World Cup 2010: Didier Drogba Ruled Out Of The Tournament After Fracturing Elbow - Reports

The Chelsea ace sustained a problem with his right elbow... French media sources are reporting that Didier Drogba has been ruled out of the World Cup after he sustained a fractured elbow in the first 20 minutes of Cote d’Ivoire’s friendly encounter with Japan in Sion, Switzerland earlier today. L'Equipe and Canal+ both claim that the Chelsea striker's hopes of playing have completely vanished after Ivory Coast boss Sven-Goran Eriksson had earlier confirmed the injury and admitted he was 'concerned' about his skipper's hopes of competing in South Africa. With only a quarter of an hour gone in the game, Drogba clashed with Japanese defender Tulio, leaving him a little dazed. Tulio, the scorer of both a goal and an own goal against England last week, went for the ball with his leg raised, while Drogba's right arm came up simultaneously. The resulting collision between the Ivorian's elbow and Tulio's knee was purely accidental, but the Chelsea forward was ultimately withdrawn due to the injury. CSKA Moscow’s Seydou Doumbia was quickly brought into the frey. Drogba, who is rated as the third best player in the world by the Castrol Rankings, had already made his influence tell in the early stages of the game, when his free kick was deflected home by Brazilian-born Tulio. Despite the loss of Drogba, the Ivorians went on to win the game, which was played over three 45 minute periods, 2-0, though they will not relish a trip to South Africa without their recognised star forward.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez leaves by mutual consent

Liverpool have announced manager Rafael Benitez has left the club by mutual consent after six years in charge. Benitez, 50, replaced Gerard Houllier as Liverpool manager in June 2004 and guided them to Champions League and FA Cup success the following two seasons. But last season they made an early exit from the Champions League and finished only seventh in the Premier League. Managing director Christian Purslow and former manager Kenny Dalglish are to begin the search for a replacement. The club said there is no timeframe for an appointment and they will make no further comment until a new manager has been installed. "I'll always keep in my heart the good times I've had here, the strong and loyal support of the fans in the tough times and the love from Liverpool," he told the club's website. "I have no words to thank you enough for all these years and I am very proud to say that I was your manager. "Thank you so much once more and always remember: You'll never walk alone." Recently-appointed club chairman Martin Broughton thanked Benitez for his efforts, but said it was time for a new era. "Rafa will forever be part of Liverpool folklore after bringing home the Champions League following the epic final in Istanbul but after a disappointing season both parties felt a fresh start would be best for all concerned," he said. Former Valencia coach Benitez had been linked with Real Madrid and Juventus in recent months, but with both those clubs now having new men in charge he could be in the running to fill the vacant position at European champions Inter Milan following the departure of Jose Mourinho. One thing that could delay the appointment of a permanent successor to Benitez at Anfield is the uncertainty over the club's future ownership. Liverpool are £351m in debt and were put up for sale by co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett earlier this year. The American pair's ownership of the Reds has been a long-running source of discontent for many fans, who are unhappy with the way the club is being run, and there have been regular protests and public disputes. Benitez had a fractious relationship with the pair, who admitted sounding out former Germany coach Jurgen Klinsmann about the possibility of taking over from Benitez at the end of 2007, when they feared he could leave the club. BBC Sport understands that Dalglish is unlikely to play a role in the future management of the club, and the Reds are happy for Benitez's assistant Sammy Lee to take the reins until after the World Cup if necessary. Fulham manager Roy Hodgson and Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill have been mentioned as potential targets to take over in the long term, as has former Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink, although he recently signed a contract to become coach of the Turkish national side. But whoever takes the job may have to accept that major additions to the squad are unlikely without first selling players, with BBC Sports News correspondent Dan Roan will have a summer transfer budget of between £10m and £15m. Former Liverpool defender Mark Lawrenson told BBC Sport that Benitez's biggest legacy would be the memory of the team's miraculous comeback to win the 2005 Champions League final. But Lawrenson said that ultimately Benitez was brought down by his failure to have cover for key striker Fernando Torres when he got injured last season. "He will be remember for that unbelievable European Cup win when they came from 3-0 down to beat Milan, which came very early and how fantastic that was, but he slipped up last year," he said. "He didn't have a good enough replacement for Torres, and the season fell flat on its face." In addition to that famous victory in Istanbul, Benitez brought the FA Cup to Anfield in 2006 when captain Steven Gerrard produced a magnificent performance to help the Reds edge past West Ham on penalties. But the Premier League title, the prize so desperately wanted by Liverpool fans forced to watch bitter rivals Manchester United gradually draw level with their haul of 18 championships, proved beyond Benitez. Well we wish him good luck in his future endeavours. Liverpool fans will definitely not be happy with this. Thank

