Probe: UEFA has opened an investigation into acts of vandalism by Sevilla supporters during a Champions League qualifying match against Braga in August. UEFA “has opened an investigation to clarify the incident which might result in strong sanctions against Sevilla,” the Spanish club said. Sevilla said it would pay for any damage caused, which included several seats that were broken in the area for the visiting fans.
Rajevac: Serb Milovan Rajevac has quit his job as coach of Ghana. Rajevac, whose two-year contract had come to its end, told the federation that he was “no longer interested in carrying on the adventure with Ghana”. The 56-year-old guided the “Black Stars” to the final of the Africa Cup in 2010 and the quarter-finals of the World Cup.
Bakero: Spanish coach Jose Bakero has left Polish top-flight side Polonia Warsaw, with former Poland manager Pawel Janas being tipped to re-place him. Bakero, 47, joined Polonia at the end of 2009 and helped them stave off relegation.
Baird: Fulham defender Chris Baird has signed a new deal running until the summer of 2013. The Northern Ireland international, who was signed from Southampton in the summer of 2007, played a key role as Fulham fought their way to the Europa League final last season.
Arsenal: Arsenal will be without defender Thomas Vermaelen (achilles) and midfielder Abou Diaby (ankle) for their Champions League Group H opener at home to Braga today. But winger Samir Nasri has recovered from knee surgery, while full-backs Gael Clichy and Bacary Sagna are expected to return after being rested for the win over Bolton in the Premier League last weekend.
Ferguson: Preston North End manager Darren Ferguson was charged with misconduct by the FA following Saturday’s Cham-pionship loss away to Burnley. Ferguson, the son of Manchester United boss Sir Alex, has been charged with improper conduct aggravated by insulting referee Kevin Friend in the tunnel following Preston’s 4-3 loss at Turf Moor.
The Championship: Barnsley vs Leeds 5-2; Bristol City vs Watford 0-2; Doncaster vs Norwich 3-1; Hull City vs Derby 2-0; Ipswich vs QPR 0-3; Leicester vs Cardiff 2-1; M’Boro vs Burnley 2-1; Millwall vs Reading 0-0; Preston vs Notts Forest 1-2; Sheffield Utd vs Scunthorpe 0-4; Swansea vs Coventry City 2-1; Crystal Palace vs Portsmouth 4-1.
Division II/III KO: Żebbuġ Rangers vs Pembroke Athleta 4-2; Birżebbuġa St Peter’s vs Siġġiewi 2-4.
Boxing: England’s former WBC super middleweight champion Carl Froch’s eagerly-awaited bout in the Super Six World Classic series with German Arthur Abraham was postponed this week because the Englishman has a back injury. The 33-year-old was set to fight the Armenia-born Abraham in Monaco on October 2 but after suffering the injury he has been told he needs three weeks of complete rest.
Cricket: The International Cricket Council will seek to engage governments in its bid to tackle corruption in the sport, according to chief executive Haroon Lorgat. In a statement after a meeting of the ICC Chief Executives’ Committee in Cape Town yesterday, the ICC said the committee had recommended a wide-ranging and, if necessary, independent review of the current anti-corruption measures. Lorgat said a review of procedures and protocols was already under way.
Cycling: French rider Mickael Larpe has been handed a two-year ban by the French cycling federation after testing positive for banned blood booster EPO. The positive test dates back to March 20, l’Equipe said, adding that the 25-year-old Roubaix-Lille Metropole team member had appealed the ruling.
Swimming: World sport’s top court cleared Australia swimmer Ryan Napoleon to compete in October’s Commonwealth Games, as it decided to bring forward a doping ban on the swimmer. “Ryan Napoleon is sanctioned with a three-month period of ineligibility commencing on June 15, 2010,” said the CAS. Swimming Australia had imposed a three-month ban on Napoleon starting from August, which had meant that he would be forced to sit out the New Delhi meet. The swimmer was sanctioned after he tested positive for formoterol, a common asthma medication.