Football news

A company linked to Russian billionaire businessman Dmitry Rybolovlev has bought a controlling 66.67 per cent stake in AS Monaco, the ailing French club said. Monaco Sport Invest (MSI) “has committed to invest at least €100 million into Monaco F over the next four years.

This amount constitutes the guaranteed minimum and can be increased,” read the statement.

The remaining 33 per cent stake will continue to be held by the Association Sportive de Monaco Football Club “which represents the interests of the Principality”.

Monaco are one of the most decorated clubs in the French game. However, they were relegated from Ligue 1 at the end of last season and currently prop up the second division.

‘English disease’ a thing of the past

Arrests for football-related disorder in England and Wales hit a record low last season, official figures showed, raising hopes the “English disease” of hooliganism was now firmly in the past.

Despite being credited as the home of “the beautiful game”, English football suffered for years from violence between rival fans.

But in the 2010/2011 season, arrests were down nine per cent to 3,089, the lowest figure since records began 27 years ago, according to statistics released by Britain’s interior ministry.

Giggs ready to discuss new deal

Evergreen Ryan Giggs will shortly discuss his Old Trafford future with Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson, buoyed by still delivering high standard performances at the age of 38.

Ferguson described the Welshman’s contribution to United’s ­5-0 win at Fulham in midweek as “incredible”, and it also featured the midfielder’s first league goal of the season. That extended his record of scoring in every campaign since the inception of the Premier League in 1992.

“It’s almost that time when I’ll sit down with the manager and see what his plans are for the future so we’ll just have to wait and see,” Giggs said.

Doni released

Former Atalanta captain Cristiano Doni has been released from prison after admitting his part in a betting scandal to influence matches in Serie A and B.

Doni, already serving a three-year ban from football for bribery, has confessed to interrogators to working with a betting syndicate even though lawyers said his involvement was minor.

He will spend Yuletide under house arrest.

Dr Salvatore Pino said: “Doni gave very useful elements for the investigation, which show that his involvement is minor. You can understand he was involved, but in a significantly inferior way to what was previously believed by the authorities.”

Blues reject Terry shirt proposal

Chelsea have turned down a proposal for their players to wear shirts in support of captain John Terry who has been charged with racially abusing QPR defender Anton Ferdinand.

Liverpool were criticised in some quarters for allowing their players to wear T-shirts in support of Luis Suarez following the striker’s eight-match ban for racially abusing Patrice Evra.

Chelsea, who fully back Terry in his fight to clear his name, did not want to risk emulating something that could be viewed as provocative or construed as a potential contempt of court ahead of Terry’s hearing at West London magistrates court on February 1.

Napoli snap up winger Vargas

Napoli have announced the capture of Chile winger Eduardo Vargas from Universidad de Chile. The 21-year-old has passed a medical and signed a contract, according to Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis.

“I must inform you officially that we have bought Vargas,” De Laurentiis said.

“We signed the contract and won the competition for a very strong player.

“This is proof that we are constantly looking for young talents in the world that can help the growth of our team.”

No details of the length of contract or the fee paid have yet been given.

Bridge hits back at Mancini

Wayne Bridge has hit back at Roberto Mancini after the Man. City boss made it clear the full-back has no future at the Etihad Stadium and implied he was staying put for the money.

The 31-year-old collects a reported £90,000 weekly salary which other clubs are unwilling to match.

But Bridge responded by claiming he has never been offered an explanation for why he has been frozen out by Mancini.

“When I was at Chelsea I was playing for a team where Ashley Cole was the best in the world and I still got games,” Bridge said.

“It won’t happen at Man. City. There has never been an explanation... they don’t want me.”