Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes had no complaints over Franck Ribery’s red card in Tuesday night’s DFB-Pokal victory over Augsburg.
Frenchman Ribery set up the opening goal in a 2-0 win but was dismissed in the 47th minute after appearing to strike Koo Ja-cheol.
“The red card was the result of provocation, but there’s no disputing the decision,” Heynckes told reporters.
“FC Bayern players have to brush that kind of thing off.”
Taarabt wants Morocco call-up
QPR playmaker Adel Taarabt has confirmed he wants to play for Morocco at the African Nations Cup next month.
Hoops manager Harry Redknapp last week revealed he had asked Taarabt to miss the tournament.
Taarabt, 23, has been out of favour with Morocco recently but is playing to impress national new coach Rachid Taoussi.
“I will do everything I can to prove to him that I deserve to be there,” Taarabt told the African football blog on www.lequipe.fr.
Discussing Redknapp’s request for him to stay in London, Taarabt said: “He came to see me to ask me not to go but I told him, ‘If they call me, I can’t refuse, boss.”
No January move for Llorente
Athletic Bilbao president Josu Urrutia has reiterated the Primera Division club have no intention of selling wantaway striker Fer-nando Llorente next month.
Urrutia said: “I’ve a feeling these decisions will not please everyone, but I think they are the most beneficial for Athletic.
“We’ve taken our decision and at the moment we’re sticking to it. He’s an important player, he’s shown that, and the team is more competitive with him.
“We hope that he continues to score important goals from now until the end of the season.”
Palacio displays goalkeeping skills
Argentine forward Rodrigo Palacio said he was not the only Inter outfield player who could step in goal for Inter on Tuesday after injury to Luca Castellazzi.
With coach Andrea Stra-maccioni having already made all three substitutions in the 2-0 Coppa Italia win over Verona, Palacio guarded Inter’s goal for the last 16 minutes and left a positive impression.
“I made a great save,” he told Inter Channel.
“Initially Cristian Chivu said he would go in goal, but then the coach asked me or Ricky Alvarez to go in.
“I had played in goal a few times as a kid, but luckily it was only for 15 minutes this time.
“We were leading 2-0 so we felt a bit comfortable, but it was important to win the match.”
Buffon to sign before Christmas
Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon is expected to sign a new deal with Juventus before Christmas, reports claimed yesterday.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport Buffon, whose existing contract runs until June 2013, has agreed a new two-year agreement.
Buffon’s agent Silvano Martina was involved in talks with Turin officials at Vinovo on Monday where the terms of the new agreement were finalised.
The report said that the 34-year-old has accepted to reduce his salary to €4m a season but will be entitled to a €1m bonus if the Bianconeri win the scudetto or Champions League.
Buffon, the club captain, joined Juventus in the summer of 2001 from Parma for £32m.
Macheda not eyeing Italy switch
Federico Macheda is not eyeing a January move to Italy, according to the Manchester United striker’s agent.
The 21-year-old is expected to leave Old Trafford after Christmas in search of regular first-team football but that won’t be with any Serie A club.
“I can exclude a return to Italy,” Giovanni Bia told Sportitalia.
“He could probably do better in La Liga where technique is worth more than physique.
“He’s a boy who has had his injury problems, but Sir Alex Ferguson continues to believe that he can turn into a good player.”
Suso sorry for Twitter comment
Liverpool midfielder Suso has apologised after he was fined £10,000 by the English Football Association for calling team-mate Jose Enrique “gay” on Twitter.
The 19-year-old last month posted a photo of his fellow Spaniard Enrique having his teeth whitened with the comment: “What f*** is he doing? This guy is gay... he does everything except play football.”
Suso later deleted the tweet and uploaded the photo with a different comment, saying: “I dunno what to say...”
The FA responded by issuing Suso with the fine and a warning over his future conduct.
The teenager apologised on his Twitter page, saying the “unfortunate” comments were intended as a joke.