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Sports Briefs

■ England
Nancy says Sven staying put
Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has reportedly agreed to take charge of an English Premier League club for next season. Eriksson's long-term girlfriend, Nancy Dell'Olio, was quoted by British newspaper the Daily Telegraph as saying the Swede had agreed to take up his first coaching role since quitting as England manager during last year's World Cup. "He's got another job with a Premiership club, which won't start until next season," Dell'Olio was quoted as saying. "We'll be staying in Britain but I can't say any more." The Daily Telegraph said Eriksson's agent, Athole Still, denied his client had signed a contract with anyone.

■ Spain
Betis win stadium reprieve
Real Betis have been allowed to play today's league match against Real Zaragoza at their own stadium despite being handed a three-match stadium ban for crowd problems in a recent match against city rivals Sevilla. Spain's Committee for Sporting Discipline delayed the introduction of the ban for a week after an appeal from Betis who said that an alternative venue, the city's La Cartuja stadium, would not have the necessary security in time for the game. Betis were given the punishment after Sevilla coach Juande Ramos was knocked unconscious when he was hit by a full two-liter plastic bottle thrown from the crowd during a Cup tie between the two sides. Betis have said they will appeal to the courts to have the ban overturned saying the incident could not be deemed "very serious" according to Spanish Football Federation statutes.

■ England
Parry hails Liverpool deal
Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry welcomed Friday's news that shareholders had accepted the takeover of the club by US sports tycoons George Gillett and Tom Hicks, calling it a "historic day." A Stock Exchange statement confirmed the duo had received "valid acceptances in respect of 28,089 Liverpool shares, representing approximately 80.7 percent of Liverpool's issued share capital to which the offer relates." Gillett and Hicks, through their Kop Football vehicle, said last month they had agreed a ?174 million (US$336.1 million) takeover and would pay ?5,000 per share. The total value of the deal, including debt, was put at ?219 million.

■ Germany
Nuremberg rally to draw
Nuremberg scored twice in the last 10 minutes and salvaged a 2-2 draw with Eintracht Frankfurt on Friday. Frankfurt appeared to be cruising to a victory after taking the lead on goals by Sotiris Kyrgiakos and Naohiro Takahara in each half, but Nuremberg took advantage of two Eintracht errors to rally. Nuremberg stayed fifth in the standings while Frankfurt moved out of the relegation zone to 15th, at least until the 25th round is completed over the weekend. Eintracht went ahead after 26 minutes on a header from Greek defender Kyrgiakos, who rose to meet a corner and drove the ball powerfully under the crossbar. Takahara notched his 10th goal of the season in the 69th, pouncing on a loose ball after Nuremberg goalkeeper Raphael Schaefer had blocked an effort by Christoph Preuss. Nuremberg halved the deficit in the 81st on an own goal by Spycher. In the 87th, Robert Vittek took advantage of a lucky bounce to end a solo effort by slipping the ball under Eintracht keeper Nikolov.


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