Wayne Rooney gets warning for jibe at referee

London: Wayne Rooney was warned by the Football Association for mouthing the words "12 men" into a television camera after Manchester United's 1-0 defeat to Chelsea.

United were furious about John Terry's winner on Sunday, arguing both that the free-kick from which it came should not have been given, and that Didier Drogba committed a foul as Frank Lampard delivered a cross.

Rooney was booked for his protests to referee Martin Atkinson immediately after the goal.

Midfielder Darren Fletcher, who conceded the critical free-kick, suggested he is being victimised after Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger criticised tactical fouling following his side's defeat to United earlier in the season.

"I think we are starting to see Mr Wenger's comments starting to influence referees, which is a shame really," he said.

"It was clearly not a foul. I knew at the time and I have watched it again on the replay.

"I back-heeled the ball and (Ashley) Cole just jumps up in the air, and the ref gives a foul.

"Referees are the only people in the game you can't criticise. Managers and players can be criticised, but you can't criticise referees.

"Now we have to raise our game and ensure these decisions are not affecting the game.

Real crash out of cup against third-division Alcorcon

Madrid: Real Madrid crashed out of the Spanish King's Cup against third-division part-timers Alcorcon.

Real won the second leg 1-0, but go out on an emphatic 4-1 aggregate result because they astonishingly lost 4-0 in Alcorcon, an industrial suburb to the south of Madrid, in the first leg two weeks ago.

Real captain Raul on Tuesday sportingly congratulated the Alcorcon players and said that "they deserve this ... we have not played well, in either game".

Coach Manuel Pellegrini rested only Iker Casillas, Marcelo, Xabi Alonso and Karim Benzema for the match, which attracted almost 70,000 fans to the Estadio Bernabeu, most of who were hoping for a Real comeback.

Kaka and company were jeered off at half time after a sluggish start. They improved slightly after the interval but did not score until eight minutes from time, when Rafael Van der Vaart scored with a left-foot drive.

Three minutes later Gonzalo Higuain hit the Alcorcon crossbar, but time was running out fast for the most expensive team in history.

Alcorcon left the field to well-deserved applause, Real to jeers and boos.

Real have not won the King's Cup since 1993. Last season they were eliminated by third-division Union Irun, a setback that contributed to coach Bernd Schuster

The only good news for the whites Tuesday was that Cristiano Ronaldo was allowed to return to Madrid by the Portuguese football federation, after doctors confirmed the badly sprained right ankle that has kept him out of action for a month now.

To Real's relief, he will miss next week's World Cup play-offs between Portugal and Bosnia.

Real are desperate for Ronaldo to be fit for the Nov 29 "clasico" against league leaders Barcelona.

Barca are at home to third-division Cultural Leonesa later Tuesday in the cup. The match should be a formality, given that Barca won the away leg 2-0 on two goals from the promising Pedro Rodriguez.

Earlier on Tuesday, Valencia scraped through against third-division Alcoyano, on a 3-2 aggregate, while Sevilla thrashed Atletico Ciudad 9-3 overall, and Atletico Madrid beat Marbella on an 8-0 aggregate.

Drogba withdraws from Ivory Coast squad for qualifier

Abidjan: Didier Drogba has withdrawn from the Ivory Coast's World Cup qualifier against Guinea on Saturday through injury, the Ivorian Football Federation has said.

The Chelsea striker stayed behind in London for treatment after he was kicked in the chest by Manchester United defender Johnny Evans in Sunday's Premier League match at Stamford Bridge.

Drogba may be available for the side's friendly international against Germany in Gelsenkirchen next Wednesday.

Olympique Marseille striker Bakary Kone is also out of this weekend's match in Abidjan, although their absence will not be sorely missed as the Ivorians have already qualified for next year's World Cup finals in South Africa.

FA punish Man U boss Ferguson with ban, fine

London: Manchester United Manager Alex Ferguson was handed a four-match touchline ban, two of which were suspended, and fined 20,000 pounds ($33,150) by the English FA on Thursday for insulting referee Alan Wiley last month.

At a personal hearing in London, Ferguson, 67, admitted a charge of improper conduct for questioning Wiley's suitability to officiate following United's 2-2 draw with Sunderland at Old Trafford on October 3.

Ferguson said Wiley was not fit enough to referee the game. Peter Griffiths, the Chairman of the FA's Regulatory Commission told the FA's website (www.thefa.com): "Each member of the Commission recognised Sir Alex Ferguson's achievements and stature within the game.”

"Having said that, it was made clear to Sir Alex that with such stature comes increased responsibilities." "The Commission considered his admitted remarks, in the context in which they were made, were not just improper but were grossly improper and wholly inappropriate. He should never have said what he did say."

Ferguson criticised Wiley in a television interview, saying "He was not fit enough for a game of that standard." "The pace of the game demanded a referee who was fit. It is an indictment of our game. You see referees abroad who are as fit as butcher's dogs," Ferguson said.

"We have some who are fit. He was not fit. He was taking 30 seconds to book a player. He needed a rest. It was ridiculous."

Ferguson also criticised referee Martin Atkinson after Manchester United lost 1-0 at Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday. "You lose faith in the refereeing sometimes - that's the way the players are talking in there," he said after the match.

The FA, however, said on Monday he would not be facing action from them over those comments.

Benayoun, Riera add to Liverpool injury woes

London: Wingers Yossi Benayoun and Albert Riera added to Liverpool's injury woes on Friday when both were ruled out for up to a month due to hamstring problems.

''We will have to wait and see how they progress but hopefully in three weeks they could be available,'' manager Rafa Benitez told the club's website.

''We are disappointed because there are too many things at the moment we can't change. Both players are wingers as well and for them to be out at the same time is bad news for us.''

