Fifa bans Sakho from playing anywhere

LONDON • Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho's 30-day suspension for failing a doping test, following his side's Europa League tie against Manchester United on March 17, has been extended worldwide by world football's governing body Fifa.

The 26-year-old's new suspension covers all games, including domestic, international, friendly and official fixtures and comes on top of Uefa's original European ban.

REUTERS

Uefa may elect new chief before Euro '16

BUDAPEST • European football's governing body Uefa says it is still possible to hold a presidential election before June's Euro 2016 if its suspended president Michel Platini fails to overturn his six-year ban from the sport.

Platini was first banned for ethics violations in October, leaving Uefa without a president, and the Frenchman has taken his case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport which has promised to make a decision on his case by Monday.

REUTERS

Messi fan flees over abduction fears

QUETTA (Pakistan) • A young Afghan fan of Argentina football star Lionel Messi has fled his home and gone to Pakistan because his family feared he could be kidnapped after he became an unlikely Internet sensation, the boy's uncle said yesterday.

Five-year-old Murtaza Ahmedi grabbed world headlines after being photographed in a shirt improvised from a plastic bag in the blue and white colours of the Argentina national team bearing Messi's name and number 10.

REUTERS