Mellberg goes under the knife

Aston Villa FC

The Spanish Football Federation's disciplinary committee has handed a five-match ban to Sevilla FC defender Javi Navarro for dangerous play during the 1-0 victory against RCD Mallorca on 20 March. The 31-year-old Navarro caught rival midfield player Juan Fernando Arango with his elbow, causing the Venezuelan international to swallow his tongue and lose consciousness. Arango's cheekbone was also shattered in the collision, putting him out of action for a month. Sevilla have ten days to appeal.

Middlesbrough FC forward Mark Viduka has been ruled out for the rest of the season with the recurrence of a hamstring injury which has blighted his first season at the Premiership club. The 29-year-old Australian international has been sidelined since December, but returned for last Saturday's trip to Crystal Palace FC. However, he lasted just eleven minutes before the injury flared up again and he was forced off.

Brazilian midfield player Savio Bortolini has signed a new two-year contract with Real Zaragoza, keeping him with the northern Spanish team until 2007. The 31-year-old arrived at La Romareda from Real Madrid CF in the summer of 2003 after a season's loan with FC Girondins de Bordeaux, having previously played for CR Flamengo in his homeland.

Former Willem II chairman Wim Groels died yesterday at the age of 71 following a long illness. Groels rescued the Tilburg team from bankruptcy in 1982 and helped them achieve promotion to the Eredivisie in the 1986/87 season. He was named honorary chairman following his retirement in 1996. Groels also worked with the Royal Netherlands Football Association, which awarded him an order of merit for his services. Recently, he was involved in Tilburg's preparations to host this summer's FIFA World Youth Championship.

Athletic Club Bilbao have extended the contract of left-back Ander Murillo by four years. The 21-year-old would have been free to leave San Mamés in July, but has now prolonged his stay until 2009. Meanwhile, veteran defender Aitor Karanka is due to undergo surgery on 12 April to remedy a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. The 31-year-old is expected to miss the rest of the season.

West Bromwich Albion FC captain Darren Moore has signed a new two-year contract. The 30-year-old centre-half, who joined from Portsmouth FC in 2001, was instrumental in the Midlands outfit's promotion to the Premiership in 2001/02 and 2003/04. He follows the lead of fellow defender Paul Robinson who signed a two-year deal yesterday.

In Sweden, IFK Göteborg striker Peter Ijeh will miss the opening game of the Allsvenskan season, away to Malmö FF on 10 April, after injuring himself in training. It is feared the 28-year-old Nigerian has damaged cruciate knee ligaments, although the extent of injury is not yet known.

Argentinian international Leandro Cufré has renewed his contract with AS Roma until 2009. The 26-year-old defender has played 26 games in Serie A and six in the UEFA Champions League this season, since returning from a loan spell at AC Siena last summer.

Holders Brøndby IF earned a slender first-leg advantage in their Danish Cup semi-final against champions FC København, Morten Skoubo scoring the only goal. In the other semi-final, FC Midtjylland established a 4-0 lead away to first division leaders AC Horsens, with Dennis Sørensen scoring twice and Kristian Bak Nielsen and Jesper Mikkelsen once apiece.

Estonian Cup holders FC Levadia Tallinn and FC Flora have reached the last four of this season's competition. A youthful Levadia side held JK Tulevik Viljandi to a goalless second-leg draw to win their quarter-final 5-1 overall, while a 10-0 success against second division FC Lootus Alutaguse wrapped up an 11-1 aggregate victory for Flora. FC TVMK Tallinn and JK Trans Narva had already reached the semi-finals.