Football Updates from Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)

[rotadem]

Owen Hargreaves will spend around five weeks on the sidelines, while his Manchester United team-mate Ryan Giggs has been ruled out of their upcoming derby.

Hargreaves and Giggs deal United blows

[rotadem]

[rotadem]

Didier Drogba has been confirmed as suffering from malaria, Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has revealed, but will play tomorrow against Fulham and is expected to be completely free of the virus in a few days.

Drogba diagnosed with malaria

[rotadem]

Riccardo Montolivo will miss up to the next six weeks after having surgery on an injured ankle, but will begin rehabilitation tomorrow.

Montolivo facing six-week absence

[rotadem]

Wolfsburg coach Steve McClaren has said that his side are still aiming for a top-five finish despite currently languishing in the bottom half of the Bundesliga table.

McClaren still targeting top five

[rotadem]

Eric Abidal has been recalled to the France squad for the friendly against England next week, coach Laurent Blanc selecting the Barcelona defender for the first time since the FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

Abidal recalled for England friendly

[rotadem]

China recovered from their opening game defeat to Japan with a 2-1 victory over Kyrgyzstan today, but they needed two goals in the final ten minutes to come back from a goal behind.

China grab injury-time lifeline

[rotadem]

Lecce denied Inter Milan a first win in November with a late equaliser to snatch a 1-1 draw at Via del Mare tonight.

Lecce hold Inter with late goal

[rotadem]

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson says he expected more from his side after they turned in a lethargic performance in drawing 1-1 at Wigan as their four-match winning streak came to an end.

Hodgson: Reds still have much work ahead

[rotadem]

Werder Bremen have halted all contract negotiations in reaction to the poor start the club has made to the season, with the team in the bottom half of the Bundesliga, out of the German Cup and struggling in Europe.

Bremen suspend contract talks

[rotadem]

Hong Kong ended a 52-year wait to reach the knockout rounds of the Asian Games after a 4-1 win over Bangladesh, while Qatar topped Group D after a 2-0 win over neighbours Kuwait.

Hong Kong finally qualify, champions Qatar follow

[rotadem]