Referee suspended: Germany's FA (DFB) suspended a second referee on "urgent suspicion" of involvement in match-fixing yesterday, while ordering a second division match rigged by Robert Hoyzer to be replayed. The DFB revealed on February 3 that referee Dominik Marks was suspected of having fixed two matches in the second division and regional league after being implicated by Hoyzer, the 25-year-old Berlin-based official at the centre of the scandal. The DFB also decided that the second division match between Ahlen and Burghausen on October 22, 2004 would have to be replayed. Ahlen won the match 1-0 after Hoyzer rigged the result.
Keeper Dies: Thabet el-Batal, the former Egypt keeper and manager of champions Al Ahli died on Monday after a long struggle against cancer. He was 52. El-Batal, a non-playing member of Egypt's squad in the 1990 World Cup finals in Italy, was Al Ahli's manager from 1995 to 2000 when the club won five successive titles and the Egyptian Cup once. They clinched this season's title again at the weekend just before his death.
Ricksen: Rangers midfielder Fernando Ricksen has agreed an extension to his contract with the Scottish Premier League club until 2009. "The fact the club did not accept a good offer for me in January (from Everton) showed their commitment to me as a player and I now want to show my commitment to Rangers in return," Ricksen told the Rangers website.
60-day ban: Sao Paulo's volatile coach Emerson Leao has been handed a 60-day touchline ban for criticising a referee. Brazil's 1974 and 1978 World Cup goalkeeper was suspended following his behaviour during and after the 2-2 draw with Uniao Barbarense in the Paulista championship 10 days ago. Leao launched an angry attack on referee Salvio Spinola after his team threw away a two-goal lead in the last 15 minutes. "We haven't been given a penalty in more than 30 matches. That can't be right. When referees make mistakes, they should be punished for them," he said.
In England: The Championship - Crewe vs Burnley 1-1. League One - Torquay vs Peterborough 2-1; Hartlepool vs Luton 2-3; Colchester vs Bournemouth 3-1. League Two - Wycombe vs Scunthorpe 2-1; Notts County vs Northampton 0-0.
In Scotland: Scottish Premier - Motherwell vs Hibernian 1-1. FA Cup Fourth round replay - Clyde vs Ross County 2-1 (aet). Division Three - East Fife vs East Stirling 1-0.