Rui Costa: A private jet carrying former Portugal international Manuel Rui Costa and his wife was forced to make an emergency landing at Milan's Malpensa airport yesterday after the plane's undercarriage failed to open. No one was hurt in the incident but the airport was closed for almost an hour to let the emergency services clear the runway.
No Take-Off: Paraguay have been left grounded in Ecuador following Sunday's World Cup qualifier after their chartered plane broke down yet again. The team's return home following their 5-2 defeat had been delayed for at least 24 hours because of an engine problems in their Boeing 707. The Paraguayans also had problems on the outward journey when the pilot noticed a cracked windscreen in the cockpit shortly after take-off and decided to return to Asuncion.
Barthez: Fabien Barthez's likely ban for spitting at a referee will distort the French Ligue 1 title race, Marseille coach Philippe Troussier says. "A suspension would distort the championship because he's a key player in our line-up," said Troussier. The French national keeper must appear before the disciplinary committee of the French football federation on April 7 to explain his actions during a friendly in February between Marseille and Wydad Casablanca in which he spat at the referee. Marseille trail leaders Lyon by 11 points with eight matches to play.
Extra Shin Pads: Uruguay have warned Brazil striker Ronaldo to wear lots of shin pads when he faces them in today's World Cup qualifier. Coach Jorge Fossati said: "None of us are daft enough to think that he's going through a bad patch and therefore we don't have to be careful with him," Fossati said. "If he plays, then he should wear lots of shin pads because it's going to be tough for him."
Watford: English second division club Watford named 34-year-old Adrian Boothroyd as their new boss yesterday. Boothroyd becomes the youngest manager of a Premier League or Football League side, having turned 34 last month. He is several months younger than Fulham's Chris Coleman and Notts County's Ian Richardson, who are also 34.
UEFA U-21 Qualifiers: Netherlands vs Armenia 0-0; Ukraine vs Denmark 0-1; Georgia vs Turkey 0-2; Greece vs Albania 2-0; Slovakia vs Portugal 0-1; Latvia vs Luxembourg 2-1; Israel vs France 3-2; Switzerland vs Cyprus 3-0; Moldova vs Norway 1-3; Slovenia vs Belarus 1-4; Austria vs Wales 2-0; England vs Azerbaijan 2-0; Serbia vs Spain 1-0; Bosnia vs Lithuania 2-0; San Marino vs Belgium 0-4; Hungary vs Bulgaria 1-0.
In England: League One - Huddersfield vs Sheffield Wed. 1-0. League Two - Yeovil vs N. County 1-3.
Friendlies: Ireland vs China 1-0; Australia vs Indonesia 3-0.