issued an alcohol ban on his players ahead of next week's World Cup qualifier with Norway.

Burley imposed the booze black-out in a bid to avoid a repeat of Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor's early-hours drinking session after March's defeat to the Netherlands.

The pair were handed lifetime bans from representing Scotland after responding to being punished for the incident by flicking V-signs at photographers during April's qualifier with Iceland.

"They will be made aware of the importance of playing for Scotland," said Burley.

"They won't be taking any alcohol. We have made it clear that we cannot tolerate that kind of behaviour again."

Arnautovic joining Inter on loan

FC Twente striker Marko Arnautovic will join Inter on loan for the season, according to the Dutch club.

"FC Twente and Inter have agreed the conditions for the departure of Marko Arnautovic to Inter," read a statement on the club's website.

The Serie A champions also have the option to buy the 20-year-old Austrian with any future deal likely to be based on the number of appearances he makes for Inter.

Arnautovic made his debut for Twente in 2007 and scored 14 goals in 58 matches.

The 20-year-old has been dubbed 'the new Zlatan Ibrahimovic' for his physique and technique but question marks remain over the striker's fitness after surgery for a stress fracture in his foot.

Negredo fancies Roma move - agent

Alvaro Negredo is prepared to consider an offer to join Roma, according to the Real Madrid forward's agent.

The 23-year-old has spent the last two years on loan at Almeria and the possibility of Negredo agreeing another season-long loan deal has not been ruled out.

"We have heard talk of Roma from the media," agent Alejandro Camano said.

"Right now I am in England for negotiations with four or five clubs, but I have not yet heard from anyone at the Giallorossi.

"Roma are a big club and they have Francesco Totti, one of the best players in the world. It would be an honour for Negredo to play with a team of this level."