Sporting briefs

Porto: Porto will be allowed to compete in next season's Champions League despite an ongoing investigation into the alleged bribery of referees. "They will be able to take part in the competition next season," said UEFA spokesman William Gaillard. "Any sanctions brought against them (by UEFA) will apply from the following season."

Perrin: Alain Perrin is to leave as coach of seven-times champions Lyon, the Ligue 1 club's chairman Jean-Michel Aulas said yesterday. "Perrin is leaving," Aulas told reporters at the unveiling of Cameroon midfielder Jean Makoun, signed from Lille. According to local media reports, Perrin will be replaced by Lille coach Claude Puel.

Lampard: Chelsea's England midfielder Frank Lampard is a transfer target for Serie A champions Inter, club president Massimo Moratti said yesterday. Lampard is one of several Chelsea players to have been linked with a move to the San Siro since the London club's former boss Jose Mourinho was appointed Inter coach earlier this month. "You can say that Mourinho likes Lampard, who is a great player, a lot," Moratti said. "But that does not mean it will be easy to get him."

Bin Hammam: Asian Football Confederation president Mohamed bin Hammam has denied reports he will run for FIFA's top post in 2011, insisting he will back the re-election of incumbent Sepp Blatter. "It is very clear that I support Mr Blatter. I do hope that he runs for another term in 2011 and I will support him as I always do," Bin Hammam told reporters in Seoul.

Ronaldo: FIFA said it would take no action against Real Madrid following Manchester United's complaint that the Spanish club had sought to tempt Cristiano Ronaldo from Old Trafford. United formally complained to FIFA last week over a series of public statements made by Real apparently expressing interest in the Portuguese international. "From the documentation received, no breach of contract appears to have occurred yet," FIFA said in a statement.

Mourinho: New Inter coach Jose Mourinho is more popular with sponsors than his predecessor Roberto Mancini, according to the Serie A champions' chief executive Ernesto Paolillo. "Mourinho undoubtedly attracts more attention as a personality than Mancini in Italy and, above all, abroad," Paolillo said.

Gungor: Turkey central defender Emre Gungor, stretchered off in the second half of the win over the Czech Republic, has a calf strain and may miss the rest of Euro 2008. Emre is to have a scan and a decision will be made once the results are known, coach Fatih Terim said.

Abate: Midfielder Ignazio Abate is set to return to Milan after the club said they had bought out his contract from co-owners Empoli, who were relegated from Serie A at the end of last season. The 21-year-old Italian is a product of Milan.

Bolton: Premier League side Bolton Wanderers signed Birmingham City midfielder Fabrice Muamba in a deal worth over five million pounds. Muamba, 20, has signed a four-year contract .

Beijing 2008: Broadcasters still do not know if they will be allowed to transmit live from outside venues during the August Olympics. China has consistently promised media the same freedom to report in August as they have enjoyed at previous Games. But just seven weeks before the opening ceremony, broadcasters have yet to learn whether they have been successful in their applications for licences. "The line we're getting is that policies on live transmissions from outside Olympic venues have not been decided yet," Kevin Fleck of Global Vision, which provides services to sponsors, said.