Mauri: Lazio captain Stefano Mauri will now serve a nine-month suspension as punishment for his alleged involvement in match-fixing following an unsuccessful appeal against an original six-month ban. Mauri resolved to clear his name and return to action for the Roman club he has represented since 2006, but the failure of his appeal yesterday evening has invoked a heavier penalty that rules him out until May, meaning he will miss the entire season.

Lippi: Chinese champions Guang-zhou Evergrande, led by Italian coach Marcello Lippi, strolled into the final of the AFC Champions League by beating Japan’s Kashiwa Reysol 4-0 at home yesterday to complete an 8-1 aggregate thrashing. Guangzhou are the first Chinese side to reach the final of Asia’s premier club competition.

Rampage: A restaurant attacked by a mob of rival fans remained closed yesterday as police continue their investigation into how a fan was hospitalised and others sent fleeing to safety. Arsenal supporters were forced to duck for cover as masked Napoli fans stormed Piebury Corner in north London ahead of the Champions League clash late Tuesday. A 48-year-old man was taken to hospital after witnesses reported up to 50 Italian men swinging belts and throwing tables through the eatery.

Match-fixing: Singapore’s Minister for Home Affairs yesterday issued detention orders on four people for their alleged roles in a global soccer match-fixing syndicate. The move followed the arrest on Sept. 18 of 14 people on suspicion of being part of an organised crime syndicate involved in trying to rig matches.

World Cup: Building work at Curitiba’s 2014 World Cup stadium has been suspended on the orders of a Brazilian labour tribunal due to numerous and serious safety breaches. “Countless infractions have been committed, in various stages of the building project,” wrote judge Lorena Colnago in her decision, the Parana Regional Labour Tribunal said in a statement.