SOCCER: Kaiserslautern cuts defender after only nine games

The Bundesliga took a break last weekend because of World Cup Qualifying games, but that didn't deter its 18 clubs from making news:

Last Friday, Kaiserslautern released defender Murat Yakin from his contract. The Swiss national team player, who transferred to Kaiserslautern during the off-season, will move back to his country to play for FC Basel. Unfortunately, Yakin never lived up to head-coach Andreas Brehme's expectations.

Yakin, who only played nine games for Kaiserslautern, battled knee problems throughout the season. In addition, the FIFA sided with his former club, Fenerbahce Istanbul, which demanded over $4 million in compensation for the defender. However, Kaiserslautern appealed this decision in court and won. The transfer fee controversy surely didn't improve Yakin's situation and still remains unresolved.

As for other news:

· TSV 1860 Munich signed Vidar Riseth for four years. The 29-year-old defender, on loan this season from Scottish club Celtic Glasgow, cost the Bavarians $1.5 million.

· After Lothar Matthäus and Klaus Toppmöller said no, Hans-Peter Briegel also declined Eintracht Frankfurt's offer to take its head coaching position. The former national team player decided not to take the job because of irreconcilable professional differences. Now, Frankfurt may have to play out the season with its interim coaching duo Rolf Dohmen and Armin Kraaz, who unfortunately lost four out of five games. Not very impressive! That's why Frankfurt's president reiterated his demand to find a new coach as quickly as possible.

· VfL Wolfsburg extended the contract of Patrick Weiser until June 2005. The 29-year-old midfielder, who transferred to Wolfsburg in 1999 from French club Stade Rennes, played in 110 games since then and didn't miss a game this season.

· The German Soccer Federation (DFB) banned VfL Bochum's Thomas Christiansen for two games, for a physical confrontation during the game against Hansa Rostock.