Injured Arsenal right back Mathieu Debuchy will be out for at least six weeks and possibly three months manager Arsene Wenger said yesterday.

“We will know tonight. He has an exploration of his ankle,” Wenger said when asked about the French international.

“They are going to look at how the ligament is damaged and after that we’ll know. If he doesn’t need surgery it will be six weeks. If he does, it will be three months. At the moment we don’t know.”

The 29-year-old Debuchy suffered the injury during a 2-2 draw with Manchester City last week.

Brandao given six-month ban

Bastia striker Brandao has been suspended for six months for his post-match headbutt on Paris SG’s Thiago Motta in August.

The Brazilian was handed a provisional four-week ban the week after the incident but the full case has now been assessed.

“Brandao will be available to play again on February 22, 2015,” the league’s disciplinary committee said in a statement.

It is the second time the former Marseille player has been suspended for foul play. He also received a three-match ban last season for elbowing another PSG player, Yohan Cabaye.

Pardew accuses fans of ‘mass hysteria’

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew risked antagonising irate fans even more yesterday when he labelled the tide of public opinion against him as “mass hysteria”.

Supporters called for him to be sacked during last weekend’s dire 4-0 drubbing at Southampton but after talks with owner Mike Ashley, Pardew is still in the job.

“This situation at the moment is almost like mass hysteria,” he told reporters.

“It’s gone to a level which makes it really difficult for players to perform in. I’m hoping we can turn that around but the environment for the players on Saturday (today) will probably be as tough as it’s ever been.”

Partizan condemn anti-semitic banner

Partizan Belgrade have condemned their fans who displayed an anti-semitic banner during the Europa League match against Tottenham and asked Serbia’s government to identify the offenders.

A small group of die-hard Partizan fans displayed a banner reading “Only Jews and Pussies” as a mock-up of the motif of the “Only Fools and Horses” British television comedy series.

“Partizan distances itself from the anti-semitic banner whose message is an outrageous insult to the vast majority of Serbia’s citizens and to Partizan’s true supporters,” the club, who are facing a UEFA investigation, said.

“We condemn the perpetrators of this act which is not just anti-semitic, but also an act of hatred against Partizan and Serbia.”

Milan made Conte approach – Galliani

Adriano Galliani revealed he made an approach for ex-Juventus boss Antonio Conte (picture) about taking the Milan job, but said he is happy with Filippo Inzaghi.

Inzaghi was named Milan’s new coach in the summer following the departure of Clarence Seedorf, and the club’s general manager Galliani says he has high hopes for the 41-year-old.

“Let’s just say there was a bit of flirting (with Conte),” Galliani told Il Corriere della Sera.

“Conte is a fantastic coach and I think Inzaghi is very similar to him.

“Inzaghi is always very motivated. We’ve signed players who fit in well with his ideas and there is total harmony – between me, him and the president Silvio Berlusconi.”

FIFA best in world for ethics – Blatter

FIFA has an exemplary ethics set-up unmatched by any other sports organisation, its president Sepp Blatter said yesterday.

“Since the reforms, we have had an exemplary organisation in ethics... we have two chambers, with independent chairmen,” Blatter told the World Summit for Ethics in Sports.

“We are the only sports organisation which has this independent body for ethics, nobody else, not even the IOC.

“What is important is that they are totally independent, they have been elected by the congress.”

Blatter said that FIFA’s ethics committee was entirely independent and, since 2011, had consisted of two parts – the investigatory chamber, responsible for investigating breaches of ethics, and the adjudicatory chamber, which determines sanctions.

Drogba relishing Lampard reunion

Didier Drogba is relishing a Chelsea old boys’ reunion with Frank Lampard tomorrow, even though the midfielder will be in the light blue of Manchester City.

Drogba and Lampard, Chelsea’s record goalscorer following 13 seasons at Stamford Bridge, were key components of the team which delivered the Blues’ first championship in 50 years in 2005 and went on to win further honours.

Drogba insists Lampard re-mains part of the Chelsea fabric despite his friend’s new surroundings.

“I can’t wait to see him,” Drogba said.“It is a pity that I came back and he’s not here anymore.

“It doesn’t matter the team where he is playing, he is a Chelsea player, for what he did.”

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