Football news

The Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) have slapped home bans on Botev Plovdiv and Lokomotiv Plovdiv in the wake of a mass brawl involving players, coaches and fans after Saturday's city derby.

Botev, who won the match 1-0, were banned from their ground for two home matches and also fined 12,000 levs ($9,041).

Lokomotiv received a second stadium ban this season and must play one more home game at a neutral venue. The 2004 Bulgarian champions received a one-match ban for fan violence last week.

Lokomotiv were fined 4,000 levs ($3,014).

FAT players get free burgers

Thailand's top players will feast on free burgers as part of a three-year sponsorship deal with American fast food giant McDonald's worth almost $900,000.

McDonald's will provide 25 million baht ($747,000) for the Football Association of Thailand (FAT) and will offer five million baht in products in exchange for shirt sponsorship for the next three years, starting this month.

"This will be a great help towards our efforts to reach the 2014 World Cup finals," FAT president Worawi Makudi said.

Thailand's national team, which is currently 110th in the FIFA rankings, signed a five-year kit sponsorship deal with US sports giant Nike in 2007 for an undisclosed figure.

NZ to install extra seats for play-off

FIFA has granted New Zealand Football permission to install 500 extra seats for this month's World Cup play-off with Bahrain because of the extraordinary demand for tickets.

New Zealand officials asked FIFA to allow for the additional seats after all 35,000 tickets for the Nov. 14 second leg match in Wellington sold out in less than 10 minutes.

The winner will qualify for next year's World Cup in South Africa after the two teams played out a scoreless draw in last month's first leg in Bahrain.

Officials had already built temporary seats in tunnels and in front of corporate areas but have found room for another 500.

Olsen keeps Norway role until 2012

Egil Olsen is to continue as Norway coach until his successor Staale Solbakken takes over in 2012, Norway's football association has announced.

The 67-year-old Olsen, who also led the national team between 1990 and 1998, returned to the helm in January after the resignation of Aage Hareide, who stepped down last December after Norway failed to win a match in 2008.

Olsen will remain in the role until FC Copenhagen's Solbakken takes the reins on a three-year deal from January 1, 2012.

If Norway reach the play-offs for Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine, Olsen has an option to stay on.

Milan remain top Euro side - Kaka

Real Madrid playmaker Kaka made an emotional return to Milan on Tuesday and said his former team-mates looked in good shape despite their wobbly start.

The Brazilian was warmly welcomed during the 1-1 Champions League Group C draw at the San Siro, where he played for six years.

"It has been an emotional evening, I tried to keep my emotions in check and play my game," he said.

"Milan's group is very strong, they have to play a lot of games and they've not been able to find continuity. But in the Champions League, in the games that count, they are always there. Ronaldinho is rediscovering his form and is finally managing to strut his stuff."

Mancini right man for Bayern - Vialli

Gianluca Vialli believes his former strike partner Roberto Mancini has what it takes to succeed as Bayern Munich coach if the German giants dismiss Louis van Gaal.

Bayern lost 2-0 at home to Bordeaux in the Champions League on Tuesday and risk getting knocked out in the group stages.

While watching the game for Sky, Vialli commented: "I believe that the Bayern Munich bench can be adapted to Roberto Mancini. It's a team that still speaks Italian. They have already had an Italian trainer in the past. I believe it would be interesting."

Mancini has been repeatedly linked with some of the biggest clubs in Europe, including Real Madrid and Liverpool after freeing himself from his contract with Inter. He has been out of work since the summer of 2008.

'Ugly story' behind Cassano's Italy exile

Sampdoria president Riccardo Garrone has suggested that an "ugly story" is behind Antonio Cassano's omission from the Italy squad.

Italy coach Marcello Lippi has repeatedly overlooked the 27-year-old despite some excellent performances in Serie A that led Sampdoria to the top of the table earlier this season.

The majority of the fans and the media have criticised Lippi for his reluctance to call Cassano, but Garrone's revelations now throw fresh light on the reasoning behind his decision.

Garrone said: "Cassano has an explanation that I know and that I also have no intention of speaking about. I have never allowed myself to speak about Cassano. Maybe one day this story will come out, and it will be a very, very ugly story."