A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Chelsea consider reconciliation gesture towards Clattenburg
Chelsea will consider making a gesture of reconciliation towards Mark Clattenburg after the English FA dismissed their complaint that the referee had racially abused John Mikel Obi during the defeat to Manchester United last month.
While the form that gesture will take has yet to be determined, it is unlikely to be the simple apology demanded by the referees’ union. An apology would potentially appear to undermine the club’s support of the Ramires, who remains insistent he heard the official say “shut up you monkey” to Mikel yet there is recognition within the Chelsea hierarchy of the damage inflicted upon Clattenburg’s reputation.
Discussions continue within the club as to how they will proceed but they await the outcome of the personal hearing sought by Mikel for a misconduct charge.
The official will return to the fray as fourth official in tomorrow’s Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham game and will referee Norwich’s visit to Southampton on Wednesday.
Guardian Service
Brazil to begin search for new coach as Menezes is sacked
Brazil have sacked coach Mano Menezes. The Brazilian Football Confederation confirmed the decision following a meeting of their hierarchy.
Squad director Andres Sanchez revealed a new boss would be announced at the start of January and there were at least seven candidates in contention.
Sanchez did not give any names, but local reports named former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola along with Luiz Felipe Scolari and experienced coach Muricy Ramalho as the leading contenders.
Menezes' dismissal comes just two days after Brazil won the Superclasico de las Americas against Argentina on penalties.
Brazil lost the second leg 2-1 in Buenos Aires, but triumphed on spot-kicks in the tie which featured only players who play in the two countries' domestic leagues.
Menezes lasted little more than two years in the job, having been appointed after the 2010 World Cup as the replacement for Dunga.
He failed to deliver an expected Olympic gold medal this year, as the team lost to Mexico in the final.
Italian FA apologises with Uefa set to make decision on chants Uefa
Uefa's disciplinary unit will decide next week whether Lazio will face punishment after sections of their support allegedly chanted anti-Semitic abuse at Tottenham Hotspur fans during Thursday's Europa League game in Rome.
The Italian FA has written to its English counterpart apologising for a "disgraceful attack" on visiting supporters in Rome before the game and saying it was "detrimental to the image of Italian football".
Two men have been charged with attempted murder after 50 masked men launched an assault on Spurs fans at a bar in Campo dei Fiori in central Rome. A decision on the chants is likely to be made on Monday.
Guardian Service
