Marsiglia: French first division side Nice on Monday sacked out-of-contract coach Rene Marsiglia, despite his side defeating Lyon 4-3 on Sunday to stay in the top flight. Marsiglia announced the news himself after meeting with club chairman Jean-Pierre Rivere, saying he was “hugely disappointed” with the decision.

Bulgaria: The Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) plans to cut the number of clubs in its top league to 12 teams. Bulgaria’s top-flight football league currently comprises 16 teams, with each team facing every other twice in the season, at home and away. Now the BFU wants to cut the number of teams to 14 in the 2013/2014 season and to 12 in the 2014/2015 season.

Abidal: Barcelona’s French defender Eric Abidal was yesterday given the green light by doctors to leave hospital following his liver transplant last month, the Catalan team said. The France international defender, 32, underwent the operation on April 10 just over a year after having a tumour removed from his liver in March 2011.

Hertha Berlin: Hertha Berlin’s relegation to the German second division was confirmed after the German Football Federation (DFB) ruled that their relegation play-off against Fortuna Duesseldorf did not have to be replayed. Fortuna’s 2-2 home draw on May 15 saw them win the German league relegation play-off 4-3 on aggregate and earn promotion to the Bundesliga at Hertha’s expense amidst chaotic scenes and a pitch invasion that left players fearing for their lives.

Spain: Chelsea duo Fernando Torres and Juan Mata were called up to Spain’s provisional squad for Euro 2012 yesterday. Striker Torres and winger Mata will join up with their team-mates in St Gallen, Switzerland on May 25 where the squad are due to play a warm-up match.