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■ WALES

UEFA skeptical over plan

European soccer's governing body UEFA has expressed skepticism at controversial plans to boost Welsh involvement in the Champions League. Welsh soccer officials confirmed earlier this week that they were considering letting Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham field teams in the Welsh league while also maintaining their current positions in the English leagues. The proposals are aimed at giving Wales' top three sides a chance of reaching the qualifying stages of the Champions League at the expense of their less well-funded rivals in the Welsh league.



■ SPAIN

Mallorca tame Real Madrid

Juan Arango's second-half strike gave Real Mallorca a slender advantage after they beat Primera Liga leaders Real Madrid 2-1 at home in the first leg of their King's Cup last-16 tie on Thursday. Mallorca's Argentine striker Oscar Trejo stabbed home from close range at a corner in the 23rd minute, but two minutes later compatriot Gonzalo Higuain lashed a superb volley high into the net to level the scores. The home side had a good shout for a penalty waved away, but early in the second half Venezuelan forward Arango fired in a long range effort to put the 2003 winners back in front. Atletico Madrid may be left to rue their poor finishing after being held to a 0-0 home draw by Valladolid.



■ ENGLAND

Kitson to appear in court

Dave Kitson, striker with English Premier League side Reading, is to appear in court after he was arrested for an alleged drunk-driving offense. Kitson, 27, has been accused of failing to give a breath sample and failing to cooperate in providing a sample after being stopped by officers near his home in the village of Shinfield, near Reading, southwest of London in the early hours of Wednesday morning. A Reading Football Club spokesman said: "We can confirm that a player has been arrested in connection with a drink-driving allegation and is due to appear in court."



■ ENGLAND

Briatore lauds fair play

Renault Formula One Team boss and Queens Park Rangers co-owner Flavio Briatore has blasted the Italian soccer world and lauded the sport in Britain for its fair play and meritocracy. "Here you are on market and you play in a clean competition, where the rules have no shadowy areas," he told the Italian edition of GQ magazine when asked why he bought into an English Championship (second division) club instead of one in his homeland. "It's a challenge with only one yardstick: merit. That's why there are investors from all over the world here, while in [soccer in] Italy, there is not even one."



■ TRINIDAD

Maturana made manager

Francisco Maturana, who led Colombia to two World Cup appearances, has been selected as the new manager of Trinidad and Tobago's national team. Maturana, who coached Colombia in the 1990 and 1994 World Cups, will begin leading the twin-island Caribbean country's side early next month in time for a friendly against Guadeloupe on Feb. 6, said Jack Warner, special adviser to the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation. Warner told local reporters that Maturana will replace the suspended Wim Rijsbergen as the Soca Warriors manager. "I know Rijsbergen will not be back here -- since he left he has not contacted anybody. We needed the best available coach and I went for the best," Warner said.
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