Football news

Arsenal are awaiting news on Dutch striker Robin van Persie who could be out for a lengthy period after suffering an ankle injury in the friendly against Italy in Pescara.

Van Persie suffered suspected ankle ligament damage after 10 minutes in a strong challenge by Giorgio Chiellini.

The Gunners were waiting for news on the 26-year-old Van Persie who was expected to undergo a scan in Holland later yesterday.

Holland coach Bert van Marwijk said after the game: "The first diagnosis is a bad ankle injury. We are waiting for X-rays in hospital. It's terrible for Robin and is not good for Holland or his club."

Carlos Carvalhal named Sporting coach

Sporting have hired former Maritimo coach Carlos Carvalhal to replace Paulo Bento who resigned earlier this month, the Portuguese club said in a statement yesterday.

Carvalhal has signed a deal for the rest of the season with the option to extend the contract for next season. The 43-year-old coached Maritimo from February until September, when he resigned due to poor results at the start of the current season.

Paulo Bento led Sporting to four consecutive second-places in the Portuguese Premier League, but resigned on November 6 after a run of poor results.

Sporting are eighth in the standings, 11 points behind leaders Braga.

Salt Lake to face LA in MLS Cup final

Real Salt Lake defeated the Chicago Fire on penalties on Saturday to win Major League Soccer's Eastern Conference championship and earn a place in the MLS Cup final against LA Galaxy.

After the game finished scoreless in normal and extra-time, Salt Lake keeper Nick Rimando saved three penalties in the shoot-out to help his side to their first appearance in the final.

Substitute Ned Grabavoy, brought on in the last minute of extra-time, scored the winning penalty for Real, ending Chicago's hopes of a fourth appearance in the final.

Salt Lake will travel to Seattle for the November 22 final against LA Galaxy and David Beckham who beat Houston Dynamo 2-0 after extra-time on Friday.

LeGuen keen to extend Cameroon deal

Cameroon coach Paul LeGuen said he would seek to sign an extension to his contract after helping the Indomitable Lions secure an African record sixth World Cup finals appearance.

Frenchman Le Guen was on a short-term deal with the Cameroon Football Federation which expired on Saturday after the 2-0 win over Morocco in Fes in their final qualifying match.

"I will meet the federation officials next weekend but I would like to continue and if this is also the sentiment of the Cameroon football leaders, then I will. It is very likely," he told reporters after the victory.

Defender Vidic to continue comeback

Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic is scheduled to step up his comeback from a calf injury on Wednesday and have another outing for Serbia when they face South Korea.

Vidic came through a 45-minute run-out on Saturday in the 1-0 victory against Northern Ireland at Windsor Park without any difficulty.

It was his first game in three weeks following a calf injury and came after an agreement between coach Radomir Antic and United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

Antic said: "We arranged before the game Vidic would play one half. He will also play in the game on Wednesday. Everything is okay."

Violence in Marseille after Algeria defeat

Rioters smashed shop windows, hurled stones at police and set fire to several boats moored in the southern French port of Marseille after Egypt beat Algeria in a World Cup qualifying match on Saturday.

A police spokesman said more than 500 officers were deployed in the centre of Marseille, an often volatile city with a large North African immigrant population and football supporters who are considered among the most passionate in France.

Egypt won the match, which was played in Cairo, 2-0.

Police said the trouble began after youths of Algerian origin reacted in frustration when Egypt scored towards the end of the first half of match, in which the two teams were vying to qualify for next year's World Cup.

Pompey transfer freeze to be lifted

Portsmouth have secured financing and expect a transfer freeze imposed for unpaid debts to other clubs to be lifted this week, minority owner Suleiman al-Fahim said yesterday.

"We met with financial advisors of the consortium and the threat of the petition on the club is no longer there," Fahim told Reuters. "The club has made the revenue payments and the embargo on the club will be cleared by Tuesday (tomorrow) or Wednesday.

"The club has secured financing and will start to become stable by the end of this week," he added.

The Premier League imposed the registering of new players' embargo on October 15, stating Portsmouth had outstanding transfer fees due to other clubs.