The Sweeper

Portsmouth clear up riddle

The Premier League has dismissed speculation over the ownership of Portsmouth after the club were listed among assets claimed by Arcadi Gaydamak in an Israeli newspaper. Portsmouth have insisted that Alexandre ("Sacha") Gaydamak, below, the son of Arcadi, who passed the League's fit and proper person test after buying the club in 2006, is the owner. A Premier League statement read: "We have re-examined the position [and] found there to be no variance with [the] information on record."

• FA grateful for NeweU's help The FA has denied claims by Mike Newell, the former Luton Town manager, that the Stevens inquiry into illegal payments was a publicity stunt. "The information provided to us by Mike NeweH was useful in our efforts to regulate the game and deal with transfer irregularities," an official said.

27 Every player in the Kazakhstan squad to face England next month is based in his own country

• Attwetl given different role Stuart Attwell, above, has been named as the fourth official for Middlesbrough's match at home to West Bromwich Albion on Saturday. As referee in the Coca-Cola Championship match between Watford and Reading on Saturday, Attwell controversially awarded a goal to Reading when the ball bounced over the byline about five feet wide of a post after a corner. The match finished 2-2.

• And finally.., Richard da Silva Martins, a drug dealer, has been arrested in Porto Alegre, Brazil, at the home of Anderson, the Manchester United midfield player.

Contributors Daily football gossip 11 n leso n line, c o. u k/f oot ba 11