Uefa showed it was serious about "Financial Fair Play" yesterday by threatening to withhold prize money from Europa League champions Atletico Madrid in this season's competition while it investigated the club. Atletico are the headline name among 23 clubs whose Uefa payments from this season's Champions or Europa League could be stopped because they had fallen behind in financial obligations. Uefa requires clubs to pay players' wages, transfer fees to other clubs and social taxes on time. Champions League side Malaga, Sporting Lisbon and Fenerbahce are also being investigated. Uefa said the clubs had until September 30 "to provide an updated situation". AP
Japan survived severe early pressure from Zico's Iraq to beat them 1-0 in Saitama yesterday, taking a significant step towards qualifying for the 2014 soccer World Cup in Brazil. Ryoichi Maeda steered in a point-blank header in the 25th minute for the Asian champions, who lost playmaker Shinji Kagawa to a back strain an hour before kick-off. "It's three points, we'll take it," Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni said. Kagawa, of Manchester United, said his back problem was not serious. In Tashkent, South Korea drew 2-2 with Uzbekistan. Reuters