Football news

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has leapt to the defence of forward Ryan Babel after he was charged with improper behaviour by the Football Association.

Babel was hit with disciplinary action after posting a picture and comments about referee Howard Webb on Twitter after Sunday’s FA Cup defeat at Manchester United.

Dalglish felt it was not the player’s deliberate intention to accuse Webb of bias.

“I think it is only a bit of fun,” said the 59-year-old Scot, who is the only Premier League manager who currently has his own Twitter account.

“Maybe I’ve been out of the game too long but let’s see if they can find a sense of humour,” he said.

Mertesacker focused on Werder Bremen

Werder Bremen defender Per Mertesacker is not listening to any offers, amid reported interest from the Premier League for his services.

The Germany international insists now is not the time to discuss his own personal future and, even if Arsenal and Liverpool are keen on him, he does not want to know anything about it.

“We are in a difficult moment with Werder and we should not be talking about me at this time,” he told reporters.

“I am needed here for our day-to-day work and it is my duty to concentrate on that. I cannot deal with anything else.”

Diouf may face FA action

The Football Association are looking into events during the FA Cup third-round tie between Blackburn and QPR. Rovers’ 1-0 win at Ewood Park on Saturday was overshadowed by the broken leg suffered by Rangers striker Jamie Mackie in a tackle with Gael Givet.

While he was lying injured, Mackie was reportedly taunted by Blackburn striker El-Hadji Diouf, leading QPR boss Neil Warnock to call the Senegal international the “lowest of the low” and a “nasty little person”.

Blackburn have yet to make any comment about the conduct of Diouf, who has been involved in a number of controversial incidents during his time in England.

Di Vaio eyes new Bologna contract

Marco di Vaio has no intention of changing clubs and wants to prolong his career with Bologna and end his playing career with them.

The 34-year-old striker scored Bologna’s winner against Bari on Sunday, lifting his team to 10th place in Serie A. He has scored 11 goals in 19 games this season.

Asked for his reaction to comments made by coach Alberto Malesani who likened his goals to ‘little jewels’, Di Vaio said: “The goals that matter are those that carry points.

“The coach has shown us the way forward and we have been very good at following it.

“Now, I can’t wait to sign a new contract. I want to close my career at Bologna.”

Knee injury floors Lazio’s Rocchi

Lazio are likely to be without Tommaso Rocchi for the next three or four weeks after sustaining a knee injury during training on Saturday, just 24 hours before the team succumbed at home to lowly Lecce 2-1.

Lazio said the injury is not as bad as first feared but the seasoned striker still has to stay on the sidelines for a few weeks to recover.

The former Empoli player has had a rehabilitation programme already drawn up and if all goes well he could be back within 21 days, Lazio said.

However, as well as missing three Serie A games, he will also be ruled out of the Coppa Italia derby against city rivals Roma today week.

Tragedy strikes Macclesfield again

English League Two side Macclesfield Town suffered their second tragedy inside a year on Monday as they announced the death of midfielder Richard Butcher at the age of 29.

Butcher died in his sleep according to the club. His body was found in his house after the alarm was raised when he failed to turn up for training.

His death comes just 10 months after then Macclesfield manager Keith Alexander – who signed Butcher five times during his career – died.

Aside from Macclesfield, Butcher – whose last game was a week ago in a 2-0 loss to Rotherham – also played for Kettering, Oldham, Peterborough, Notts County and Lincoln City.

Socceroos fundraise for flood victims

Tim Cahill and his Socceroo team-mates have led the domestic sports community in fund-raising for victims of the Queensland floods.

Nine people have died and 66 were missing after flash floods swept through parts of Australia’s eastern state on Monday.

Everton midfielder Cahill dedicated his two-goal performance in Australia’s 4-0 Asian Cup win over India in Doha on Monday to families affected by the floods.

Cahill used his goal celebrations to mime a telephone call and said it was to show his compassion and to encourage donations to those hard hit by the deluge in Queensland.