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Malaysian clubs will need to pay deposits

»Malaysia's soccer clubs will next season be ordered to pay deposits of millions of ringgit before they can compete to ensure players receive their wages, the Malaysian Football Association (FAM) has said.

Ten clubs in the 14-strong M-League are in the red while three teams face sanctions for failing to settle players' wages.

Just four months ago the FAM warned all teams they could face expulsion from Malaysia's top flight if they failed to pay players on time.

"A warning letter will be sent to the teams concerned and we hope that they will settle the amount before the new M-League registration deadline next month (Nov 23), failing which we may have to take action against them," local media quoted FAM vice president Hamidin Mohd Amin as telling a news conference.


Ignored for Olympics, Cook may leave GB 

»World top-ranked taekwondo fighter Aaron Cook may turn his back on Britain and compete for another country at the 2016 Rio Olympics after the heartbreaking snub at his home Games.

"In three years I may be under a different flag," Cook told the BBC. "My dream is to win an Olympic gold in Rio for Team GB but it's going to be extremely difficult for me to move forward after everything that's happened."

Cook was overlooked for London with the national body instead selecting Lutalo Muhammad in the welterweight under-80kg category. Muhammad went on to clinch bronze.

Cook, who unsuccessfully appealed the selection decision, seems unable to forgive or forget the snub and now France or the United States are possible destinations for the 21-year-old, local media reported.

Hold the World Cup in winter, says De Boer

»The 2022 soccer World Cup in Qatar should be played in December or January rather than in the middle of the year, bid ambassador Ronald de Boer has said.

The finals were awarded to Qatar by world governing body FIFA in 2010 and are due to be held in the summer months when the temperature can reach more than 40 degrees Celsius. In December and January the average is a far less intense 17 degrees.

"I think sometimes a change is good — it would be great to have it in the winter," Dutchman De Boer, who ended his glittering playing career in Qatar, told delegates at the Leaders In Football business convention at Stamford Bridge.

"Everyone will be fit, physically fit, mentally fit and I don't see a problem with it. For the fans I think it will be great."

World Cup mascot takes a hit in Brazil

»An inflatable model of Brazil's 2014 World Cup mascot, a smiling three-banded armadillo, has been removed after being attacked by vandals, the second such incident in less than a week.

The seven-metre high inflatable armadillo was removed from its spot near Brasilia's Esplanade of the Ministries, an enormous boulevard flanked by public buildings, after youths attacked it with knives, Brazilian media said.

Photographs showed a pile of earth and iron railings where the grinning mascot had previously stood.

Last week, another model was damaged after it was attacked during demonstrations in the southern city of Porto Alegre. 

The mascot was unveiled one month ago and its name — Amijubi, Fuleco or Zuzeco — will be decided by a public vote.

Montpellier coach gets one-match ban

»Montpellier coach Rene Girard has been given a one-match European ban for raising his finger to opposite number Huub Stevens at the end of last week's fiery Champions League clash against Schalke 04.

UEFA said its disciplinary committee had also given the coach a 5,000 euros ($6,400) fine for "improper conduct" due to his behaviour during the 2-2 draw in Gelsenkirchen on Oct 3.

Girard, who must sit out the home match against Olympiakos on Oct 24, was also banned for a further game, however, this was suspended for a probationary period of three years.