Wheater signs new deal

All-square at Whaddon Road

Javier Mascherano has signed a four-year contract with Liverpool. The Media Sports Investments consortium owned the 23-year-old’s contract and he was able to sign for the Anfield club outside the transfer window because he does not belong to another club.

Middlesbrough defender David Wheater has signed a new three-and-a-half-year deal with the club.

FIFA have blocked Rangers striker Daniel Cousin’s proposed £3m move to Fulham. The 31-year-old had already played for Rangers and Lens this season and FIFA rules stipulate a player cannot appear for more than two teams in one season.

UEFA have opened disciplinary proceedings against Atletico Madrid and Bolton Wanderers after crowd trouble before, during and after their UEFA Cup tie on February 21. Bolton claim supporters were subjected to “over-zealous and disproportionate” policing throughout the match. Reports have been sent to the UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body, who will make a decision on March 20.

Colchester United have signed 23-year-old striker Izale McLeod on loan from Charlton Athletic on a one-month loan.

Stoke City have signed 27-year-old Middlesbrough defender Chris Riggott on loan until the end of the season.

West Bromwich Albion defender Neil Clement has joined Hull City on loan until the end of the season, although the Baggies do have a 24-hour recall option on Clement after the first 28 days of the loan.

In League One this evening, Cheltenham Town and Southend United drew 1-1 at Whaddon Road.

Nathan Davies

Carragher cautioned by police

Manager of the Month awards

Amy Kane scored the only goal of the game as Everton Ladies beat Arsenal Ladies at the Matchroom Stadium. The result ended Arsenal’s run of 58 successive victories in domestic competitions since their defeat by Charlton in the 2006 League Cup final.

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has been arrested and cautioned by police for common assault.

The Republic of Ireland will play a friendly against Colombia on May 29 at Craven Cottage following the friendly against Serbia at Croke Park on May 24 - Giovanni Trapattoni’s first game in charge of the Republic. Before these two encounters there will be a training camp in Portugal.

Manchester City owner and former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has returned to Thailand after a 17-month exile to face corruption charges. On his arrival, he was taken straight to court to face charges of abuse of power during his time in office before being granted bail and told not to leave the country without permission ahead of his trial in March.

Charlton Athletic have signed 18-year-old Chelsea winger Scott Sinclair on loan until the end of the season.

Leicester City have signed midfielder Lee Hendrie from Sheffield United on a deal until the end of the season.

Stoke City boss Tony Pulis has been named the Championship manager of the month for February. John Ward of Carlisle United has won the League One award while Peter Jackson of Lincoln City has won the League Two prize.

Nathan Davies

SPL round-up

Deuchar joins MLS outfit

Middlesbrough needed extra-time to beat Sheffield United 1-0 at the Riverside Stadium in their FA Cup fifth round replay. Blades goalkeeper Paddy Kenny scored an own goal after 113 minutes to set up a quarter-final tie between Middlesbrough and Cardiff City at the Riverside.

In the Scottish Premier League, Rangers remain top of the table after beating Heart of Midlothian 0-4 at Tynecastle. Jean-Claude Darcheville scored a brace in the first-half while Nacho Novo grabbed two of his own in the second period. Second-placed Celtic ensured the gap between the Glasgow rivals remained four points by beating Inverness Caledonian Thistle 2-1 at Celtic Park. Bottom-placed Gretna beat Kilmarnock 4-2 at Fir Park, Hibernian won 0-2 at Falkirk and the games between Aberdeen and Motherwell at Pittodrie and the clash at Tannadice between Dundee United and St Mirren both finished in 1-1 draws.

The one game in the Scottish Second Division saw 10-man Ayr United draw 1-1 with Airdrie United at Somerset Park. In the Scottish Third Division, Arbroath beat 10-man East Stirling 2-0 at Gayfield while Stranraer thrashed Elgin City 0-5 at Borough Briggs.

Arsenal striker Eduardo da Silva has been released from hospital four days after surgery on his broken leg suffered after a challenge by Birmingham City’s Martin Taylor during the Premier League clash at St Andrews on Saturday.

Manchester City have confirmed that defender Micah Richards faces several weeks out after undergoing an operation on damaged cartilage in his right knee.

