Soccer Capsules: Sundhage trims U.S. roster to 23
CHICAGO (AP) — U.S. coach Pia Sundhage has selected four players for her preliminary roster for the Algarve Cup who weren't with her for Olympic qualifying, taking backup goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris and defenders Stephanie Cox, Whitney Engen and Meghan Klingenberg.
Five players who attended a training camp before a 2-1 exhibition win over New Zealand were dropped from the 23-woman roster announced Friday: goalkeeper Jill Loyden and midfielders Yael Averbuch, Kristie Mewis, Christine Nairn and Keelin Winters.
The Americans leave for Portugal on Feb. 20, and Sundhage will trim the roster to 21 before the U.S. opener against Denmark on Feb. 29. The Americans play Norway on March 2, then close first-round play in Group B against Japan on March 5 in their first meeting since Japan won last year's Women's World Cup final.
Group A includes Germany, Sweden, China and Iceland. The group winners meet in the final on March 7. The U.S. has won the tournament eight times in 17 appearances.
The roster: Goalkeepers: Nicole Barnhart, Ashlyn Harris, Hope Solo; Defenders: Rachel Buehler, Stephanie Cox, Whitney Engen, Meghan Klingenberg, Amy LePeilbet, Heather Mitts, Kelley O'Hara, Christie Rampone, Becky Sauerbrunn ; Midfielders: Shannon Boxx, Tobin Heath, Lori Lindsey, Carli Lloyd, Heather O'Reilly, Megan Rapinoe, Amy Rodriguez; Forwards: Lauren Cheney, Sydney Leroux, Alex Morgan, Abby Wambach.
Johnson returns to MLS with Sounders FC
RENTON, Wash. (AP) — Eddie Johnson is returning to Major League Soccer.
The American forward signed with MLS and was selected by Montreal on Friday with the top pick in the league's allocation process. The expansion Impact then traded Johnson to Seattle for forward Mike Fucito and midfielder Lamar Neagle.
Johnson, who turns 28 next month, played in MLS for Dallas (2001-06) and Kansas City (2007-08) before signing in England with Fulham. He was little used by the Cottagers, making just 18 appearances and getting loaned to Cardiff City, Preston North End and Greece's Aris.
The Mexican club Puebla said in December it had signed Johnson then said he failed a physical exam and did not complete the deal.
A member of the 2006 U.S. World Cup team, Johnson has 12 goals in 42 international appearances.
League Capsules
Inter loses 3-0 at home to struggling Bologna
MILAN (AP) — Claudio Ranieri's job was hanging in the balance on Friday after a disastrous defensive performance saw his Inter Milan side lose 3-0 at home to struggling Bologna in Serie A.
Marco Di Vaio struck twice in less than a minute in the first half following two shocking Inter mistakes. Robert Acquafresca sealed the result in the 86th after another Nerazzurri lapse.
Question marks now hang over Ranieri after two defeats in a row at home to Serie A minnows. And just as they had done during last week's loss to Novara, the home fans voiced their displeasure.
As well as jeers during the match, the fans gathered outside the stadium afterward, clamoring for the return of treble-winning coach Jose Mourinho — who is now in charge of Real Madrid.
Ranieri insisted he was not thinking of resigning, adding: "We're united in our desire to find an answer. We won't give up, now we'll discuss things and think about the Champions League. We're not doing what we're capable of and we have to apologize to president (Massimo) Moratti and our fans who tried to encourage us, but the third goal triggered their bitterness."
Inter was on a streak of eight successive victories which had started talk of resurrecting its title chances but has now gone six games in all competitions without a win — a run which includes five defeats.
It is also Inter's 10th defeat this season in Serie A. It has only lost as many games in the top flight once before — in the 1946/47 campaign.
Napoli leapfrogged Inter into fifth after two Edinson Cavani goals helped it win 3-0 at Fiorentina. Bologna extended the gap on the relegation zone to seven points.
Inter had Giampaolo Pazzini and Diego Forlan back in the starting lineup, while key playmaker Wesley Sneijder — who has had lengthy spells out with injury this season — also started.
And it was Sneijder who almost gave Inter the lead in the 11th minute as he turned his marker well but his curling shot was too central and easily caught by Bologna goalkeeper Jean-Francois Gillet.
