Football news

Former England captain Bryan Robson has "agreed in principle" to become coach of Thailand's national team and will visit the Kingdom next week to discuss terms, the country's football chief said yesterday.

If the deal goes through, the former Manchester United midfielder will be tasked with steering the team to the 2014 World Cup finals, Football Association of Thailand (FAT) president Worawi Makudi said.

"Robson is interested and has agreed in principle to become our coach," Worawi told Reuters.

Robson, 52, would replace fellow former England international Peter Reid, who parted company with the Thais on September 9 after less than a year in charge.

Fabregas rips into banned Adebayor

Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas has hit out at former team-mate Emmanuel Adebayor's violent conduct which led to a three-match ban for the Manchester City striker.

Adebayor was handed the ban for stamping on the face of Arsenal's Robin van Persie during a Premier League match which City won 4-2 last week.

Fabregas said he, too, fell victim to Adebayor. "I think this is a red card here," said Fabregas, reportedly gesturing to his leg and claiming the injury was suffered in an Adebayor challenge. "I was lucky my foot was in the air when it happened."

Fabregas added: "All I tried to do when he (Adebayor) was at Arsenal was to create opportunities for him to score - so I think I didn't do too bad for him."

Fan critical after Belgrade violence

A French football fan is in a critical condition after rival supporters clashed ahead of a Europa League match on Thursday, Belgrade's B92 television reported.

A 28-year-old Toulouse fan was taken to hospital with serious head and chest injuries before the French first division side's match with Partizan Belgrade. Two other fans were taken to hospital with minor injuries after 30 Partizan fans and 15 Toulouse supporters clashed outside a bar in central Belgrade.

Toulouse won their opening Group J match 3-2. Partizan were thrown out of the UEFA Cup, the Europa League's predecessor, in 2007 after their fans caused trouble at Bosnian rivals Zrinjski Mostar.

Real poor at defending set-pieces - Casillas

Real Madrid's defence is still a work in progress, goalkeeper Iker Casillas has said.

"If you look at the four goals we have conceded it's true you could say we are a disaster at dead-ball situations," Casillas said at a news conference.

"But it is still early days to be reading too much into this."

Real have scored 11 times in their three victories in La Liga and Champions League so far, conceding one goal from open play, one from the penalty spot, one from a corner and the other at a free-kick.

Advocaat to start Belgium job on Oct. 1

Dick Advocaat will take over as Belgium coach on October 1, three months earlier than planned, the Belgian FA has announced.

The Dutchman was originally due to take over on January 1 after his contract with Zenit St Petersburg expired but he was sacked by the Russian club in August following a run of poor results.

Stand-in Belgium boss Frank Vercauteren resigned after a 2-1 defeat away to Armenia in a Group Five qualifier last week meant they could not qualify for the World Cup finals.

Advocaat will lead Belgium in their final two qualifiers at home to Turkey on October 10 and away to Estonia four days later.

Belgium's last appearance at a major championships was in the 2002 World Cup finals.

Steaua owner dismisses Bergodi

Steaua Bucharest owner Gigi Becali has fired coach Cristiano Bergodi after the pair were involved in a changing room confrontation during the side's opening Europa League Group H goalless draw against Moldovan side Sheriff Tiraspol on Thursday.

"I've never been to the locker room in my life," European Parliament Member Becali was quoted as saying by sports daily Gazeta Sporturilor yesterday.

"I wanted to give the boys a signal to wake up but Bergodi humiliated me. It's over, Bergodi is no longer Steaua coach."

Bergodi, who was only appointed in June, has been replaced by former Steaua coach Mihai Stoichita.

Caldwell demands contract talks

Gary Caldwell has warned Celtic he is ready to walk away from the club next summer if they fail to meet his demands over a new contract.

The 27-year-old insists he wants to stay at Celtic and has expressed his frustration after talks with them broke down.

"My agent went in and asked for figures which weren't anything near the highest paid player at the club," Caldwell said.

"They were on a par with the players who are playing week in, week out, which I have done now over the last four years. If the club say that's too much then I think they are kidding themselves in that they can pay others a lot more than they can pay me.

"That's their opinion of me as a footballer and we have to move on."