Football news

Young Manchester City midfielder Abdisalam Ibrahim has signed a new four-year contract at the club.

The 18-year-old academy graduate has broken into the first team under Roberto Mancini this season, making his debut in the FA Cup match at Scunthorpe in January and more recently appearing in the Premier League against Burnley on Saturday.

"I am really happy; I am going to enjoy the moment. It is really exciting for me," said the Norwegian.

"The contract gives me time to learn my trade and push my claims. I couldn't be at a better club."

Mediaset challenges Sky Italia's rights

Italian broadcaster Mediaset said it has asked an international court to arbitrate in a dispute with Sky Italia over pay-TV rights for the World Cup, another twist in the row between the arch-rivals.

"Mediaset has started an action before the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris against the missed sale of rights for the digital terrestrial platform," a Mediaset spokeswoman said.

"Sky has refused talks to sell the rights," she said.

Sky Italia bought pay-TV rights for Italy to transmit World Cup matches from state broadcaster RAI, which retained rights to transmit key matches from the South Africa tournament for free.

Moratti thirsting for revenge

Inter president Massimo Moratti has warned Barcelona the Nerazzurri will be out for revenge in the Champions League semi-finals.

The two-legged semi-final will give Inter the chance to avenge their 2-0 group-stage defeat in Catalonia last November.

And Moratti cannot wait to see his side put their five-match winning run in the Champions League to the test.

"The semi-final will be difficult, but very fascinating," Moratti said.

"I think each of our players will be motivated by their desire for revenge. Inter now has a different strength than in the qualifying round. And every one of the players will be alert."

Barcelona book China date

European champions Barcelona and their superstar forward Lionel Messi will play China's Super League winners Beijing Guoan at the Bird's Nest Olympic Stadium in August.

"Barcelona's Beijing match is basically set for August 8 in the Bird's Nest," the Beijing Youth Daily quoted promoter Xia Haifeng as saying.

"They will be bringing their top line-up. This is stipulated in the contract."

Xia said that 30 per cent of Barcelona's appearance fee had already been paid, although he did not specify the amount involved.

Messi, widely hailed as the best player in the world, is just one of the draws in the star studded line-up of the Spanish giants.

Ferguson plays down Rooney fears

Alex Ferguson insists Wayne Rooney did not suffer any long-term damage as Man. United bowed out of the Champions League on Wednesday.

Ferguson took a calculated gamble to risk Rooney's ankle injury against Bayern Munich and confirmed afterwards his striker had aggravated the problem during a 3-2 win that condemned United to an exit at the quarter-final stage.

Rooney is now likely to miss Sunday's trip to Blackburn.

However, the United boss is confident his 34-goal forward will be fit for the derby trip to Manchester City on April 17.

"He got a knock which was similar to last week," Ferguson said.

"It is a burst blood vessel below the ankle. He won't be out for too long."

Kostner fears Dzeko departure

Wolfsburg manager Lorenz Gunther Kostner admits he is unsure whether Edin Dzeko will be able to resist the temptation of a move to the Premier League this summer.

Man. City and Chelsea are interested in signing the Bosnia striker. The 24-year-old has continued his emphatic record this term by scoring 18 league goals.

He has a clause in his contract that would allow any would-be suitors to take him for £36m.

"There are rumours flying around about Dzeko not just in England, but in Spain and Italy as well," said Kostner.

"Dzeko will finish the season a Wolfsburg player, that's for definite, whatever happens after that is down to rumours."

SPL won't rule out artificial pitches

The Scottish Premier League have expressed an "open" mind about the return of artificial pitches.

As well as causing a record number of postponements, one of the harshest winters in living memory has left many SPL pitches in a poor state, forcing clubs to spend hundreds of thousands of pounds on remedial work this summer.

There has been a general opposition to artificial surfaces in Scotland since Dunfermline installed one seven years ago and were forced to tear it up after two seasons.

SPL secretary Ian Blair said: "We are open to it as a possibility, but we would require a demonstration that it was going to be effective.

"We as a league are not promoting artificial surfaces, but there is a facility within our rules for a club to come forward and it's certainly possible that it would be approved."