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Today's other stories in brief

Juventus doctors may face a ban

JUVENTUS doctors Bartolomeo Goitre and Luca Stefanini should face three-month bans for their mishandling of Fabio Cannavaro’s treatment for a wasp sting, Italy’s anti-doping chief said in a statement yesterday.

Cannavaro had previously been cleared of wrongdoing after failing a drugs test in August, two days after receiving an emergency cortisone injection for the sting.

However, Juve’s doctors have been charged because of a mix-up over documentation and a tribunal will now decide whether to uphold the anti-doping chief’s request for a ban.

Meanwhile, AC Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso has said he is unhappy with the amount of playing time he is getting under coach Leonardo, fuelling speculation about a reported move to Manchester City.

“I’ve talked with Leonardo but not with (chief executive Adriano) Galliani. There will be a time and a place to speak. I’m honest and when I’m unhappy I tell them,” the 32-year-old Italy player said.

Everton open to sharing with Liverpool

EVERTON chief executive Robert Elstone has admitted the club would consider a ground-sharing arrangement with Liverpool after plans for a move to Kirkby were rejected by the British government.

Both clubs have previously been reluctant to go down the route of sharing a stadium. However, Elstone has revealed Everton are not against the idea, if it makes financial sense.

He said: “It’s certainly one of the options that we will need to cover. A shared stadium is perhaps an option if it’s affordable.

“We have to look at where we can raise money, because potentially Liverpool will have to obviously contribute to that. Our history is one of creativity and innovation and if we are the first major English club to look at sharing then we’re not scared of making those decisions.”

Liverpool’s plans to build a new stadium in Stanley Park have been hit be a number of delays and the project was put on hold due to the worldwide recession last year.

Gallas injury leaves Wenger short

ARSENE Wenger is preparing to field an untested partnership in central defence for Arsenal’s derby at home to Chelsea on Sunday after admitting that William Gallas is a serious doubt.

Arsenal’s manager has played Gallas and Thomas Vermaelen this season but he reported that Gallas’s badly swollen right eye made him a “big question mark” for the visit of the league leaders.

CHARLTON have extended David Mooney’s loan spell from Reading for a second month. The 25-year-old Dubliner has scored twice in six appearances for the the English League One side and will now stay on at The Valley until December 28th.

OLDHAM have completed the signing of Doncaster’s Dublin-born striker Paul Heffernan (27) on loan for a month.

SFA chief calls for video replays

FOOTBALL Association chief executive Gordon Smith is considering a fresh attempt to get video replays back on the agenda of the game’s lawmakers.

The SFA tried last year to convince the International Football Association Board (IFAB) which governs the game’s laws to introduce video technology, but the plans were not approved.

The issue is in the forefront again in the wake of Thierry Henry’s handball against the Republic of Ireland last week and SFA chief Smith wants to see the introduction of a system which gives each manager two challenges per match.

Smith said: “I don’t think referees will be undermined. It will mean we get the right decision in matches. If the Irish had called for TV pictures the goal would have been disallowed.”

The next IFAB meeting is in March.

Hodgson to stay on at Fulham

FULHAM manager Roy Hodgson has agreed a deal to stay at Craven Cottage.

Hodgson’s current deal expires at the end of the season and he recently turned down approaches from Sweden and Norway about a return to international management.

Club lawyers are currently putting the paperwork together on a rolling contract for the 62-year-old former Switzerland, Blackburn Rovers and Inter Milan boss.

Grant assumes lead role at beleaguered Portsmouth

FORMER Chelsea manager Avram Grant is being backed to lift Portsmouth up the table after it was confirmed he will succeed Paul Hart at Fratton Park. Hart was sacked on Tuesday with the club rooted to the foot of the Premier League with only seven points from 13 games.

Grant (54) will take charge for the first time tomorrow for the home game against Manchester United.

The club’s chief executive officer Peter Storrie said: “Avram is a very experienced and respected manager who has managed at the highest level. The board believes he is the man to help steer the club out of the relegation zone.

“He knows the club, the players and the set-up at Fratton Park, so it was the logical move to make him the next manager, once the board had decided to relieve Paul Hart of the role.

“He will take charge of training on Friday alongside first-team coaches Paul Groves and Ian Woan.”

Meanwhile, Hart has turned down the chance to remain at the club in a youth team role.