Football news

LA Galaxy's David Beckham is to have pain-killing injections for a bruised ankle bone before today's MLS Cup final but said he would be fit for the game against Real Salt Lake.

England midfielder Beckham told a news conference after training yesterday he had not been able to train all week due to the right ankle injury he picked up in last week's play-off win over Houston.

"Today (Saturday) was the first day I trained. Unfortunately it has been frustrating... because with bone bruising you have to be pretty careful not to get any kicks on it.

"So it has been frustrating but I'm sure it will be fine for Sunday. Definitely be.

"It's one of those things that you just have to get through. After five, 10 minutes of the game, I'm sure I'll forget about it."

Italy delays fan ID introduction

Italian Interior Minister Roberto Maroni has agreed to postpone the introduction of electronic supporter ID cards from Jan.1 to the start of next season.

"(I accept the delay) very happily. In the summer, I had three clubs in favour and the organised supporter groups against," Maroni told yesterday's La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"Now I have all the clubs in favour and a few fringe fan groups against."

The government, prompted by years of soccer violence, wants to make it compulsory for fans to carry the card to away matches so authorities can better track troublemakers.

Fans groups have staged protests, saying the cards would restrict their civil liberties.

Hammers launch 'Katy Perry kit'

West Ham United have launched a claret and blue lingerie outfit as worn by American singer Katy Perry at this month's MTV Awards to sell to their fans.

The Premier League club have responded to "huge demand" by commissioning a limited run of basques, designed by Siobhan Dillon, after 25-year-old Perry stole the show in Berlin.

"Perry's basque featured two club crests, while her hot pants were adorned with the name 'Rusty' in honour of her Hammers-supporting boyfriend, (comedian and presenter) Russell Brand," West Ham said.

Dillon, to whom West Ham supplied the kits so she could make the outfit for the Nov. 5 awards, is set to produce an initial run of 50 basques selling at 300 pounds ($495.3) each.

Cudicini out for the rest of season

Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini was discharged from hospital on Friday following surgery after a motorcycle crash but the Italian is unlikely to play again this season, his club manager said.

"I think he will be out for the rest of the season," Harry Redknapp told reporters. "I've never thought about letting a player ride a bike. I didn't even know he had one. We don't let them do it. I'm sure he won't be riding it again."

The 36-year-old keeper had successful operations last Friday on his right wrist and pelvis and is already mobile with the assistance of crutches.

UEFA overturn Dinamo penalty

UEFA has reinstated the three points it docked from Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb following crowd trouble during their Europa League match at Timisoara last month.

The penalty, which had left Dinamo bottom of the competition's Group A with no points, has been replaced with a fine of €75,000 and a suspended three-year ban from all competitions.

But Dinamo, who appealed the initial verdict, will still have to complete a two-game stadium ban and play their home match against Romanian side Timisoara behind closed doors on Dec. 17. They entertained Ajax Amsterdam in an empty stadium on Nov. 5.

Allardyce to undergo surgery

Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce will miss the next three Barclays Premier League matches as he is to have an operation.

The Rovers boss will be absent from today's game against former club Bolton, the midweek fixture at Fulham and Stoke at Ewood Park next weekend as he is having an angioplasty, a procedure which will widen one of his coronary arteries.

Assistant manager Neil McDonald will take over the team.

Allardyce had recently complained of brief episodes of chest pains and investigations revealed a narrowing of one of his coronary arteries, which will be corrected by the insertion of a stent this week.

Iraq appeals FIFA ban

Iraqi authorities were not surprised soccer's world governing body decided to suspend the country from international competition and already have lawyers working on an appeal, officials said.

FIFA banned the Asian champions on Friday after the country's Olympic Committee disbanded the governing board of the Iraqi FA, the culmination of a feud over control of the sport that has lasted for at least a year.

Government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said the ban was the result of "clear incitement" by the IFA.

"The Olympic Committee will present and explain to FIFA the imperative reasons for disbanding the administrative body of the IFA and the financial, legal, and administrative irregularities that have accompanied its work for five years," Dabbagh said.