Sporting briefs

Finger gesture: Swiss referee Massimo Busacca, who took charge of last season's Champions League final, was handed a three-match ban for making an insulting gesture to fans who barracked him at the weekend. Busacca was photographed sticking his middle finger up at Young Boys fans who insulted him during their team's Swiss Cup match at third division FC Baden. Busacca, 40, has been an international referee for 10 years.

Notts County: The Football League has confirmed it is investigating the takeover of League Two club Notts County. The Magpies have been causing a stir since Middle East consortium Munto Finance bought the club this summer with the appointment of former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson as director of football and the recent signing of Sol Campbell. Mystery surrounds who is actually behind Munto Finance with executive chairman Peter Trembling, former commercial director at Everton, fronting the consortium of investors.

Van Nistelrooy: Real Madrid striker Ruud van Nistelrooy will be out of action for up to six weeks after damaging his left thigh muscle. The Dutchman got injured scoring the final goal in Real's 5-0 home win over Xerez on Sunday. He was making his first official appearance for the club after nine months out with a knee problem.

Player dies: Progresso de Sambizanga player Neridson Estevao died after collapsing during a second division game against Benfica de Cabinda. The 26-year-old was taken to a nearby hospital from the stadium after collapsing during Sunday's game. The cause of death was not revealed.

Agger: Daniel Agger could be included in Liverpool's squad for today's League Cup tie at Leeds. The Danish international has been out all season following a back operation, but returned to full training last week.

In Italy: Prima Divisione (B) - Verona vs Ternana 2-0.

Rugby Union: Jonny Wilkinson is back to his best, according to his French opposite number Frederic Michalak. Wilkinson kicked all Toulon's points on his return to action in Sunday's Top 14 18-13 victory over Michalak's Toulouse - enough to convince the Frenchman he has finally recovered his form and fitness following a succession of injuries. "He is without doubt back to his best level," Michalak told BBC Sport.

Marathon: Martin Lel believes he can achieve his next major task of winning the New York Marathon on November 1, after his brilliant win in Sunday's Great North Run. Lel will travel to the United States determined to lift a third "Big Apple" title, which would match his tally of victories in the Flora London Marathon. Lel said: "Everything went to plan and having a testing race was what I needed. There were no problems with my hip and with a little more intensive training I will be ready for New York."

Tennis: Hungarian Melinda Czink claimed her first WTA Tour crown last weekend with a come-from-behind victory over Czech Lucie Safarova at the 220,000-dollar Bell Challenge in Quebec. Czink, the fifth seed, triumphed 4-6 6-3 7-5, improving on her previous best career showing of a runner-up finish to Ana Ivanovic in Canberra in 2005. That was Czink's only previous appearance in a WTA Tour final, while fourth-seeded Safarova was going for her fifth career crown and her first since 2008 at Forest Hills.

Golf: Na Yeon Choi, of South Korea, surrendered a seven-shot lead but steadied to post a one-under 71 that gave her a one-shot victory in the LPGA Samsung World Championship in San Diego on Sunday. Choi claimed her first LPGA Tour title with a 16-under total of 272. Japan's Ai Miyazato carded a 69, lowest round of the day, to finish second on 273. South Korea's Jiyai Shin was third on 277.