Sporting briefs

Celtic fined: Celtic have been fined 50,000 euros ($62,450) by UEFA for the improper conduct of their supporters during last week's 1-1 Champions League Group E draw with Manchester United in Glasgow. The UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body fined the Scottish club in relation to a pitch invasion by a spectator and the delayed kick-off at the match.

Italy friendly: World champions Italy will play Brazil on February 10, the Italian federation said. The match will be played at London's Emirates Stadium, the home of Premier League side Arsenal.

Nanami Retires: Former Japan midfielder Hiroshi Nanami, one of the country's trail-blazing exports to Europe, will retire at the end of the season, his club said yesterday. The 35-year-old was widely regarded as the "water carrier" for the more creative Hidetoshi Nakata in an international career that spanned 67 games since his Japan debut in 1995.

Portugal: Portugal's coach Carlos Queiroz yesterday named two debutants for the friendly with Brazil on Wednesday in Brasilia. Porto defender Rolando and Braga midfielder Cesar Peixoto received their first call-up to Portugal's senior squad while Tiago was included in the 20-man squad after more than a year absent. He last appeared for Portugal in the 1-1 draw with Armenia in August 2007.

France: France coach Raymond Domenech recalled Arsenal players Samir Nasri and Mikael Silvestre to the national squad yesterday for a friendly against Uruguay next week. Domenech named three other Arsenal players in a 23-strong squad, including Gael Clichy, Bakary Sagna and William Gallas.

Euro 2012: The western Ukrainian city of Lviv, one of four sites due to host Euro 2012 matches, has chosen Ukrainian contractor Azovinteks to build a new stadium, city authorities said. Ukraine, co-hosting the tournament with Poland, has been under pressure to speed up preparations after two visits this year by UEFA President Michel Platini and suggestions that the tournament might be handed to another country.

Mathijsen: Dutch international Joris Mathijsen has extended his contract with Hamburg SV until 2012, the German Bundesliga club announced. The 28-year-old defender joined Hamburg from AZ Alkmaar in 2006, and has made 75 league appearances for the team.

In Spain: King's Cup Last 32 - Osasuna vs Getafe 1-0 (agg: 1-0); Sevilla vs Ponferradina 4-0 (agg: 4-1).

In England: FA Cup first round - Tranmere vs Accrington 1-0.

Golf: Organisers of golf's Singapore Open voiced their dismay yesterday at British Open runner-up Ian Poulter's decision to withdraw on the eve of the $5 million event. Flamboyant Englishman Poulter pulled out on Wednesday after being unable to replace a driver stolen from him at the HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai, which ended on Monday. "We are disappointed," Chris Jordan of organisers World Sports Group told Reuters. "He would have added a great deal to the event and helped bring the crowd in."

Basket, NBA: The Washington Wizards beat the Northwest Division-leading Utah Jazz 95-87 to snap a season-opening five-game losing streak. Washington scored 12 straight points during a two-minute stretch late in the game to turn a one-point deficit into a 93-82 advantage. The Wizards became the last team in the NBA to taste victory by out-hustling one of the top sides in the Western Conference. Utah, unable to overcome the loss of centre Mehmet Okur who was in Turkey visiting his sick father, lost for just the second time in eight games.