Sporting briefs

Everton: Everton signed striker Joao Silva on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee from Portuguese club Desportivo Das Aves. Silva was the second top scorer in Portugal's second division last season with 14 goals in 32 appearances, in what was the 20-year-old's first campaign since turning professional.

Guardiola: Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has been fined €15,000 by the Spanish Football Federation for calling referee Carlos Clos Gomez a liar. Guardiola was sent off by Clos Gomez in Barca's 2-2 draw with Almeria in March for allegedly insulting the match officials.

Moras: Greece were dealt a blow ahead of their opening World Cup match against South Korea on Saturday with news that Bologna defender Vangelis Moras is out. Moras has failed to recover from a right ankle injury sustained in training.

Littbarski: Wolfsburg have appointed Pierre Littbarski as coach Steve McClaren's right-hand man. The 1990 World Cup winner will work alongside McClaren as his assistant coach from next season.

Friendly: Chile vs New Zealand 2-0.

Serie B: Promotion play-off final, first leg - Torino vs Brescia 0-0.

Rugby Union: John Steele is to be the new chief executive of the Rugby Football Union (RFU) Former Northampton player, coach and executive director Steele replaces Francis Baron, who signalled his intention to step down in November after nearly 12 years in charge at Twickenham. Steele will join the RFU from government funding agency UK Sport, where he has been the chief executive.

Tennis: Russia's Davis Cup skipper Shamil Tarpishchev said yesterday that he will be able to select a full-strength squad for the last-eight showdown with Argentina in July. "Davydenko, Andreev, Tursunov, Gabashvili, Kunitsyn and Youzhny all said they would play as long as they manage to avoid injuries before the match starts," he said. Russia will host the Davis Cup quarter-final against Argentina at Moscow's Olympic indoor stadium on July 9-11.

Baseball: A three-year-old girl whose skull was broken when she was hit by a line drive during batting practice at Dodger Stadium had surgery yesterday and is expected to make a full recovery. Briseno was hurt on Monday, when Dodgers catcher Russell Martin hit a line drive that went into the stands near third base and hit the girl and knocked her unconscious, Dodgers spokesman Joe Jareck said.

Cycling: Spanish cyclist Carlos Sastre, the winner of the 2008 Tour de France, is a doubt for this year's race because of a back injury sustained at the Giro d'Italia. The results of MRI scans carried out on the 35-year-old revealed he picked up a herniated disc after falling twice at the Giro.

Commonwealth Games: Newly crowned sevens World Series champions Samoa were named in a 16-team line-up that will compete for the 2010 Commonwealth Games title in Delhi this October by the International Rugby Board (IRB) yesterday. Samoa will be joined by reigning Commonwealth champions New Zealand, world champions Wales, hosts India, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Kenya, Namibia, Uganda, England, Scotland, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Canada and Guyana in the October 11-12 event.