Sporting briefs

Mazzarri: Walter Mazzarri has lost his appeal against a two-match Champions League ban which will rule him out of his team’s Last 16 tie against English side Chelsea. Mazzarri was suspended after pushing Villarreal striker Nilmar on the touchline during Napoli’s 2-0 victory in Spain. He had lodged an appeal, claiming Nilmar was time-wasting, but UEFA turned down the appeal and added a third game to the ban on a suspended sentence.

Kombarov: Russia coach Dick Advocaat yesterday included Spartak Moscow midfielder Dmitry Kombarov in his 21-man squad to play a friendly match with Denmark at Copenhagen on February 29. The 25-year-old Kombarov, who has played 10 times for Russia’s under-21 team, will be making his first appearance in the senior squad.

Boenisch: Defender Sebastian Boenisch was called up by Poland for the February 29 friendly against Portugal. The 25-year-old Werder Bremen player, who was born in Poland but played at youth level for Germany, was included in the squad.

Mertesacker: Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker has become the fourth Germany player forced out of the pre-Euro 2012 friendly against France because of injury. The towering centre-back picked up an ankle injury in the Gunners’ 2-1 victory at Sunderland last Saturday and posted a picture of his swollen ankle on his Facebook page.

Darlington: Darlington’s administrator Harvey Madden has told the Blue Square Bet Premier club it has until April 30 to raise £750,000 in order to exit administration. The Quakers, who entered admi-nistration for the third time in nine years, intend to raise the majority of funds by a share issue after fans formed the company Darlington FC 1883 Ltd.

In Greece: The Greek players’ union (PSAP) announced yesterday it has suspended its two-week strike of the cash-strapped second and third tier leagues. Their decision came after the clubs agreed to pay insurance contributions for their players until the end of the current season. The clubs of Football League 1 and 2 did not have enough money to pay for the insurance contributions for their players as they were waiting for funds from a sponsorship deal with state-run betting company OPAP, leading the union to call a strike.

Brandao: A brace from Brandao gave Marseille a 3-1 win over Bourg-Peronnas yesterday and a place in the French Cup quarter-finals. Marseille were joined in the last eight by Ligue 1 leaders PSG, who gained revenge on Dijon for being knocked out by them in the League Cup with a 1-0 win.

Scottish FA Cup: Fifth round – Ayr vs Falkirk 2-1.

Friendly: Malta U-19 vs Bulgaria U-17 0-0.