Aragones: Spain's Anti-violence Commission has made a second appeal for tougher punishment to be taken against national coach Luis Aragones for remarks he made last year about Thierry Henry. The Commission said yesterday that it had taken the unanimous decision to appeal to Spain's Sporting Disciplinary Committee regarding the 3,000-euro fine given to Aragones after the Spanish FA upheld the original punishment. The government-run body said it wanted the coach to be handed a stiffer sanction.
Barthez: Olympique Marseille goalkeeper Fabien Barthez appears before the disciplinary committee of the French Football Federation (FFF) today charged with spitting at a referee. France keeper Barthez was reported for spitting at the Moroccan referee during a friendly match between Wydad Casablanca and Marseille in February. A brawl erupted on the pitch after Marseille defender Frederic Dehu was sent off and the match was abandoned with 10 minutes left.
Mutu: Chelsea have been given permission by the Premier League to seek compensation from former striker Adrian Mutu who they sacked in October for taking cocaine. The 26-year-old Romanian, serving a seven-month worldwide ban for his positive test, joined Juventus on a five-year contract in January. His ban expires on May 18. Chelsea are seeking to recoup some of the loss they made on Mutu, who joined from Parma for nearly £16 million in August 2003.
Kanoute: Tottenham Hotspur and Mali striker Frederic Kanoute says he is considering retiring from international football following the riots at last month's World Cup qualifier in Bamako. Kanoute was shocked by the scenes that followed a late Togo goal. The World Cup African zone Group One qualifier was abandoned in the final minute after crowds stormed the pitch. "It was the worst incident I have experienced but I was not scared," Kanoute said. "I felt more upset than scared."
French Cup: A goal in extra time gave Third Division amateurs Nimes a 4-3 home victory over Ligue 1 Sochaux and a place in the French Cup semi-finals yesterday. Striker Matthias Verschave scored the winner on 104 minutes with a little help from Sochaux goalkeeper Teddy Richert, who failed to catch his seemingly harmless deflected shot. Monaco and Second Division Sedan advanced to the last four with victories over Clermont and Grenoble on Tuesday. Other QF - Boulogne vs Auxerre 1-2 (aet).
Todd: Blackburn defender Andy Todd has denied a FA charge of violent conduct during Saturday's FA Cup semi-final defeat by Arsenal. Todd appeared to elbow Arsenal's Robin van Persie in the face immediately after the Dutch forward had scored his second goal in stoppage time to seal a 3-0 victory. The case will be heard by the FA's disciplinary commission today.
King's Cup: Semi-final (first leg) - Osasuna vs A. Madrid 1-0.
German Cup: Semi-final - A. Bielefeld vs Bayern Munich 0-2.
Friendly International: Estonia vs Norway 1-2.