Sport Shorts

BENFICA coach Ronald Koeman has been fined 250 euros ($295) for making a gesture suggesting the referee was blind during a league match against Belenenses, Portugal’s professional soccer body said yesterday.

The Dutchman received the fine after waving his hands in front of his eyes, implying that referee Pedro Proenca was blind in failing to award a penalty after an alleged handball by a Belenenses defender. The match ended 0-0.Benfica are sixth in the Premier League standings with 19 points, eight behind leaders Porto.* BRAZIL coach Carlos Alberto Parreira has told his players to leave their egos at home when they attempt to win their sixth World Cup in Germany next year.”If we can’t control the egos of these players, then Brazil will certainly not win the Hexa (sixth world title),” he told reporters on Tuesday.”This is our big challenge, to bring together players who are international stars and convince them to work towards this common target.”Parreira also warned against the dangers of being considered hot favourites.”A lot of favourites didn’t win the title, such as Hungary in 1954 and the Netherlands in 1974,” he said.”It will be 14 European teams against Brazil and Argentina.”Everyone will especially be against Brazil because if we win a sixth title, that’s going to put a big difference between us and the rest and they’ll need 200 or 300 years to catch up.”-Nampa-ReutersThe match ended 0-0.Benfica are sixth in the Premier League standings with 19 points, eight behind leaders Porto. * BRAZIL coach Carlos Alberto Parreira has told his players to leave their egos at home when they attempt to win their sixth World Cup in Germany next year.”If we can’t control the egos of these players, then Brazil will certainly not win the Hexa (sixth world title),” he told reporters on Tuesday.”This is our big challenge, to bring together players who are international stars and convince them to work towards this common target.”Parreira also warned against the dangers of being considered hot favourites.”A lot of favourites didn’t win the title, such as Hungary in 1954 and the Netherlands in 1974,” he said.”It will be 14 European teams against Brazil and Argentina.”Everyone will especially be against Brazil because if we win a sixth title, that’s going to put a big difference between us and the rest and they’ll need 200 or 300 years to catch up.” -Nampa-Reuters