A round-up of today's other stories in brief

Dubai group set to buy Spanish side

DUBAIS Royal Emirates Group is set to announce the purchase of a top Spanish soccer club tomorrow, the company said yesterday.

“We confirm that the company will buy a Spanish team, Suleiman al Butti, project manager of Royal Emirates Group, said, without identifying the name of the club.

Although Royal Emirates Group suggested in a later statement that the club would be named Team Dubai, it was not clear whether that would become the official name of the team to be acquired.

The company, an investment firm chaired by Sheikh Butti Bin Suhail Al Maktoum, said it would “become the owner of one of the top ‘first league’ football teams of La Liga Spain.”

FA will take no action over cup semi-final incidents

THE English FA will not be taking any disciplinary action against Rio Ferdinand or Mario Balotelli following the ugly scenes on the pitch after Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final between Manchester United and Manchester City.

Some United players were furious with Balotelli after the striker allegedly tugged at the badge on his shirt in front of United fans in the wake of City’s 1-0 victory. Anderson and Ferdinand confronted Balotelli, grabbing the Italian by the shirt, before the City first-team coach, David Platt, and the manager, Roberto Mancini, intervened

Referee Mike Dean mentioned the incident in his report, prompting the FA to investigate further, but after analysing footage of the fracas, they have decided it was not serious enough to warrant taking action.

United have also escaped any sanction from the FA after their dressingroom was damaged following the game. It is understood a wall was kicked and repairs were carried out before Stoke City used the facility the following day.

Rangers takeover takes new twist

THE Glasgow Rangers takeover saga took a major twist yesterday when chairman Alastair Johnston revealed that an Ibrox director had proposed an alternative funding plan to Craig Whyte’s bid.

Johnston revealed concerns over the “relatively modest amount of money” available to immediately invest directly in the club from Whyte, who had agreed a deal with majority shareholder David Murray and main creditor Lloyds Banking Group.

The alternative plan would instead see a “fresh issue of new capital to raise £25 million to be invested directly into the club”.

Whyte had been hoping to push through the deal on Monday after first announcing his intentions to the stock exchange in November.

Johnston said: “The board has had an approach from one of its directors who wishes the board to consider an alternative funding option.

“This would involve a fresh issue of new capital to raise £25million to be invested directly into the club.”

Lippi weighing up his options

MARCELLO Lippi has had offers to coach in the English Premier League.

Davide Lippi, his son and agent, said: “The will to return to coach is there. But it needs to be an important project, a serious club. There are many proposals coming from the Premier League and from La Liga (Spain).”

The former Italy boss, who led the Azzurri to World Cup glory in 2006, has also won five Serie A and one Champions League title.

Doyle returns to light training

REPUBLIC of Ireland striker Kevin Doyle has returned to light training with Wolves manager Mick McCarthy not ruling out the possibility of a return to action this season.

Doyle sustained the knee ligament injury in the European Championship qualifier on March 26th.

McCarthy said: “Kevin was out running today but, with a medial ligament, running is one thing and kicking and tackling is another.

“I’m not writing anyone off. We’ll see how he is.”

Doyle’s international team-mate Stephen Hunt has returned to full training less than a fortnight after undergoing a hernia operation.

McCarthy added: “Remarkably, ‘Hunty’ is back in full training although he’s not fully fit yet. It’s incredible how quickly they turn these hernias around and he’s doing okay. He’s got a bit of scar tissue, and, like any operation, there’s some form of discomfort. But it’s not the hernia now.”

Gordon adds to Sunderland's woes

SUNDERLAND manager Steve Bruce was yesterday dealt another major blow when goalkeeper Craig Gordon was ruled out for up to six months after undergoing knee surgery.

The 28-year-old Scotland international had an operation in Sweden on Monday and now faces between four and six months on the sidelines as Sunderland attempt to drag themselves away from the relegation mire.

Bruce said: “Craig had the operation yesterday and it went well. He’s been following a programme, but when the specialist had a look at the knee again, we were left with no choice but to go ahead with the surgery. That just sums our luck up at the moment.”

Gordon’s misfortune is the latest to befall Sunderland in a season which has seen the likes of Titus Bramble, Michael Turner, Danny Welbeck, Fraizer Campbell and David Meyler all suffer significant lay-offs with knee injuries.

Barcelona to appeal Iniesta ban

BARCELONA are to appeal against Uefa’s proposal to ban Andres Iniesta for an additional Champions League match for allegedly provoking a yellow card.

If punished by Uefa on Wednesday, he would miss the semi-final, first leg against Real Madrid on April 27th.

The 26-year-old Spain midfielder was booked in the quarter-final against Shakhtar Donetsk, meaning he missed the return leg but would then be available.

Barca said the “good faith of the player” will help them in the appeal.

Iniesta was cautioned for not retreating the required distance at a free-kick against the Ukrainian side, with the Catalan outfit winning the game at the Nou Camp 5-1.

However, a Barca statement read: “The good faith of the player and the disproportionate nature of the proposed sanction will be sufficient to rebut the allegations.”