Fri, Jul 25, 2008 page23

• Soccer Shorts:

  • AGENCIES
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  ■ENGLAND

  Black Cats sign Tainio

  Sunderland completed the signing of Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Teemu Tainio on Wednesday, with the Finland international’s clubmate Pascal Chimbonda expected to follow shortly. The pair were on Wearside on Tuesday undergoing medicals, which 28-year-old Finland international Tainio, Sunderland’s first close season purchase, passed. Sunderland manager Roy Keane is also targeting two other Tottenham players — Steed Malbranque and Younes Kaboul — and the Black Cats boss met the pair to discuss a move to the northeast over the weekend. Keane told the club’s Web site: “I’m delighted to sign a player of Teemu’s experience and quality, he’ll be a valuable addition to our squad.”

  ■COLOMBIA

  Ministry probes finances

  A senior Colombian finance ministry official has given prosecutors a report detailing “highly suspicious” activity by the country’s professional soccer clubs that he said could be linked to money laundering. “Situations present themselves that are highly suspicious,” the official, Marion Aranguren, said during a public seminar on the issue. He said some clubs have shareholders with criminal records and some make cash transactions worth billions of pesos (millions of dollars), evading controls designed to detect money laundering. The official said on Tuesday that the Finance Ministry began to see indications of the apparent irregularities in March when it asked the teams for a list of their shareholders. “We encountered a lot of resistance” getting the information, Aranguren said.

  ■ITALY

  Mourinho jeered by fans

  New Inter coach Jose Mourinho has already started hearing whistles from the crowd and the season is more than a month away from even starting. The Portuguese disciplinarian was jeered by his new club’s fans after insisting that Inter’s training at Riscone di Brunico near Milan on Wednesday be held behind closed doors. The jeers were not very loud, but started after fans, some of whom had traveled a long way to watch their idols train, found the gates to the training ground closed. Thereafter, some fans went to great lengths to try to catch a glimpse of Inter’s training by seeking out vantage points some way from the stadium.

  ■ENGLAND

  Hammers sign Behrami

  West Ham United acquired Valon Behrami from Lazio for £5 million (US$10 million) on Wednesday and signed the Swiss midfielder to a five-year deal. The 23-year-old international can also play at right back. “It’s my dream come true to play for West Ham and play in the Premier League,” Behrami said. “At last I am able to sign. After the Euro 2008 [European] Championships I spoke to West Ham who had expressed an interest, but I had to be sure it was the right thing for everybody. I have now made my decision and am looking forward to being part of this side and playing in the English league.”

  ■ENGLAND

  Lampard staying put: Scolari

  Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari insisted Frank Lampard was staying with Chelsea as reports broke that the club was set to make the midfielder Britain’s highest paid player. “Frank is staying with us. Finished,” Scolari said. He said speculation was to be expected during the transfer window, but attempted to lay the matter to rest. “I said two days ago that Frank is here with us, training and playing very well as part of our group,” he said. Lampard has reportedly been offered £150,000 a week in a five-year deal worth £39 million.
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