La Liga side Valencia
"will banish a fan who hit Barcelona forward Lionel Messi on the head
with a plastic bottle on Sunday for life once they have been identified." Messi was celebrating Barca's
94th-minute winner with his teammates near the corner flag "when someone
threw the bottle from the stands and it struck him on the head." The
Argentina captain "was examined by a member of Barca's medical staff and
did not appear to be hurt, giving the thumbs-up as he walked off the
pitch after the final whistle" (REUTERS, 12/1). ... ManU has "been forced to re-lay one of the roads leading to the club's Carrington training ground after potholes damaged players' cars." A number of ManU players who use the 600-yard lane complained that "their supercars were being ruined by the state of the road" (London DAILY MAIL, 12/1). ... Twenty police officers "were injured and three Atlas hooligan fans arrested in fighting after their team were knocked out by Monterrey in the Mexican championship quarter-finals." TV footage "showed Atlas fans attacking Monterrey supporters after the final whistle with police fending them off while shepherding the visitors into the middle of the pitch." Police officers bleeding from cuts "were shown being escorted from the stadium" (REUTERS, 12/1). ... Brasileiro side Botafogo was relegated to the Brazilian second division for only the second time in 110 years on Sunday after losing 2-0 against Santos, its 22nd defeat of the season. A statement on the club's Twitter feed said, "Sadly, Botafogo will play in Serie B next season. There have been a lot of problems, mistakes and defeats. The club asks fans for their forgiveness" (FIFA).
