Worldwide ban: FIFA has ruled that an Asian ban on North Korean goalkeeper Han Hye-yong should have worldwide effect. Han's one-year ban, imposed by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) after she kicked Italian referee Anna de Toni at the women's Asian Cup semi-final in July, will cover all matches. The AFC hit Han with the ban last month and also fined her $4,500 for violent conduct. China edged North Korea 1-0 in that semi-final.

Shevchenko: Ukrainian striker Andriy Shevchenko still has a high temperature and stayed behind in Kiev yesterday while the national squad flew to Italy for their weekend Euro 2008 qualifying match. Television station 1+1 quoted team officials as saying that the Chelsea player had a "worrying" condition with a temperature of 39 degrees. The report said the team would consider bringing him in only if he improved dramatically ahead of today's match.

Ref beaten up: Bulgarian referee Hristo Ristoskov is recovering in hospital after being beaten up by three masked men outside his home in the south-west town of Sandanski on Thursday night, police said. Ristoskov was in charge in the latest derby between Levski Sofia and their bitter city rivals CSKA last month when Levski won 1-0 thanks to a disputed penalty.

22nd coach: Swiss side FC Sion have appointed Marco Schaellibaum as their new coach, following the departure of Nestor Clausen. Argentina's Clausen told Swiss media he was unhappy with what he saw as interference in team matters by club president Christian Constantin. Schaellibaum will be the club's 22nd coach during Constantin's eight years in charge.

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