Sporting briefs

United shirt: Aon Corp, the world's largest insurance broker, has agreed a four-year deal to sponsor the shirts of Manchester United from the start of the 2010-11 season. United's £14 million a year deal with US insurance giant AIG runs out in June 2010. The deal represents a coup for Aon, which has secured one of the most prestigious advertising deals in sport.

CSKA fans: CSKA Sofia fans will not be allowed to attend away matches at Litex Lovech after violence marred last weekend's Bulgarian league encounter, the Lovech-based club said in a statement. CSKA's hopes of retaining the title vanished on Sunday when they lost 1-0 to Litex, while police arrested 27 supporters during and after the match for hooliganism.

Real friendlies: Real Madrid will play pre-season friendlies against Toronto FC and DC United as part of a tour to Canada and the United States in August. The nine-times European champions will play at BMO Field in Toronto on Aug. 7 and two days later will take on DC United at Fedex Field in the US capital.

Red Star: Red Star Belgrade's former international midfielder Vladimir Petrovic was appointed as coach of the troubled Serbian first division team after the club's torrid season on and off the pitch. Red Star suffered a second trophyless campaign and their 17th successive early exit from Europe.

Magilton at QPR: Queens Park Rangers have appointed Jim Magilton as their new manager. The 40-year-old has signed a two-year deal with the Championship club which was bought by Renault Formula One boss Flavio Briatore in 2007. Magilton, sacked as manager of Ipswich in April, replaces former Portugal international Paula Sousa.

Birmingham: Ecuador striker Christian Benitez is joining Birmingham for a club record fee from Mexican side Santos Laguna. Birmingham, who have just been promoted to England's top flight, said the 23-year-old will have a medical next week having agreed personal terms. The fee, which was not disclosed, will beat the £5.8 million paid to Liverpool for striker Emile Heskey in 2004.

Silvinho: Barcelona have told Brazilian defender Silvinho they will not renew his contract at the end of the month. The former Arsenal and Celta Vigo player, 35, has been at Barca for five years and has won two Champions League trophies, three league titles and one King's Cup.

Rugby Union: Wallaby flanker Rocky Elsom signed a new two-year deal with the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) after returning home from a season in Ireland. Elsom left Australia last year to play for Irish province Leinster after the ARU granted him an early release on compassionate grounds. The forward was a big hit in Europe, winning the man of the match award in Leinster's Heineken Cup win over Leicester, but said he wanted to return home because of the lure of playing for Australia.

Tennis: Russian Nikolay Davydenko's participation in the Wimbledon warm-up event at Queen's Club hung in the balance as the Russian was unsure if he would receive a visa in time. Davydenko had an appointment to get his visa last week but missed it as he had to play three days running after rain interrupted proceedings at Roland Garros. "I tried to have it made last week. I should have had an appointment but I played three days in a row. I know some players said I would have to wait 10 days for a visa. And now I'm in trouble." The grasscourt tournament starts on Monday.

Golf: Tiger Woods can be forgiven for having split loyalties for the best-of-seven NBA Finals starting today between Los Angeles Lakers and the Orlando Magic. As a native Californian, he supported the Lakers from his early childhood but he now lives in Orlando. "I'm really torn about the NBA finals," Woods, 33, said. "I grew up a die-hard Lakers fan but I have season tickets to Orlando Magic games. Hopefully, it will be a great series." Woods is competing this week at the Jack Nicklaus-hosted Memorial tournament in Ohio where he won the title for three consecutive years from 1999.

Basket, NBA: The NBA's Most Valuable Player, LeBron James, had a benign growth removed from his right jaw in a five-hour operation on Tuesday. James has had the condition for several months, but delayed the operation with approval from his doctors until the Cleveland Cavaliers had completed their season. Cleveland fell in six games to Orlando in the Eastern Conference finals to miss out on a trip to the NBA Finals. James, 24, won MVP honours after leading Cleveland to a 66-win regular season.