Other soccer news in brief

Adebayor defends Gallas

Emmanuel Adebayor believes William Gallas was right to publicly question his Arsenal team-mates' stomach for a fight.

Gallas was stripped of the club captaincy in November after criticising his team-mates for lacking bravery. Adebayor feels the defender's outburst may have been just the thing Arsenal needed as they attempt to stay in the hunt for the league title. "There is some truth in what he said," Adebayor said.

Sunderland insists Diouf is staying

SUNDERLAND manager Ricky Sbragia has insisted he has no intention of allowing striker El-Hadji Diouf to leave Wearside.

Sam Allardyce, now in charge at Blackburn, worked with the Senegal international during his time at Bolton and has been linked with a €2.5 million swoop.

Diouf's recent comments have sent out mixed messages over his future, but Sbragia revealed he has spoken to the player and is intent on holding on to him.

The Scot said: "I have spoken to him in the last couple of days and he seems happy - they all seem happy if they are playing football, that's the important thing about it.

"He played on Saturday and he was excellent. That's what I knew he could do (from his time) at Bolton."

Moggis get suspended sentences

FORMER Juventus football club general manager Luciano Moggi has received an 18-month suspended sentence after being found guilty in a corruption trial.

Moggi was banned from football for five years in 2006, having been with Juventus for 12 years. He was one of Italian footballs most powerful men.

His son, Alessandro, was also sentenced to 14 months in prison.

Juventus were stripped of league titles for 2005 and 2006 and relegated to the second division over the affair.

Luciano Moggi, who denied any wrongdoing, allegedly influenced player moves involving the agency GEA, which was run by Alessandro Moggi.

Sentences below two years are suspended in Italy, and Ansa news agency reported that the Moggis would not serve any time in jail because the offences were committed before May 2006 when an amnesty was granted.

Boyd's move collapses

KRIS BOYD'S career was in limbo last night after Birmingham manager Alex McLeish declared his attempt to sign the Rangers striker was "dead" and unlikely to be resurrected.

Boyd looked set for a €3.3 million-plus move to the Championship club but McLeish revealed yesterday he and the player were "miles apart" regarding the 25-year-old's wage demands.

Ibrox boss Walter Smith insisted earlier he would welcome his top scorer back if the move collapsed and that may now be on the cards.

McLeish told Birmingham's official website, www.bcfc.com: "The situation is that we had some talks with Kris and his advisers yesterday and we were miles apart.

"And, as a result of that, the talks were concluded and there wasn't any agreement in place. We felt we had made a good offer and they're entitled to ask what they want and we respect that, but that's it dead as far as I'm concerned."

Hughes may return with improved offer

ROQUE Santa Cruz's determination to join Manchester City led to high-level talks at Blackburn Rovers last night in which the unsettled forward reiterated his desire to leave the club.

Santa Cruz made it clear he was desperate for the move to happen and the player's stance will encourage City to return with a new, improved offer in the coming days.

City believed they had made a breakthrough on Sunday after offering a cash-plus-player package worth about €20 million that would see Tal Ben Haim move to Blackburn to link up again with his former manager at Bolton Wanderers, Sam Allardyce.

Hughes took the unusual step of speaking publicly yesterday. "There is a release clause but that doesn't come in until the summer and we would like him in this transfer window," he said.

Guardian Service