Portugal's Pinto given indefinite ban by Fifa

World Cup in brief

Wednesday 19 June 2002 00:00 BST
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* The Portuguese forward João Pinto, who was sent off against South Korea, has been indefinitely suspended by Fifa's disciplinary committee. Football's world governing body said there were indications that Pinto had punched the referee, Angel Sanchez of Argentina, in the stomach when sent off for tackling a South Korean from behind in Friday's match, which the Koreans won 1-0, eliminating Portugal.

* The Newcastle manager, Bobby Robson, has confirmed that his club have made an approach for Rivaldo, but Lazio yesterday insisted that they have first refusal on Barcelona's 30-year-old playmaker– and that they are still maintaining an interest in the immediate future of Manchester United's Argentinian midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron. Rivaldo has one year remaining on his contract at the Nou Camp, but there have been disagreements between the Brazilian and Barcelona's Dutch coach, Louis van Gaal.

* Coventry's Swedish goalkeeper Magnus Hedman is to have talks with the Spanish side Espanyol, who claim to have an agreement to sign him for around £1m, writes Alan Nixon. Hedman had been valued at around £4m by Coventry, but his agents have negotiated his release at a lower level.

* The Sunderland manager, Peter Reid, is on the verge of giving Denmark's World Cup keeper Thomas Sorensen a new rival by signing his compatriot Stephan Andersen. Reid is close to a £750,000 deal for the under-21 international, who plays for Peter Schmeichel's old club, Hivodovre.

* The Cameroon international Marc-Vivien Foé, the 27-year-old former West Ham midfielder, yesterday completed his loan move from Lyon to Manchester City. The Maine Road club have the option of making the deal permanent at the end of the season.

* Three of Senegal's starters will miss training today and could miss more sessions ahead of the quarter-final against Turkey. Senegal plan two strenuous training sessions, and the coach, Bruno Metsu, intends to rest the right-back Ferdinand Coly, who has a swollen right knee, Aliou Cisse, who has a strained calf and the defender Pape Malick Diop, who has a twisted ankle. However, all three are expected to be fit for Saturday's quarter-final.

* Troyes' Michael Svensson is close to joining his Swedish compatriot, and namesake, Anders Svensson at Southampton. Svensson joined Troyes from Halmstad in September 2001 and has three years left on his contract.

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