The Belgian shotstopper did brilliantly shortly afterwards to somehow keep out Maicon's powerful header from point-blank range.
Another Maicon header flashed past the right post on the half-hour mark as things looked promising for Inter.
However, the defense left Di Vaio completely unmarked on the right of goal in the 37th minute and he had plenty of time, as the Inter defenders rushed over to him, to control the ball and fire it home with his left foot.
Seconds later it was even worse for Inter as Andrea Ranocchia tried to control a long Bologna pass but chested it into Di Vaio's path and the Bologna striker raced forward before lofting the ball over Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar.
Both goals were roundly booed by the home support, who also jeered Inter off the pitch at halftime.
Inter tried to get back into the game in the second half and Forlan had a good opportunity on the hour mark when he was picked out alone in the middle of the area by Yuto Nagatomo, but his shot was too weak.
The Uruguayan was substituted moments later to more whistles from the crowd.
Ranocchia came close to atoning for his error when a header from Sneijder's free kick but Gillet pulled off a great save to tip it around his left post.
However, Inter had no real attacking conviction and Acquafresca put the final nail in the coffin four minutes from time. Four Inter defenders seemed scared to tackle him as he as muscled his way through with ease before curling a shot into the bottom left corner from the edge of the area.
The ball had barely hit the back of the net before the fans started streaming for the exits. Inter president Moratti had already left some time before.
Inter will have to do much better when the Champions League resumes next week. It travels to Marseille for the first leg of its last-16 tie.
Napoli heads into its tie with Chelsea in a different mood.
Cavani got Napoli off to the perfect start when he beat the offside trap and lashed home Marek Hamsik's pass with less than three minutes on the clock.
The Uruguay striker doubled his tally 10 minutes after the break with his 15th league goal of the season before Ezequiel Lavezzi topped off a great night with a brilliant solo goal in stoppage time.
-- Daniella Matar
Hoffenheim draws 1-1 with Mainz in Bundesliga
BERLIN (AP) — Hoffenheim's new coach Markus Babbel was unable to mark his home debut with a win Friday as Mainz came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw in the Bundesliga.
The home side went ahead in the ninth minute when the unfortunate Nikolce Noveski deflected Boris Vukcevic's cross into his own net for his sixth ever own goal — a Bundesliga joint record. Noveski also scored an own goal when Mainz hosted Hoffenheim earlier this season.
Mohamed Zidan scored in the third consecutive game following his winter transfer from Borussia Dortmund when the Hoffenheim defense left him completely free to volley in Radoslav Zabavnik's cross in the 29th.
Both midtable sides found it hard to control the ball or dictate play in a scrappy second half. Hoffenheim midfielder Roberto Firmino should have scored in the 72nd, after Sebastian Rudy capitalized on a Christian Wetklo mistake to send him through, but the Mainz goalkeeper atoned by keeping out the Brazilian's shot.
It was Hoffenheim's sixth consecutive draw at home, while Mainz hasn't won away from home for 10 games.
"We're getting too little reward for the effort we're putting in. It's annoying without end," Mainz coach Thomas Tuchel said.
Babbel took over from the sacked Holger Stanislawski on Feb. 10, having been sacked by Hertha Berlin in December. His last game in charge of Berlin was a 1-1 draw at Hoffenheim.
"We have to be happy with the point," Babbel said.
Greek league to suspend soccer games for a week
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — The Greek football league will be suspended for one week at the end of the month to protest a new law that has also drawn criticism from FIFA.
League organizers said Friday that scheduled games will not be played Feb. 25-26 in opposition to a law voted in this week that gives expanded powers to a state-controlled sporting oversight committee. Games planned this weekend will be played.
On Thursday, FIFA warned Greek lawmakers that the country risks suspension from world soccer if the new legislation compromises the national federation's operational independence.
"Football has become a punch bag for irresponsible politicians," league organizers said in a statement. "They are the same politicians who have plunged Greece into bankruptcy and international scorn, the same people who cannot deal with the country's problems."
The government argues the provisions in the new law are necessary to clean up professional leagues amid an ongoing investigation into match-fixing.
