Appeal: UEFA are appealing their own decision to fine Serbia €80,000 for the violence and racist abuse in an U-21 match against England in October. The initial punishment was criticised for being too lenient by the English FA.

Ukraine: Mikhail Fomenko was yesterday preferred to former England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson and charged with reviving Ukraine’s ailing 2014 World Cup finals qualifying campaign after a meeting of the national football federation FFU. The FFU members unanimously voted for the 64-year-old, who has previously coached Ukrainian sides Dynamo Kiev, CSKA Kiev and Tavria Simferopol and also the Guinea national side.

Calaio: Siena forward Emanuele Calaio is close to extending his contract at Siena, the club said yesterday. Calaio, 30, has been linked with a move elsewhere next month but Siena are determined to hold on to the former Napoli striker who is set to renew his contract until 2015.

Jeunechamp: Montpellier defender Cyril Jeunechamp is to appeal his one-year ban for striking a journalist at the end of a league match last month. The 37-year-old received his suspension last week for the incident on November 17. Jeunechamp accosted the journalist in the corridors of Valenciennes’s Stade Hainaut and struck him on the face in protest against an article written about him.

Taarabt: Morocco coach Rachid Taoussi has left out QPR midfielder Adel Taarabt from his 2013 Africa Cup of Nations squad announced yesterday. The omission will please QPR manager Harry Redknapp who had asked Taarabt to stay in England to help the club’s fight against Premier League relegation. The 23-year-old will now be available for his club’s games against West Ham, Swansea, Man-chester city and Norwich.

Guangzhou: Chinese cup holders Guangzhou Evergrande said they have signed Brazilian midfielder Elkeson de Oliveira Car-doso to a four-year deal with the transfer fee topping €5.7m. Elkeson, 23, will arrive at Guangzhou in January to begin preparing for the upcoming season.

Nene: Paris Saint Germain’s want-away Brazilian forward Nene is close to reaching agreement to join Turkish side Besiktas, local press reported yesterday. Besiktas president Fikret Orman confirmed the club was interested in signing the 31-year-old. “If our conditions are met the deal will be done,” he told news channel NTV.

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