Arsenal reject Barcelona's bid for Cesc Fabregas

Arsenal have rejected an offer from Barcelona for captain Cesc Fabregas. Barcelona announced on Wednesday they had made a formal approach for the midfielder, 23, who has indicated an interest in moving to the Nou Camp. But a statement on the Arsenal website on Wednesday read: "Yesterday evening we received an offer from Barcelona for Cesc Fabregas. "In response, we immediately and resolutely told them once again we have no intention of selling our captain." The Arsenal statement added: "To be clear, we will not make any kind of counterproposal or enter into any discussion. "Barcelona have publicly stated that they will respect our position and we expect that they will keep their word." Barcelona initially revealed they had made an approach for Fabregas via their Twitter feed on Wednesday morning. The Spanish giants subsequently told BBC Sport that talks with Arsenal over a deal for the midfielder, who is with Spain's World Cup squad, "became formal" on Tuesday. "An informal conversation with Arsenal became formal on 1 June and now an official approach has been made to the club," said a Barca spokesman. "Before 1 June, under English rules, we could not make an official approach to Arsenal for Fabregas, but that changed on Tuesday. "I don't think there is a special advance on, say, the price or anything, but it has moved on now." Barcelona have made it clear they regard Fabregas, 22, who played in the youth team at the Nou Camp before moving to north London seven years ago, as one of their chief transfer targets this summer. Fabregas signed an eight-year contract with the Gunners in 2006 and has been quoted as saying he would only join Barcelona if he left the Emirates. Barcelona director general Joan Oliver revealed on the club's official website: "Everybody knows that Cesc wants to sign for Barca and that we also want him to come here, but there is also a third party involved - Arsenal. Any agreement has to be with them. "We've now made a formal written offer, which we presented to Arsenal yesterday [Tuesday] afternoon." The vice-president of the Catalan club, Rafael Yuste, added: "I'm optimistic that he'll be able to sign for Barca as soon as possible and it's clear that everybody here will give him a warm welcome. "We'll do nothing that might make it more difficult for him to come here and we won't rush things - but we won't stop either." "An informal conversation with Arsenal became formal on 1 June and now an official approach has been made to the club," said a Barca spokesman. "Before 1 June, under English rules, we could not make an official approach to Arsenal for Fabregas, but that changed on Tuesday. "I don't think there is a special advance on, say, the price or anything, but it has moved on now." Barcelona have made it clear they regard Fabregas, 22, who played in the youth team at the Nou Camp before moving to north London seven years ago, as one of their chief transfer targets this summer. Fabregas signed an eight-year contract with the Gunners in 2006 and has been quoted as saying he would only join Barcelona if he left the Emirates. Barcelona director general Joan Oliver revealed on the club's official website: "Everybody knows that Cesc wants to sign for Barca and that we also want him to come here, but there is also a third party involved - Arsenal. Any agreement has to be with them. "We've now made a formal written offer, which we presented to Arsenal yesterday [Tuesday] afternoon." The vice-president of the Catalan club, Rafael Yuste, added: "I'm optimistic that he'll be able to sign for Barca as soon as possible and it's clear that everybody here will give him a warm welcome. "We'll do nothing that might make it more difficult for him to come here and we won't rush things - but we won't stop either." Barca also revealed on their website that club director Raul Sanllehi and technical secretary Txiki Begiristain will direct their negotiations. Fabregas revealed last month he had spoken to Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger about his future. "It was probably the greatest conversation I have had with someone in my life," said Fabregas. "I respect him so much. He told me to concentrate on my football and the World Cup and he will deal with whatever happens in my future. "It's not up to me any more. It's just now about Arsenal and whoever it has to be and that's it. I don't want to say anything else. "I just want to be focused for the World Cup because it's the most important thing. The rest, the future, I'm not interested in the future." His father Francesc Fabregas, who is also his agent, believes talks between the clubs could be protracted. "The negotiations between Arsenal and Barcelona are going to be very long," he told Radio Marca last month. "Both parties are going to have to sit down several times because the matter is complicated." Should Fabregas move to the Nou Camp he would become Barcelona's second summer recruit after the £34m signing of Spain and Valencia striker David Villa.

