Football news

Four Serbian fans have accepted plea bargains to avoid jail time over the violence that prompted a Euro 2012 qualifier between Italy and Serbia last October to be called off.

Fans, including the infamous Ivan Bogdanov, the presumed ringleader, threw flares and bangers onto the pitch in Genoa and at rival Italian fans.

On Tuesday, Strahinga Toljagic, 24, was convicted of threatening public officials and given a two-year prison sentence. Nedad Radovic, 30, Goran Stanic, 25, and Vladimir Dedic, 28, were all convicted of threatening public officials and sentenced to 22 months.

The terms of the plea bargain will see all four avoid prison time and instead be excluded from Italy for five years.

McFadden to stay, McLeish says

Scotland striker James McFadden still has a future at Birmingham City, his manager Alex McLeish insists despite a season wrecked by injury.

The player, who moved to St Andrew’s from Everton three years ago, has been sidelined since August with knee ligament damage and is still some distance away from a return to full training.

But the Blues have an option on his contract which McLeish intends to activate.

“We will not be letting James McFadden leave at the end of this season,” the coach said.

“The worst that will happen is that we will be taking up the option (on his contract).”

Spurs’ Modric out for two weeks

Tottenham midfielder Luka Modric will be out for around two weeks after having his appendix removed.

The Croat underwent surgery yesterday, meaning he could now miss the Champions League last-16 first leg against Milan.

He sat out last night’s Premier League game at Blackburn and will be unavailable for Saturday’s home clash with Bolton and the following weekend’s trip to Sunderland.

Tottenham said: “Luka was diagnosed with acute appendicitis after contacting our medical staff complaining of abdominal discomfort.

“He is likely to be sidelined for around two weeks.”

Ferguson sticks to his guns

Alex Ferguson has revealed the secret that underpins his stellar career in football management – leave no room for self-doubt.

It is not a trait anyone tends to think of when discussing the Manchester United manager. Rightly or wrongly, Ferguson often leaves no room for manoeuvre when a decision has been made and rare are the times he corrects them.

“I very seldom have self-doubt,” said the United boss.

“The thing I always think about making a decision is not to have any doubts about it. Why go to bed at night having doubts? Be clear.

“You must have clarity in your decision-making. What is right and what is wrong. To me it is black and white. I try to erase doubts.”

Palermo set crazy Pastore fee

Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini has warned Manchester City they would have to make a “crazy” bid to prise playmaker Javier Pastore away from Palermo.

The 21-year-old has been a reported target of City as well as other top European clubs, including Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Zamparini revealed that a Man. City representative had called him this week.

He said: “The team manager from Manchester City called me. But I cannot speak English so I asked for a fax, but never heard back from them.

“In any case, had he asked me about Pastore I would have said he is not for sale. If the (City owner) Sheikh (Mansour) wants to do something crazy, then let it be.”

Germany ahead of Italy – Bierhoff

Germany’s general manager Oliver Bierhoff has criticised Italian football ahead of the clash between the two nations next week.

Bierhoff graced the Serie A stage with both Udinese and Milan as a player, but he claims the Italian league has fallen light years behind the Bundesliga since he hung up his boots.

“The Azzurri reflect the crisis in Italian football,” he said.

“It is no coincidence that the Bundesliga has overtaken Serie A in the five-year rankings for the European cups.

“You just have to look at the infrastructure. Look at the stadia, the equality in the league and the level of the teams. German football is simply better right now.”

Lennon shrugs off defensive crisis

Neil Lennon says he won’t lose any sleep about Celtic’s defensive injury crisis as they prepare to face Rangers in the fifth round of the Scottish Cup on Sunday.

Celtic have conceded just 14 goals, the meanest defence in the country, and have not let in a goal in eight of their last nine league matches to help Lennon look with confidence at this weekend’s clash with their bitter rivals.

His confidence had been further boosted by their seeing off Aberdeen 3-0 on Tuesday.

“Based on the way they played against Aberdeen then, yes, I would be confident,” he said.

“Charlie (Mulgrew) and Mark (Wilson) are both experienced. If we go in with those two on Sunday then so be it. The way they played against Aberdeen it won’t be a major sleeping issue for me.”