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Athletic Bilbao and Real Betis end tied

Real Betis drew 0-0 with Athletic Bilbao in a first-leg semifinal of the Copa del Rey on Thursday.

The result at Betis' Manuel Ruiz de Lopera Stadium boosted 23-time winner Bilbao's chances of reaching the final of Spain's knockout competition for the first time since 1985.

Betis travels to Bilbao for the second leg on May 11.

In the other first leg on Wednesday, Valdo Lopes' 27th-minute goal earned Osasuna a 1-0 home victory over Atletico Madrid.

Betis, whose only triumph in the competition came in 1977, gave a disappointing display in the first half, with its wingers, Spaniard Joaquin Sanchez and Brazilian Denilson, stifled by Bilbao's disciplined defense.

Bilbao showed to be the more dangerous, producing several chance through midfielder Fran Yeste.

Yeste shot over the bar in the 25th minute and almost scored with a deft backheel two minutes later. The midfielder's floated free kick led to left back Asier Del Horno heading onto the post in the 41st minute, while his drive in the 44th was parried acrobatically by Betis goalkeeper Toni Doblas.

Betis made a little progress after the interval but almost fell behind on the hour when Bilbao striker Francisco Llorente turned a low cross by right winger Joseba Etxeberria just wide.

The home team's appeal for a penalty in the 73rd minute was rejected after midfielder Marcos Assuncao fell at the feet of goalkeeper Inaki Lafuente. The Brazilian received a yellow card for diving, the punishment also received by Bilbao midfielder Roberto "Tiko" Martinez in a similar incident early in the game.

In a rare opportunity, Betis substitute Edu Schmidt shot over the bar in the 87th minute but Bilbao ended the game largely untroubled.

The final will be played on June 11. The venue has not yet been decided.

Tom Caluwe scored in the 38th minute and Willem II Tilburg upset Ajax Amsterdam 1-0 to reach the final of the Dutch Cup.

Tilburg advanced to the May 29 championship in Rotterdam where it will face PSV Eindhoven, which prevailed over Feyenoord on penalties in their semifinal on Wednesday.

"It's unbelievable. We played quite well the first half, but in the second half Ajax pushed us back. We had a lot of luck," Caluwe said.

Caluwe scored from near the left post after a pass from Jatto Ceesay slipped through the Feyendoor defense.

Ajax dominated most of the match, but couldn't capitalize on a host of chances.

Nicolae Mitea hit the crossbar, while shots by Angelos Charisteas and Steven Pienaar were blocked on the goalline.

The victory over Ajax earns Tilburg a berth in next season's UEFA Cup and puts a shine on on a lackluster league season. Tilburg is in 12th place in the 18-team Dutch Eredivisie.

Ajax is in second place in the league, one point ahead of AZ Alkmaar and 14 behind league-leading PSV, which can clinch the championship Saturday against Arnhem.

Steaua Bucharest and crosstown rival Rapid have been ordered to play their next Romanian league matches behind closed doors after both sets of fans chanted racist slogans at each other.

Steaua, which was accused of broadcasting ``racist, xenophobic messages referring to the ethnic origin of the opposing team'' over the loudspeakers at Wednesday's match against Rapid Bucharest, was fined 700 euros (US$900).

Steaua's stadium announcer was suspended for six months for instigating the anti-Gypsy chants.

The Romanian soccer federation also ordered the club to play one league match without fans, daily newspaper Pro Sport reported Thursday on its Web site. Rapid also received a one-match spectator ban as its fans were blamed for provoking the Steaua supporters.

"It is not a sanction against the clubs, but against the fans. The clubs have to educate their fans," disciplinary chairman Doru Viorel Ursu said.

Both clubs have said they will appeal the ruling.

Steaua owner George Becali said he will refuse to pay the fine, claiming the sentiments expressed by the fans and stadium announcer weren't racist but "metaphoric."

new UEFA rule

A rule designed to increase the number of locally trained soccer players was unanimously approved by UEFA's 52 member federations Thursday.

Starting next season, clubs will be required to field a first-team roster of 25 players containing at least two players trained at their own academy. An additional two must come through systems of clubs from the same country.

Although the rule applies only to UEFA's competitions -- including the Champions League and UEFA Cup -- European soccer's governing body urged its members to adopt it in their domestic competitions.

The quotas, approved at UEFA's annual conference, will increase to four club-trained players and four from the home country in 2008.

The measure is an attempt to reverse the effects of a 10-year-old European Court decision outlawing limits on non-domestic players from within the European Union.

The Bosman ruling -- named for the player who instigated the change -- allowed wealthy teams such as Real Madrid to assemble talent from all over Europe and neglect the development of young players.

Smaller clubs also switched their attention overseas, finding it cheaper to employ players from regions such as Eastern Europe and Scandinavia.

UEFA chief executive Lars-Christer Olsson said some of Europe's wealthiest teams, such as Chelsea and Barcelona, balked at the new ruling because it will restrict their ability to field the best team possible.

Olsson didn't rule out the possibility of a court challenge.

"We know that there are a few clubs questioning the program, but we have also understood they are definitely a minority in their own leagues," Olsson said. "You never know what will happen if it gets caught up in court, but we've had very positive feedback from the European Commission."

Delegates also voted unanimously to extend by one year the tenure of UEFA's executive committee, which includes president Lennart Johansson.

The move means former Germany coach and captain Franz Beckenbauer will be able to challenge three-time European player of the year Michel Platini for president when Johansson steps down in 2007.

Beckenbauer is chairman of the organizing committee for the 2006 World Cup in Germany, ruling him out had the vote been scheduled next year. Johansson said Beckenbauer had indicated that he was ready to run, but said Beckenbauer was still deciding.

Platini announced last month that he would seek the UEFA presidency when Johansson retires.
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