'Bungs' inquiry: England's Premier League vowed to get to the bottom of allegations of corruption when it announced an inquiry into illegal transfer payments yesterday. Chief executive Richard Scudamore said the inquiry would be headed by an independent legal professional and would focus on transfers made since January 2004. The announcement follows Sunday's News of the World newspaper quoting Sven-Goran Eriksson as saying three unnamed clubs had been involved in 'bungs'.
O'shea: Manchester United defender John O'Shea is likely to be out for four to six weeks after breaking two of his ribs. The 24-year-old Irishman, who can also play in midfield, first sustained the injury during United's FA Cup third-round replay against Burton Albion last week. It was not until United's 1-0 league win over Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday, when O'Shea took a further knock, that the problem was fully realised.
Van Hooijdonk: Veteran striker Pierre van Hooijdonk will return to Feyenoord on an 18-month contract. Van Hooijdonk, 36, was granted a free transfer from NAC Breda where he lost his starting spot after his friend and coach Ton Lokhof was sacked in December. He scored 14 goals in 46 international appearances and 52 in two seasons for Feyenoord.
Ailton: Besiktas said yesterday they had agreed to loan Ailton to Hamburg until the end of the season with a 1.75 million euro option to sell the Brazilian striker. Ailton, who was once the Bundesliga's top scorer, has been consistently linked with a return to Germany because he was unsettled in Turkey. Ailton scored 28 goals when he helped Werder Bremen to the league and cup double in the 2003-04 season. He then spent a year at Schalke before moving to Besiktas last July.
1860 Munich: German second division club 1860 Munich appointed Austria's Walter Schachner as coach yesterday. Schachner will sign a contract until June 30, 2008 to work alongside former Germany international Stefan Reuter, who took over as team manager on Monday.
Israel: Dror Kashtan was confirmed as Israel's new national team coach yesterday. The Israeli FA said Kashtan, 61, will take over from Avraham Grant, who resigned last year after four years in charge. Kashtan is the most decorated among Israel's coaches, winning six titles with four different clubs, five State Cups and three Toto Cups. He won the league and cup double with both Maccabi and Hapoel Tel Aviv.
In England: The Championship - Plymouth vs Leicester 1-0. League One - Blackpool vs Doncaster 4-2. League Two - Mansfield vs Chester 1-2; N. County vs Northampton 2-2; Stockport vs Grimsby 2-1; Torquay vs Rochdale 1-3.
German Cup QF: B. Munich vs Mainz 3-2 (aet - 90 mins: 1-1).