Football news

Real Madrid defender Pepe preferred not to dwell on his side's injury list despite seeing the title hopefuls held to a disappointing goalless draw against Sporting Gijon on Saturday.

Madrid went into the clash without attacking quartet Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Gonzalo Higuain and Ruud van Nistelrooy due to injuries and without them Manuel Pellegrini's side failed to find the back of the net for the first time this season.

Losing four forwards of that calibre would hurt any side, but Pepe said: "Every player in the squad is capable of playing for Real Madrid. There's no need to talk about the absences, we need to talk about those of us who are here.

"We worked hard, we all fought for the victory, but we lacked precision in front of goal."

Players arrested after attacking refs

Twelve players of a Bosnian league team were arrested on Saturday night for attacking three match officials after a game played in the southern town of Posusje.

Players and fans of the Posusje team attacked referees after the end of the Muslim-Croat Federation's First League match against Igman Konjic on Saturday.

The players were angry over the officials' decisions during the match that ended scoreless. The match officials were admitted to a Posusje medical facility and were released shortly after. It was not clear whether the incident was ethnically related.

We deserved late winner - Van Gaal

Bayern Munich coach Louis van Gaal denied luck was a factor despite his team leaving it late to grab a winner against Eintracht Frankfurt.

An 88th-minute goal from Daniel van Buyten earned Bayern a 2-1 win and eased the pressure on Van Gaal.

"I don't think you can say it was a lucky win when we created 14 chances," said Van Gaal. "Frankfurt scored a goal with their first chance. After that, we were mentally strong and gave everything.

"If you manage to create chances against a side who stick so many men behind the ball, then that is very good. In the end we won and I think we fully deserved to."

Schalke financially safe, says Magath

Schalke 04's coach Felix Magath insisted yesterday the Royal Blues are not in danger of bankruptcy despite claims of huge debts which must be explained to Bundesliga bosses at the end of the month.

German broadsheet Die Welt has information claiming the Gelsenkirchen-based club have debts of up to €280 million, but Magath insisted nothing is wrong.

"This is all silly stuff: these old, old things have already been discussed over and over again: it's the same thing," said Magath who joined Schalke in June after leading Wolfsburg to the German league title last season.

"Nobody here has anything to hide."

Matthaeus to coach Argentina's Racing

Former German captain Lothar Matthaeus will take charge as coach of ailing Argentine side Racing Club, the team's chairman Rodolfo Molina announced.

Molina, who did not give details of any deal with Matthaeus or say when he would arrive in the country to sign a contract and begin work, made the announcement at a news conference after the team's 1-1 home draw against Lanus.

"We've come to the conclusion that, given the squad's low spirits, Lothar Matthaeus is someone who can work very well with his experience and knowledge," Molina said.

Media reports said Matthaeus, who captained West Germany to World Cup victory in 1990 but has had little success as a coach, would arrive today in time to watch Racing's next league match away to Newell's Old Boys tomorrow night.

'Pool beach ball boy says sorry

A teenage Liverpool fan who caused one of the oddest goals in English football history came out of hiding yesterday to apologise profusely for belting a beach ball onto the pitch.

Callum Campbell, 16, told the Sunday Mirror it was he who whacked the inflatable onto the pitch, triggering Liverpool's 1-0 defeat at Sunderland on October 17.

The youngster has faced death threats for his part in a defeat that dented the Reds' bid to win the Premier League title and locked himself indoors for two days.

"It was me," Campbell said. "I'm the one caught on camera. I'm so, so sorry. This is my worst, worst nightmare."

At Campbell's request, part of the fee for his interview was donated to the Hillsborough Disaster Fund.

Shearer still keen on Newcastle job

Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer insists he would still love to manage the club once again.

Shearer, who had a short spell as Newcastle manager in the latter stages of last season, admitted that if the circumstances were right at St James' Park then he would love another crack at the job, although he would also consider other offers.

"I would still like to be the manager of Newcastle again one day," he said.

"If the situation came around and everything was right and in place then without a doubt I would love to give it another go. But that's not up to me."