SOCCER SHORTS

A round-up of the rest of today's soccer news in brief

Spurs wait on work-permit after signing Palacios

TOTTENHAM have secured the signature of Honduran international Wilson Palacios from Wigan. The midfielder agreed to join after accepting personal terms and passed his medical in north London yesterday.

Spurs are now awaiting a work-permit before they can register the deal with the Premier League. The fee is undisclosed but is believed to be around €15 million.

"We are delighted to announce that we have reached agreement for the transfer of Wilson Palacios from Wigan Athletic," read a statement on the club's official website.

Spurs manager Harry Redknapp said: "Palacios is a player I have liked since I first saw him, and he has the ability to go on to become a top, top player. I just like the way he plays. I speak to people who have played against him, like Frank Lampard, and no one has had an easy game against him."

On-field brawls disrupt match

THAILAND'S King's Cup match against Lebanon descended into chaos yesterday when the Middle East side twice walked off the pitch in protest at foul play that prompted two on-field brawls during the hosts' 2-1 win in Phuket.

With 14 minutes remaining, in an apparent case of mistaken identity, Zakaria Charara struck Surat Sukha in the head in retaliation for his twin brother Suree's earlier foul.

After the ensuing brawl, Lebanon stormed off the field in protest and only returned after Thai soccer president Worawi Makudi intervened.

Five minutes later, Suree escaped a booking by the Thai referee after another vicious tackle on Charara, who started another melee by slapping Suree and captain Datsakorn Thonglao in the face.

Lebanon again left the field in protest but returned five minutes later, only for the embattled referee to blow the final whistle prematurely to prevent further brawling.

Dempsey has suspension reduced

ST PATRICK’S Athletic midfielder Gary Dempsey last night had his suspension for betting on a match involving the club last season reduced from five games to two by an FAI appeals tribunal.

The club’s new manager Jeff Kenna, meanwhile, has made his first signing by bringing John Lester in from Galway United for the coming season.

THE leaders of Australia’s bid for the 2018 World Cup believe the growing number of European rivals for the tournament could work in their favour. Early favourites England have been joined by Russia plus joint bids from Spain/Portugal and Netherlands/Belgium and Football Federation Australia officials hope it will split the European vote on Fifa’s committee.

Petrov set to stay at Villa

STILIYAN Petrov could sign a contract extension at Aston Villa within the next fortnight, according to manager Martin O’Neill. Petrov signed for Villa in a €7million move from Celtic where he played under O’Neill for five years.

After a difficult first two years at the club, Petrov has now settled in as a first-team regular and has made 28 appearances at the heart of the Villa midfield this season.

AIG not to renew United shirt deal

INSURANCE company American International Group (AIG) will not renew their shirt sponsorship of Premier League champions Manchester United and have already started cutting back costs in relation to the existing deal.

The American company also said they were “in active discussions” with the club regarding the current four-year €77.5 million deal, which runs until next May.

Manchester United have a huge global fan base, making it one of the top prizes in sports sponsorship.

Once the world’s biggest insurer by market value, AIG averted bankruptcy in September last year with an €66 billion federal bailout, which later swelled to about €118 billion.

AIG said they had been reviewing all sponsorships following the Fed bailout and were already in the process of eliminating marketing, advertising and hospitality costs related to the existing Manchester United deal.

Kinnear plays down duo's bust-up

NEWCASTLE boss Joe Kinnear has insisted he wants his players to show passion on and off the pitch following the news of a training ground bust-up between Andy Carroll and Charles N'Zogbia.

Newcastle found themselves in the headlines for the wrong reasons once again yesterday after it emerged the 20-year-old striker and French team-mate N'Zogbia (22) had clashed at the club's Darlsey Park headquarters on Tuesday.

However, Kinnear was quick to play down the incident and has revealed he will not be punishing either man. The 62-year-old said: "It was just handbags and it has been blown out of all proportion.

"I can't stop players being passionate, and wouldn't want to. I won't be taking any action."