Football news

Polish clubs will launch a landmark anti-racism campaign during this weekend’s top flight action as Euro 2012 puts stadium racism and hooliganism in sharp focus.

In a joint statement, the 16-club Ekstraklasa and the Warsaw-based body Never Again said that announcers would read out anti-racism messages ahead of the weekend’s games.

Rafal Pankowski of Never Again, who also runs a regional monitoring unit for the UEFA-backed Football Against Racism in Europe network, hailed the move.

“The involvement of the Polish league and clubs in an anti-racist campaign of this scale for the first time is quite an historic event for Polish society,” he said.

Six-year ban for Dutch hooligans

Dutch football federation chiefs have handed six-year stadium bans to 17 supporters found guilty of causing disturbances in Rotterdam.

The 17 accused, who are also the subject of criminal proceedings, started a riot in front of Feyenoord’s De Kuip stadium prior to the match against Dutch league rivals De Graafschap.

Around 1,000 fans had congregated at the stadium to protest some of the club’s policies, and after some had tried to break into club offices, several cars were wrecked.

Anti-riot police were called in and proceeded to fire warning shots into the air in an attempt to disperse the crowd. Four people were arrested on the spot.

Villas-Boas warns against hangover

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas has called on his team to shake off the after-effects of the international break and maintain their recent good form against Everton today.

The Blues turned on the style to record comfortable victories over Swansea and Bolton in their last two games, and Villas-Boas is keen for his team to maintain that momentum.

“The most important thing when an international break happens is for you to get into winning mode straight away,” Villas-Boas said.

Everton have proved to be awkward opponents for Chelsea in recent seasons and have not lost a league match at Stamford Bridge since 2006, recording five consecutive draws.

Moratti in dark over Eto’o rumour

Inter president Massimo Moratti has denied all knowledge of a move to bring Samuel Eto’o back to the San Siro.

Speculation in Italy this week suggested Inter were hoping to sign Eto’o on loan during the off-season in Russia, less than two months after selling him to Anzhi Makhachkala.

But Anzhi put out a strongly-worded statement denying their star man was available.

Moratti said: I’ve read the newspapers and I’ve seen the very ag-gressive reaction from the Russian club but they should know that it’s all news to me.”

Sturridge calm over England future

Daniel Sturridge has insisted he is not “stressing” about his failure to earn an England call-up.

The Chelsea striker is being tipped to be in the squad for next month’s friendlies against Spain and Sweden as manager Fabio Capello comes to terms with Wayne Rooney’s suspension for the opening three matches of the European Championship.

Capello has so far ignored Sturridge, despite the 22-year-old being one of the country’s form forwards in 2011.

“If England comes and I play for England then great,” Sturridge said.

“But I am not really worried about playing for England – it is not something I am really stres-sing about.

“My main focus is to play for Chelsea every week.”

Mancini in the dark over Tevez

Roberto Mancini has claimed he “doesn’t know” whether Carlos Tevez will play for Manchester City again.

Journalists attending Mancini’s pre-planned briefing ahead of today’s Premier League encounter with Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium were informed the subject of Tevez’s present disciplinary case was off limits.

However, the Blues boss was still asked whether Tevez had a future with the club.

“I don’t know,” said Mancini.

Ferguson calls for respect

Alex Ferguson has called for Manchester United supporters to respect Liverpool and cease singing about the Hillsborough disaster.

Ferguson takes his team to Anfield today and has requested Man. United fans stop chants about the 1989 FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough at which 96 Liverpool fans died.

“I always consider this to be the game of the season in English football,” Ferguson said.

“We need each other. Respect should be adhered to. Shouts of Hillsborough don’t do either club any good.”

His comments come after last month’s League Cup match between Leeds and Manchester United at Elland Road.

The game was marred by chants about the 1958 Munich air disaster.