Croatia defender Josip Simunic will miss the World Cup after being suspended for 10 matches by FIFA for making pro-Nazi chants at the end of last month’s play-off victory over Iceland.
“The first matches have to be served during the final competition of the 2014 World Cup,” FIFA said.
At the end of Croatia’s 2-0 win, Simunic took the microphone at the Maksimir Stadium in Zagreb, turned to the stands and shouted ‘Za dom’ (for the Homeland), to which the audience replied ‘Spremni’ (Ready).
Inter scalp delights Napoli’s Benitez
Napoli coach Rafa Benitez was delighted with his team’s 4-2 triumph over his former club Inter on Sunday but insisted he was not seeking revenge.
Napoli were 3-1 up after 41 minutes and held on for their 11th win of the Serie A campaign.
Benitez, who endured a difficult six-month spell at Inter before leaving the club in December 2010, said: “This wasn’t revenge, absolutely not.
“I have so many friends in Milan. All I was interested was in the game that had a lot of value for the standings. I am satisfied with my team and the determination shown by my players.
“This victory against a great rival is important and we were worthy winners.”
Guidolin boost
Francesco Guidolin’s job as Udinese coach is not under threat despite his team’s poor run of form, according to director of sport Cristiano Giaretta.
Sunday’s 2-0 home defeat to Torino was the Bianconeri’s fourth defeat in their last six league games and dropped the team to 15th place in Serie A.
“I would like to confirm the club’s absolute and unconditional confidence in our coach Guidolin,” Giaretta said.
“The loss against Torino was unexpected. We need to reassume our understand that our only aim this season is to defend our Serie A status.”
Udinese are just four points clear of the drop zone and end the calendar year at Livorno on Saturday.
Leverkusen keen on Chelsea’s De Bruyne
Bayer Leverkusen’s director of sport Rudi Voeller says it is “no secret” that his club are in the hunt for Chelsea’s Kevin de Bruyne.
The Belgian impressed in the Bundesliga last season during a season-long loan at Werder Bremen, and amid talk the Blues could be set to loan him out again this winter, Leverkusen are one club keen on signing him.
“We made no secret of our interest in Kevin De Bruyne right from last summer. There are many clubs interested in him,” Voeller said.
“Regardless of our league position, we’re always looking for new players.”
Moyes hails returning Fletcher
Manchester United manager David Moyes believes Darren Fletcher has set an example to be admired by completing his first-team comeback after almost three years troubled by a chronic bowel condition.
Almost 12 months since his last appearance, Fletcher returned to action as a second-half substitute in Sunday’s 3-0 win at Aston Villa.
“If anybody returns from an illness to play professional football on this kind of stage for a club like Manchester United, it shows a lot about the boy himself,” said Moyes.
“He has had to be on his own, he has been in and out of hospital, he has had operations. This was a big message to a lot of people... keep believing.”
Dyer’s ankle not broken – Swansea
Swansea have been boosted by the news that winger Nathan Dyer did not break his ankle in their 1-1 draw away to Norwich on Sunday.
Swansea boss Michael Laudrup had feared the worst when Dyer fell awkwardly after a challenge from Norwich defender Sebastien Bassong in the first half of the match at Carrow Road in which the winger had opened the scoring after 12 minutes.
Dyer needed oxygen supply before being taken off the field on a stretcher with a leg brace.
“Initial x-ray shows no obvious break to Dyer’s ankle. However, he will have further scans tomorrow before final diagnosis,” read a message posted on Swansea’s Twitter feed.
Court halts work at Amazonia Arena
A Brazilian labour court ordered a partial stop to construction on the Arena Amazonia in the jungle city of Manaus after the death of a worker who fell off the stadium’s roof raised safety concerns ahead of the 2014 World Cup.
Public prosecutors asked for work “in all areas involving altitude” to be stopped pending investigations to guarantee workers’ safety.
The worker, Marcleudo de Melo Ferreira, 22, died in a Manaus hospital on Saturday.
He was the fifth to die in stadiums being built to host the World Cup in 12 cities.
Manaus is scheduled to host four World Cup games in June, including Italy-England. The stadium is supposed to be ready by January 15.