Kaka fears for Italian game

AC Milan midfielder Kaka believes Italian football is 'losing credibility' and has warned of the long-term implications of further football-related violence. 'These acts of violence risk keeping the star players and champions away from playing in Serie A,' he warned. [+]

Sevilla play down reports

Sevilla have insisted Juande Ramos remains their coach - but their players and Spanish journalists seem less convinced that the 53-year-old will stay. Ramos is reportedly the man Tottenham want to replace the sacked Martin Jol at White Hart Lane but he took training as normal on Friday after a brief chat with club president Jose Maria Del Nido. [+]

'It's time to deliver'

John Arne Riise has spelled out Liverpool's European task - no more mistakes allowed. The Norwegian defender will be part of the Champions League team to face Besiktas in Istanbul tonight in a Group D clash vital to both sides. Liverpool have taken just one point from two previous group matches, while the Turkish side have lost both their games in the competition. [+]

Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood has announced an extension of the 'lock-down' Agreement by club directors on the sale of shares in the club.

The move appears to rule out the possibility of a takeover bid in the immediate future at least.
Hill-Wood announced that club directors would only sell their stake to 'permitted persons' before April 2009 and had to give fellow board members 'first option' until October 2012. However, there was a termination clause in the agreement in October 2010.

Hill-Wood said: 'Members of the board are committed long-term shareholders and to strengthen the current position they have entered into a new agreement which replaces the existing lock-down agreement which expires next April.

'Under the new agreement, the board members have agreed not to dispose of any of their interests in the club before April 18, 2009, other than to certain permitted persons such as close family.

'After that date, for the remainder of the term of the agreement, they can only sell their shares to another person if the other parties to the agreement do not wish to buy them. The agreement is for five years (until 18 October 2012), although it can be terminated early by the parties on its third anniversary (18 October 2010).'

The original agreement came in the wake of vice-chairman David Dein's departure from the board due to 'irreconcilable differences', believed to be over the involvement of American businessman Stan Kroenke, who has acquired a 12.2% stake in the club.

Excluding Dein, the directors, who at the time of Dein's departure owned 45.45% of shares in the club, entered into the agreement for one year.

Dein has since sold his 14% stake to Russian businessman Alisher Usmanov, whose Red and White Holdings Ltd have now built up a stake of around 23%, prompting rumours he may launch a takeover bid +

Drogba wants to quit Chelsea

Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba wants to quit Chelsea three years after joining the Londoners. 'I want to leave Chelsea. Something is broken with the club,' Drogba is reported as saying in a magazine article due to be published on Friday. Drogba, who has scored 43 goals in the Premier League, was one of the players most affected by former manager Jose Mourinho's departure last month. [+]

Premiership Fixtures

12:45 UK
Everton
v
Liverpool
Goodison Park

15:00 UK
Arsenal
v
Bolton
Emirates Stadium

15:00 UK
Blackburn
v
Reading
Ewood Park

15:00 UK
Fulham
v
Derby
Craven Cottage

15:00 UK
Man City
v
Birmingham
City of Manchester Stadium

15:00 UK
Middlesbrough
v
Chelsea
The Riverside Stadium

15:00 UK
Wigan
v
Portsmouth
The JJB Stadium

17:15 UK
Aston Villa
v
Man Utd
Villa Park

Milan angry at Dida ban

AC Milan have described UEFA's decision to hand Celtic a small fine but ban Dida for two Champions League matches as 'disproportionate and illogical' to last week's Parkhead drama. [+]

Celtic must cough up £12,500 now, with the same sum suspended for two years, after a 27-year-old home supporter ran on to the pitch and gave Dida a cheeky tap following Scott McDonald's winning goal in the 2-1 victory over Milan on October 3.

UEFA's control and disciplinary body last night found Celtic guilty of charges of 'lack of organisation' and 'improper conduct of supporters', and the financial penalty was described by Hoops chief executive Peter Lawwell as 'proportionate to the incidence in question and a fair outcome'.

Celtic could have received a far greater punishment and will not appeal, however Milan have confirmed they will mount a challenge to UEFA's independent control and disciplinary body verdict.

Dida's reaction to being approached by the fan was found to have breached UEFA's 'principles of loyalty, integrity and sportsmanship'.