Juventus assistant Angelo Alessio was grateful for Mirko Vucinic’s late equaliser as they were surprisingly held to a 1-1 Champions League draw with Group E minnows FC Nordsjaelland.

Alessio felt his side were more than worthy of a share of the spoils but admitted their profligacy nearly came back to haunt them.

“We created so many chances, at least 14 or 15, but we couldn’t put the ball in the back of the net.

“Thankfully Mirko got the equaliser at the end, otherwise we might well have suffered a shock defeat,” he told reporters.

“It’s a shame we’ve only drawn but we need to roll up our sleeves and keep going.”

Hearts hit with transfer embargo

Hearts were yesterday hit with a 60-day transfer embargo as punishment for paying wages late for the second consecutive month, the Scottish Premier League announced.

Hearts claim all outstanding wages from October have now been paid but have been hit with a ban on signing any players up to December 23.

The punishment prevents Hearts from signing any free agents during the 60-day period, ruling out an immediate return for Czech international Rudi Skacel, who has been training with his former club.

Younger Khedira earns promotion

Rani Khedira is following in the footsteps of his brother, Germany international Sami, by being promoted to the professional squad of Stuttgart.

The 18-year-old will start training with the first team with immediate effect, taking the place of Mahamadou Bah, who has been dropped to the reserves due to personal reasons.

“We are therefore bringing forward the plan we had for next summer of feeding Rani Khedira into the first team and of integrating him and constantly pushing on his development,” said the club’s director of sport Fredi Bobic.

Bin Hammam ban extended

FIFA have extended their provisional ban on Mohamed Bin Hammam by another 45 days.

Bin Hammam had a lifetime ban overturned in court in July but was immediately provis-ionally suspended again for 90 days by FIFA who announced a fresh probe.

The 63-year-old, president of the Asian Football Confederation and a FIFA member until his original ban, reacted with a fury to the new suspension.

Bin Hammam’s lawyer Eugene Gulland said: “It is astounding that FIFA is able to keep ex-tending its ban on the football activities of Mr Bin Hammam, as it sees fit. FIFA’s latest extension order fails to give any reasons to justify its action.”

Del Piero prepares for 800th game

Alessandro Del Piero will play his 800th professional game on Sunday, admitting he never dreamed of reaching such a landmark.

The 37-year-old former Juventus legend has impressed in all three games he has played for his new club Sydney FC, including scoring the winner against Western Sydney last weekend.

Del Piero said he was grateful to still be performing.

“I’m not 100 per cent, definitely,” he said.

“But I’m feeling good because I’m training every day and this is important.”

Del Piero said he never dreamed of playing so many games.

“If I’m honest, no, but I’m happy it will happen here,” Del Piero said of the milestone.

Pardew condemns unsavoury chants

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has joined forces with Sunderland counterpart Martin O’Neill in criticising tasteless chants during Sunday’s Wear-Tyne derby.

Some Sunderland fans repeatedly sang, ‘Steven Taylor, we wish you were dead’, while part of the Magpies contingent at the Stadium of Light referred to Jimmy Savile in connection with Black Cats captain Lee Cattermole.

O’Neill spoke of his dis-appointment after being told about the chants, and Pardew has now added his condemnation.

He told the Shields Gazette: “They were not acceptable. We don’t want that in the game – every type of abuse is not right.”

Nenad Tomovic said no to Milan

Nenad Tomovic has revealed that he had been made aware of interest from Milan last summer but he opted to join Fiorentina instead.

The Serbian international switched to the Viola outfit from Genoa in August, on a co-owner-ship agreement, after a year on loan with relegated Lecce.

“Fiorentina first got in touch at the start of the summer, but the move was only completed on deadline day,” the defender said.

“Milan? I said no to the Rossoneri and I have no regrets about doing so. I’m happy to be wearing the Viola shirt.

“I think Fiorentina offer me a bigger challenge than Milan would have.”

Tomovic, 25, moved to Serie A in 2009 after a spell with Red Star.

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