France

Balotelli to miss Nice's big night

Nice striker Mario Balotelli will miss the return leg of its finely poised Champions League third-round qualifier against Ajax on Wednesday after limping out of the 1-1 draw in the first match.

The Italian target man, formerly of Manchester City, gave Nice the lead before limping off when a nagging thigh strain flared up last Wednesday, and has not trained since.

The winner of the tie goes into the final Champions League playoff round and the loser into the Europa League playoff round.

Russia

Mancini's Zenit lands Argentine ace

Zenit St Petersburg has signed Argentina defender Emanuel Mammana from French side Lyon, the Russian club confirmed on Monday.

The 21-year-old has signed a five-year deal for an undisclosed fee.

Mammana moved to Lyon from Argentina's River Plate last year and has also won three caps for his country. Now coached by former Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini, Zenit has won its first three matches of the new season.

Germany

Bayern names new sporting director

Bayern Munich on Monday named former Bosnia international Hasan Salihamidzic as its new sporting director.

Salihamidzic, who played for Bayern from 1998 to 2007, has signed a three-year contract, succeeding ex-Germany international Matthias Sammer, who quit due to ill health in July 2016.

"He will be the responsible man for the next three years," said chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge of Salihamidzic.

President Uli Hoeness added "there will be no contract negotiations without Hasan Salihamidzic at the table".

England

Sunderland set to deal with Gibson

Sunderland's Darron Gibson will face an internal disciplinary process after he was filmed criticizing his teammates following its 5-0 preseason friendly defeat to Celtic on Saturday, the English Championship club said on Monday.

The 29-year-old Republic of Ireland midfielder has made 12 appearances for the Black Cats since joining from Everton in January.

"Darron Gibson has not conducted himself in a manner befitting Sunderland AFC," a club statement said. "We will initiate our internal disciplinary process. Darron has apologized this (Monday) morning."

Safe standing backed for Anfield

Liverpool fans have backed safe standing at Anfield in an online poll run by the club's Spirit of Shankly supporters' body.

The result of the poll on Monday revealed 88 percent of the 17,910 people who voted were in favor of the idea. The system is used in Scotland by Celtic, where 2,900 seats can be lifted back and locked in place, allowing fans to stand behind a railing.

Government legislation would need to change for safe standing to be introduced in England after it was banned in 1994 following the Hillsborough disaster in which 96 Liverpool fans lost their lives.

Agencies