Portsmouth: The Premier League has charged Portsmouth with breaching its "approach rules" regarding the appointment of Harry Redknapp as manager. The League decided to take action after receiving an official complaint from Redknapp's former club Southampton. "Having considered the circumstances the Board has decided to charge Portsmouth FC with breaching the approach rules," the League said in a statement. A commission will be appointed to deal with the matter, the League added.
Empoli: Empoli have appointed Luigi Cagni to replace sacked coach Mario Somma, the struggling Serie A club announced yesterday. Cagni, 55, has previous Serie A experience with Piacenza and Verona but faces a baptism of fire at Empoli, whose first fixture is an away trip to leaders Juventus tomorrow. "The club is expecting a lot from my experience, but I have not come here to play defensively," he said. "Our defence can improve, but with my style of play the team is always looking to score. We'll try and get something against Juventus - we've got nothing to lose."
Eriksson: England soccer coach Sven-Goran Eriksson is suing a British newspaper for breach of confidence after it quoted him saying he was ready to dump England after this summer's World Cup, his lawyers said yesterday. The News of the World quoted Eriksson last Sunday telling one of its journalists posing as a wealthy Arab businessman that he might quit after this year's tournament in Germany and take over at Premier League club Aston Villa.
Strachan: Celtic manager Gordon Strachan revealed his disappointment yesterday that Chinese defender Du Wei had returned to Shanghai Shenhua after just half a game. The 23-year-old international suffered a disastrous debut in holders Celtic's 2-1 Scottish FA Cup third round defeat by second division Clyde 12 days ago, one of the worst results in the club's 118-year history, and was substituted at half-time. "I am just disappointed for his own sake and I was desperate to give him another chance. I am sure he will make a centre half, given time somewhere, at a half decent level," he said.
Riise: Norway defender John Arne Riise signed a new contract with Liverpool yesterday binding him to the English premier league club to the end of the 2009 season. Riise, who played in the Liverpool side who won the Champions League final last year after a penalty shootout against AC Milan, had six months left of his existing contract.
MFA Division III: Sta Lucija vs Kalkara 2-0; Pembroke vs Zejtun 3-1.
In England: The Championship - Crystal Palace vs Reading 1-1.
In Italy: Serie C1(A) -Monza vs Pro Sesto 0-1.
U-17 Friendly: Malta 0 Wales 2 (Lacey 31; Hewitt-Fisher 75).