Football news

England midfielder Jack Wilshere will have a minor operation on his ankle at the end of the season, ruling him out of the friendlies against Ireland and Brazil.

The 21-year-old, seen as an integral part of Roy Hodgson’s plans for the World Cup, missed all the 2011/12 campaign through injury and was sidelined for several weeks after the defeat at Tottenham in March.

The procedure, which will remove a pin inserted during a previous surgery, means Wilshere would then be able to return for Arsenal’s pre-season campaign, which includes a tour of Asia.

Expensive tickets

One in 10 season ticket holders at top-flight English clubs will not renew their passes for next season due to the cost.

A further 22 per cent of fans have yet to decide whether they can afford to commit for another season, according to research from the Virgin Money Football Fans’ Index.

The survey also asked fans what they thought was a fair price for a season ticket – with the price stated £200 less than the Premier League average.

The most expensive season tickets are at Arsenal, costing £1,470, and Gunners fans believe £766 would be a fair price.

At Wigan, season tickets are £278 with Latics fans stating £259 as a fair price.

Serie B could be a blessing in disguise

Maurizio Zamparini believes Palermo’s relegation after nine years in Serie A could be a blessing in disguise. The owner has already accepted much of the blame for events in north Sicily, citing his decision to hastily dismiss coach Giuseppe Sannino in September.

Zamparini said: “I’m already planning for next year. The highest salaries will be revised and capped but it will not be a drama, we will make new investments.

“Relegation might prove to be a good thing – we could rise out of Serie B to build for a brighter future. Maybe nine years in Serie A have made me relax so having to re-emerge from Serie B could do us some good.”

Varane’s operation was a success

Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane has had successful arthroscopic surgery on the meniscus in his right knee, according to the club.

The France international was hurt in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Espanyol and had an operation in his homeland at a clinic in Beziers.

It is not known how long he will be sidelined but coach Jose Mourinho said he would miss Friday’s King’s Cup final against Atletico Madrid. Local media have re-ported the 20-year-old will be out for four to six weeks.

Varane’s injury also makes it unlikely he will be available for France’s tour to South America next month when they are due to play Uruguay and Brazil.

Messi hampered by hamstring

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi is set to miss the rest of the season after tests revealed the extent of the damage to his right hamstring.

Messi initially suffered the injury in the first leg of a Champions League quarter-final against Paris St Germain and he has been in and out of the team ever since.

The Argentine underwent a scan yesterday with a Barca statement revealing the results.

It read: “Tests showed that Leo Messi has an elongation in the femoral biceps in his right leg.

“The expected absence is two to three weeks.”

Barca’s final game of the season is scheduled for June 1 at home to Malaga.

Violence mars Paris SG party

Paris St Germain’s Ligue 1 title celebrations were cut short late Monday when 30 people were injured in clashes between spectators and police in the west of the French capital.

“Thirty people were injured, three of them members of the police forces,” Paris chief of police Bernard Boucault told a news conference.

“Twenty-one people were also arrested for questioning after throwing projectiles or causing damage.”

Boucault said “hundreds of troublemakers” spoiled the cele-brations.

He added some of those in-volved wore PSG shirts and climbed on to temporary scaffolding as the soccer club’s players were showing off the French champions’ trophy.

ITV deal for England qualifiers

ITV has won the right to show all England’s matches at home and away for the Euro 2016 and 2018 World Cup qualifying competi-tions.

The broadcaster has held the rights for home matches since 2008 but has now agreed a deal with UEFA for the away games too.

The deal also includes the rights to broadcast 20 non-home nation qualifying games.

Meanwhile, Sky Sports has agreed a deal for live coverage of all qualifiers involving all home nations apart from England.