Dutch police said they had arrested a fourth teenager in connection with the shocking beating to death of a linesman.
The 16-year-old from Amsterdam was arrested on Thursday evening, police said, meaning two 15-year-olds and two 16-year-olds are now in custody for the fatal beating.
A team of 20 policemen is investigating Sunday’s assault by amateur players from Amsterdam club Nieuw Sloten on Richard Nieuwenhuizen, 41, of the Buitenboys club in Almere.
Police said they had interviewed around 10 witnesses and that there may be more arrests.
They appealed for anyone who might have filmed or photo-graphed the attack on the assistant referee to come forward.
Verratti dismisses transfer rumours
Young PSG playmaker Marco Verratti said reports that he will be axed by the French club along with coach Carlo Ancelotti were way off the mark.
Recent reports have again linked the former Pescara player with Juventus, the club who courted him in the summer before PSG agreed to pay his €12m asking price.
“It’s pleasing to know that Juve are following me because they are a great side, but I have to just think about PSG,” Verratti said.
“You’ll also see that Ancelotti will stay here as well. He’s a great coach and this negative period is certainly not down to him.”
Bradford appeal against expulsion
Bradford announced yesterday that they have appealed against the FA’s decision to remove them from the FA Cup for fielding an ineligible player.
Curtis Good, on loan from Newcastle, played in Bradford’s second-round tie against Brent-ford but the club had not received permission for him to play.
The tie was scheduled to be decided in a replay, only for the FA to announce earlier yesterday that Bradford had been expelled from the competition.
Laudrup, Michu ‘staying put’
Michael Laudrup has assured Swansea fans he and Michu are going nowhere. The Dane has guided the Swans to a superb start and they currently sit seventh in the league.
Michu, 26, has already been linked with some clubs in Italy, while Swansea fans have also become fearful that Laudrup could be lured away in the same manner Roberto Martinez and Brendan Rodgers were before him. But Laudrup said: “I am happy here and I think Michu is happy here as well.
“There has been a lot said because everyone talks about Michu. I understand that be-cause he is up there with Van Persie and Suarez and a lot of clubs would like to sign him.”
Italian giants vie for Balotelli
Speculation over Mario Balotelli’s possible departure from Manchester City intensified yes-terday, a day after the striker’s daughter was born in his native Italy.
Balotelli is enduring a turbulent season at the English Premier League champions.
But despite recent links to Milan, a club he has admitted to supporting, the Italian sports media has spiced up the rumour mill by claiming former club Inter and champions Juve are also chasing the player’s signature.
The reports come a day after model Raffaella Fico gave birth to the couple’s baby girl, who has been named Pia.
Balotelli is reported to be planning a trip to Italy next week.
2016 CLeague final for San Siro?
The venue for the 2016 Cham-pions League final will be an-nounced next spring but reports in Italy are already saying that the San Siro will host the Euro showdown in four years’ time.
Wembley Stadium will play host to the final next year and UEFA has already decided on 2014 (Stadium of Light – Lisbon) and 2015 (Olympiastadion – Berlin).
Now, the Italian media are saying that a deal has already been struck with UEFA for the 2016 final to be played in Milan.
It would be the fourth time that the Champions Cup is handed over at the San Siro following the finals of 1965 (Inter winners), 1970 (Feyenoord) and 2001 (Bayern Munich).
’Well fans ready to get on board
Two Motherwell supporters are set to be elected to the club’s board early next year after the Well Society laid out their fan ownership vision at a meeting at Fir Park late Friday.
The supporters’ group have been handed a 15% stake and been told by the club that there are immediate vacancies for two directors. The society now plan to elect two members to join the Premier League club’s board in the opening weeks of 2013.
Members have raised almost £400,000 since January and will receive another 5% of the club’s shares when they hit their next milestone of £500,000. They will assume a controlling stake when they hit the £1.5m mark.