Samba pens new Blackburn deal

Christopher Samba has committed his future to Blackburn Rovers by signing a new deal contracting him to the club until 2015.

Samba, 26, appeared to be set for the exit at Ewood Park after publicly criticising the club’s decision to sack manager Sam Allardyce in December.

But an upturn in the team’s form under new boss Steve Kean and some encouraging player acquisitions have persuaded the Republic of Congo international to reconsider.

“It is a good feeling. We have been in discussions for a little time and I needed a couple of answers,” Samba said.

“But the way we have played and the players the manager has brought in means we are not far off being a top club in the league.”

“I’m in a period of my career where I need to make important choices.”

“I’ve made the choice to take the challenge to try and take the club as high as possible, to maintain that position and to be recognised as one of the top clubs in the country.”

Former Hertha Berlin defender Samba is the latest player to agree a new deal after Blackburn also agreed contract extensions with Ryan Nelson, Michel Salgado and Jason Roberts.

“This is more great news for us,” Kean said.

“Chris is a major part of the picture at Rovers and his form has created a lot of interest from around the football world.”

“The fact that he wants to be part of what we are trying to build here is further evidence of the exciting times that lie ahead.”

Fabregas sweet with FA

Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas will face no action from the Football Association despite allegations he verbally abused referee Lee Mason.

Fabregas was accused by opposition manager David Moyes of directing offensive language at Mason during the half-time break in Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Everton at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.

Immediately after the game, which Everton lost to a Laurent Koscielny goal in the 75th minute, an infuriated Moyes insisted that the Spain midfielder should have been punished for his alleged comments.

“I think at half-time in the tunnel was the worst,” Moyes said.

“Fabregas should have been sent off in the tunnel for his comments about the officials. It was disgusting.”

“I am not going to repeat what they were. They were disappointing comments from someone who is such a talented footballer.”

But Mason chose not to submit an Extraordinary Incident Report and the FA confirmed on Wednesday that the issue was closed.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger claims that he spoke to the match officials at half-time, not Fabregas.

“I was next to Fabregas at half-time and I can’t see why David Moyes is furious with him,” Wenger said.

“Fabregas didn’t speak to the referee at half-time, I did.”

But the Arsenal captain appears to have admitted he did pass some comment on Mason and his assistants as the players were leaving the field for the break.

“There has been much talk about me saying things to the officials at half-time on Tuesday night,” Fabregas said.

“All I can say is that I have respect for all match officials.”

“Players from both sides were saying things as we came off the pitch, and this always happens in football. Clearly the officials feel that nothing serious happened.”

Suarez set for Reds debut

Luis Suarez may make his Liverpool debut against Stoke City on Wednesday after receiving international clearance to play.

Uruguay international Suarez joined Liverpool from Eredivisie outfit Ajax for a reported fee of 23 million pounds on Monday.

The 24-year-old forward goes straight into the squad for the match at Anfield, but he may start on the bench due to a lack of match practice.

Suarez has not played since early December after receiving a seven-match ban for biting an opponent.

Striker Andy Carroll, a 35 million-pound signing from Newcastle United, is unavailable due to a thigh injury.

Liverpool will be looking for their third-consecutive win under Kenny Dalglish, who replaced Roy Hodgson as manager in January.

But they will be without striker Fernando Torres for the first time following the Spaniard’s 50 million-pound British-record transfer to Chelsea.