Fluminense coach Abel Braga says the Brazilian club have reached a deal to sell teenage right back Wallace to Chelsea. The transaction hasn't been completed yet, but Braga said the 18-year-old player will be joining the English club. Local media reported Chelsea paid about US$7 million for Wallace, who is expected to stay with Fluminense until next year's Copa Libertadores. Wallace has not been starting for Fluminense but is considered one of the team's most promising players. Braga called him "a great player". AP
A group of France under-21 players picked up lengthy international bans as punishment for breaking a night-time curfew between two key European championship qualifiers last month. The guilty five are Rennes duo Yann Mvila and Chris Mavinga, Wissam Ben Yedder of Toulouse, Real Sociedad's Antoine Griezmann and Mbaye Niang, of AC Milan. Mvila picked up the longest suspension, until June 30, 2014, with the other four banned until December 31, 2013. Mvila's lawyer raised the possibility of an appeal. "He is more or less floored [by the ban] and we are all discussing an eventual appeal," Thierry Fillion said. AFP