Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric is set to miss the rest of the year with a thigh injury, the La Liga club said yesterday.
Modric went off injured in the first half of Croatia’s Euro 2016 qualifier in Italy on Sunday and team doctor Boris Nemec’s initial fears, that tendon damage would keep him on the sidelines for over a month, have been confirmed by tests at his club.
“An examination by our medical staff have discovered a tear in a thigh tendon in his left leg,” Real Madrid said.
Caen could be expelled from league
Caen and Nimes could be expelled from Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 respectively should match-fixing allegations be proven, the French Lea-gue (LFP) chief said yesterday.
“If corruption, match fixing were to be proven, the League would impose the necessary sanctions with the greatest severity and I remind you that it could go as far as the exclusion from the league,” Frederic Thiriez told a news conference.
Caen chairman Jean-Francois Fortin was among nine people arrested yesterday on suspicion of fixing the result of a game between his team and Nimes last season, allowing the southern club to stay in Ligue 2, according to a police source.
Nimes president Jean-Marc Conrad has also been arrested.
Wolfsburg have title chance says Magath
Felix Magath believes his former club Wolfsburg have a good chance of winning the Bundesliga this season.
The Wolves are Bayern Munich’s nearest rivals with just four points separating the two sides in the standings.
“I have the feeling that this season, one which comes after a World Cup in which Bayern may not be as strong as in previous years, could be a chance for Wolfsburg like in 2009 to bring the title back to the Autostadt,” Magath said.
“They are a bit like Atletico Madrid, who can even hold their own against Real and Barcelona.
“And just like with Atletico, Wolfsburg can win the Bundesliga in this post-World Cup season.”
Rooney return possible – Kenwright
Everton chairman Bill Kenwright believes it is possible that Wayne Rooney may one day want to return to Goodison Park to finish his career with the Toffees.
Rooney, 29, came through the youth ranks at Everton, but left the blue half of Merseyside in 2004 to join Manchester United for £27 million.
Asked if he could see it happening one day, Kenwright told the BBC: “Yes. He comes back to Goodison.
“He’s an Evertonian and his family are. He is welcome to come back.”
Crespo ready to take Parma job
Hernan Crespo said that he would not hesitate to take the Parma job should he be offered the role.
Donadoni’s future has been the subject of speculation after Parma were mauled 7-0 by Juventus on their last Serie A outing, and the club’s problems deepened yesterday after reports that the club was facing a two- point deduction for failing to pay players’ salaries.
“I hope that Roberto Donadoni keeps Parma up and stays until the end of the season,” Crespo, who is in charge of the club’s youth set-up, said.
“But if the club asked me for my help during the season I wouldn’t shy away from it.
“I’m ready. I’ve been here for years and I know everything about this place.”
OM chief questioned over Gignac transfer
Olympique Marseille president Vincent Labrune has been held for questioning amid an investigation into the transfer of France striker Andre-Pierre Gignac, a source close to the probe said yesterday.
Labrune was being questioned in Marseille with OM director general Philippe Perez while former president Jean-Claude Dassier was being questioned in Nanterre, in the Paris suburbs.
Investigators are trying to figure out whether club officials took illegal commissions when Gignac was transferred from Toulouse in 2010.
Britain to probe EPL rights auction
British media regulator Ofcom said yesterday it would investigate whether the method used by the Premier League (EPL) to sell live media rights for matches to its home market distorted competition.
Virgin Media revealed in September it had filed a complaint over the increasing costs of showing Premier League matches, saying consumers were paying the price for the escalating bidding war between broadcasters.
The live rights for the games are currently split between Sky and BT.
The three-year rights package running to 2016 was sold for £3 billion, up 70 per cent on the previous deal, and Virgin has predicted the cost of the next round – which is expected to start towards the end of the year – could rise by a further 60 per cent.