Malta defender Manny Muscat was red carded as his side, Wellington Phoenix, were hammered 5-1 by Adelaide United in an A-League match at Coppers Stadium, yesterday.
Muscat, who is likely to join Pietro Ghedin’s squad for next week’s away friendly against Albania, was sent off for a second booking incurred after a tough tackle on Adelaide’s Jeronimo Neumann on 73 minutes.
At that juncture, Wellington were already 4-1 down.
Muscat, 29, played nine times for Malta but has not featured for the national team since Ghedin took over in 2012.
Cavani dropped
Uruguay will be without striker Edinson Cavani when they take a 21-man squad to Austria for a World Cup warm-up in Klagenfurt next Wednesday.
Cavani, who is recovering from injury, has been dropped from the initial 23-man squad coach Oscar Tabarez named last week.
Tabarez, who also dropped third-choice goalkeeper Rodrigo Munoz, has the chance to test reserve strikers Christian Stuani and Abel Hernandez in Cavani’s absence.
Uruguay face Costa Rica, England and Italy in that order in Group D at the Brazil tournament that kicks off on June 12.
Valero furious over referee’s report
Fiorentina playmaker Borja Valero is angry over the referee’s report which led to his four-match Serie A ban.
The Spaniard was sent off near the end of Monday’s 2-2 draw with Parma following a scuffle among the players. He was given a four-match suspension after a disciplinary tribunal said he had pushed his opponent and referee Andrea Gervasoni.
“I didn’t do anything to the referee, what he has written is wrong,” Valero said.
“I’ve never done anything to a referee in my life. It doesn’t matter whether I’m banned for four or 10 games, there has been a lack of respect to me as a player and as a person.”
Samuel Eto’o laughs off age remarks
Samuel Eto’o has laughed off the leaked remarks from Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho questioning his age, joking that if he can manage a hat-trick against Manchester United “at 37” he must have plenty of years left in the tank.
Mourinho was apoplectic about the remarks being broadcast and said his relationship with Eto’o had not been affected.
“I am Samuel Eto’o, what can I say?” he told reporters.
“If at 36 and 37 I can score three goals at United it means that I still have some juice and I can even score until I am 50.
“But I really don’t care, what is really important to me is to give my maximum to the team.”
Anelka handed five-match ban
West Bromwich Albion forward Nicolas Anelka has been banned for five matches and fined £80,000 for making an alleged anti-Semitic gesture in a match in December, the Football Association said yesterday.
The Frenchman, who made a “quenelle” salute after scoring in a 3-3 draw against West Ham on Dec. 28, has also been ordered to complete a compulsory education course.
“An Independent Regulatory Commission has found an aggravated breach of FA Rule E3 against Nicolas Anelka proven and has issued a five-match suspension and a fine of £80,000, pending appeal,” the FA said.
The punishment is suspended until the outcome of any appeal.
Xavi: No trouble with Barca coach Martino
Xavi has rubbished claims of a bust-up with Barce-lona coach Gerardo Martino after the midfielder was left out of the 3-1 defeat to Real Sociedad at the weekend.
Martino has come under fire following the defeat and Xavi admitted he was frustrated to be an unused substitute.
However, he has come out in support of Martino.
“People always look for scapegoats. The gaffer has been made to carry the can and that’s not fair. We win and lose as a team,” Xavi was quoted as saying.
“I get upset when I’m not in-volved or I don’t feel good on the pitch. That happens to everyone, but I respect the coach’s decision... he is my superior.”
1D star thrills fans in Doncaster bow
One Direction heart-throb Louis Tomlinson made his pro football debut for Doncaster reserves on Wednesday night, delighting over 5,000 fans with his cameo appearance.
Rovers fan Tomlinson came on as a second-half substitute in the Final Third Development League fixture against Rotherham as part of a joint partnership with local charity Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice.
Tomlinson’s 65th-minute arrival at right-back was greeted by a deafening ovation from the bumper 5,333 crowd.
The pop prince had limited chances to showcase his footballing ‘X Factor’ and struck a bum note in the 89th minute of the 0-0 draw when he fell on his backside attempting a pass.