Sporting briefs

Fan violence: Fifteen police officers were injured in clashes with Energie Cottbus fans at Saturday's German Cup first-round match at Tennis Borussia Berlin, police in the German capital said. Around 250 officers were deployed and they used pepper spray and batons to keep the Cottbus fans, some of whom had been drinking, away from the home supporters. Bundesliga side Cottbus won the match 3-0. Tennis Borussia play in a regional Berlin league.

Sforza out: Swiss top division side FC Lucerne have parted company with coach Ciriaco Sforza following a bad start to the season. The club, bottom of the table with just one draw from their first five matches, said they had reached an amicable agreement with the former Swiss international.

Young boys: Young Boys Berne have named former Bellinzona coach Vladimir Petkovic to replace sacked trainer Martin Andermatt. Petkovic, a Croatian-Swiss joint national, gained attention in Switzerland last season when he steered Bellinzona to the Swiss Cup final before securing promotion to the top flight.

Six-match ban: North Korean striker Choe Myong-ho has been banned for six international games and fined by the Asian soccer body for poor behaviour which marred Thursday's AFC Challenge Cup semi-final loss against holders Tajikistan. Choe, sent off for spitting at Tajikistan's Davrondzhon Tukhtasunov, was fined $3,000.

Henry: Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson still intends to sign a new striker this week - and has failed to rule out a bid for Thierry Henry. Tottenham's Dimitar Berbatov, Karim Benzema, David Villa and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar have all been linked with Old Trafford over the last few months while Henry's name has been added to that list recently. "There is a name every day," Ferguson said. "It is possible I will sign someone this week. We are trying and we are looking at one or two options."

Kaboul: Portsmouth have finalised a deal to sign Tottenham's French central defender Younes Kaboul. The 22-year-old will sign subject to passing a medical at Fratton Park today, with the fee thought to be around £6 million.