Sporting briefs

Robben: Bayern Munich will be without Arjen Robben for today’s Bundesliga match with Freiburg and he is also in danger of missing his side’s Champions League opener against Villarreal next Wednesday. The Dutch winger is recovering from back and groin injuries and resumed training with the Bayern squad on Monday, but still needs more time.

Hooligans: Five Argentine hooligans were sentenced to life in prison on Thursday for the 2007 murder of a fellow fan of River Plate. The five were sent down for killing Gonzalo Acro, while a sixth man was given a ten-year term. Acro was killed in an August 7, 2007 brawl between rival River supporter groups.

Fenerbahce: The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) yesterday rejected Fenerbahce’s appeal against the Turkish Football Federation’s decision to ban them from this season’s Champions League following a match-fixing probe. The Turkish Federation (TFF) decided last month to ban Fenerbahce from Europe after being warned by UEFA that either Fenerbahce themselves should withdraw or the TFF should ban the club to prevent UEFA starting its own disciplinary investigation

Cook: Manchester City chief executive Garry Cook resigned yesterday amid a storm over an email in which he appeared to mock the cancer-stricken mother of a player. Cook stepped down from his post with the Premier League club following an internal investigation into the circumstances surrounding an email sent to Dr Anthonia Onuoha, the agent and mother of City player Nedum Onuoha. Cook had denied that he sent the email, claiming someone hacked into his account.

Kean: Blackburn Rovers manager Steve Kean believes he still retains the support of the club’s Indian owners despite fans writing a formal letter asking them to consider his job. “It doesn’t make me feel bad at all, I have a great relationship with the owners,” Kean said. “I can understand the fans’ frustration that we don’t have a point right now but I think it’s a minority of the fans and we share that frustration.”

Montenegro: Montenegro have fired their Croatian coach Zlatko Kranjcar after poor results in their Euro 2012 qualifiuers. Although they stand second to England in Group G a recent loss to Wales looks to have torpedoed any chance of producing a shock group win though they could still progress as runners-up.

Colombia: The Colombian FA said yesterday they have appointed former midfielder Leonel Alvarez as successor to Hernan Dario Gomez as national coach. Alvarez was Gomez’s assistant at the July Copa America in Argentina, then took temporary charge last month after Gomez resigned.

In England: League One – Preston vs Yeovil 4-3.