Sporting briefs

Simeone: Former Argentina captain Diego Simeone ended his 19-year playing career in defeat when Racing Club were beaten 2-1 at leaders Estudiantes de La Plata in the Clausura championship. The midfielder, who holds the Argentine record of 106 caps, will begin a new coaching career at the helm of Racing, joint bottom of the table with one point in five games, next weekend. The much-travelled 35-year-old, who played for several big clubs in Spain and Italy during his 14 years in Europe, left the pitch in tears after Friday defeat playing for the club he has supported since boyhood.

Deschamps: Didier Deschamps plans to sue former Olympique Marseille team-mate Jean-Jacques Eydelie for libel, the French World Cup-winning captain's lawyer said. Eydelie alleged in a book published earlier this month that some of his former team mates were aware that Marseille's officials rigged a league match against Valenciennes in 1993. Marseille beat Valenciennes 1-0 and clinched their fifth title. Eydelie also claimed Marseille's players received injections of an unknown substance before the 1993 Champions League final against Milan, which the French side won 1-0.

Menotti: Veteran Argentine coach Cesar Luis Menotti has agreed to take charge of struggling Veracruz, a director of the Mexican club said. Menotti, the chain-smoking coach who steered Argentina to victory in the 1978 World Cup, accepted the club's offer on Friday. Menotti, 67, also coached Argentina in the 1982 World Cup and has managed Mexico's national team.

Malouda: France midfielder Florent Malouda has extended his Olympique Lyon contract by two years, the club's chairman Jean-Michel Aulas said. Malouda, 25, who joined the French champions from En Avant-Guingamp in 2003 on a five-year deal, is now tied to the Ligue 1 team until 2010. "I'm feeling fine here," Malouda said. "Extending my contract was the way for the club to confirm they have a great faith in me".

Positive test: Benfica midfielder Nuno Assis has been provisionally suspended by UEFA after allegedly testing positive for a banned substance at a Portuguese Premier League game in December. UEFA said that the 28-year-old was "suspended from European national team and club matches until an appropriate decision has been taken by the Portuguese football authorities".