SOCCER: Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has been banned for two Champions League matches following his sending-off against Villarreal for sarcastically applauding referee Kim Milton Nielsen.
The 19-year-old England international, who has recently had his temperament questioned after appearing to argue with David Beckham during the defeat to Northern Ireland, will miss the games against Benfica and Lille.
A statement from Uefa read: "Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney will miss the club's next two Uefa Champions League matches after his sending-off at Villarreal."
Rooney was initially cautioned by Nielsen in the 64th minute during the opening round of Champions League group matches, but he received a second yellow card for clapping in the official's face.
"The referee considered this dissent and also reported in his post-match report that Rooney swore at him as he left the field," the Uefa statement added.
United may contest the referee's accusation of swearing, and an appeal must be lodged with Uefa officials by midnight on Friday.
UEFA's control and disciplinary body issued a statement that read: "It is beyond any doubt that Wayne Rooney committed several disciplinary offences, notably by taking two yellow cards resulting in a red card, as well as by displaying unsporting conduct. As a result, it is appropriate to impose a two-match ban for the reported misconduct."
The news comes as a blow to United manager Alex Ferguson, who has Gabriel Heinze out for the season and captain Roy Keane missing for two months, both through injury.
Liverpool have urged Rafael Benitez to carve out his own dynasty at Anfield and not be tempted by a return to his homeland.
The Spanish coach has again been linked with a move to Real Madrid should Wanderley Luxemburgo be ousted after a string of poor results.
Benitez's star has risen since Liverpool's European Cup triumph in May and the club are in no mood to let him go.
Chief executive Rick Parry told the Liverpool Echo: "It goes without saying that we are extremely happy with Rafa and want him to stay. We are working on a shared vision of sustained success on the pitch.
"Bringing trophies back to Anfield is all we are concerned with. Without underestimating the size of the challenge, we are very confident we can achieve that aim together.
"There's a tremendous opportunity facing us and a great opportunity for Rafa to fulfil his burning ambitions here."
Benitez has links with Real, however, having coached their B and C teams earlier in his career before making his name at Valencia.
Defender Jonathan Woodgate is set to start his first match for Real since joining the club over a year ago when Athletic Bilbao visit the Bernabeu in the Primera Liga tomorrow night.
Injury to Ivan Helguera and a suspension for Sergio Ramos have opened the way for the England international to take up his place in the centre of the Real Madrid defence against the Basque side.
Woodgate teamed up with former youth team player Alvaro Mejia in the middle of the back four while training with what appeared to be the starting line-up yesterday.
Celtic captain Neil Lennon has been banned for three matches for his clash with referee Stuart Dougal after the Old Firm derby on August 20th.
The former Northern Ireland international was dismissed by the match official following the Hoops' 3-1 defeat by Rangers at Ibrox. But the 34-year-old appeared to barge Dougal after he was shown a red card after the final whistle.
Tottenham striker Mido has been cleared of improper conduct following an English FA disciplinary hearing.
The Egyptian was sent off for a challenge on Asier del Horno in the defeat by Chelsea last month and was charged by the FA for "failing to leave the field of play promptly".
Mido denied the improper-conduct charge and following a personal hearing, the FA disciplinary commission spared him further punishment.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has rejected suggestions he would be interested in managing England and says he is keen to coach his native Portugal before he retires.
Mourinho has rejected suggestions that he might even be willing to change his nationality.
The Chelsea coach, who led the Blues to their first title triumph for 50 years in his first season in England, is aiming to become coach of his native Portugal instead before he retires from football.
Mourinho is unhappy that the context of his interview in Time Out magazine has been used to put more pressure on England's under-fire coach, Sven-Goran Eriksson.
The Portuguese coach insisted he has never had any plans to become a British citizen and stressed his support for Eriksson in the interview.
Mourinho's spokesman said: "Jose loves living in England. However, any suggestion that he would change his nationality is totally wrong and misleading.
"He is a passionate Portuguese citizen and has made it very clear that one day he would like to manage the Portuguese national team.
"He also totally supports Sven-Goran Eriksson as England manager."
In the interview Mourinho said: "I still think it's really a job for an English person. And for the moment it's for Sven."
Uefa are set to reform their Intertoto Cup competition to give more clubs a chance to qualify for the Uefa Cup.
Under the current system, the three clubs who progress furthest in the Intertoto Cup go into the Uefa Cup's final qualifying round.
Uefa's executive committee will meet in Rome today to consider a proposal to allow the 11 best-performing sides into the second qualifying round of the Uefa Cup, and for a maximum of one club per country to enter the Intertoto Cup.
The change would give more chance to clubs from smaller countries to make into the preliminary rounds of the Uefa Cup.
Supporters groups are urging chairman Doug Ellis to relinquish the reins at Aston Villa as a possible £60-million takeover bid for the club gathers momentum.
Villa Fans Combined (VFC) believe the time is right for major shareholder Ellis, who underwent triple heart by-pass surgery in June, to sell up at the age of 82. Villa confirmed yesterday that a "preliminary approach" has been made to Ellis.
