A roundup of today's other soccer news in brief:
Maicon's agent laughs off City link
THE agent of Maicon has laughed off reports linking the Inter Milan full back with a move to Manchester City. The Brazil international is a reported target of the big-spending Premier League side, but his representatives insists there is no likelihood of such a move.
“Every day there’s a story linking Maicon to a different club,” said Maicon’s agent Antonio Caliendo.
“First it was Real Madrid, then Manchester United and now City. I think Maicon has already reiterated his wish to remain at Inter.”
Maicon has been a key player in Jose Mourinho’s side and is under contract until June 2013.
“If the likes of Real or United knock on the door then you consider the eventual offers,” said Caliendo. “But we are talking about a top player who is fighting for the league title, the Champions League, the best player in his role, what would he be doing at City?
“I think it would be unthinkable, let’s not joke about it.”
Curbishley wins dismissal case
ALAN Curbishley has won his case for wrongful dismissal against West Ham after claiming he had no option but to resign.
A Premier League manager’s arbitration tribunal has upheld Curbishley’s claim for wrongful dismissal after he resigned last season following the club’s decision to sell Anton Ferdinand and George McCartney to Sunderland against his wishes.
The tribunal will now assess how much compensation the club will have to pay.
Riise denies seeking Liverpool return
NORWEGIAN defender John Arne Riise has denied he wants to leave Roma and return to Liverpool.
The former Liverpool left back moved to Italy in June 2008 after a seven-year spell on Merseyside, and was reported as saying he would like to come back to the club.
However, the Norway international has rejected the claim and said he is more than happy with the Giallorossi.
“I never said I want to return to Liverpool or to England and I have never issued those statements,” he said.
“I’m happy here and I want to stay at Roma.”
The Italian outfit have made a poor start to the Serie A campaign and have only managed 14 points from 11 games so far.
Riise will be playing against his brother Bjorn Helge when Fulham travel to the Stadio Olimpico tomorrow in the Europa League.
Uefa work on club spending controls
ENGLISH Premier League clubs and others must stop amassing huge debts and regulations will be drawn up to regulate team finances, Uefa president Michael Platini said yesterday. A Uefa committee will meet next week to begin devising rules to protect the financial welfare of European clubs.
“We have three years to regulate the situation,” he said. “The idea is not to kill the clubs but to help them have better balance. The philosophy to participate in our competitions is you must not spend more money than you receive.
“If (Manchester) United have €300 million and they spend €400 million – no! If Liverpool pay €60 million (interest) every year to the banks, it’s a lot of money.
“Every owner has asked me for a better philosophy, for better transparency. In Germany, debts are not accepted. In England they are.”
By putting in new rules we will protect the business of (Chelsea owner Roman) Abramovich, Massimo Moratti (at Inter) or Manchester United owner (Malcolm) Glazer.”
Ireland feared end was nigh after sudden illness on pitch
STEPHEN Ireland feared he was going to die when he was rushed to hospital after complaining of dizziness during the League Cup tie with Fulham.
The Manchester City midfielder had no-one near him when he suddenly felt unwell in the match at Eastlands in September.
He was promptly substituted by Mark Hughes but when his symptoms failed to improve, he was taken to Wythenshawe Hospital for exhaustive tests.
In the end, no reason for Ireland’s strange turn was established and he was released during the early hours.
“Thankfully it wasn’t too serious because at the time I thought that was the end of me,” he told the Manchester Evening News.
“I don’t know what it was. I have had every test that there is and I still don’t know but it was a bit of a strange scare.”
Ireland returned to action just 12 days afterwards. However, he has since lost his regular starting berth, having failed to find the form that marked him out last season.
