European Roundup

Putin to players: Sing Russian anthem, don't chew gum

MOSCOW (AP) -- President Vladimir Putin wants Russian athletes to sing along with the national anthem at sports competitions -- not chew gum, a radio station reported on Wednesday.

During the recent European Championship in Portugal, Putin called Russian Olympic Committee chief Leonid Tyagachev and told him to get that message to the Russian soccer players, Echo of Moscow radio reported, citing committee spokesman Gennady Shvets.

Tyagachev told Russian Soccer Union president Vyacheslav Koloskov, who conveyed the message to the players with added emphasis, Echo of Moscow reported.

"I told them to treat the anthem more seriously," the radio station quoted Koloskov as saying. "Other teams not only sing, but expressions appear on their faces that say they already do anything to defeat the enemy. And ours? They chew gum and smile."

Russia failed to advance from the first round at Euro 2004, finishing last in Group A. Midfielder Alexander Mostovoi was kicked off the team after complaining the players were exhausted from over-training.

Russia's national anthem is to the tune of the former Soviet Union's anthem, but with new lyrics.

Porto to sign Brazilian midfielder Diego

SAO PAULO, Brazil (AP) -- Santos midfielder Diego has been signed by Portugal's FC Porto, according to Pele's Web site pele.net on Wednesday.

The report did not provide any details on the four-year contract Diego signed. It said the 19-year-old Brazil international, whose full name is Diego Ribas da Cunha was scheduled to arrive in Portugal on Thursday.

"Santos is part of my life and I owe my success to it," Diego told the Web site. "I owe everything to Santos but there are times when changes our needed."

Santos was not available for immediate comment.

Genk striker Roussel joins Rubin Kazan

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -- Racing Genk forward Cedric Roussel has joined Russian premier league side Rubin Kazan, the Belgian first division club said on its website on Wednesday.

The 26-year-old, who has had two spells at Genk, is the first Belgian to sign for a Russian soccer team.

Roussel was under contract at Genk until 2006, although the club did not disclose any financial details of the deal.

After starting out with Ghent, where he played 35 matches in two seasons (1997-99) scoring 11 goals, Roussel turned out for English clubs Coventry City and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

In the 2002-03 season he returned home to play for Mons-Bergen, scoring 22 goals in 32 games, before rejoining Genk where he found the net 14 times in 31 games last season.

Both the Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.