Dani Carvajal could be banned for the Real Madrid’s Champions League last 16 first leg after UEFA opened disciplinary proceedings against the right-back for “receiving a yellow card on purpose” during Tuesday’s 6-0 rout of APOEL Nicosia.
The Spanish international picked up his third booking of the group stage, to trigger an automatic one-match ban, for time wasting in the 90th minute in Cyprus. However, he will be hit with an extra game ban if found guilty of breaking article 15 of UEFA’s disciplinary regulations when his case is heard on December 7.
Madrid have already secured their place in the last 16 behind Tottenham Hotspur in Group H with nothing riding on their final group game at home to Borussia Dortmund on December 6. It is not the first time Madrid have been reprimanded by UEFA for provoking suspensions in the Champions League.
In 2010 Xabi Alonso and Sergio Ramos were charged for getting sent off in the final stages of a 4-0 win at Ajax to miss a meaningless match against Auxerre.
On that occasion the pair escaped an extra ban but were fined 20,000 euros each and coach Jose Mourinho was handed a two-match suspended ban for orchestrating their dismissals.

Argentinia's Bauza sacked
as Saudi Arabia coach

The Saudi football federation yesterday dismissed Argentinian head coach Edgardo Bauza, just two months after he was appointed to lead the team following their qualification to next year’s World Cup in Russia.
Federation chief Adel Ezzat said the decision to sack Bauza came after a “comprehensive technical evaluation” and in light of the team’s performance in five friendly matches. “The decision is in the interest of the national team (and) reflects the high expectations from them,” the federation said in a statement.
Bauza was appointed in mid-September, replacing Dutchman Bert van Marwijk, soon after the country sealed qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The Saudi federation added that it was looking for a new coach for the national team.
Everton fined for fan attack against Lyon
Everton’s miserable Europa League campaign got worse yesterday as UEFA fined the Premier League club 30,000 euros after an incident in which a fan struck a Lyon player. With two rounds to go, the Toffees are bottom of Group E and cannot qualify for the Europa League knock-out stages after three defeats and a draw in their four matches.
UEFA have punished them over their fans’ “aggressions” against Lyon players as the French club won 2-1 at Goodison Park on October 19, when visiting goalkeeper Anthony Lopes was hit by a supporter who was holding a young child in his arms.
Video footage went viral on social media and Everton banned the fan while registering a complaint against him with police.
Meanwhile CSKA Moscow were fined 18,000 euros because their fans invaded the pitch and set off fireworks during a 2-1 Champions League win at Basel on October 31. These fines come a day after Apoel Nicosia (51,000 euros), Olympiakos (60,000 euros) and Borussia Dortmund (15,000 euros) were fined for similar incidents.

Nigeria to pay $2.4 million
World Cup bonus

The Nigeria Football Federation will pay players and officials a total of $2.4mn as a bonus for securing qualification for the World Cup in Russia, a spokesman said yesterday. “The NFF have agreed to give the team $2.4mn out of the $8mn we are expecting from FIFA,” said Ademola Olajire.
The NFF have also agreed other payments and benefits to the team to avoid a pay row that marred Nigeria’s participation at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Next year’s World Cup will be Nigeria’s sixth appearance at the global finals and they have reached the knockout rounds three times, in 1994, 1998 and 2014.