Football news

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti insisted that he will not be rushing for the Stamford Bridge chequebook despite a transfer ban being lifted on the Premier League leaders.

The high-flying London club had been banned by FIFA from signing any new players until January 2011.

But on Friday, the Court of Arbitration for Sport temporarily lifted the suspension pending a full ruling by arbitrators.

Ancelotti, whose team tackle champions Manchester United today, said: "We can buy players in January, but we don't want to take a decision in this moment.

"I'm very happy with the squad and it's not necessary to take new players.

"I know we will lose four players in January (to the Africa Cup), but if we maintain the players' fitness, we can have a good period also without the African players."

Injury setback for Everton's Jagielka

Everton defender Phil Jagielka could be sidelined until January after undergoing a second knee operation.

Jagielka, 27, has been off the pitch since damaging knee ligaments in April but had been hoping to return to action before the end of November. Everton manager David Moyes said his return could now be pushed back.

"Jagielka had an operation on a tear in his meniscus, which is the cartilage in his knee," said Moyes.

"We think (it has set him back) four to six weeks. He was down initially but he's on the road to recovery now."

Beckham raring for Champions League

David Beckham is relishing the chance to play Champions League football again once he returns to Milan on his second loan spell in January.

Milan missed out on Champions League qualification last season but are on course to progress from the group stages this time around, allowing the 34-year-old to be eligible for the start of the knockout phase in February.

"I've not been involved for a few years now but I always enjoy Champions League games," said Beckham.

Beckham's last appearance in the competition came for Real Madrid in 2007.

"They're always special nights and there's always a different atmosphere, especially at big clubs like Man. United, Real and Milan," Beckham said.

Hamm agrees to help promote Barca

Barcelona have reached an agreement with former US Women's football World Cup winner Mia Hamm to become an ambassador for the European champions and their charitable foundation.

Under the deal, Barca can use 37-year-old Hamm's image to promote the club and the foundation worldwide over the next three years, the Catalan club said on their website (www.fcbarcelona.com).

Hamm, who retired in 2004, won two Olympic gold medals with the US team, the World Cup in 1991 and 1999 and was twice voted FIFA Women's Player of the Year.

Ferrara's job not under discussion

New Juventus president Jean-Claude Blanc insisted coach Ciro Ferrara's job is not on the line.

Ferrara is in his first full season as Juve coach. And while he won his first six Serie A matches in charge of Juventus, the team has struggled since. It has led to discussions in the Juventus boardroom on Friday, but not about Ferrara's future.

"The discussion was not about Ferrara but just to say that the distance with Inter in terms of points after 11 matches is big," Blanc said.

"We're committed to working hard and Ciro knows that we all have faith in him.

"As the table shows it's a big gap but the championship is long. For a team with big ambitions it's important not to let Inter get too far away."

Queiroz to call up injured Ronaldo

Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz plans to call up Cristiano Ronaldo for their World Cup play-off against Bosnia even though Real Madrid have said he needs two more weeks of treatment on his injured ankle.

Real Madrid's record signing injured his ankle in a Champions League match on Sept. 30 and has not played since aggravating it in Portugal's 3-0 win over Hungary 10 days later.

"I am going to call up Cristiano Ronaldo and I hope he can help us even if it is just for a few minutes," Queiroz said.

"I will call him up for sure, then it is a medical question," Queiroz said, adding that the player would be examined by the Portugal national team doctors.

Serie A TV rights go for €181.5m

Serie A's worldwide broadcasting rights for the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons have been sold to the MP & Silva international sports media company for €181.5 million.

Acceptance of the bid is pending approval by Italy's competition watchdog, the league said in a statement.

Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis said the decision was taken despite opposition from his club and Juventus.

"Only we and Juventus voted against. Our (TV) rights are worth much more," de Laurentiis was quoted as saying.

"Unfortunately, a little egg today was preferred to a goose with a golden egg, which could have been today too, not tomorrow."