Sporting briefs...

Referee Attack: Three Brazilian players were banned yesterday after their team attacked the referee following a stormy 2-2 draw with Chile in the South American U-20 championship. Referee Albert Duarte of Colombia needed a police escort off the field after Sunday's game which produced five red cards, two of them after the final whistle. The South American Football Confederation (CSF) said that midfielder Fernando was suspended for the rest of the tournament in which Brazil have three matches left to play. Defender Thiago Heleno and left back Carlinhos, sent off in the melee after the final whistle, were each given two-match bans.

West Ham: West Ham United have reached an initial agreement with Spanish club Sevilla for the signing of 23-year-old striker Kepa Blanco on loan until the end of the season with an option to complete a permanent transfer in the summer. The deal will not be completed today when West Ham are expected to be in a position to announce full details.

Platini: Michel Platini has said he already considers himself a winner even if he loses this week's UEFA presidential election against 77-year-old Swedish incumbent Lennart Johansson. "If I lose, I shall of course be disappointed but I have already won because I have been able to spread my ideas and my football philosophy over Europe," he said in an interview ahead of Friday's UEFA Congress in Duesseldorf, Germany.

Di Vaio: Serie B side Genoa have signed former Italy striker Marco Di Vaio from Spanish team Valencia, the Italian club have announced. The 29-year-old ex-Parma and Juventus player, who played at Euro 2004, has spent the last 12 months on loan with Monaco but will be expected to become a key figure in Genoa's push to win promotion.

MFA Division Two: Zurrieq vs Sirens 1-0; Attard vs Ta' Xbiex 8-0.