Liverpool are seventh in the Premier League, 11 points behind leaders Chelsea, and also in danger of making an early exit from the Champions League.

There was better news on other injured players, with Benitez hoping the international break would allow his depleted squad time to recover for the next game against Manchester City on November 21.

BAD TIME

''Sometimes a break comes at a bad time because you don't like to see your players flying all over the world but this time it gives us a chance to get some players back,'' said the Spaniard.

Benitez said defender Daniel Agger, who suffered a knock in the 2-2 draw against Birmingham City on Monday and withdrew from Denmark's friendlies against South Korea and United States, could be back in training in a few days.

The condition of right back Glen Johnson, who pulled out of England's squad for Saturday's friendly against Brazil, was also encouraging.

''Hopefully it's not too serious and he could be available again in a week,'' said Benitez.

Spain striker Fernando Torres will need two or three weeks treatment on his groin strain.

''I was talking with him this morning and he is doing well,'' said Benitez. ''Hopefully he can be running in a few days and we will see how he progresses.''

Maradona feels mistreated and persecuted

Madrid: Argentina coach Diego Maradona feels mistreated and persecuted but says he is focusing on his job, family and the support of "ordinary people".

Maradona, who will appear before a FIFA disciplinary committee in Zurich on Sunday over his foul-mouthed rant after last month's World Cup qualifier in Uruguay, told Spain's Marca newspaper that many people were out to get him.

"Much worse things have been said and there are people who do terrible things in soccer...," the paper quoted Maradona as saying in an interview conducted in Madrid on Wednesday.

"I am taking refuge in my team, my family, my daughters and in ordinary people from the street," added the 49-year-old.

"Lest nobody forget, people in Argentina, from the street, are showing me a lot of affection, they greet me and love me just like always.

"And I am focusing on that, on the people without microphones, not on what the media says."

Maradona could be sidelined from matches in next year's finals in South Africa if FIFA decide to hand down a stadium ban for his outburst at the end of the 1-0 win that guaranteed Argentina a place at the tournament.

Maradona rounded on his critics immediately after the final whistle in Montevideo, unleashing a stream of invective when interviewed on the touchline and another outburst in a post-match media conference broadcast live on several television networks.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter announced two days later that disciplinary proceedings would be opened.

"If anyone wants to take it badly, then let them take it badly," Maradona told Marca.

"I said what I said and that's where we stand. On Sunday I will go and say what I have to say to FIFA and that'll be that."

The volatile 1986 World Cup winner had been heavily criticised for defeats to Bolivia, Ecuador, Brazil and Paraguay that took Argentina to the brink of failing to reach the World Cup finals for the first time since 1970.

The Argentina Football Federation has sent a report to FIFA, saying: "Maradona was acting in a state of violent emotion over arguments with journalists in the days before the match."

Maradona compared his situation with that of Mexico coach Javier Aguirre, who was banned for three matches by regional soccer body CONCACAF in July after clashing with Panama midfielder Ricardo Phillips during a Gold Cup group match.

"I say, as a joke, that if I had done that flying kick that Aguirre did against Panama they would sentence me to life imprisonment,

FIFA bans Maradona from football for 2 months

Zurich: Argentina coach Diego Maradona has been given a two-month ban and fined over $24,000 following his globally-broadcast foul-mouthed outburst at the end of last month's decisive World Cup qualifier in Uruguay.

Maradona, who as a player was kicked out of the 1994 World Cup for a doping offence, was handed the ban by FIFA's disciplinary committee on Sunday.

Soccer's governing body said in a statement: "The FIFA disciplinary committee...decided today to impose a two-month ban on taking part in any football related activity and a 25,000 CHF ($24,630) fine on the head coach of Argentina Diego Maradona, in relation to the disciplinary proceedings related to the incidents following the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying match between Uruguay and Argentina played on Oct. 14 2009 in Montevideo."

The statement added: "The committee took into consideration the apologies and the sincere remorse shown by Maradona in its decision, which was communicated to him at the end of the meeting."

Maradona flew from Madrid, where his side lost 2-1 to Spain in a friendly on Saturday, to Zurich to appear before the tribunal in person.

Maradona rounded on his critics after Argentina beat arch-rivals Uruguay 1-0 in Montevideo in October to secure their berth in the South Africa in the last game of an 18-match qualifying campaign.

Another outburst

He launched into an expletive-filled rant when interviewed on the touchline and produced another outburst in the post-match media conference, which was broadcast live on several television networks.

The 1986 World Cup winner had been heavily criticised for defeats against Bolivia, Ecuador, Brazil and Paraguay that left twice world champions Argentina on the brink of failing to reach the World Cup for the first time since 1970.

Appointed in October last year, Maradona's coaching credential have been repeatedly questioned.

He has called up more than 70 players for 14 matches -- eight qualifiers and six friendlies -- and been criticised for his team selections.

The Argentina Football Association (AFA) had told FIFA in a report: "Maradona was acting in a state of violent emotion over arguments with journalists in the days before the match."

Maradona's tenure has been marked by clashes with players, coaches, journalists and directors since he took charge midway through the qualifiers in Oct. 2008 following the resignation of Alfio Basile.

The controversy began less than one week after he took over when a row over the AFA's refusal to let him appoint former captain Oscar Ruggeri as assistant coach led to speculation that he could quit.

Playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme, a central figure at the 2006 World Cup and for Basile in the 2010 qualifiers, quit saying Maradona did not live by "the same codes".

Maradona has also had differences with 1986 World Cup-winning coach Carlos Bilardo, who was appointed the AFA's technical director of national teams.

Bilardo appeared to have been named as someone whom Maradona could turn to for support but the coach has said he will make all the decisions and the older man should "stay up in the directors' box in suit and tie" with AFA president Julio Grondona.