IN BRIEF (Page 24)

Soccer

Six Chileans banned for 20 games for indiscipline

SANTIAGO: Six Chilean players have been banned for 20 international matches for indiscipline during the Copa America, the Chilean federation said.

Team captain Jorge Valdivia, full backs Alvaro Ormeno and Rodrigo Tello, defenders Jorge Vargas and Pablo Contreras and striker Reinaldo Navia were all suspended following an incident before their quarterfinal against Brazil.

The federation, which did not give details of the incident, added in a statement that none of the players involved would receive their Copa America bonuses and all were banned for life from captaining the team.

Getafe's advert draws criticism from Church

MADRID: Primera Liga side Getafe's use of a series Biblical references in their proposed television campaign to lure season tickets holders for next season drew criticism from the Catholic Church on Wednesday.

The advert depicts Jesus Christ on the cross, Moses in the wilderness and Adam in the Garden of Eden, among others, and all are shown refuting their devotion to God saying they would only sacrifice themselves for their team.

"It has caused a sense of unease. Alongside the public outcry that considers the images irreverent and blasphemous, the national media have noted their provocative and controversial nature," said a statement from the diocese of Getafe carried by the Europa Press news agency.

Russia to host England on synthetic pitch

MOSCOW: Moscow's Luzhniki Olympic stadium will stage Russia's Euro 2008 Group E qualifier against England on a synthetic surface, the Russian Football Union (RFU) said on Wednesday.

"Yes, the match will be played at Luzhniki and it is now 99.9 percent certain that it will be held on a synthetic pitch," a spokesman for the RFU said.

The prospect of Steve McClaren's England side playing such a key qualifier on an unfamiliar surface will mean special preparations for his team.

"We will prepare accordingly, whether on a synthetic surface in England or by making full use of the training opportunities pre-match," an FA spokesman said.

"We have experts at the FA who are looking into this and they will find an identical surface to train on in England."

OLYMPICS

Salzburg rules out further Winter Games bids

VIENNA: Salzburg has decided against bidding again for the Winter Olympics and said that the cost could prohibit smaller countries in the future after the Austrian city failed to secure the 2014 Games.

Salzburg mayor and bid team president Heinz Schaden announced the decision on Wednesday following a meeting of the city council.

"The council decided unanimously that it makes no sense to mount a further bid due to the financial dimensions of the bidding process," Schaden said on Wednesday.

NHL

Ducks to start new season against Kings in London

NEW YORK: The Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks will raise the curtain on the new season with two games against the Los Angeles Kings in London, the National Hockey League said on Wednesday.

Anaheim and Los Angeles will become the first teams in NHL history to play regular-season games in Europe, the league said while releasing highlights of the 2007/08 schedule.

The Sept. 29-30 series will be played at the 02 Arena, formerly the Millennium Dome, on the banks of the River Thames in London.

(China Daily 07/13/2007 page24)