Spain’s anti-corruption prosecutor could be ready to file charges in a suspected case of match-fixing involving La Liga clubs Levante and Real Zaragoza next week.
A spokesman for the prosecutor’s office said it was “possible” the charges, which relate to a game on the final day of the 2010-11 season, will be filed in a Valencia court on Monday or Tuesday, confirming a report in Marca sports daily yesterday.
Zaragoza won the match 2-1, avoiding relegation and the prosecutor’s office has been investigating whether the home players were paid to lose.
The match has been dubbed “the game of shame” in the Spanish media.
Pele: I’m doing fine
Pele has allayed fears over his health by announcing that he is “doing fine”.
The 74-year-old former Brazil forward was admitted to a “special care” unit in a Sao Paulo hospital on Thursday, three days after being taken in with a urinary tract infection.
Pele’s personal assistant Jose Fornos moved quickly to play down the news by explaining he had simply been moved to a private room.
Pele twitted: “I want to take this opportunity to let you know that I am doing fine. I was not put into intensive care, I was simply relocated to a special room for privacy purposes only.”
Moyes adds McKinlay to his Sociedad staff
David Moyes has added further Scottish influence to the Real Sociedad coaching staff with the appointment of Billy McKinlay.
Manager Moyes made Sociedad his first club since Manchester United a fortnight ago and he has now moved to add the experienced McKinlay as his assistant coach.
McKinlay had a brief spell in charge of Watford this season.
Sociedad’s website said that McKinlay completed Moyes’s staff, which also consists of coach Asier Santana, strength coach Karla Larburu and goalkeeping coach Roberto.
Tottenham charged
Tottenham have been charged by UEFA after their Europa League game against Partizan Belgrade on Thursday was suspended for several minutes following three separate pitch invasions which appeared to be part of an online prank.
UEFA said that disciplinary proceedings had been opened and the case would be dealt with on December 11.
Ukrainian referee Yevhen Aranovskiy took the players off the field after 38 minutes of the Group C game with the teams drawing 0-0. The players returned to the White Hart Lane pitch about 10 minutes later and Spurs won the match 1-0.
Police arrested the three pitch invaders.
Inter engaged in Handanovic talks
Inter goalkeeper Samir Handa-novic is set to prolong his stay at the San Siro after club sporting director Piero Ausilio told reporters talks on a new deal are underway.
Handanovic, formerly of Udinese, has been linked with a move elsewhere last summer but decided to stay and see out his contract which extends to June 2016.
Ausilio said: “Inter invested a lot in Samir two years ago and we’re happy with our goalkeeper. There was a lot of competition for him but we got him.
“We’ve started talking about the renewal, the things that are being said are just the usual rumours. We want to continue with Samir together for a long time.”
Mauri wants Lazio response
Lazio captain Stefano Mauri is demanding an immediate response to last weekend’s humiliation by Juventus when the Romans visit Chievo this evening.
Lazio were reminded they are still a long way from presenting Juve with a title challenge as the Turin side won 3-0 in the capital.
Mauri now wants to see a convincing backlash.
“We have not shown great team spirit for the last two games,” he said.
“We have been too erratic at times not so much with our actual style of play but in our approach to different games.
“Our fans have noticed that they now have a good, competitive team to watch. So we will work harder to prepare for every game as if it were a final.”
River into final after beating Boca
River Plate are through to the final of the Copa Sudamericana following a 1-0 victory over fierce rivals Boca Juniors in the Superclasico.
It was all to play for at the Estadio Monumental stadium following a goalless semi-final first-leg and both sides had chances to gain the upper hand in the early going.
But it was River playmaker Leonardo Pisculichi who broke the deadlock in this feisty clash in the 16th minute, and it would stay that way as the home side set up a final clash with Colombian side Atletico Nacional.
Boca’s misery was summed up in added-on time when defender Daniel Diaz was sent off.