DFB: General Secretary Wolfgang Niersbach yesterday officially declared his intent to stand as successor for Theo Zwanziger as the next president of the German Football Federation (DFB). Having spent the last 20 years working with Niersbach for the DFB, Zwanziger said he placed his full trust in the former journalist, who is in effect his preferred candidate for the job of boss of German football.

Yeung: Birmingham City owner Carson Yeung intends to fight money laundering charges in Hong Kong, his lawyer said Wednesday after a pre-trial hearing. “It’s clear. That’s our position,” lawyer Clive Grossman told AFP outside the court when asked if Yeung intended to plead not guilty.

Hansa Rostock: Hansa Rostock have been ordered to play their German second division game against Dynamo Dresden behind closed doors after rioting by their fans, the German Football Federation (DFB) said yesterday. Rostock are set to face Dresden on December 18 in front of empty terraces after violent scenes marred Hansa’s 3-1 home defeat to St Pauli on November 19 when eight police officers and two fans were injured during rioting.

Baptista: Malaga’s striker Julio Baptista underwent surgery on his right foot yesterday and will be out for up to “six to eight weeks”. Baptista picked up the injury in August and, having struggled for fitness for three months, eventually decided on surgery.

Milito: Diego Milito will not be leaving Inter in January, his agent Fernando Hidalgo has said. The 32-year-old has struggled for goals and form this season and has even found it hard to break into the Inter first team. “Diego is not leaving Inter because he wants to return to the level he showed two years ago,” said Hidalgo.

Primera Liga: Granada vs Real Mallorca 2-2.

The Championship: Hull vs Birmingham 2-1.