Soccer Shorts: The English FA and Greater Manchester police are investigating Ben Thatcher's elbow-first challenge that hospitalised Portsmouth's Pedro Mendes during Wednesday's Premier League game.
Manchester City defender Thatcher was booked after crashing into the Portuguese midfielder early in the second half of the goalless match as both players chased a ball over the touchline. Mendes was knocked unconscious and suffered a seizure.
City issued a statement yesterday containing an apology from Thatcher. "Manchester City can confirm that Ben Thatcher has personally written a letter to Pedro Mendes to apologise to him following the tackle in the match last night," it said. A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said they were investigating the incident after receiving complaints.
Lerner wins Villa race
Randy Lerner has received the backing of former rival Michael Neville after finally winning the battle to take control of Aston Villa. The consortium led by life-long Villa fan Neville had been striving for 10 months to become the new owners of the club. But Neville's decision not to make a formal offer - along with another potential bidder in deputy judge Nicolas Padfield - has left the way clear for Lerner's £62.6million bid for Villa to be accepted. It means the 57 per cent of shares owned by Villa chairman Doug Ellis and Jack Petchey can now be formally transferred to 44-year-old Lerner.
And acquiring 75 per cent of shares will mean Lerner assuming full control and being in a position to sanction moves in the transfer market by new manager Martin O'Neill.
Bid for Reyes rejected
Arsenal have rejected Atletico Madrid's bid for forward Jose Antonio Reyes. Vice-chairman David Dein confirmed the offer for the 22-year-old Spain international had been turned down by the Gunners, and suggested Reyes may stay at the Emirates Stadium this season.
Reports in Spain said Atletico had made a bid for Reyes in the region of £8.1 million. However, Arsenal were reported to have placed a £12.2 million price tag on the Spain international who has made no secret of his desire to return to the Primera Liga.
Juventus appeal again
Juventus have launched an appeal with a civil court to overturn their relegation for match fixing despite a threat of extra sanctions from Italy's football federation, a spokesman for the club said yesterday.
Juventus were stripped of their last two Italian titles and demoted them to the second division, where they will start the new season minus 17 points.
The Italian football federation (FIGC) has said it would impose extra sanctions on Juventus if they turned to the regional Lazio court. Despite the threat, Juventus have initiated the appeals procedure by informing the FIGC that they will be filing an official request at the Lazio court.
Spurs eye Baptista
Tottenham have lined up a deal for the Brazilian midfielder Julio Baptista from which Real Madrid would expect to net £12.85 million. Instinctively, Baptista is opposed to the move and though he has been told he is unlikely to play many games for the Bernabeu club this season, he would prefer to remain and fight for a place than to transfer to White Hart Lane.
"I have said 300 times that I don't want to leave Madrid," said Baptista.
Martins signs deal
Newcastle yesterday completed the £10 million transfer of Obafemi Martins from Internazionale after the striker passed a medical and signed a five-year contract.
Martins then saw his new side complete their convoluted journey into the Uefa Cup proper last night despite being shut out by Latvian minnows Ventspils and had to make do with the single goal they scored in Riga a fortnight ago.
In brief . . .
Celtic have completed the signing of striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink from PSV Eindhoven for around €3.4million . . . Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon is hopeful of landing Ashley Cole before the transfer window closes next Thursday - with or without William Gallas as part of the deal . . . Bolton's Sam Allardyce is attempting to bring in three players before the transfer window closes and has stepped up his efforts to clinch the signing of striker Nicolas Anelka from Fenerbahce . . . Spain winger Joaquin will sign for Valencia on a five-year deal from Real Betis for a reported fee of €25 million, Spanish media reported yesterday . . . Portsmouth have been linked with a £5 million move for Egyptian target man Mido, who left Tottenham after an 18-month loan deal finished at the end of last season and failed to agree terms with Blackburn . . . Reading will not appeal against the red card awarded to Ibrahima Sonko at a key moment of the 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa on Wednesday for fear of getting an additional two-match ban . . . Middlesbrough have allowed Abel Xavier to train with them after his ban for failing a drugs test ended . . . Sylvain Distin will see out the remainder of the year of his contract with Manchester City after deciding not to join Middlesbrough last night.
