Football news

Argentine striker Hernan Crespo has rejoined Parma, the Serie A club where he made his name, after finding opportunities limited at Genoa.

"I've always supported Parma and to come back is an incredible emotion," the 34-year-old former Inter forward told Parma's website (www.fcparma.com) yesterday.

Crespo previously played for Parma from 1996 to 2000, winning the UEFA Cup with the club in 1999.

To make room for Crespo, Parma said they had sold forward Nicola Amoruso to Atalanta.

Media reports have said Atalanta will now send struggling on-loan frontman Robert Acquafresca back to owners Genoa effectively making the deal a three-way swap.

Woodgate could be out of season

Tottenham Hotspur's former England defender Jonathan Woodgate could be out for the remainder of the season with a groin injury.

"Woody's out in America still. I don't know if we'll get him back before the end of the season," manager Harry Redknapp said at the Premier League club's training ground.

Woodgate has returned to the United States to spend a month with a specialist in a bid to solve the nagging injury that has restricted him to only two league games this season.

With Ledley King suffering with a chronic long-term knee problem that limits his appearances, Redknapp is looking to bring in another central defender in the transfer window.

Terry named over court injunction

England captain John Terry was named on Friday as the player behind a gagging injunction involving his private life following a High Court hearing in London.

The Chelsea defender had last week succeeded in securing an interim injunction against a newspaper publishing details about his alleged relationship with a "famous" woman.

But on Friday, the judge, Mr Justice Tugendhat, lifted the order, saying the information had become so widely available to so many people "it meant that an injunction was less necessary or proportionate than would otherwise be the case", the Press Association reported.

The order had covered the alleged relationship between LNS - as married Terry was referred to in court - and an unnamed woman which News Group Newspapers had wanted to publish last Sunday.

Barca elections for June

Barcelona plan to hold a presidential election on June 13 to replace the outgoing Joan Laporta, the European champions said on Friday.

The 47-year-old lawyer, whose second term comes to an end in June, has presided over one of the most successful periods in the club's history since taking the helm in 2003, during which time they have won three La Liga titles and two European Cups.

"The electoral process will not affect the team's progress," Laporta told a news conference. "The decision will be confirmed when the election is officially called at the end of April."

Arshavin playing through pain

Russia forward Andrei Arshavin is happy to play through the pain for Arsenal.

The 28-year-old is still nursing a niggling foot injury as he prepares to face champions Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium today, a situation he feels is not helped by English officials who are more lax than he is used to.

"The referees here do not whistle when someone just pushes you a little bit - it's seen as nothing, you must play on," Arshavin told the Daily Express.

"Of course that makes the game quicker, but for me it's not always great.

"With my knock at the moment I'm trying my best and after each kick I am feeling pain, but I still train every day. I've had a few other injuries. Basically it is simple - if I can play, I will."

Fiorentina to sign Seferovic

Fiorentina have reached an agreement with Grasshopper for the permanent transfer of Swiss striker Haris Seferovic, the Italian club confirmed.

The news comes just 24 hours after the Italian Olympic Committee announced Viola forward Adrian Mutu had tested positive for anti-obesity drug sibutramine.

The Romania international is temporarily suspended and could face a lengthy ban.

The 17-year-old Seferovic will undergo a medical before completing his move to Florence.

Seferovic last year led Switzerland to FIFA Under-17 World Cup glory, finishing the tournament with five goals including the winner in the final.

Bundesliga greats in Haiti match

A team of Bundesliga legends, including German star Lothar Matthaus and Brazil's Giovane Elber, will tackle the Haiti national side on March 7 to raise funds for the earthquake-shattered island.

"In the catastrophe, the Haiti federation lost 30 of its staff, our players almost lost everything. This match (in Augsburg) is a very good idea," said Yves-Jean Bart, the president of the Haitian football federation.

Haiti, 90th in the FIFA world rankings, made their only World Cup finals appearance in Germany in 1974.