Woerns: Borussia Dortmund defender Christian Woerns has been banned for four matches for elbowing Nuremberg striker Stefan Kiessling in the face last month. Woerns knocked Kiessling flat with an elbow that blindsided the Nuremberg striker as he was looking across the pitch for a pass in a match on April 22. The suspension means the Dortmund captain will miss the final two matches this season, against Eintracht Frankfurt tomorrow and at Bayern Munich on May 13, as well as the first two matches of next season.
Alves: Sevilla's Brazilian right-back Daniel Alves said yesterday that Spanish champions Barcelona were interested in signing him. "My president has told me there is an offer on the table from Barcelona as well as other options," Alves told reporters. "I would never close the doors on a move to another club but before any decision we would all have to talk to the president. I am very happy here." The versatile 22-year-old joined Sevilla in 2002 and is contracted until 2011.
Red Star: Red Star Belgrade president Dragan Stojkovic believes the Serbia champions can break into the Champions League group stage after winning their 24th league title and reaching the Cup final. "We've had a fantastic season," he said. "The club policy to sign a foreign manager and rely on young players has produced an excellent result and we are looking forward to next season in a bid to break into the Champions League." Former Italy goalkeeper Walter Zenga became the first foreign manager in Red Star's history when he took over last year.
Hughes: Manager Mark Hughes pledged his future to Blackburn Rovers yesterday after agreeing a new three-year contract with the Premier League club. Under the former Wales coach sixth-placed Blackburn have secured a place in next season's UEFA Cup. Hughes said: "I am excited by what is happening with Rovers and am very happy to pledge my future to the club. We have enjoyed a great season and I am looking forward to being part of the club's success going forward." Hughes, 42, became Rovers manager in September 2004 and they finished 15th last season.
Albright: Los Angeles Galaxy defender Chris Albright will replace injured Frankie Hejduk in the US squad for the World Cup. Columbus Crew's Hejduk, a member of the 1998 and 2002 World Cup squads, suffered a cruciate ligament injury at the weekend. A converted forward, Albright, 27, has one goal in 19 appearances for the US. These will be his first finals.
Klinsmann: Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann will announce his squad for the World Cup on May 15, the German FA announced yesterday. May 15 is deadline day for the 32 teams to name their 23-man squads, after FIFA rejected requests from some coaches, including Klinsmann, to put back the date to nearer the start of the June 9-July 9 tournament.
Warsaw Cup: Venus Williams battled to a dramatic 4-6 7-5 6-4 victory over Martina Hingis yesterday to reach the quarter-finals of the Warsaw Cup. Williams, who has been taking medication for a throat infection, suffered cramps in the final set and could barely move at the end. Hingis had every opportunity to win the two hour 38-minute battle and the nightmare of her struggle to get the better of the Williams sisters, which many in the game believe played a part in her retirement in 2002, re-emerged.
MFA soccer: BoV Div III League - Ta' Xbiex vs Luqa St Andrews 1-5; Xghajra T. vs Zurrieq 1-2.