Celtic swoop for Samaras and Mizuno

GLASGOW, Scotland -- Celtic have clinched deals to bring Manchester City striker Georgios Samaras and Japanese midfielder Koki Mizuno to the club.

Greece international Samaras, 22, has joined on loan until the end of the season, with a view to the deal becoming permanent in the summer.

Mizuno, also 22, has become a permanent signing, agreeing a three-and-a-half-year contract with Celtic.

Samaras is eager to be involved for his country at Euro 2008, where Greece will defend their title.

However his first-team opportunities with City have been limited since Sven-Goran Eriksson's appointment in the summer.

Samaras was a $12 million signing from Heerenveen in 2006 but has failed to make the impact expected of him in England.

He will compete with Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, Scott McDonald and Chris Killen for a place in the Scottish side's attack, while his arrival could mean that Derek Riordan -- who has been linked with a move to English club Burnley -- will depart before the transfer window closes on Thursday night.

Celtic secured a work permit for Mizuno after convincing an appeals panel he was an exceptional case, despite winning just three caps for Japan so far. He joins fellow Japan midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura at Celtic after leaving the J.League.

Also on Tuesday, Celtic manager Gordon Strachan was given a four-match touchline ban following his row with a steward at Aberdeen on August 19.

Strachan, who was sent to the stands at Pittodrie by referee Charlie Richmond following the incident, was found guilty by the Scottish Football Association's disciplinary committee of an "unacceptable conduct" offence.

Meanwhile, Tuesday's Scottish League Cup semi-final between Aberdeen and Dundee United has been postponed because of a waterlogged pitch at Edinburgh's Tynecastle stadium.

The match has been rescheduled for Tuesday, February 5. Rangers play Hearts in the other semi-final on Wednesday.

Rangers have been told by world ruling body FIFA that striker Daniel Cousin cannot join English Premier League strugglers Fulham despite a fee of $6 million being agreed by the two clubs.

FIFA on Tuesday stuck by regulations that forbid a player from appearing for more than two clubs in one season.

The 30-year-old from Gabon played 20 minutes as a substitute for French club Lens before his summer switch to Scotland.

Cousin has scored nine goals in 26 appearances for Rangers, but has struggled to win over the Glasgow club's fans. E-mail to a friend

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