Socrates: Brazil great Socrates has been readmitted to hospital in Sao Paulo over a stomach haemorrhage suffered two weeks ago. Local media speculated that he had been put in intensive care and that his condition was serious. “For the time being, we cannot say anything about the state of his health,” a spokesperson for the Albert Einstein Hospital told AFP.

Vermaelen: Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen faces up to four weeks on the sidelines after undergoing an operation on his injured left ankle. The Belgian international went under the knife in Stockholm on Monday after sustaining the injury during Arsenal’s 2-1 victory over Udinese.

Malbranque: Saint-Etienne announced that they have agreed to cancel Steed Malbranque’s contract after he said he no longer wished to play for the club due to personal problems.

Detained: A retired Nigerian footballer was detained in Bangladesh after trying to take a gun into the hotel where his national team is staying ahead of yesterday’s game against Argentina, police said. Emeka Ezeugo, 44, was held after a revolver was found in his bag late on Monday night by security guards at the Dhaka Westin Hotel.

Odonkor: Ex-Germany winger and 2006 World Cup semi-finalist David Odonkor has signed for German second division club Alemannia Aachen from Spain’s Real Betis. The 27-year-old is expected to make his debut in the Second Bundesliga on Friday against Paderborn.

UEFA U-21: Belarus vs Germany 0-1; Malta vs Finland 1-2; Slovenia vs Ukraine 2-0; Czech Rep. vs Armenia 1-1; Montenegro vs Wales 3-1; N. Ireland vs Denmark 0-3; Serbia vs Faroe Islands 5-1; Albania vs Moldova 4-3; Poland vs Russia 0-2; Hungary vs Italy 0-3; Turkey vs Ireland 1-0; Belgium vs Azerbaijan 4-1; Iceland vs Norway 0-2; Kazakhstan vs Slovakia 0-1; Romania vs Latvia 2-0; Holland vs Luxembourg 4-0.

Friendly: Nigeria vs Argentina 1-3; Czech Rep. vs Ukraine 4-0; Poland vs Germany 2-2; Belgium vs US 1-0.