Santander fined: Racing Santander have been fined an unspecified sum by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) after a group of fans subjected Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o to racist abuse during a league match on Sunday. The RFEF refused to reveal the size of the fine, but Spanish media suggested that it was likely to be in the region of €6,000.

World Cup: Several German amateur soccer teams may have to leave their grounds a month before the end of the season to allow new turf to be laid for the World Cup starting on June 9. Twenty six of the 32 World Cup finalists picked hotels in Germany near training grounds that are now being used by amateur teams in regional leagues whose season run into late May. The English FA said last month that their training pitch at Buhle near Baden-Baden will be ripped up and re-laid with new turf after they found the original surface to be sub-standard.

First female linesman: Nelly Viennot of France could become the first female linesman at a World Cup if she passes fitness and skills tests, FIFA officials said yesterday. The 44-year-old, who became the first woman to run the line in France's first division in 1996, is one of 82 candidates for 60 places at the tournament in Germany.

Meola: Goalkeeper Tony Meola made his 100th international appearance for the US in a 1-1 friendly draw with Jamaica on Tuesday. Meola had not played for his country since 2002 but US coach Bruce Arena, using the Jamaica fixture as a final run-out for domestic players before naming his World Cup roster, saw the game as a fitting opportunity to honour him. He becomes the first US keeper and ninth American, to achieve the milestone.

Dahlin: Blackburn Rovers have lost a High Court battle to win multi-million pound damages over a career-ending back injury to Swedish striker Martin Dahlin. The Premier League club sued their insurers Avon Insurance who had refused to pay out after Dahlin's career was cut short in 1999. A judge ruled yesterday that on the balance of evidence Dahlin, now a football agent, "probably" had a pre-existing condition and denied a claim for £4 millions.