FIFA Capsules
Security director Eaton leaves for Qatar job
ZURICH (AP) — FIFA security director Chris Eaton is leaving soccer's governing body just weeks after he launched a global campaign to fight match-fixing.
FIFA said Friday that Eaton will join the Qatar-based International Center for Sport Security in May as its Director of Sport Integrity.
Eaton was expected to lead FIFA's yearlong campaign to investigate corrupt players, coaches, referees and officials after a spate of match-fixing and allegations in dozens of countries exposed the multibillion-dollar criminal trade in illegal and irregular betting.
"Needless to say, FIFA remains fully committed to the fight against match-fixing, an area where it has undertaken pioneering work," the governing body said in a statement. "FIFA will appoint in the coming weeks a replacement for Chris Eaton, who will work together with his successor over the next few months to ensure a seamless transition and hand over the various ongoing investigations."
Eaton, a former detective from Australia, had brought a new rigor to FIFA investigations since he joined from Interpol ahead of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
"I am sad to be leaving FIFA, but I am pleased to take with me an experience and knowledge that only FIFA within the current environment can provide," Eaton said in a statement.
Eaton created a team of investigators based in London, Colombia, Malaysia and Jordan that visited 60 countries last year following a trail of cases linked to southeast Asian fixers and illegal gambling operations.
FIFA estimates that fixers make between $5 billion and $15 billion each year from manipulating matches across all sports.
Eaton also helped FIFA and Interpol link up in a $26.3 million anti-corruption project in Singapore to educate soccer officials over the next 10 years.
"I am taking a new challenge that will encompass all sports, many of which could learn from FIFA's approach to combatting match-fixing," he said.
The ICSS advises governments and sports federations on security issues and protecting sports from organized crime.
Five Uzbek players banned for deliberate bookings
ZURICH (AP) — FIFA has banned five Uzbekistan players from an additional World Cup qualifier after they tried to manipulate their suspensions by getting deliberate yellow cards.
The players will miss the opening match of the next stage of Asian qualifying in June, in addition to sitting out a meaningless qualifier against Japan this month.
FIFA said Friday that it fined each player 3,000 Swiss francs ($3,270) and the Uzbekistan Football Federation 18,000 Swiss francs ($19,600).
Shavkatjon Mulladjanov, Sanjar Tursunov, Islom Tuhtahujaev, Server Djeparov and Vagiz Galiulin all received yellow cards in earlier qualifiers before being booked again for time-wasting late in a 3-0 win over Tajikistan in Tashkent last November.
Uzbekistan was sure to advance from its group with Japan, and the players hoped to wipe clean their disciplinary records by missing only the match against Japan.
"Between the 70th minute ... and the conclusion of the match, five Uzbekistan players — who had already received one yellow card in previous matches in round three of the (Asian) preliminary competition — were cautioned in separate incidents for deliberately delaying the restart of the match," FIFA said.
FIFA's disciplinary committee reviewed footage of the game and reports from match officials.
FIFA and UEFA have tried to crack down on players and coaches seeking to orchestrate the timing of suspensions. UEFA updated its disciplinary rules last June to add an additional match sanction in such cases.
The problem was highlighted in a Champions League match between Real Madrid and Ajax in November 2010. With Madrid leading 4-0, coach Jose Mourinho was judged to have sent instructions to Xabi Alonso and Sergio Ramos to get sent off by provoking second yellow cards for wasting time.
UEFA imposed a one-match touchline ban on Mourinho and fined Madrid €100,000 (then $133,000).
Elsewhere
Boca unbeaten in 32 games, but coach on ropes
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Coach Julio Cesar Falcioni is undefeated in 32 matches with Boca Juniors, and fresh from winning the Argentine league title in December.
Boca is also among the favorites to take the Copa Libertadores, which it won four times between 2000 and 2007. In short, the club that helped made Maradona famous is back on top and Falcioni is the toast of the Argentine capital.
Uhhh, not quite. Falcioni is teetering on the edge of being fired — or being forced to resign — after a locker room run-in with team captain Juan Roman Riquelme this week following a scoreless draw at Venezuela club Zamora in the Copa Libertadores. The saga has been running ever since and the next chapter comes Sunday when Boca plays at Union Santa Fe in a league game.
