Football

The Brazilian champions Botafogo have sacked their coach, Marinho Perez, halfway through a two-game trip to Chile after a poor start to the new season.

Supporters of the French League leaders, Auxerre, will be barred for their own protection from tomorrow's French Cup semi-final in Marseille. Although extra units of riot police have been requested, Marseille said they felt unable to guarantee the security of visiting fans.

Feyenoord have bought 250 tickets from their own fans to stop them travelling to next Thursday's European Cup Winners' Cup match at Rapid Vienna. Last month Uefa banned the Dutch club's supporters from attending the semi- fina, second-leg match, following crowd trouble at Feyenoord's quarter- final against Borussia Monchengladbach in Germany.

Phil Masinga and Lucas Radebe, both of Leeds United, and the Wolves forward Mark Williams have been included in South Africa's squad for the friendly international against Brazil's Olympic side in Johannesburg on 24 April.