A Turkish court on Monday released the manager and coach of Besiktas pending trial, media reports said.
Manager Serdar Adali and coach Tayfur Havutcu were released in a giant match-fixing case together with six other suspects.
Fenerbahce president Aziz Yildirim is still behind the bars on various match-fixing charges and faces a lengthy prison sentence if found guilty.
Earlier this week, Turkey passed a vote to water down drastic sentencing guidelines introduced earlier this year amid the corruption scandal. The new law cuts the maximum sentence for anyone found guilty of match-fixing from 12 to three years.
Hleb set to leave Wolfsburg
Wolfsburg confirmed Alexander Hleb’s loan deal will not be extended into the new year. He joined the Wolves in August on a short-term switch from Barcelona but injuries have restricted him to four appearances.
“It’s very, very unfortunate,” Wolfsburg coach Felix Magath said.
“I would have gladly exercised the option to keep Alex but with the injury problems he has had we cannot do that.
“If he was 100% fit he would have helped us with his quality.”
Hleb said: “I was looking to get back to full fitness and reclaim my previous form. This setback has hit me hard.”
Title not on our agenda – Pozzo
Udinese owner Giampaolo Pozzo insists that winning the Scudetto is not something his team is targeting this season.
The Friuli side are level with Juventus at the top of the Serie A table on 30 points.
“I am delighted with our campaign so far,” Pozzo told Il Corriere dello Sport.
“But we must be cautious.
“The Scudetto is not our goal this season but we will do all that we can to remain high up in the standings. Our aim is to qualify for European competition.”
Contest for mascot
Brazilian Sports Minister Aldo Rebelo has proposed an internet contest to decide whether a “saci,” a popular character in Brazilian folklore, a macaw or a jaguar should be the mascot of the 2014 World Cup.
“My idea is to have a broad public contest, on the internet, so that people can give their views.
“Other suggestions, in addition to the saci, the macaw or the jaguar, could emerge that we can submit to FIFA or the local organising committee as the preference of our people,” he said.
“I have some sympathy for the saci,” added the minister referring to the one-legged black youngster, who smokes a pipe and wears a magical red cap that enables him to disappear and re-appear whenever he wishes.
Olic fancies move to Lazio
Bayern Munich striker Ivica Olic fancies a move to Serie A club Lazio during the January transfer window.
The Croatian forward has long been linked with the capital club and yesterday he told Tuttosport that he’s looking for a new club.
“I intend to leave Bayern in January,” he said.
“I’m no longer in the plans of the boss and that could jeo-pardise my place at Euro 2012.
“I’m honoured that a side like Lazio have been associated and I hope there is more to it than just an interest in me.”
If Olic joins the Biancocelesti in the New Year, he will be reunited with former Bayern Munich team-mate Miroslav Klose.
Nainggolan going nowhere – Cellino
Cagliari president Massimo Cellino insists Belgian midfielder Radja Nainggolan will not leave the Sardinian outfit in January.
Nainggolan, 23, has been strongly linked with a move away from Cagliari with Milan, Juventus and Inter reportedly keen to acquire his services.
However, Cellino said: “He will not leave, not even for €100 million. I want to keep him at Cagliari.
“We received important offers from abroad in the summer for Nainggolan and we turned them down.”
Hoy mistaken for referee Foy
Olympic cycling champion Sir Chris Hoy said he had been on the receiving end of some unwanted Twitter messages from Tottenham fans who confused him with referee Chris Foy.
It was Foy who had angered many Spurs supporters with a string of controversial decisions during their 2-1 league defeat by Stoke on Sunday.
àJohnnyJ-Smyth tweeted: “Robbed ! Chris hoy calls himself a premier league referee ! £mug.”
But Hoy, who won three gold medals in Beijing in 2008, responded: “Just for the record 1) I don’t need glasses and 2) I do not lead a double life as an English premier league referee. That’s Chris Foy.”