Football Notes: Syria Enters Race To Sign Former Chelsea Manager Jose Mourinho

Syria has "entered the race to sign" former Chelsea Manager Jose Mourinho. The 53-year-old Portuguese "has been reportedly linked with a move" to ManU, but Syria "wants Mourinho to coach a team currently ranked 123rd in the world." A statement from the Syrian FA said that "an official offer was agreed and made to the agency of Jose Mourinho to train the Syrian national team," referring to the Portuguese coach's management team Gestifute. The statement said, "We are open for negotiations to reach a deal between both parties" (CNN, 4/4).

A bystander was killed in Sao Paulo on Sunday "after being hit in the chest by a bullet" fired as Brasileiro sides Palmeiras and Corinthians fans battled ahead of the Paulista state championship derby game. Police said that "at least three people were arrested in that clash and two other mass brawls across the city but they could not say who fired the shot that killed the unidentified man" (REUTERS, 4/3).