Spahic in Hamburg

HAMBURG: Bundesliga side Hamburger SV are signing Emir Spahic on a one-year deal, giving the Bosnia-Herzegovina defender another chance after Bayer Leverkusen terminated his contract for fighting with security personnel. Hamburg chief executive Dietmar Beiersdorfer says, “We discussed the incident in Leverkusen and his confrontation of the issue internally. Then we decided on the signing.” Spahic has been without a club since April, when he was released by Leverkusen after being filmed fighting and aiming a headbutt at the club’s security personnel following a German Cup defeat to Bayern Munich. The incident reportedly happened after security refused to allow his friends entry to the locker room area. Spahic apologised afterward and agreed to the termination of his contract.

Nigeria fire Keshi

LAGOS: Nigeria’s football federation says it is firing national coach Stephen Keshi amid charges he applied for a job with the Ivory Coast team. It would end a turbulent relationship with the former national team captain who guided Nigeria’s Super Eagles to Africa Cup of Nations glory in 2013 in South Africa. The Nigeria Football Federation’s executive committee said late Saturday it found Keshi to “lack the required commitment.” Keshi last month told a disciplinary hearing that his name was submitted for the Ivory Coast coaching job by a European agent without consultation. Keshi, 53, has threatened to resign in the past and was fired in 2014 and reinstated only after a presidential intervention. He had returned on a match-by-match deal and signed a new two-year contract just three months ago.

Jojic joins Cologne

COLOGNE: Serbia’s Milos Jojic has joined Cologne from Bundesliga rival Borussia Dortmund on a deal through June 2019. Cologne general manager Joerg Schmadtke says “Jojic is a talented player who has competed and asserted himself internationally from a young age.” The 23-year-old Jojic, who has made five appearances for Serbia, joined Dortmund from Partizan Belgrade in January 2014 and impressed in his first half-season. However, he endured a difficult second year as the team struggled. Kicker reports Cologne paid just under 3 million euros for the player, who joined Dortmund for 2.2 million euros. Cologne’s planned signing of Brazilian defender Felipe Santana from Schalke has fallen through due to the player tearing a calf muscle.