Linesman rage: Chechen linesman Musa Kadyrov was banned for life yesterday after assaulting a player in a Russian league match. The incident occurred at the end of Sunday’s reserve game in Grozny between Amkar Perm and Terek when a raging Kadyrov dropped his flag and ran on to the pitch, attacking startled Amkar defender Ilya Krichmar. Kadyrov said Krichmar had insulted him but the player denied the allegation.

Diouf: Leeds forward El-Hadji Diouf has been fined two weeks’ wages for seeing red in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Brighton. The Senegalese striker was sent off for making an offensive gesture towards the Seagulls fans after he scored from the penalty spot.

Vlaar: Ron Vlaar hinted he will have to consider his Aston Villa future if Paul Lambert’s side are relegated. The 28-year-old defender, who joined Villa from Feyenoord last summer, has his sights set on a place in the Holland squad at next year’s World Cup. He said: “That’s my goal, to go to the World Cup but I just want to stay up with Villa. That’s the most important thing for now and, if we play in the Premier League, that’s good enough.”

Berg: Former Blackburn manager Henning Berg, who was sacked after 57 days in the job, has been awarded £2.25 million in compensation after winning his claim against the Championship club at the High Court in Manchester. The 43-year-old Norwegian who played for the club in two spells, between 1993-97 and between 2000-03, was sacked in December, after 10 matches in charge at Ewood Park and less than two months into a three-year deal.

Dynamo: Giles Barnes scored a 66th-minute equaliser to earn Houston Dynamo a 1-1 draw against the Colorado Rapids and extend their record unbeaten home run to 36 games. Drew Moor headed home a corner just before the break to put the Rapids ahead, but Barnes fired past Clint Irwin from a narrow angle to earn a point for the Dynamo. Houston have not lost in 36 matches at home overall and 30 in regular-season play.