■ENGLAND
Fabianski ruled out
Arsenal goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski was ruled out for three weeks on Thursday after sustaining a thigh injury in his first match of the season following knee surgery. The Poland international had made a solid comeback in the 2-1 victory over Liverpool as Arsenal advanced to the quarter-finals of the League Cup. “He will be out for three weeks,” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. “Of course it is [a] big disappointment because he has just come back from injury.” Wenger said he would decide after yesterday’s training sessions whether to start with Vito Mannone or Manuel Almunia in goal in today’s derby against Tottenham Hotspur.
■SPAIN
Betis players hit by swine flu
Thirteen players from Spanish outfit Real Betis have contracted the A(H1N1) flu virus, prompting the second division side’s medical staff to request on Thursday the postponement of tomorrow’s meeting with Villarreal B. “Almost the whole team is affected,” official Tomas Calero said. Calero said the medical staff were requesting that training be suspended for at least three days. Betis are the first Spanish side known to be afflicted by the swine flu virus, but concerns have increasingly been raised about its possible latent presence in other leagues in recent days. English Premiership side Blackburn Rovers have been affected by a bout of swine flu, with three players, as well as staff members, diagnosed. Nearby rivals Bolton Wanderers also revealed several of their players have contracted the illness.
■CHINA
Police out in force for game
Up to 6,000 police will be on duty for Beijing Guoan’s Chinese Super League (CSL) match today, where they could seal their first title, after fans rioted on Thursday after failing to get tickets for the game. Police detained 12 fans after dozens blocked roads, surrounded police cars and threw objects outside the Beijing Workers’ Stadium when they failed to get tickets to the match, the Beijing Youth Daily reported yesterday. Beijing Guoan, who top the table on goal difference ahead of Henan Construction, need only a win today over second-bottom Hangzhou Greentown to win the title.
■POLAND
Loo patrols ahead of Euros
Patrols of two, wearing white overalls, are boldly entering toilets across Poland to check whether the country is loo-ready for the 2012 Euro soccer championships. Lots of toilets pass the test, they say, but others — particularly those that date back to the pre-1989 Communist days — are less enticing. The Toaleta2012.pl project, organized by a company manufacturing toilet equipment, aims to encourage ordinary Poles to join the patrols. The project is looking ahead to 2012 when thousands of fans will travel to Poland and Ukraine for the European Soccer Championships.
■ENGLAND
United appeal da Silva card
Manchester United have asked the Football Association to overturn the yellow card shown to Fabio da Silva against Barnsley because his twin brother should have been booked instead. Referee Chris Foy cautioned da Silva for a challenge on Barnsley’s Jamal Campbell-Ryce during the course of United’s 2-0 League Cup win at Oakwell on Tuesday when the offender was the Brazilian’s twin brother Rafael. United’s submission, delivered on Thursday, is due to be heard by a regulatory commission on Tuesday.
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