Croatia: Croatia manager Slaven Bilic has dropped three key players after finding out they partied in a nightclub ahead of the Euro 2008 qualifier against Russia. Bilic expelled right winger Darijo Srna of Shakhtar Donetsk, CSKA Moscow striker Ivica Olic and Club Bruges attacker Bosko Balaban. The squad spent last week at their regular training camp in nearby Slovenia, but the three sneaked out on Saturday to visit a nightclub in Zagreb, some 25km away. They were spotted by journalists after a brawl among other guests brought the police to the scene, the television said. Croatia play Russia in Moscow on Wednesday.
Sanctions: Sweden's FA has docked Hammarby three points for a pitch invasion which led to last Monday's match against Stockholm rivals Djurgarden being abandoned. Djurgarden, who were fined 15,000 swedish crowns ($2,063), were awarded the match and three points. Several Hammarby fans were arrested after invading the pitch 17 minutes into the second half of the Stockholm derby on August 28 with Djurgarden leading 3-0. In addition to losing three points, Hammarby, third in Sweden's top league before the decision, were fined 200,000 Swedish crowns ($27,510).
Ferguson: Scotland captain Barry Ferguson has played his first match for Rangers in five months following ankle surgery, the Glasgow club said. The midfielder turned out in a closed doors game with Dundee on Saturday at Rangers's Murray Park training ground. Ferguson had extensive ankle surgery late last season, but a heel problem put back his recovery for five weeks at the start of this campaign. Without skipper Ferguson Scotland recorded their biggest win for 37 years when they beat the Faroe Islands 6-0 in their opening Euro 2008 qualifier at Celtic Park on Saturday.
Bulgaria: Bulgaria coach Hristo Stoichkov called up Lokomotiv Plovdiv goalkeeper Stoian Kolev yesterday to replace the injured Georgi Petkov in his squad for the Euro 2008 Group G qualifier against Slovenia on Wednesday. Levski Sofia's Petkov received a kick in the head during Saturday's 2-2 draw against Romania and will not recover in time to play against Slovenia. Doctors did not allow him to make the return flight with his team-mates and he will be driven back to Bulgaria.
African Nations Cup: Angola are regarded as slight favourites to win hosting rights for the 2010 African Nations Cup finals when the Confederation of African Football (CAF) convene to make their decision in Cairo today. Angola, surprise qualifiers for this year's World Cup finals in Germany, are seeking to become the first Portuguese-speaking country to host Africa's biennial championship. They face stiff competition, however, from Libya, Nigeria and a joint bid from Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.
¤ Two-time Olympic decathlon gold medallist Bob Mathias has passed away at the age of 75, the US Olympic Committee said in a statement. The American, who at 17 became the youngest Olympic champion in a track and field event at the 1948 London Games, died at his home in Fresno, California, on Saturday. Mathias won his second gold at the 1952 Helsinki Games. He and Britain's Daley Thompson (1980-84) are the only men to win back-to-back Olympic titles in the two-day, 10-event competition.