A round-up of today's other stories in brief...
Keane-Delaney bust-up denied
A REPORTED bust-up between Ipswich boss Roy Keane and defender Damien Delaney has been dismissed as pure rumour by the Championship club.
There had been reports the two had been involved in a heated argument during training, even coming to blows in the process.
However, the Suffolk club, who have lost six league matches in succession, denied the reports, claiming the relationship between the pair is perfectly fine.
In a statement, a club spokesman said: “Ipswich Town Football Club categorically refutes the malicious suggestion that an incident took place between the manager and Damien Delaney.”
Spartak Moscow warn Aston Villa off
SPARTAK Moscow have warned Aston Villa off making a move for Aiden McGeady. Villa were interested in McGeady prior to his move to Russia in the summer from Celtic and it has been suggested they may rekindle their interest in the January transfer window. McGeady has impressed at Spartak and the clubs sporting director Dmitri Popov insists the Republic of Ireland international is not for sale. “McGeady is certainly not for sale. It is not true that he is unsettled in Moscow. No-one has approached us from Villa yet but, if they do, our answer will definitely be a no.”
MANCHESTER Cityhave won the race to sign 19-year-old Israel midfielder Gai Assulin. Assulin, who was available on a free transfer after leaving Barcelona in July, had been chased by several clubs but City moved first to snap him up on a two-and-a-half-year deal.
He said: I had heard a lot about City, and as soon as I saw the club I wanted to stay. I’m at a great club and I hope to be here a long time. I have to take my opportunity and learn every day in training.”
Assulin became the youngest player to be capped by Israel two weeks before his 17th birthday.
Balotelli praises league for stance on racism
MANCHESTER CITY striker Mario Balotelli has praised the way “the Premier League has declared war to racism” after being spared the possible ordeal of playing in front of the Juventus crowd that has abused him in the past.
Balotelli will not be involved in City’s Europea League tie in Turin tomorrow evening, partly because the team have already qualified for the next stage of the competition but also because the manager, Roberto Mancini, is mindful of the problems that occurred there when the striker was playing for Internazionale.
The issue of racism in Italian football resurfaced last month when Balotelli was repeatedly booed while playing for his country against Romania and the 20-year-old has concluded he did the right thing leaving for England, where “the culture of integration is much more widespread than in Italy”.
Juventus supporters once held up a banner about Balotelli with the words: “A Negro cannot be Italian.”
Guardian Service
Mazembe reach World Cup final
TP MAZEMBE became the first African team to reach the Club World Cup final with a shock 2-0 win over Internacional of Brazil yesterday.
Goals by Mulota Kabangu and Dioko Kaluyituka stunned the South American champions and put the team from DR Congo into a final against Inter Milan or South Korea’s Seongnam.
The win also saw Mazembe become the first African team to beat a South American side in the competition. Kabangu put Mazembe ahead eight minutes into the second half when he was allowed space to take a headed pass and volley inside the far post past a static Renan.
Speedy winger Kaluyituka made the win safe for Mazembe five minutes from time when he turned a defender twice on the left before placing a low shot between the diving Renan and the near post.
Internacional dominated the first half but were left to rue a string of missed chances, the best coming when keeper Muteba Kidiaba saved point blank from Rafael Sobis.
Friedel plays down reports of rift
ASTON Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel has attempted to play down reports that team-mate Richard Dunne clashed with Gary McAllister in training last week.
It had been suggested that Dunne’s omission from Aston Villas starting team for their meeting with local rivals West Brom on Saturday was a direct result of a bust-up between player and assistant manager. Villa were able to see off the Baggies 2-1 and Friedel insists the supposed rift between Dunne and McAllister has been blown out of proportion. He said: “I never saw a proper bust-up at all, although I know he was left out of the team on Saturday.” While keen to play down that particular spat, Friedel admits there has been a lot of soul-searching in the Villa dressingroom of late following a difficult run. He added: “It’s not time to do a lot of talking among people in a negative manner. Its time for the players to go out on the field and get results.
Barton not to face FA action
JOEY Barton will not face disciplinary action from the English Football Association for apparently making an offensive gesture towards Liverpool’s Fernando Torres.
The FA have investigated the incident that happened during Newcastle’s 3-1 win over Liverpool at the weekend and have decided just to write to the Magpies midfielder.
An FA spokesman said: “We will be writing to him to remind him of his responsibilities.”
Speed confirmed as new Wales boss
THE Football Association of Wales have confirmed Gary Speed as the new manager of the national team.
The 41-year-old has signed a three-and-a-half-year deal to succeed John Toshack and was unveiled at a press conference yesterday afternoon.
Speed was given permission on Monday by Sheffield United to speak to the Football Association of Wales after they identified him as their preferred candidate.
“Its something that’s very difficult to turn down when your country comes calling. I’m a very proud man at this moment to be asked to be the manager of Wales,” Speed said after being presented to the media at a press conference.
Wales’ hopes of making the European Championships in 2012 are already over but Speed is hoping he can restore the confidence that the team exhibited under Mark Hughes.
