Onopko steps up at Saturn

Former Russia captain Viktor Onopko has stepped up to the role of player-coach at FC Saturn Moskovskaya Oblast. The 35-year-old defender will assist Saturn head coach Alexander Tarkhanov - a job he effectively carried out under Boris Ignatiev last season. Onopko, who will also act as a translator for Saturn's South American players, won a record 113 caps for Russia and the former Soviet Union.

Paris Saint-Germain FC will be without Jérôme Alonzo for up to three weeks after the goalkeeper damaged a calf muscle during training. Lionel Letizi is expected to replace him for PSG's French Cup game against US Langueux at the weekend.

The German Football Association (DFB) and the German Football League have arranged a charity match to raise money for the victims of the Asian tsunami. Germany's national team will take on a side of foreign Bundesliga stars on 25 January at the ArenA Aufschalke. "Football is under an obligation to help," said DFB vice-president Werner Hackman, whose body has pledged €1.5m in emergency aid.

Staying in Germany, Hamburger SV goalkeeper Martin Piekenhagen has agreed a new contract with the Bundesliga club until summer 2007. Pickenhagen, 34, said: "I am happy that we have managed to sort things out before the start of the second half of the season. I have still got a lot to achieve with Hamburg."

Eredivisie side FC Den Bosch have cancelled the contract of Derk Schut by mutual agreement. The 20-year-old striker would have been out of contract in the summer but, having played only once this season, opted to leave early. "We hope another club will give him a chance," said Den Bosch director of football Fred van der Hoorn.

Former Serbo-Montenegrin international striker Igor Bogdanovic has signed a four-year contract extension with Hungarian first division side Debreceni VSC. The 30-year-old moved to Debrecen on a one-year deal from FK Crvena Zvezda midway through last season and quickly became a fans' favourite. He has scored seven league goals this season and was voted the best overseas player in Hungary shortly before Christmas.

Meanwhile, Boris Bunjak, once assistant coach at Crvena Zvezda, has been placed in charge of FK Hajduk Kula following the resignation of Miloljub Ostojic. Also in Serbia and Montenegro, Milan Djuricic has taken over at FK Vojvodina. Both men have signed two-and-a-half-year contracts.

Coaching changes are continuing apace in the Ukrainian Premier League, where the FC Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih vice-president Olexander Kosevich has been appointed caretaker coach after the resignation of Valentin Khodukin through ill health. Bottom club FC Borysfen Boryspol , meanwhile, have turned to Stepan Matviiv until the end of the season following the Olexander Ryabokon's departure to FC Obolon Kyiv, and Gennady Litovchenko has left FC Metalist Kharkiv to take charge at first league side FC Arsenal Kharkiv.

Finally, Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC manager Craig Brewster, 38, has registered himself as a player and is set to make his debut in Sunday's Scottish Cup third-round tie against St Johnstone FC.