Football news

The football fan stabbed amid violent clashes at a League Cup match in midweek was an innocent family man who was chased through the streets and brutally knifed, police said.

Police are poring over security camera footage to identify the thugs involved in hours of violence before, during and after West Ham's clash with bitter rivals Millwall on Tuesday.

The 44-year-old stab victim remains in a stable condition in hospital. The Millwall fan was attacked after arriving at West Ham's Upton Park.

The man, his teenage sons and eight other family members were approached by a large group of Hammers fans who chased them, a London police spokesman said.

Bentley banned from driving

Tottenham and England midfielder David Bentley was banned from driving for a year after admitting drink-driving.

Bentley pleaded guilty during the hearing at St Albans Magistrates' Court to drink-driving on August 13 in Hertfordshire. The 24-year-old crashed his car into a lamp post after drinking four pints of lager and two spirits at a gig in London.

He was found to have 51 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath, taking him 16 micrograms over the legal limit of 35.

Bentley, told police he had parked his car at the railway station while at the gig with friends.

He was going to take a taxi home, he said, but decided to drive instead because he didn't want to leave his Porsche in the car park.

West Ham sign Italian Diamanti

West Ham United have signed striker Alessandro Diamanti from Italian Serie A side Livorno for an undisclosed fee.

Diamanti, 26, scored 18 goals from 37 matches last season and will boost manager Gianfranco Zola's striking options alongside Carlton Cole.

"I am very happy to be at West Ham United and to get the chance to play for Gianfranco Zola," Diamanti told West Ham's website (www.whufc.com).

Kaka backs Ronaldinho to shine

Real Madrid star Kaka has backed his former team-mate Ronaldinho to succeed at Milan this season.

Since the Italians sold Kaka to Real in the summer, the spotlight has shone brighter on Ronaldinho and much is expected of him this season. Kaka reckons his countryman can handle the pressure.

"He does that well, it motivates him. I saw him go through many things at the 2002 World Cup and every time I saw him react to the pressure," Kaka said.

And Kaka believes his former team-mates can beat Inter today.

"Milan will win 2-0 with a goal from Pato and assist by Dinho or even Thiago Silva, then a second from Nesta," he predicted.

Dutch winger Robben joins Bayern

Bayern Munich announced they have completed the signing of Real Madrid winger Arjen Robben for an undisclosed fee yesterday.

The 25-year-old Robben, one of several Dutch players being sold by the Spanish giants, signed a four-year deal with the Bundesliga club which has so far failed to make an impact in the league and currently lie 14th.

Robben could face Bundesliga champions Wolfsburg today, according to the German giants' boss Uli Hoeness. Reports said Bayern paid €25 million for Robben.

Robben's arrival would complement Bayern play-maker Franck Ribery, who is still a target of Real according to latest reports, and give the German giants more options in attack.

Loew hopes to solve dilemma

Next month's matches at home to South Africa and Azerbaijan should help Germany solve their goalkeeper dilemma.

Coach Joachim Loew said Bayer Leverkusen's Rene Adler would keep goal in the friendly at home to 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa on Sept. 5, while Hanover 96's Robert Enke would step in for the World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan four days later.

Adler has made four appearances and Enke eight.

"We hope to have settled the goalkeeper question in time for the matches against Russia in Moscow and Finland in Hamburg in October," Loew said.

Goalkeeper trainer Andreas Kopke added: "By the end of the year, we want to have given all four of our World Cup candidates the chance to have played at least 90 minutes.

"That's a fair rule for everyone."

Ki to join Celtic in January

South Korean midfielder Ki Sung-yong will join Scottish club Celtic in January in a deal FC Seoul described as "win-win" for both clubs.

Celtic had been keen to take the promising 20-year-old to Glasgow immediately but FC Seoul were reluctant to let him go with the team sitting top of the Korean league midway through the season.

However, after further negotiations, Seoul agreed to let Ki go in January for a reported transfer fee of $3.25 million.