Benni McCarthy dropped by South Africa

South Africa coach Carlos Alberto Parreira has dropped West Ham striker Benni McCarthy from his final 23-man squad for this summer's World Cup. The 32-year-old, who is his country's record goalscorer, has struggled with his fitness and come in for criticism at home for being overweight. McCarthy was one of five players cut from Parreira's provisional squad. Premier League midfield duo Steven Pienaar of Everton and Fulham's Kagiso Dikgacoi were both selected. Portsmouth defender Aaron Makoena - who became the first South African to reach 100 caps in the 5-0 friendly win over Guatemala on Monday - was also picked by the World Cup hosts, who open the tournament at Soccer City against Mexico in a Group A clash on 11 June. Other surprise omissions from the squad were goalkeeper Rowen Fernandez, who plays for German side Arminia Bielefeld, and defender Bryce Moon, who plys his trade in Greece with PAOK. Moon was seen as the likeliest player to deputise at right-back behind Siboniso Gaxa but the slot went to Anele Ngcongca, who is also able to operate in midfield. Uncapped Maritzburg United goalkeeper Shuaib Walters was selected ahead of Fernandez. Left-back Innocent Mdledle and left-side midfielder Franklin Cale were the other two players left out of the final squad. "I am not going to talk about individuals who did not make the final squad. We applied five principles when making our choices," Parreira told a news conference. "This is not the end of the road for the five footballers whose dreams I have cut short. There will be other opportunities to play for the national team." McCarthy has scored a record 31 goals in 79 caps for South Africa and represented the Bafana Bafana at both the 1998 and 2002 World Cups. His relationship with the national side has not always been an easy one - he has twice previously retired from international football when it clashed with his club career in Europe, damaging his reputation in his homeland. A knee injury has limited his involvement for West Ham since joining them on 1 February from Premier League rivals Blackburn. He featured in only one of South Africa's four warm-up matches last month, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 2-1 win over Colombia at Soccer City on 27 May. In the two warm-up matches prior to this, South Africa secured a goalless draw with North Korea and beat Jamaica 2-0. The subsequent victory over Guatemala made it 11 games unbeaten for Brazilian coach Parreira since taking charge of the side. After facing Mexico in World Cup Group A on 11 June in Johannesburg, South Africa play Uruguay five days later ahead of a final clash with France on 22 June.

Mourinho unveiled as new Real Madrid boss

Jose Mourinho has been officially paraded in front of the press as the new manager of Real Madrid. Mourinho, who led Inter Milan to an unprecedented treble last season, takes over from Manuel Pellegrini who was sacked after finishing second in La Liga and failing to get past the Second Round in the Champions League. Mourinho is the Spanish giants' ninth coach in six years, with Real paying a reported €8 million in compensation. Mourinho said: "I don't know if I was born to coach Real Madrid but I was born to be a football coach. I love important challenges. I am Jose Mourinho and I don't change. I arrive with all my qualities and my defects. "My attraction to Real Madrid is due to its history, its frustrations in recent years and its expectations to win. It's a unique club and I believe that not to coach Real leaves a void in a coach's career. Luckily, I've had a beautiful career and it makes me proud to have come here. "I am very enthusiastic. I want my players to think that way. The beauty is not so much to train or play at Real, but to win at Real Madrid.'' With Real's history of disposing of managers regularly regardless of success, Mourinho insisted he was not afraid for being sacked. "I think a coach needs to be ready to be sacked,'' Mourinho said. "But if a coach fears that, he doesn't work well and has great problems. I am a coach that has a lot of self-esteem and confidence and I don't think about the possibility of being sacked. "I think four years of contract is enough to win, to build a strong team for the present and the future. The sacking of Pellegrini doesn't make me happy. I am never happy when a coach is sacked. But football is like that. I have a lot of confidence in my players, I have the hope that my new players have confidence in me.'' Mourinho shed little light on what he will bring to Real but outlined his vision for the future of the club. He said: "It's too early to speak about changes. I believe it's time to analyse the situation, to get to know my club, ask lots of questions and get answers. I need to realise the direction of my work. The most important thing is not the coach or the players but the club. "We are too small compared to the dimension of the club. If we work as a group, it's not difficult to get results. I want this group to have an identity, to win everything. The strength of my team is always the team and not the individuals. "Cristiano Ronaldo is an incredible player not only for Real but for the whole of football. Cristiano is a winner and it's not difficult to persuade him of this.'' When asked if this was his greatest career challenge, Mourinho said: "I cannot say this is the biggest motivation in my career. My biggest ambition is always the next one. Right now it is Real Madrid. I don't change my level of ambition or motivation. I gave everything to every club where I have been and I will do the same here. "I don't feel any kind of different pressure. I am a coach that improves day-by-day. I arrive with everything a coach can win at club football.'' Mourinho refused to shed light on Real's transfer objectives. "I don't like to talk about players because their prices will go up if I do,'' Mourinho said. "The club is happy with the roster of last season and so am I. We don't need major changes. "We need three or four players for the coach to have more possibilities to get closer to my ideal of a team. But I don't think it's going to be a summer with a lot of changes. I think it will be a more calm summer with all the focus on the World Cup. "I am not anti-Barcelona. I am coach of Real but Barca doesn't worry me. My only concern is to grow Real. Barca are great rivals and we respect them. If I am hated at Barcelona, it is their problem but not mine. Fear is not a word in my football dictionary.'' The former Chelsea manager had kind words for Inter. "I hope my former players can win everything in Italy but not the Champions League,'' he said. "I cannot forget the group that I4ve had. Inter has a team for the future. "They will need a quality coach and the coach that arrives will need to be intelligent and follow the path he needs to follow. Whoever arrives will be lucky because they will get the chance to play in three finals, the Italian Super Cup, European Super Cup and World Club tournament, a present I have left.'' Real sporting director Jorge Valdano said: "Mourinho has signed a contract for four seasons. It's an honour to have with us one of the most prestigious coaches in the world. We are delighted to have him here with us. "The best thing for our club right now, is to have Mourinho with us.''

