Turkey transfers: Russian sports clubs will be banned from signing Turkish players during the upcoming winter break, Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said yesterday. “I think that if anyone wants (to sign a Turkish player) during the upcoming transfer window, there will not be such a possibility,” Mutko said. Russia introduced a raft of punitive economic measures against Turkey after Turkey shot down a Russian warplane earlier in the week.
Saunders: Chesterfield have sacked manager Dean Saunders after Saturday’s 4-0 home defeat to Swindon. Saunders, who took over from Paul Cook in May, leaves the Spireites 15th in Sky Bet League One, with the reverse to Swindon a fourth in a row. His assistant Brian Carey has also left the club.
Escudero winner: Sergio Escudero ended more than three hours of stalemate with a goal in the second period of extra-time to hand Jiangsu Sainty the Chinese FA Cup with a 1-0 aggregate win over Shanghai Shenhua yesterday. The Spanish-born Escudero prodded home on 110 minutes of the second leg to give the club their second FA Cup title. It was also the first piece of Chinese silverware for Sainty coach Dan Petrescu who joined the club earlier this year.
Zoff: Former Italy and Juventus great Dino Zoff, 73, is doing fine after being admitted in hospital on Saturday suffering from viral complications. Zoff’s condition wasn’t good at first but reports said his condition has now improved “I had some viral complications, but now I’m quite well,” he told La Repubblica. “I’m on the right path. It seems I’ve blocked this one too.”
Zubeldia: Young Argentine coach Luis Zubeldia has agreed terms with Santos Laguna to take charge of the outgoing Mexican champions next month. Santos finished three from bottom of the Apertura with 17 points from as many matches. The 34-year-old Zubeldia will replace Spaniard Francisco Ayestaran.
Ajax: Ajax restored a three-point lead at the top of the Dutch league with a 2-0 win at recent nemesis PEC Zwolle yesterday. Ajax went ahead courtesy of a slip from PEC goalkeeper Kevin Begois that allowed Amin Younes to score before half-time and they added a second near the end from substitute Thulani Serero.
Results
Primera Liga
Las Palmas vs Deportivo 0-2; Celta Vigo vs Sporting Gijon 2-1; Getafe vs Villarreal 2-0; Eibar vs Real Madrid 0-2; Vallecano vs A. Bilbao 0-3; Sevilla vs Valencia 1-0.
Leading standings: Barcelona 33; Atl. Madrid 29; Real Madrid 27; Celta Vigo 24; Deportivo, Villarreal 21.
Ligue 1
Saint-Etienne vs Guingamp 3-0; Bordeaux vs Caen 1-4; Olympique Marseille vs Monaco 3-3.
Leading standings: Paris SG 41; Caen 28; Angers 26; Lyon, Saint-Etienne 25; Nice, Monaco 24; Rennes 22; Lorient 21; Nantes 20; Marseille 19.
Bundesliga
Borussia Dortmund vs Stuttgart 4-1; Augsburg vs Wolfsburg 0-0; Bayer Leverkusen vs Schalke 1-1.
Leading standings: B. Munich 40; Bor. Dortmund 32; Wolfsburg 25; B. M’gladbach, H. Berlin 23.