Grasshoppers suffer Stepanovs blow

Grasshopper-Club's miserable run of fortune has continued with central defender Igors Stepanovs being ruled out for a month and a half with a leg injury. The Latvian international defender was substituted after 33 minutes of Grasshoppers' 8-1 defeat against FC Basel 1893 on 11 September - the heaviest defeat in the club's history - and is not expected to be fit again for six weeks. He is likely to miss Latvia's FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Slovakia and Estonia in October.

Former Liverpool FC goalkeeper Pegguy Arphexad has joined Olympique de Marseille for the rest of the season. The 31-year-old had been a free agent since being released by English lower league side Notts County FC at the end of last season, and will be third choice at Lyon behind Fabien Barthez and Jérémy Gavanon.

BV Borussia Dortmund youngster Salvatore Gambino will be sidelined for at least two months after tearing a meniscus and damaging ligaments in his left knee. The 20-year-old attacking midfield player, who has made three substitute appearances this season, picked up the injury in a reserve match on Tuesday evening. Dortmund doctor Markus Braun will decide whether surgery will be required in the next few days.

Staying in Germany, Bayer 04 Leverkusen striker França will likely miss Saturday's match against 1. FC Nürnberg because of an ankle injury sustained during last night's 3-0 victory over Real Madrid CF in the UEFA Champions League. "I hope that it is nothing serious, but I will most probably miss the Nürnberg match," the Brazilian told uefa.com.

Rwandan defender Hamad Ndikumana has had his contract with Belgian side KAA Gent terminated. The 25-year-old, whose deal was due to run until July next year, joined Gent in 2002 from RSC Anderlecht. He made 39 appearances for Gent, scoring two goals.

In the Netherlands, 22-year-old PSV Eindhoven midfield player Jasar Takak has joined RKC Waalwijk on a year's loan. PSV general manager Stan Valckx said: "His prospects of making it into the first team at PSV are not bright and it would not do him any good to play for the reserves any longer."