Sunderland have put 27-year- old midfielder Liam Miller on the transfer list.

Barnsley goalkeeper Luke Steele has been voted as the FA Cup Player of the Round after the fifth round.

Keith Alexander has been appointed as Macclesfield Town boss until the end of the season, with a view to a longer deal. The previous management team of Ian Brightwell and assistant Asa Hartford have left Moss Rose.

Kenny Deuchar has left Scottish Premier League side Gretna and signed a deal with Major League Soccer outfit Real Salt Lake. The 27-year-old will also get the chance to continue his medical career in Utah - as he is also a practicing doctor.

Nathan Davies

Football League round-up

Well secure services of Malcolm

Preston North End climbed out of the Championship relegation zone with a 2-0 victory over league leaders Stoke City at Deepdale. Richard Chaplow scored twice for the home side. Elsewhere, Burnley beat Coventry City 2-0 at Turf Moor and Barnsley played out a goalless draw with Queens Park Rangers at Oakwell.

Carlisle United are second in League One after a 0-1 away win at Crewe Alexandra, Luton Town and Millwall drew 1-1 at Kenilworth Road and Oldham Athletic were held to a 2-2 draw at Boundary Park by Swindon Town.

Jamie Day struck twice as Peterborough United beat Wrexham 0-2 at the Racecourse Ground to move into second place in the League One table. Posh moved above Hereford United who lost 1-0 at Dagenham & Redbridge who recorded their fourth straight victory, Rotherham United’s hopes of automatic promotion were dented with a 3-2 defeat at Bradford City, Accrington Stanley beat Brentford 1-0 at the Fraser Eagle Stadium and Mansfield Town and Bury drew 1-1 at Field Mill.

Grimsby Town beat Morecambe 0-1 at Christie Park in the first leg of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy Northern Area final. Paul Bolland scored the only goal of the game on 69 minutes.

Altrincham held Torquay United to a 1-1 draw at Plainmoor in the Blue Square Premier while two goals at the death salvaged a 3-3 draw for Stafford Rangers at Histon.

In the Scottish Second Division, leaders Ross County beat Brechin City 1-2 at Glebe Park while Peterhead and Alloa Athletic drew 2-2. In the night’s only Scottish Third Division game, Forfar Athletic beat Albion Rovers 1-0.

Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing has finally penned a new five-year contract with the club.

Middlesbrough striker Jeremie Aliadiere has lost his appeal against the red card he received for slapping the face of Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano during Boro’s 3-2 defeat at Anfield on Saturday. On top of the usual three-match ban Aliadiere has also received an extra one-game ban as the appeal was considered frivolous.

The Scottish Football Association have upheld a charge of unacceptable conduct against Celtic manager Gordon Strachan. The Bhoys boss has subsequently received a two game touchline ban following an exchange with a steward who accused his assistant Garry Pendrey of gesturing to Aberdeen fans at Pittodrie in August. Strachan was initially hit with a four-match ban that was halved on appeal.

Andrius Velicka has left Heart of Midlothian and signed for Norwegian side Viking Stavanger on a three-and-a-half-year deal for a fee in the region of £1m. The 28-year-old had been on loan at Tynecastle from FBK Kaunas.

Motherwell have signed defender Bob Malcolm until the end of the season. The 27-year-old has been searching for a club since being released by Derby County last month.

Nathan Davies

Johnstone’s Paint Trophy: MK Dons reach final

Brown loaned to Brentford

Everton beat Manchester City 0-2 at the City of Manchester Stadium to climb to fourth place in the Premier League. Yakubu Aiyegbeni (30) and Joleon Lescott (38) were on the scoresheet for David Moyes’ men while City had Martin Petrov sent-off late on for kicking Leon Osman.

Milton Keynes Dons have reached the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final after beating Swansea City 5-4 on penalties at stadium mk. Dons won the first leg 0-1 at the Liberty Stadium but a Jason Scotland penalty levelled the scores in tonight’s second leg and with no further goals in normal time penalties were needed to separate the sides. Ironically it was Jason Scotland who had his spot-kick saved by former Swans goalkeeper Willy Gueret in the shootout. The Dons will face either Morecombe or Grimsby Town in the final at Wembley on March 30.

