Briefs

A round-up of today's other stories in brief

Milan walk off after racist abuse is hurled at Boateng

AC Milan walked off the pitch during a friendly match at Italian lower side Pro Patria yesterday in protest at racist chanting by the home fans, causing the game to be abandoned after less than half an hour.

“Milan left the pitch following racist insults on the part of a minority of the Pro Patria fans directed at (Kevin-Prince) Boateng, (M’Baye) Niang, (Urby) Emanuelson and (Sulley) Muntari,” the club said on their website.

A video posted on YouTube showed the Ghana midfielder Boateng in possession near the penalty area when jeering was heard from fans nearby.

He stopped playing, collected the ball and kicked it towards the stands. He then took his shirt off and walked off the pitch and his team-mates followed.

Captain Massimo Ambrosini said the jeering had started before the walkoff.

“We were annoyed from the beginning,” he said.

“We gave a strong signal, although we regret it because a few have spoiled it for everyone else.”

Boateng took to Twitter to give his thoughts in a succinct message.

He said: “Shame that these things still happen . . . #StopRacismforever”

Pato leaves Milan for his native Brazil

Alexandre Pato will return to Brazil after AC Milan last night confirmed they had reached an agreement with recently-crowned Club World Cup champions Corinthians over the forward's transfer.

The 23-year-old has reportedly signed a four-year €15m deal after revealing his desire to return to his homeland last month.

Milan confirmed Pato's departure, after five years at the San Siro, in a brief statement on their website.

Meanwhile, Athletic Bilbao have announced striker Fernando Llorente is in talks with Juventus about a move to the Serie A champions. The 27-year-old's contract is up at the end of the season and the Spanish international has stated that he will be leaving.

Honours even in scrappy derby game

Honours were even as Hearts and Pat Fenlon's Hibernian played out a goalless draw in the Edinburgh derby at Tynecastle last night.

The third capital clash of the season was scrappy and Hearts' Ryan Stevenson and substitute Jason Holt were left to rue missed second-half opportunities, while John Sutton hit the bar with a header in stoppage time.

Hibs consolidated their fourth-placed position ahead of the winter break, while Hearts remained ninth.

Since Hearts won May's Scottish Cup final 5-1, earning the ultimate bragging rights, Hibs have drawn two league encounters and claimed a semblance of revenge in the cup by dumping out the holders in a fourth-round clash at Easter Road in December.

Everton record loss of €11m as debt continues to rise

The financial constraints on David Moyes's attempts to lead Everton into the Champions League have been underlined in the club's latest set of accounts, which show a net loss of £9.1 million (€11.2 million) for 2011-12 and wages rising to 75 per cent of turnover.

Everton's loss increased by approximately £4 million (€4.9 million) on 2010-11 and overall debt rose from £44.9 million (€55.3 million) to £46 million (€56.7 million), despite the sales of Mikel Arteta, Yakubu Ayegbeni, Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, James Vaughan and Jermaine Beckford. Nikica Jelavic and Darron Gibson were Moyes's only permanent signings in that period.

Everton, meanwhile, have announced that Phil Jagielka has signed a two-year contract extension that will keep him at Goodison Park until 2017.

Jagielka signs new two-year deal at Everton

Everton defender Phil Jagielka has signed a two-year contract extension to keep him at the club until 2017. The England international has committed his future to Everton until beyond his 34th birthday.

The 30-year-old has established himself as one of the most consistent defenders in the Premier League since moving to Goodison Park from Sheffield United for €5 million in 2007.

Stoke City captain Ryan Shawcross has agreed a new five-and-a-half year contract, the Premier League club said yesterday. The deal ended weeks of speculation that Shawcross could leave Stoke, with Manchester United among the top clubs reportedly interested in him. The 25-year-old England defender, who signed from United in 2008, has been a vital part of Stoke's impressive form.

Nottingham Forest 'delighted' to secure signing of McLaughlin

Nottingham Forest have signed left winger Stephen McLaughlin from League of Ireland club Derry City on a three-and-a-half-year contract.

Forest are understood to have paid an undisclosed six-figure sum for the 22-year-old.

McLaughlin impressed during a recent week-long trial with the club.

"Stephen is an exciting young talent who has been attracting attention from a number of other English clubs," said chairman Fawaz Al Hasawi.

"We are delighted he is joining us and look forward to helping him develop his career and fulfilling his great potential."

McLaughlin was part of the Derry City side which won the FAI Cup in November.

Another Derry player, Barry McNamee, also spent a week on trial with the Championship club, who appointed Alex McLeish as their manager last week.