Former Russia captain Alexei Smertin was appointed sports director in the country's bid to land either the 2018 or 2022 World Cup.
Smertin, who played for Chelsea and Bordeaux in a distinguished playing career, will be responsible for 'sporting matters pertaining to the bid, such as advice on the match calendar, overall team accommodations and other related aspects'.
Bid chief executive Alexey Sorokin said: "As a bid ambassador and member of our delegation, Alexei Smertin has shown himself to be a strong advocate for Russian football."
Smertin, who won 55 caps for Russia, added: "Playing for Russia in the 2002 World Cup was one of the highlights of my career."
Jay-Jay Okocha for top Nigeria FA post
Austin 'Jay Jay' Okocha, is set to take the first step in his bid to join the board of the Nigeria Football Federation as a vice-president.
The federation elections will be held on August 28 and Okocha, who played 13 years at international level for Nigeria, captaining the team at the 2002 World Cup, will formally declare his interest in the post today.
Okocha, 36, is currently a member of the Presidential Task Force for the 2010 World Cup, a government body to complement the efforts of the federation in ensuring optimal performance of the national teams.
The ex-PSG midfielder has settled down as a businessman in Lagos.
Pazzini linked with move to Juventus
Sampdoria striker Giampaolo Pazzini is honoured to be a reported target of Juventus.
According to the media, Pazzini is Juve's number one priority to reinforce their attacking line in the summer transfer market.
"I have been told about those reports," said Pazzini.
"It gives me pleasure to know that a team as important as Juve can be interested in me. It only makes me proud that Juve would consider me as a target."
Pazzini is Samp's top scorer with 11 league goals this season and his performances have not gone unnoticed with the Italy international also a reported target of Chelsea.
Moratti delight at Mariga deal
Inter president Massimo Moratti believes the arrival of highly-rated midfielder McDonald Mariga is the "best thing that could have happened" to the club in the January transfer window.
Mariga's move to Inter from Parma was completed just two minutes before the transfer window closed on Monday night, after the 20-year-old Kenyan had earlier seen a move to Man. City scuppered by work permit issues.
The collapse of the move to Roberto Mancini's side paved the way for a switch to the San Siro on a four-and-a-half-year deal.
"Mariga is a very interesting player," Moratti said.
"He is young and he can do very well. I believe it is the best thing that could have happened to us in the winter transfer market."
Lippi contradicts Abete on future
Italy coach Marcello Lippi contradicted his own boss over his future, saying whether he stayed in the job could depend on results at the World Cup.
"I haven't said that I'll leave after South Africa," Lippi, whose contract runs out after June's finals, told reporters.
"Now I'm only thinking about the World Cup. First let's concentrate fully on the World Cup and then who knows. It depends on results."
However, Italian soccer federation chief Giancarlo Abete had very different ideas.
"We have a positive relationship with Lippi and I've said that there will be total clarity over the national coach's job before we leave for South Africa," he said.
Spain coach opens door for Guti
Spain coach Vicente del Bosque believes there may be a place for Real Madrid midfielder Guti in his World Cup squad after the 33-year-old's return to form.
A sublime backheel by Guti set up French striker Karim Benzema to score against Deportivo at the weekend, winning him praise in the media. Guti himself said he still hopes to play for Spain in South Africa despite his age.
"What he said is good," Del Bosque said.
"That means he's motivated. The door is open to his joining the squad."
A product of Real's youth system, Guti has 15 caps for Spain but last played for the national team in 2005.
Liverpool want deal with new investors
Liverpool are aiming to strike a deal with investors before the end of the season so they can get plans for a new stadium back on track.
The Premier League club have put plans to move from Anfield to a 60,000-seat arena at Stanley Park on hold pending an injection of funds and the new stadium is a key part of a plan to boost revenue and help them compete with richer rivals.
"When I arrived we agreed with the owners that we had to look for new investors," managing director Christian Purslow said.
"There are interested parties and I would like to get it sorted out before the end of this season... without investment there won't be a new stadium."