FIFA is in the process of gathering information on the alleged racism directed at young Manchester City player Seko Fofana in Croatia last week.
The 19-year-old claimed he was subjected to the abuse during City’s elite development squad’s friendly against HNK Rijeka. Croatia’s football federation said it will be looking into the allegations.
“We are aware of the incident,” said a FIFA spokesman.
“In this respect we are in contact with the relevant member associations to monitor the situation.
“We will be in a position to further evaluate the matter, once we gather all relevant data.”
Vertonghen plays down speculation
Jan Vertonghen says there is no truth in rumours he wants to leave Tottenham to join Barcelona.
Vertonghen has become a regular feature in Tottenham’s back four, playing left-back and centre-back over the past two seasons.
The Belgium defender’s agent suggested several clubs were interested in the 27-year-old, including Barcelona, whose influential centre-back Carles Puyol retired.
“Rumours will always be there, but I just go back to Tottenham,” Vertonghen said.
“Interest from a great club like Barcelona pleases me of course.
“Where there’s smoke, there’s fire, they say, but for the moment there is certainly no fire.”
Ambitious Berget
New Celtic signing Jo Inge Berget is looking to achieve his ambition of playing in the Champions Lea-gue following his move to the Parkhead club.
The Norwegian completed a six-month loan deal from Cardiff on Monday and went straight into the squad for the first leg of their Champions League qualifier at Legia Warsaw tonight.
Berget, 23, who played for Parkhead boss Ronny Deila at Stromsgodset, said: “It happened pretty fast but I am really happy that it worked out.
“I have been in the qualification before but have never played in the Champions League so hopefully I will be able to go there.”
Lens promotion confirmed
Lens’s promotion to Ligue 1 has finally been rubber-stamped but they will be subject to restrictions in the transfer market this season.
The club earned their elevation last season but were initially prevented from taking their place in the top flight after failing to provide financial guarantees.
An appeal to the French Olympic Committee (CNOSF) was accepted last week after an injection of funds from Azeri owner Hafiz Mammadov and the French Football Federation (FFF) confirmed the decision but with conditions attached.
The details of the financial sanctions will be determined by the National Directorate of Management Control (DNCG).
Ferdinand: I was ready to retire
Rio Ferdinand admits he was ready to turn to a television career and retire from football before Harry Redknapp offered to bring him to QPR this summer.
Ferdinand, 35, was allowed to leave Manchester United at the end of last season after 12 successful years at Old Trafford.
The defender was a free agent while he worked as a television pundit at the World Cup in Brazil and although several offers came from England and abroad, he was preparing to hang up his boots before Rangers came in.
“If I had not come back to London, I probably would have re-tired,” Ferdinand said.
“I would have done television. I enjoyed the TV work in summer so I would have done more of that I suppose.”
Lippi confident of AFC title defence
Guangzhou Evergrande have looked far from convincing in their AFC Champions League title defence but coach Marcello Lippi believes they can beat Western Sydney Wanderers in the quarter-finals.
Guangzhou enjoyed a stellar 2013 with Lippi when they became the first Chinese team to be crowned continental cham-pions in 23 years.
“The injury and absence of various players contributed to loses earlier in the competition. However, the most important thing was that we qualified for the quarter-finals,” Lippi said.
“We are now scouting our opponents but we have enough time to fully prepared for these games.”
Puma beat its expectations
German sportswear firm Puma said sales of World Cup football boots and national team shirts beat its expectations as it reported second-quarter results in line with analyst forecasts and reiterated its expectations for 2014.
Puma said sales fell 5.8 per cent to €52.2 million but were up 0.6 per cent when stripping out the impact of volatile currencies.
The company hopes for a boost to sales in the second half after it ousted Nike as kit supplier to Arsenal from next season.
It will also launch its biggest campaign to date on Aug. 7 timed to coincide with the busy back-to-school season, showcasing athletes including sprinter Usain Bolt, football star Mario Balotelli and golfer Rickie Fowler.