Presidential Election: Real Madrid will hold an election for a new president on July 2, the Primera Liga club said. President Fernando Martin was ousted by the board on April 26 only two months after replacing Florentino Perez, who quit at the end of February. Real are coming to the end of their third season without a major trophy.
Fans Violence: A group of AEK Athens supporters went on the rampage on an overnight ferry from Crete after their team lost in the Greek Cup final. According to Greek media reports, the fans caused an estimated 150,000 euros ($191,200) damage to the ferry on Wednesday night. They also injured several crew members. AEK lost 3-0 to Olympiakos Piraeus in the final played in Iraklion. It is not known how many fans were involved in the rampage, but reports claimed about 700 were aboard the ferry.
South Korea Squad: South Korea coach Dick Advocaat named a balanced and versatile squad yesterday for next month's World Cup finals in Germany. The squad blends well-known players who have established their reputations by playing in Europe with those who have continued to develop at home. The best-known players in the squad are Manchester United winger Park Ji-sung, who shone at the 2002 finals, and Tottenham Hotspur defender Lee Young-pyo.
Micoud: Werder Bremen midfielder Johan Micoud says he wants to leave the club to go back to France after four years in the Bundesliga. "For the first time since I joined Bremen I feel like I want to go back home," Micoud said. The 32-year-old playmaker has been linked with moves to Paris St Germain and his former club Girondins Bordeaux.
Podolski: Germany striker Lukas Podolski does not want to play in the second division with relegated Cologne next season and would like a move to Bayern Munich. "I've already gone through that," Podolski, 20, said yesterday. "I went down to the second division with Cologne two years ago without making any demands, even though I had other opportunities."
Coppell: Reading manager Steve Coppell has signed a one-year contract to stay with the club promoted to the Premier League as second division champions. Coppell, the League Managers' Association manager of the season, agreed a new deal with the Berkshire club before going on holiday.
Seats Withdrawn: Arsenal supporters hoping to buy seats from Highbury stadium have been disappointed after the club discovered they contain small amounts of a toxic metal. The seats were being sold at around £20 each after Arsenal played their final game at Highbury on Sunday before moving to the nearby 60,000-seater Emirates Stadium.
In England: League One play-off semi-finals - Barnsley vs Huddersfield 0-1; Swansea vs Brentford 1-1.
¤ Germany defender Chri-stoph Metzelder could be out for two weeks after tearing a calf muscle in training but should be fit for the World Cup, the German football association said. Metzelder, 25, has recovered from career-threatening Achilles injuries and back problems in recent years to return to the national team even though he rarely plays for his club Borussia Dortmund.
¤ Defender Sergio Ramos will be able to play in Real Madrid's final match of the league season after the Spanish Football Federation overturned the red card he was given at the weekend. The 20-year-old was sent off in the closing minutes of the 3-3 draw against Villarreal on Sunday for handling a goalbound shot from Javi Venta. The red card was reduced to a yellow. The Spanish international is now free to play against his former side Sevilla next Tuesday, a game Real must win to guarantee finishing as runners-up to Barcelona.