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<div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.22.2/97401?ns=guardian&pageName=Football+news+in+brief%3AArticle%3A1660230&ch=Football&c3=Guardian&c4=Football%2CSport&c5=&c6=&c7=11-Nov-10&c8=1660230&c9=Article&c10=News&c11=Football&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FFootball%2F" width="1" height="1" /></div><p class="standfirst">• Roberto Martínez apologises over Antolín Alcaraz spitting<br />• African player of the year nominees announced</p><h2><strong>Wigan Athletic</strong></h2><p><strong> </strong></p><p></p><p>The Wigan manager, Roberto Martínez, has apologised to his Wolverhampton Wanderers counterpart, Mick McCarthy, over the spitting incident which resulted in Antolín Alcaraz being suspended for three games. Alcaraz has accepted a Football Association misconduct charge after appearing to spit at the Wolves defender Richard Stearman during Sunday's Premier League match at Molineux. McCarthy said: "What happened is unacceptable. I have spoken to Roberto and he apologised on behalf of the club. I don't think it is indicative of Wigan, of Roberto or [the club owner] Dave Whelan. They are lovely people, a lovely club, and I think he [Alcaraz] has just made a mistake. I don't know where it came from but he's made a stupid mistake and got punished with a ban, and we all think that is right." McCarthy added: "Personally, I'd rather have a smack in the mouth than be spat upon. It's the worst thing you can do to a fellow professional." <strong>PA</strong></p><h2><strong>Confederation of African Football</strong></h2><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Yaya Touré (Manchester City), Didier Drogba (Chelsea), Gervinho (Arsenal) and Adel Taarabt (Queens Park Rangers) are among 10 footballers nominated for the African player of the year award. Samuel Eto'o, André Ayew, Asamoah Gyan, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Moussa Sow and Seydou Keïta complete the list. The winner will be decided by a vote of Africa's national team coaches and announced on 22 December. <strong>AP</strong></p><h2><strong>Everton</strong></h2><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The club's chief executive, Robert Elstone, insists finding the right buyer for the club is paramount but stressed it will not fail to be sold because it is too expensive. Elstone said "genuine conversations" are taking place regarding ownership and future investment but there was a responsibility to select the "right buyer with the right intentions". <strong>PA</strong></p><h2><strong>Derby County</strong></h2><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The manager, Nigel Clough, has been charged with improper conduct by the FA. The charge relates to an incident during Derby's 3-2 defeat at Peterborough last weekend. <strong>PA</strong></p><br/><div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> &copy; 2011 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div><p style="clear:both" />
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