Chelsea ’keeper Petr Cech, who was named Czech Player of the Season for the third time in a row, with the trophy in Prague on Monday

Madrid: Goalkeeper Iker Casillas is doubtful for the opening game of Real Madrid’s Spanish league title defence this weekend. Casillas damaged his right knee in a collision with teammate Cesc Fabregas during training with the Spanish national team on Monday. Madrid kicks off the league season against cross-town rivals Atletico the Bernabeu on Saturday in Bernd Schuster’s first league match in charge of the team. If Casillas is unavailable, Jerzy Dudek would be in line for his Spanish league debut.

Heinze loses bid to leave United

London: Gabriel Heinze has lost his bid to force Manchester United to sell him to Liverpool. The Argentina defender failed on Tuesday to convince a Premier League panel to allow him to leave Old Trafford for Anfield. Heinze had argued that United had written a letter that would allow him to leave if another club offered a transfer fee of £6.8 million.

However, the panel backed Manchester United, who said they had told Heinze both orally and in writing that he would not be allowed to join a Premier League title rival.

City’s Bojinov out for five months

Manchester: Valeri Bojinov will be sidelined for at least five months after he seriously injured his knee in Manchester City’s 1-0 victory over Manchester United. City said on Monday in a statement that the Bulgaria striker damaged the lateral and anterior cruciate ligaments in his left knee when he fell early in the game at the City of Manchester Stadium.

Jol on shaky ground

London: Martin Jol’s three-year reign as manager of Tottenham Hotspur appeared to be coming to an end on Tuesday despite him steering the club to their highest league position since 1990 and back into Europe. Widespread media reports said the affable Dutchman had lost the support of the club’s directors and could make way for Sevilla boss Juande Ramos. He, however, has denied that he plans to leave the club. The club’s president, Jose Maria del Nido, said on Tuesday that Ramos would remain at the Primera Liga side at least until the end of the season.

Camacho takes over

Lisbon: Former Spain and Real Madrid coach Jose Antonio Camacho took over as Benfica manager on Tuesday. The Spaniard replaced Fernando Santos, who was fired on Monday after only two competitive games this season. It is Camacho’s second stint as Benfica coach. He joined the club midway through the 2002-03 season and left in 2004, leading the Eagles to the runner-up spot in both seasons.

Coach gets life ban

Brussels: The Belgian soccer federation has banned a former top-division coach for life and relegated his old club to third-division play next year for their role in a match-fixing scandal during the 2004-2005 season. The federation’s disciplinary panel banned former SK Lierse coach Paul Put, 51, from holding any job in Belgian soccer. The federation said it might ask international federations to apply the ban abroad.