Protest: Hard-core fans of Czech soccer club Sparta Prague skipped the Europa League match with Apoel Nicosia yesterday in protest over European clubs’ plan to donate one euro ($1.12) from every ticket sold to aid migrants arriving to Europe. The Ultras Sparta fan legion said on its Facebook page that the group “after long debate decided to distance itself” from the match because of the decision concerning help for refugees “momentarily flooding the old continent”.
Heart attack: Persepolis skipper and former Iran forward Hadi Norouzi died yesterday after suffering a heart attack in his sleep, the state-run Press TV said. He was 30. Norouzi was rushed from his home to a Tehran hospital in the early hours of the morning but died shortly afterwards, the outlet said. Norouzi joined Iran’s biggest club in 2000, representing the youth teams before making his first team debut in 2008 and going on to make a handful of appearances for the national team under former coach Afshin Ghotbi.
Diarra: Olympique Marseille midfielder Lassana Diarra will make a return to France‘s national team this month for two friendly games against Armenia and Denmark, manager Didier Deschamps said yesterday. Diarra, nicknamed “Lass”, has not played for France since 2010 when he was forced to leave the squad for medical purposes. France, who host next year’s European Championship, will play Armenia on Oct. 8 and Denmark three days later.
Apology: Benfica have apologised for the behaviour of some supporters at Wednesday’s Champions League match at Atletico Madrid. A handful of the Portuguese club’s followers lit flares in their section of the Vicente Calderon during the game - and some were thrown. A tweet from the club read: “The actions of a minority of supporters are not endorsed by Benfica. We sent sincere apologies to Atleti and their fans.”
Butcher: Manager Terry Butcher has left Sky Bet League Two strugglers Newport with immediate effect. The south Wales outfit are rooted to the bottom of the table after winning only one of their opening 10 league games. Butcher, a former England international, only joined the club in April but he will be followed out of the exit door by his assistant manager Russell Osman and the club’s chief scout Steve Marsella.
Div. One
This weekend’s fixtures from the BOV Division One:
Today: (Centenary Stadium) 7.30pm Lija Athletic vs Fgura United.
Tomorrow: (Centenary Stadium) 3pm San Gwann vs Vittoriosa Stars; 5.15pm Pieta H. vs Gzira United.
Sunday: (Centenary Stadium) 3pm Melita vs Rabat Ajax; 5.15pm Zebbug vs Senglea Athletic. (Tedesco Stadium) 3pm Mqabba vs St George’s; 5.15pm Hamrun Spartans vs Gudja.
Standings
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Gżira United | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 9 |
| Senglea | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 7 |
| Żebbuġ | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 7 |
| Rabat Ajax | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| Fgura United | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 4 |
| Pietà | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Ħamrun | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 4 |
| St George’s | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Gudja United | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 3 |
| Lija | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 3 |
| Melita | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 3 |
| San Ġwann | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 2 |
| Vittoriosa | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| Mqabba | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 1 |