Sporting briefs...

Calderon: Ramon Calderon will remain Real Madrid president for the time being after a Spanish judge decided the postal votes in last July's presidential election were null and void. Judge Milagros Aparicio rejected calls from rival candidate Juan Miguel Villar Mir for the 10,511 postal votes to be included in the results and agreed with Calderon's view that there were insufficient controls to guarantee their legitimacy. Calderon was declared the winner following a controversial and bitter election campaign after receiving 8,344 votes, just 246 more than Juan Palacios and 1,642 more than Villar Mir. Spanish media have reported that a large number of the postal votes had been for Villar Mir.

Hartley: New Celtic signing Paul Hartley appeared at a news conference after quitting Hearts on transfer deadline day in a move reportedly worth £1.2 million. The 30-year-old midfielder said: "I thought maybe the opportunity had passed me by. A few years ago they had a bid in and it didn't get accepted." Hearts signed four new players just before the deadline, including 26-year-old Ghanian international midfielder Laryea Kingston from Russian side Terek Grozny.

Tevez: Argentine forward Carlos Tevez said he was determined to avoid a repeat of his controversial exits from Boca Juniors and Corinthians if he eventually leaves English premier league West Ham United. "I want to leave the club on good terms," Tevez, 22, said. "I didn't leave Boca or Brazil very well. So, this time, on the day that I leave, I want to do it well." Tevez joined West Ham last year in a shock move from Corinthians, where he won the Brazilian championship in 2005.

Haan: Dutchman Arie Haan has quit as Cameroon coach less than six months into a two-year contract yesterday. Haan, whom national soccer federation FECAFOOT said went absent without leave for two months last year, was quoted as saying he had offered his resignation to FECAFOOT chief Jean Lambert Nang.

FIFA interference: The Kenyan government accused FIFA of interference yesterday after the governing body said a ban on Kenya would stand if the Ministry of Sport did not commit to respecting FIFA rules by Feb. 28. Kenya was suspended from international competition last October for failing to comply with international agreements and for protracted squabbling in the troubled national federation. Kenyan officials had expected FIFA to lift the suspension at a meeting on Wednesday but FIFA said the ban would remain "for the foreseeable future" unless Kenya met its deadline.

Heynckes: Borussia Moenchengladbach coach Jupp Heynckes has said threats to his life contributed to his decision to resign as coach of the Bundesliga club. "I received three death threats in recent months," Heynckes said. "They were so serious that I had to be accompanied by plain-clothes policemen in Bochum and Cottbus," he added. "Last weekend things reached such a level that I could no longer expect my wife to put up with it."

Espanyol: Espanyol have decided to loan out Brazilian midfielder Fredson to Sao Paulo until August. Sao Paulo will have an option to buy the 25-year-old when the deal expires. The club said they have also agreed to take Real Betis midfielder Jorge Wagner on loan until the end of the season.

King's Cup: Quarter-final, first leg - Sevilla vs Real Betis 0-0.