Closed doors: Croatia have been ordered to play their next home match in the Euro 2016 qualifiers behind closed doors because of racist behaviour by their fans, UEFA said yesterday. UEFA’s disciplinary panel said the trouble happened during the game against Norway on March 28 in Zagreb when fans also threw objects. Croatia’s next home match in Group H is against Italy on June 12.

Doc dies: Neil Phillips, the team doctor for England’s victorious 1966 World Cup campaign, has died at the age of 83. Manager Alf Ramsey promoted Phillips from his role as Under-23 team doctor just before the 1966 World Cup as seniors doctor Alan Bass had run out on holiday and could not join up with the squad. Phillips, who was born in Wales, left the FA in 1974 following Ramsey’s departure.

Less points: Israeli Premier League side Ashdod SC will be deducted six points after a transfer fee dispute with Nigerian side Kaduna United. Ashdod bought defender Efe Ambrose from Kaduna in 2010 and sold him to Celtic in 2012 but failed to complete paying the transfer fee or a promised mark-up fee to Kaduna, reported to be $70,000. After several warnings, FIFA ordered the Israel FA to make the six-point deduction, which has dropped Ashdod to the bottom of the league and has put them in danger of relegation.

Agger: Denmark captain and Brondby defender Daniel Agger is to be investigated by the country’s FA after allegedly elbowing FC Copenhagen’s Mattias Jorgensen in a hotly-contested derby on Monday. The incident in the 0-0 draw was not seen by match officials.

Van Persie: Robin van Persie has declared himself fit for Sunday’s Manchester derby. Van Persie has missed Manchester United’s last six games following an ankle injury. But yesterday he tweeted: “Back to training with the group today. Was a great session. Happy to be fit and able to play again. Looking forward to my next game!”