Football news

Former Juventus general manager Luciano Moggi was among three men acquitted of charges of false accounting while at the Turin club, judicial sources said yesterday.

Moggi, along with former Juve directors Antonio Giraudo and Roberto Bettega, had been accused of overseeing irregular capital gains from the buying and selling of players. Juventus were also cleared.

Moggi, banned from football for five years for his role in Italy's 2006 match-fixing affair, is also standing criminal trial for that scandal and was handed a suspended 18-month jail sentence in January for transfer market corruption.

Hart dismissed by Portsmouth

Paul Hart became the first Premier League managerial casualty of the season yesterday when he was sacked by bottom club Portsmouth.

"The board feels the team should have accrued more points to date and that we need a new man in charge to ensure Premier League survival," chief executive Peter Storrie said.

Hart was offered the role of technical director, developing players from the ages of 18-21, but declined it.

The club said they would announce a replacement "very quickly and until that time the players will be led by first-team coaches Paul Groves and Ian Woan".

Last month former Portsmouth and Chelsea manager Avram Grant was appointed director of football, shortly after Saudi Arabian businessman Ali al Faraj's takeover.

Ronaldo back for Zurich clash

Cristiano Ronaldo has been included in Real Madrid's squad for their Champions League game with FC Zurich tonight.

Ronaldo has missed Real's last 10 games with an ankle injury and was also unable to play in Portugal's World Cup play-off win over Bosnia-Herzegovina.

However, the 24-year-old returned to full training on Friday and could now feature against Zurich at the Bernabeu. Failing that, the former Manchester United forward will be keen to figure in the first El Clasico of the season against Barcelona at the Nou Camp on Sunday.

Beckham suffers from asthma

David Beckham has suffered from a mild form of asthma since childhood, the England midfielder's spokesman was quoted as saying in British newspapers yesterday.

The 34-year-old Beckham was photographed on Sunday using an inhaler during LA Galaxy's 5-4 defeat on penalties by Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer's championship game in Seattle.

"David has suffered with this since he was a young boy, but it has obviously had no effect on his performance," Beckham's agent Simon Oliveira was quoted as saying.

"He has never sought to make it public but if it does inspire any sufferer to think they can achieve great things like many other sportsmen have done then so much the better."

Toni falls out with Van Gaal

Bayern Munich striker Luca Toni has had enough of his club's coach Louis van Gaal and virtually given the Bavarian club an ultimatum that either the Dutchman goes or he will seek a transfer.

"I have had problems with him for four months now and there is a limit to everything," Toni told Italy's Rai television. "Our relationship is as good as over.

"I wish all the good in the world to Bayern. I would like to return to play in Italy to score the goals which would get me back into the national team.

"I am still the striker who has scored the most goals (of those still active) for the national team."

Wiley calls for end to Fergie row

Alan Wiley has decided against suing Sir Alex Ferguson for defamation but has expressed his "bitter disappointment" with the Manchester United manager's attack on his fitness.

Ferguson was given a four-match touchline ban, two of them suspended, and a £20,000 fine by the FA for saying Wiley "just wasn't fit enough" to officiate in United's 2-2 draw with Sunderland in October.

The United manager has apologised for his remarks and referees' union Prospect confirmed Wiley would not be pursuing a case for defamation against Ferguson.

Wiley said: "Although I was bitterly disappointed about the personal attack on me I want to put this behind me and continue to concentrate on my refereeing."

Babel ponders Liverpool exit

Liverpool winger Ryan Babel plans winter talks with Rafael Benitez - and is vowing to leave unless he plays more games.

The Dutch international is unhappy with the limited number of matches he has started with the Anfield club since his £11.5 million move from Ajax in the summer of 2007.

"I have tried to talk to the manager but it isn't of any use," Babel was quoted as saying. "I couldn't really do anything with the feedback Benitez gave me.

"We have agreed to look at my situation in the winter. If there's no improvement then, I have to be honest, I want to be somewhere else."