Other soccer stories in brief

Jewell to take action

Wigan manager Paul Jewell is to take internal action against Lee McCulloch after the midfielder was caught punching Sheffield United captain Chris Morgan.

Morgan sustained cuts above and below a swollen right eye after McCulloch lashed out in the closing stages of the 1-0 defeat to Sheffield on Saturday.

McCulloch pleaded guilty to a violent-conduct charge handed out by the Football Association and faces a three-match suspension.

The Scotland international misses Saturday's game with Chelsea at the JJB Stadium, as well as Tuesday's match at Manchester United and the December 30 clash at Watford.

"Lee fully deserved to be charged. There was no escape," said Jewell.

"It was a silly thing to do, irresponsible, and although it was out of character, we'll be taking internal action against him."

Eriksson ruled out

Marseille sporting director Jose Anigo has laughed off rumours linking Sven-Goran Eriksson with the coach's position at the club, insisting Albert Emon will still be in charge after the winter break.

Speculation has been rife this week that a mystery buyer, believed to be Canadian, is set to purchase the Mediterranean club from owner Robert Louis-Dreyfus and install the former England boss as coach.

But Anigo has dismissed these rumours, and confirmed Emon will be leading OM when action resumes in the new year.

On the rumours about Eriksson, Anigo said: "He is not even here but he still sees himself as coach, and says he will keep (Djibril) Cisse and (Franck) Ribery. It is extraordinary! I have seem them (the rumours) and I prefer to laugh at them."

Rangers ban fans

Rangers have suspended a supporters' club for missile-throwing and sectarian singing at the Scottish Premier League game against Hearts last month.

The East Kilbride Supporters' Club has had its registration suspended, while one fan has been banned from attending all Rangers matches.

The Ibrox club launched an investigation after an object was thrown onto the pitch at Tynecastle on November 19th.

Laurence McIntyre, Rangers' head of safety, said: "The supporters' club in question received only three tickets for the match but claimed they did not know who had used them.

"This obstructed our inquiries and prevented us from reaching the actual person or persons involved in this incident."

Bury to appeal

Former FA Cup winners Bury are to appeal against their expulsion from this season's competition after fielding an ineligible player in their 3-1 win over Chester City in a second-round replay last week.

Bury director Iain Mills said: "We find it unusual we have the right to appeal and will gladly take that road. We will work now to get this matter back to the FA on December 28th."

Manager Chris Casper offered to resign but the Bury board said there was no question of him losing his job over the matter.

Chester have been reinstated in the world's oldest cup competition, subject to the appeal, and will play Ipswich Town at home in the third round next month.

Real end on downer

Real Madrid ended yet another year in dismal fashion with a comprehensive 3-0 defeat by Recreativo Huelva at the Bernabeu on Wednesday.

It is the third year in a row that Real have lost their final league match before the winter break and despite spending around 46 million on defensive-minded players in the close season, they appear as vulnerable as ever to fast-breaking forwards and look to have lost their spark up front.

Real's sporting director Predrag Mijatovic told the club's website, "We messed up everything, we just weren't there on the pitch. We didn't create a single scoring chance. This was an example of how we shouldn't play."