Sporting briefs

Reja: Coach Edy Reja will not resign from his post at Lazio after his post-match comments suggested an element of ill-feeling with the club’s fans on Sunday following a 1-2 upset to Genoa. Reja’s agent said: “Reja will not resign. Even if he were to win 6-0 in the next game, there would be things to change. The situation remains the same”

Ben Arfa: Newcastle winger Hatem Ben Arfa will return to action in tonight’s League Cup third round trip to Nottingham Forest. The Frenchman has not made a competitive appearance for the Magpies since October 3 last year when he suffered a double leg fracture at Manchester City.

Gilardino: Fiorentina striker Alberto Gilardino will be out for up to six weeks with a fractured left shinbone. Gilardino suffered the injury in a clash with Udinese goalkeeper Samir Handanovic during Fiorentina 2-0’s away defeat at the weekend.

Friedrich: Germany defender Arne Friedrich parted company with Wolfsburg and had his contract cancelled by mutual consent with two years still to run. Friedrich has missed all six of Wolfsburg’s six Bundesliga matches so far this season and not trained with the team due to back problems.

Cole: The FA confirmed Ashley Cole would not face further action for his shin-high tackle on Javier Hernandez. Cole was booked for clattering into Hernandez as the striker shot wide in Manchester United’s 3-1 Premier League win over Chelsea on Sunday. Alex Ferguson claimed Cole should have been sent off, with the tackle the type of offence for which a red card is often shown.

In Italy: Serie B – Torino vs Brescia 0-0.

In England : The Championship – Ipswich Town vs Coventry City 3-0.