Pique: Barcelona centre-back Gerard Pique has been banned for one match following his dismissal against Sporting Gijon at the weekend. The football federation have also asked Pique for his version of events, after he claimed the referee sent him off because he had asked the official why his team-mate, Seydou Keita, had not been awarded a penalty earlier in the game.

Euro 2020: Ex-Soviet neighbours Azerbaijan and Georgia will make a joint bid to host the European Championships in 2020. The bid-ding process will start later this year and the winner is due to be announced in 2014.

Marquitos: Former Real Madrid defender Marquitos, a member of the all-conquering side that won five European Cups between 1956 and 1960, has died at the age of 78. Between 1954 and 1963, Marquitos accumulated a wealth of silverware as a part of the team that included such greats as Alfredo di Stefano, Ferenc Puskas and Paco Gento.

Schweini: Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schwein-steiger said he was delighted to return to full training yesterday as he kicked a football again for the first time since tearing ankle ligaments. The 27-year-old began running again last week but he says he does not know when he will be able to play for the Bavar-ian team again.

Smolarek: Former Polish international striker Wlodzimierz Smolarek has died at the age of 54, the Polish Football Federation said. “We’ve lost one of the greatest players in the history of Polish football,” said president Grzegorz Lato, who did not reveal details of the death of Smolarek. He won 60 caps for Poland between 1980 and 1990, scoring 13 goals, and was a member of the team that finished third at the 1982 World Cup in Spain.