Celtic fined as Dida receives ban

Celtic have been fined £25,000 and AC Milan goalkeeper Dida has been banned for two matches following trouble at the recent Champions League game. However, the European champions intend to appeal against the penalty imposed on the 34-year-old Brazilian.

Dida collapsed dramatically after a fan appeared to strike him near the end of AC Milan’s 2-1 defeat on 3 October.

Celtic were found guilty of a lack of organisation and improper conduct of supporters at the Celtic Park match.

The Scottish champions will pay half of the fine now, while the rest is deferred over a two-year probationary period.

England 2-2 Japan

England were denied an opening Women’s World Cup win as Japan stole a 2-2 draw with the last kick of the game. Aya Miyama put Japan ahead with a free-kick before Kelly Smith turned the game on its head with two goals.

Smith held off two defenders to level, and England looked on course for victory in Shanghai as the Arsenal striker struck from close range.

But England were thwarted as Miyama struck with a second free-kick from an identical position deep in injury time.

Clubs learn Champions League fate

Celtic face a difficult task in the Champions League after the draw for the group stage paired them with holders AC Milan, Benfica and Shakhtar Donetsk. Rangers also face a tough task, against Barcelona, Lyon and Stuttgart.

Chelsea have been drawn with Valencia, whom they defeated at the quarter-final stage of last season’s competition.

Liverpool take on Porto, Marseille and Besiktas, while Manchester United face a rematch with Roma and Arsenal play four teams they have not met before.

Celtic earn dramatic Euro victory

Celtic won through 4-3 in a tense penalty shoot-out to reach the group stage of the Champions League. Artur Boruc saved two weak efforts from the spot on a night when both sides hit the woodwork with penalties in an action-packed 120 minutes.

Scott McDonald shot Celtic ahead only for Roman Pavluchenko, who missed an earlier spot-kick, to level.

With Spartak down to 10 men, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink missed an extra time penalty but his side won through.

A match packed with talking points started like whirlwind and just didn’t slow down.

The visitors start brightly and a darting run by Vladimir Bystrov worried the Celtic defence before captain Egor Titov flashed a cross narrowly wide of Boruc’s far post.

Celtic put trio on transfer list

Celtic have made Kenny Miller, Maciej Zurawski and Thomas Gravesen available for transfer, BBC Sport understands. Miller, 27, has struggled to find the net consistently since joining the SPL champions from Wolves last July.

English Premier League clubs Fulham, Everton, Manchester City and Derby could move for the player before the transfer window closes on Friday.

Celtic will also listen to offers for Polish striker Zurawski and Danish midfielder Gravesen.

Former Rangers striker Miller has scored eight competitive goals in 23 appearances for Gordon Strachan’s side.

Lee fears Diouf and Anelka exit

Bolton manager Sammy Lee admits he could be powerless to stop El Hadji Diouf and Nicolas Anelka leaving. Diouf, 26, has said he wants to quit the club to play in the Champions League and fellow striker Anelka, 29, has been linked with Arsenal and Lyon.

“It’s a concern and it might be out of my hands but at the moment it is only speculation,” said Lee.

“We want to keep our better players but - as I’ve said before - if people want to go sometimes you can’t stop them.”

Bolton are bottom of the Premier League after losing all three games so far this season and that dismal start has led to increased speculation that both Diouf and Anelka could leave before the transfer window closes on 31 August.