A round-up of today's stories in brief

Birmingham owner questioned

BIRMINGHAM OWNER Carson Yeung is assisting police in Hong Kong in relation to criminal investigations being carried out in his homeland.

But City’s acting chairman, Peter Pannu, insists the inquiries have “nothing to do” with the club’s holding company, Birmingham International Holdings.

Yeung took control of Blues mid-way through last season in an €90 million takeover from David Sullivan and David Gold.

City, in a media statement, reported: “Birmingham City’s acting chairman Peter Pannu wishes to inform the public that Carson Yeung is assisting the police in Hong Kong in relation to certain criminal investigations which at this stage he believes do not have any connection to the operation of the parent company or any of its subsidiaries.”

Lee 'leaves' Liverpool

LIVERPOOL ASSISTANT manager Sammy Lee is reported to have parted company with the club after three years in the role.

The 52-year-old, a former player alongside current boss Kenny Dalglish, returned to Anfield in 2008 at the invitation of Rafael Benitez. The club has refused to comment on the report in the Liverpool Echo. Lee has already been linked to a reunion with Sam Allardyce at West Ham, with the pair having worked together at Bolton.

Fifa look to track down referee

FIFA’S SECURITY chief has launched a drive to track down the referee of a friendly international who is being investigated for match-fixing claims. Ibrahim Chaibou, from Niger, has gone to ground since it was revealed that Fifa are looking into suspicious betting patterns surrounding the Argentina v Nigeria friendly on June 1st.

Fifa’s head of security Chris Eaton said: “We are trying hard to track down the referee and we are confident that we will succeed.”

Nigeria won the match in Abuja 4-1 – they were leading 4-0 until Chaibou awarded Argentina, who fielded a second-string side, a penalty for handball in the eighth minute of injury-time. Television replays showed the ball had hit a Nigerian player’s shin.

The fourth official had indicated five minutes of injury-time should be played. While the score was 4-0 to Nigeria, a huge amount of money in the Asian gambling markets was bet on a fifth goal being scored in the match.

Mancini says City out of race to sign Sanchez

MANCHESTER CITY have pulled out of the race to sign Udinese winger Alexis Sanchez, according to coach Roberto Mancini.

The Chile international is a target of Barcelona but is under contract with Udinese until June 2014.

“I have spoken to Sanchez,” Mancini said. “He said he was open to the idea of coming to City but then we have pulled out (of negotiations).

“After our last offer, we are out of the race to acquire the Chilean player.”

Udinese, meanwhile, confirmed the 22-year-old winger would prefer a move to Spain rather than England. “Have City pulled out of the race?” Gino Pozzo, son of Udinese owner Giampaolo Pozzo, said to Corriere dello Sport. “You should ask them. We have not entered negotiations with City.

“The will of the player is to go to Barcelona. The negotiations with the Catalan club are going forward. With calmness, we will find a solution. We will speak to Barca and we will see.”