Last year's winner Yaya Toure heads a list of candidates for the African Footballer of the Year award, which will be announced next month, the Confederation of African Football has said.

Gary Neville has responded to David Cameron's attempts to wade in on the racism in football debate by telling the Prime Minister to “concentrate on your job”.

Sir Alex Ferguson today attacked Chelsea for accusing accusing referee Mark Clattenburg of racially abusing abusing John Obi Mikel during last Sunday's match at Stamford Bridge, declaring that he simply did not believe the player's claim.

Juan Mata stayed silent over allegations Mark Clattenburg used “inappropriate language” towards him after his blog on Chelsea's acrimonious defeat to Manchester United went online today.

Reading boss Brian McDermott today revealed he would back his players if they made a complaint of abuse against a referee.

As the extra stewards were deployed around the mouth of the tunnel and the home crowd focused their outrage exclusively on the man in black, Mark Clattenburg will have had that growing sense of dread that in modern football's high court of HD super slo-mo replays, he had been found guilty of error.

Two Nigerian soldiers who kidnapped Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel's father one point demanded a $4bn (£2.4bn) ransom they considered "chicken change" for the team.

John Obi Mikel's father has been released by the kidnappers who abducted him 11 days ago, the Chelsea midfielder's agent confirmed last night. Local police said five suspects had been arrested.

A "sizeable" ransom has been demanded by the kidnappers of John Obi Mikel's father, the Chelsea midfielder's representatives confirmed today.

Contact has been made with the kidnappers of Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel's father, according to reports in Nigeria.

Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel last night appealed for the release of his father, who has become the latest high-profile person to be abducted in a surge of kidnappings in Nigeria.

Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel has appealed for information on the whereabouts of his father, who has been abducted in his native Nigeria.

Portsmouth 0 Chelsea 1: Chelsea's first outing under Portuguese coach gives little insight into the new regime's thinking but while Terry impresses, Torres does not