Chelsea have launched an investigation after a supporter was photographed making an apparent racist gesture towards a Manchester United player.
The picture, published in more than one national newspaper, seems to show a fan making a ‘monkey’ gesture towards a United player during Wed-nesday’s League Cup clash.
Police are aware of the photograph and have also opened a criminal investigation.
This latest issue comes at a sensitive time for the club having lodged a formal complaint with the Football Association against referee Mark Clattenburg for using “inappropriate language” towards midfielder Jon Obi Mikel.
McCarthy takes over at Ipswich
Former Ireland coach Mick McCarthy has been appointed as manager of struggling Championship side Ipswich Town.
The 53-year-old has signed a contract to keep him at Portman Road until 2015. Terry Connor, with whom he worked at Wolves, will be his assistant manager.
“I’m obviously delighted to have been given the job as Ipswich Town manager and I’m looking forward to the challenge ahead,” McCarthy said.
“It’s a fantastic football club, with a proud tradition and history and a terrific fanbase.”
Zenit captain says sorry over strike
Russia captain Igor Denisov has begged Zenit SP for forgiveness after walking out on the club in protest at the salary paid to Brazilian new signing Hulk.
The midfielder has not played for Zenit since late September after refusing to train because of the reported €100m the team paid for Hulk and Axel Witsel.
Denisov was in the process of renegotiating his own $3 million contract that runs through 2014 and felt that the club was showing disrespect to players who won it the championship for the second year running last year.
Zenit said Denisov asked the club for a meeting that could help resolve the dispute. Denisov has been allowed to train with the team again.
Gervinho injured
Arsenal’s Gervinho will be out of action for three weeks with an ankle injury, ruling him out of tomorrow’s Premier League clash against Manchester United.
The 25-year-old forward was stretchered off in Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Queens Park Rangers last weekend and played no part in the club’s extraordinary 7-5 victory over Reading in the League Cup on Tuesday.
“Reading was an irrational game. Some of the players still have heavy legs. (There will be) no Wojciech (Szczesny), no (Kieran) Gibbs, no (Abou) Diaby as well. Gervinho is out for three weeks,” Wenger told reporters.
Pogba has long way to go – Alessio
Juventus assistant coach Angelo Alessio warned Paul Pogba that he has a lot to learn if he wants to be a success, despite the young midfielder’s goal sealing a 2-1 victory over Bologna on Wednesday.
Alessio told Gazzetta.it: “Pogba was fantastic and played a great game, but I have one criticism – he has to stay focused.
“After 20 minutes he became a bit distracted and that’s not good.
“Knowing (suspended head coach Antonio) Conte as I do, if Paul doesn’t tighten up that part of his game then he will not go far.
“Winning is never easy and today (Wednesday) we had to wait right until the end, even if we deserved to get there earlier.”
Eight indicted after U-21 brawl
Serbian prosecutors have indicted eight people, including four Serbian players, for their role in scuffles at the end of an U-21 Euro qualifier.
Four Serbian players, an assistant coach and three Serbian supporters face assault charges over the incident in Krusevac two weeks ago, which visiting side England claimed had been provoked by racist abuse.
England assistant coach Steve Wigley and defenders Steven Caulker, of Tottenham, and Leeds’s Tom Lees were also being probed by Serbian prosecutors, according to reports.
Their files will be transferred to British prosecutors, in keeping with an agreement in Serbian law on international legal co-operation.
Benzema, Kaka on target for Real
Karim Benzema and Kaka guided a weakened Real Madrid to a 4-1 win at third-tier Alcoyano in a King’s Cup last-32 first leg on Wednesday night.
The small town of Alcoy just north of Alicante, whose entire population of around 60,000 would fit inside Real’s Bernabeu stadium, were out in force to watch their side take on the nine-time European champions.
Benzema headed the opener on 20 minutes and the France striker set up captain for the day Kaka to score the second.
Real youth team player Jose Rodriguez curled in the third in the 66th minute, and after Alcoyano’s Javi Lara had beaten Antonio Adan at his near post with a free-kick, Benzema scored Real’s fourth near the end.