Falcioni has brought a defensive, cautious style to Boca, whose rabid fans view the club as South America's version of Barcelona or Real Madrid — with one-tenth the payroll and little of the glitz.
Falcioni has also returned stability. When he was hired in December, 2010, he was Boca's fifth coach in a year following Claudio Borghi, Alfio Basile, Abel Alves and Roberto Pompei.
"Boca is solid," said club forward Santiago Silva, who joined recently from Italian club Fiorentina. "I like how the team plays. You can't question a team that has gone 30 matches without losing."
At Boca Juniors, the fans can — and do. It's a reminder of Vicente Del Bosque, who coached Real Madrid to two league titles and two Champions League titles in four years, and then left in 2003 when Real Madrid refused to renew his contract.
The dressing room confrontation in Venezuela seems to have undermined Falcioni, opening an avenue for players who were unhappy with his game tactics to complain. Riquelme, a favorite of Boca fans, is widely reported to have a frosty relationship with Falcioni. An artistic but temperamental midfielder, Riquelme has had his own problems getting along with teammates including retired Boca forward Martin Palermo.
According to various versions, Falcioni became upset in Venezuela when he sensed that forward Dario Cvitanich was not following his directives, but rather the on-pitch directions of Riquelme.
Angry at Riquelme, Falcioni reportedly told him after the match: "When you're a coach, your team can play the way you want. But here I make the decisions."
In the two days following, Falcioni offered to step aside, then apologized to the team and personally to Riquelme, Cvitanich and several other key players.
"Falcioni asks for forgiveness and now the wait to see if calm returns," Argentina newspaper Clarin said in a Friday headline.
Club president Daniel Angelici termed it just "a misunderstanding," though sports talk shows in Argentina say it goes much deeper, with many fans suggesting Falcioni could be gone in days.
"It will not be easy to get out of this," club vice president Juan Carlos Crespi said in an interview. "But with the goodwill of everyone, it can be overcome."
Maybe only as long as Boca keeps winning.
-- Stephen Wade
Teixeira to remain head of Brazilian federation
SAO PAULO (AP) — The Brazilian football federation announced Friday that president Ricardo Teixeira will remain in his post, denying widespread reports that he would resign this week.
The federation said in a brief statement on its website that Teixeira will be back to work as scheduled after the Carnival holiday ends next week. He will also remain the president of the 2014 World Cup organizing committee.
"President Ricardo Teixeira will resume his scheduled work activities at CBF (Brazilian federation) after Carnival," the one-line statement said.
Rumors of a possible resignation increased Thursday after the Folha de S. Paulo newspaper, Brazil's largest, published a report linking Teixeira to a company being investigated for over-billing an international friendly four years ago.
It was the latest of a series of accusations against Teixeira in his 23-year rule of Brazilian football and the national team.
He has always denied any wrongdoing and has never been convicted.
Sources close to Teixeira, including some members of local federations, had said his resignation was imminent and would likely happen before Carnival began on Friday, according to local media. Reports had said that he would either resign or take a leave of absence.
The pressure on Teixeira increased after the Folha story, and former Brazil star Romario, now a congressman, was among those asking Teixeira to leave his post to keep the controversy from harming Brazilian football and the country's already delayed World Cup preparations.
Folha said the company linked to Teixeira, Ailanto Marketing, is being investigated for over-billing air tickets and hotel stays for a Brazil friendly against Portugal in 2008. The company received nearly $5 million to organize the friendly and police found evidence that a partner made payments to Teixeira four months after the match in Brasilia.
The payments, which could total $350,000, were supposedly part of a contract for renting land owned by Teixeira near Rio de Janeiro. Teixeira said there was nothing illegal in the land contract.
Teixeira took over the Brazilian football federation in an election in 1989, when the organization was struggling financially. He revamped it completely and saw results on and off the field, with Brazil winning two World Cup under his command, in 1994 and 2002.
With his influence at FIFA, he was instrumental in helping Brazil earn the right to host the World Cup for the first time since the 1950 tournament.
But there was always controversy.
After the 1994 title, Teixeira found himself involved in a dispute with custom authorities after players and team officials allegedly tried to re-enter Brazil without paying proper taxes on gifts and other imported goods bought by them in the United States.