Uefa introduces tough penalties for spendthrift clubs

Profligate clubs face being banned from the Champions League and Europa League after European football's governing body Uefa approved new plans. The example of Portsmouth, who became the first Premier League team to go into administration, has highlighted the financial excesses in England. Uefa president Michel Platini has now passed rules which would force clubs to operate within their means. Clubs will only be able to spend what they themselves generate. Big cash injections from wealthy benefactors like the owners of Chelsea and Manchester City would also be restricted under Uefa's Financial Fair Play plan. The system is being phased in and bans would not be able to be imposed theoretically until the 2014-15 season at the earliest. Clubs are required to restructure themselves over the next three seasons so they are financially solvent. Uefa general secretary Gianni Infantino said: "The main rule is the break-even requirement which will be phased in over the next three years. "It is not as easy to swallow for everyone but everyone understands it is necessary. They are there not to punish clubs, they are there to help clubs. We don't want to kill anyone, this is why we have a phased-in approach." But money invested in stadiums and youth development will not be included in the number-crunching. The rules will also forbid clubs owing money to their rivals, players and staff or the tax authorities at the end of the season. Portsmouth were a glaring example of a club which owed millions in unpaid transfer fees, image rights, tax and VAT. Earlier this year, Infantino estimated 50% of clubs in Europe were making losses and 20% were in financial peril. Big transfer fees can still be paid but clubs will need to generate sufficient funds through ticket sales, TV money and commercial revenue. "If clubs want to spend €50, 60 or 70 million, why not, provided they have the money coming from their revenues, this will continue in the future. The problem is when you don't have the money," Infantino added. The European Clubs' Association's president, former German international Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, welcomed the move, commenting: "The measures will shape the future of European football into a more responsible business and ultimately a more sustainable one."

Javier Hernandez acquires permit to seal Man Utd move

Mexico striker Javier Hernandez has sealed his move to Manchester United from Chivas de Guadalajara after the Home Office granted a work permit. The 22-year-old, who is set to travel with his country to this summer's World Cup finals, had agreed terms with United and passed a medical in April. United have not disclosed the fee for Hernandez, but he is believed to have cost somewhere in the region of £6-8m. He will officially join the Red Devils on 1 July. The diminutive forward - affectionately known in Mexico as 'Chicharito', which roughly translates as 'little sweet pea' - scored in Mexico's 2-1 friendly defeat to the Netherlands in Freiburg, Germany on Wednesday. He also featured in the second half of his country's previous friendly, the 3-1 reverse at the hands of England at Wembley on Monday. When the deal was initially struck, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson described Hernandez as "an exciting young striker". "He has been in prolific form for both his club and his country," Ferguson added at the time. "He will be a great addition to our squad." Hernandez is scheduled to join Ferguson's squad in mid-July for the Philadelphia leg of United's pre-season tour of the United States and Canada. And on 30 July he is scheduled to appear against his former club Chivas in a match to open their new 45,000-seat stadium.