Sporting Briefs...

Denmark: Denmark dampened South Korea's World Cup preparations yesterday, hitting back from a goal down to beat them 3-1 and win the Carlsberg Cup in Hong Kong. South Korea's Cho Jae-jin put his side ahead after 13 minutes before Lars Jacobsen levelled on 41 minutes. Despite the Koreans' pressure in the second half, Jesper Bech put Denmark in front after 66 minutes and Michael Silberbauer sealed the victory a minute from time.

Owusu-Abeyie: Spartak Moscow have signed young striker Quincy Owusu-Abeyie from Arsenal for an undisclosed fee, the Premier League club said on their website. Dutch under-21 international Quincy joined from Ajax in September 2002 and made 23 first-team appearances for the Londoners. Owusu-Abeyie, 19, scored two goals for Arsenal, the last coming in the League Cup fifth-round win over Doncaster Rovers last month.

Racism In Italy: Italy's Minister of the Interior Giuseppe Pisanu has called on the country's police to suspend soccer matches every time supporters display banners inciting racism or political violence. "I have invited the forces of public security to apply the existing laws with the maximum severity and suspend matches every time messages are displayed inciting political violence, racism or xenophobia," he said. Pisanu's call came after Roma fans held up neo-Nazi banners during a 3-0 win over Livorno at the weekend.

South Africa: South African coach Ted Dumitru has become the first coaching casualty of the African Nations Cup, fired yesterday when he and his team arrived back in Johannesburg after crashing out of the competition. South African Football Association chief executive officer Raymond Hack said Dumitru would have no further dealing with the team, the South African Press Association reported from Johannesburg.

World Cup Tickets: The projected number of tickets for the 2006 World Cup has edged above 3 million after seating plans were refined, organisers said yesterday. According to Organising Committee vice-president Horst R. Schmidt, the overall ticket count for the 64 matches from June 9 to July 9 in Germany is likely to be 3,070,000. That is up 140,000 from the original estimate at the start of the first sales window in February 2005. Schmidt said some extra tickets would go to participating teams who are guaranteed just eight per cent of stadium capacity per match.

Gaucci: The sons of former Perugia owner Luciano Gaucci have been arrested as part of an investigation into financial irregularities at the former Serie A club, the Italian news agency ANSA reported. Alessandro and Riccardo Gaucci will face questioning over fraudulent bankruptcy and concealing financial documents. Their father, who is wanted for questioning by the police, lives in the Dominican Republic.

Junior: Former Brazil defender Junior will assist Japan's head coach Zico at the World Cup in Germany, Brazilian media reported. Japan are in the same group as Brazil, Croatia and Australia in the tournament starting on June 9. Junior and Zico played together in the Brazil team at the 1982 World Cup in Spain.

In France: Ligue 1 - St Etienne vs Toulouse 1-3.

Spanish Cup: QF second legs - Valencia vs Deportivo 1-1 (Deportivo win 2-1 on aggregate); Barcelona vs Zaragoza 2-1 (Zaragoza win 5-4 on aggregate).

Scottish League Cup SF: Celtic vs Motherwell 2-1. Final - Celtic vs Dunfermline on March 19 at Hampden Park.