Church link: Germany's protestant churches plan late-night services during next year's World Cup in an effort to improve links with soccer fans. Leaders of Germany's protestant church association said that two clergymen would spend the next 10 months preparing the ground for the initiative. Aside from offering late-night, post-match services the churches also plan special World Cup services and will offer facilities for soccer fans to pray on their own.
Bellion: West Ham have signed Manchester United French forward David Bellion on a season loan, the club's website said yesterday. Bellion, 22, is a French under-21 international who can play wide or down the middle. He has struggled to break into Manchester United's starting team due to injury and competition from players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Alan Smith.
Osasuna: Osasuna have taken a major step towards becoming the first Spanish soccer club to change the name of their stadium as part of a sponsorship deal. Club members approved a proposal from the board of directors that the name of the El Sadar stadium be changed to "Reyno de Navarra" (Kingdom of Navarra), the slogan used by the regional government to promote tourism in the area. In return the club will receive some 4.5 million euros from the regional government for the three-year duration of the deal.
Reliable ref: Spain's Luis Medina Cantalejo will become the second foreign referee to officiate in the Russian premier league (RFPL) this season. The RFPL said that the 41-year-old Spaniard would referee Sunday's potentially volatile derby between UEFA Cup winners CSKA Moscow and Zenit St Petersburg. Matches between the two clubs have been highly charged affairs in recent years. In May, German Florian Meyer became the first foreigner to referee a Russian league match when he took charge of CSKA's clash with city rivals Spartak.
Naybet: Tottenham Hotspur defender Noureddine Naybet announced his retirement from Morocco's national team as a bitter dispute continued with coach Badou Ezaki. The two men debated on Moroccan television on Sunday with Naybet, 35, announcing the end of his national career after criticism from the coach.