Banned: A senior figure in Asian football has been banned for five years for “soliciting and accepting” bribes from former FIFA executive Mohamed Bin Hammam. Ganbold Buyannemekh, the head of the Mongolian FA and a former member of the Asian football confederation’s executive committee, was banned by FIFA’s ethics committee for accepting the payments to back Bin Hammam’s campaign for the FIFA presidency in 2011.
Brozovic: Dinamo Zagreb midfielder Marcelo Brozovic, 21, is being linked with a move to Arsenal in January. Brozovic, who played for Croatia in the World Cup, has attracted interest from several clubs but his agent, Miroslav Bicanic, told reporters yesterday that he will hold talks with Arsenal next month. Bicanic said: “Croatia plays USA in London next month and during our stay there we will hold meetings and negotiate with some English teams. Yes, I can confirm Arsenal are one of them.”
Veljkovic: Young Tottenham player Milos Veljkovic will be joining Championship club Middlesbrough on a three-month loan deal, he was quoted as saying yesterday. Both clubs have reportedly agreed a deal in principle to bring the promising teenager to the Riverside until January, with an option of extending the deal until the end of the season. The 19-year-old defender revealed the news whilst on international duty with Serbia Under-19s.
China win: Asian Cup finalists China continued their encouraging form under coach Alain Perrin as they beat Paraguay 2-1 in a home friendly to record their first win over the South Americans. Captain and AFC player-of-the-year Zheng Zie opened the scoring from the penalty spot with Wu Lei converting a second at the back post in the 18th minute. Nestor Ortigoza pulled one back for Paraguay late on but Perrin’s side hung on for the morale-boosting win in Changsa, south-central China.
Ucan: Salih Ucan will not leave Roma in January, his agent said yesterday. The midfielder has struggled to establish himself since arriving at Roma on loan from Fenerbahce but Ucan’s agent has now claimed that the Turkey international is ready to make up for lost time after overcoming a groin injury. “Salih missed the last three weeks of training because of injury,” Uzan said. “The coach will give an opportunity to Salih. A loan elsewhere? Currently, there is not even consideration on Roma’s part to send Salih away.”