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SOCCER SHORTS

■ UNITED STATES

Officials hunt for racist fan

Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber says the league will ban a spectator who directed a racial slur at New England Revolution forward Kheli Dube during a recent match — if they can identify him. In a statement released on Wednesday, Garber said MLS officials and Columbus Crew personnel are reviewing the incident, which occurred after Dube, who is black, scored in the 89th minute of the Revolution’s 1-0 victory over the Crew on May 24. Video shows Dube celebrating with his teammates as an off-camera voice is heard using a racial epithet and bottles and streamers are thrown at the players. “MLS and the Columbus Crew have extensively reviewed an incident that took place during the Crew versus Revolution game on May 24, where there is audio of a spectator at Crew Stadium using vulgar language and an unacceptable and offensive racial epithet,” Garber said. “The review included video posted on the Internet and interviews with security personnel, fans and team officials. MLS and the Columbus Crew are working diligently with all relevant authorities, including club supporters’ groups, to identify the spectator involved. In the event the perpetrator is identified, he will be banned for life from Crew stadium and all other MLS stadiums and events.”



■ENGLAND

Essien staying put: agent

The agent of tough-tackling midfielder Michael Essien of Ghana was adamant on Wednesday that his charge would not be leaving Chelsea for Inter. Recently installed new Inter boss Jose Mourinho had been widely expected, according to reports, to make a bid for Essien, his former key player at Chelsea. However, Essien’s agent Fabien Piveteau denied Essien would be playing in Italy next season. “Michael is very happy at Chelsea and that is where he will be playing next season,” Piveteau said. “His current contract runs until 2012. There has been no approach from Inter.” Essien, Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard and Ricardo Carvalho are all thought to be on Mourinho’s wish list.



■ITALY

Donadoni signs contract

With just days to go before Euro 2008 kicks off in Austria and Switzerland, Italy coach Roberto Donadoni finally put his signature to a new contract that will keep him in his role until after the next World Cup. The Italian federation had announced that Donadoni had agreed terms on a new contract to 2010 back on May 20, when the Euro 2008 squad was announced, but all that was missing was his actual signature. Donadoni’s contract situation — his previous deal was due to run out after this tournament — had been a topic of much debate in Italy before the finals. He had turned down a previous offer that was conditional on his team reaching at least the semi-finals of Euro 2008. But now that everything is sorted out, the news should come as a boost just two days after the blow of losing captain Fabio Cannavaro with ankle ligament damage.



■AUSTRIA

Welcome party cut short

A welcoming party for the Croatian national team at their base in Bad Tatzmannsdorf in southern Austria had to be cut short after fans stormed the stage late on Tuesday. The Croatian players were evacuated after a few young supporters tried to approach their idols, but made it safely back onto the team bus. Only midfielder Ivan Rakitic had to be freed by security after he was hemmed in by fans. Some 1,000 people had gathered on the main square of the town despite pouring rain on Tuesday evening.


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