Football in Brief: Yeung moves to reassure Blues; Fenerbahce head in fixing inquiry; Keen to start as coach at Anfield; Rijkaard named as Saudi manager

Yeung faces charges of money laundering (GETTY IMAGES)

Carson Yeung has assured Birmingham City he will continue to provide his backing for the club despite facing five charges of money laundering amounting to £59m in his native Hong Kong.

The club's acting chairman Peter Pannu flew out to Hong Kong to hold talks with Yeung, who has been released on bail until the next court hearing on 11 August. Pannu says he hopes to attend the opening game of the season on 6 August against Derby.

The charges against Yeung relate to the period 2001 to 2007 – two years before Pannu became Birmingham's major share-holder.

Fenerbahce head in fixing inquiry

The president of Fenerbahce is among 30 people who have been arrested over alleged match-fixing in Turkish football.

Aziz Yildrim and the club vice-president Sekip Mosturoglu were also held, the state-run Anatolia news reported.

At other clubs, the vice-president of Trabzonspor, Nevzat Sakar, and the technical director of Eskisehirspor, Umit Karan, were held. Several footballers were also arrested.

Istanbul-based Fenerbahce are the reigning champions.

Keen to start as coach at Anfield

Liverpool have appointed Kevin Keen as a first-team coach. Keen had been a coach at West Ham United for nine years, including three brief spells as the caretaker manager.

He has signed a three-year deal at Liverpool and Kenny Dalglish said he "has a good reputation and a good manner about him," and is "highly respected in the game".

Keen, 44, spent most of his playing career at West Ham and Stoke City, retiring in 2001.

Rijkaard named as national manager

Frank Rijkaard has been appointed the new manager of the Saudi Arabia national side.

The Dutch coach has signed a three-year deal, eight months after leaving Turkish side Galatasaray after a poor year.

As a coach his most successful spell was at Barcelona, where he won the 2006 Champions League. He has also coached the Dutch national side.