Football: Atletico snap up Vieri

Atletico Madrid, who seem certain to beat off the challenge of Tottenham to sign the Brazilian midfielder Juninho from Middlesbrough, have bought Christian Vieri from the Italian champions, Juventus, for about pounds 12m.

Announcing the transfer yesterday, Juventus said they had already signed a replacement, Uruguay's Daniel Fonseca, from Roma. Juve's general manager, Luciano Moggi, did not reveal the fee for Fonseca.

Patrice Loko, the French international forward, has been ordered to pay pounds 2,500 in damages for exposing himself and resisting arrest when he went on a drunken spree two years ago. A decision on an eight-month suspended prison sentence has been deferred on the Paris St-Germain striker, whose two goals helped to knock Liverpool out of the European Cup-Winners' Cup in April.

A court was told last week he smashed up two cars, including his own, spat in police officers' faces, urinated in a hospital corridor and demanded to be carried because his feet were "worth gold". Loko told the court he deserved to be punished.

Celtic's Italian forward, Paolo Di Canio, has ruled himself out of the club's trip to the Netherlands, after eventually arriving back in Glasgow. "Just now I don't have the physical condition to play," he said.

The Republic of Ireland lost 1-0 to the holders, Argentina, in the semi- finals of the World Youth Championship in Kuching, Malaysia, yesterday. Despite a battling defensive display, Bernardo Romeo pounced on a loose ball in the 55th minute to net the only goal.