Arsenal believe that striker Eduardo da Silva will eventually make a full recovery from the broken leg he sustained after a tackle by Birmingham City’s Martin Taylor during the 2-2 draw at St Andrews on Saturday. The Gunners are hoping that the 24-year-old could be back in action in nine months.

Middlesbrough have appealed to the Football Association against the red card shown to striker Jeremie Aliadiere for an apparent slap to the face of Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano during their 3-2 defeat at Liverpool on Saturday.

Brentford have signed 19-year-old midfielder Wayne Brown on loan from Fulham for a three-month spell.

Nathan Davies

Premier League round-up

Millwall sign Savage

Tottenham Hotspur beat Chelsea 2-1 at Wembley to lift the Carling Cup. Chelsea took the lead on 39 minutes when Didier Drogba scored from a 20-yard free-kick but Spurs deservedly equalised with 20 minutes left as Dimitar Berbatov coolly slotted home a penalty kick. The winner came in extra-time when Petr Cech punched a Jermaine Jenas free-kick straight onto Jonathan Woodgate’s head and the ball deflected into the net. This is the fourth time that Spurs have lifted the League Cup and is their first triumph since 1999 - the last time they won a major trophy. In addition, Spurs boss Juande Ramos has still never lost a cup final as a manager after five triumphs in Spain with Sevilla.

In the Premier League, Aston Villa beat reading 1-2 at the Madjeski Stadium. Gareth Barry missed a spot-kick for the visitors on 32 minutes but Ashley Young (45) and Marlon Harewood (83) put them in control. Nicky Shorey pulled one back for Reading with a 25-yard free-kick in injury time but it was not enough to stop Steve Coppell’s men from slumping to their eighth successive defeat. Meanwhile, Blackburn Rovers beat Bolton Wanderers 4-1 at Ewood Park. Benni McCarthy opened the scoring from the penalty spot after 25 minutes but Kevin Davies equalised for the visitors five minutes after the re-start. McCarthy scored his second from another penalty on 67 minutes, David Bentley added a third after 71 minutes and Morten Gamst Pedersen completed the scoring with the last kick of the game.

Rangers are four points clear of Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premier League after beating Gretna 4-2 at Ibrox. Earlier in the afternoon, Celtic had cut the gap to one point after beating St Mirren 0-1 at Love Street, courtesy of an 87th minute free-kick from Shunsuke Nakamura. Kilmarnock beat Aberdeen 3-1 at Rugby Park to record their first win in 15 matches.

Arsenal striker Eduardo da Silva underwent surgery for a double compound fracture of his leg last night after suffering a horrific injury during a 2-2 draw against Birmingham City at St Andrews.

Crystal Palace striker Shefki Kuqi has been transfer-listed and fined two weeks’ wages for gesturing to fans after being substituted during the 0-2 Championship defeat by Wolverhampton Wanderers at Selhurst Park yesterday. Palace boss Neil Warnock said: “He has apologised to me and the fans - after the horse has bolted. I will be transfer-listing him immediately. I don’t accept things like that, so that is the end of the matter. I have told him that I realise he was disappointed, it is not nice at times, but you cannot go off like that.”

Millwall have signed 26-year-old striker Bas Savage until the end of the season. Savage recently left Brighton & Hove Albion after failing to agree a new deal.

Nathan Davies

Premier League round-up

SPL review

Arsenal were held to a 2-2 draw by 10-man Birmingham City at St Andrews but the game was overshadowed by a horrific broken leg for Eduardo da Silva. The incident occurred in the third minute after a challenge from Martin Taylor, which earned the Blues defender a red card. James McFadden put the home side ahead on 28 minutes but Theo Walcott grabbed a second-half brace to put Arsenal in control with his first Premier League goals for the club. Deep into injury-time tail Gael Clichy’s challenge on Stuart Parnaby allowed McFadden to score his second and level the scores. When asked about Taylor’s tackle on Eduardo, Arsene Wenger fumed:

“I think this guy should never play football again. What’s he doing on the pitch? I’ve gone along with the idea for a long time that to stop Arsenal, you have to kick Arsenal. I knew that was coming for a long time now. The season is over for him and it’s very, very bad. More than the season is over.”

