Paul Gascoigne has been arrested on suspicion of drugs possession.
Gascoigne, 43, spent Thursday night in police custody on suspicion of possessing a class A substance at a house in Burradon.
A Police spokesman said: “At shortly after 5.30 p.m. on Thursday, police attended a property in North Tyneside. A 43-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of a class A drug.”
Gascoigne’s arrest came days after the ex-England midfielder was warned he faced jail after admitting drink driving at Newcastle Magistrates Court.
Rivas wants to leave Inter
Nelson Rivas, 27, will probably seek pastures new in the January transfer window. The Colombian, on loan at Livorno last year, was left out of the Inter squad by Rafael Benitez so far this season.
Rivas’s agent Fernando Hidalgo said: “He is training with Inter, but unfortunately he can’t find any space in the squad. He could leave in January, but that depends on a number of different situations that the market creates.
“We’ll just have to see what happens over the next two or three months but I have nothing to report and we are not in contact with any other club.”
Zigic laughs off Sporting talk
Birmingham striker Nikola Zigic has played down reports linking him with a move to Sporting Lisbon and insists he is happy at St Andrew’s.
Zigic made the £6m move from Valencia to Blues during the summer transfer window. He has so far struggled to command a regular first-team spot although he did net his first league goal last weekend against Arsenal in a rare start.
But the Serbia international has laughed off claims that he will be ready to leave City.
Zigic said: “I was aware of the speculation about Sporting Lisbon and I found it quite amusing. But really I am a Birmingham player. I enjoy being here. I am certainly going to try my best for the club and something I want to do is progress my career here.”
Lampard still out but Drogba back
Frank Lampard will remain a frustrated by-stander as Chelsea look to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League when struggling Wolves visit Stamford Bridge today.
While striker Didier Drogba is ready to return after missing the last two games with a virus, Lampard continues to work on the comeback trail. Lampard has been out of action since August 28 following a hernia operation, but is slowly closing in on full fitness.
“Frank is progressing really well,” assistant first-team coach Paul Clement confirmed.
“He had a terrific session earlier in the week, doing some individual work. He is really pushing himself. Frank is very frustrated and can’t wait to get back.
“We have missed him and we look forward to him returning.”
Young delays contract decision
Ashley Young has told Aston Villa he will not be signing a new contract before summer of 2011.
The 25-year-old, signed from Watford by Martin O’Neill in 2007, insists he is happy at Villa Park but does not want to be distracted.
He said: “I’ve told the people at Villa that I won’t be signing a new contract at the moment.
“I know they want to get it done now but my current deal still has a year to run after this season and I feel there is plenty of time to talk next summer.
“I want to stress that I have no problem with Aston Villa. I love the fans and I’m very much enjoying my football.”
Young cost Aston Villa just short of £10 million when signing as a 21-year-old.
Pompey on brink of liquidation
Portsmouth last night announced they were on the brink of being closed down.
The club released a statement saying that the club faces going out of business unless a deal with former owner and creditor Alexandre Gaydamak and prospective buyer Balram Chainrai can be struck – described as “impossible” in a statement from Pompey.
Portsmouth were relegated from the Premier League amid financial strife last season, during which they were docked nine points for falling into administration.
It was revealed in April that Portsmouth owed a combined total of £38.2 million to previous owners including Gaydamak and Sulaiman al Fahim, out of a total debt of £119 million.
DFB football chief Zwanziger re-elected
Theo Zwanziger was yesterday re-elected as president of the German Football Federation (DFB) for a third term.
Zwanziger, 65, will remain in his post until 2013 after receiving a unanimous vote from the 255 delegates of the DFB, one of the largest sporting federations in the world with 6.7 million registered members.
A lawyer by training, the father-of-two was the sole candidate for the role at the head of the DFB.
During Zwanziger’s time as head of the football federation, the German national team reached the semi-finals of both the 2006 and 2010 World Cup tournaments and the 2008 European Championship final.