Sporting briefs...

Thatcher Banned: Manchester City defender Ben Thatcher has been handed an eight-match ban plus a 15-game suspended ban for his nasty foul on Plymouth's Pedro Mendes last month, the Football Association announced yesterday. The eight-match suspension takes effect retroactively from Aug. 26, three days after the incident when Thatcher crashed elbow first into the Portuguese midfielder as both players chased a ball over the touchline in a Premier League match.

Viduka: Australia captain Mark Viduka has shelved plans to retire from international football, saying he wants to rejoin the Socceroos for next year's Asian Cup. Viduka had considered quitting after Australia's heartbreaking World Cup loss to eventual champions Italy but has changed his mind. The M'Boro striker missed Australia's two Asian Cup qualifiers because his wife is pregnant. She is due to give birth in October, around the same time Australia play a friendly with Paraguay. Viduka will miss those matches to remain with his wife but hoped to rejoin the team next year.

Ball Boy Scores: Brazilian referee faced suspension yesterday after she awarded a goal that television pictures showed was scored by a ball boy. The 89th minute goal allowed Santacruzense to snatch a 1-1 draw at home to Atletico Sorocaba in the Paulista Football Federation (FPF) Cup on Sunday. Pictures showed that after a Santacruzense player shot narrowly wide, the boy collected the ball with his feet and took it back on to the pitch. However, instead of returning it to the goalkeeper, he subtly tapped it across the line into the net. Although there was nearly 10 seconds between the shot going out and the boy placing the ball over the line, referee Silvia Regina de Oliveira awarded a goal amid furious Sorocaba protests.

Porto: Porto midfielder Raul Meireles will miss today's Champions League Group G opener at home to CSKA Moscow after spraining his right foot in training, the Portuguese team said yesterday. Coach Jesualdo Ferreira has included influential winger Ricardo Quaresma in his 19-man squad after he was rested for Saturday's 3-0 league win against Estrela Amadora.

Steaua Bucharest: Steaua Bucharest coach Cosmin Olaroiu says third place in their Champions League group is the best the Romanian side can hope for. The 1986 European champions open their Group E campaign away at Dynamo Kiev today. They are also grouped with Real Madrid and French champions Olympique Lyon. Olaroiu said Steaua would aim to secure third place in the group which would earn a place in the latter stages of the UEFA Cup next year.

Division II/III KO: Mgarr United vs Dingli Swallows 0-3; Zejtun Corinthians vs Sirens 1-2.