However, Wenger later retracted his post-match comments and released a statement that said:

“I feel that my comments about Martin Taylor were excessive. I said what I did in the heat of the moment. It was a highly emotional afternoon and we were all shocked by the injury.”

Manchester United cut Arsenal’s lead to three points after beating Newcastle United 1-5 at St James’ Park. Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo both scored twice while Louis Saha netted in injury-time to complete the rout. Abdoulaye Faye had netted for the home side when they were trailing by three. The Magpies have not won in 10 games, only scored three goals in five games and are just six points above the relegation zone.

Fernando Torres grabbed a hat-trick as Liverpool beat Middlesbrough 3-2 at Anfield. Jeremie Aliadiere was sent-off for Boro on 85 minutes after lightly slapping Javier Mascherano, who appeared to provoke him by raising a hand to the striker’s face.

Elsewhere, a Jermain Defoe penalty gave Portsmouth a 1-0 victory over Sunderland at Fratton Park, Paul Scharner and Antonio Valencia notched second-half goals at the JJB Stadium as Wigan Athletic beat Derby County 2-0 and Nolberto Solano scored the only goal of the game in the 87th minute as West Ham United beat Fulham at Craven Cottage. To make matters worse for the West Londoners they had Leon Andreasen sent-off after being shown a second yellow card for dissent as he argued Solano had deliberately used his arm in scoring the goal.

Both Edinburgh clubs gained Scottish Premier League victories this afternoon as Colin Nish and Steven Fletcher helped Hibernian to a 2-0 win against Inverness Caledonian Thistle at Easter Road while Heart of Midlothian benefited from a Stephen Craigan own goal to beat Motherwell 0-1 at Fir Park. Dundee United and Falkirk played out a goalless draw at Tannadice.

Nathan Davies

Arsenal announce rise in profits

Ajax to appoint van Basten

In League One this evening, leaders Swansea City scraped past 10-man Luton Town 1-0 at Liberty Stadium to make it 17 league games unbeaten. Sol Davies was sent off for the visitors on 69 minutes and Tom Butler scored the only goal of the game 10 minutes later. Meanwhile, Northampton Town beat Hartlepool United 0-1 at Victoria Park.

Arsenal’s half-year profits have risen 54%. The Gunners made a pre-tax profit of £20m in the six months to the end of November, up from £12.6m in 2006. Broadcasting income was up £6.5m at £24.3m while match day income had risen more than £3m to £41.4m.

Bolton Wanderers officials have met police and UEFA officials in Spain to discuss the treatment of their fans before, during and after last night’s goalless UEFA Cup draw with Atletico Madrid. In an angry statement the Premier League club says supporters were subjected to “overzealous and disproportionate” policing and allege fans faced a number of assaults and unprovoked baton charges. Trotters chairman Phil Gartside said he would take the issue to the “highest level” to get an explanation. UEFA is waiting to receive the report of their match delegate and the security officer before deciding whether to take action against the La Liga club.

Derby County goalkeeper Roy Carroll has agreed - in principle - a three-year deal with the club after a short-term stay with the Rams.

Southampton have signed 33-year-old Fulham defender Ian Pearce on a month’s loan deal.

West Bromwich Albion have signed 22-year-old Aston Villa striker Luke Moore on loan until the end of the season with a view to a permanent move - initially worth £3m - in the summer.

Everton goalkeeper John Ruddy and Manchester City defender Shaleum Logan have both joined Stockport County on 28-day loan deals.

Holland coach Marco van Basten will become the new Ajax coach after this summer’s European Championships on a four-year deal. John van’t Schip and Rob Witschge, who are also currently with the national side, will assist the former AC Milan striker.

Nathan Davies

UEFA Cup round-up

Gascoigne detained

Bolton Wanderers are through to the last-16 of the UEFA Cup after grinding out a goalless draw against Atletico Madrid at the Vicente Calderon Stadium to clinch a 0-1 aggregate victory. Gary Megson’s men will now face Sporting Lisbon.