He was twice investigated by Brazil's Congress and recently was accused of taking kickbacks from former FIFA marketing partner ISL in the 1990s.
He was also accused of unethical behavior by the former chairman of England's Football Association, David Triesman, who said during a British parliamentary inquiry that Teixeira and other FIFA executive committee members engaged in improper conduct during bidding for the 2018 World Cup.
FIFA cleared the Brazilian, who said the allegations were made because the English were upset over losing the World Cup bid.
Teixeira seemed to have the support of FIFA president Sepp Blatter and at one point was touted as his possible replacement in football's governing body. But the relationship between the two apparently hasn't been as good recently, especially after Blatter decided to allow the release of the documents that allegedly implicate Teixeira in the ISL case. FIFA eventually postponed publication of the documents citing legal measures.
-- Tales Azzoni
Trinidad soccer federation to sue Warner for funds
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (AP) — The Trinidad and Tobago football federation says it plans to sue former FIFA Vice President Jack Warner to recover millions of dollars in funds including those slated for Haiti as a post-earthquake donation.
Federation attorney Derek Ali told a judge Friday that he planned to file a lawsuit and accused Warner of not releasing the audited accounts as promised. High Court Judge Devindra Rampersad ordered Ali to send Warner a protocol letter advising him of the federation's intentions.
The TTFF recently acknowledged it had "surrendered its authority" to Warner, who had served as the federation's special adviser and resigned last year to avoid a bribery probe.
Warner made a brief statement after the federation made its announcement.
"That is their right to do so," he said. "Let us see what happens."
The federation has said that Warner controlled a bank account in its name that was set to receive $750,000 pledged by FIFA and South Korean football leader Chung Mong-joon for rebuilding projects in Haiti.
Haitian officials recently told The Sunday Times in Britain that they received only $60,000, and FIFA announced it would temporarily freeze all funding to Trinidad and Tobago.
Trinidad's soccer federation is also seeking to recover millions of dollars in bonuses that 13 players from the island's 2006 World Cup team claim Warner promised them but never paid.
Last year, Rampersad ordered Warner to make a more than $700,000 in interim payments to players, but Warner has not done so.
Warner previously made a $1 million payment and said he has offered $2.3 million to the players, whom he accused of being greedy after they demanded $3.9 million.
Warner stepped down last year after overseeing football's North and Central American and Caribbean governing body for almost 30 years. As a result, FIFA cannot discipline him but has said that it will withhold his pension payments. Warner, who is a member of Trinidad's ruling party, still serves as the island's Minister of Works.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said Friday that authorities are investigating several projects launched by Warner's ministry. She declined further comment.
Hiddink named coach of Russia's Makhachkala
MOSCOW (AP) — Russian club Anzhi Makhackala signed renowned Dutch coach Guus Hiddink to an 18-month contract on Friday. After signing the contract, Hiddink headed immediately to Turkey where the team was training.
Anzhi is owned by Suleiman Kerimov, a Kremlin-connected billionaire from Dagestan, the Caspian province in southern Russia where the club is based. It signed striker Samuel Eto'o from Inter Milan last summer.
The club did not release financial terms of Hiddink's contract, but the Dutchman said he still had good memories of his time as Russia's national coach from 2006-09 and was not moving to Anzhi for the money.
The 65-year-old said that if he was only concerned about money at his age, "then there is something wrong in my mind."
Hiddink has coached numerous clubs and national sides, including guiding three different national teams to the semifinals of major tournaments.
A stadium was named in his honor after he took co-host South Korea to the semifinals of the 2002 World Cup, four years after guiding the Netherlands to the last four in France.
In 2008, he took an unheralded Russia team to the European Championship semifinals, beating the Netherlands in the quarterfinals before losing to eventual winner Spain.
"I had a wonderful time in Russia in those four years," Hiddink said.
The Dutchman's fifth and most recent national side was Turkey, which released him last November when it failed to qualify for Euro 2012.
AEG chief denies interest in buying Tottenham
LONDON (AP) — The Anschutz Entertainment Group ruled out buying Tottenham on Friday while reasserting its strong ties with the Premier League club. Speculation about the owners of Major League Soccer's Los Angeles Galaxy buying Tottenham has simmered since they jointly bid to move into London's Olympic Stadium after the 2012 Games.
