Fernando Riera, former Chile coach, dies at 90

Fernando Riera, the former Chile coach who lead the team to third place in the 1962 World Cup, has died. He was 90. Family members said Riera died Thursday of an apparent heart attack. He had been in poor health in recent years and was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Chile’s third-place finish in 1962 was its best in a World Cup. Riera’s playing career included teams like Chile’s Universidad Catolica and Rouen in France. As a coach he led clubs in several countries, including Boca Juniors in Argentina and Benfica in Portugal. He also coached in France and Mexico.

Sevilla loses bid to overturn PSG’s Europa Lge win

Sevilla has lost its bid to overturn Paris Saint-Germain’s 1-0 victory in an Europa League match last week because of doubts over the eligibility of goalkeeper Apoula Edel to play for the French side. UEFA says its disciplinary panel rejected Sevilla’s request to award a 3-0 win by default, but did not provide grounds for the ruling. Cameroon-born Edel has been the subject of unproven claims by his former agent that he is playing for PSG under a false identity. His listed age is 24, but he was alleged to be 29-year-old Ambroise Beyamena. French police this week cleared Edel of any wrongdoing. Edel previously played in Armenia where he switched nationality and represented the national team.

Ballack may return in two months

Bayer Leverkusen’s sports director says injured Germany midfielder Michael Ballack should be back in training in two months, but will only play again when he is fully fit. Ballack suffered a leg injury on Sept. 11 – his latest setback after missing the World Cup with an ankle injury. Leverkusen sports director Rudi Voeller told yesterday’s edition of the daily Die Welt: “We hope that Michael can resume training in about mid-November.” But he added that he will “only play again when he really feels 100 percent fit – because one thing is clear to him after recent experiences: he will again be watched with eagle eyes.” Ballack officially remains Germany captain but national team coach Joachim Loew says he must regain his pre-injury form to earn his place back.

Arsenal announce record pre-tax profits

Arsenal announced record pre-tax profits of 56 million pounds yesterday as the Premier League club reaped the rewards of paying off the entire debt on its Highbury Square development. Accounts for the year ending May 31 showed Arsenal was enjoying the benefits of income from apartment sales on the development, built on the club’s former ground. There was a 67 million pound rise in group turnover to 379.9 million pounds. “The group has made good progress in the last year and I am excited by the opportunities we have in front of us,” said Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis, who added that most of the profits were going back into the team. Revenue was boosted by an increase of 4 million pounds in Premier League television income and a similar increase in Champions League returns, up to 27.3million pounds. Total pre-tax profits were up more than 10 million pounds on last year. The settlement of loans on Highbury Square, which had stood at 130 million pounds, will delight the Arsenal board, which had been forced to extend the bank repayment deadline of April this year to December. Arsenal has not won a trophy since 2005, and its last league title came a year earlier. Despite the club’s healthy returns, manager Arsene Wenger has remained cautious with his spending in the transfer market, preferring instead to concentrate on bringing players through the youth scheme.

George Best memorabilia up for auction

A collection of George Best memorabilia, including his European Cup winner’s medal estimated to be worth up to 120,000 pounds, will be put up for auction next month. A 1968 Footballer of the Year award, thought to be worth between 75,000-100,000 pounds and a George Best Faberge egg are also among the items going under the hammer on Oct. 20 by executors of the Manchester United great’s estate. The egg, made to commemorate Best’s part in United’s European Cup victory in 1968, is one of only 68 produced and could sell for around 20,000 pounds. Best is widely considered one of the greatest footballers of his generation. He was 59 when he died following a multiple organ failure in 2005.