Football news

Ivory Coast striker Salomon Kalou was left out of the World Cup qualifier against Guinea at the weekend after an altercation with a team-mate, the Ivorian Football Federation said yesterday.

Kalou has been disciplined after kicking out at Abdoulaye Meite during training on the eve of Saturday's 3-0 win in Abidjan.

Victory ensured an unbeaten run for the Ivorians in their 2010 qualifying campaign. They had already secured qualification to the finals in South Africa.

Chelsea's Kalou could also miss today's friendly against Germany in Gelsenkirchen.

Gerrard to return this weekend

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is confident of facing Manchester City on Saturday following a nagging groin injury.

Gerrard has used the international break to step up his rehabilitation from the problem.

Gerrard said: "I felt very tired after the (Birmingham) game as I wasn't really ready to return. I'd done very little training in the three weeks beforehand.

"It took me two or three days to recover from that game but I have spent the past week doing strengthening work. I'm feeling a lot better now.

"It's a case of so far so good and the aim now is to make sure I get a good week's training under my belt so I'm ready for the game with City."

Subotic laughs off City link

Borussia Dortmund defender Neven Subotic has dismissed rumours linking him with a move to Manchester City this winter.

Subotic is a reported target of the English club but he insists he has a duty to Dortmund and their coach Jurgen Klopp to see out his contract, which he has only just extended.

"Of course it is flattering to have my name linked with a top club in England," he told the Bild newspaper.

"Manchester City are so rich that they can practically buy any player they want.

"But, I have only just extended my contract until 2014 and I am also very happy in Dortmund."

Five Marseille fans sentenced

Five Olympique Marseille fans have received prison sentences of up to 18 months for throwing projectiles at police amid clashes with Paris St Germain supporters, a French court said.

Twenty people, including 11 police officers, were hurt in the clashes on October 25.

The court said the five men, aged 18 to 25, received sentences ranging from three months suspended to 18 months in jail. No further details were available.

The violence erupted after the Ligue 1 match between the two sides was postponed because three PSG players had been diagnosed with the H1N1 virus. The game between the fierce rivals will be played on Friday.

Dzeko sets sights on Milan move

Wolfsburg striker Edin Dzeko expects to play for Milan next season.

The Bosnian, whose 26 goals last season inspired the Wolves to the Bundesliga title, has already informed his club that he intends to move to the San Siro outfit.

"I recently spoke to Wolfsburg executives about it and they know that I would like a transfer next summer," Dzeko told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"The story with Milan is not over."

Dzeko is under contract with the German side until June 2013.

Beckham out of all-star team

David Beckham may have led the Los Angeles Galaxy to the MLS championship game but he was left off the league's all-star squad yesterday.

While Galaxy midfielder Landon Donovan and Swedish star Freddie Ljunberg made the squad there was no room for Beckham. Beckham's Galaxy will face Real Salt Lake in the 2009 MLS Cup game in Seattle on Sunday.

Chivas USA's Zach Thornton was picked as a goalkeeper while the defence featured Columbus Crew centre back Chad Marshall, Houston Dynamo's Geoff Cameron and the Chicago Fire's Wilman Conde.

The league's top two goal-scorers from the regular season, FC Dallas striker Jeff Cunningham and Colorado Rapids forward Conor Casey earned the forward honours.

Japan ask S. Africa to ban vuvuzela

Japan's football chief has joined the chorus of protestors wanting the noisy vuvuzela trumpet to be banned from next year's World Cup in South Africa.

FIFA had previously rejected calls for a ban on the plastic instrument but Japan have now appealed to South African officials after playing a friendly against the World Cup hosts at the weekend.

"We have requested that the South African FA cut that noise out," Japan Football Association (JFA) president Motoaki Inukai was quoted as saying yesterday.

"You can't hear yourself speak. I will be bringing it up (with FIFA president Sepp Blatter)," Inukai added after Japan's 0-0 draw with South Africa in Port Elizabeth.

The vuvuzela is synonymous with South African football fans but the incessant noise from the air horns triggered complaints from players, coaches and broadcasters during this year's Confederations Cup.