Bachini: Former Siena, Juventus and Italy midfielder Jonathan Bachini was been banned for life by the Italian Football League's disciplinary committee yesterday after he twice tested positive for cocaine. The 30-year-old, who made 13 top-flight appearances for Juventus between 1999 and 2001, was sacked by Siena after failing a drugs test at the end of a Serie A match against Lazio in December last year. He had previously served a one-year ban for testing positive for cocaine while playing with Brescia in September 2004.
Sofia derby: Italian Luca Palanca will referee Sunday's potentially volatile Sofia derby between Bulgarian Premier league leaders CSKA and Levski. It will be the third time a foreigner has taken charge of a domestic match in Bulgaria this season. German Franz-Xaver Wack officiated the league match between Litex Lovech and Levski, while compatriot Knut Kircher was in charge of the Cup game between CSKA and Litex. Palanca will be assisted by compatriots Andrea Consolo and Lorenzo Fornasin.
Mido: Tottenham Hotspur are negotiating personal terms to sign on-loan Egypt striker Mido permanently, manager Martin Jol said yesterday. Mido's agent Mino Raiola warned this week that Spurs were falling behind in the race to sign the bustling centre forward, who has scored 11 league goals this season, and added that he could even return to Roma who are looking for a big striker. However, Jol said: "I still feel that Mido wants to stay here and he likes it here so it's a matter of negotiating. He has got the right to talk to other clubs because he's on loan and we are talking to him as well."
Manchester United Tour: Manchester United will visit South Africa in July as part of their preparations for next season, the Premier League club announced yesterday. A 22-man squad will make the trip, although none of United's players appearing in the latter stages of this year's World Cup will be included. United will play three matches between July 13 and 22, with the venues and opponents still to be announced.
Tougher Punishment: Spain's government-run Anti-violence Commission has appealed for a tougher punishment for Atletico Madrid following the crowd trouble during their recent league match against Sevilla. Atletico were fined 3,000 euros by the Spanish FA (RFEF) after the incidents that caused the match to be stopped for for 40 minutes. The Anti-violence Commission said that they would appeal against the RFEF's decision.
Training Pitch: England's World Cup training pitch in Germany will be ripped up and re-laid with new turf after a FA inspection found the original surface sub-standard yesterday. Adrian Bevington, communications director of the FA, said that England's campaign needed top quality conditions which the sportsground pitch at Buhle near Baden Baden failed to reach.
Ref Strike Still On: Spanish referees say they have not yet called off the strike that threatens this weekend's league matches despite assurances from the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) that the action would not go ahead. "We the referees are the only ones that can call off the strike," referees' spokesman Eduardo Iturralde Gonzalez said. The referees said on Monday that they would not officiate at this weekend's matches if they were not paid their outstanding salary for the last two months.
Friendlies: Japan vs Ecuador 1-0; Mexico vs Paraguay 2-1.