Cagliari win appeal: Cagliari moved off the bottom of Serie A yesterday when the Sardinian side won an appeal over three points deducted because of a legal wrangle. The Italian Soccer Federation (FIGC) docked the points this month after the club took unauthorised legal action against a former player for alleged defamation. Cagliari are now joint third from bottom alongside Livorno with 28 points from 30 games.

Minute silence: France held a minute's silence before yesterday's friendly against England as a mark of respect for a French TV commentator who died on Tuesday. Thierry Gilardi, the main football commentator at French channel TF1, died after suffering a heart attack aged 49.

Gretna: Debt-ridden Scottish Premier League team Gretna have made nine senior players redundant and cut the youth programme, the club said. Gretna are already doomed to relegation in their first season in the top flight after losing 10 of their 16 points as punishment for going into administration with debts of about £4 million earlier this month.

Donadoni: Italy coach Roberto Donadoni will not be distracted by uncertainty over his future with the world champions. "I'm not looking around (for other jobs), I'm focusing on the European Championships. Let's leave the future to the imponderable," he told Rai television.

Ronaldo: Milan's Brazilian striker Ronaldo said that he has walked without crutches for the first time since February's surgery on a career-threatening knee injury and is recovering well. "I'm really happy with the way things are going and the fact that I am no longer in pain," he said.

Nigeria: Nigeria became the final men's soccer team to qualify for the Beijing Olympics when they beat South Africa 3-0 in a qualifying match. Nigeria qualified for the Beijing Games with eight points ahead of Ghana, who finished their matches on seven. Nigeria won gold at the 1996 Atlanta Games.

In Gozo: GFA Division One - Victoria H. vs Kercem 1-2. Division Two - Zebbug vs Oratory 0-1.