Warnock: Neil Warnock was sacked as manager of Premier League strugglers Queens Park Rangers yesterday, the club confirmed. The west London side are currently just a point above the relegation zone and have lost six and drawn two of their last eight league matches and on Saturday, they needed a last-minute goal to secure a 1-1 draw at Milton Keynes Dons in the FA Cup third round.
Quagliarella: Juventus forward Fabio Quagliarella suffered a broken cheekbone during yesterday’s 1-0 win at Lecce and will undergo surgery this week, his club said. Quagliarella was injured in a clash with Andrea Esposito in the 23rd minute and had to go off. His replacement, Alessandro Matri, scored the winner.
A-League: Central Coast Mariners extended their handsome lead at the top of the A-League to eight points with a hard-fought 1-0 away win over Sydney FC yesterday. The Mariners, who are unbeaten in 12 games, pulled away from reigning champions Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Heart, who were both held to frustrating draws at the weekend.
Arrested: A little-known Mexican goalkeeper Omar ‘The Cat’ Ortiz was arrested yesterday for his alleged role in a group of kidnappers whose victims included the husband of well-known singer Gloria Trevi. The 35-year-old – capped once by Mexico in 2002 – is alleged to have singled out potential targets for the gang, who are apparently linked to the Gulf drugs cartel.
Gyan: Ghana suffered a major blow to their Africa Cup of Nations preparations yesterday with an injury to top striker Asamoah Gyan. The United Arab Emirates-based Gyan is suffering from a tendon problem in his knee which has cast doubt on his participation in the January 21-February 12 event being co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.
Brandao: Brazilian striker Brandao, who faces rape charges in France, has finished his loan spell with Gremio and will rejoin Marseille. Brandao is expected to return to Marseille this week but a source close to the club told AFP that “there are still a few judicial things to sort out”. The 31-year-old had been loaned to Gremio until the end of December.