AEK ATHENS: AEK Athens were kicked out of next season’s Europa League for financial irregularities, it was revealed last night. “It is a black page in the history of AEK Athens,” club president Andreas Dimitrelos said. “We have a debt of 35 million euros. We are asking help from AEK supporters. The next 15 days will be crucial for the future of the team.”

BRAMBLE: Sunderland defender Titus Bramble was yesterday found not guilty of sexually assaulting two women in separate incidents on the same night in September last year. Bramble, 30, had been accused of groping a woman during a taxi ride home from a nightclub in Teeside in September last year. Another woman alleged Bramble had groped her in a nightclub earlier that night.

FRIENDLY: Manchester United are to play a friendly against Shanghai Shenhua as part of a pre-season tour of China in July. Man. United, who last played in China three years ago, will play the Shenhau at the Shanghai Stadium on July 25.

HOOLIGANS: Twenty-three peo-ple have been charged in Poland with involvement in organised fights between football hooligans. The individuals are alleged to have been involved in pre-arranged brawls between fans of third division Resovia Rzeszow and fifth-tier neighbours Wisloka Debica. Arranged violence between rival teams’ fans are notorious for having claimed several lives in Poland over recent years.

ANDERLECHT: Anderlecht have appointed John van den Brom as their new coach on a three-year contract. Van den Brom leaves Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem to take up the post with the Belgian champions. Former Holland and Ajax player Van den Brom is now 45 and succeeds Ariel Jacobs at Anderlecht. Jacobs resigned last month.