Abramovich: Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich will invest at least another $40 million in the Russian national team in the hope of reviving it as he has done with London club Chelsea. Abramovich's National Soccer Academy foundation has earmarked $30-40 million for the construction of a new training base for the Russia team by 2008 and will also put money into building a new stadium. The money is the latest part of an ambitious plan by the country's richest man to lift Russian soccer up from the doldrums it has been in since the collapse of the Soviet Union.
2010 World Cup: South Africa yesterday dismissed concerns it had fallen behind in 2010 World Cup preparations, saying it had made headway in modernising stadiums and making the streets safe. "The preparation work has begun," Deputy Minister of Finance Jabu Moleketi said. "Our eyes are on the ball and we are going to deliver... we are confident we are on time." Moleketi said the companies that would carry out the majority of the World Cup-related work would be announced before the end of the year and that major construction work on stadiums would begin throughout the country next February.
2014 World Cup: Brazil formally submitted a bid to FIFA to host the 2014 World Cup yesterday, hoping to bring the tournament to the country for the first time since 1950. Ricardo Teixeira, the president of the Brazilian Football Confederation presented his country's bid to soccer's world governing body in Tokyo where he and his fellow directors are attending the Club World Cup. FIFA will announce the host of the finals next November. The 2014 tournament is scheduled to take place in South America as part of FIFA's continental rotation policy.
Title bonus: Dinamo Bucharest coach Mircea Rednic was rewarded with a bonus for winning the Romanian League title... with 15 matches still to play before the end of the season. Dinamo have won 17, drawn one and lost one of their 19 league matches and have 52 points - 13 more than second-placed Steaua Bucharest and 16 ahead of Rapid Bucharest and Cluj who are both on 36 points. "My day started happily after Dinamo board decided to give me half of the $100,000 promised bonus for winning the title," Rednic told Reuters yesterday.
Legal action: Real Madrid have joined Barcelona in taking out legal action against French newspaper Le Monde for alleging the clubs had links to the doctor at the centre of a Spanish doping investigation. In a statement, Real said they had never been linked with Dr Eufemiano Fuentes nor used his services and any documents the newspaper had of supposed physical preparation plans for the players were false.
British team: Three of Britain's four national soccer team managers backed a united team for the 2012 London Olympics. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland compete as separate nations in World Cups and Euro Championships and have not entered a joint team for the Olympic qualifiers since 1972. This week the three managers said they were keen for a change that has the backing of FIFA president Sepp Blatter. "It's a very interesting concept," said England manager Steve McClaren.
Barthez: Former France goalkeeper Fabien Barthez is to sign a six-month deal with struggling Nantes today. Barthez, who retired in July after France lost the World Cup final to Italy, could make his return at Toulouse on December 23.
In Argentina: League decider - Estudiantes vs Boca Juniors 2-1. Estudiantes win Argentina championship for first time in 23 years.