Football news

Hamburg yesterday confirmed the appointment of Thorsten Fink as their new coach.

The northern Germany club successfully negotiated a compensation package with Basel after identifying former Bayern Munich midfielder Fink as their preferred candidate to replace Michael Oenning, who was sacked last month.

Hamburg director of sport Frank Arnesen said: “Thorsten Fink was the coach I wanted.

“He fits in with HSV and with our philosophy. He will improve the team and develop us further.”

Fink, 43, had earlier pre-empted Hamburg’s official statement by announcing a deal had been done for him to quit the Swiss champions.

Ribery in new bid to ban book

French footballer Franck Ribery has launched a fresh bid to try and ban an unauthorised biography titled ‘The Hidden Face of Franck Ribery’.

The Bayern Munich star claims the book’s publishers and authors divulged confidential information relating to an ongoing judicial investigation into his alleged involvement in an under-age call-girl scandal.

Ribery’s legal team failed in their initial attempt to get the book banned last month.

Their argument that it infringed the player’s image rights by carrying a photograph of him on its front cover was rejected. His lawyers are appealing that decision.

Eto’o eyes Inter loan return

Samuel Eto’o is considering returning to Inter in January on a two-month loan deal, according to a report in Italy.

The Cameroon striker left the Serie A giants in the summer to join Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala in a £20 million deal.

However, La Gazzetta dello Sport claimed yesterday that Eto’o has offered to return to Inter when the Russian championship breaks in January and February.

The 30-year-old could feature in nine Serie A games and a Champions League tie should Inter agree to sign Eto’o on a short-term basis.

Terry urges fans to think big

John Terry has told Chelsea fans the club could win even more silver­ware if they moved to a bigger stadium.

The team captain spoke out amid what appeared to be growing opposition to owner Roman Abramovich’s attempt to buy the land the club sold to Chelsea Pitch Owners – who are made up mostly of fans – in the 1990s.

He told the club’s official website: “For us to have a bigger pitch would be a big benefit. We have suffered from this at the Bridge in the last few years when clubs come and ‘park the bus’, as we often say.

“Looking at Arsenal and Man. United, they are getting a lot more income due to their capacity than us without an owner dipping into his own pocket, like Roman has done consistently year after year.”

Hernandez pens new United deal

Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez has agreed a new five-year contract with the English champions, the player’s agent was quoted as saying yesterday.

The Mexican international has been rewarded with a long-term deal at the Premier League giants after a dazzling first season at the club which saw him finish with 20 goals in all competitions.

“We have renegotiated Javier’s contract and he is now committed for five years with Manchester United,” agent Eduardo Hernandez told The Guardian.

“I will not talk about numbers, but it is a five-year contract. It is a fixed salary with incentives based on the team’s success in each of the different tournaments.”

Merson held on ‘drink-drive’ crash

Former England footballer Paul Merson was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving after a motorway crash.

The 43-year-old Sky Sports pundit was breathalysed at the roadside after his Mercedes collided with a lorry registered to the Ministry of Defence on the M40 near Warwick on Wednesday.

A spokesman for Warwickshire Police said the crash happened between junctions 14 and 15 of the northbound carriageway at 3.12 a.m.

Merson was pictured leaving hospital with blood stains on the arms of his white shirt and cuts on his face. He appeared to have had stitches for one wound above his eyebrow.

Hartson makes gambling confession

John Hartson has claimed he is being hounded by bookmakers who want him to continue betting despite his battle to pay back his gambling debts.

The former Arsenal, Celtic and West Ham striker has also revealed he once owed over £300,000 to bookmakers, as well as banks and friends he had borrowed money from to feed his addiction.

Hartson, who has recovered from testicular cancer, said: “Some people just can’t let it go and they are still hassling me.

“They are still offering me the opportunity to bet, trying to make a way into my friendship,” Hartson told The Sun.