West Ham striker Dean Ashton announced his retirement at the age of 26 yesterday because of an ankle injury he sustained on England duty three years ago.
Ashton has undergone several operations since picking up the injury in training session.
"This is a sad day and our thoughts are with Dean," chief executive Scott Duxbury said.
"I would like to place on record our thanks to him for all his efforts and wish him the very best."
Ashton joined West Ham for £7.25 million from Norwich in January 2006 and made one appearance for England.
Ancelotti hopes to avoid Milan
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti wants to avoid Milan in the last 16 of the Champions League.
"Chelsea-Milan would be a very particular situation for both of us. The emotional charge would be special," Ancelotti, who won two Champions League titles as Milan coach, said.
"I confess that I'd prefer to avoid meeting (Milan coach) Leonardo face-to-face at Stamford Bridge in February. But if it happens, it won't be a problem. Football puts these situations in front of you."
Ancelotti, who will be without Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou, John Obi Mikel and Michael Essien due to the Africa Cup early next year, said Chelsea were unlikely to sign reinforcements.
Ferguson rules out Campbell move
Manchester United have no intention of signing Sol Campbell despite their defensive worries, manager Alex Ferguson said.
Campbell has been linked with a free transfer to Old Trafford next month as the defensive problems pile up at the Premier League champions due to injuries.
Campbell is available to join another club after resolving his registration dispute with Notts County.
"I don't know where that has come from, but it's all wrong," said Ferguson.
"Sol has had a great career, but he's not the sort of player we are thinking about bringing to Manchester United. That deal is of no interest to us."
Romario convicted of tax evasion
Former Brazilian international footballer Romario was convicted of tax evasion for the second time by a court this week. The 42-year-old was sentenced to two-and-a-half years community service and ordered to pay a fine of $222,000.
The case relates to Romario's tax returns in 1996 when he played for Brazilian club Flamengo.
Romario was also convicted and sentenced on June 9 to three years in prison and fined $569,000 after accusations he evaded about $500,000 in taxes when he played for Flamengo in 1996 and 1997.
Romario, who scored 70 goals in 80 games for Brazil, announced in September that he is to run for election to the national parliament in 2010 with the Socialist Party.
Eto'o and Drogba on Africa shortlist
Three-times African Footballer of the Year Samuel Eto'o was among five players named on a shortlist for the 2009 award this week.
Cameroon and Inter striker Eto'o, winner in 2003, 2004 and 2005, faces stiff competition from Ivory Coast and Chelsea forward Didier Drogba, Ghana and Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien of Chelsea, Mali and Barcelona midfielder Seydou Keita and Ivory Coast and Barcelona midfielder Yaya Toure.
The five finalists were announced by the Cairo-based Confederation of African Football.
The winner will be announced on February 25 and is voted for by each coach of Africa's 53 member associations.
Spalletti named Zenit coach
Former Roma trainer Luciano Spalletti has been named coach of Zenit St Petersburg, the Russian Premier League club said. The 50-year-old Italian replaces caretaker coach Anatoly Davydov after signing a three-year contract.
Spalletti, who quit Roma in September after a poor start to the Serie A season, becomes Zenit's third coach in five months in what has been a turbulent year for the St Petersburg club.
Zenit sacked Dick Advocaat in August after a run of poor form, appointing Davydov until the end of the Russian league season.
Former Netherlands and South Korea coach Advocaat took over at Zenit in 2006 and guided them to the Russian title in 2007 and the UEFA Cup the following year.
Balotelli fed up with abuse
Inter striker Mario Balotelli is fed up with the abuse that comes his way.
The 19-year-old, has been the target of racist chants by Juventus fans and there were fears that last week's head-to-head between them would be suspended.
Juve fans argue their chants aimed at the forward are because of his confrontational attitude rather than his colour. Balotelli's attitude has also been criticised by coach Jose Mourinho.
"I let all the talk about me slide away, although sometimes I'd like to say: 'leave me in peace, let me live'," the Italy U-21 forward was quoted as saying.
"After a while you get fed up. You can't read the same things, almost always negative, every day."