Football news

Marouane Chamakh said he decided to give his back to West Ham after saying the English club were too late to show interest in his transfer.

"Yes, indeed, my representatives were in London for talks with West Ham," he said in L'Equipe.

"Maybe the offer has come too late. I am focused on Bordeaux, but you never know what can happen. Let us say there is a 90 per cent chance that I will stay and a 10% chance that I will leave."

Villa's Davies may need surgery

Martin O'Neill has admitted Aston Villa central defender Curtis Davies may need surgery to cure his long-standing shoulder problem.

Davies suffered a third recurrence of the injury in three weeks during Thursday's Europa League qualifier with Rapid Vienna at Villa Park.

The former West Brom player may still face Fulham in today's home Premier League encounter.

O'Neill said: "I have spoken to Curtis, and so has the club doctor, and it is something we will look at when the international break takes place.

"He is going to see a specialist and that will be important. All decisions will be up to the player, but we will see."

Mourinho blames press for tension

Inter coach Jose Mourinho blamed the press for stirring up tensions following comments he made about Ramadan.

The Portuguese coach said Ghana's Sulley Muntari had possibly lacked energy in last Sunday's 1-1 draw with Bari because he was fasting for the Muslim holy month.

The statement angered an Italian Muslim leader and reports say threats against Mourinho have been posted on websites.

"If something happens to me it will be your responsibility," Mourinho told reporters.

"I know what I said. I said 'you can't criticise the decision of Muntari because it is a question of faith and religion'. That means I accept it. If someone in the Islamic community is annoyed with me, it is your fault."

Pedro praised by Guardiola

Barcelona's Pedro Rodriguez was praised by manager Pep Guardiola for the goal that clinched the Super Cup in a 1-0 win over UEFA Cup holders Shakhtar Donetsk on Friday.

Guardiola, who has guided Barca to a League and Cup double, the Champions League, the Spanish Super Cup and now the UEFA Super Cup since taking over last year, said the 22-year-old kept his cool on a hot and humid night to seal their victory.

"He took his chance very well and, of course, I am delighted for him," said Guardiola.

"But I don't make players, I can only encourage them and help them but he scored an excellent goal and it gave us victory in a very tough match."

FA seeking coach for Olympic team

The coach of the first British team to take part in the Olympics for almost 40 years should be named this year, English FA chairman David Triesman said.

Triesman, who has brokered a deal with FIFA for Britain to enter a team at the 2012 London Games, said it would be desirable to have an Englishman in charge.

He hinted Fulham manager Roy Hodgson and England U-21 coach Stuart Pearce could be in contention.

"I would be very disappointed if we have not appointed a coach for the Olympic team by the end of this year," Triesman said.

"The age of the coach is not as important as his ability to get the best out of young players, some of whom might still only be 17, 18 or 19 now but 20 or so when the Olympics come around."

UEFA's Eduardo case a 'witch hunt'

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger accused UEFA of mounting a "witch hunt" against his striker Eduardo da Silva and said the "disgraceful" decision to open a disciplinary case against him set a dangerous precedent.

UEFA said it was opening disciplinary proceedings against Eduardo for "deceiving the referee" after the Croatian international won a penalty in Arsenal's Champions League playoff victory over Celtic.

"I find it a complete disgrace," Wenger said.

"There is nothing conclusive (in the pictures). It singles out a player in Europe to be a cheat and that is not acceptable. For me it's a witch hunt. It is not an objective judgement of the case. Eduardo was touched by the goalkeeper and we can prove that."

R. Madrid set for €60m Ribery bid

Real Madrid are preparing an audacious 60 million euro last-minute bid to lure Franck Ribery away from Bayern Munich before the transfer window closes, Spanish sports daily Marca said.

Real, who on Friday sold Dutch striker Arjen Robben to Bayern, are ready to make "a last attempt" to buy the highly coveted 26-year-old, the paper states.

The Spanish club's president Florentino Perez held talks about the French star's transfer with his Bayern counterpart, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge on Friday.

Real have been chasing 26-year-old Ribery for weeks but up to now have met with stiff resistance from Bayern.