Swift: Brentford have extended midfielder John Swift’s loan from Chelsea for a further month. The England Under-20 international has made four appearances for the Bees since joining from Stamford Bridge on October 3 – scoring his one and only goal in Saturday’s 3-0 win at Charlton. The extension of his deal will keep him at Griffin Park until January 3.
Levante: Levante have appointed Joan Francesc Ferrer Sicilia as their new manager after the club terminated the contract of Lucas Alcaraz on Sunday. Sicilia, also known as Rubi, joins the club in the wake of Levante’s 4-0 home defeat against Real Sociedad, their fifth of the season, which left the Valencia-based club bottom of La Liga. Last season Rubi led Real Valladolid to the Segunda play-offs. His first managerial role was at Espanyol in 2005 where he led the B team to promotion from Division B.
Doping: Young Argentine forward Brian Fernandez has been banned for two years, the second year suspended, for doping at a Libertadores Cup match. The 21-year-old Racing Club player tested positive for cocaine after a group stage match against Wanderers of Uruguay in South America’s top club competition. Fernandez was provisionally suspended in July until confirmation of the sanction yesterday, which allows him to resume playing in July 2016.
Socceroos: Skipper Mile Jedinak and goalkeeper Mat Ryan have returned to Australia’s squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Kyrgyzstan and Bangladesh. Jedinak and Ryan missed Australia’s wins over Bangladesh and Tajikistan and the loss to Jordan due to injuries. Australia, who have a game in hand, are currently second in Group B, four points behind leaders Jordan.
Oikonomou: Bologna central defender Marios Oikonomou will be out of action for up to a month after sustaining a thigh injury just before Monday night’s Serie A match at home to Inter which the latter won 1-0. Oikonomou pulled out during the warm-up with pain in his thigh. Bologna said yesterday scans highlighted a Grade I lesion to the left femoral bicep.
Football results
English League Cup
Last 16: Liverpool vs Bournemouth 1-0; Man. City vs C. Palace 5-1; Southampton vs Aston Villa 2-1; Man. United vs M’Boro 0-0 (aet; M’Boro win 3-1 on pens).
Quarter-final draw: M’Boro vs Everton; Southampton vs Liverpool; Stoke vs Sheff. Wed.; Man. City vs Hull. ( Ties to be played week beginning Nov. 30.)
German Cup
Second round: B. Dortmund vs Paderborn 7-1; Freiburg vs Augsburg 0-3; Sandhausen vs Heidenheim 0-0 (aet Heidenheim win 4-3 on pens); V. Koln vs B. Leverkusen 0-6; Schalke 04 vs B. M’gladbach 0-2; W. Bremen vs Cologne 1-0; Carl Zeis Jena vs Stuttgart 0-2; Reutlingen vs E. Braunschweig 0-4.
Spanish King’s Cup
Last 32, first leg: Villanovense vs Barcelona 0-0.
Scottish League Cup
Quarter-final: Hearts vs Celtic 1-2.
French League Cup
Dijon vs Reims 2-1; Bourg en Bresse vs Nantes 3-2 (aet); Caen vs Nice 1-2; Lille vs Troyes 2-1; Lorient vs Montpellier 3-2; Toulouse vs Auxerre 3-3 (aet; Toulouse win 2-1 on pens).