Sporting briefs

Pizarro: Veteran Peru striker Claudio Pizarro pulled out of the Copa America yesterday after suffering ligament damage in his right knee, his German club Werder Bremen announced. The 32-year-old picked up the injury playing in a training match for the national team.

Iraq: The Iraqi Football Asso-ciation gained a new chief yester-day, in an election in which the country’s football establishment won over a candidate unofficially backed by the government. Najeh Hmoud’s victory over Falah Hassan is expected to end two years of paralysis and problems with FIFA.

Cuvillier: Nancy have completed the permanent signing of Alexandre Cuvillier. The midfielder, 25, spent last season on loan at the Stade Marcel Picot from Boulogne.

Albinoleffe: Serie B side Albinoleffe will have Daniele Fortunato as coach next season. Fortunato, 48, was already assistant manager to Emiliano Mondonico and temporarily took over the team as the latter had to undergo serious surgery in January. Fortunato has now been given the job per-manently, as Mondonico is taking more time out to undergo further treatment.

Krkic: Roma are close to signing Bojan Krkic from Barcelona the Spanish media reported with the Italian club apparently ready to pay €10 million for the young striker. Last week, the 20-year-old Krkic hinted he was willing to follow ex-Barcelona B coach Luis Enrique to the Stadio Olimpico.

Rangers: Rangers have ap-pointed former Scottish FA chief executive Gordon Smith as their new director of football. Smith, who served the governing body from 2007 to 2010 before resigning for personal reasons, won the treble with Rangers in 1977/78. He spent three years at the Ibrox before leaving to join Brighton.

Barca B: Barcelona have reached an agreement with former player Eusebio Sacristan to become their new reserve team coach. Sacristan, whose initial deal is for one year with the option for a second, represented Barca from 1988 to 1995 and won 11 titles as part of Johan Cruyff’s ‘Dream Team’.

Under-21: Group A – Switzerland vs Belarus 3-0; Iceland vs Denmark 3-1. Standings: Switzerland 9 (Q); Belarus (Q), Iceland, Denmark 3. Group B (playing today – 20.45) England vs Czech Rep.; Ukraine vs Spain. Standings – Spain 4; Czech Rep. 3; England 2; Ukraine 1.