Abuse of power: Prosecutors have launched a criminal investigation into a senior official with the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU), accusing him of "abuse of power". Ivan Lekov, who is also vice-chairman of Bulgaria's state agency for youth and sport, was arrested on Monday at the agency's headquarters. "Yes, I can confirm that it was Ivan Lekov and he was arrested in connection with a bribery case concerning a referee," Sofia prosecutor Nikolay Kokinov told Reuters.

Barcelona: Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola will have to decide whether to change the team that earned him his first league win on the weekend, now that France striker Thierry Henry has recovered from a throat infection. The versatile Andres Iniesta was outstanding on the left flank in the 6-1 win away to Sporting Gijon but Guardiola will have one eye on Saturday's city derby at Espanyol. Barca's visitors Real Betis have not scored in their opening three matches and last won at the Nou Camp ten years ago.

Guti: Real Madrid playmaker Guti will be out of action for up to 15 days after tearing a calf muscle in his right leg during the 2-0 victory away to Racing Santander in the Primera Liga on Sunday. He joins fellow midfielders Wesley Sneijder and Fernando Gago on the injury list.

Georgia: Georgia can play their next two home World Cup Group Eight qualifying matches in their capital city Tbilisi, FIFA said in a statement. Georgia had to play their opening qualifier against Ireland in Mainz, Germany, on Sept. 6 after the outbreak of hostilities with Russia but FIFA said there was no reason to move the games against Cyprus on October 11 or Bulgaria on October 15.

Illovsky: Former Hungary coach Rudolf Illovszky has died of pneumonia aged 86, his ex-club Vasas Sport Club said. Illovszky, who scored 87 goals in 270 games as a left winger for the Budapest team and won four Hungarian championship titles and a domestic cup with Vasas during his managerial spell between 1957 and 1995. As a coach, he won an Olympic silver medal with Hungary at the 1972 Munich Games.

Suazo: Benfica striker David Suazo faces a spell out after injuring his right thigh. The Honduras international suffered the injury on his debut for Benfica in the 3-2 defeat by Napoli in the UEFA Cup last week. Portuguese media said Suazo could miss the return leg on Oct. 2, as well as this weekend's derby with Sporting Lisbon.

Doping: Five leading Russian race walkers, including a world record holder, have been banned for doping, the Russian athletics federation (RAF) said. Sergei Morozov, who holds the world record in the 20km walk, Vladimir Kanaikin, Viktor Burayev, Alexei Voevodin and Igor Yerokhin were banned for two years each after testing positive for EPO. "They all had failed a test for EPO and after a hearing by our federation's anti-doping board, each of the five athletes was banned for two years," RAF secretary Vladimir Usachyov said.

Rugby: Former All Black Byron Kelleher was named the best player in the French championship after helping Toulouse win the Top 14 title and reach the final of the Heineken Cup. The 31-year-old scrumhalf played 57 tests for New Zealand before joining Toulouse after the 2007 World Cup.

Athletics: Dutchman Charles van Commenee was confirmed as the new head coach of British athletics, taking charge of the squad from January 1 next year through to the 2012 London Olympics. Van Commenee, 50, replaces Dave Collins after UK Athletics opted to favour a more hands-on coaching position rather than one of performance director. He is familiar with British athletics, having coached Denise Lewis to heptathlon Olympic gold in 2000 and Kelly Sotherton to bronze in Athens four years ago.

Cycling: Italian Adriano Malori delighted the home crowd to win the men's U-23 time-trial at the world road championships in Varese yesterday. The European U-23 champion, went out last and completed the near 35km course around the northern Italian town in 41 minutes 35.98. Germany's Patrick Gretsch was second and Australian Cameron Meyer third.

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