Catania appeal: Catania have appealed against Marco Materazzi being allowed to play in Inter's 2-0 win over the Sicilians on Sunday, the Italian league said in a statement. Catania say rules were broken because the defender played despite skipping Italy's 3-1 friendly win over Portugal last week because of injury. No sanction is likely.
Dede: Borussia Dortmund defender Dede was suspended for four matches by the Bundesliga yesterday. Dede got the ban after the Brazilian international was sent off in the 76th minute for a foul on Schalke 04's Ivan Rakitic.
Inter: Inter technical director Marco Branca has acknowledged the league leaders have had several refereeing decisions go their way recently. "The match official can make mistakes, if the error ends up being decisive for us, what can we do?," he said on a radio programme. "The controversies disturb us and we don't like them."
Angel in squad: Villarreal full-back Angel has been included in the squad for TOday's UEFA Cup tie away to Zenit St Petersburg despite sustaining a knee injury during Spain's 1-0 win over France last week. "I'm still not completely recovered, but I'm hoping that things will continue to improve and that I'll be able to play, Angel said.
Serra Ferrer sacked: AEK Athens have sacked Spanish coach Lorenzo Serra Ferrer, according to Greek media reports yesterday. His assistant Nikos Kostenoglou has been put in temporary charge for today's UEFA Cup third round first leg tie at home to Spanish club Getafe, said the reports. Serra Ferrer, former coach of Real Betis, took over at AEK in 2006. The Athens club have slipped to third in the Super League after losing their last two games. AEK have 42 points from 20 matches, two points behind Olympiakos Piraeus and four adrift of leaders Panathinaikos.
Nuremberg: Bundesliga strugglers Nuremberg appointed Thomas von Heesen as their coach on Tuesday, on a contract running until 2009. Nuremberg, German Cup winners last season, fired Hans Meyer on Monday after the club slipped to third from bottom in the Bundesliga table. Von Heesen quit as coach of Arminia Bielefeld this time last year. His first game in charge of Nuremberg will be against Benfica in the UEFA Cup tomorrow.
Snooker: Welsh Open First round - Swail vs Trump 2-5; Dale vs McManus 2-5; Fu vs Gunnell 5-3. Second round - Robertson vs Cope 5-1; Selby vs Harold 5-1; Day vs Allen 5-2; Dott vs Judge 4-5; Davis vs King 5-3.