Soccer Shorts

A roundup of today's other soccer news in brief

Chelsea scout denies wrongdoing

CHELSEA’S French scout Guy Hillion, the man who discovered Gael Kakuta, insists the club did nothing wrong when they signed the youngster.

Fifa have ruled against Chelsea and Kakuta after Lens reported them over the move, which took place in 2007.

Hillion has revealed Kakuta’s mother told them that no contract had been signed with his previous club Lens prior to his move to Stamford Bridge.

“His mother is widowed . . .” Hillion said. “When we started to talk about a possible move to Chelsea, we asked her if she ever signed anything with Lens.

“She promised she had signed nothing, nothing at all. Six months later, sorting out her papers, she found a pre-contract. She didn’t even know what it was.”

Le Tissier will not face charges

MATT Le Tissier will not face criminal charges over a €11,000 betting scam he said he hatched in the 1990s, English police said yesterday.

The former Southampton and England player (40) claimed in his autobiography, Taking Le Tiss, he conspired with friends and an unnamed team-mate to cash in on a spread bet on the timing of the first throw-in during a Premiership match.

However, he claimed he did not manage to kick the ball out in time and made no money from the game, a 2-0 win against Wimbledon in 1995. The matter was referred to police after the revelations were published.

A Hampshire police spokesman said yesterday “Following discussions with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), a decision has been made not to investigate an alleged historic and unsuccessful spread betting incident at a Saints (Southampton) football match in the 1990s.”

Eto’o starts proceedings to get €3m from Barcelona

CAMEROON striker Samuel Eto’o has started legal proceedings against Barcelona demanding €3 million he said is owed to him from his transfer to Inter Milan, the European champions announced yesterday.

The player’s agent, Jose Maria Mesalles, has lodged the claim and if a meeting between the parties fails to reach an agreement the affair will go to court.

A swap deal in July sent Inter’s Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Barca for a €46 million fee, with Eto’o, who was valued at €20 million, heading to Italy.

Eto’o is basing his demand on Spanish Players Union (AFE) rules, whereby a player has the right to claim 15 per cent of any transfer fee paid.

Barca’s legal services said they would defend themselves on the basis that the AFE ruling was only applicable to transfers between Spanish clubs.

Robson set for Thailand

BRYAN Robson looks set to be confirmed as manager of Thailand today following talks in Bangkok.

Robson is in line to replace former England team-mate Peter Reid after the former Sunderland boss returned to the Premier League as number two to Tony Pulis at Stoke.

Thailand FA chairman Worawi Makudi revealed yesterday there would be another press conference today after further talks with Robson.

Mansour buys remaining City shares

SHEIKH Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan of the Abu Dhabi ruling family has bought the 10 per cent of Manchester City not previously under his control, completing his acquisition of 100 per cent of the club’s shares, a year since he dramatically bought his 90 per cent majority shareholding.

Since that takeover by Mansour’s Abu Dhabi United Group, more than €220 million has been spent on new players and other investment in a revolution at City, all conducted with 10 per cent of the shares remaining outside his ownership.

Mansour paid €230 million to the former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, for 90 per cent of the club.

Thaksin is now not considered a fit and proper person to be a Premier League football club director or 30 per cent shareholder, since his conviction of corruption in Thailand last October.

Ronaldinho rules out retiring

RONALDINHO has denied speculation in the Spanish press he is considering retiring from football at the end of the season.

The Brazilian star has not featured in AC Milan’s last two games and has yet to find the back of the net after three appearances with the Serie A giants this campaign.

“I have never considered the possibility of retiring from football,” said the 29-year-old on his official website, www.ronaldinhogaucho.com.

“The source of my happiness has always been to play football.

“I am happy at Milan and I will remain here until the end of my contract.”

The two-times winner of the Fifa World Player of the Year award joined Milan from Barcelona last year, but he has failed to make an impact at the San Siro.

Rossonero coach Leonardo has not been impressed and the player was not included in the 2-1 Champions League victory at Marseille last week.