Santos keeper: Santos goalkeeper Fabio Costa has been banned for seven matches for making obscene gestures to the team's supporters during a game and getting into a fight with a group of them afterwards. Santos said the keeper had faced a maximum ban of 840 days. The incidents happened during the 1-1 draw at home to Fluminense on September 20. Costa was jeered after his blunder led to Fluminense's goal.
Portugal: Winger Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Portugal beat Azerbaijan 3-0 in their Euro 2008 Group A qualifier late on Saturday. It was Portugal's first win in two qualifiers following a 1-1 draw in Finland last month. They meet Poland away on Wednesday.
Kuhn: Switzerland coach Koebi Kuhn has confirmed he will step down following the 2008 European soccer championship. "I have promised my wife that I'll call it a day after Euro 2008," the 62-year-old said. Kuhn is set to become the first coach to lead Switzerland to three consecutive major tournaments, with the Swiss having already qualified for Euro 2008 as co-hosts. Under Kuhn, the national team qualified for both the 2004 European Championship and this year's World Cup.
Klinsmann: Former Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann has received "serious" offers to coach from Mexico and the US, a Klinsmann adviser said yesterday. Roland Eitel said it was still unclear whether Klinsmann would return to the sidelines. "Juergen has enough work to do right now," Eitel said, noting he had two years worth of work to catch up on at his California firm Soccer Solutions. Eitel said Klinsmann is also analysing training and match data from his two years as coach.
Benayoun: Israel coach Dror Kashtan yesterday praised his injured captain Yossi Benayoun for his bravery and commitment following the 1-1 draw with Russia in Moscow. West Ham midfielder Benayoun was in far from sparkling form in the match but said he was willing to risk his fitness to help Israel's cause in attempting to qualify for a first major tournament since the 1970 World Cup finals. "The number of injections he received... I don't think there has been anything like it," Kashtan said. Benayoun is suffering from a calf injury.
Friendly: South Korea vs Ghana 1-3.
Serie A Fixtures - Saturday: 6 p.m. Sampdoria vs Milan. 8.30 p.m. Siena vs Messina.
Sunday: 3 p.m. Ascoli vs Livorno; Empoli vs Fiorentina; Inter vs Catania; Palermo vs Atalanta; Parma vs Udinese; Reggina vs Roma; Torino vs Chievo. 8.30 p.m. - Lazio vs Cagliari.
In England
English League One: Brighton vs Blackpool 0-3; Port Vale vs Rotherham 1-3.
English League Two: Grimsby vs Hereford 2-1.