By Xinhua
Madrid : English soccer mid-fielder David Beckham will be able to play with his Real Madrid team against Sevilla Sunday after his yellow card was annulled.
The Spanish League’s Appeals Committee decided Thursday to annul the yellow card Beckham received in the game they won 4-1 against Athletic de Bilbao almost a week ago.
Beckham received his fifth caution card for asking referee Muniz Fernandez to set back opposing players before kicking the ball. Real Madrid’s coach Fabio Capello recovers his best stationary-ball player to play against Sevilla, their direct rivals for the championship. Six games before the end of the tournament, Real Madrid hold third place with 60 points, behind Sevilla (61) and FC Barcelona (62).
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Flamengo fires Brazilian Juninho
Rio de Janeiro: Brazilian soccer star Juninho Paulista has been fired by Flamengo after a row with coach Ney Franco, the soccer club said.
The former Atletico Madrid and Middlesbrough striker, who was in Brazil’s 2002 World Cup winning squad, reacted angrily after being substituted during Wednesday’s 3-0 defeat by Defensor Sporting in Uruguay.
Juninho, who last week complained about being left on the bench, was given a rare start in the Libertadores Cup third-round, first-leg tie in Montevideo.
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Anti-doping officials seek ban on Flachi
Rome: Anti-doping officials have asked for a two-year ban against Sampdoria forward Francesco Flachi for failing a drugs test in January. Flachi, 32, tested positive for a metabolite of cocaine after an Italian Serie A soccer game with Inter Milan.
Italy’s Olympic Committee said on its website that a two-year ban was being sought and that it had referred the matter to the Italian soccer federation.
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UEFA fine Osasuna and Rangers
Geneva: Osasuna of Spain and Rangers of Scotland were fined for incidents during a prequarter-final match in the UEFA Cup. Osasuna was fined $61,260 by UEFA’s disciplinary board for “serious deficiencies in the organisation of the game as well as for the improper conduct of their supporters”. Rangers was fined $16,335 for improper conduct by fans, which included singing a sectarian song. Both clubs have three days to appeal.
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Zambian minister wants football to flourish
Lusaka: Zambian Youth Sport and Child Development Minister Gabriel has said the recruitment of national soccer team players must be extended to rural areas.
Zambia News and Information Services quoted him as saying that the rural areas have talented players capable of bringing glory to Zambia.