SAN SIRO: Milan will host Udinese on Oct 19. with the San Siro stadium open to fans after the FIGC suspended the ruling that the club must play one match behind closed doors. A fine of €50,000, imposed for “territorially discriminating” chants, has also been suspended pending further investigations.

WRONG SOCKS: Germany midfielder Mario Goetze caused a stir ahead of their World Cup qualifier against Ireland last night after briefly donning his own sponsor’s socks instead of those of the team’s official supplier. “There is the free choice for shoes here with us, so such actions should not happen,” said Germany team manager Oliver Bierhoff. “It is annoying.” Adidas has sponsored the national team for decades and Goetze has a personal deal with Nike.

GOMIS: Morgaro Gomis has joined Dundee United for a second time. The 27-year-old midfielder, who was a free agent after leaving Birmingham in the summer, has signed a deal until May 2014.

MARTIN: Lille playmaker Marvin Martin underwent knee surgery this week and will be out of action for four to six weeks, the French club said. The France international, who won the last of his 15 caps in August last year, had to be replaced before half-time during the 3-0 home victory over Ajaccio in Ligue 1 last weekend because of a painful right knee. The 25-year-old Martin has struggled to live up to expectations since he joined Lille last year from Sochaux for a club record fee of €10 million.

MERLO: Reinaldo Merlo, the last coach to lead Racing Club to the Argentine league title in 2001, was appointed yesterday to steer them out of the bottom of the standings. Merlo is Racing’s third coach of the season, taking charge when they have two points from 10 games in the ‘Inicial’ championship, their worst start since the introduction of two 19-match tournaments per season in 1991.

Results

Friendlies: France vs Australia 6-0; Serbia vs Japan 2-0.

UEFA U-21: Wales vs Lithuania 2-0; Bulgaria vs Russia 3-3; Denmark vs Slovenia 2-2; Germany vs Montenegro 2-0; Romania vs Ireland 0-0; Turkey vs Greece 1-0; N. Ireland vs Belgium 0-1; Cyprus vs Serbia 2-1.

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