Football news

Three-match banfor Ibrahimovic

Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been handed a three-match ban after being sent off during Sunday night’s 2-1 win at Fiorentina, the Lega Serie A announced yesterday.

The Sweden forward was shown a red card in the 87th minute at the Stadio Artemio Franchi for saying something to the assistant referee.

Ibrahimovic’s eighth yellow card of the season resulted in an automatic one-match ban, with a further two games added for insulting the linesman.

The 29-year-old had only just returned from a two-match suspension, and will now be sidelined for league games against Sampdoria, Brescia and Bologna.

McLeish delays contract talks

Alex McLeish is to delay contract talks with several Birmingham players until the summer. The current deals of Sebastian Larsson, Lee Bowyer, Kevin Phillips, Stuart Parnaby, James McFadden, Martin Jiranek, Stephen Carr and Maik Taylor all expire this summer.

But McLeish is adamant no talks will be held until City’s fate has been resolved.

McLeish said: “Everything is on hold in relation to contracts. Nothing like that will be getting addressed just now.

“We have got to concentrate on climbing up the Premier League in the remaining seven matches.”

Favre demands more from Gladbach

B. M’gladbach coach Lucien Favre felt his side’s 5-1 triumph over Cologne on Sunday was a “very, very important win,” but warned there is still a lot of work to be done.

Prior to the local derby, Favre said his side would need to win four of their last six matches this season to stand any chance of avoiding relegation. That has now become three from five and, despite reducing the gap to safety to four points, Favre says his prediction still stands.

“We are happy with the three points and we now want to carry on like this,” he said.

“It was obviously a very, very important win, but everybody can read the league table and knows that we still need plenty of points before the end of the season.

“It was very nice for our fans because these derbies are special.”

Vargas keen to stay at Fiorentina

Juan Manuel Vargas wants to see out his contract with Fiorentina despite reported interest from several European clubs.

The Peruvian midfielder is under contract with the Viola until June 2013 and has been linked with Milan and Barcelona.

“The rumours do not interest me,” Vargas said.

“I am under contract with the Viola and I intend on seeing it through. All I am thinking about is finishing off the season well, which has been conditioned by injuries.”

The 27-year-old has scored twice in 19 Serie A appearances for Fiorentina this season.

Seedorf waiting on Milan offer

Milan veteran midfielder Clarence Seedorf has revealed that the club is yet to offer him a contract extension to remain at the San Siro.

The 35-year-old, who scored the opening goal in Milan’s 2-1 triumph at Fiorentina on Sunday, will become a free agent this summer.

“I am hearing a lot of rumours,” Seedorf said.

“I am awaiting an offer from Milan, as there are some concrete offers on the table from Brazil as well as other clubs.

“But my focus right now is on the scudetto, only then, I will think about my future.”

Seedorf joined Milan from city rivals Inter in the summer of 2002 and has since made well over 200 appearances for the Rossoneri.

Bougherra turns down new deal

Madjid Bougherra has turned down Rangers’ offer of a two-year contract extension and expects to leave Ibrox this summer. The Algeria international defender, who signed from Charlton in July 2008, has one year remaining on his current deal.

He said: “Rangers offered me a chance to extend my contract by another two years, but I politely refused.”

While a return to England appeals, Bougherra says he has other options.

He added: “My priority is to play in the Premier League, for sure. If it does not happen, I shall go and play in either Turkey or the Gulf countries.

“But for now, I’m still at Rangers and we still have a lot to play for this season.”

Reja concerned about Roma’s luck

Lazio beat Parma 2-0 on Sunday to move into pole position in the race for Champions League football next season. The three points allowed Edy Reja’s team to leapfrog Udinese by a point into fourth place with six games left.

Udinese lost a controversial game at home to Roma on Saturday night.

Roma trail Lazio by four points with Juventus also challenging for a Champions League finish, a further two points behind the Giallorossi. But it is their city neighbours who most worry Reja.

“I would say Roma are the closest challengers, they have a very good squad and then recently everything has been going for them... they’re lucky,” he said.