Intertoto Cup match halted: A low-key Intertoto Cup match between Vetra Vilnius of Lithuania and Legia Warsaw of Poland was abandoned at half-time yesterday after Polish fans attacked police with metal bars and stones. Polish news agency PAP reported that some of the 3,000 travelling Legia fans attacked Lithuanian police during their second round, first leg match against Vetra in the Lithuanian capital. The match was abandoned at half-time with Vetra leading 2-0.
Malouda: French midfielder Florent Malouda is to join Chelsea after Lyon and the English Premier League club reached an agreement, Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas told Reuters last night. "We have reached an agreement and Florent should be at Chelsea tomorrow (today)," Aulas said after a friendly match between Lyon and Lille in the French Alps resort of Albertville. The transfer fee will be around 20 millions euros, a Lyon source said. Malouda, 27, has won four French titles with Lyon and was voted best Ligue 1 player last season. A member of the France squad that reached last year's World Cup final, he has played 30 internationals, scoring three goals.
Parma: Parma will try to sign Fiorentina's Valeri Bojinov if they fail to convince Giuseppe Rossi to join them from Manchester United. Parma are understood to have tabled a £6m bid to United but should they fail to snap up the U-21 international then they already have an alternative target lined up in the shape of the Bulgarian. Bojinov is a highly-rated striker even if he has lost his way since initially joining Fiorentina in January 2005 for £11m from Lecce.
Eriksson: Sven-Goran Eriksson is not planning to make moves for David Beckham and Michael Owen. The new Man. City manager said: "I didn't even know that there was any possibility of Beckham being available on loan, but no, no, no. I haven't thought about it and won't think about it. As for Owen - he's available? I didn't know that. He will always score goals for you... but I don't want to read that I'm interested in signing him either." Reports claim Eriksson wants to make Christian Wilhelmsson his first signing.
Cicinho: Roma's hopes of landing Cicinho were dashed yesterday following Real Madrid's decision to take him off the transfer market. The Brazilian looked to be heading out of the Spanish capital after his struggles under previous coach Fabio Capello. Roma sporting director Daniele Prade discussed the player's future with Real official Predrag Mijatovic last week during the Cristian Chivu talks. However, Mijatovic has been told by prospective new Real boss Bernd Schuster to keep the right-back at all costs.
Asian Cup: Co-hosts Vietnam stunned United Arab Emirates 2-0 with a pair of lightning second-half strikes in their Asian Cup Group B opener yesterday. Goals from Huynh Quang Thanh and Le Cong Vinh sparked wild celebrations for Vietnam, who are making their first appearance in the final since 1960.