Everton will meet Fiorentina in the next stage of the competition after easing past SK Brann 6-1 at Goodison Park and 8-1 on aggregate. Yakubu Aiyegbeni helped himself to a hat-trick for the Toffees this evening, becoming only the third Everton player - after Andy Gray and Alan Ball - to score three goals in Europe.

Tottenham Hotspur completed a good night for Premier League clubs by setting up a last-16 encounter with PSV Eindhoven despite being held to a 1-1 draw by Slavia Prague at White Hart Lane. Fortunately, Spurs did enough in the first leg to progress 3-2 on aggregate.

Rangers qualified for the last-16 on the away goals rule after drawing 1-1 with Panathinaikos in Greece. Ioannis Goumas scored the first goal of the tie after 12 minutes but Nacho Novo was on hand in the 81st minute to notch the decisive away goal.

Aberdeen were outclassed by Bayern Munich in the Allianz Arena, losing 5-1 on the night and 7-3 on aggregate.

The Football Association has dismissed the Premier League’s plans to play matches abroad and urged the League to rethink its current plans.

Arsenal defender Kolo Toure could be sidelined for two weeks after picking up a calf injury during last night’s Champions League goalless draw with AC Milan at the Emirates Stadium.

Birmingham City are in talks with Birmingham City Council about building a new stadium in Saltley, near St Andrews. Meanwhile, Birmingham City’s shareholders have voted against a bid by Carson Yeung to appoint his associates Steve McManaman and Fan Zhiyi as directors.

UEFA is awaiting reports from the referee and its own delegate before deciding whether to take action after Cristiano Ronaldo was targeted by a laser beam in the warm-up prior to the Champions League clash in Lyon last night.

West Ham United’s Craig Bellamy faces another six-week lay-off after undergoing a second operation on an abdominal injury.

Sheffield Wednesday have signed 18-year-old Chelsea striker Ben Sahar on a one-month loan deal.

Sunderland pair Peter Hartley and David Dowson, both 19, have joined Chesterfield on one-month loan deals.

Former Wolverhampton Wanderers legend Steve Bull has been unveiled as the new manager of Stafford Rangers.

Paul Gascoigne has been detained under the Mental Health Act after concerns were raised about his behaviour. Northumbria Police detained a 40-year-old man at Gateshead’s Hilton Hotel on Wednesday evening. Earlier that day Gascoigne had been asked to leave Newcastle’s Malmaison Hotel after a disturbance. Police said he was not in custody and was now receiving medical treatment.

Nathan Davies

Champions League round-up

Vogts quits Nigeria

On a busy night of Champions League football, Manchester United drew 1-1 in Lyon as Ryan Giggs made his 100th Champions League appearance. The French side took the lead through Karim Benzema but Carlos Tevez netted a crucial away goal for United with only three minutes left. Meanwhile, Arsenal and AC Milan played out a goalless draw at the Emirates Stadium and Barcelona beat Celtic 2-3 at Celtic Park.

In the Scottish Premier League, Motherwell beat Inverness Caledonian Thistle 3-1 at Fir Park.

Manchester United complained to UEFA ahead of tonight’s Champions League match at Lyon after Cristiano Ronaldo was dazzled by a laser beam during the warm up.

Chelsea manager Avram Grant has received Anti-Semitic death threats in a package containing a suspicious white powder. The letter contained anti-Jewish insults as well as claims that the powder was lethal though it was found to be harmless after being analysed by specialists. The letter also included threats to the manager’s wife Tzofit, a well-known personality in Israel.

Italian outfit Reggina have complained to the Italian Football Federation and UEFA after Chelsea allegedly ‘tapped up’ 15-year-old Vincenzo Camilleri while he was still their player. Camilleri had been expected to sign terms with Reggina when he turns 16 in March but now wants to join Chelsea.

Bradford City captain David Wetherall will retire at the end of the season. The 36-year-old will stay on at the club as first team coach.

Justin Edinburgh has left his post as manager of Blue Square Premier club Grays Athletic by mutual consent. Chairman Micky Woodward will take over as manager until the end of the season.

Berti Vogts has quit as Nigeria national team coach with immediate effect.

Nathan Davies