Marcelinho: Brazilian playmaker Marcelinho has joined Turkish first division team Trabzonspor from Hertha Berlin. Hertha said Marcelinho had signed a three-year contract for a transfer fee of 2.5 million euros. The 31-year-old, who has played for Hertha since 2001, scored 65 goals in 155 league games.

Valeron: Deportivo's Spain international Juan Carlos Valeron will be out of action for four months after undergoing surgery on his left knee. The 31-year-old tore the cartilage and suffered a partial tear of the cruciate ligament in his knee during a friendly against Benfica on Friday. Valeron had only been given the all-clear to return to action two weeks ago after recovering from six months out with an injury to the same knee.

Skacel: Southampton signed Czech Republic midfielder Rudi Skacel from Scottish Premier League club Hearts. The 27-year-old has signed a four-year contract. No fee was disclosed but media reports said Southampton had paid Hearts £1.6 million. Skacel will team up with his former Hearts manager George Burley at the English second division club.

Protest: North Korea has made an official protest about the "partial" refereeing in a 1-0 defeat by China in a women's Asian Cup SF. Three Koreans were suspended after a fracas at the end of Thursday's game in Australia. North Korea had an equaliser ruled out in stoppage time. Keeper Hye Yong Han kicked Italian referee Anna de Toni and two other players threw bottles at her.

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