Sporting briefs

Arsenal: Organisers of a friendly between English club Arsenal and Vietnam are facing a battle to ensure the match goes ahead after the owners of the stadium venue hiked their fees for the game. Arsenal would be the first Premier League team to visit Vietnam and while the country’s football federation played down concerns the game could be canceled, they said the price being quoted to use the My Dinh national stadium was too high.

Girard: Lille have confirmed the appointment of Rene Girard as their new coach. The 59-year-old takes over from Rudi Garcia following his move to Roma. A statement on the Lille website said Girard was “a natural choice” and the “ideal man” for club president Michel Seydoux and the board. No details about the contract were given.

Nantes: Nantes have been granted a temporary reprieve from a transfer ban handed down earlier this month. FIFA barred the newly-promoted Ligue 1 club from signing players this summer or in next January’s transfer window owing to apparent irregularities over the signing of Guinea striker Ismael Bangoura, with the decision later upheld on appeal by the CAS. Nantes club president Waldemar Kita responded by lodging a further appeal with the Swiss federal court, which yesterday agreed to lift the ban until later this month.

Leitner: Moritz Leitner has committed himself to Borussia Dortmund until 2017 but will spend the next two seasons on loan with Bundesliga rivals Stuttgart. Leitner is highly regarded at the Westfa-lenstadion as the Champions League runners-up have signed the midfielder to a four-year deal.

Denilson: Former Arsenal mid-fielder Denilson has joined Sao Paulo on a permanent deal. The 25-year-old, who was released by the Gunners this month after spending the last two campaigns on loan at Sao Paulo, has signed a four-and-a-half-year contract.