After that bid failed, Tottenham initiated a search for investors to fund a new venue adjacent to its current White Hart Lane base and the club delisted from the stock market.
But AEG President Tim Leiweke has moved to quash talk of his company adding Tottenham to a sports portfolio that includes NHL's Los Angeles Kings and an interest in the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team.
"The stories that AEG is interested in or has been negotiating for the purchase of Tottenham are untrue," Leiweke said in a statement to The Associated Press. "We currently enjoy a very good business and personal relationship with Tottenham and have been involved with a number of transactions over the years. However at no time have we had a desire to purchase that club.
"We will continue to have a great relationship with (chairman) Daniel (Levy) and Tottenham moving forward."
Harry Redknapp's side is currently the top club in London, sitting third in the Premier League seven points behind leader Manchester City.
Tottenham is mostly owned by ENIC, which is controlled by Bahamas-based businessman Joe Lewis.
Rehhagel poised to become Hertha Berlin coach
BERLIN (AP) — Veteran coach Otto Rehhagel is poised to take over struggling Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin, according to German media. The dapd news agency said Friday that the 73-year-old Rehhagel has agreed to replace Michael Skibbe who was sacked Sunday after just five games in charge, all defeats.
Rehhagel's signing will be announced by Hertha after Saturday's home game against league leader Borussia Dortmund, various media outlets reported. Bild newspaper said team manager Michael Preetz has informed the players, while local broadcaster rbb said he will be presented Sunday.
Hertha is two points clear of the relegation zone in 15th place, having returned to the Bundesliga this season after dropping to the second division for a year. Skibbe had been brought in to replace Markus Babbel, who led to team to promotion but was sacked in December after a dispute with Preetz.
Rehhagel led Greece to the European Championship title in 2004, while he also coached Bayern Munich, Kaiserslautern and Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga.
He hasn't worked since resigning as Greek coach in 2010. His last stint in the Bundesliga ended in 2000 with Kaiserslautern, which he sensationally coached to the title in 1998 having led the side to promotion the year before.
"Simply fantastic," said Babbel, now with Hoffenheim, after being told Rehhagel would be taking over his former club. "I look forward to seeing him again."
Burkina Faso coach Duarte fired
OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso (AP) — Burkina Faso's football federation has fired coach Paulo Duarte after the national team lost all three of its games at the African Cup of Nations.
Burkinabe Football Federation (FBF) chairman Zambede Theodore Sawadogo said on Friday on national radio that Portuguese coach Duarte had "failed to impose himself as leader of the group" at the tournament.
Duarte's contract was set to expire on March 31, but Sawadogo said the FBF decided to end it early because of the poor results at the African Cup. Burkina Faso lost to Angola, Ivory Coast and Sudan in Group B.
Sawadogo said assistant coach Mocktar Baro would take charge for the Feb. 29 friendly in Morocco. The 42-year-old Duarte had coached Burkina Faso since 2008.
-- Brahima Ouedraogo
Ex-president of Sturm Graz jailed for tax fraud
GRAZ, Austria (AP) — The former president of Austrian club Sturm Graz was sentenced Friday to five years in prison and fined 6.6 million euros ($8.68 million) for embezzlement and tax evasion while running the club from 1992-06.
Hannes Kartnig was found guilty of fraud by a regional court, which sentenced seven other former club officials to conditional imprisonment and fines varying from 1.3 million to 3.8 million euros ($1.71 million to $5 million), the Austria Press Agency reported.
Kartnig was arrested in May 2007 and released on bail after 2.2 million euros ($2.9 million) went missing at the club between 1998 and 2005. Both Kartnig and the prosecution appealed the verdict.
Under Kartnig, Sturm Graz won two national titles and reached the second round of the Champions League in 2000-01.
Brazilian player killed in car crash
SAO PAULO (AP) — A 22-year-old player from a small Brazilian club has been killed in a car crash after practice.
Paulista said Jorge Junior died when he crashed on his way to visit relatives after training with the team on Thursday. His car rolled over several times, but few other details on the crash were available.
