Sporting briefs...

O'Leary: Aston Villa manager David O'Leary was fined £5,000 yesterday for insulting referee Graham Poll after last month's Birmingham derby. The Irishman admitted a charge of using "abusive and/or insulting words" towards the referee after the final whistle of Villa's 1-0 win at Birmingham City on October 16, the FA said in a statement on their website. It was a first victory for Villa over their city rivals in seven matches and O'Leary celebrated by running onto the pitch and saluting the directors' box with a clenched fist before making his comments to Poll.

Fulham: Premier League club Fulham are to re-name one of the stands at their Craven Cottage ground in honour of former favourite Johnny Haynes, who died last month after a car crash. Fulham, responding to suggestions from fans, announced yesterday that the current Stevenage Road stand would be re-named the Johnny Haynes Stand. A formal naming of the stand is planned along with a memorial service, although no date has been decided.

Kameni: Espanyol's Cameroon goalkeeper Carlos Kameni was distracted by abuse from a section of the Atletico Madrid crowd during his side's 1-1 draw in the Primera Liga, according to coach Miguel Angel Lotina. "He was a little uncertain on a couple of occasions and this was because of the murmuring coming from behind the goal," Lotina said. Kameni and Espanyol's Brazilian midfielder Fredson were both subjected to monkey chants from Atletico's radical fans behind one of the goals on Sunday.

CSKA No deal: Russia's Sibneft oil company, sold last month by Chelsea's billionaire owner Roman Abramovich, said yesterday it would be terminating its $54-million sponsorship deal with UEFA Cup holders CSKA Moscow. Sibneft's three-year sponsorship contract with CSKA was to have run until March 2007. CSKA beat Portugal's Sporting 3-1 in the UEFA Cup final in May to become the first Russian club to lift a European trophy. Earlier this month they clinched their second Russian premier league title in three years. Russia's state-owned gas monopoly Gazprom bought a 75 per cent stake in Sibneft from Abramovich and other shareholders for $13.1 billion.

Rooney: Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney says he would like to reach the heights scaled by George Best before his career is over. The talented forward scored United's equaliser in Sunday's 2-1 league win over West Ham, his club's first match since Best died on Friday. "He was one of the greats and it's a sad loss for everybody," the 20-year-old said. Asked about the inevitable comparison with the N. Ireland winger, Rooney said: "George Best was one of the best, if not the best player in the world. I'm sure I've got a long way to go before I reach those heights - but hopefully, one day in the future, people will be talking about me like that."

In Italy: Serie B - Verona vs Catania 1-2. Serie C - San Marino vs Teramo 1-2.

In England: The Championship - Cardiff vs Ipswich 2-1.

MFA Division Three: Kalkara vs Zurrieq 0-4; Zejtun vs Luqa 2-2. Playing today - 6 p.m. Ta' Xbiex vs Mgarr; 8 p.m. Siggiewi vs Sta Lucija. Playing tomorrow at Centenary Stadium - (Division One) 6 p.m. Naxxar vs San Gwann; 8 p.m. St Andrews vs Lija.