Clubs to appeal from Saturday

Rome: The four top Italian clubs found guilty in the Serie A match-fixing scandal will begin their appeals from July 22, the president of the appeals court has said. ?The appeals process, following the sentences of the sports tribunal, will start on Saturday morning at 9 am (local time),? Piero Sandulli told the Italian state broadcaster on Tuesday. Last Friday a sports tribunal ordered Juventus, Fiorentina and Lazio to start next season in Italy?s second-tier Serie B. The fourth side, AC Milan, escaped relegation, but were thrown out of European competition and ordered to start their next campaign minus 15 points. All four have announced their intention to appeal.

Juergen to miss

Berlin: Juergen Klinsmann won?t attend the ceremony where he will be awarded Germany?s Federal Order of Merit next month. Klinsmann, 41, quit as Germany coach last week after guiding the national team to a surprising third-place finish at the World Cup. That triggered a wave of national euphoria and Klinsmann was expected to receive the country?s only state decoration on August 14. ?I feel honoured,? Klinsmann was quoted as saying in Tuesday?s edition of Bild. ?But I won?t receive it personally. I still need some space.?

Arena in Red Bulls

New York: Former US soccer team manager Bruce Arena was named on Tuesday as head coach of the New York Red Bulls. The 54-year-old Arena will also serve as the Red Bulls? sporting director, overseeing the team?s soccer operations, including the first team, reserve and academy teams and youth development. Arena, the most successful coach in the history of the US men?s side, was told last Friday that his services would not be retained after eight years in the position.

Clemente deal

Madrid: Former Spain boss Javier Clemente said on Tuesday he will take over as head coach of the Serbian national side for the next two years. ?It has been agreed, I?m now coach of Serbia and will coach the side through the qualification for Euro 2008,? Clemente said on Tuesday. The 56-year-old will become the first foreign manager in charge of Serbia, who meet the Czech Republic in a friendly in Prague on August 16 ? their first international as an independent nation since the spilt with Montenegro.

Tennis replays

Indianapolis: Instant replay made its debut on Monday at the RCA Championships, part of the US Open Series. American Paul Goldstein tried out the Hawk-Eye line calling technology by hitting a practice serve that hugged the line. Within seconds, two video boards showed that his shot was just out of bounds. ?The technology is spot-on, so you have the confidence that when a call is made it?s absolute,? Goldstein said. ?Before you might have held reservations with the chair for the next two or three points.? The US Open will be the first Grand Slam event to review disputed calls electronically.

India in group B

New Delhi: India has been placed along with Jordan, Lebanon, Japan and Kuwait in group B for the second edition of the Stankovic Cup basketball tournament to be held in Damascus from July 20-19. India will meet Japan in their opening encounter on July 20. They then take on Jordan (July 22), Lebanon (July 23) and Kuwait (July 24).

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