Local media reported that Jorge Junior's girlfriend survived the accident near the city of Brotas. The midfielder had not been summoned to play in the team's match against Sao Paulo later Thursday. His teammates were told about his death only after the team's 3-1 loss to Sao Paulo.
Paulista is in the first division of the Sao Paulo state championship but doesn't play in the national league's top flight. It won the Brazilian Cup in 2005.
Scottish FA to investigate stricken Rangers
GLASGOW, Scotland (AP) — The Scottish Football Association has opened an inquiry into the "unedifying" events at Rangers after the league champions were forced to enter bankruptcy protection. Chief executive Stewart Regan said the SFA had "no option" but to begin an inquiry after failing to obtain information relevant to its "fit and proper person" requirement for club owners.
Rangers was forced to seek bankruptcy protection on Tuesday over tax debts of 9 million pounds ($14 million) accrued in nine months since Craig Whyte took over the club in May.
In announcing the SFA's inquiry, Regan also said it was important "to learn the lessons from this unedifying episode."
Portsmouth enters bankruptcy protection again
LONDON (AP) — The English soccer club Portsmouth has been deducted 10 points after entering bankruptcy protection for the second time in two years. The points deduction leaves the 2008 FA Cup winners above the relegation zone in England's second division on goal difference.
Portsmouth's application to go into financial administration was approved at London's High Court on Friday after the team incurred debts of about 4 million pounds ($6 million).
Portsmouth's parent company, Convers Sports Initiatives, went into administration — the British form of bankruptcy — in November.
Ibrahimovic launches autobiography iPad app
STOCKHOLM (AP) — AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has followed up on the success of his autobiography by launching his life story as an interactive iPad app.
Sara Ohrvall, a spokeswoman for Swedish publisher Albert Bonnier, said Friday that the "I am Zlatan Ibrahimovic" application, based on the paperback autobiography of the same name that has sold more than 500,000 copies, "is the first interactive biography app in the world."
Aside from offering users the e-book reading experience, the 139 kronor ($20.60) app also offers users an added dimension with clips of memorable goals, click-and-show statistics, video interviews and an interactive map. It also carries an overview of the striker's tattoos.
Arsenal defender Mertesacker out for 'long term'
LONDON (AP) — Arsenal says Germany defender Per Mertesacker faces a long spell on the sidelines after undergoing ankle surgery only four months before the European Championship.
Mertesacker injured his right ankle in Saturday's Premier League match against Sunderland.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says that "unfortunately he has had surgery and we have lost him for a while. How long I don't know. He had reconstruction of his ligaments. So it will be long term."
Arsenal is fourth in the league and facing elimination from the Champions League after a 4-0 loss at AC Milan on Wednesday in the first leg of the last 16.
Okubo in squad for Japan friendly vs. Iceland
TOKYO (AP) — Striker Yoshito Okubo will headline Japan's squad in an international friendly against Iceland on Feb. 24.
Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni announced the squad on Friday, naming only domestic players for the match against Iceland in Osaka. Zaccheroni gave first call-ups to fi ve players, including 18-year-old striker Yuya Kubo of second-division Kyoto Sanga.
Okubo, who played for Japan at the 2010 World Cup, has not played for the national team since Zaccheroni took over from Takeshi Okada.
Ghana to play Chile in Pennsylvania friendly
CHESTER, Pennsylvania (AP) — African Cup of Nations semifinalist Ghana will play Chile in a friendly match at the Philadelphia Union's PPL Park on Feb. 29. The match, announced Friday, is on a FIFA international fixture date, so both teams may have top players available.
Chile's full-strength squad includes Barcelona's Alexis Sanchez, while Ghana's has Chelsea's Michael Essien. Ghana knocked the U.S. out of the 2010 World Cup with a 2-1 extra-time win in the second round.
Danilo out of Brazil squad because of injury
SAO PAULO (AP) — FC Porto right back Danilo has withdrawn from Brazil's friendly against Bosnia because of a knee injury. Danilo injured a ligament in his left knee in Porto's match against Manchester City on Thursday.
The Brazilian federation said Friday the player will be sidelined for six weeks. Brazil will play Bosnia in Switzerland on Feb. 28 in its first match of the year. It wasn't clear whether coach Mano Menezes would call up another player to replace Danilo.
