Ban reduced: An Israeli FA tribunal has reduced the punishment given to Hapoel Tel Aviv and Maccabi Tel Aviv following violence this month that caused their derby match to be abandoned at half-time. One point has been given back to each team, the IFA said, after an earlier ruling imposed a three-point deduction due to the Premier League fixture being halted with the score 1-1. Hapoel and champions Maccabi share Bloomfield Stadium and will have to play their next three home Premier League games at a neutral venue.

Neal dies: Former Chelsea manager John Neal has died at the age of 82, the Premier League leaders announced yesterday. Neal, who succeeded 1966 World Cup hat-trick hero Geoff Hurst at Stamford Bridge in 1981, led the club to the second-tier title in 1984 before retiring due to ill health a year later. “Chelsea FC is deeply saddened by the passing of John Neal, one of the most significant and loved managers in our history. The club sends our deepest condolences to John’s family and friends,” a club statement read.

Play-offs: Jermaine Jones grabbed an 85th minute winner as New England Revolution beat New York Red Bulls 2-1 in the first leg of Major League Soccer’s Eastern Conference final on Sunday. The pair will meet again on Saturday in Massachusetts to decide who will meet Seattle Sounders or LA Galaxy in the MLS Cup on Dec. 7. The Galaxy beat Seattle 1-0 in their first-leg at the StubHub Centre.

Thijssen: Former Netherlands international Frans Thijssen will take over as interim coach of Australian champions Brisbane Roar after Mike Mulvey was sacked on Sunday. Thijssen, who won an English footballer of the year award after helping Ipswich Town win the 1981 UEFA Cup, would start immediately, Roar said in a statement yesterday. Mulvey, who guided Roar to their third A-League title in the 2013-14 season, was sacked six games into the season after five losses and a solitary win.

Lega Pro: Group A – Bassano vs Como 1-0.

Primera Liga: Granada vs Almeria 0-0.