Sports Briefs

Juventus' Douglas Costa banned for four games

TURIN, Italy (AP):

Juventus winger Douglas Costa has been banned for four Serie A matches after a spitting incident on Sunday.

The Brazil international was sent off near the end of Juventus' 2-1 win over Sassuolo after he spat at midfielder Federico Di Francesco. Costa had also raised an elbow at the same player and attempted a headbutt.

The Italian football federation announced his ban yesterday, with the winger set to miss matches against Frosinone, Bologna, Napoli and Udinese.

Costa has already apologised for the incident on social media.

FIFA president still not keen on US hosting Spanish league

ZURICH (AP):

FIFA President Gianni Infantino is still not convinced it's a good idea to play Spanish league games in the United States.

Infantino said yesterday he would "prefer to see a great MLS game in the US rather than La Liga being in the US".

His statement repeated comments made last month in Washington, DC, after the Spanish league announced its 15-year, brand-building plan to play games in the US.

The league wants Lionel Messi's Barcelona to play near-neighbours Girona at Miami Gardens, Florida, on January 26.

It needs approval from the Spanish and American federations, plus continental bodies UEFA and CONCACAF.

Though FIFA's permission is not mandatory, Infantino says: "FIFA should also express a view on the matter, not least since it would have implications for football at global level as well."