Sporting briefs

PSG banned: Paris St Germain have been banned from the League Cup next season after some of their fans unfolded a racist banner during this season's League Cup final, the French League (LFP) said yesterday. Strugglers PSG could have been handed a point deduction in Ligue 1. Instead, they stay on 38 points with three matches left, the same as Racing Lens, who occupy the last safe spot.

In Scotland: Division One play-offs - Alloa vs Clyde 2-1; Raith Rovers vs Airdrie 0-2. Division Two play-offs - Arbroath vs Cowdenbeath 1-1; Montrose vs Stranraer 1-1.

Ardiles: Former Argentina and Tottenham midfielder Osvaldo Ardiles has been named as the new coach of Paraguay's Cerro Porteno. "It's a big challenge because Cerro Porteno should always be at the top of the table and it would be beautiful to win a championship," the 1978 World Cup winning midfielder told reporters of the side fourth in the Apertura standings. Ardiles quit as coach of Huracan in Argentina last December after only 12 matches following a public disagreement with club president Carlos Babington.

Javi Garcia: Real Madrid have told Osasuna they will be exercising their option to buy back former youth team midfielder Javi Garcia at the end of the season. Osasuna also said that their keeper Ricardo would be free to play against Real Madrid on Sunday after the Federation Appeals Committee overturned the red card he was given in last weekend's game against Valencia.

Belenenses: Belenenses's punishment of the loss of six Premier League points for fielding an ineligible player was confirmed by the Portuguese Soccer Federation this week. Cameroon international striker Albert Meyong played for Belenenses in their 2-1 win over Naval on January 13 after also representing two Spanish teams this season.

Rooney fit: Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney will be fit to face West Ham United at Old Trafford in the Premier League on Saturday after missing their Champions League semi-final win over Barcelona with a hip problem, manager Alex Ferguson said. Patrice Evra, who took a knock on the head in Tuesday's 1-0 second-leg victory over the Spanish side, will also be available.