Football news

A Spanish court has rejected an appeal lodged by an Olympique Marseille fan sentenced to jail in Spain for assaulting a police officer during a Champions League match at Atletico Madrid in October.

Santos Mirasierra was sentenced to 3-1/2 years in prison in December after incidents during the game at the Vicente Calderon stadium but returned to France following his release on bail pending the appeal.

The Tribunal Superior de Justicia in Madrid said it had rejected the appeal and confirmed the jail sentence.

The case provoked outrage in Marseille and the club said that Mirasierra, who will appeal again, retained their full support.

'China's Bosman' set to join PSV

China midfielder Zhou Haibin looks set to join PSV Eindhoven in a move that challenges the right of Chinese clubs to retain the registration of out-of-contract players.

The 23-year-old, dubbed 'China's Bosman' by the media, finished his contract at Shandong Luneng at the end of last season and has since been negotiating a move to the Dutch champions.

The Chinese FA, however, instituted a rule in 2007 that allows Chinese clubs to retain the registration of players for 30 months after the expiration of their contracts.

Zhou's agent, surnamed Wu, said PSV had gone ahead with signing the player despite Shandong's reported objections.

Bruce resigned to losing Valencia

Wigan manager Steve Bruce is resigned to losing Luis Antonio Valencia in the summer.

The Ecuador winger was strongly linked with a move away from the JJB Stadium during January's transfer window but Wigan kept hold of him.

Spanish giants Real Madrid failed in a loan move for Valencia while Manchester United are believed to be lining up a bid for the wide man in the summer.

"It's inevitable he is leaving. There is so much interest in him - not just in this country but around the world," Bruce was quoted as saying.

"We do have someone in mind to come in, but that is five months off."

Santa Cruz focused on Blackburn

Blackburn striker Roque Santa Cruz has reiterated that he is happy to remain at Ewood Park.

Manchester City failed to sign the Paraguayan in the January transfer window and though Santa Cruz admitted he wanted to link up with former Rovers boss Mark Hughes, he insisted that he's happy with Blackburn.

"Of course I'm happy here, I never said any different," he said. "That hasn't been an issue. We have to focus on points to see ourselves better in the table.

"Even when I played before the window I was working as hard as always. Nothing's changed."

Ribery tempted to leave Bayern

France midfielder Franck Ribery hinted yesterday that he could be tempted to leave Bayern Munich at the end of the season.

"I feel very good at Bayern. I have a contract with them until 2011, everybody is nice to me and I speak better German," the 25-year-old Ribery said.

"But I can't be indifferent to the interest from big clubs," he added. "We will see what happens next."

Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich last month warned potential buyers that Ribery was not for sale.

Portsmouth reject Curbishley link

Portsmouth have strongly denied newspaper reports claiming that they were looking to replace manager Tony Adams with Alan Curbishley.

A report in yesterday's Daily Express suggested the Fratton Park club had approached the former Charlton and West Ham manager. But Pompey have not only rejected the claims, they also said in a statement that legal action will be taken against the English tabloid.

"Portsmouth FC has instructed its lawyers to begin legal proceedings against the Daily Express following an untrue story in Friday's newspaper that alleges Alan Curbishley has been approached to become the club's new manager.

"Tony Adams is the manager of Portsmouth FC and no-one else, including Alan Curbishley, has been approached to replace him."

Santon has great future, says Lippi

Italy coach Marcello Lippi has tipped upcoming Inter defender Davide Santon for a great future at club and international level.

The 18-year-old has been promoted to Inter's senior squad by coach Jose Mourinho to ease the Italian champions' injury problems and has caught the eye in his appearances.

Lippi seems to have been impressed with his qualities.

"I saw him play for the first time in Inter's Coppa Italia game against Roma and I was certainly impressed," Lippi said.

"In my opinion, Santon has all the potential necessary to become a champion and will surely have the chance to play for the Azzurri one day. I was really struck by his temperament, he knows how to handle pressure."