Football

Middlesbrough have signed the Slovakian international defender Vladimir Kinder, 27, on trial from Slovan Bratislava.

Swindon's 22-year-old former Manchester City striker Steve Finney could be out for six weeks after discovering he needs surgery on a damaged knee cartilage.

The Birmingham City goalkeeper Steve Sutton will be out for at least four weeks after X-rays revealed a broken finger sustained in training.

Dundee United are to push ahead with work to increase the capacity of Tannadice Park from the present 12,608 limit to 14,300. United are to extend the existing south stand in a facelift which will cost more than pounds 1m. They hope to receive around pounds 300,000 from the Football Trust towards the work.

Wolves' Welsh international central defender Brian Law made a succesful return in a reserve match on Monday night. The 26-year-old has been out since March after surgery to rebuild his ankle.

The Sunderland defender Richard Ord has pledged the rest of his career to his home-town club by signing a four-and-a-half year contract.

Brazil landed a tough draw for next year's Copa America, in Bolivia in June, when they were put in the same first-round group as Colombia and Mexico. Colombia lead the South American World Cup qualifying group, from which Brazil are exempt as world champions. Mexico were the last team to beat Brazil in a full international, defeating them 2-0 in the final of the Concacaf Gold Cup in January.