■ SPAIN
Real Union stun Real Madrid
Spanish league champions Real Madrid were beaten 3-2 away by Segunda B (third tier) Real Union in the first-leg of their King’s Cup tie on Thursday. The game was only two minutes old when Juan Dominguez burst past Michel Salgado to rock the visitors back with the opener. Real’s Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain leveled on a counterattack soon after, but the game had to be halted when his teammate Ruben de la Red collapsed and was taken to hospital. Dominguez was gifted a free header to put the home side back in front after 20 minutes. Argentine striker Javier Saviola struck a great equalizer after halftime, but the Basque club hit back when Goikoetxea hit the winner in the 63rd minute. Third tier Poli Ejido scored the upset result of the round, thumping Villarreal 5-0 on Wednesday, while Sevilla fell 1-0 at another third tier side, Ponferradina.
■ CHINA
Player banned for 10 years
A Chinese player has been banned for 10 years and another for five years after attacking a referee who showed one of their teammates a second yellow card. The incident occurred during a match between Huantai Classic FC and Zibo Industrial Institution (ZII) on Oct. 18, the Asian Football Confederation said. Reports said the referee was accosted by the two players after showing a second yellow card to teammate Zhou Peilin. During the argument, Jiang Wei, who was banned for five years, was alleged to have pushed and kicked the ref, while Zhang Don grabbed his red and yellow cards as well as the fourth official’s match report.
■ AUSTRALIA
Kewell’s secret revealed
Harry Kewell has had autoimmune hepatitis for years, but will still be able to play at the highest level for the rest of his career, his manager said on Thursday. News of his long-standing condition was revealed in the Turkish press this week following a routine drug test after he scored the winner for his Turkish side Galatasaray in last week’s UEFA Cup clash with Olympiakos. Media reports said Kewell, 30, needs a daily dose of the steroid prednisone to treat his condition. His agent, Bernie Mandic, said Kewell’s condition was not a threat to his teammates. “When people see the word hepatitis, they immediately draw conclusions,” Mandic said. “Harry does not have, and never has had, a contagious disease.”
■ ITALY
Beckham to join AC Milan
England international David Beckham will join AC Milan on loan in January, the Italian club said on Thursday. The former England captain will join the team from Jan. 7, when the Serie A season restarts following its winter break. Milan vice president Adriano Galliano had revealed earlier in the day that he was due for talks with Beckham’s lawyers, who were in Milan, and now a deal has been agreed.
■ BRAZIL
Pele wishes Maradona well
Pele has wished Diego Maradona well in his new job as Argentina coach, but the Brazil legend warned that great players rarely become great managers. “I hope that everything goes well for him and that he’ll be able to overcome what’s happened in the past and that he’ll know how to manage the Argentine players well,” Pele said. Pele said if Maradona is to succeed he must listen to his director of football Carlos Bilardo, who led the Maradona-inspired Argentina to the 1986 World Cup title. “He has at his side an experienced manager who knows football really well. If Maradona listens to Bilardo he can go far,” Pele said.
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