Abandoned match: Police are investigating the incident which put a Scottish second division player in hospital and led to the match between Hamilton and Clyde being abandoned yesterday. Hamilton defender Ross McCabe, 18, was taken from the pitch by ambulance after being caught in the throat by the studs of an opponent. Hamilton secretary Scott Struthers said: "Ross is sitting up. It was extremely worrying especially when the ambulance drove on to the pitch. The referee, Charlie Richmond, took the players off the park... he spoke with the chairmen of the clubs and police and abandoned the game after 80 minutes." The match ended 3-3 and is due to be replayed a week on Tuesday.
Player dies: A minor league player died after collapsing during a Conference North game yesterday. Home side Harrogate Town confirmed the death of Hinkley United defender Matt Gadsby. The Conference North is two rungs below the Football League.
Match-fixing charges: Vietnamese police have charged eight players, including seven internationals, in connection with match-fixing at last year's south-east Asian Games. The players would face trial for their part in rigging a game against Myanmar in Manila last December. Gambling is illegal in Vietnam, although widespread police corruption allows underground betting rings to flourish. The players were allegedly paid 500 million dong ($31,000) each to fix the game, and are believed to have used their money to place bets on their team beating Myanmar 1-0.
Fans' help: Stung by a series of disastrous World Cup qualifying campaigns, Thailand is turning to its soccer-mad fans for help in taking the team to the 2010 finals. The Thai government launched a campaign last week asking fans how Thailand could join Asian powers such as Japan and South Korea in reaching the finals for the first time in South Africa in 2010. The sport attracts a fanatical following in the kingdom, with millions glued to their televisions to catch international matches. But the domestic game is struggling to get off the ground, with club teams playing in near-empty stadiums.
Lopez Caro: Levante coach Juan Ramon Lopez Caro is relishing the chance to upset his former club Real Madrid when the two sides meet in the Primera Liga today. "I am a little more motivated than usual," he said. Lopez Caro was promoted from coach of Real's reserves to take charge of the first team after Vanderlei Luxemburgo was sacked in December last year. He led them to second spot behind Barcelona in the Primera Liga but was given no assurances that he would continue in the post.