Gomez chosen as new chief coach of Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR • Former Johor Darul Ta'zim coach, Argentinian Mario Gomez, 60, has been appointed as the new chief coach of the Malaysia football team, replacing Ong Kim Swee.

Ong has been entrusted with the task of coaching the national Under-23 squad, taking over from Frank Bernhardt.

The development came under the new leadership of the Football Association of Malaysia headed by the Johor Crown Prince, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim.

BERNAMA

Pochettino rumours swirl after meeting with Barca

LONDON • Mauricio Pochettino met the Barcelona president in the Spanish city four days ago, at a time when the Tottenham manager has been strongly linked with taking the head coach's job at the Catalan club.

Pochettino spoke to Josep Maria Bartomeu at Farga, a restaurant in Barcelona. The nature of the Argentinian's relationship with Bartomeu is unclear as Pochettino has previously played for and coached Espanyol, Barcelona's city rivals. THE TIMES, LONDON

PSG's director of football Kluivert in betting probe THE HAGUE • Former Dutch star Patrick Kluivert, director of football at Paris Saint-German, owed up to €1 million (S$1.5 million) to a criminal gang after racking up debts betting on football, Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant reported yesterday.

It said the gang applied threats to pressure him to recoup the debt which he had repaid in part. The newspaper said investigators had no proof the former player was involved in match-fixing.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

6-month CSL suspension for Shenhua's Qin Sheng

BEIJING • Shenhua Shanghai's Qin Sheng has been handed a six-month ban by the Chinese Football Association for stamping on Belgian international Axel Witsel.

Qin received a straight red card for stamping on the left foot of Tianjin Quanjian's Witsel this month. He has already been suspended for three matches in the Chinese Super League (CSL) and his club has slapped him with a 300,000 yuan (S$60,000) fine.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE