A round-up of today's soccer news in brief

Togo get four year African ban lifted

TOGO had their four-year ban on competing in the African Nations Cup lifted yesterday by the African Confederation of Football (CAF).

Togo withdrew from this year’s tournament in Angola after two members of their delegation and the team bus driver died in an ambush in the province of Cabinda.

While the world expressed horror and sympathy, African soccer’s governing body handed them a four-year ban, saying they had not properly withdrawn from the tournament and that the players had been forced home because of the pressure of their government.

However, Fifa president Sepp Blatter brokered an agreement with the CAF to have the ban lifted.

Fabregas sends a mixed message

ARSENAL captain Cesc Fabregas is set for another summer of transfer speculation following what the Spain midfielder claims was his “best” season for the London club.

Speaking yesterday to press in Spain, the 22-year-old was asked: “If you leave Arsenal, will it be for Barcelona?”

He replied with a smile and a “yes”, which obviously pleased the partisan crowd.

“I think I would like to go to Barcelona, whether or not they want me is another thing.”

However, the Arsenal captain – who has a long-term contract with the club – also stressed: “I don’t know when it will happen. I am happy at Arsenal and I am not in a rush to leave.”

Mascherano ponders future

JAVIER Mascherano has delayed signing a new contract with Liverpool as he waits for the uncertainty surrounding Rafael Benitez and the club’s financial future to be resolved.

The Argentina captain has been in negotiations over a long-term extension for several months and is believed to have agreed in principle to the terms on offer.

However, the 25-year-old has resisted putting pen to paper and has now returned home to Argentina in preparation for the World Cup. It is likely the contract will remain unsigned until Mascherano returns from South Africa, raising questions over his Liverpool career for the second successive summer.

Leonardo takes his leave of Milan

LEONARDO announced yesterday he was leaving as AC Milan’s coach after just a season in charge, confirming one of the worst-kept secrets in Italian soccer.

His departure is by mutual consent after he expressed unhappiness in the role and media reports said club owner and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was less than impressed with the rookie coach’s tactics.

“We mutually announce that we are parting,” the Brazilian said. “It was a mutual choice made in a calm way. Our paths are separating but friendship and respect remain.”

His last game as coach will be tomorrow’s final Serie A match of the season at home to Juventus which will confirm Milan’s third-place finish.

Italian clubs put in waiting game

ITALIAN soccer club presidents must wait for as much as 10 days to find out if a judge has ruled a pivotal television rights deal unlawful, judicial and legal sources said yesterday.

A Milan court heard an appeal yesterday from small operator Conto TV, which says the way Serie A satellite TV rights for the next two seasons were sold to Sky Italia was unfair.

If the judge rules in Conto’s favour then the €1.149 billion contract could be blocked and Italian clubs would suddenly be in serious financial trouble given much of their budget planning is based on TV deals.

However, Conto TV chief executive Marco Crispino was not confident his action would be successful.