Ref quits: A Bulgarian referee refused to take charge of the second half of a friendly match between Bulgaria's CSKA Sofia and Tunisia's Sfaxien on Tuesday after a first-half brawl. Tsvetan Georgiev, one of the most respected referees in the Bulgarian premier league, sent three players off in a tempestuous first half which he brought to a close three minutes before the standard 45 minutes were up. The match resumed, with CSKA assistant coach Angel Chervenkov acting as referee and volunteers taking over as linesmen. CSKA won 3-1.

Johnson: Chelsea full-back Glen Johnson has joined Portsmouth on a season's loan. Johnson, 21, was Chelsea's first signing following the club's takeover by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich in July, 2003. He arrived from West Ham United for six million pounds.

Moggi: The man at the centre of the Italy's worst soccer scandal in a generation said he had been "crucified" by the media and found guilty even before the start of a trial involving him, 25 others and four clubs. Luciano Moggi said he had become a scapegoat for a sport which was under the influence of many vested interests. "Look, I'm not a saint but I've not been in the company of angels," Moggi said. Juve risk being thrown out of Serie A if charges stick at a sports tribunal which begins at Rome's Olympic Stadium today.

Marquez: Barcelona's Mexico defender Rafael Marquez signed a contract extension with the European and Spanish champions, which will keep him with the club until 2010. The buy-out clause on his contract has been set at 100 million euros. Marquez joins eight other players who have had their contracts set until 2010: Xavi, Carles Puyol, Victor Valdes, Andres Iniesta, Ronaldinho, Samuel Eto'o, Deco and Lionel Messi.