Beckham: David Beckham will be unavailable for England's tour match against the United States on Saturday because Real Madrid want him to continue training with the club despite being suspended for their final game of the season. The England captain incurred his suspension after being booked for a foul in Real's 0-0 draw against city rivals Atletico Madrid on Saturday and it was thought he would be allowed to join his international colleagues for the start of their US tour.
Porto: New Porto coach Co Adriaanse has promised to win back the Portuguese title after the club missed out to arch-rivals Benfica this season. The Dutchman, who was appointed on Monday, also said his team would achieve that goal by playing attractive soccer. "I can promise two things," he said. "The first is to win and clinch the title next season and the second is that the team will play very technical, attractive soccer," he said yesterday. Adriaanse, who guided AZ Alkmaar to the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup, has signed a two-year contract with the northern club.
Fletcher: Scotland's Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher is an injury doubt for next week's World Cup qualifier against Moldova at Hampden Park. Fletcher has been playing with a slight hamstring strain, but had to be replaced by Ryan Giggs in last Saturday's FA Cup final defeat by Arsenal in Cardiff. Walter Smith's first home game in charge as manager will be followed four days later by a qualifier against Belarus in Minsk as Scotland try to keep their hopes of a runners-up slot alive.
Eto'o: Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o has been fined €12,000 ($15,120) by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) for insulting his former club Real Madrid during his team's title celebrations on May 15. The 24-year-old Cameroon international chanted "Madrid, cabron, saluda al campeon" (Madrid, bastards, hail the champions) into the microphone during a speech at the Nou Camp. Many of the 100,000 fans at the stadium to celebrate the club's first league title in six years joined in the chorus.
Red Star stunned: Zeleznik Belgrade secured their first Serbia and Montenegro Cup after a dramatic 1-0 win against holders Red Star Belgrade yesterday. The unfancied side from the outskirts of Serbia's capital stunned the former European Cup winners with a last-minute header from striker Dejan Radjenovic, who took advantage of slack marking after the ball bounced across the face of goal. The result gives Zeleznik a UEFA Cup berth.