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Soccer Shorts

■ Germany
Clubs fined over racism
German soccer authorities recommended on Friday that fines be increased for two Bundesliga clubs whose fans used racist chants -- the second incident in the country within a month. A German soccer federation committee wants 75,000 euros (US$90,000) from Alemannia Aachen and 25,000 euros (US$34,000) from Borussia Moenchengladbach. Both clubs plan to protest the fine. Moenchengladbach's Brazilian striker, Kahe, was taunted with "asylum seeker" until the referee threatened to end the Bundesliga game last Saturday.

■ Germany
Moenchengladbach go top
Kahe's 39th-minute goal lifted Borussia Moenchengladbach over Dortmund 1-0 and atop the Bundesliga on Friday. Moenchengladbach's provisional lead was its first since 1998. Brazilian forward Kahe scored for the fourth time in as many matches. Dortmund wasted numerous chances before the break, with Alexander Frei failing twice to beat goalkeeper Kasey Keller while unmarked in front of the goal. "That's upsetting -- we lost the match in the first half," Dortmund coach Bert van Marwijk said. Nine teams have a chance to vault past Moenchengladbach into first over the weekend.

■ Hungary
Puskas to stay in ICU
Soccer great Ferenc Puskas, who has been hospitalized for years, will remain in the intensive care unit (ICU) he was transferred to last week. The 79-year-old Puskas has been living in Budapest's Kutvolgyi Hospital with Alzheimer's disease since 2000. Last Monday, doctors said Puskas' improving condition could see him out of the ICU by the weekend. But on Friday, Zsolt Ivanyi, acting director of the hospital's ICU, said Puskas still was not well enough to be moved back to his longtime quarters. "His condition has not improved to the degree which would allow him to leave the ICU," Ivanyi told MTI news wire.

■ Australia
Socceroos to help Mariners
English-based Socceroos Lucas Neill and Tim Cahill have discussed investment opportunities with Australian A-League club Central Coast Mariners, the club said yesterday. The A-League's smallest club, just north of Sydney, is struggling at the bottom of the eight-team league this campaign after losing to Sydney FC in last season's inaugural grand final and is looking for financial backers. Club executive chairman Lyall Gorman said he has met Southeast Asian investors and has had initial talks with Blackburn Rovers' Neill and Everton's Cahill, both members of Australia's World Cup squad this year in Germany. "I read what they said about investing in the A-League, so we had a meeting while they were out here in late July, and we're exploring their interest to see where it might take us," Gorman told the Sydney Morning Herald yesterday.


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