Sports world

VAN BOMMEL PUNISHED

LONDON: Bayern Munich's Mark van Bommel has been punished by the Uefa for his rude gesture to Real Madrid fans during his side's 2-3 defeat in a Champions League match at the Bernabeu last week.

The Dutch midfielder was fined 6,200 euros (S$12,500) and ordered to promote fair play at a Uefa youth competition.

He, however, is free to play in next week's second leg, after the Uefa deferred a one-match ban for a probationary period of a year.

REUTERS

GOALIE PUNCHES COACH

BOGOTA: Colombian club Deportivo Pasto said on Wednesday that they have suspended their goalkeeper Diego Fernando Gomez for punching their coach.

The coach, Alvaro de Jesus Gomez, said he needed medical attention last week after he was punched in the face by the goalkeeper, who was angry at being made a reserve.

Pasto, based in the far south of Colombia, lost their opening Libertadores Cup match 0-1 at home to Brazil's Santos.

REUTERS

THAILAND COACH TO STAY

BANGKOK: Thai football coach Chanvit Phalajivin said yesterday that he has decided to stay for another year with the national team, after announcing last week that he was joining Vietnamese side Dong Thap.

He said Thailand's tourism and sports minister Suvit Yodmanee asked him to stay for another year, which would see the team through the Asian Cup in July and the SEA Games in December.

Thailand is co-hosting the Asian Cup and hosting the SEA Games.

The coach was widely criticised in his country for saying he would join the Vietnam club.

He said that he had gone to Hanoi but did not sign the contract, after the club did not agree to his request for an extra US$114,000 (S$174,000).

'The silence from the club means they have said no to my request, which makes me feel relieved,' he said.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE